Fashion in Bangkok

Gaysorn Plaza, one of the luxury landmarks in Bangkok.

It's safe to say that when it comes to fashion Thailand is quite a prominent industry player in South East Asia region. Reading about Thai's retail prowess in the blogs all these years has made a personal impression on me. I must say the recent trip to Bangkok has given the perfect chance for me to delve, if only ever so superficially, into the burgeoning fashion atmosphere of Siam. Reading Business of Fashion's article about how uncertain Thailand's future of retail industry due to political turmoil is just the tip of the iceberg. The reality is, indeed, undeniably bleak but as the only Asian country that is never colonised, some local experts take an optimistic view of the scenario. No matter how shaky the situation is, at least I feel grateful to witness a booming Asian fashion empire that harbours both global luxury companies and local designers, all within a close vicinity.

Shoeaholic: Missoni - Converse collab, Margiela mesh boots

From time to time, instead of 'serious' topics like the unrest in Syria, child labor or the wildfire spread of HIV and tuberculosis, my mind lingers on shoes. Yes, those seemingly unimportant things your wear on your feet. Call me whatever you wish, but that's how my thought works. And recently I have been thinking about these shoes that might not matter much compared to the issues I mentioned above, but might just make somebody like me a wee bit happier owning them.

You know how high/low collaboration makes me feel. I say yes to fashion democracy. Make people dream of the beautiful things they can't afford, but please rightfully make a mass-produced collection that even someone like me can purchase on a whim. Please give an applause to Missoni's latest collaboration with Converse. God I can't even afford their diffusion line M Missoni. Well, the ones sold in Starhill Gallery at least *cough* mark up*cough*. So this zigzag-laden Chuck Taylor sneakers might be just the answer. I don't know about you, but with a price point of USD200 a pop I might think twice, because to me it's still quite pricey for a pair of canvas sneakers. Anyhow, my favorite is the blue version. They're available on Converse website now.

 

images via fashionologie

The second shoes do not typically fit my kind of footwear, because I'm not quite sure if I can work these Margiela mesh booties complete with perspex heels. But looking at the shoes in person during my paparazzi-style coverage at Runway in Saigon made me fall in love with them instantly. Just for the sake of their beauty, that is. Not to mention how they can be an excellent instant height-increasing device!

 

images via net-a-porter

Printastic finds at Bến Thành Market

Behind Saigon's fledgling luxury retail stands a thriving fabric business that is mainly concentrated in Bến Thành Market. Despite its touristy location I did find that this is the best place for arguably the most affordable fabrics with amazing prints you could find in Vietnam (I also visited the almost-similarly-named Ben Thay market but the selection there is much limited).

 

I was spoilt for choices as rows and rows of fabrics being stacked in each tiny, packed shop. My attention was drawn towards the first shop near the side entrance of the market, where the lady seller is able to converse in Malay quite excellently. Here, the fabrics are already cut into 3.5 to 4 metres each, with prices ranging from MYR(Malaysian Ringgit) 25 to MYR30 for English cotton fabrics and, expectedly, they also stock the more luxurious, hence pricier fabrics such as chiffon.

   

I spy a Marni-at-H&M-esque print (far right)

 

I got myself two rolls of Liberty-esque paisley prints and a piece of cloth with tiny black-and-white prints. I'm considering to make a shirt or two out of these, and perhaps even a pair of trousers from the paisley print!

As I delved deeper into the market I was continuously amazed by other items they have to offer. In this case, I suspect Malaysian ladies will be stunned in disbelief when they saw these ready-made Baju Kurungs complete with intricate beadwork, all at a bottom-rock price. Most pieces are sold at around MYR50 (which is around £10) - literally dirt cheap considering the fact that the beads are painstakingly handsewn into each collar and sleeve!

 

My little sister snagged this cheeky sock-print Baju Kurung with the loveliest dark blue background. 

I 'd say the trip to the market had knocked my socks off! (pun intended)

Blowing candles in that leather patch!

  

The celebration of turning a quarter century last week was filled with after-hour dinners with friends and families (yes I had to go out to dinner on multiple separate occasions with different sets of social groups divided into BFFs / colleagues from the hospital / family to celebrate my birthday). It was multiple nights of fun filled chit chat and eating until my stomach became so bloated!

I'm so pleased to take the time to dress-up (in a rather casual way) during one of the night-outs.  Did I tell you that my brother and little sister are November babies as well? So that night was basically an occasion for family members only. But my family did not tell me we were going to a humble traditional Malay cuisine restaurant in Bangi. I felt so overdressed among the sea of t-shirts and track bottoms and rubber slippers!

I was wearing one of my most treasured  ZARA lady's blazer which is super snug on the armhole (well should I blame my almost non-existent biceps or is it just because all ladies have tiny arms?), luckily the humidity that night was not that severe otherwise my armpit would have just have waterfalls of sweat already! The blazer was teamed up with the  bad ass Cheap Monday SS2010 leather patch skinny jean - the only place in Kuala Lumpur that I know which sells current CM collections is MUSA (any other places that you might suggest having current season's CM?) At a glance it reminded me of past season's Balmain which is known of its punk aesthetics (and truth be told it's a let down that Balmain still recycles the stale idea this season). Oh and the weaved bracelet I actually got the day before at a small section at Parkson in Sunway Pyramid from a label called Park Avenue- it was like finding a needle in a haystack as I discovered that interestingly -designed jewellery among mundane accessories on display...

