I realise that a lot of my fashion posts feature a lot of “going out” or “formal” outfits.

So I put together a few of my “everyday” outfits, stuff that I actually wear and have worn during the week.

This week the theme is YELLOW!

LEFT

Stripe top- Alexander Wang from The Outnet
I am in love with basic luxe tees. Their slouchy look is just perfect with jeans, cropped pants, skirts or shorts.

Yellow jeans – YesStyle
These are just cheap and cheerful jeans from a Korean brand, Bengirl. The yellow colour is just how I like it – not too dull, not too bright.

Shoes – Habbot
Ah I wear these oxfords 3-4 times a week! Best shoe investment ever.

MIDDLE

Black knit – YesStyle
This knit is from a Korean brand called JCStyle, which has a fantastic range of smart casual clothes with a stylish and polished look. I’ve gotten a few knits from this brand, but this knit is my favourite because it’s lightweight, has batwing sleeves and a boat-neck neckline which makes for a very slouchy but polished look (ha!).

Neon top – J Crew
I bought this yellow top online and it’s VERY neon. Almost like what construction road workers wear in the rain! I have worn it under layers of black and navy knits and coats, but I’ve never worn it on it’s own yet!

Black skinny jeans – Vivianne Westwood
My black skinnies are a wardrobe staple.

Leopard heels – Nude Shoes
I love these shoes because of their very low heels. I usually wear them when I’m wearing a plain outfit, just to give a bit of fun detail.

RIGHT

Cream top – AL&ALICIA
A gorgeously simple, sleeveless top. Again perfect for everyday wear

Stripe skirt – YesStyle
This is from another Korean brand called J-ANN. It’s called a “Glitter Stripe Skirt” but it’s actually not very glittery at all. It’s a simple tube skirt made from a thick knit, so I’m sure it’ll see me into the cold weather – with tights and boots!

Yellow heels – ASOS
These are a very recent acquisition from ASOS. They are so much fun to wear and I adore them sooo much!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

For all you who had missed out on my last giveaway – here’s another awesome one to try!

If you have been a long-time follower of my blog, you might have noticed that I’m a fan of AL&ALICA. I’ve done many features of their collections, I have LOTS of clothes from this label and many of them are my wardrobe staples :)

Their designs are a wonderful mix of flirty + feminine, with a masculine edge. It’s kind of boy meets girl, and oozing with understated cool. Best of all, the clothes are comfortable, using high quality fabrics, with exceptional tailoring.

Well to celebrate their latest collection, the team from AL&ALICA are offering my readers a special giveaway.

Win any 2 items from the AL&ALICA website, of your choice!

Please scroll down for details!

The team sent me a few goodies to review, from the Spring Summer 2012 collection – Time to Pretend.

This first dress is the Kite Dress in Blossom colour. It’s probably more of a tunic or a mini dress, with pretty double layer drape at the front. It’s made from such a light, silky and luxurious fabric that you can wear it tucked into skirts or pants.

It’s perfect for warm weather, and those hot days when you still want to look stylish, yet effortless!

This is the Spellbound Jellybean Dress – another effortless dress that is pretty and colourful. I absolutely adored this one!

I’ve already worn it twice… and I got so many compliments :) I think it’s so eye catching because of its combination of pretty print and gorgeous tailoring.

The dress looks great with a blazer or denim jacket too!

Here I’m wearing a few items.

Emma Frost Top in Whipped Cream colour, which has the CUTEST polka dot bubble sheer things on it. It is sooooOOOooo cool!

This is my favourite piece in the whole collection. It combines *perfectly* with everything in my wardrobe (jeans, skirts, shorts, cropped pants) and gives each outfit a new breath of freshness that’s quirky and fun.

Yellow shorts are the Super Shorts in Buttercup colour. It is a relaxed tailored cut, with pleats, made from super soft tencel, with full lining. It’s lovely to wear. I felt very… luxuriousl, yet casual in it!

Lastly, in the outfit with my bright blue J Brand jeans, I’m wearing a Slouchy Jacket in Powder Puff colour. This is also made from super soft tencel and it’s soooo nice to wear. It’s a double breasted jacket with a relaxed fit.

You can check out the whole “Time To Pretend” collection at the Al & Alicia website!

