But then I found the Herringbone Discovery Canvas Black today. It’s a Korean brand, if I’m not mistaken. Not the most stylish bag in the market, but it only costs S$69! It can hold my Pentax K-x and 1 extra lens. There’s also a small pocket inside to put extra SD cards.

Photos below. Check out the carrier it comes in…very unique!

No related posts.

In my uncaffeinated, frazzled state, I’d search for my moisturizer and make-up in my beautiful make-up box that was really just a bottomless pit from hell. Thanks to all the frantic searching, I’d inadvertently knock something over. After breaking my fourth eyeshadow, I finally snapped and looked for a new make-up organizer.

This what I found.

It’s from MUJI. It’s cute, cheap, stackable and expandable. I absolutely love it!

Non-sequitur: The gigantic “Ivy” wooden letters are from Typo, an Australian store that sells things no one needs but because everything so pretty you’d get suckered into buying stuff anyway. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

…and that’s my entire make-up collection. No fancy palettes or rows of lipsticks. I don’t really stick to one brand either. I only use boring browns and purples for eyeshadow. As for the lips, just nude or light pink. And I currently only own one blush, one bronzer and one mascara.

The only make-up I’m more extravagant with is eyeliner. I have them pencil, powder and gel variants in dark brown, black and white. Eyeliners are an important part of me; I will never step out of the house without it!

These are my top 5 fave items of the moment.

1. Fave Eyeshadow Palette: Etude House LuciDarling Fantastic Gradation Eyes in #3 Caramel Sepia – See colors in photo below.
2. Fave Highlighter: Shu Uemura Press Eyeshadow in ME Beige 800 – This is an eyeshadow but I use this to highlight both eyes and face. The shade suits my skin color (MAC NC 25) very well.
3. Fave Packaging: Maybelline Pure Pact Mineral in OC 1 – The product itself isn’t that great but the packaging is so cute I just had to buy it.
4. Fave Concealer: Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic – I don’t really use much concealers, so the size of the products is pretty handy for me.
5. Fave Mascara: Marjolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus – I used to use a mascara primer and a few different mascaras to get the same volume and length. This does the same but it’s just one mascara! Great for lazy people like me!

That’s how Caramel Sepia looks like. The light colors are not as reflective as the Shu Uemura metallic beige but the dark colors are very well-pigmented. It’s very affordable too!

Yes, I know this entry is random but I’ve got to mix it up a little. My life is not all about epistemology and technology. And my DSLR has been crying out to me. Ciao!

So how do you organize your make-up? Share your favorite products of the moment!

Related posts:

1. Fashion / Beauty Blogger for a Day

Before I start, excuse the quality of the writeup and photos in this post. I’ve been sick as hell the last week (I still am!), so I don’t really have the energy to meticulously check over my grammar or shoot with my DSLR. But I still wanted to write coz I’m so psyched about my new stuff!

The Bag

This is my new bag from Marc by Marc Jacobs. I got it from ShopBop at a pretty good price. I don’t quite like the embossed logo but it has a classic look (which is important since I only change my bag once every year or 2.)

Many women in Asia consider designer bags as “grown-up bags”. To them, it’s not really a status symbol. It’s a woman’s rite of passage. I considered getting an “grown-up bag” but I seriously cannot justify paying $2,000-3,000 for a bag. In a way, this Marc by Marc Jacobs bag is a compromise. Perhaps if I became a millionaire and ran out of gadgets to buy, I’d consider one. But for now, I’m gonna stick to well-made bags that are under $1,000.