I'm wearing ZARA blazer, ZARA basic t-shirt, Cheap Monday SS10 leather patch jean, socks from Happy Socks, Jil Sander lace-ups

Cheap Monday SS 2010

*** surprisingly the jeans that I'm wearing in the pics are not included in the runway looks.. but I'm 99.9% sure that it was there in the catalogue... Must I hire a fashion P.I to investigate this matter?

Reaching the big TWENTY FIVE this year did not actually give me the feeling of being 'older yet wiser'. Instead I still feel like I'm fresh out of high-school - wanting to explore everything yet not ready to uphold responsibilities, even though it's basically compulsory at this time of my age. It's already one year since I started working and it is full of fond and not so fond memories (I swear the latter comprises the majority of all the shitty experiences I had had in my ENTIRE life). 

And I always thought working world will teach me how to be an adult and thus will make me intellectually / mentally befitting according to my current age. But I am utterly wrong! Many a time I saw people who actually behave like a 5th grader ( well, a little worse than a 5th grader at times). The easiest encounter I can recall is when one of the superiors who actually uttered the 'F' word just because he has some anger management issue and could not tolerate the so-called incompetency of one of the interns. That's a lame excuse to curse and act so unprofessional in front of staffs and colleagues who are actually adults. You can be smart / brilliant / talented or whatever in what you're doing but you will never earn my respect!

Please forgive me as I never wanted to turn this blog into a personal one but to me Dunia Fashyon is one of the medium through which I can emotionally express myself and I am never verbally eloquent at all...

P/s: And not to forget thank you so much to all who wished me on Facebook and Twitter!

And Mr Sartorialist is the best because...

He made my heart skip a beat when I saw these pictures... Neutral and solid colors, proportions and simplicity - three fundamental elements that made me hooked to his fantastic imagery.

Exhibit A - The beard, the summer pinstripe suit and shorts those siccck thick lace-ups and a peek of crimson ankle socks. Handsome!

Exhibit B - The striped boat-necked long sleeves, the round glasses - very classic French (is it?). The double belts adds interest  to a rather simple style.

Exhibit C - The most delectable image here! Grey and blue NEVER fails methinks. The breezy neutral cardigan and the hat is perfect for Summer. And the stripe at the side of the beautifully tailored pants just reminds me of military wear, plus her posture at a glance resembles one from the marching band ready to blow the horn :)

Ah, me and my ridiculous imagination....

Lanvin loves H&M

As I posted the Lanvin clogs entry the entire blogosphere was overjoyed with the fantastic news of H&M collaboration with Lanvin for AW 10/11. It is very exciting to anticipate the collection (they will be producing both menswear and womenswear) which will be released in November  but it's a turn-down at the same time as well because H&M will not be available in Kuala Lumpur any time soon. Well, unless the coveted Fahrenheit 88 mall will include the giant Swedish fast fashion mogul in their list of tenants, which I think is remotely possible.

source: mykromag.com

Anatomically correct - DSquared spine heels

I am a big fan when fashion collides with the anatomy of a human. We have seen those rib cage T-shirts on the street and everything, but I was hoping there were something more then just an average drawing of skeleton on your everyday shirt.



Hence it is a feast to my eyes, and also a surprising fact that Dsquared makes these outlandish stilettos with vertebrate heels. I mean I don't normally expect something 'organic' or mildly disturbing from this designer. Just look at how near accurate those vertebrae are...complete with intervertebral disks!



What ever it is, the images surely make my spine tingle with sensation (excuse the pun). I'm even pleased by the fact that there is a subtle irony behind the design (heels that high should not be very good for your spine, get it?)

Alicia Keys (the first album of which I love) even tweeted her photo wearing the heels, which she eventually wore to her performance at the FIFA World Cup opening celebration.

Another organ-related design is this "If I Only had a Heart" brooch from Old Hollywood, as  featured in Izzy Tuason's blog The Dandy Project.

A human is beautiful from the outside and from the inside, literally.

photo credits: Sea of Shoes, Jak and Jil, The Dandy Project via Old Hollywood e-shop

Soooo purple!

Sometimes people generally associate me with my affinity to clothes that belong more to the duller side of the color spectrum. It's partially true I'm afraid. Yes, I love powdery/ dusty pastels and neutral basics, but I'd certainly appreciate a pop of color here and there (never mind that I have this almost neon orange stethoscope that's almost becoming my trademark - "which doctor ?"... " you know, the one with the tacky orange stethoscope?"...)

But that definitely did not deter me from having this excitement when I found these purple pants from my dad's wardrobe. Looks like he wore them about 20 years ago!

Initially the pants are far more loose and they had this icky straight cut silhouette, which was so unforgiving for my height (or lack thereof). A little alteration was absolutely vital I thought, and in this case, I brought the purple, slightly moldy-smelling trousers to the trustee alteration shop in Sungei Wang.

