#TrioThursday: Polka Dot

Not really celebrating Chinese New Year but from where I am right now (blogging from Kuala Lumpur, you guys!) where the festivities have begun, you can just simply tell that this playful dress from Zaful is the best featured dress for today's hashtag. (Red and polka dot, right?)

This is one of my favorite maxis of the moment. Here are the three ways I've accessorized it so far. 

Polka Dot Maxi Dress

Honey Mustard

Oh, nothing. Just a quick post to remind you that your coziest sweater in the most striking color from Zaful is already found. Aside from it's ultra soft texture (seriously, I almost wanna sleep in it whenever I wear it), this color that is almost close to camel and is so versatile. You should totally wait for my #triothursday post using this top. It's considered a very HOT item with many positive feedback so check it out in the link below. Also, featured here is a beret in a similar tone and both look perfect together for this cold season. ;)

Lantern Sleeve Mock Neck Sweater

Winter Wool Beret

This post was in collaboration with Zaful. All styling by yours truly. Use the code ZafulChen in your purchases to get additional discounts. :) 

PJs

Patterned separates trend isn’t something new. And so is comfy dressing via athleisure. Combine them together and what do you have? Ladies and gents, a look that allows you to say I literally woke up like this. Lol. I’m talking about the pyjama trend.

Pyjamas broke out of the bedroom and into the runway sometime summer of 2016 and the trend shows no sign of letting up. It’s comfy and nap-ready especially for people like me who can just lean the head on something and go straight to sleep. HAHAHA. I consider it a talent thank you very much.  

Although the preferred material as always for PJs are silk, they can be easily crumpled and snagged. Hence, I opted for this quite structured set from Zaful. The pastel color and floral print simply screams bedtime (lol) however the top and bottoms are both tailored pieces that combine ease with structure. Other special details of the blazer top include slits on the sleeves while the trousers are part gartered at the back to provide additional comfort. If not dressed up, the look may appear too casual so it’s best to elevate it up by pairing it with heels and structured bags. But if you’re not into a bold look like this, you can always ease into the trend by wearing them separately and combine them together when you’re ready. HAR! Get the pair in the links below. ;)

Open Sleeve Floral Blazer

Floral Wide Leg Pants

This post was in collaboration with Zaful. All styling by yours truly. Use the code ZafulChen in your purchases to get additional discounts. :) 

#FitnessFriday: Self-Acceptance/ Self-Love

"If we hate any part of ourselves, then nothing is ever good enough."

For the last #fitnessfriday posts featuring activewear from my sponsors Rosegal and Zaful, they were always about a review of the product and making sure I somehow look good with it in the photos. I’m sure that by now the brand’s quality is pretty much established and proven trendy. So let me just tackle another point here…

The truth is, I wasn’t really satisfied with how I presented the products upon myself. Lol. Prolly not my tiptop shape to wear something ab-baring or (or lack thereof) or skintight at the moment of shoot. I was pretty sure I didn’t slip into my regular fitness routine too though I could’ve overeaten or something and there could be a whole other reasons why.

But at the end of the day, aside from the pressure from the sponsors to post (lol), I just have to finally let these pics out and say, “Sod it!” This body has run half marathons in the past, can do a back to back dance (energetic if I may add) class if needed or climb the second highest summit of the country without prior training. This body has served me well so much. What do I have to complain about?

Quick description of the items here: if you haven’t heard of the naked trend, well it has taken over the athleisure world particularly in the form of leggings. I’ve had attendees doing double takes if I was really wearing at the bottom with this nude two tone thingy. Haha! And it’s so sweet to find a cool take on the hoodie with this open front top from Rosegal.

Open Front Cropped Hoodie

Two Tone Active Yoga Leggings
Hoop Earrings

Plunging sports top, yaaay! Definitely flattering for flat-chested ITBC members. Lol. But what I appreciate the most here is the half-hand coverage through a thumbhole that doubles up as fitness gloves for tough workouts. 💪 

Plunging Neck Sports Top

P.S. Use the code ZafulChen and RosegalChen in your purchases to get additional discounts. :) Happy Shopping! 

Sponsored: Citrus Floral

And so I learned that in France, summer doesn’t officially end until September 21 but the avenues and parks have taken on their autumn reflections and the streets are already carpeted with fallen leaves by the time I arrived a month ago. It’s an inspiring sight actually as I’ve never really been to any country in all its autumnal poetry but a bit sad coz my expectations were different when it comes to my initially planned outfits. Haha. You see I was planning to wear a lot of summery dresses during my stay but the temperature ranged from 10 to 16C when I was there.

