I think I am gradually warming up to this concept now. If the products featured fit your preference, and if the packaging is decent, these boxes are actually great for some self-pampering or as a gift for fellow girlfriends. Considering that at S$25, you can hardly purchase a mid-priced full size product, why not give your friend a beauty sampler surprise instead?

(from left) Bella Box (S$15), Vanity Trove (S$25)

Let’s delve into the content of each box!

Items in Bella Box: Duchess Marden Body Serum 4ml, Nvey Eco Organic Eyeshadow in Charcoal Blue, Belif Hydra Sebum Control Essence 10ml, Ansley Pure Pop Superstar Eyeshadow and Eyeliner, La Perla Divina fragrance sample.

I would admit that the items in Bella Box doesn’t look very enticing at first. But what really drew my attention was the Ansley eyeshadow duo that comes with a matching gel liner and liner brush. I was very impressed by the travel-friendly packaging and ease of use. And this eyeshadow costs only S$16.90, which is affordable, and of course it would have been a good deal if a makeup enthusiast received this via the monthly subscription box from BB. Refer to my LOTD with the eyeshadow here.

Moving on to my Valentine’s Day box from Vanity Trove:

Items in Vanity Trove box: Skin Inc Pure Repair Whitening Eye Mask, 2 mini OPI nail polishes from Nicki Minaj Collection, Mekhalaliving Shampoo and Conditioner 30ml, Filthy Farmgirl Handmade Soap, Allerines Premium Tea, a charm from RinsieRose.com

I was wow-ed away by the packaging of my “trove”. To fit into the Valentine’s Day theme, the box contained rose petals and potpourri, emitting a sweet floral fragrance.  The items that attracted my attention were the Eye Mask which I have tried before when I had my facial at Skin Inc, OPI nail polish and the Mekhalaliving travel size shampoo and conditioner.

In short, I am pretty delighted with these two boxes of surprises. I maintain my observation that Bella Box would cater to ladies who are keen to try new makeup brands, while Vanity Trove has a good mix of established beauty products and other new mid-range items.

For comparison purposes, I have summarised the February items from Glama Box, Bella Box and Vanity Trove.

Hope this is helpful!

之前提到新加坡新掀起的美容样品订购服务热潮。本月收到了来自Bella Box 以及 Vanity Trove的美容礼盒。试用了3家不同的礼盒服务，本人已经开始接纳这样的idea，觉得偶尔给自己一个惊喜，或给姐妹淘一个惊喜，何乐而不为？

Related Posts:

• Beauty in a Box: Glamabox, Bella Box or Vanity Trove?

What wardrobe rationalisation? I will think about it next week.

Jacket: H&M | Top: Zara Basic | Necklace: Forever 21 | Watch: La Mer |
Clutch: Courtesy of Longchamp | Khaki pants: Courtesy of Uniqlo | Shoes: Courtesy of Rockport

Ever since I posted the Yellow Fever blog post, I am determined to integrate this shade into my wardrobe. Adopting a bottom-up approach, I opted for Rockport’s Audry Quarter Strap Woven Sandals in Dirty Orange (S$199), which is a new shade for the design this season. I was very drawn by the intricate leather woven details, although the heels were very high by my standard (3.5 inches). This is definitely my highest pair of footwear to date, but thanks to the adiprene cushioning and grip, I could walk very steadily. Watch this video review from Zappos if you are interested.

A close up of my look of the day (LOTD).

I was using this eyeshadow duo that comes with a gel liner of a similar shade from Ansley, in Dazzling Green. The product design is rather spiffy and I will discuss it in another post. Lip gloss is from Clarins Gloss Prodige, in Raspberry.

刚过去的周末，感觉春季真的降临了。一股脑儿将所有粉嫩色系结合起来，在配上最近很火的黄色- Rockport黄色皮质高跟凉鞋。虽然是各种颜色集合在一身，感觉周末就是应该摆脱平日低调拘谨的服饰，应该勇敢尝试不一样的服饰或妆容。不知道您对我这混搭结果有没有一些评语或意见呢？

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If you are a fan of drape jersey dresses that flatters the womanly curves, but haven’t been able to find a decent design with reasonable price point, this post is dedicated to you!

Well, if you haven’t heard, Korean American designer Doo.Ri has launched a collection with Macy’s! Indeed, this collaboration has gone under the radar that I only found out recently.

Doo-Ri Chung with some of designs for Macy’s Impulse collection.

While this collection is low-key, it retains Doo.Ri’s signature draping, jewel tone and wearable designs. And befitting of a fashion collaboration, prices are very accessible at US$39-159, as compared to her usual collection that goes from US$300 to more than US$1000 at Shopbop.