With that said, I probably wouldn’t be caught dead using a $15 bag as my main bag either. Bags made with cheap zippers and lining won’t work for me. I know no one will see the lining but I will! Check out this bag’s awesome lining:

What’s In My Bag

• Umbrella by Esprit
• Wallet by Modalu – This was my 2009 birthday present from one my closest friends. Absolutely love it!
• Glass case from WaldoPancake – One of the most awesome Christmas gifts I received. It’s one of those things you never knew you wanted until you’re given one. It comes with a cleaning cloth that says “Long time no see”. Cracks me up every time I use it. (Pun not intended.)
• Namecard holder handmade by J.Carter – This is my first Etsy purchase. I was devastated when someone stole my last namecard holder. To me, namecard holders are part of the “first impression” package, so I want a holder that screams my name… or at least, my taste. It took me weeks to find this. I love, love, love the fabric and the lining. More photos below.
• Mobile Broadband Modem by SingTel – This used to be really nifty when I carried my netbook around but with a phone that doubles as a wireless mobile modem, it’s become a bit redundant. I still never leave home without it though… you’ll never know when you need to plug in.
• La Source Body Lotion by Crabtree and Evelyn – Nicked this from my stay at the Hilton Doubletree in Malaysia. I love the smell and it’s a handy size. On a side note, did you know that Crabtree and Evelyn is owned by a Malaysian company? Yeah, me neither.
• Lip Concealer by Kiss Me Heavy Rotation
• Pixel Lip Gloss by Smashbox
• Frixion Erasable Pen by Pilot – This is the coolest pen in existence. It’s erasable by friction! I bought a truck load of these in the last few months. If only I had these when I was in school…my notes would’ve been perfect!
• Nexus S Phone by Google – This needs no elaboration because it already has an entire entry dedicated to it.
• Keyfob by HTC – Received it at HTC’s blogger/media party a long time ago…which reminds me I haven’t been to one of those events in a while. These events are designed to compel the media to write a story. Important if you’re a blogger vying for publicity or in need of content, but that’s not what I want nanyate.com to be. I just want to have my own space to express my opinions, so I’ve slowly moved away from this scene.
• D2 MP3 player by Cowon – This has been with me for the last 5 years. Still works amazingly with it’s incredible battery life of 52 hours. If this dies, I’d buy another one in a heartbeat.

First Etsy Purchase

Here’s the inside of the cardholder. It looks just like my last layout!

I know I’m a few years too late, but I’m really wowed by the concept behind Etsy. For the uninitiated, Etsy is an eBay for handmade goods. There’s just something heartwarming knowing that your purchase was made lovingly by someone, somewhere out there in the world. It also makes for a good story to share with your friends and a very unique gift.

All that just makes me wish I could be part of that community too! Too bad I’m just not blessed with that kinda talent. I can barely sew my buttons back on my clothes, let alone a bag from scratch.

What’s Missing

As beautiful as my new bag may be, it is made of lambskin and thus, terribly fragile. When it rains, I feel like I have to protect it with my life. That’s too stressful, so I’ve been looking for a wristlet. I’ve been stalking Etsy and Rakuten (Japan’s Amazon) the last few weeks… not much luck though.

Well, hope you enjoyed another one of my rare lighthearted, fashion-related entries. If you think there’s a wristlet that suits me, do share. If not, share what’s in your bag and/or your thoughts on Etsy too!

Related posts:

1. Nanyate: Springley Edition (Final)

You get the point, I’m not really into this fashion / beauty stuff. I don’t know how to take full-boded self-shots (as you shall see from my awkward outfit shot later). I don’t consider myself to be trendy but I think I have my own distinct style and I try to dress appropriately for my body type. (Sorry, but I’m no size 0 and I’m also fairly short.)

Anyway, here goes my fashion / beauty entry.

The Outfit

I’m usually practical shopper. My wardrobe is neatly divided into a ratio of 5 work clothes : 2 casual clothes. But occasionally, I do fall into temptation and buy stuff I don’t know when or where I can wear it to — and this outfit is definitely one of them! It’s probably good for parties or clubbing, neither which I do much of, since I’ve overdosed on that as a teenager. I really, really like this outfit though so I’m gonna have to find an occasion to wear it.

• Sheer Mesh Yoke Dress from Forever 21, Spring/Summer 2010 collection
• Short Knitted Cardigan from Promod, Fall/Winter 2010 collection
• Booties from cotton.amour, a boutique at Orchard Central, Singapore. They order their stuff from Hong Kong and bring in very few pieces of anything. I had to book these a week in advance to get them.