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GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Who Can Enter:
It’s open to all readers WORLDWIDE, over the age of 18 years.

What You Win:
One lucky winner will get to pick 2 items of his/her choice, across all AL&ALICIA collections (including sale items), subject to stock availability.

Giveaway Ends:
The giveaway will last 10 days, from May 1st to May 10th, 5pm (GMT +8)

This giveaway is now closed!

The winner will be randomly selected and contacted via Facebook messages.

If the selected winner doesn’t respond in 48 hours, then I will have to redraw. I will announce the winner as soon as possible on my blog and my Facebook Page (please pop over and LIKE my page, if you haven’t already).

I will also be posting a reminder on my blog and Facebook Page, before the end of the giveaway.

Good luck!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

Thank you to everyone for supporting and entering this giveaway!!

The lucky winner, by random selection, is Qi En from Singapore.

A great big congratulations to you Qi En, I hope you find something amazing :)

For the rest of my readers… I have another giveaway that goes live on Tuesday ~ all the best!

Yes, my amazing, exclusive $1000 Shopthemag Giveaway is coming to a close soon. Friday!

It ends 5pm, Friday 27 April 2012 (GMT +8).

So if you’re thinking about entering… go go go! Details are at the bottom!

Last week I chose some items and outfits from Shopthemag that caught my eye. This week, I got to test them out, so here they are!

Check out this Asymmetric Zebra Print Dress by Blackheart. It’s super hot! With a high skirt-spilt, a plunging neckline, and wild print… this dress will definitely turn some heads. It’s perfect for a glamorous night out!

Blackheart is a new label, by designer Maria Agnes, with a tough, bold and sexy style. I like it!

See more clothes by Blackheart.

This Belted Silk Toga Dress by Burgundy is DIVINE!

The silk is amazing to wear – lusciously fluid, super soft and so comfortable. I slipped it on and it just felt amazing.

It comes with a “distressed” brown leather belt, which gives the dress a more casual look, but I decided to wear it with gold accessories, to maximize the glam potential!

The label, Burgundy, do a lot of gorgeous silk dresses, tops, jumpsuits and playsuits. Looking at all of the range, I could do with silk maxi dresses and a toga body suit (love!)

View whole collection from Burgundy.

This necklace is by Alldressedup, one of my favourite Singaporean fashion labels! It’s the Raiwe Silk Wrap Beaded necklace.

View whole collection from Alldressedup.

I love these bib style necklaces because they are like an instant embellishment to the entire outfit. You can wear them with a crisp white tee, or a simple black singlet top, or with a dress.

The Colour Block Drape Silk Top by Khoon Hoi, is a gorgeous top that is elegant, timeless and yet modern (minimal design, asymmetrical, yet features drapes and cap shoulders). I think it goes perfectly with my leather skirt.

View the whole collection from Khoon Hoi.

…………………………

This giveaway is now closed!

Hi everyone! Hope you’re all having a fabulous weekend so far!

It’s Saturday morning, I’m catching up on some news and blogs with a cup of tea, and thought some of you might like a reminder to enter my exclusive $1000 Shopthemag giveaway. Please go have a peek!

Pop over to the giveaway details on this blogpost.

I wanted to share a pic of this gorgeous, colourful cuff by Disaya, from Shopthemag. I am so in love with it!! It looks amazing when mixed up with other arm party goodies – definitely a must have for the new season.

Here I wore it with a watch by Guess (left) and a bracelet by Wanderlust + Co (middle).

I have an AMAZING, EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY for all my readers!!

Here’s your chance to win $1000 worth of designer clothes and accessories to spend at Shopthemag!

Shopthemag is the world’s first luxury fashion website that is dedicated entirely to showcasing the top fashion names in Asia. These include Singapore’s Koonhor and alldressedup; Thailand’s The Only Son and Disaya; India’s Manish Arora and Japan’s Akira Naka.

They recently launched a B.A.D. Campaign – Backing Asian Designers – aimed to bring new awareness to the growing list of premium designers and movers and shakers in Asia’s fashion industry.

And as part of the BAD campaign, they are running THIS exclusive giveaway for readers of Karen Cheng only – that’s YOU! :)

So let’s be BAAAAAAD and support the amazing fashion talent of Asia – scroll down for the giveaway details.

