Time is Everything & then Nothing | Moment Watches
It’s time to put it out there - I’m quite the fan of horoscopes, true or not, I enjoy reading them and finding ‘coincidences’ with the happenings in my life. As an Aquarius (water bearer), it has been said countless times that we love our sleep and we do like the occasional sit-on-the-couch-and-laze-around days. I’ll vouch for that anytime. It’s just that we think too much and if I could dissect my mind for you, I’m pretty sure it’ll be a tangled mess of thoughts whizzing around every second.
Then came a moment where I was bogged down by time, straddling too many hats at a time but Moment Watches came into the picture at the perfect timing. Even my sentences are conquered by time. I clearly needed help.
Moment Watches have a story to be told, an experience to be relished by the wearer. They celebrate the idea of holding such experiences dear, instead of forgetting them in the midst of the chaos of today’s highly time-constrained world. If you notice, everywhere you go, people are connected to their earphones and handphones, hardly looking up to see the world go by. The sheer volume of information available has made us highly plugged in to the world behind screens - whatever happend to experiencing the physical surroundings, noticing what and who is around you?
It’s time things changed.
The whimsical watch gifted to me represents my life perfectly. Whenever I’m running a couple of minutes late, I don’t see what’s the huge fuss so I’m always telling myself, it’s fine, it’s normal, no biggie, you get the drift. To others, 5 minutes late is an unforgivable sin. I. don’t. get. it.
Sure, tardiness is awful but 5 minutes late because I stopped and smelt the roses isn’t. In life, anyone may be late and it’s perfectly fine. As long as it doens’t become a habit or the level of tardiness doesn’t increase exponentially, it’s fine. Seriously, calm down, folks. 
Spare a little time to enjoy your journey to work and the next time you’re waiting for a late friend (or me?), look down at this watch and smile, or burst into a fit of giggles, whichever soothes the anger.
Now, instead of bearing water, I come bearing gifts! I’m giving away 2 of these watches to 2 lucky readers!
To enter:
1. Like Moment Watches on Facebook
2. Like Fashstash on Facebook
3. Leave a comment here telling me how you would spend the time waiting for someone who’s running late.
4. Leave your Name & Email Address in the comment as well.
Giveaway ends Monday (22nd April), 11.59 PM. Giveaway open to anyone living in Singapore only.
To everyone else, there’s a 5% discount if you quote the code, W9ST when shopping online.
AND, if you’re a fan on Moment Watches on Facebook, send them a message directly and you’ll be entitled to 30% off the watches.
You can find me on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram (@tarandip).
Trendy Chic | Hotels.com
Unfortunately, I did not get to publicize (for lack of better words) this look because of a little trip out of Singapore last week and relatively weak internet connection. Week 3 of Hotels.com styling gig was on all things trendy and chic. With trends being such a huge part of the fashion industry, this is still relevant, styling gig or not.
Loving a good pair of printed or coloured pants, naturally, I gravitated towards the section in my wardrobe with a stack of printed pants (mostly floral prints). You may fathom that I own a huge wardrobe, what with sections and all but in all honesty, it’s puny.
Moving on.
The calming blue skies with the dense and fluffy clouds are what I look forward to in Bali. It’s where you can let your mind loose in the vastness of the skies. Hence, with the sky as my palette, I incorporated printed pants which are the current rage and balanced it with a white top to allow the pants to speak volumes. Complete the trendy look with a pair of sky-high heels and black sling for a stylish day out on the streets of Bali.
If you’ve been on the Internet daily and been subjugated to varied flashes of fashion weeks in your newsfeed or social media, you would have also seen this trend taking over everyone’s lean legs. You either love it or hate it, your call. 
Still, do not fear these outrageously bold prints plastering your legs but if you do then go for more subtle embossed prints - it might appear illusory but you can bet your eyes they’re there and will not fail to make a statement.