Other than the sophisticated jersey pieces, the collection also include colourblock geometric printed dresses and 2 “paintery printed” apparels.

Here are some of my favourites from this capsule collection. For photos of the entire women collection, refer to my Facebook album.

And, you may be delighted to know that the collection is not sold out yet. No heart attack or panic buying is required.

最近名设计师与平价品牌的合作系列似乎非常频繁，我也看得目不暇给。例如之前的Jason Wu for Target系列，一推出就大受欢迎，令众性致勃勃买家在入手的时候压力非常大。然而在2月15日的时候，又有另一个平价系列出炉，但是作风非常低调。美籍韩国设计师Doo.Ri与Macy’s合作推出富有女人味而且保持她独特设计风格的限量系列。这个系列的价格也非常大众化，有兴趣的话，可到Macy’s网站浏览。

Images credit: Macy’s, Fashionista, Fashionologie

Related Posts:

• Karl Lagerfeld for Impulse (Macy’s) – Getting Upclose
• Karl Lagerfeld for Impluse – Only at Macy’s
• Matthew Williamson for Macy’s

Meanwhile here are some sneak peeks about what to expect:

The cover girl of March’s Simply Her issue wears Marni at H&M.

And there was a shoot featuring pieces of the collection in Vogue Russia.

And on Harper’s Bazaar UK issue, we have a glimpse of the pricing!

And if you haven’t watched this, you totally should! The Marni at H&M commercial shot by Sofia Coppola. The setting of this dreamy ad is Marrakesh at Morocco.

Watch this space as I will certainly unveil the full lookbook soon!

[EDITED]

I have all the product images and lookbook for this collection. Photos have been uploaded on my Facebook albums.

SGD Price List for the collection has been released! Check it out!

告别Versace for H&M没多久，转眼Marni at H&M合作系列即将出炉。在等待完整lookbook之余，先预览已出现在各大报刊的一些服装以及饰品。当然，绝对不能错过Sofia Coppola为此系列所拍摄的广告。场景设在摩洛哥，气氛迷幻。

Image credit: Simply Her, TFS

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• Update: Versace for H&M Cruise 2012
• Just In – Versace for H&M Spring Collection
• Versace for H&M – Who Wore Them, Fashion Show, How to Buy

I thought I should also add that I am now in a wardrobe rationalization phase because there is just very limited space for new acquisitions in my good ole cupboard.

Alright，I shall not digress. Here are some pertinent takeaway from the most recent Zara look book for Spring/Summer:

Androgenous Pastels

Mix and match androgenous pieces in pastel colours, like an oversized blazer, trouser and shirt.

Print on Print.. on Print

Paisley over stripes over dots are just mind boggling. On the hand, top-to-toe floral is a burgeoning trend as seen on various brands and style bloggers this year.

Fringe

I feel like I would have a lot of fun swish-swashing with the fringes attached to the LBD on the left.

Long-sleeve Collared Blouse

Something plain and sheer, with or without studs.

Or just go with the prints!

我对Zara的Lookbook真的是情有独钟。一次又一次的推出都令人惊叹。今年3月的女装Lookbook依旧朝中性路线。但是配搭方式非常新鲜，给人更多穿搭的灵感，借此与所有读者共勉之。

Related Posts:

• Inspirations for Those with Spare Cash – Zara March Lookbook
• Too Much Pastels for Spring
• Yellow Fever

So, when the folks at Penhaligon’s – a perfume house with a very deep history that hauls from London – contacted me about a fragrance-profiling session, my curiosity was piqued. A scent is like a lady’s signature – it is supposed to leave an impression and gives someone a vague idea about yourself before you even start to articulate. Many of us shop for fragrances based on many factors, such as packaging, brand name, maybe the campaign ambassador (I would love to smell like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley!) and just by the whiff at the counter. The fragrance-profiling session, on the other hand, would be more focused – with a process that narrows down a scent based on your preference as well as your personality.

After all, there are more than 34 fragrances to choose from…

Nestled at a corner of ION Orchard Level 3, the Penhaligon’s store in Singapore is a quaint luxurious boutique adorned with many traditional English furnishings, and lavishly shaded with burgundy and gold. I felt like a little girl in the candy store, instantly curious about the huge bottles of Penhaligon’s perfume replica on the wall, which I was informed later contained coloured water, not real perfume.

Seated at the centre table of the store, it felt as if I was gonna have my fortune taken. The fragrance advisor for the day, Mike, kick started the session with a quick chat with me (my guess is probably to have a brief sense of my personality from my mannerism and body language) before delving into exploratory questions on my relationship with fragrances.

