Fashionably Speaking
by shz
Gosh, I was so naughty last weekend. And I blame it on my sister. The previous weekend before, I saw these three gorgeous skirts that I totally can wear both formally and casually. The problem was they cost like RM100+ each and when I tried them all hoping at least one would be lucky to go home with me, turned out all of them scored. So I went to the shops like three times and tried twice until I brought two of them to the counter and when the girl said “RM262, miss” and with that glittering smile, I freaked out walked out from the shop. After all that I am never returning to Miss Selfridge Midvalley ever, again.
So yesterday I went to Miss Selfridge in OU and they didn’t have the skirts. But I don’t know what I did to deserve such luck when I found RM90 gorgeous wedges at Bimba & Lola with only my size available. I mean, people – Bimba & Lola! I almost faint when the salesperson said it was RM300 before the 70% discount. It was too good to be true that I bought both colors of the same version. But I don’t regret it, it has been months since I last bought shoes.
Anyway since we are on the shoes and skirts subject, I have always wanted to write something about this whole new fashion wave that I realize going on around. Its great isn’t it, especially I see the hijab wearers are getting more conscious with fashion and with all the available reasonable priced clothes from Korea, Hong Kong or Taiwan people can experiment with a lot of different looks. I love looking at the Lookbooks or Tumblrs with people dressing up like in Vogue. Except that these are real people.
But I also can’t help noticing those who dress so outragesly to the point of being ridiculous that sometimes left me to wonder, where do they go looking like that? Or was that just for show, doing it only in the privacy of their rooms when outside they don’t really dress like that? While being young and free might be a good excuse but seriously kids, some of you might want to reconsider your fashion taste. Because not everything goes with anything. Because while it looks fabulous on the skinny models, our bodies varies in different shapes and sizes. And really, fashion is not everything. I feel some people is trying too hard to follow every trend. You want to look fashionable and put-together, not like you hit every sale rack this season.
Oh well, don’t listen to this unfashionable me. I simply have nothing to prove. And maybe because I am in an industry that is obsessed with style, I tend to tone down on that one when it comes to myself. No wonder Le Corb, Phillip Johnson, Toyo Ito, Daniel Libeskind, Will Alsop and all other star architects were always photographed wearing just black! I also wear practically – I don’t put on thousands of layers as if I live in Russia and then walk in the streets of KL just because its trendy. Imagine all the sweat and smell going on underneath there. And I have seen people who wears a blazer over a printed cotton blouse together with a polka dot short skirt over a pants. Or a skirt over a legging with cardigan over a top. Basically just something over something over something til kingdom come. Wey, hello.. I know its personal preference but be elegant ladies. Less is more, heard of that? Ever wonder why Anna Wintour, the pope of fashion always wear minimally and similarly everytime? Ever saw Karl Lagerfeld in anything else but that suit and gloves? Or Vera Wang in her monochromatic look? Or Marc Jacobs in shirts and jeans? Miuccia Prada? Even people in fashion are not that fashionable!
Its not like I never made a fashion mistake or wore something that was totally out of my proportion. I used to buy all the wrong sort of things that doesn’t suit me and now I only get something that I know will work – tunics, long shirts, one piece short dresses, blouses, maxi skirts, maxi dresses, oversize shirts, cropped jackets, wedges and flats. And I hate batwings, with some other things I just can’t remember right now. I also tend to make rules that so far saved me from being a victim to fashion. And often enough I will hear my sister says, “Kak Ngah this is so plain and boring” or “You have the exact same one at home” or “This is so 2005”, but I have my reasons:
1. I love bold prints. That should be enough to make a statement. So wear it with everything else plain. That’s why a lot of my scarfs are not patterned, because I don’t want to look like a scribble book.
2. I just discovered that I actually don’t look so funny in skinny jeans – if I match it with any tops that covers my ass.
3. I like the sort of ‘nothingness’ of the jeans and the T-shirt. I feel that’s about as close as I can get to the future because it seems like something so old that will always be, so I feel it’s a safe bet for the future. (Well actually I didn’t say that, Marc Jacobs did and I totally agree)
4. I would love to try and wear different ways for scarfs, but I have a one year old child who practically pulls and grabs everything she lays her hands on, so unfortunately a good secure wrap is the answer.
5. I’m lucky enough to be in the industry where you can wear jeans to the office, so I don’t need a separate wardrobe. My casual wear are my office wear. But I can’t walk in a meeting and chair it while looking like a rainbow or a party and expect people to take me seriously now, can I?