Be wary to stay away from bright, wacky prints and keep the remaining palette relatively neutral for a toned down look you could take anywhere. 
G2000 Top/ ASOS Pants/ New Look Bag/ Aldo Heels/ ASOS Bracelet
Finally. Amidst all the other synonyms, tired is one perfect adjective to describe 3 weeks of styling looks but having Bali as inspiration has got me itching for a beach holiday right this instant. The sun, sand, water and wind - bliss.
Where are you heading to this Summer?
You can find me on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram (@tarandip).
Beach Beautiful | Hotels.com
If there is one thing I love, it’s getting into any body of water and which body of water is better than the vast and limitless sea or ocean?
This week for the Hotels.com Styling Campaign, we were tasked to style a look with the theme, Beach Beautiful. Since, I’m no bikini-bod person, I’ve got other tricks up my sleeve to style it up on a beach in Bali. It works just fine, trust me. 
Since Bali exudes an effortless cool vibe, an outfit for the beach runs in the same vein. Taking inspiration from the lush green of palm trees and the icy blues of the waves, I paired colourful paisley shorts with a loose fitting bohemian top for a comfortable time on Bali’s sunny shores. Lastly, create a picture perfect look with sandals or flats, shades and a nude lip. Now, sit back and let the win tousle your hair.
As with all contests go, there’s an aspect on public votes. Please do me the kind favour of hovering your mouse/ cursor over the links below, pressing down and entering an itsy vote for yours truly.
Vote for me here: http://bit.ly/hotels10plus1lookbook
& if you are on mobile, click here:http://bit.ly/mobilelookbook
Voters also receive a 10% discount code to be used on Hotels.com properties!
The voting period is on till 25th March 2013.
P.S. More cool giveaways coming up on the site, so keep a lookout!
Fox-Out Top/ Montegobay Club Sandals/ ASOS Paisley Shorts/ F21 Shades and Cuff
You can find me on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram (@tarandip).
Hotels.com Blogger Styling Campaign
When the prize is an all-expense-paid overseas trip, I’m sold. I’ll do anything, any-thing, to get myself on an airplane and leave the drudgery for a bit. Just a bit.
Like a perfect 4 clover leaf, hotels.com came at the perfect timing and graciously invited me to take part in their blogger styling campaign - I couldn’t resist. Hence, from International Women’s Day, last friday and for the next two weeks, my looks will be up on hotels.com. Though all three looks are inspired by Bali, Indonesia, each look carries a different theme.
This week, it’s glitzy glam and instead of going full on in your face bling, I turned the notch down a little with a mint sequined skirt, after all, we are in Bali not Vegas.
Inspired by the sultry sunsets of Bali and their blue waters, my outfit features a subtle sequined skirt in mint and a loose fitting purple top to go with the calm breeze of the beach. Comfortable heels coupled with accessories are the essential polish on top for a memorable night out.
Now, this is where you come in and what you’ll have to do is to vote for my looks on the Facebook page and that’ll keep me in the running for a trip. It is that simple and it will mean so much (cheesy e-hug coming your way)! Voters will also receive a 10% discount code to be used on any hotels.com properties.
While I love travelling, it’s unfortunate that I’ve yet to make my way down to Bali. Since hotels.com is offering this amazing opportunity to visit the land of intensely sultry sunsets and heaven-on-earth like beaches, winning this would be a dream, a dream I wouldn’t want to wake up from.
Bali, I’m chasing after you now. Friends of the internet, do your bit and help me chase Bali.
The voting period for this look is from March 13 - March 18 2013. 
H&M Top/ ASOS Sequined Skirt/ ASOS Bejeweled Cuff & Bangles from Jaipur, India, Thrifted Necklace/ Heels from Germany
Photos by Pavandeep Singh
You can find me on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram (@tarandip).
Girls will be Boys or Boys will be Girls?
