Going To Xmas Parties? Read This First (Life-saving Tips)

TWO Days Before Party

1. If your party coat is still stored deep inside your wardrobe, take it out NOW! Especially if it's a fur coat or a down jacket, because it'll take some time for them to "breathe" and get "airy" before they're ready to be worn in their intended shape. Not to mention the smell of camphor balls if you got plenty in your closet...

2. If you're going to flash some sexy flesh with your party dress that day, today is the day for  body scrub. Doing so you still have "just-enough" time to nourish your skin with plenty shea butter or whatever body cream you have and allow your skin to shine on that important show time.

3. If you're a frequent gym go-er, today is the last day you hit the gym again before the party. Certainly you wouldn't want to look all muscle-tightened in that glamorous dress, would you?

One Day Before Party

1. Steam-iron your dress, polish your shoes/handbag/clutch/belt.

2. Relax in a hot (but not too hot) bath to improve your blood circulation so that you can have a natural and healthy shade of pink on your cheeks.

3. Last-minute facial/ lip/ hand/ hair masks if necessary

4. Enjoy a quality beauty sleep

On Day

1. If you're going to show off your pretty legs at night, don't wear socks during the day. That mark of elastic band won't disappear in an hour.

2. Don't forget to shave!

3. If time permits, do your make-up about two hours before you start heading to the venue. This allows the make-up to "melt" into your skin and yet look fresh.

4. If you're wearing new dress/ coat/ pants, don't forget to remove the tag!

5. Lastly, do remember to bring your little present for the gift exchange activity!

All understood? Enjoy the fun!!!!!

Trend Report (Xmas Special #2) - Feather and Fur (Faux)

The weather forecast said we're going to have a chilly Xmas eve and Xmas day. So our immediate next big question is, how to keep warm and yet still look cool/glamorous/outstanding when there're so many exciting parties to go to? You may already have your sexy party dress ready now, but have you decided which coat/jacket/stole etc to go with it? Surely you wouldn't want the festive mood be ruined by non-stop sneezing or shivering, would you?

You still have 5 days to do the final shopping. How about a flurrrrry faux fur coat? The key to choose a nice-looking one is the softness and "intensity" of the faux fur. Be sure you pick one with "tamable" fabric, otherwise you'll look overly bulky and clumsy (reminds me of Hagrid the half-giant in the Harry Potter series!). A soft faux fur coat also makes you more "hug-friendly", we all want that (especially it's CHRISTMAS!), don't we? At least I do!

As for accessories, why not try out something feather? The ear-ring, mini-skirt and the sweatshirt sleeve in the attached picture all look really chic and stylish. There are in fact many other options like headband, necklace, clutch, belt etc etc...so keep you eyes open when you shop! Good luck! :)

Street Snap #1

(Re-post from KA.NA Online Store Blog)

Nice demo of street vintage look!

P.S. submit your looks to contact@kanastore.net, let's share and inspire each other!

Trend Report (Xmas Special #1) - Glittering Moments

Christmas is less than 2 weeks away, have you decided what to wear for the party? Tired of wearing red and green every time? How about something shiny and glittering? No it doesn't have to be gold only, it can be cool black, earthy brown, daring silver, metallic white...and the list goes on...

Alright if you still prefer a solid color outfit, maybe just a little add-on like a cute sequin bow for you blouse, a pair of comfortable sneakers embossed with "a few" glittering rhinestones, OR just a "mysterious" party mask with a thin layer of glittering powder? Trust me IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE. 

Trend Report - Shearling

With winter coldness comes a step closer, are you busy finding warm clothing lately? We reckon anything shearling couldn't go wrong this season. Tops, vests, denim shorts, jackets are all seen shearling-lined. And even wellington boots, sneakers and flip flops (yes, flip flops) have a touch of shearing. I'm getting myself an aviator shearling-collar jacket, you?

Sweet or chic? Your choice.

Seriously, shearling flip flops?!

I am Miss Cape-able (Tips For Wearing Capes)

I have long been in love with capes and ponchos, probably some kind of attachment behavior from childhood after watching too much TV. Many heroes and heroines that I like wear them (ok, those maybe cloaks 'technically') and they all look absolutely charming and cool. Thus, I'm rather glad to see that fashion designers/ manufacturers are making a great variety of them these days, which sometimes make me think maybe capes is now weighing the same as coats in terms of importance in winter clothing.