These are my picks of designer items that I’d LOVE to buy… if I won $1000!

Khoon Hooi, Off-Shoulder Asymmetric Cocktail Dress – S$645.00
Disaya, Glistening Nightfall Ring – S$199.00
Frank, Triple-wrap Leather Bracelet – S$129.00

Blackheart, Faux Fur Coat, S$399.00
Burgundy, Cross-back Silk Maxi Dress – S$389.00
Disaya, Cameo Ring – S$199.00

Tangram, Waisted Silk Skirt with Drapes in Fuchsia – S$259.00
Song, Double Collar Convertible Cotton Poplin Shirt – S$169.00
Tan & Brown, Catharina Cheetah-print Mini Case – S$566.00

Chai Gold Label, Knotted Sleeve Dress, S$599.00
Alldressedup, Maxim Printed Jersey Cross-drape Dress, S$389.00

But what do YOU like?!

……………………………………………………………………….

Win a SG$1000 voucher from Shopthemag

This giveaway is now closed!

You’ve probably seen the trend of stacking multiple bracelets and bangles on your wrists, which are called “arm parties”.

It’s wonderfully fun to wear and gives your outfit a sexy, playful edge. Well the team from Wanderlust + Co asked me to share how I put my arms parties together.

They have also given all my readers a special 20% discount code! Please scroll down for details.

Honestly, there is no rule for arm parties – just stack heaps of your favourite bangles and bracelets together – whatever best reflects your personality and mood at the moment!

However sometimes – even I can admit – that the haphazard stacking can look a bit crazy and messy (which is fine when you are in a “crazy and messy mood”).

But when you want to look a bit more “put together”…. here are a few visual design tips.

1) Try just one large chunky item – your favourite watch, a big-colourful bangle, a sparkly-spiky bracelet.

2) Team it with one statement piece that compliments (or boldly contrasts) your outfit. If you’re wearing black, try a bold orange or neon piece!

3) Select 2-3 smaller bracelets that each compliment at least one other item already chosen!

4) Stick to one metallic tone for all pieces. Eg gold, silver, rose gold.

5) Stock up on white, black, nudes and neutral bracelets, because they are so versatile!

6) Experiment and be playful with you colour combinations!

Here some arm party inspirations, featuring pieces from the mouth-watering wrist collection from Wanderlust + Co.

Top – Redophin; Skirt – LClothes; Shoes – Gucci replicas.

Wanderlust + Co Sunburst Navy Leather Wrap, Snake cuff from Forever New, Multi-stud Silver Nude Wrap, Watch from Guess, Blue Chain Toggle Bracelet.

Top – Alexander Wang; Leather skirt – YesStyle; Shoes – ASOS.

Wanderlust + Co Multi-Stud Silver Nude Wrap, White Cuff from Sportsgirl, Multi-Bar Gold Camel Bracelet, Sunburst Navy Leather Wrap.

Top – Prada; Pants – ASOS; Heels – Sportsgirl.

Silver Braid Cuff – Sportsgirl, Wanderlust + Co XL DLink Gold Turquoise Bracelet, Rainbow Braid from Dressonomy, Multi-bar Gold Camel Bracelet.

The W+Co team is offering all my readers a discount code of 20% everything!

Just use the code “karen20” at check out. Valid for 5 days, until the end of 14 April.

Hope you find something you love!!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

These are some fab items I picked up from YesStyle.

I’m getting ready for the cool weather with this gorgeous yellow wool pea coat.

I thought a yellow would be a nice way to inject some colour and sunshine into dreary cold days. It’s a bit different to your regular black, grey, navy and camel coloured coats, and it certainly makes a happy statement.

This jacket is by Angel Love, a label full of feminine lace skirts, chiffon blouses , pleated skirts, and crocheted tops.

This chiffon mint shirt, with cut-out shoulders, is super hot! I can’t wait to style it soon. It’s breezy and easy, effortless and sexy – I really like a lot!

It’s from one of my favourite Korean labels, Redopin. They have some really cool mint / light green items (tops, jackets, knits) in their latest release, if you want to check it out.

I’ve been wanting a pair of yellow jeans for ages! And now I’ve already been wearing these to death :)
(Unfortunately these have been sold out.)

Oh and these are some labels I wanted to mention, as they currently have some great stuff on sale.

