a new career, a new life

a whole new chapter

::i took this picture while chilling along Crown St on a hot sunny day with lipei. my iphone went haywire and corrupted this pic. but i love the accidental effect::
the first week has gone by.
it's definitely a whole new experience.
i learnt so much more in just a short span of four days as compared to 3 years in uni.
working for a design studio certainly isn't a joke.
it's insanely hectic, from the moment i step into the studio at 0830 all
the way to 1830 in the evening, there's just no stopping!!!
work keeps coming in one after another.
many of us don't even have the time to go out and have lunch.
seriously, it's that bad...
some would bring in their own lunch from home and eat it while working on the projects at hand.
for me, i skip lunch altogether and wait till i knock off from work before treating myself to a well deserved feast.

so yeah, the company i'm working in is pretty small;
about 14 people.
we also have offices in brisbane and perth, but the numbers just account to a handful.
when it comes to designers, there's only 3 of us.
there's S, M and me.
and well, of cos our CD, who's basically in charge of all the design work and would sometimes get her hands dirty by doing some design work too.
so, as you can imagine, with only 3 designers, you can image how busy it can get. M mentioned that the company should take in another designer.
i totally agree with him.

usually after work, i would be so drained and exhausted...
by 1030pm, i'll be struggling to keep my eyes open.
coming from someone who sleeps at 6am in the morning and wakes up at 6pm in the evening,
it's a major big change.
yesh people, i'm finally a working adult!
(omg, saying that just feels so foreign to me)

there's still a lot for me to learn.
so far, i think i did ok.
they were nice enough to teach me a lot from scratch.
from creating print ready artwork to dealing with colours and creating mock ups.
it's awesome that they are so patient with me, but i feel like an idiot.
i mean, i feel like i have not lived up to their expectations yet.
i sometimes ask very retarded questions like,
"how to convert the black and white image to spot colours?"
or "how did you do the masking thing again?"
or "the indesign artwork is freaking 707MB, and the client wants it in eps, what do i do?"
and i keep forgetting what jobs i've worked on.
someone would come up to me and ask me about a job i've done, and i'll be like... "erm... which job title again?"
in my defense though, i am working on multiple projects at the same time.
and because i work on half finished projects, it's really difficult to remember all the job titles. i'm trying but it's not easy....
Ben says it's all part of learning and that i shouldn't worry too much.
it has only been my first week, and he says that there are people who have been in the company for a year and still make silly mistakes.
simply put, we are still humans.
i agree... but that doesn't stop me from doing my best and proving that they have selected the right person to do the job...
time will tell.
after all, like every new job, i'm on a 3 months probation.
we'll see if they'll keep me after that.

and just to clear the air,
working in australia is not as slack as most people presume.
people here believe in quality, not quantity.
translation:
it doesn't matter how many hours you put it.
what's important is whether at the end of the day, you have completed
what you have been tasked to do.
productivity is the key word.
and Australians are productive.


::pic of me after a day of shop-whoring. the day was warm so i get to wear shorts!::
after surviving the first week,
it's time to treat myself to a little something something.
(fine... "little" is an understatement.)
decided to do some shopping in the city.

i think i have gone way past the words "retail therapy"....
as what ben would describe my current situation,
"you're SHOP-WHORING!!!!"
....................
fine...... i admit....
i AM shop-whoring...
but i really NEED the nice awesome half leather black havarsack...
and the Insight T-shirt...
and the Peter Alexander poka dot pyjamas shorts...
and the T-shirt from Lee...
and the album from MGMT...
and the Ben Sherman polo T... and T-shirt....
and not forgetting my precious Lady Godiva....

i blame it on stress...

on a different note,
the economy sure isn't doing well at all.
it came as a surprise to me that singapore has being hit by the recession,
and that the Aussie dollar has dipped tremendously...
almost on par with the SG dollar.
times are bad.
i pray that no one close to me loses their job,
because it's difficult to sustain oneself during a recession without one.
and i pray that something good would come out of this.

the American elections is next month.
anyone keeping track of it?
i sure am, since it started.
i believe that it'll affect everyone through a chain of events...
you could say "a chain reaction" of that sort.
and i believe we need a change.
a change that would help us get out of our current slump...
i'll say no more. not gona talk politics here.

here are just a couple of pics.
no time to filter the large library of pics i have...