So here’s a completely feminized version of a typical menswear piece, the shirt. All you need is dose of pink and some lighter, breathier fabric and it becomes womenswear. I’m not saying I hate it, in fact I love it but the logic in feminizing it is slightly amusing. Just slightly.
The bare fact of it all is that this is still an inspired menswear piece. There has been so much discussion regarding borrowing of wardrobes between the genders and quite honestly I’m over it.
It’s ironic how in an age of gender equality, the female look is deemed insulting on a man’s body. Personally, I find this to be less a male issue than a female one as it’s the appearance that is more of an issue than the sex. So instead of bashing the guys for wanting to slip on a pair of stilettos, why not just ask yourself why has society deemed it wrong for a man to dress as a woman but it’s perfectly alright for a woman to dress as a man? Maybe there is still some subtle or underlying form of gender inequality in the mix?
One day, I will write an epic thesis on this conundrum and blow the lid off this conspiracy. Till then, fashion is the one place where, I feel should have no boundaries and no one else should either. The limits for exploration will be limitless for whoever and for whatever reason. It is only when fashion is not confined to any stigma, that it is fun.
Social stigma? Schocial Schigma, let loose & have fun! 
Shirt c/o Cotton On & Cotton On Flats/ H&M Floral Pants/ ASOS Beetle Ring/ Bangles from Jaipur, India, F21 Necklace
The Cotton On sale is still on-going by the way, so right now the most affordable place to have fun with fashion is right there, I’m talking $1-$5 affordable and free shipping. I can completely sense some eyes widening right about now!
Photos by Pavandeep Singh
You can find me on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram (@tarandip).
A Laced Ideal
I’m hoping every one of you got a chance to shop your hearts out at Cotton On Online because believe me when I say the sale is sensational. Where else will you find rompers for $2 and shoes for $5? Seriously, I’m not even kidding, it’s like bargain heaven.
Put the sale aside and you’ve still got free shipping! I just bought more shoes by the way (because you know shoes solve everything).
Most of you or at least some would know that this isn’t my usual look - I’m not really a bun person but I just had to try the doughnut bun thing and I’m actually warming up to this. My neck feels the wind.
I’m also a huge fan of blazers but they’re not exactly weather friendly for Singapore’s slight excruciating heat & humidity so this lightweight lace blazer is definitely a great buy. Lace, the word itself brings to mind images of night wear, lingerie or if you’re a fan of the Victorian times then think British royalty. There has been such a peak and trough cycle with lace - from being a delicate & expensive material worn by royalty to getting associated with ‘cheapness’, perfectly supported by this quote,
“It is difficult to see why lace should be so expensive; it is mostly holes.” - Mary Wilson Little
and eventually it was relegated to what you wear behind closed doors. This is putting it rather briefly but you get the picture.
Now lace is back and it’s being celebrated with so much fervor across designers. Wear it inside, outside, on top of other lace and in as many colour variations you like. Lace is back with dignity and I quite like it. 
Even though fall is supposed to be all dark and gloomy, you could go against it and still play up your dark fall wardrobe with little bursts of colour. In my opinion, bright saturated hues transcend every season - there will be no end to colours.
Cotton On Lace Blazer/ G2000 Top/ Zara Pants/ H&M Heels/ Charles & Keith Bag/ ASOS
Necklace/ Diva Cuff/ Thrifted Brooch
Photos by Pavandeep Singh
You can find me on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram (@tarandip).
Cosmic Flair
I’ve never been a fan of extremely bright colours per se but over the past few months something just clicked and now I’ve been reaching for bright citrus colours out of pure instinct. I go into a store and naturally gravitate towards the most saturated of colours.
Anyway a couple of weeks back (or maybe a month ago), Cotton On launched their brand new online store for Singapore. In celebration of that, they sent me a few pieces and the first one here is the brightest I’ve ever worn, ever. So bright, it caused a cosmic flair (flare), get it? get it?