Stylementor from Korea has a really simple and stylish look. Nice knits, on-trend office pieces (sheer blouses, printed shirts, pleated skirts, colourful blazers) that can be easily worn from work to play.

Puffy has some really nice polka dot dresses at the moment, pretty chiffon tops and stripe tops too. Worth a look if you haven’t browsed already.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

xxx

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a bunch of gorgeous evening dresses :)

I picked out 4 dresses from ClubCouture and each one made me squeal with delight!

This first dress is the One Shoulder Banded Bodycon Dress from the Premium range.

Its quality and construction is fantastic (much better than bandage dresses from Topshop, Zara, or ASOS). The fabric is wonderfully thick, firm and stretch.

Personally, I feel that this dress totally rates as a high-end designer dress (without the whopping price tag).

I wore it out to my 10th anniversary dinner with my husband and I felt amazing to be wearing it!  Because of its one shoulder style, it made me feel a bit more elegant for a special occasion.

And here is this very similar but different  second dress. It felt so comfortable, so balanced, so perfectly snug on my whole body… I felt like I could last a whole day and evening in it.

It is called the Monochrome Banded Bodycon Dress and again it is from the Premium collection.

I think this dress looks  gorgeous, in a more classic, accentuates-your-curves, safe-but-sexy way!

Again the quality and construction of this dress is great. The firm fabric and fit feels a bit like shape-wear that pulls all your curves into place :)

I can’t choose which dress I prefer. Which is to say, I prefer both of them.

But wait, there are more!!

The black dress is called the Satin and Lace Prom Dress.

It’s $59 dollars and it’s such a cute, simple and high-impact dress! The bodice has a simple elastic at the back and it’s easy and comfortable to wear. It nips in nice and tight at the waist, and puffs out into a full circle mini skirt. It’s fun and very flirty.

The aqua dress is the Teal Bodycon Dress, just $59. This one is also a nice, simple, easy to wear dress, that you can easily dress up or down. I really liked the colour too.

The material is of a lesser quality than the first 2 bandage dresses, but it matches the quality of clothes from ASOS. Definitely a great, affordable dress.

I’m liking the whole collection at ClubCouture for their affordable clothes. There are hundreds of dress styles there. And plenty of on-trend tops – from lovely blouses to casual jersey drape tops.

Hope you find something you like!

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

PeepToe Shoes are having a massive Online Warehouse Sale!!

There are a huge range of shoes, ballet flats, bags and jewellery that are all up to 75% off. You can pick up some statement high heels from $49, clutches from $29, and kick-ass, on-trend jewellery from $10.

The team sent me a few sale samples (which I have to send back) and deary me, it’s cruel I tell you. This bracelet above is $25. The rock and rock bracelet (with skulls) were $79, now $25.

The aqua suede shoes were $279, now only $99!

These ballet flats I’m wearing were $199, now $79. Next to them are Mushroom heels also were $199, now $79.

Limited time only, don’t miss it.

There’s heaps more on the sale site, so please go check it out!!

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

www.peeptoeshoes.com.au

Nuffnang and Dove set me on a hair challenge – to try out the new Dove Nutri-Oil Serum, a “weightless blend of oils that give instant smoothness and shine”.

This is the hair diary that I kept while testing out the product.

Week 1

In my hair-product cupboard, I counted about 10 different brands and products – hair oil, hair repair cream, de-frizz serum, smoothing cream, straitening cream, heat protecting cream, hair mask, leave in conditioner, QV protection spray, hair gloss spray, vitamin E nourishing spray!

I moved them all aside, and I started to use Dove Nutri-Oil Serum, only.

You can read this post, to see how I actually applied the product.

After a few washes and applications of the Nutri-Oil Serum, my hair felt really nice. It felt smoothed, sleek, shiny, soft and not-frizzy. It looked great too.

But ok I wasn’t that surprised. Obviously, Dove know quite a bit about hair care. And other (more expensive) hair oils and hair products have produce the same effect for me in the past.

Nonetheless, I was very pleased with the result.

So…. TICK, the Dove Nutri-Oil Serum does deliver “instant smoothness and shine”.

Week 2

This is my hair, the day after I washed it – looking nice and healthy!

