Make yourself comfortable even as you work...

As I was doing my laundry recently, I couldn't help but notice that 70% of the washings are comprised of pyjamas and loungewear, which is an indicator of how I  spend my waking (and beauty sleep) hours in the 24 hours on a given day. As the days of wearing power suits and stilettos to work are history, working from home being the norm and having to travel to my workstation (hotdesk for some) where I tend to work alone anyway, I am no longer shopping for work attire but casual chic as well as home wear to match my current needs.

Am I being lazy and sloppy? Not at all! The popularity of PJ style clothing is on the rise, designer label loungewear is prevalent on the catwalk, I am definitely rooting for cosy and stylish loungewear, reflecting my desire for 'relaxation time' at home. I won't go that far as to wearing them out as yet as I still prefer to keep the lines of demarcation that cut a neat divide between the different spheres of my life. I am still very much attached to my favourite worn PJs to sleep but crossover items like drawstring silk pants, cotton sweat pants and cozy nightwear are high on my priority list. Is there any surprise that 'athleisurewear' is gaining an allotted place in stores worldwide? 

I suppose we are all spending more time at home these days thanks to technology and the internet. Nights out with the girls have been replaced by nights curling up in front of netflix and colouring books, not to mention online shopping which is a bliss for those who hate getting out of the house and elbowing others in shopping malls. Entrepreneurs and start-ups are gaining momentum like never before so what do we need to get dressed up for anymore when your office is just 30 seconds from your bedroom? Even for people like myself who has taken occupancy at a workstation not far from where I live, I don't need to dress up to impress anyone (unless I am meeting with clients) so I can walk out the door simply with something decent and casual, as I am adopting a more relaxed attitude to workwear.

(On a sidenote, have you checked your shoe rack lately and what do you find? Even Victoria Beckham has gone from the impossibly glamazonian stilettos to flats so what are you waiting for? Most of my shoes are either sneakers with thick soles (I don't like the feeling of my soles touching too close to the ground) or block heels on occasions when I feel like dressing up. I have long given up on shoes in which I can't walk for more than 5 minutes and knowing my style helps a lot when it comes to investing in the best shoes to die for. I live in sandals most of the year and the factors I consider when shopping for shoes are wearability, comfort and sensibility. You can find a melange of styles including sneakers, loafers, sandals, block heels, and rainboots in my closet, all of which are highly practical and comfortable, matching most of my existing garments.)

Instead of wearing my PJ all day and night, I opt for a oversize nightshirt / top over loose fitted pants when I have a day in. What about you? How do you make hanging out at home heaven?

fashion psychology...this is getting interesting!

There are so many disciplines under 'psychology' and the ones that I find intriguing are colour psychology and fashion  psychology; both of which are indeed part of my image consultancy service packages covering both colour and style for my clients. Being an advocate of sustainable fashion and fully aware of the repercussions on the environment, do you know that the colour and the style we choose to wear also have an effect on our inner psyche?  Do you have a wardrobe full of black? Does wearing yellow make you happy and red sexy? How does fashion in general make you feel? Are you more inclined to buy something made with sustainable practises or do you go for fast fashion?

Have you ever wondered why you are particularly attracted to one colour and not the others?  It would be difficult if not impossible to let go of a particular colour if there is a link to childhood, albeit it is not the most flattering colour for you. This is when a personal stylist comes in with objectivity so that the person could be analysed in a professional manner. I usually start my analysis asking my clients a few questions to get to know them a little bit better before the actual draping process begins. I can't stress enough how important it is to find out a bit more about my clients and their backgrounds before we decide what the best colours and the most flattering and goal-oriented style she is after. 

Now that I have created a capsule wardrobe for myself where only my best items are stored, instead of pre-planning my outfit, I pick what I feel like wearing in the morning and do a quick mix and match and I am ready to go in 10 mins. There are days when I feel like shit, and I usually put on my favourite outfit or something I feel most comfortable in and it sorts of enhance my not too pleasant mood for the rest of the day. Of course, take into consideration what you will be doing during the day. too. Are you going to be sedentary behind your computer, choose comfort over aesthetics. Don your tailored suit pants when you have clients to meet. 

I have friends who can't bear seeing me in short spiky hair or whenever I colour it orange (or any bright colours out of the ordinary). Do I really care about what the others are thinking? I always reply to my friends saying something along these lines: what is the point of spending all these money on a hairdo if the result doesn't stand out? It is my style personality to have my sides shaved to the skin and walking out of the salon with a new bold colour that turns heads. Any thing less is just unacceptable! 

After chatting with a couple of women at a shop recently, we all agreed that we have millions of the same pieces in our closet lurking somewhere. Why do I have 4 tops of similar styles only in different colours? I guess the repetition has something to do with the amount of safety in the items that work and look good on me which I am subconsciously falling back onto and it is a fool proof way to go when you feel overwhelmed by all the options out there. 