“Describe your relationship with fragrances.”

“How would you describe your favourite scent?”

“What type of scent are you looking for?”

As the discussion process continued, I was also introduced to different fragrances to determine my preference and validate what I had mentioned. For instance, I indicated that I didn’t like woody scent and Mike promptly showed me this really manly (and woody) fragrance to gauge my response.

Every bottle of perfume has a story, or an imagery. For instance, Ellenisia was described to me as someone roaming at the open green fields in Spain. This is a sweet, powdery floral scent that I felt was a tad “the usual”. I wanted a fragrance that is unique and exciting, something that fit me with elements that I had never experienced before.

Mike then commented that I am someone who expect others to earn their respect from me. I was quietly surprised by that brief comment, which I thoughtwas not easy to observe but was somewhat accurate. He swiftly moved on to 3 more perfumes – Juniper Sling, Orange Blossom and Artemisia.

Juniper’s Sling is an interesting fragrance, intoxicating on the first whiff like an alcohol (I was told it resembles London Dry Gin). In my mind, it’s a great scent for a girl who enjoys nightlife and parties – mysterious and playful, and certainly leaves an instant impression with a rather distinctive combination of top notes. While I acknowledge that this is a unique and different perfume, I don’t think it fits my personality.

So next, was Orange Blossom which had a grand opening warm scent of citrous and slightly spicy notes and cools down to a refreshing smell of jasmine. I was bewitched by the initial exuberance of the fragance, but appreciated the low-key jasmine aftermath.

Then, it was the more subtle Artemisia. The name comes from “Artemis”, a Greek goddess “who is herself inviolate and vigorous, and also grants strength and health to others”. It belongs to the other end of the spectrum as compared to the Orange Blossom, very low-key and unassuming at the start, consistent with its creamy and feminine scent but gradually grows and get you hooked with the delicate green apple and jasmine tea, fused with base notes of sandalwood and musk. It is easy to brush it off as a typical feminine scent but turns mysteriously seductive later on.

Having narrowed down my choices of 2 perfumes – Orange Blossom and Artemisia, I tried them on my skin to determine my preference. As we know, fragrances react differently on individual’s body so skin-testing is essential. I was still in a dilemma at first, but eventually I chose….

Artemisia Eau de Parfum. (S$180 for 50ml and S$250 for 100ml)

The elegant and sophisticated subtlety of this scent allows to wear it to work in the day, and layer on for a sensual touch for the night. It is less spicy or overt, but tended towards the sweet creamy side, with a hint of powdery musk and sandalwood. In short, a quietly sensual scent that draws you unknowingly.

The fragrance profiling session at Penhaligon’s is free-of-charge. You can walk-in to the store at Ion Orchard #03-16 for the session, but if you prefer not to discuss with an advisor face-to-face, you could try out the online fragrance profiling on their website. The online advisors will help to determine 2 to 3 fragrances based on your responses, although it takes at least 10 days for them to email the results to you.

As for me, I am clearly no goddess (and far from it) but at least I could attempt to smell like one.

一踏入Penhaligon’s充满英伦风华的香水专卖店，我宛如踏入糖果店的小女孩，对琳琅满目的香水产品以及摆设感到好奇。Penhaligon’s在新加坡推出了香水配对服务，根据您的喜好以及性格分析出适合您的香水。通过测试，也能够更了解这品牌悠久的香水哲学，更欣赏香水独特的文化。毕竟， 每一种香水都有特殊的香味与适用的对象，所以您在选用香水的时候，可配合您的个性，才能藉由香水的衬托更加散发出您个人的气质。经过精挑细选之下，本人最终选择了低调的Artemisia。最初的感觉是典型女性化的淡香，可是却有一股即典雅又令人惊艳的特质。中段含有香草及奶香，似乎有一些少女的梦幻，但接着是沉稳诱人的层次。或许就犹如一个女人那样令人困惑。香水配对服务是免费的，若对这英式香氛老牌有兴趣不妨到其位于Ion Orchard专卖店参观参观。

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Some prefers their moisturizers to have SPF, others prefer oil-free version. Some consumers look for other catch phrases such as “anti-aging”, “non-comedogenic”, “hydrating” etc.

Today, I would like to introduce two Whitening Moisturizers and coincidentally, both contain plant extracts.

(from left) Clarins White Plus Whitening Velvet Emulsion SPF 20, The Body Shop Moisture White Shiso Whitening Moisture Milk

A little background on the main ingredient:

Clarins White Plus Whitening range contains Sea Lily Extract, which controls the extension of dendrites, which are known as the “arms” of melanocytes that deliver melanin to cells in the epidermis.