I have been doing a lot of cycling and going to the gym. Think sweaty, itchy, oil-slick hair! Thus I have been washing my hair and using the serum a bit more often than usual.

Pleasantly delighted that my hair still felt soft and manageable.

I have had more “good hair” days than “bad hair” days!

Week 3

This week I really noticed the small details from longer term use of the product.

I became aware of its “weightlessness”. My hair still felt light after using it. And it did not feel heavy or weighed down.

I liked the smell of it.

I liked that it is a non-greasy formula, so the residue left on my hands (after I run it through my hair) is not gross and oily.

The serum comes in a handy pump pack – which was very convenient. No fiddling around with unscrewing caps and oily dribbles.

The bottle is made of plastic (not glass!!!!) with a cap… so just I threw it into my gym bag or my beach bag, and used it on the go.

Week 4

I went to the gym twice a week and I cycled twice a week. The weather has been hot so we’ve been swimming at the beach and pool.

I went to a fashion event and I curled my hair with a curling iron.

I’d say my hair had been under moderate stress, yet it still looked great!!

I’m very happy with the serum.

Overall, I have to admit that I spend a lot of time trying to get my hair to look great. And it seems that with the Dove Nutri-Oil Serum, over long-term use, it is significantly easier to keep my hair manageable and looking healthy, smooth and shiny.

For price, portability, feel and appearance, it is very good.

And for $9.95 (RRP) a bottle, it is great value for money.

I want to introduce to you a new line of clothes from Ciao Bella Travel, called Bamboo Body, which is all about versatile travel wear and casual everyday wear.

The clothes are made from bamboo viscose and organic cotton. They are super-soft, smooth, thick and strong, and environmentally friendly.

Ciao Bella are offering 15% off the ENTIRE SITE to all my readers, please see below for details.

I had the pleasure of testing out a few pieces, and here are my favourites!

This Henley Tank Dress is fabulous as a casual, everyday dress with a very relaxed style. You just throw it on as is, or you can play with the ruching on the sides to make it shorter or longer.

I wore it 3 ways.

1) Worn long, with a slight side ruche. Nice and simple.

2) Worn with a belt. I pulled some fabric over the belt to make the dress even shorter.

3) And I felt like such a clever chicken here! I gathered up one side to create a very high split. I wore a sparkly, black tank top and tied a knot on one side. I popped a crisp white jacket over the top. Slipped on some heels and VIOLA! A completely different kind of outfit for a smoking night out!!

Just a few sizing tips (if you’re small like me). I’m usually a size AUS 6, and this dress was labelled “Extra Small” which translates to a size AUS 8. So it was a tiny bit big on me. It would fit a size AUS or UK 8 (US 4) perfectly. Check out the sizing chart on the site!

The dress also comes in black, brown and nautical navy + white stripes! You can see the items here.

Speaking of nautical stripes – I loved this Bamboo Body Swing Top. It’s so soft and comfy. I also tucked it into some colours jeans and threw a blazer over the top for a smarter look.

Again the size “Extra Small” would suit a size AU 8 better, but ah, that won’t stop me from wearing it!

And lastly, this Scandi Dress is lovely and simple. I adore the bright colour, the flattering cut, and the ruched details. It’s a great summer dress and perfect for lounging around the pool too.

You can check out their whole range of Bamboo Body items here.

The kind team at Ciao Bella have given my readers a really special discount off EVERYTHING in their store. You can pick up some great yoga/travel wear from Abi and Joseph, dresses by Sacha Drake, super-handy travel cloth bags for intimate wear and more.

15% off everything on Ciao Bella Travel for all my readers!
Valid until 31 March 2012. Enter promo code KAREN CHENG in the promo code box at the check-out.

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

About 5-6 weeks ago (yes it was ages ago!) I bought these AMAZING flower print pants from ASOS!

I am just so in love with the crazy, bold, colourful print! I’ve already worn them a few times, but it’s the first time I’ve shown them on my blog.

Haha they are an absolute eye-catcher. They seriously make people look at your legs and bum.

Which yes, as a result, I was asking my husband several times in the evening, DOES THIS MAKE MY ASS LOOK BIG? How about at this angle? Or this?

He assured me that while where was a lot of trippy, flower-action happening, no, my ass did not look bigger than normal. Phew.

