Greetings from Phuket.

Sawadee! I'm now in Phuket with some friends. We arrived yesterday and going to be here for six days. It was raining all day yesterday so most of the time we were stuck indoors. This is supposed to be high season - all sunny weather, but the locals told me it's been raining daily for 2 weeks! Climate change!

Right before it rained. Dang! I wore Gucci shades, Coome des Garcons Play tee, Etro belt, tailored shorts, Uniqlo socks, Just Cavalli snakers.

 

Thank goodness for Starbucks!

Today the weather was a little better, but gloomy most of the time..a bit of sun and then, it poured! We literally ran from our rented deck chairs, carrying coconut fruit and all!

The cruise liner named Queen Mary 2 arrived all the way from the UK.

My head is on FIRE! Moschino Jeans (FIRE) top, speedo trunk, Topman belt, Aldo shoes, tailored shorts, thrifted fedora.

 My twin-brother.

Till then, have a great day Darrlingg!!

Earth Hour.

My Phuket trip coincides with the Earth Hour day. It's just a baby step, but I'm sure it can help a little.  When it comes to fashion and saving the earth, I always think of Vivienne Westwood as the Queen. I mean, she really fights for the earth. Some friends think she's hypocrite - all these acts for marketing gimmicks. But I ask you this, which designer will actually say, "Buy less, choose well. Stop buying for 6 months. I don't care if you don't buy my clothes."

This is quite a tricky subject for fashion today I think, as we thrive on consumerism - acquiring new things. I myself have been guilty of buying, buying, buying. It's a habit that I want to control better. I know it's probably ironic that I started this blog with posting all my purchases - wants more than needs.  I think it's easier for me to relate to Vivienne as she herself is a designer - she understands the importance of clothes to identify yourselves, and how fashion is not just a mean to symbolize wealth or sex. Fashion can create awareness as well.

As for fashion and consumption, how do you know when too much is really too much? How do we gauge them? That's somethimg I'm really trying to figure out.

Anyway, I also think Blackle is a great start.

Anyway, these are just some thoughts that have been bothering me. Cheers, Darrlingg.

P/S: Today I was having dinner at one of the many cafes inside Jungceylon mall. As expected, they did turn off most of the main lights for an hour. 

Bally vintage ads.

Vintage ads are really interesting - nostalgic of course. I'm glad Bally compiled their ads and share them online. These ads represented the art of advertising (that comes along with fashion) has evolved over time with the help, and in response of technology. Which period 'sold' to you most, Darrlingg?

1920's

1930's

1940's

1950's

1960's

1970's

 1980's

 

1990's

 2000's

2010 & 2011

Source: Bally
Now, who says history is boring :-P

Tommy Hilfiger Spring Summer 2011

10 years ago, I was a huge fan of Tommy Hilfiger stuff. I would save up to buy the perfume, the jeans, the polos etc. Heck, I even cut out the magazine ads and plastered them on the wall next to my study table. To me, it captured the feeling of being young, fresh, spirited and that went so well with me being a teenager. Then as I grew older, things around me became more complicated and you started to see things differently. While I still wear some of the stuff that I bought, I also kinda stopped buying them. Simply because there are so many options around and I thought I was getting kinda too old for them. Even my friends made vicious remarks like, "Oh I don't wear those anymore!"

Today, I got really excited when I saw the spring 2011 collection. Not only does it reminisces the good old days I had, it also feels fresh, updated and somehow after all these years it still reflects the fun bit in me. Either that, or you should pinch me and tell me my age. The colour blocking trend, the bright madras pants... Delightful, Darrlingg.

 "What does Fashion mean to you, is it a concept or a word?"

Source: Style.com

Time to visit the store again.

Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta.

Oops, I nearly forgot to share photos I took at the Hyatt Regency Yogyakarta last January. I saw the photos on their website while hotel-shopping , and I was immediately attracted to its architecture ; Shaped like a modern version of the monumental Borobudur temple (an hour's car ride from the hotel). It has a distinctive cascading (modern boxy-shaped) architecture. The best bit, it sits on a generous 59 acres landscaped garden!

I was greeted with this lovely, fragrant Jasmine flower garland upon arrival. Since this is a Hyatt hotel, the service is definitely professional and it felt so hospitable.

Lobby area. The glass-clad lift overlooked a tall, relief carved mural similar to the ones at Borobudur temple.
 

Although the room was neither brand-new nor ginormous, it was still comfortable.

I wore Paul Smith shirt, Gucci shades, tailored pants, Just Cavalli sneakers.

A plate of palm fruits greeted me in the room. Have u seen this fruit? It's called 'buah salak' in Malay. The skin is rubbery and scaly, and the flavour is tangy-sweet with a crunchy (lychee-looking) texture.

The idyllic, vast garden. Do you notice the hotel's shape behind me?

When night falls, the environment is incredibly quiet and peaceful. So stunning!

Dinner and breakfast were really delectable, my favourite being the fried rice with chicken skewers. Nom nom nom. The restaurant staff were so attentive it's almost like you had a butler. Nice.

There was a huge, free-form pool next to the garden, but unfortunately they were doing some cleaning at that time so I din dip in!

There you go, I hope it gives you some ideas on where to stay just in case you're going to Yogyakarta. I posted about Borobudur/Yogyakarta here and here.

MuseMono says it's Flash Flash! Now, what do you think, Darrlingg?

HAHA! AHAH! HAAH!

HAHA! AHAH!  HAAH! I think sometimes I take life too seriously to the point it's becoming ridiculous. A few days ago someone tweeted and said, "Is it true as we get older, life becomes more complex?" Well, I think it's true. As we get older, we face tons of expectations. Both externally from your friends, family, society - and internally, our hopes, dreams and wishes too.

Last weekend I was at a thrifty store in Fahrenheit 88 mall and found this RM30 tee shirt with M.I.A. printed on it. It was the only one left, worn on the mannequin,so I literally ripped the tee off it's back! You know M.I.A. is one of my source of inspirations. She has the courage, and the strength to just look - well - like her own self, despite society's probable expectations on her.

So my point is, sometimes all I like to do is just HAHA! AHAH!  HAAH! at myself when the going gets tough. Or just for the fun of it. Sometimes I find it more useful than to just glorify oneself.

Thrifted top, tailored harem pants, Yves Saint Laurent shades, Just Cavalli sneakers.

Well I hope you Laugh Out Loud. Cheers and have a nice day, Darrlingg!

Volcano red.

Finally after weeks of having the test-run red highlights, I've decided to go all the way. Yep, I think I'm ready. Just in time to celebrate Rihanna's first Vogue cover. She's fierceeee!!

My hair is volcanic red. Well that's the colour code for this funky electric shade. I'm planning to stock on these as there aren't many on the shelves at Guardian's.

Will shoot more soon. Now I'm toying around with different hair styles. My hair is on FIRE FLASH, Darrlingg!