::more pics of the sea outside my place... love it during sunset::


::nothing beats an ice cold bottle of coke on a hot day. lipei and i chilling along Crown St::


::lipei having her favourite date and pumpkin scone while waiting for the train::


::ben and his gentleman hat. looks good it in eh::


::ohh... my precious Godiva Chocs.... how can you resist them... a luxury indeed::

so yeah, i hope everyone's doing great back in singapore.
i seriously cant wait to go back for a holiday....

that's all for now.
XOXO,
D

i made it!

OMG!

::pic of me on the steps that lead to my apartment::
the pounding of my heart...
the gasping for breath...
pupils dilating...
sweaty palms...
nauseous on the verge of a black out...
all these while trying to act calm and compose...
taking a deep breath once again,
i attempted a simple yet almost impossible act; a reply...
"yes, i would like to take up the job offer."
"great, we would like you to start asap, so come down on Tuesday to sign the contract etc...", the creative director said.
"sure." i replied, with a big smile on my face.
and with that, i finally landed my first job, ever!

1 application,
2 interviews,
3 days trial,
a young lady to compete with...
and God knows how many applicants later...
i got the job!!!!!

omg!!!
i got the job!!!!!
it sure feels like american idol...
selections, perform, judge, winner.
let's not forget all the waiting in between.

the path that led me here was long and winding and emotionally draining.
it was everything BUT easy!!!
and i can safely say that it's definitely harder to obtain than most jobs out there.
i really had to earn it, prove myself, and rise above the rest to obtain that 1 position.

finally, a sign of relief.
i was so close to declaring myself bankrupt...
finally i dun have to rely on my parent's fund anymore. :)

i'm hoping that my future entries wouldn't be centering over one topic: work.
i'll make sure that i wont be a slave to my work.
got to make sure that i dun think about work when i knock off.
and got to make sure that i have loads of fun during the weekends.
i'll try, but no guarantee. :P

ok enough of me!! (then again, it's my blog...)
took some pics so decided to upload them here.
there are still tons of pics to filter and upload.
so be patient while i get to them...


::lipei and i went to this cafe called Pablos Vice at Crown street. i love this cafe cos firstly, the food is delicious, secondly, it's relatively cheap, and thirdly, it has this awesome vibe. i love just sitting along the pavement, sipping coffee and eating my breakfast while we watch the world go by. it's the aussie version of a road side kopitiam. :) love it! ::


::took this pic of lipei while we were having lunch at Lavender Bay. i love this area because they have great restaurants, a very cute bookstore and a stone throw away from the view of the opera house. gota love lipei's beehive!::


::took this pic of ben at Newtown. luv luv luv Newtown. it reminds me of Brunswick st in Melbourne; very bohemian, grungy, artistic. the very definition of non-commercialization. love the shops here and every saturday, there's a small art flea market::


::this is another pic i took while walking around Newtown. there's a canvas painting leaning against a painted wall. and you'll see many of such art work as you walk along King St, Newtown::


::pic of pedro and lipei. the three of us were chilling at pedro's apartment after having cakes and coffee at the nearby Kirribilli Cafe::


::my next door neighbour's cat. he's called tyson and he has a sister. very adorable cats. they like to come to our apartment every chance they get::

wana thank everyone for their well wishes!
i appreciate it a lot!!

also wana tell fauz, ping and angeline that i wana go "Mustafa-ing"!!! :P
and i miss playing monster hunter with you guys!
yesh... i miss singapore a lot.

that's all for now!
XOXO,
D

trial and error?

the wait is killing me

::i drew a bean spout on this sketching thingy. i don't quite know the name it but i used to draw on them all the time when i was a little kid. even till now, i just love doodling on it. draw something, erase it, then start all over again. wish life was like that eh?::
so how did i fare for my 3 days trial?
it was extremely busy and exhausting.
for the 3 days, i was thrown into the mosh pit and was expected to swim/crawl/dig my way out of it.
seriously, they gave me tons of projects to complete and what made it worse was the fact that i had to pick up from where they left off.
it's tough when it comes to design because everyone designs and work different.
a simple text paragraph could be done in a couple of ways.
every time they hand me a new assignment, i would spend the first 15 minutes trying to figure where all the links, pictures, text and files are before i can make the necessary amendments.
and because the company is so establish, i'm dealing with thousands of files and it's just insane trying to find 1 particular file that i dun even know exist in the first place.
yes, simply put, it's like finding a needle in a stack of hay.