On the other hand, The Body Shop Moisture White Shiso range contain shiso, a type of green leaf from the mint/basil family which is believed to reduce early melanin-making signals.

Clarins White Plus Whitening Velvet Emulsion:

This is a newly-launched product in the White Plus range. There two types of moisturizers you can choose from, one packed with SPF 20 and one without. At 75ml, the SPF 20 emulsion is priced at S$100 while the one without SPF is priced at S$92.

This is my current everyday moisturizer. I am using the SPF 20 version so that I can skip the process of applying sunscreen. The texture for both versions are closely similar – very light and soft at the first touch. The non-greasy emulsion spreads easily on the skin and once absorbed, leaves a smooth velvety finish. This helps to provide a great base for your makeup. The natural botanical scent from the product is also rather pleasant.

The Body Shop White Shiso Whitening Moisture Milk:

Priced at S$42.90 for 50ml, the Body Shop White Shiso moisturizer is more affordable than the Clarins White Plus one. This is a rather lightweight moisturizer of its own right, and the texture is decent for day use. The moisture milk has a light powdery scent which I feel is an easily acceptable whiff. If we were to do a comparison with Clarins Whitening Velvet Emulsion, White Shiso is indeed slightly greasier and takes a while to be absorbed into the skin.

Those ladies with oily skin living in the tropics (like me) who are concerned about its slightly greasy texture can consider using this moisture milk at night instead, or go gentle on the amount of the product you apply in the day.

Verdict:

If you are concerned about price point, then check out The Body Shop White Shiso Moisture Milk. If you are in favour of a very lightweight day moisturizer, go for Clarins White Plus Whitening Velvet Emulsion. Personally, if I were to make a purchase decision, I would definitely go for the latter.

Notice that I didn’t comment on their whitening effect? To be honest, it is hard to tell by just using the moisturizers on their own for slightly more than 2 weeks. Most whitening moisturizers provide a more immediate brightening effect and these 2 products are no exceptions. However, for diminishing of dark spots or longer term radiance, you would typically need to use them hand-in-hand with a whitening serum for a longer period of time to see the positive impact.

Note: Both moisturizers contain alcohol. The Body Shop one contains methylparaben too.

在购买日用保湿乳的时候，您对产品的要求会是什么？有些人需要保湿乳含有SPF, 有些人寻求抗老化等。最近，本人试用了两款美白日用保湿乳－分别为娇韵诗White Plus Whitening Velvet Emulsion以及The Body Shop White Shiso Whitening Moisture Milk。两支产品的价格不同，触感也稍微不太一样，但都是绝对称职的保湿乳。若您的肌肤容易出油，我认为您应该选择娇韵诗较轻盈，柔滑的Whitening Velvet Emulsion。

Related Posts:

• It’s the Whitening Season – Introducing Whitening Ranges from Shiseido, Clarins and Elizabeth Arden
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(clockwise from top left) Raoul Pale Yellow Blouse, ASOS Triangle Grid Drop Earrings, Cacharel Mustard Belt, agnès b Mustard Jacket, Swarovski Duck Charm, DVF Lips Coin Pouch in Citron, 3.1 Phillip Lim Ark Small Duffel in Lemon, Passion Chocolat macarons from Canelé, Coach x Hugo Guinness Eye Glass Case, NARS Nail Polish in Kismit, Christian Louboutin 20th Anniversary Capsule Collection – The Pansee, Make Up For Ever Pure Pigments in Yellow

How to wear Yellow according to your personality:

The Cautious: Go for little yellow accessories such as a clutch, earrings or belt to add pizzazz to your usual outfits.

The Moderate: Match a piece of yellow apparel with basic or nude colours. For instance, a yellow dress with a pair of beige pumps!

The Adventurous: Utilise your gift in colour-blocking by matching bright yellow flawlessly with other equally bright hues.

Addition tip: You can spread the Yellow Fever to your make-up too. Besides the yellow nail polish, try yellow eye-shadows. You could go for a burst of tropical colours with a blended eye makeup comprising of yellow, pink and green, or match it with orange or bronze hues.

春夏季的黄色风暴，您收到多大的影响？早在去年的各时尚街拍，秀场或杂志都一睹到黄色的风采。今年这个颜色继续在时尚界占领一席之位，你准备好了吗？若您对过于亮丽的颜色不太适应，可以先从小饰品着手。当然，阁下也可以利用您独特的配搭才能为黄色服饰搭上其他鲜艳的色彩，整理一套colourblock 穿着。在色调方面，除了去年流行的亮黄色以及芥末黄，今年交出位的色调为荧光黄以及柔和的淡奶油黄色。

Related Posts:

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There is little room for delay and almost no more time for overseas online shopping. Take a deep breath and I hope my “HIS & HERS” gift guide will help you cruise through this romantic event!