As some style blog would advice, dark florals are the way to go during winter season. But this citrusy floral from Zaful is also good for those in transition period. First of all, it’s summery with its floral print but the long sleeves and longer skirt hemline makes the cold weather a bit tolerable especially if you pair with a tall high boots in tan color (soon). Would’ve loved to bring this with me but alas, it didn’t sit well with the other accessories that I planned to rotate in my 30kg allowable baggage. Haha. But I still love this dress and thankfully I live in the tropics so I can wear this a lot here :)

Floral Print Long Sleeves Dress

Another thing that I wanted to bring with me? This canary dress. I don’t know but it’s just the perfect look for Paris’ gardens, don’t you think? Trust me, I tried but it’s just too cold guys. Too cold. Haha. Atleast, I was able to bring this Zaful necklace with me in Paris. Hehe.

Rhinestone Circle Layered Necklace

P.S. Use the code ZafulChen in your purchases to get additional discounts. :) Happy Shopping! 

Naked Dress Trend

There's a trend name for those see-through dresses you've been seeing on the red carpets lately from Beyonce to Rihanna to Kim K - it's the naked dress, an oxymoron first coined by Charlotte York in SATC.

Uhmm, there's probably no need to define what a barely there dress is lol but the style experts gave us 10 levels of nakedness here. Personally, I like how TMR gave its definition: a true naked dress is the rare garment that combines the two - hinting at the allusion of nakedness but doing so in a way that doesn't transcend the wearer's sense of personal style. 👍

Having said that, here's another way I tackled this polka dot (watch out for this print on fall) sheer dress from Zaful (check out the first look here). You may still check it out in the link below.

Polka Dot Sheer Dress

P.S. Use coupon ZafulChen for additional discounts upon purchase :)

Red Gingham

I love following trends. But as what was pointed out here, I really agree that it is important that you still stick to your personal style and not just buy something because everyone is having it. Of course when it comes to polarizing trends such as this (sheer dress, anyone?), I love the part where I challenge myself and make a certain look my own. And I am grateful to have partners that allow me to tackle on trends without shelling out a single centavo. Still, when it comes to choosing items to feature from their lineup, I rather prefer tried and trusted trends – something like gingham.

When combined with on-trend ruffles for summer, this gingham skirt makes for a truly versatile piece. And when paired with chic summer accessories like this ark bag that FINALLY has landed on my hands (I will discuss in my next post), it’s once again another perfect summer combo. :) This ruffled skirt is from Zaful by the way.

Asymmetric Gingham Skirt

Top: Here; Hat: H&M; Shoes: Miss Selfridge

#FitnessFriday: Gym Dress Codes

If you’re someone like me who’s in the gym almost everyday (trust me, a 5-min walk or 15-min walk to the gym is a very good motivator *wink*), then chances are you get tired of your usual outfits. It’s not that I don’t recommend a “uniform” or a standard outfit formula (after all, sometimes we’re already stressed out on what to wear at work so why still bother for the gymwear?) but then again it feels good to switch things up a bit from time to time.

And who better to turn to for motivational gym outfits than one of the queens of athleisure Kendall J herself? Supported by other Adidas endorsers like Rita Ora, tracksuits are back but not the velour type of the 90s (one that I once dreamt of wearing, in pink. Haha!) but in different iterations. I’m talking about this black hooded one-piece from Sammydress that I didn’t realize is one hella sexy playsuit in the gym. Lol. Seriously, I felt like I was in a catwoman suit in this piece because of the fit. For someone like me who knows the discomforts of a jumpsuit, I can recommend this piece to wear for those times where you just wanna feel sexy while doing light gym workouts. :)

Skinny Hooded Jumpsuit

If you're joining group exercise classes in the gym though, one part of the fun particularly in the program that I teach (lol!) is the dress code. It's not something that happens every week for a class and sometimes the dress codes aren't that comfortable (lol!) but what the heck, it's just fun when everybody turns up in their own versions and interpretations of the theme. From animal prints to military to movie-inspired themes like Grease, the options are endless. I intend to bring the same culture to the new gym where I'm currently teaching (since most of them being K-Pop fanatics, lol!) and here's probably a good matching set from Zaful to wear. P.S. Actual gym wear for planned K-Pop night may vary. Haha!

Mesh Sleeves Cropped Top

Knitted Mini Skirt

P.S. No, we don't use balance balls in the program I'm teaching. Hahaha!