6. And please, for the love of God – leggings are not pants!
7. Lastly, if you’re married like me you should really consider your partner when you dress, because whatever you wear should complement the person next to you. You wouldn’t want to dictate him now, would you?
Fashion should only be part of your world, not your whole entire world because it’s hard to go with a trend. As soon as it’s out, everyone picks it up. It’s important to stay true to yourself.
So please do that, people and have a happy one next weekend as I will be. Going to Pangkor kor kor kor!
couldn’t agree more. and i don’t like tudung-clad girls wearing tops with leggings. well they will still be acceptable if they are yuna’s size, but bigger than that it really beats the purpose of wearing tudung, dontcha think?
Yes I was going to say that but who am I to preach about covering up kan? But yeah, even all covered up but outragesly fashionable pun it kinda go opposite the concept of dressing modestly.
Yeah those girls you’re talking about didn’t get my no.6 rule. Hahaha
Oooh I love you talking about fashion. So fresh!
Hahaha, thank you. I must have been talking too much about myself!
i love how Anna Wintour looks effortlessly chic in just a simple dress with a cropped cardigan. her fashion is not too over the top. just nice and practical. it amuses me looking at the way how people working in fashion magazines dressed.
talking about fashion, i must say i’m a late bloomer in fashion. i wore straight boyish cut jeans when ladies my age had moved to boot-cuts, and was in bootcuts when people are wearing skinny jeans. i thought that i will not look good in skinny jeans because of my huge feets and all i wear in my jeans are my loyal ipanema flipflop. But thanks to Rachel Bilson, she makes skinny jeans in flats looks tempting. and I’m now eyeing for my very first pair of skinny jeans.
sometimes i’m full of envious with people who can wear jeans and t-shirts to office, but i love my heels as much as i love my flipflops. my office is the only place where i can wear heels and not look weird (heels while doing shopping on the other hand is torturing and suicidal for me). so i can’t complain much, can i?
i may not look fashionable (my uniform outside office hour is mostly just plain t-shirt & jeans), but I do love looking at people who turn basic wears like tunics, oversized shirts and cardigans into such feminine fashion inspirations. sometimes, all you need is just to be in touch with your creative side and use whatever material in your wardrobe. 🙂
Thank you for your insight! Can’t say better myself.
Yep, I kinda agree with you. Sometimes I also wonder whether they’re normally dressed up like that or is it for show only. Because they kinda looked like they’re trying too freaking hard to prove that they’re fashionable when actually they looked absolutely ridiculous wearing those mismatched outrageous prints or four different layers of clothing. I mean, mixing prints is okay if done right but ended up looking like they’re trying too hard — not good at all. I think whatever it is, we should just stick to wearing whatever is comfortable and right for our body and that to me is fashionable.
Well said Shaf. I think they just have too much time in their hands. Lucky them!
THANK YOU for writing this, it’s a reminder for myself as well, to keep it simple. I hope I’m not one of them since I have been experimenting of late. Or maybe I am???!!! Eeeek! Okay, I ni cepat paranoid. >_<
From what I've noticed though, the simpler clothes are the slightly pricier brands. It's never too loud. And looks elegant.
A long sleeved Polo shirt yang belang-belang tu, over a pair of jeans and some nice shoes, terus nampak cantik. Tapi like over RM300 kan a Polo shirt?
Semalam I gi kat Pyramid and masuk Marks & Spencer, they were all so simple and nice, tapi top je dah seratus lebih. Hoh hoh hoh. Menangis. Kena buat tabung dulu.
However, I think the number one key to making anything look good on you would be confidence, no matter how drab, or over the top, if you can prance around being confident and comfortable with yourself, it just really works for a person. And being tall helps a lot. Long legs is a fashion blessing!
p/s: Since you're talking bout fashion I guna link my fashion blog, bijak tak I? Spamming dengan gaya innocent (well not anymore now that I've mentioned it). Hahaha.
Anna! I didn’t even realize you have yet ANOTHER blog, on fashion this time! Looking good you are. I think looking simple takes practice, doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive if you know where to shop. Actually WHEN is the better word. M&S does sale twice a year and that’s when you need to roam that place. And I always wait until Further Reduction time, you can get a nice simple top cheap enough.
And yes I know which stripey Polo shirts you’re talking about. I have two of them, but I bought it at outlet in UK so they didn’t cost as expensive. FOS sometimes sell branded items with little flaws and I think I jumpa banyak kali the same shirt that I have and cheaper too. 😉
Confidence is one thing, but if you’re confident over something that is wrong – well I don’t think that works any well either kot!