Valentine’s Day card from kikki.K – S$6.90 (Available at ION Orchard).

For Her:

Carrie K “Word Collection” Necklace – S$298
Carrie K is a local jewellery label that specializes in hand crafted jewellery. This necklace, which bears the French phrase ” A Vila Mon Coer, Gardi Li Mo”, means “Here is my heart, Guard it well”. Ladies, wouldn’t you melt when you see this message from your guy?

Made of 925 Sterling silver and plated with 14k rose gold, the “Word Collection” necklace will be available for order this Saturday at Carrie K Atelier (136 Bukit Timah Road) and will be ready for collection on 13th February, in time for your little gesture of love.

Beauty products from Luxola – Deborah Lippman nail polishes (S$33 and S$35 respectively), Korres Shower Gel S$20, MOR Emporium Candle S$51

If your lady is a beauty junkie, shower her with some exclusive and coveted beauty items to show her that you are kinda “in-the-know”. Here’s the best part: you can place your order with just a few clicks on the button and Luxola will deliver your beautiful package to your address in Singapore by the following day – free-of-charge.

La Sardina & Flash – ‘Virginia is for Lovers’ – S$178

If your date is a quirky and adorkable girl, she might appreciate this latest offering from Lomography – the limited edition La Sardina. The La Sardina has one of the most powerful flash lights, incredible wide-angle lens, and is able to create multi-exposure. This new toy has literally checked every item in the wish list of a lomography buff!

This camera is available on Lomography.com and Lomography Singapore Store at 295 South Bridge Road #01-01.

For Him:

David Beckham for H&M Underwear – S$17.90-S$49.90

Ladies, we can try to heat things up a bit with the newly launched David Beckham for H&M underwear, now available at H&M Singapore. From sexy briefs to long johns, vest to t-shirts, you can try to decide what you would like him to wear underneath.

Feiyue sneakers – Spring/Summer 2011 Collection

The standard leather shoes are just too stiff and solemn, a pair of men’s loafers or brogues might be too trendy to his liking. Go for the in-between by gifting him a pair of comfortable and contemporary sneakers from Feiyue! Available online (delivery is about 3-5 working days), or at Leftfoot outlets in Singapore.

His & Hers

Leather Bindings by Marilyn Tan – S$88 each

If you would like to go the His and Hers theme, these leather bindings are the perfect arm swag this season for both guys and girls. Available at Doorstep Luxury in a variety of colours – grab them all and do the swopping of colours amongst yourselves according to your outfits and the occasions.

Marc by Marc Jacobs iPhone Case – S$70 each

I know there are some guys who don’t mind carrying cutesy accessories. If your guy is one of them, he might like the idea of the “couple” iPhone casings. Of course, allow him choose the colour. Available at Marc by Marc Jacobs store at Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Mandarin Gallery and Isetan Scotts.

再过几天就是情人节，目前在新加坡的您，到底准备好礼物了没？若您是一位忙碌的情人，希望这篇购物文章对阁下有一些帮助。以上可是经过鄙人精挑细选的礼物单子，但愿当中有一件适合您爱人的礼物。祝大家度过一个愉快烂漫的情人节！

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Blouse: Versace for H&M Cruise Collection | Denim: Esprit | Watch: La Mer
Shoes: Courtesy of The Shoe Design Studio | Bag: Courtesy of Coach

I see a lot of possibilities in wearing the silk blouse. I could layer it with a smart blazer, match it with a pencil skirt or match it with skinnies of different colours. I think it’s really time to procure skinnies of different primary shades now.

A closer look of my custom-made shoes, which I am pleased to confirm that the fit is snug and the quality is decent. I was worried that the magenta nubuck heel would be rather fragile but after a bit of walk in a day, these heels pretty much looked as good as new.

I guess my point is, you need to brace yourself to see more of this silk blouse and colour-block shoes in my outfits going forward, as I try to rack my brains on different ways to style them.

Versace for H&M夏日系列当中的丝织上衣最近成功成为本人的囊中物。原本想搭配好久以前拥有的一件青色牛仔裤。但是，那件牛仔裤剪裁较宽松，配搭起来整个人的看起来圆润许多。最后还是打安全牌，换上浅色牛仔裤。然而，这件印有水果图案的丝织上衣可塑性相当高，可呈现出多种风格，是我近期入手的“新货”当中最喜欢的之一。

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• Yellow Fever
• Coach Spring/Summer 2012 Collection Focus: The Willis