on the first day, it was pretty overwhelming.
the second day was way better.
the third day was effing crazy!!!
i had to deal with multiple projects simultaneously.
had to do the html for edms, landing pages and websites for some major big client.
a very major big international computer company i might add.
therefore, i had to make sure i do not make any single mistakes.

overall, despite the busy schedule, i did have some fun because this is all so new to me and i'm constantly learning from them.
what i like about working for them is that they don't bother you at all and let you do what is needed to be done.
everyone is expected to take their own initiative and even if there is a deadline to be met, no one is there to hurry you. they have this sense of trust that you will complete it in time.

as i have mentioned before, i do really want to work with them.
i have done my best during the 3 days trial.
i feel i have done well. (they said i was good)
i have the passion and motivation needed to excel.
i know i have what it takes to be a great designer.
i just wish they would consider me to be a part of their team.

they were supposed to get back to me last friday.
but they didn't.
then on tuesday, i received an email from the creative director.
in the email, she thanked me for the three days and informed me that there is another young lady on trial this week. they will let me know of my placement at the end of the week.

i'm disappointed....
and furious.
i dun understand why i have to be put into such a situation.
this job application... it's taking forever!!!
2 interviews and a trial... now i have to compete with a 'young lady'...
what more do they want? (my guess is 3 months probation if i get it)
this is ridiculous...
i hate the waiting!
it's been almost a month and i'm still waiting for a yes/no from them...
argh...

and just to clear things up,
i have been applying for other jobs too.
i have been sending out my resumes for the last 2 weeks...
but it's also taking them forever to get back to me.
argh...

i'm not giving up yet.
no i'm not.
but time is not on my side.
i have up to next january to get a job,
if not there'll be a high chance i might hafta fly back to singapore for good.

sigh...
i guess this "rich-spoilt-brat-who-gets-whatever-he-wants" is learning a thing or two about the harsh reality of life eh?
i do know what 'harsh life' is.
firstly, i was in the INFANTRY!!!
so i know what a 'shit life' is. i went through it for 2 and a half years.
(i have no respect for all the sissy clerks)

and yes, my parents may be loaded with cash,
but i'm not. and it's funny how people cant see the difference.
i would have gone into details as to how i survived with only $12.87 in my savings account,
but i choose not to, because i find it unnecessary, and i need no pity from anyone.

my point is, people shouldnt judge me.

i really am trying my best and not giving up.

just emotionally drained that's all...
but i'm feeling better just ranting it out...
whoever is reading this, thanks for tolerating my whining. :)

that's all for now...
XOXO
D

sun, sand and another interview

the sun is up

::took this picture while sun tanning with lipei at Bondi Beach::
the sun is up.
literally and figuratively.

after a disastrous interview last week,
i pretty much lost hope in the design studio i applied for.
i would be lying if i said i didn't feel a tad upset.
(i was devastated to be exact)
but yesterday, i received a miraculous email from the creative director!
she emailed me asking if i could drop by the studio for a second interview with the Managing Director.
i flipped, literally.
i was thrilled!
i was extremely grateful to God that he had answered my prayers and granted me a second chance.
never in this world would i ever have guessed i'd be given another chance to prove myself again.
i needed the comeback badly; i needed to redeem myself.

dressed in my finest suit, i went for the interview earlier today.
the MD was very approachable, as with the rest of the staff.
i went through my portfolio with him, and at the end of it,
he said that he liked my thought process and though i still had a lot to improve upon, he seemed interested in me.
after he left, the CD continued to talk to me.
she said that she'll put me on a 3 days trial next week, and i will be paid at freelance rates. if everything goes well, i should be able to be a permanent staff.
i was extremely happy!
i am one step closer to my goal.