The (Incomplete) Makeup

After I took the photo I realized I forgot to do my lips since I usually don’t. (Beauty blogger fail!) This eye make-up is quite a bit heavier than what I normally wear, but beauty bloggers and makeup artists would probably beg to differ. I used 3 shades of eyeshadow, a pencil eyeliner and a bit of mascara to get the eye effect. I have naturally thick eyebrows so I’ve never done anything to my brows before.

I also tried to contour my nose. I have the unfortunate ugly, round, flat Asian nose. I used some bronzer and highlighter to make it look sharper.

The Makeup Products

• Sunscreen: Biotherm UV Supra D-Tox
• Primer: Chanel Base Lumiere
• Mascara: Marjolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus
• Foundation: Etude Precious Mineral BB Compact
• Bronzer: Sephora Bronze Powder (S10 Carribean)
• Blush: Smashbox Soft Lights (Tint)
• Highlighter: Chanel Irreelle Blush (23 Satellite)
• Light Shimmer Eyeshadow: Etude Petit Darling Eyes (BR301)
• Medium Shimmer Eyeshadow: iNuovi Colours D27 (06524 Mod)
• Dark Matte Eyeshadow: Smashbox Shadowbox Palette (Dark Brown)
• Eyeliner: Maybelline Unstoppable Smudge Proof (Dark Brown)

The Make-up Technique…

…not! I’m way too lazy and unskilled to show you a step-by-step so I’ll just leave that kinda stuff to the pros like Michelle Phan. So this brings us to the end of my foray into fashion and beauty blogging. Hah!

Dear Readers, what kind of shopper are you? What style do you think you have? Are you a make-up person? Why or why not?

Related posts:

1. Roiworld Fashion Games
2. Beauty Isn’t Worth Money, Honey
3. The SOYJOY Blogger Challenge

The awesome part is that they’re not my usual style. For those who’ve not met me in person, my dress sense is very Calvin Klein. Solid. Black. Timeless.

And, boring.

Then I stumbled upon this pair and I knew I had to get it! It’s loud enough to complement my boring, black wardrobe.

New Shoes = Happiness!

What’s your sense of style? Do you ever get bored of your wardrobe? How often?

No related posts.

As with many Chinese people in South East Asia, I am not purely Chinese by descent. My paternal grandmother is Peranakan from the Indonesian Riau Islands and my maternal ancestors were Peranakan from a coastal province in Malaysia called Penang.

Peranakans are descendants of Chinese immigrants who married Malays. Together, they formed a unique heritage – a sort of melting pot of Chinese, Malay and later, colonial (i.e. Dutch or British) influences.

Despite my ancestry, I didn’t grow up practicing the Peranakan way of life, which is quite a pity since the last practicing Peranakan in my family is my grandmother, who’s about 90.

But last week I was given the perfect opportunity to learn about my culture by the nice folks of the Peranakan Association, who invited me for an evening at Singapore’s Peranakan Museum.

And here’s a snapshot of my experience.

Peranakan Architecture

The museum is styled like a typical Peranakan home. Peranakans are very fond of pastel colors and intricate designs. When I first saw the building, I was quite shocked. It is strikingly similar to my old WordPress theme, Springley. It made wonder if it is possible for art to be passed down by blood…

Peranakan Wedding

This is the setting where lap chai occurs. Lap chai is a gift-exchange ceremony that takes place one day before the wedding day.

And here is an example of the gifts the groom will bring to the bride’s family.

During lap chai, the bride and groom are to serve each other’s parents with tea as a symbol of filial piety and symbol of being accepted into the family.

This is the newlywed’s bedroom. So pretty! But the bed sure looks uncomfortable. :S

And here’s part of the wedding procession. I would like to point out that the groom’s clothes are very reminiscent of Chinese zombies. For the longest time, I’ve wondered why Chinese zombies are always portrayed with Qing Dynasty clothes. Do shed some light, if you know!

But I digress.

Peranakan Superstition

Talking about zombies, Peranakans were highly superstitious people, which isn’t too surprising since they were heavily influenced by their Chinese ancestors. They had all sorts of amulets to protect themselves from evil. These amulets are called tangkal.

Peranakan House

Peranakans had a penchant for naming their houses. As an aside, this could be my house since that’s my last name on the nanyate-esque lanterns.