Inspiration for my cape addiction

Anyway, back to reality. To look good in capes, below could be some useful tips:

1. If your cape is patterned, its best companion would be a pair of single-color tight pants/leggings/jeggings. Unless you're confident in your skills of matching patterns, don't risk or both of your cape and your bottom piece will hate you - because either of them get the attention they deserve.
2. On the contrary, if your cape is in single-color, you can match it with a flower-patterned dress or a two-tone pants. Doing so you can subtly highlight the details of your bottom piece.
3. If you want to create an elegant lady look, try matching a white cape with a black pencil skirt and a pair of pumps. Think about Victoria Beckham (well, then maybe a pair of leather gloves as well).
4. Never wear a bottom piece that is shorter than your cape, this will make you look like you have forgotten your pants! (unless you want to wear the cape like a dress, like YSL below...)

Clockwise from top left: Pringle of Scotland x 2, Rag and Bone, YSL, Limi Feu, Fendi

Ok, I'll go on day-dreaming about my movie heroes while you can start searching your Cape-tain Sparrow! Ciao!

As Two-tone Continues...

Apology for not writing sooner, we had been crazily busy this month with the setting up of our online shop (wahey! It's been launched finally this week! You can go have a visit at www.kanastore.net, no pressure though!) and starting tweeting in Twitter (again, feel free to follow us @kanastore). Afterall it's a good sign that things get rolling huh?

A quick topic for this week - Mixed-fabric Winter Coat

Yeah you may have noticed this in many fashion shows lately, Givenchy, Fendi, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Stella McCartney, Prada and the list goes on...

Clockwise from top right: Givenchy, Prada, Stella McCartney, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Fendi and Givenchy

Combinations are infinite: Fur (which we hope is faux), leather, wool, and even cotton and satin can all be mixed. First it was Phoebe Philo bringing us the stormed-the-world two-tone tote bag (and its variations still seem limitless!) and now we are getting the two-tone trend extended to other fashion items (in fact you also see those bi-color dress shoes don't you?). We say, the more the merrier! Hey designers, can we also have the below accessories/ gadgets in mixed materials or colors? Pleasssseeee...

• watches
• shades (i know i know, Chanel already got us flurry shades...but more please!)
• ponchos/ anoraks for sports
• swimsuits
• bracelets
• caps/ visors
• ballerinas
• iphone/ ipad/ tablet pc covers
• music headphones
• notebooks/ organizers
• bedspreads and slippers
• etc etc...

My ultimate secret wish is a pair of two-tone DM boots (vibrant colors, not just black and white), what's your wish?

Wardrobe Audit

While our little shop is busy stocking for autumn and winter, it must also be your time to re-organize your wardrobe (or walk-in closet if you're lucky). To help you to start the 'painful' process, we've some little recommendations here:

To throw away/ to donate/ to be remade into something else useful

• any item that is so worn out, damaged, shrunk etc, especially t-shirt, that you will very likely purchase its replacement when summer comes again
• any item sat in your closet this entire summer because the size doesn't fit you anymore or you got a new favorite this year

We're definitely NOT encouraging wastage here. On the contrary, we help to ensure that those poor items which are left sitting at the corner of your wardrobe can now be relocated to where they should belong. 

To keep even in autumn and winter

• a few t-shirts, especially single-color ones, because you will still need them in autumn and winter, to be worn underneath your cardigan/ leather biker jacket/ down jacket/ poncho/ parker/ faux fur coat etc.
• jeans - they're all-weather, aren't they? you may keep a pair of your favorite denim shorts too, they go well with your over-knee boots
• summer scarves - yeah we know you'll wear wool/ down/ fleece/ furry scarves in adverse winter, but silk/ chiffon scarves make nice accessories, for example as hair band and belt

To clean and store properly for next spring/ summer

• tank tops and vests - you wouldn't need them in the cold except camisoles as underwear
• put away the many nude-color pantyhose you wear to work (maybe just leave a pair or two just in case), you'll mostly wear trousers or wool socks when the cold comes
• bikinis/ swim-suits - that's obviously right? (unless you're a regular swimmer/ have a heated pool/ not fear of the cold at all!)

Ready to start now? Will try to give you some more tips if we can think of! :)

Wonderland in Fashion Week

Seeing them in the Fashion Week truly made me feel like being Alice. These two are my top picks: 

Meadham Kirchhoff 2012 Ready-to-Wear

"Kawaii" isn't the privilege of Japan street fashion. Look at the big-eye-with-heavy-eyelash print on that blue-and-red checkered cardigan and the blue skirt with teddy bear patches. My favorite out of this collection, however, is the pink knit top with heart and rainbow prints together with the cloud-like fluffy skirt! Think Barbie will be jealous!

Mary Katrantzou 2012 Ready-to-Wear

More superb prints from the Greek designer. Surely she must think that a single floral species in a flower bed is too lonely, so she puts three colors of them on one blazer. The collection in fact also shows a great deal of creativity in terms of cuttings and fabrics. It is not uncommon to see some chiffon tails for top and single-shoulder dress. 