from what i know, design studios don't normally issue trials to potential candidates.
they either hire them, or they don't.
so i'm not sure if it's a good or a bad thing.
but what i do know is that, i've been given another chance to prove myself,
and i pray really hard i'll be able to leave them a good impression next week during my trial.
they are after all a very established company that is expanding and doing really well in the design field.
it would be such an honor to work with them.
and in a Devil-Wears-Prada kinda fashion, if i stick it out with them for the next 2 years, i'll be able to get any design job i want in the future.
simply put, a million designers would kill for this job.
so i pray real hard i don't fuck it up next week...

i have another interview this coming friday.
it's a fashion based design firm, so that'll be really exciting!
so if eff it up on my trial, at least i have a back-up plan to fall on.


::the one and only Bondi Beach. such a pretty sight. took this pic when we just got off the bus::
and yesh! today, the sun was shinning brightly and the weather was absolutely perfect!
26 degrees!!!!
omg, i long for summer badly, so this was a preview of what the weather could be at the end of the year.
to celebrate the fabulous weather and the interview,
lipei and i headed to the one and only Bondi Beach!!!!!!!!!!!
we had so much fun!!!
i think i'll let the pictures do the talking.


::lipei and i enjoying the sun. it felt more like summer rather than spring, which is great!!!::


::erm... me and my new shades::


::i took this picture when a group of guys walked past us. i like this pic a lot::


::lipei and i made a sand turtle. she forced me....::


::just look at what lipei is doing...::


::i played no part in this! it was all lipei's doing! so embarrassing...::


::after spending 3 hours under the sun, we washed up and then had FRIED MARS BAR! yeah you heard it right, fried chocolate mars bar! it's awesomely awesome! i'm still puzzled why lipei doesn't know how to use a fork...::


wana thank everyone again for their kind words.
it made me feel better.
well, that's all for now.
XOXO
D

my first interview

interview with the Creative Director

::feel so defeated...::
so yeah, i had my first interview today.
my first interview EVER.
and well, i believe it's the first of many more to come.
i'm a little disappointed though.
on one hand, i'm glad that they selected me for an interview.
i'm glad that they said they liked my work.
however, on the other hand, i felt i could have done much better for the interview.
argh!
i felt i was caught off guard.
i wasn't nervous to begin with.
i was calm and composed.
i was prepared to answer questions like:
"what are your strengths and weaknesses?"
"what do you NOT like about graphic design?"
"why do you want to work for our studio?"
"give me an example of a problem and how you resolved it."
"what do you do when you have a problem with a team member?"
"what improvements have you made to a particular project?"
but ultimately, she was very casual, and just asked me to show my portfolio and explain my work. it's supposed to be the easiest interview ever! but i feel i sort of messed it up somehow.
argh!
i was tongue tied... my words didn't flow as it should...
i couldn't explained in detail, and kept repeating myself...
argh!
what made me upset is that i'm good at this!
i'm good at explaining my work.
i'm good at presenting!
it's one of my forté, for crying out loud!
arghh!
but i couldnt deliver...
and i'm disappointed with myself...
the creative director did say she liked my work.
but there's more to it than that.
chemistry is really important, and i felt i didn't make enough of an impression.
argh...

i even wore my suit and new Calvin Klein shoes...
i guess the almighty power of fabric couldn't save me either.

i was told not too worry so much.
after all, i do know it's only my first interview.
and normal human beings don't usually get it on their first try..
but i really love the design studio.
they are such an awesome bunch of people.
the studio is too pretty to work in! (i'll be distracted by the furniture and that's a good thing!)
and they are such a well established company with many important clients under their belt.
it would be such an honor to work with them...
argh!

i'm still sending out my resume and portfolio to other potential employers.
a couple of them are fashion based, which is pretty awesome.
i'll try to be as optimistic as i can.
just keep hoping,
just keep pushing myself,
and see where that takes me.

keeping my fingers crossed and twisted.

wana thank those who have wished me luck prior to the interview.
and of cos, the comforting after that. :)

to my precious Zoe

Happy Birthday Zoe!