50% off 50 Sale at ASOS

ASOS are having a fabulous 50% off Sale on 50 items – full of flowers, bright colours and happy patterns! There is a bright tangerine bowling bags for under $30, pastel knitted jumpers for $28, sequin dress for $40, and playsuits for $29!

Be quick the sale ends tomorrow evening!

Check out the ASOS Australia Sale

Check out the ASOS Asia Sale

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

Let me introduce you to a new online shop and fashion label called, Dresstronomy.

Based in Singapore, the store offers a unique selection of simple, elegant dresses at a affordable prices.  Quite a few of them caught my eye :)

Check out their collection of dresses here.

I tested out this lovely dress, called Pin Up Girl.

I was completely smitten by its shape – the drapey top, with a v-neck and the long, straight skirt, with a mega split! It looked fantastic on!

The dress is priced at about US$120 which is quite good for an elegant evening gown that’s a bit different.

It’s the most expensive piece in the collection, and the rest of the dresses are priced from US$38 to US$90 (they are currently having a sale).

Here, I am trying out this leatherette-with-studs clutch with some of  my own clothes.  I chose this particular clutch because it seems like it could go with a lot of outfit variations in my wardrobe. Fast, easy, reliable, versatile.

Take a look at all the Bags and Clutches at Dresstronomy.

They have free shipping within Singapore, and flat rate international shipping which is about US$30.

Do check out the rest of the site!

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

The very kind team at YesStyle sent over a voucher for me to choose and review a few items.

Something like a “Karen Cheng’s Pick of YesStyle”… so here are some amazing goodies I found!

Faux fur is definitely still in season, so I thought I’d update my collection with a white furry coat. I love it! It was soooo affordable and exactly the style I was looking for.

Unfortunately for me, my children heard me say “WHITE GOAT”. So every time I put this baby on, I hear never-ending giggles about my white goat.

View All Coats and Outerwear from YesStyle here.

Secondly I chose this beeeeeautiful black sequined mini skirt.

I liked it because it’s not uniformly-straight sequins. It has a bit of sparkly knit mixed into it and the shadows and negative shapes look like flames or a weird animal skin. Also the sequins are a bit matte and look like leather sequins. It’s too cool.

(Update: Sorry this one is sold out now.)

View All Skirts here.

Next up, found some really cute handbag designs from a Korean brand called AJITO (view collection here).

With sooo many designs, I was bound to find something I liked. I put another order in for a MINT leatherette bag too.

Now I have a few friends who are trying to convince me to buy a hair piece… and they’ve told me that YesStyle have a really great range.

I had a look and holy cow, there are lots of cool looking styles… but ah… wigs are not really my thing. Maybe for a crazy dress up party? Maybe a super-long curly wig? Maybe maybe.

Check out All Wigs and Hair Pieces at YesStyle.

By the way, they have a special shipping promotion for Australian customers!
Orders less than AU$75 = AU$4.99 Standard Shipping
Orders AU$75 – AU$149.99 = Free Standard Shipping
Orders AU$150 or more = Free Express Shipping

Have a fantastic weekend!

…

Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

I’m very excited to introduce my readers to an online shop called, FashionValet.

Perhaps many of my readers will have already heard of this store, but for those who haven’t… FashionValet is a very popular online shop based in Malaysia, offering a MASSIVE collection of ready-to-wear local designer clothes.

They have 60+ labels, about 80% of them are Malaysian designers and labels (Radzuan Radziwill, Tom Abang Saufi, Gallo, Azorias, Jas C, PU3 to name a few) and the rest are brands from the Asian region.

What hooked me in about this site… is that they celebrates their local designers, making fashion accessible to a wide range of tastes… and there is a strong “local fashion flavour” that is quite exciting for me to experiment and style with.

I’m wearing a ready-to-wear kaftan by Radzuan Radziwill, one of the most established designers in Malaysia, honoured and awarded for his contributions towards fashion in Malaysia.

Kaftans are very popular in Malaysia, and there’s a strong trend for young women to wear kaftans to glamorous events and weddings.

As you can see from Radziwill’s very large collection, kaftans come in lots of bright colours and lovely, long, flowing drapes!