ANOTHER. Indeed.
The Polo shirts I have pon were from US nya factory outlets. So definitely cheap. Don’t think I’d spend that much to get it here. Maybe someday when I’m super duper huper rich.
And yes, FOS or Reject is a great place to go hunting. If you’re lucky you’ll get some pretty nice stuff there.
Hmm, yes betul jugak tu. But how does one come to a certain level of awareness, to sense apa yang okay and apa yang tak? I mean some of these girls seem so innocent, rasa macam okay and it looks good on them. Kinda like those auditions for American Idol, condifent gila tapi, memang FAIL yang amat. Maybe we need our very own Simon Cowell for fashion? Hehe.
Exactly, I don’t understand why people wear printed scarves with printed blouse? Pick one please!
And thank you for saying no 6 out loud. Tak tahan mata tengok. Especially when they think their blouses cover the asses, but the fact they don’t.
not a fan of mixing too much prints either, i love to keep it simple myself but still having that zing that let me stands out from the crowd (not sure if I got that right every single time). but it’s true y’know, dressing simple ain’t easy. i think with my hijab on as of late (recently started wearing) it’s even harder to match things together for some reason. I love the monochromatic look but always you gotta have something to keep it interesting. You are actually one of those people who I look up to in fashion sense (during your fp days) when you always take photos of yourself.
Now, I think this page is missing some photos. Where are those new skirts you were talking about huh?
Ami! I’ve been trying to find you ever since I can remember! I remember always going to your blogs and loved your fashion sense, and still do! Hope you’re well. I was and always have been a simple dresser, so I wonder what really you looked up to? Haha, but thanks nevertheless.
Yes, I do think this page is missing photos as well.
looking for me?? wah what ever for?! i’m honored 😀
Hahaha. I remembered we used to visit each other’s blog and then I kinda forgot everyone’s blog address. Then someone wrote about you battling with cancer and I so wanted to know if you get better. Now here you are! 😉
[…] Gosh, I was so naughty last weekend. And I blame it on my sister. The previous weekend before, I saw these three gorgeous skirts that I totally can wear both formally and casually. The problem was they cost like RM100+ each and when I tried them all hoping at least one would be lucky to go home with me, turned out all of them scored. So I went to the shops like three times and tried twice until I brought two of them to the counter and when the gi … Read More […]
You’ve wrote what I’ve always wanted to write..But being unfashionable person as I am I don’t think I have the guts yet.. Kudos to you!! we’re the plain jane.. Or maybe just me…I’m a plain jane…And I love minimalist.. unfortunately I don’t have a blessing of a skinny leg…
Sometimes I just feels like saying to these people “don’t be daft!!, do you know how smelly it can get and how impractical you are by wearing layers and layers of clothes in Msia.” These people amuses me…
Anyway, hello shaliza..hv been ur reader for a while now but just silently..but this entry really ticks me off!
Hello Hana. And thanks. Somebody got to say it. 😛
I feel you 🙂
the so called new waves of fashion for those hijabis were sometimes way over the top!
you’re right about even fashion designers don’t wear too much clothes on them!
being 27 and married with a kid, i would say my fashion sense has not been really evolved 😛 not that i don’t like to explore. it’s just to me, i think, being less is more 🙂
jeans and shirt always works best for me and they’re timeless! maybe a little twist on my hijab style 🙂
other than that, i think im quite happy with my fashion sense 😛
and please show us the skirts!!! im a fan of maxi skirts too!!!
i totally do agree with you ida. less is more.
wondering those people who wearing too much clothes on them, didn’t they feel hot or uncomfortable. Malaysia not a 4 seasons country.
not only for hijabees. even if u are non muslims or u don’t wear tudung, u can’t treat legging as pants.
and for hijabees, please don’t wear short sleeves with tudung ya (u can only see this in Malaysia kot), tak appropriate la. slightly below the elbow is quite acceptable. my 13 yr old daughter can differentiate between Malaysian hijabees & Singaporean hijabees. Kalau yang pakai short sleeves t-shirt dgn tudung tu…mesti frm Malaysia…hehe.
6. And please, for the love of God – leggings are not pants!
Exactly! Couldn’t agree more!
yeah I do read all those fashion blogs and sometime wonder, why I never saw them on the street? Hehe.
And owh, always trust the power of a gorgeous shoes! hehe