So where is my Mad Hatter now? I need a tea with him right away...

A/W 2011 Trends (more)

Continuing our last discussion...more on A/W 2011 trends:

4. Creeper Shoes

Thanks to Prada, thick-sole creeper shoes which used to be associated with punk or rock stars have now been put on the top of this Fall's hot list. You can see them on runways and all over the streets of some of the most fashionable cities. They're no longer only for guys or pervert girls (see some good demonstrations below).  

5. Python Prints

Joining leopard and zebra at the animal-print family, python print is no doubt gaining its popularity this autumn. Lanvin, Valentino, Chloe, and certainly Zara and J.Crew all agree with this and have released their own lines of python items. Not to mention all those gadgets and accessories like phone cases, headpieces, and gloves as well. I gotta grab mine quickly before all the good ones are gone! You too!

A/W 2011 Trends

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival everyone! Did you have enough moon-cakes this year? I'm feeling so full now, anyone got digestive tablets? :P

Alright, though the weather is still quite hot these days, you may already be thinking about re-organizing your wardrobe with new A/W collection. To give you some inspiration, let's have a look at some of the most anticipated fashion trends this autumn/ winter:

1. Hot Lips


These sexy lips are seen everywhere from H&M, Miss Sixty to DKNY. Be it some huge big red lips on a casual t-shirt or thousands of colorful lips printed on a one-piece dress. The passion just gives us some warmth for the winter, huh?

2. Cable Knits

If you're going to stock in a winter sweater or two, cable knit is what you should be looking at. Massive brands like Celine, Hermes, DVN and Missoni all support white/beige cable knit pullovers/ cardigans. Try matching them with different fabrics/ materials like sequins, leather or mesh for example. Check out Zara and H&M for more affordable ones.

3. Leather Gloves

And as a must-have accessory for this winter, you may have to go for a pair of leather gloves, if you do not own one yet. While short gloves seem more pragmatic, long gloves perfect the chic look that you may be looking for. Personally I would like a pair of two-tone ones (it's all about "contrast" again!) or a pair with special details, like the cut-out ones from Chanel or that leopard-patterned ones from Valentino. But it always take some time to find your right pair, so it's time to start watching out now!

More talk on A/W 2011 trends coming up, stay tuned! :)

Light Up My Neck

Among all different accessories, I've to admit that necklaces have topped my list. Especially those chunky ones, probably because they help highlighting my neckline and concealing my square shoulders at the same time. And they tend to allow more details, colors and embroidery which absolutely dazzle me.

Most of the time I'll put them over a single-color top/ one-piece dress/ toga, showcasing their handcrafted details (obviously I prefer hand-made ones because they're more unique) yet not overcasting my clothes. It's also good to mix a few of these necklaces together and create an even more chunkier piece, which is always good for a punk or multi-layering look.

"Amplifying" the effect by wearing two or three of them at one time

And just for sharing's sake, these two below are my latest acquisition from our own little shop. Aren't they nice? I like them for the studs and the feather, which I reckon they match most of my summer apparels and should be ok to match my upcoming A/W wardrobe as well! Should start looking around for one if there isn't any in your possession yet, you say?

Dot Dot Dot

I know I've been avoiding dots patterns since teenage, always thinking that they make me look like a clown or joker. But as I grow bolder (and older, sob) to try different things in styling, they look less scary to me now.

Of course, sweet young girls are always thought to be "privileged" to put up a total dots look, like a one-piece red dress with white dots on it I can imagine. But it might not be a good idea to get into the spotlight like that in a solemn workplace. Instead perhaps a dotted blouse underneath a suit jacket or a pair of dotted stocking would not hurt. In fact, on the contrary, it might brighten up the boring office look on a typical I-don't-wanna-go-to-work Monday.

As for weekend (like today, yay!), a pair of dotted sneakers, or a head scarf with colorful dots, or even a pair of polka dots shorts could certainly tell others what a good mood you are in, not to mention it matches perfectly well with Mr. sunshine in lovely summer time!

So I've just taken out my FIRST dotted t-shirt that I got myself this summer from my closet and get it ready for tomorrow, how about you? :)

We Heart Mini Bags!

Forget about your carryall, tote bag or backpack for a while and give a little way to mini bags, couldn't you? I know, we ladies always have so many things to bring along, but forget about practicality for a second, cute tiny bags in fact make a good accessory to daily outfits. 

