Vintage: Is it just a fad?

If you pay attention to advertisement these days, you can't help but notice a trend of buying preloved clothings everywhere, from shops to pop up stores around town. Does it ever occur to you why the owners of these beloved items decided to let go of their treasures, and what were the reasons they bought those items in the first place?

I have always loved anything VINTAGE but mind you there are different ways of interpreting the word. Vintage could mean expensive designer label items previously owned by someone  or it could mean something 'old' / 'worn' which you could find in charity shops that cost a fraction of the original retail price. I am sure each one of us can relate to one designer or another, adoring one brand over another. I am a die-hard Chanel aficionado and to me, it is the essence of the label, the timelessness of the designs which attracts me at the start; and only after I read about Coco Chanel and her life did I fall for the brand even more. Her personality is imprinted in her designs and products; even long after her death, not to mention the superb craftmanship and her legacy which I personally find extraordinarily impressive.



I can't afford Chanel, nor am I a woman of high maintenance. As a personal stylist, I enjoy expressing my authenticity through mixing and matching my treaure finds in second hand shops. Inspired by the Chanel runways,  I am at a passing phase of donning classical, Chanel-ish personality which captures the spirit of Coco, so recently my wardrobe is filled up with lots of pearls and tweeds, minus the Camellia and Chanel No.5..


Making an investment in designer label clothings is all about weighing up the pros and cons. It is haute couture vs fast / cheap fashion. I appreciate the care and meticulousness of the seamstresses at the atelier put into individual garment. However, not only our tastes and preferences change and evolve over time, the high maintenance of those garments including dry cleaning and proper storage must be considered before making purchases as such.

Having an online boutique where I sell unique pieces handpicked from Europe and Australia, I am attracted to the Spanish designer label DESIGUAL lately, something on the opposite side of the spectrum to Chanel. It says a lot about my attitude and personality at this time of my life...a need of colour and sparkle, diversity and looking youthful, the texture of some of the dresses I bought might even suggest a change of my lifestyle to come!

I have nothing against designer labels but admire the designers for their creativity and sense of style. However, I don't advocate buying the limited edition unless you have the extra money for indulgence in high end fashion.Instead,  I encourage my clients to delve into their psyche to re-discover themselves (through my style personality analysis) and wear her essence with the existing pieces that they own or which they found in second hand shops. Talk about sustainable fashion...

 

 

Do I really need make up to look good ?

I was in my final year of high school when I became a regular customer of Clinique and started my daily make-up routine and for a few years I couldn’t allow myself being seen sans make-up. I was short-sighted and contact lens were my saviour as I could still look pretty without the glasses. In a nutshell, my make-up kit took its special spot in my handbag until my third year at university.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate make-up per se. As a matter of fact, I decided there and then that I looked great (who doesn’t at that age) anyway without the tedious routine and extra time applying and removing make-up. I was so young, full of energy and being a straight A academic were enough to boost my confidence and I was far too lazy and busy to be bothered painting my face.

And I have never visited another make-up counter ever since. It’s been more or less 20 years now. I wear decent clothes and never leave home without my fragrance (It was Tuscany to start off with followed by Chanel Bleu and Narciso Rodriguez). Instead of spending on make-up, I invest in quality skin care products. I’d rather have beautiful skin than having to put my face on with loads of makeup to look pretty.

 

Experimenting is the key. Expensive and luxurious brands might work or not depending on the ingredients of the products and how they perform on individual skin types. Personally I don’t fare well with commercial labels and after trying a gazillion brands, I find Aesop, Neals Yard Remedies, Nuxe and Lancome work best on my skin. I love the smell of essential oils in my Aesop products, the therapeutical effects from NYR, the face cleansing milk from Nuxe and the eye cream by Lancome. Yes, they are not cheap but affordable for anyone who cares about having beautiful skin in their middle age.

This is my personal upkeep which is worthy of my time and money. I don’t think I am high maintainence as I don’t do manicure / pedicure (as long as you are not in a habit of biting your nails), I would never let myself go under the knife regardless, I do my own facials at home and I am about to quit visiting my hair stylist as soon as I have my head shaved. Colouring / highlighting cost me a fortune even though I only have them twice a year.

Why am I telling you all these? I honestly don’t believe that you need cosmetics to look great. Keep up with your maintenance regime with the right skin care products and you are ready to brave the world with your natural beauty!

Would you now consider ditching your trusted make-up content and focus on your skin instead? Let me know your beauty routine you swear by...more women should be doing the same!

Who says women over 40 can't be glamorous?

Carrie Grant, 50
Monica Bellucci, 51
Carrie Fisher, 59
JK Rowling, 50
Iman, 60
Helen Mirren, 70
Diane Von Furstenburg, 69
Ellen Degeneres, 57
Viola Davis, 50
Jane Fonda, 78 (she is the ultimate icon who shows that style never fades)
Isabella Rossellini, 63
Loretta Lynn, 83 (check out her spectacular fashion moments!)
Carina Lau, 50
Cherie Chung, 55
Iris Apfel, 94
Meryl Streep, 67
Mary Barra, 54

Carina Lau



















                                                                Monica Bellucci

 

And who says women over 40 can't be glamorous? These are some of the women who refuse to let age stand in their way. They know all about styling and making the best clothing choices to flatter what they have regardless. These iconic women are perfect examples of how to age gracefully. These are non-conformist women who dare to be different, who embrace the essence of what makes them unique and stop worrying about what others think. 

"40 is good, 50 is great, 60 is fab and 70 is fucking awesome." ~ Helen Mirren



I can't help but admire the 94 year old geriatric starlet Iris Apfel, an intellectual who knows herself well enough to live a life of style and authenticity. She wears what make her happy and what she can carry off and she doesn't try to look young when she is not. She is always learning which keeps her youthful. 

Being fashionable (following trends) and good-looking (it's all in the DNA) and looking well (with make-up and surgery) all the time is not equivalent to having personal style. Style is about originality, thoughtfulness and self expression. It is very much a matter of attitude which has got nothing to do with red carpet looks or designers' labels. I highly recommend getting a copy of 'Advanced Style' by Art Seth Cohen for inspiration in which you find women who unapologetically express themselves without trying to look like anyone else other than themselves.

"When you embrace your personality and reflect it through your own outfits, you are communicating what is important about you to the world, and that is truly stylish." ~ Iris Apfel


And who says women over 40 can't be glamorous? These are some of the women who refuse to let age stand in their way. They know all about styling and making the best clothing choices to flatter what they have regardless. These iconic women are perfect examples of how to age gracefully. These are non-conformist women who dare to be different, who embrace the essence of what makes them unique and stop worrying about what others think. 

I am working on it and I wish I could look as good as L Lo and Patricia Arquette at my age!