I chose to portray a slightly more bourgeois look to the dress but this could be easily downplayed to create a preppy style with the addition of a pair of brogues and a hat. That my friends, is versatility at its best.
On a side note I think it’s imperative to let you know that I’ve never really been a fan of Cotton On previously (usually due to the quality, which I’ve come to realize is unavoidable for fast fashion). Yet, after being re-introduced to Cotton On from the pieces they sent me, I must say I’m opening up a little - the pieces are in fact well constructed for their price point. So if you’re looking for affordable fashion, Cotton On is probably a good place to look at.
To add to the hype of Cotton On launching an online store, they’re currently having a huge (HUGE) sale where you could easily find pieces between SGD$2-$5! How’s that for affordability? And if that isn’t enticing enough, they’re even giving away free shipping with the code, freeship.
At other times, shipping is at a flat rate of SGD$7.50 and that’s enticing enough for me to not head to the usually overpacked Cotton On stores where the queues for the fitting rooms extend beyond recognition.
Shop online - that’s the only way to escape the mayhem.
Cotton On Shirt Dress/ Gabs G3 in Red/ F21 Heels/ ASOS Bracelet
[By the way, the bag featured here is a Gabs G3 under Galleria Italiana and it transforms into 3 different shapes, making it a highly functional bag. I’ll dedicate one post on this soon because I really like this bag!]
Photos by Pavandeep Singh
You can find me on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram (@tarandip).
The Chase for Chaste
A couple of months ago, I mentioned that the lovely owners of a new start up label gifted me with one of their sample bags when I did some work for them. Well, fast forward to today, they’re currently working on their launch and I figured this is perfect timing to do a little introduction on their brand - Chaste.
After all, lovely people deserve specially crafted introductions.
“Chaste is the immaculate offspring of creative duo Hana & Din, both of whom set out to bring to life a delicate conception revolving around purity, coupled with outbursts of spontaneous creative sparks.”
Chaste is all for creating that one bag that will grow and bond with you, or rather change with you. Liken the change as to how leather will change with time. As for the make of the bags, I’ll vouch for them completely and say that the owners went through a whole lot of testing before finding the perfect pieces of leather from Italy to work with. Perfection was key, so there was no rush to simply source for the cheapest instead the focus was entirely on the quality.
Oh and notice that piece of ‘fur’ on the front? That’s horse hair. Yep, talk about luxurious.
For their launch, Chaste is releasing two collections - Colours of Spring and a Croc Embossed series. Colours of Spring has brightly coloured pieces that are basically a variation of the tote seen here and the Croc Embossed series will be a more classic black and white version.
The colours from the Spring collection will hypnotize you, so don’t say I didn’t warn you.
I wanted to add a little bit about the durability of the bag because I brought this to school yesterday with my 15” Macbook Pro and an iPad in it. It was heavy but lo and behold the bag held up - no tears or signs of it deteriorating. This impressive feat, a tall order considering in these days of fast fashion, is really apt for students like me, oh and of course it’s spacious - bountiful brownie points right there!
Anyway the online store hasn’t quite gone live yet but as soon as they do, I’ll update this post with links and you’ll want to keep checking back just in case they come with an enticing opening promotion!
Chaste Tote/ H&M Tee/ Free People Jeans, ASOS/ Shoes & Bangles from Jaipur, India/ H&M Shades/ F21 Earrings
Photos by Pavandeep Singh
You can find me on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram (@tarandip).
Aztec Rays
I’ve been eyeing some aztec prints lately (mainly off ASOS) and it was perfect timing when a Sugarlips parcel came in with these aztec pants. They turned out to be a little loose so my mom altered them to fit perfectly - the perks of having a seamstress for a mom! I should definitely learn sewing soon but procrastination just loves getting in the way.