I’ve always wanted a dressy kaftan, so I chose a leopard print sheer kaftan and wore my own black slip underneath. It is a one size fits all, so I pinned it along the bottom and pinned it at the back, so it hugs my figure a little. I will definitely take it to my tailor.

It is just gorgeous!! I feel very floaty and elegant.

This is a long tunic top by label TAS Iman by Tom Abang Saufi, another prominent Malaysian label.

I loved the drape of this top, the colours, and the combination of chiffon and jersey. Plus I really like it that I haven’t seen anything like this before – very unique!

I styled the top in two ways – worn long with leather leggings and tucked into leather shorts. I could also wrap a belt over it, or just wear it as a mini dress.

Lastly this top is a sheer blouse with embellished details at the collar. Sheer blouses are hot at the moment, and this one is pretty much perfect – including a pretty collar detail and 3/4 sleeves.

It is by a Malaysian ready-to-wear label called, Jas C, who has a really nice collection of affordable, on-trend fashion (check out the maroon pussybow playsuit!)

Again I styled it in two ways. Worn over a bra and with a sequin gold skirt. And worn with a singlet camisole and camel pants.

It’s a pretty big site, so if you’re not sure where to start, try the What’s New section.

Or try some browsing some of these brands:
Azorias
Quirky Brown Cow
Loushkii
Janelle

These are their shipping details:
Malaysia – Free for all orders
Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia – RM30 (US$10) flat rate. If the order is above RM 500 (US$165) then shipping is free.
Australia – RM 50 (AU$15) flat rate for all orders.

*Special Worldwide Discount for Karen Cheng Readers!!*
20% off EVERYTHING, including sale items.
Coupon Code: TEHTARIK
Last day to redeem is 12th of March.

Collect Loyalty Points
Oh and I’ve been told there’s a special Loyalty Programme where you can collect points when you shop and those points can be redeemed into cash for your future orders. Head on over to check it out!

Happy shopping!!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

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Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

I got to choose a few statement accessories from my-wardrobe.com to style and wear out, but alas, they had to be returned.

This choker is just gorgeous! It looks and feels amazing to wear, and it definitely adds a sexy-tough edge to any outfit. I wanted to wear it with a blazer and pants, a maxi corset dress, a mini bodycon dress and more!

Gold and Silver Likanis Choker By Malene Birger.

If you check out the product page,  it’s been styled in some really nice outfits – worn with white + palazzo pants, a drape dress, crop pants +  cardigan, a blazer, and a jumpsuit.

This Natural Marano Sea Snake Clutch by Anya Hindmarch is just beautiful. It oozes timeless glamour and luxury. I was just gazing at it all night… because it was so pretty and because I didn’t want anyone to steal it!

I also wore this V-Knot Amber Ring by Wanderlust and Co.

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

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Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

On behalf of Dove, Nuffnang (my advertising sponsors) have asked me to write about my hair… AS IT IS RIGHT NOW.

Later on, I’ll also be testing out some Dove hair products and keeping a kind of hair diary. So for those who like a low down on hair, do look out for my future posts about this.

My Hair Lifestyle

I am pretty lucky with my hair. It is naturally thick, strong, and healthy. In fact, my hair is so thick that many hairdressers complain that I make their scissors blunt.

My hair also tends to be on the oily side.

And I love having very long hair!

So long, thick hair PLUS OIL = a maintenance headache.

I do lots of gardening. I play with my toddler in sandpits. I go swimming once or twice a week (beach and pool). I hit the gym. I cycle a few times a week, making for several hours of my head being in a sweaty helmet.

Basically, my hair is a filter cleaner for environmental pollution. It collects dirt better than an expensive vacuum cleaner. A blue whale in an algae bloom.

It gets dirty and gross very quickly.

I live in a bit of a cycle. The after I wash my hair, I like to wear it down, so I can feel it rolling sensually over my skin as I move. But by the end of day three, it is so oily, heavy and icky, that I am so ashamed of it, I wear it wrapped up in a bun so no one can see it.

Cleaning

I wash my hair every 2-3 days, in the evenings. I towel-dry, then blow-dry my hair.

I use 3 different brands of shampoos and conditioners (which are pretty good brands, costing me somewhere between $25-$40 per bottle). I use them on a rotation of 2 weeks, because of the product build-up.