::not her most recent picture. zoe's just so cute!!!::
i have never liked kids.
i find them noisy, annoying and extremely needy.
and well... kids don't seem to like me very much either.
there's just no chemistry between us whatsoever.
i guess... the feeling's mutual.

but i love my niece, Zoe, very very much.
and for the first time, i can finally understand why couples would want a child(children) of their own.
Zoe is probably the closest i'll ever have to having my own child.
i think about her all the time.
i think about whether if she's walking now, whether if she's speaking now, whether if her teeth have started growing out and so on.
sometimes when i'm out shopping, i find myself unconsciously wandering and pacing around the kids department, browsing through all the adorable outfits for her and wondering which one would go well for what occasion.

i have a picture of her clearly displayed on my table.
looking at it everyday makes me wana hold her tight and kiss her on the cheeks.
it constantly reminds me of her infectious laughter, which never fails to lift up my spirit. or her big bright smile that says everything is gona be alright.
my brother recently sent me an updated picture of her.
she's grown so much in just 2 months...
i cant believe she has started calling my bro and charlotte "papa" and "mama"!
she's still as adorable as ever and smiling as always.

it kills me that i cant be there on her 1st birthday party.
i really wish i could jump on a plane right this minute and see her.
i just pray that i'll not miss anymore of such occasions.
because i want to be an uncle who will be there for her.




::i drew her a birthday card. this illustration was the outer cover that wraps the birthday card. i spent the whole morning drawing 12 different kinds of cupcakes to make this wallpaper. thank God i love cupcakes, or i'll go crazy drawing each one of them::

anyway,

Happy 1st Birthday my precious Zoe!!!!!!
have a fantastic and joyous birthday!!!!
uncle dylan will be back as soon as i can to see ya.

*Zoe turns 1 on the 7th of September. Celebrations would be held on the 6th.*


i cant really upload the picture of the main card becos i drew a character from my "upcoming" children's book, and didnt wana have any copyright issues. i might be able to post it in the future. for now i've just shown it to fauz, lipei, ben and of cos my brother. they love it to bits. so that's good enough. :)

fashion entry

i heart fashion

::tickets to the Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival::
let me start by quoting a paragraph from my favorite poetry.

"...where a strong wave of tailoring comes down the catwalk,
all formal, and all in muted greys and creams.
it's one of the strongest indicators of the season that the loud
colour of last summer has died back and given way to much
more considered tones.
But these suits aren't lazy.
The cuts are slick, the linings minimal." - by GQ Style.

this is what i call poetry! just beautiful!

so what is fashion?
and what does fashion mean to you?
when you say you love fashion, do you mean
you love clothes in general? the design? the designer? the tailoring?
the brand? or the history behind it?

let me tell you my definition of fashion.
Fashion is not about utility.
An accessory is merely a piece of iconography,
used to express individual identity.
but i dun stop at there.
when i carry, say, a Gucci wallet,
i'm aware that The House of Gucci was founded by
a guy named Guccio Gucci in Florence in 1921.
in the 1990s the company was having financial difficulties,
closed to bankruptcy.
in 1994, Tom Ford was appointed as creative director.
Domenico De Sole was CEO at that time.
in 1999 Gucci forged a strategic alliance with French group PPR,
and at the same time, acquired Yve Saint Laurent.
2001, Ford's lean sleek look with lashings of sex appeal Spring Collection
became a signature style for Gucci.
in 2004, Ford and de Sole left Gucci due to disagreements with PPR bosses.
Frida Giannini is currently the creative director.
(and yes, i remember facts like that by heart)

Tom Ford has since launched his own eyewear (in 2005), fragrance (in 2006)
and men's wear(in 2007).
i love his perfume!!! in my opinion, Black Orchid by Ford is one of the best female perfumes around. i am personally using the man's fragrance by Tom Ford and its
absolutely beautiful!

what about Calvin Klein? i absolutely love Calvin Klein!
but does anyone know who the designer/designers is/are?
no.. not 'Calvin Klein'.... duh.
Fransico Costa is currently the creative director for the women's wear.
Kevin Carrigan is the creative director of CK Calvin Klein.
and finally, Italo Zucchelli is the head designer for the menswear. (if i'm not wrong!)