Signature IT bags of previous years return in smaller size and in various colors, and vintage chain bags also make a glorious come-back. It may not be easy if you, like me, are used to put everything that you MAY need into your daily bag and are always too lazy to organize/ re-organize the bag contents. But it is not impossible. Here is a list of what I actually need (yeah now I realize...) if I'm going out with a mini bag:

1. my phone

2. a cardholder size purse with my ID, travel card, credit/debit card and some cash

3. my favorite lip gloss

4. a pack of tissue (because I'm prone to nose allergy)

5. a foldable shopper bag (just in case)

Furthermore, it is not uncommon or in any way "odd" to carry a second bag if you really find it necessary. You just have to consider the total look. If you're in t-shirt and jeans, it looks absolutely okay to have a cross-body mini-bag AND a tote on your shoulder at the same time. But then, I bet you would not want to be seen carrying a Chanel 2.55 and a plastic shopper from your local supermarket in a cocktail party, would you? ;)

(Not meant to promote our shop, but this little red box looks really cool, agree?)

Lovely Vintage

Vintage fashion, if I'm asked to define it, means apparels from the old times. They might have been worn by their previous owners, or maybe their production has simply discontinued and thus leaving them un-used. The popularity of vintage fashion has never seemed to be over, and on the contrary, more and more people seem to have joined the group and exchange ideas of mixing and matching vintage clothes with modern ones.

There could be different styles in vintage styling. Some may fancy a romantic Victorian-age look (e.g. a long dress with heavy lace); or some may like a west-side cowboy mannish look (e.g. checked shirt + worn-out denim + cowboy boots); or some may create a punk-rock look (e.g. cut-out rock band t-shirt + mini skirt + old Dr. Martens); or some may even try mixing old items for a totally original look (which I honor most!).

Punk rock style vintage

Classic cowboy boots

Romantic vintage lace dress

Original vintage stylings on a typical street in Japan

It is not easy to start, though. If you are interested to try vintage fashion, why not begin with doing a thorough "audit" of your closet (and maybe your mom's and your sis' too!)? Dig out items that you've abandoned for ages because sometimes they could look "vintage-ly fashionable" to you now. And if you still need an item or two to complete your original  vintage look, go check out your local flea market or a second-hand shop. Be prepared the search could be time-consuming and tiring, but I assure you it's a "all worth it" experience when you find what you want. And then you can go home and work in front of your mirror...

The world of vintage styling offers unlimited room for imagination. Oh and to a certain extent, you're helping with environmental protection too since you're reducing waste and recycling! Enjoy your little exploration now!

Black is Back (again?)

Yes, look like it is. 

Glanced through major Fall 2011 ready-to-wear shows again and this is my little conclusion. It's true that other colors like white, soil or mixed patterns also appear in different shows, but black seems to be liked by all. From leather, knit, see-through, silk to faux fur, felt and tweed, black is seen everywhere.

First thing first, where're my all-time favorite little black dress and acid-washed black jeans now?

Vivienne Tam Fall 2011 RTW

Alexander Wang Fall 2011 RTW

Jason Wu Fall 2011 RTW

Lela Rose Fall 2011 RTW

Prabal Gurung Fall 2011 RTW

Chanel Fall 2011 RTW

Miu Miu Fall 2011 RTW

               

Givenchy Fall 2011 RTW

Swatch x Kidrobot

Can swatch get any cuter?

The collaboration between Swatch and Kidrobot (an art-driven toy and lifestyle brand) has brought about a collection of eight Gents watches. Each of them is accompanied by a complimentary Dunny, an iconic collectible bunny-like vinyl toy. Artists Gary Baseman, Jeremyville, Frank Kozik, Joe Ledbetter, MAD, Tara McPherson, SSUR, and Tilt have each contributed to the new collection with a characteristic design for a Gent and its accompanying 3-inch (7.6 cm) Dunny. I have my eyes on the yellow one, you?

Lace & Crochet

Had never been a huge fan of crochet and lace myself until recently. It's seen so often in big and small fashion events lately that I started collecting pics of them for my own styling reference. I also found a nice petite crochet vest from a local vintage shop the other day which gives me a cute but not old-fashioned look, and it is so wearable for daily activities too.

White and tea-colored lace/ crochet dresses are most frequently seen on lookbooks and fashion blogs. But if you always enjoy a less feminine style like me, there are many alternatives this season.

Traditional white and tea-colored crochet/ lace

Among them all I'm particularly in love with (and almost addicted to!) those lace-trimmed clutches and cuffs. They add a touch of "fairy tale-ness" to the total look and yet will not make me appear overly mature or outdated. They can even match well with my punk outfits and finish the rock-star look with a little sexiness.

Thanks to modern designers who work so hard to make everything look good on everyone. Now I know what's in common between Avril Lavigne and Kate Middleton. :)