I use quite a few hair care products, which I use sparingly – strengthening serums, hair oils, heat protection creams. These products are from the more expensive salon brands, as I like to buy the good stuff (and I do receive a lot of salon samples).

Preening

I don’t use any gels, mousse, or hair spray.

I don’t brush my hair. I use a wide-tooth comb.

I’ve never permed or chemically straightened my hair.

I straighten my hair with a straightening iron once a week, and maybe curl it once a month.

Because my hair is long and straight, I can get away without having it cut so often. I have one every 6-8 months. Right now, I haven’t coloured or cut my hair in 6 months. I haven’t had a hair treatment in ages! My ends are splitting, wispy and dry.

I was due to have a hair cut last month. But with Christmas, New Year and the school holidays… I just couldn’t find any time.

And at the moment, I’m trying to grow my hair longer. Hence my reluctance to go to a hair dresser.

Not to mention, I am lazy.

Overall

I am feeling pretty bleh about my hair.

Basically, I think my hair is in pretty good condition. But It could be much, much better though!

I probably do need to give it a bit more loving.

I don’t believe there is *one miracle hair product* that can make your hair look like magic. I think it’s a combination of good health, good habits, good maintenance, good products and a bloody good hair stylist!

But in saying that, there are some fabulous products out there, and unfortunately you have to do a bit of trail and error, to find the ones that suit you and your lifestyle.

So, in my never-ending quest to keep my long, thick, and black hair in good shape, I’m quite interested to test out the new Dove product (Dove Nutri-Oil Serum, “a weightless blend of oils that are rapidly absorbed to give instant smoothness and shine”), which claims to be just like Moroccan Oil, without the high price tag.

We shall see!

I was sent a few shoes from Gorge (short for Gorgeous) and they asked me to see what I think, and give them a bit of a test drive.

They certainly are bold, sexy and uniquely designed shoes made from lovely materials – great for girls who want to make a statement. They are eye-catching and comfortable too.

The shoes are priced around $250 – $350.

But they are currently having a 50% off the whole collection, so they are now $120 – $175 which is quite cool if you’re looking for high quality statement shoes.

Also international shipping and delivery is FREE.

This is ENVY – two toned leather heels, with teal suede and metal embellishments.

Obviously these shoes are very “look at me” and they will go with bold, brightly coloured outfits. But they can look great with a simple outfit too – worn with a simple black cocktail dress, or a plain white party dress.

So if you want to perk up some of the dresses in your wardrobe into a fresh outfit… statement shoes and accessories are a great way to go.

I’m wearing PINK SPICE – all leather, with a sexy chrome anklet chain and a little jewel detail on the heel.

These were comfortable too. I wore them for 5 hours straight without any complaints.

They felt very minimal, which was nice, but still had enough bling to make my feet feel sexy and girly.

Lastly, these white loafers SIGNORINA, are a little different to the rest of the collection, but still look fresh, smart and stylish.

Loafers are very popular at the moment, and I think this style (with added pleats details and the silver buckle) will last for many seasons.

They were a *tiny* bit big, but I slipped in an insertable shoe sole and it was all good.

I’m wearing size 36 for all these shoes. I’m usually a EU 35.5 – 36, or size AUS & US 5 – 6 or UK 3.

You can check out their whole collection on the Gorge Website.

Happy Shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

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Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

This new season, printed pants have become very popular. I reckon it’s an awesome trend, because it’s so bold, daring and FUN!!

Check these babies out! They are floral pants from ASOS, and they scream SPRIIIING!!

Pants: ASOS
Tank: Rick Owens from The Outnet
Ring: Diva and Wanderlust and Co
Shoes: ASOS

I’ve had these skinny leopard print pants for a while now (since last August?). They kind of got lost in my wardrobe, and I recently rediscovered them again. Looking forward to giving them a better run around when the weather cools down.

Pants: Yesstyle
Tee: T by Alexander Wang from shopbop.com
Shoes: Sportsgirl

I also dug up another treasure!

I bought a lilac Prada silk top age while ago from ebay, I wore it a few times, but then it got lost beneath my brighter coloured tops.

I pulled it out again, because I wanted to wear it with my rose pink tulip skirt.

Camisole: Prada
Skirt: Forever New
Rings: Wanderlust and Co
Snake bracelet: Forever New
Leopard shoes: Nude

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

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Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.