what about say... i dunno... local aussie fashion line Alphaville a.k.a. Alpha60?
as you guys should already know by now, i love love love the clothes from them.
they are Melbourne based who recently just opened their first sydney store in Sydney. brother and sister team, Georgie and Alex Cleary started their Alpha 60 label in 2002.
their range focuses on surreal graphics and sophisticatedly quirky shapes. Georgie makes the prints all by herself.
in 2006, their works were exhibited at the National Design Centre at Federation Square and even designed the uniforms for Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant in Melbourne.
they are impressive eh?

my point is,
when i say i love fashion, i say it with conviction.
i say it with backing reasons.
i say it because i truly, truly love it.
that goes with labels that i particularly love.
i wear it because i love the garment.
i wear it because i know the brand.
i wear it because i know the people behind the designs.
the excellent tailoring, the fabric used, the design and style, what goes behind making them... all these factors dictate what i purchase and what i put on.
i dun carry a Louis Vuitton bag or wallet just because i want to achieve a bigger-than-life status. i carry it because i know Marc Jacobs is exceptional at what he does and has done for LV. i love his vision and love the fact that he has collaborated with Takashi Murakami and Stephen Sprouse to produce a collection that infuses fashion with art and design. and i love the fact that LV makes fabulous bags.
and it doesnt have to be branded labels that i'll fall for.
i even love local aussie designers.
James Cameron, Hem and Haw, Trimapee, Ksubi just to name a few.
i also love the fact that fashion defines who we are and it allows us, as i have mentioned, to express our own individual identity.

that's why i hate it when people say they love fashion "just because. period."
i hate it when some poser gay boy wears what he wears because all his friends are wearing them.
i hate it when people wear something just because it's "in" right now.
for example, when i was back in singapore, i've seen countless people wearing scarfs.... seriously.... it's freaking hot in singapore, you dun wear a scarf! (a thin scarf may be fine, but borderline)
even in fashion, i believe in practicality.
i too hate it when people buy fake goods... they have absolutely no respect for the designers.

Ultimately, what i'm trying to put across is,
when i say i love fashion, please do not stereotype me like everyone else.
never put me into the "great, another gay boy who loves fashion" category.
because when i say i love fashion, i mean it with all my heart.
(just so you know, all the facts regarding the fashion labels are written by memory.
feel free to test me in person.)


::Rosemount Sydney Fashon FEstival Banne::
lipei and i recently attended the Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival which lasted from the 13th to 17 august.
the event was fabulous! featuring local aussie labels like Sass & Bide, Wayne Cooper, Alex Perry, One Teaspoon, James Cameron, Silence is Golden, Jayson Brunsdon...
just to name a few out of a long list of labels.
we wanted to go for the friday show to view Sass & Bide's collection. but sadly, it was sold out. my next option was to go for the saturday show because they have James Cameron, Trimapee, Romance was Born and Bowie. it'll be great to see a mix of menswear and womenswear on the runway.
i enjoyed the show very much, and James Cameron's collection, in my opinion, lived up to his name. love love love it!
if there was anything to complain about, it's the models.
lipei and i were disappointed with them because they looked tired and uninterested.
it's as though they wanted to rush through the whole show and get out of there asap.

these are some pics i took during the show.



::oohhh... gotta love the LED lights!::

>
::the runway inside the tent. the whole tent was pitched on Martins Place. very Bryan Park-ish::

first up, Frisoni Finetti.





i didnt get to take much pics in the beginning of the show because i was trying to figure out how to use my digital camera.
it's a pretty old camera therefore many of the pics came out really badly at the start of the show.
had to make a lot of adjustments to the exposure. (it's time to get a new camera!)
finally managed to get it right. therefore, the pics look much better at the end. :)

next up is by Illionaire.





too bad i was having probs with my camera.
the clothes on display were just gorgeous.

third in line is Therese Rawsthorne.











i must say, the clothes by Therese Rawstonrne are exceptionally beautiful.