Talking about procrastination, unfortunately the sun hasn’t been procrastinating to ferociously shine down on us hence, pairing these pants with a loose fitting sleeveless top was the easiest and most comfortable. To amp up the style factor, add some fancy accessories and a pair of heels and if you’re looking to dress down then switch the heels with sandals or some loafer flats.
H&M Tank/ Sugarlips Aztec Pants(gifted)/ Aldo Heels/ New Look Cross Body Bag/ Vintage Hollywood Spiked Necklace, Mootta (gifted)/ Aldo Necklace/ Bangles from Jaipur, India
Photos by Pavandeep Singh
Support Local: LION EARL
You must have read about Saloni Rathor & Quainthood as part of the Support Local series, so today the spotlight’s on LION EARL.
LION EARL may not have been possible without National Service (Singapore’s mandatory 2 year military service for males). You read that right. National Service was where the design duo, Lionel Low & Hariz Yihao Lim met and from there LION EARL was on its way to full-fledged fruition.
LION EARL is a creative fusion that challenges the boundaries of the arts and aesthetics, seeking to synthesize a new dimension bounded by art, fashion & architecture, and translating that newfound dimension into genre-defying, trend-defining outfits. Ultimately, LION EARL is set to be a purveyor of a discerning creative lifestyle in a world where we find a balance between nature, the urban jungle and the individual. - Lionel
A LION EARL design inhibits a fusion of art and architecture where the pieces are reminiscent of architectural lines but do not sway away from what is ultimately a wearable art form. Creating a reality from fantasies (i.e. dreams) has always been a motivation for Lionel as a designer. After all, dreams are where the impossible becomes possible and for a designer, pushing the impossible boundaries is always a treat.
I enjoy dreaming about a story and the process of creating this surreal world. At the same time, the women in my all stories will be dress with different outfits. I guess it’s something that i really want to achieve as my goals. I enjoy the process from visualizing to creating something 3 dimensional from my vision. - Lionel
The fashion industry is often overly glamourized, leaving many, who’re on the periphery, to think that it’s a piece of cake to survive in the industry. It’s quite the contrary tho5gh and Singapore’s small market only adds to the list of challenges as a designer.
Being a fashion designer is full of ups and downs, especially it’s not what it seems to be like from the glamourous shows. There is so much going on from the interaction with suppliers and different agencies and how everyone will come to a compromised state. It takes a lot of effort from the start of this journey moving along the process. The resources locally is very limited so in a way we are restricted in the creations. And especially in the creative industry, it takes even more effort and a tenacious mind set to sustain our passion. - Lionel
There has been so much flak on Singaporeans for not supporting local talent and it isn’t an entirely baseless accusation. When put into comparison with other Asian nations, Singapore does not secure the top spot for being most supportive.
In japan you see people appreciating and supporting their lo#al talents and they have so much freedom of creation. During my exchange program to tokyo, we had a few conferences with some of the local japanese designers and they all shared how cultural support helps in their journey as a fashion designer. - Lionel
Yes, maybe over the last 2 years or so, the local support has been growing but now we want more, a whole lot more. It needs to come to the point where Singaporeans will queue overnight just to purchase a local designer’s collection.
Too much? Don’t think so.
Fashion has always been largely cyclical where trends go through a rinse, wash & repeat routine. While the major luminaries are off doing that, it is up to the young and emerging designers to push through and challenge the unexpected.
I for one am hoping to see some interesting tricks up LION EARL’s immensely talented sleeves.
LION EARL will be focusing on accessories and menswear in the middle quarter of next year. At the same time, we will be working on our womenswear ( ready to wear ) playing around with textures, forms and creating some of our own prints and also the introduction of LION EARL PURE, a capsule of high end customized range for our consumers. - Lionel
From what I’ve heard after speaking to Lionel, we can also expect to see some of Lionel’s paintings on dresses. Time will tell ladies, time will tell.
For now, head down to their studio/ booth at Parco Next Next and revel in their goodness!
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Support Local: Saloni Rathor
Support Local: Quainthood