The color of the pants is still vivid. I don't know how many times my dad washed them, but knowing him I'm sure the purple hue is still intact thanks to his hand-washing habit (no, not the prevention of H1N1 hand washing, as in, he prefers to hand wash his clothes rather than throwing them into the washing machine) ...

I love playing school boy. The pinstripe messenger bag is from Topman.

Cravings...

Just a short entry this wonderful Sunday afternoon. (Tomorrow I'm going back to work, boo hoo hoo)

I'd love to see a translation of these cute feminine jackets onto menswear. The colours, the pleats. Wonderful! They are from Minimarket, a Swedish label. Check out their SS 2010 show. I'm interested in their "goggly" sunglasses.

Take a close look at the spray- paint effect on the green knit polo shirt and the Missoni-esque print on this tank top by Agharta (a label from Hong Kong...but I can't seem to find their website online though).

All of the clothings above are available at MUSA. Well, they don't have an e-shop as of yet, but just come to their shop at Avenue K, literally facing the Petronas Twin Towers!

Oh yes, they have also opened the cafe which offers local and international delicacies. I'm going to try the food there when I'm not busy at the hospital...

January borns and pastel

I should have up loaded these images last week but due to the ever-shitty internet connection that is haunting I could not do so.

Anyway last week was Helmi's birthday and we went to celebrate by dining out. We ate at this small Indonesian joint called Waroeng Penyet. Their menu revolves around 'flattened' (literally flat I tells ya) fried chicken and meatballs. It was good to just go crazy with greasy food once in a while. And as usual we exchanged work-related stories - whose specialist is the hottest/strictest/weirdest and which posting is the toughest, and more importantly we managed to at least alleviate each others' stress lingering on our shoulders for the past few weeks by sharing stories and funny experiences being new doctors.

I overdressed, as always. Had a Lanvin spring 09 vibe with the hat and guess what, I tried to wear the weird customised H&M pastel blazer again. Yes, the blazer initially had longs sleeves but I thought it will be better off with shorter sleeves. The result was a reminiscent of a ladies' office wear. (and the feminine silhouette does not help much either haha)

So I guess this is my another feeble attempt to wear pastels. It's certainly an art to master and if you looked around there are some people who can wears pastels amazingly like Susie Bubble or Francesco in Garance Dore's website (the short -sleeved blazer idea was inspired from his wonderful dusty marble one!)

The latest addition to my shoe collection is this pair of Jil Sander two-tone lace-ups, heavily discounted at Oki-ni and they were the last pair mind you! I was eyeing these shoes from the moment they were up on that site, thankfully they're mine now HAHA. The shoes are lovely, but it somehow irritates me to see the tar/rubber marks on the pure pastel grey of the right shoe.Oh well!

I think I've found my latest outlest for my online shopping addiction...Oki-ni's selections are fantastic despite being quite on the exorbitant side for me but I'll be waiting for the sales of course. And the shipping cost is pretty reasonable so the more the reason I should visit this site often...

I'm wearing customised straw hat, customised H&M ladies' blazer, deep V-neck tee by H&M, Forever 21 flower brooch Sisley pants, Topman canvas briefcase and Jil Sander lace-ups

 P/S: Another January born will celebrate his birthday tomorrow. Bonne anniversaire in advance!

the naughtical J.W Anderson

I might be stoned for wasting your time with some stale SS09 news, but after a random blog hopping my attention caught on this British menswear designer, J.W Anderson  with his  SS09 Collection that particularly attracts my attention. It's a rather biased statement I'm afraid because I love everything nautical (even though there's a slightest hint of it). Jonathan William Anderson debuted his collection in 2007 right after graduating from London College of Fashion, at which point he already established his label.

Anyway dear readers, just ignore my substandard commentary and feast your eyes on his collection.

 There's a recurrent theme of bandage-esque socks on this collection. I wonder if it's just for the runway or more importantly are they on sale as well. Either way it ignites the DIY switch in me- I could borrow/ steal rolls of crepe bandage lying around the hospital and dye them with Dylon black!

Rolled cuffs , a tiny neckerchief paired with billowy pants - just my fantasy ideal of what I'd wear if I was onboard some fancy cruiser.

The shirt-dress looks fine, but it's an obvious reminiscent of the ubiquitous past season (or still lingering like a pest) trend seen on ladies on the streets of Stockholm..

Swimsuits with a cardigan? Spot on!

And the rest of what looks like nautically inspired (with the intriguing mythical / religious connotations evident on the accessories)

The lion + chain mail + ethnic print on the prints makes me knees weak (not in a meniscal tear/ osteoarthritic way, though)

There's a lot more to talk about with his rather successful previous collections, especially his seemingly dark and twisted Russian Tsardom/ Rasputin-inspired collection and his upcoming SS 2010 preview (okay I'm not very eloquent in terms of giving adjectives, as you already know my vocabulary revolves around the words 'cool' or 'nice' or 'great' )....please please I don't want you to aim your M-16 at me lest I comment on this..

Oh, and btw, have a Merry Xmas everyone! HOHOHO...