Peranakan Tableware

Here’s a shot of Peranakan tableware. As with their houses, most of the tableware are in brightly colored shades of pastel with patterns dominated by flowers, butterflies, phoenixes and dragons.

This is a closeup of a Peranakan kamcheng lid. The detail is amazing! Peranakans meticulously pay the same attention to detail in everything they do. I marvel at their patience and at the same time wonder how bored one must of been to design everything with such intricacy.

These people clearly have never heard of Facebook.

Peranakan Fashion

As with Chinese women of long ago, most Peranakan women were not allowed to leave the house. So they killed time by embroidering and making gorgeous wallets, shoes and clothes.

Here are some Peranakan purses made with beads.

Here is more hand-embroidery to be later turned into shoes.

To save the best for last, this is how Peranakan women dressed. It’s a fancier version of the traditional Malay attire Kebaya. For the rich, it’s made of imported Chinese silk and hand-embroidered with all sorts of flowers.

My grandmother still dresses this way whenever she goes out. It’s very elegant. I really wouldn’t mind a modernized version of this as my future wedding dress.

But my hubby sure isn’t going to wear that Chinese zombie-inspired monstrosity though.

Anyway, I hope you found this entry enlightening. There are lots of more of the museum that I did not cover since the entry is already getting way too long. (It’s also taking me forever to resize, watermark and saturate those photos!)

So head over to my Picasa album to look at the rest of the 150+ photos I took.

There was an exhibit that I thoroughly enjoyed but wasn’t allowed to take pictures; it’s where all the bling’s at. So if you have some time, I encourage you to check it out yourself at the Peranakan Museum before it ends on December 13. There are also a bunch of interesting festivities going on from November 27 to December 6 – including a visit to a true Peranakan home.

Related posts:

1. Singapore Files: The Tissue Culture
2. Which Part of the World Should I Live In?

Despite knowing that, it’s still quite a culture shock for me. I have not seen as many Louis Vuittons, Guccis and Chanels the past 4 years in Toronto as I have in 1 month in Singapore. Perhaps Canadians have other ways of measuring status; perhaps Canadians just don’t care. Whatever the case, I really shouldn’t be in such a state of shock since grew up in Asia, but as a teen or a child I wasn’t as aware of society’s expectations as I am now.

I honestly don’t know how to react to this expectation. My natural instinct as a person who have lived in many countries is to adapt and buy one. At the same time, I’m not someone who will readily spend $2,000 on a bag, when I can spend that amount to hire a private tutor to master a new language or travel to some exotic destination. After all, the amount of knowledge I gain by traveling or learning is priceless. The bag will just depreciate in value after Karl Lagerfeld designs a new collection next month.

And I most certainly would not spend $660 on a low-tier Louis Vuitton monogram, when it clearly does not match with any of my outfits, like many women do over here. After all, what’s the point of carrying a bag that cannot complement your outfit? Either your $5 shorts and $2 tanks will look like an eyesore, or your bag will – and eyesores of any kind are not worth $660.

Low-End Louis Vuitton Monogram “Speedy 25″
Picture from eLuxury.com

Yes ladies, I carry a “shitty” (i.e. non-designer) 200-US-Dollar bag designed by some German company called L.CREDI. It’s leather, it’s durable, it’s functional. Not to mention that it fits 90% of my wardrobe, my black boots and my black Mac just fine. There really is nothing to wrong with it – except that it isn’t a Chanel.

But after all is said and done, I will likely succumb society’s expectations, since there are only so many bag stares a woman can handle. When that time comes, maybe I’ll give Loewe‘s Amazona a try. After all, it would match with my boots.

Loewe “Amazona”
Picture from Loewe.com

What do you think of designer bags? Are they worth it? Would you buy one? Do you own one? What do you think of bag stares?

Disclaimer: I’m not against designer bags. I can, in fact, appreciate quite a few of them, and can fully understand why they cost $4,000 each. I am, however, not very fond of the idea of designer bags bought solely because it is a status symbol. There are more justified reasons for spending $4,000 on a bag like…lust.

No related posts.