Trimapee is next, a label that i personally like.









the clothes from Trimapee are quirky, which is what i like about them.
in general i tend to like their coats and jackets. but their shirts are pretty awesome as well.
i didnt get to snap many of the menswear as i was still meddling with my camera.
but dun worry, i was still able to enjoy the show. :)

next is my favourite label, James Cameron. (the pics get better)















the collection didnt disappoint. i fell in love with everything on the runway.
bright colours and well tailored. it was enjoyable just watching it.

finally we have Romance Was Born.

















at the beginning of the show, i was very excited to see what Romance Was Born has to offer.
they are often very unpredictable, and that's what i love about them.
during last year's Motorola Melbourne Spring Fashion Week,
they came out with this wedding theme. extremely hilarious and a great way to end the show.
this time round, it was a nomad kind of a theme.
exception clothes, gorgeousl prints and i love the whole wackyness of it.
the bull mask... you gotta love it. haaa!


::lipei and i outside the tend::




::what i wore...::
so... what did i wear to the event?
(man, this sounds like last year's fashion show)
i wore:
White shirt by FCUK. $120
Yellow jumper by Saxony. $80
Cardigan by Alpha60. $169
Bow tie by Beat Poët. $99
Scarf by Gucci. $310
Black skinny jeans by Cheap Monday. $95
Socks by H&M. (not sure how much. from Ben who got it from New York)
Shoes by Converse. $79
Watch by Armani. $290
Long wallet by Calvin Klein. $179
Underwear... haa! by Calvin Klein. $45

as you can see, i wore a mix of formal and casual stuff,
which is usually my style.
if only you guys can see the Alpha60 cardigan up close.
it's extremely unique and quirky. i love it!

as for lipei, she wore a simple yet beautiful dress from Quick Brown Fox,
and a pair of pink high heels from... i cant remember where. haa!
she also inserted a flower at the side of her hair. pretty and cute. :)


this month's recommendations?
(yesh, i may do a monthly fashion entry)
i'll be highlighting a few labels that i personally love.
they've been around for a while, so some of you may already own
a couple of pieces from them. (give the others a chance!)


::tshirts by April 77 Records::
the first is April 77.
founded by Bric Partouche in 2002,
the brand has now split into 2 sub brands.
one is called April 77 Records which, in association with it's record label, is more towards the denim side. so you can expect lot's of skinny jeans and basic tshirts.
the other is called April 77, which is more towards the fashion and experimental side.
what i love about April 77 is that it does so well at fusing music with fashion.
the brand is heavily influenced by rock-and-roll, and this can be seen throughout their collection. i love how they would incorporate a guitar pick onto their jeans on even onto the polo shirts (autumn/winter 08). even the simple designs on the tshirts somehow just screams music. and what i like about April 77 Records is that, when you buy a piece of apparel from them, you can download a song from their website simply by typing in the password which is found on the clothe tag. (you gota scratch out the special numbers like a lucky draw coupon) awesome eh?
i do however feel that their cutting are suited for the skinny, slim and small build.
the skinnier the better. seriously!
finally! something that looks good on skinny guys! i personally have to wear medium though, cos their small size is really really small...
so check them out at www.april77.fr and www.april77records.com



::clothes by A.P.C.""
next is French label A.P.C. founded by Jean Touitou in 1988.
what i like about A.P.C. is that their clothes are extremely well tailored, ensuring that they fit appropriately to your body. the superior quality of fabrics used in their clothes ensure that it's money well spent. :) the brand focuses a lot on designs that are minimal and cleancut, thus making it accessible to most people. so if you're the kind who aren't all that adventurous when dressing up but still wana look stylish, then A.P.C. might be your answer.
if you're in sydney, you can get them at Incu and Our Spot.
check it out at www.apc.fr.
you'll be impressed.



::pic taken from Our Spot::
lastly, i'll introduce a local Sydney label called Rittenhouse.
understated and lacking in publicity, Rittenhouse makes it up for it's designs. it has one of the most wearable and original style in the local fashion industry. team Sally McDonald and Micah Hamdorf traverse the world in search of stocklists. the label consists from loose fitting, over sized tshirt dresses to beautifully crafted parkas and sculptural tops.
sold in Australia, LA, London and Japan, get it now at www.rittenhouse.com.au.

that's all for now. :)
just wana thank the few friends who have read my previous post and have comforted me i in more ways than one. u thank you for that. and i'll do better for sure.

let me end this entry with a quote by Christian Dior.
'"By being natural and sincere, one often can create revolutions without having sough them".