My choice of colours and styles have indeed evolved over the years. Learning about my best colour certainly makes my life so much easier and my signature style never really changes when I come to think about it. I don't follow or set trends but I like keeping my look contemporary with accessories. I suppose the changes and my taste / preference at any one stage is a reliable indication of my psychological well being. Try it for a couple of days, without much planning the night before, what do you pick to wear tomorrow morning based on how you feel and I am eager to know!

What the heck is 'age-appropriateness'?

I keep seeing the word 'age-appropriate' popping up in the newsletters and blogs I subscribe to and I couldn't help but wonder the underlying meaning of the word and its connotation. Is there a rule / formula that dictates what is right / acceptable to wear for a woman of a certain age? And who on earth has the right to make it into a legislation?



Fashion never appeals to me but I love to hang out with people who have style, who are not afraid to express their authenticity without apology. As we age, style is one of the many ways to remain visible in the vast sea of youthfulness. Personally, at mid 40s, I need to be physically comfortable with what I put on my body while defining myself in the style I marry to. Being a rule-breaker and nonconforming, I dress to my liking and how I feel at the time, reflecting what is going on internally.

We all have some type of style, like it or not. Clothing send a message about us. Our personal style is born out of our desire to control the messages that we want others to receive; while fitting our personality and lifestyle. What do you wish to communicate? Do you ever think about the messages you send with your choices of fashion?



There is no age limit to style. You can look age-amazing at every phase of your life. It is our entitlement from living half a decade to wear whatever we want without worrying what others think. Diane Kruger was wearing a youthful floral dress at 38 and Emma Watson donning a Chanel frock at 25. Fashion and style are really personal statements and who is to judge if the clothing you wear elevate your mood and give you confidence?



Yes, I no longer possess the body I had in my 20s but I have gained a quality which I never knew I had before: self-confidence. I have earned the right to be a woman of substance and proud to be living the way I like, evolving with the passing of time. Fast fashion is a big no-no and quality always trumps quantity. Working from home doesn't make me into a 'I don't care anymore' person as far as what I wear on a daily basis is concerned. I am also striving to edit my wardrobe into a capsule, which only makes sense when there are only so many outfits one ever require. I am fully aware of my adapting changes of style at different phases of my life but I remain true to myself without compromise.

Women and their Age

You never asked a woman of her age, as I was told over and over again. But why not? What is so shameful or criminal about it but simply a tab on how much time has passed since our first day borned into this world? I have no issues revealing my age, in fact, I have a habit of reminding of others how old I am every now and then. Does being a larger number makes me any lesser? Who is setting the parameters to decide on the number when a woman is no longer attractive, desirable and / or valued in society? I certainly don't wear clothing which I don't feel comfortable in just to make myself 'look' younger!

It doesn't matter if you are spending your life savings relying on slow aging treatments and products which promise life regeneration, you are still going to die. The ageing process starts the second we are conceived. The path to wellbeing is not trying to force your face / body into denying your age. I haven't yet met anyone who is undergoing plastic surgery / botox / beauty treatment of some kinds who is happy with herself; if not downright miserable. According to the statistics, more than 10K of baby boomers are turning 65 everyday. Does it mean the world at large is about to be dominated by 'old' people? Instead of travelling the world , some will eventually become bedridden and unable to go as far as out of their own bedrooms. This is the harsh reality of life and as nobody is privileged to live forever, death is just part of the human experience to be acknowledged.

I suppose women in midlife should focus on their sense of purpose rather than the age. Most women would have established a healthy sense of identity, roles in life that are expected, a history of checking off generally accepted milestones pretty much on schedule. However, I don't have a family of my own or any of the traditional markers of middle-age success, and that is all the more reason why I am still developing a sense of generativity, a life of purpose and which matters, and that it makes a difference.  It is my job to make meaning from the choices that I have made, and the ways things have worked out so far. I can't help but ponder upon my less than perfect life, considering how my current life is somehow misaligned with the needs and capacities of my authentic self.

What do I gravitate towards when I am not working?
Who do I admire and what are their qualities?
When do I feel most satisfied?

I honestly believe that we really grow old when we live without a purpose, and nothing over the counter would help. I highly recommend reading 'the Van Gogh Blues' if you are slightly depressed. It is crucial to take the time to discover your passions, needs and place in the world. Listen to what your inner self is saying and not the advertisements marketing their latest shiny gadget. Knowing that it does matter what you do as it affects everything else in the ecosystem. And the hardest of all is to accept, if not appreciate the body you currently have which might be categorised as 'unattractive' by the ridiculous standard of size zero models.

So How OLD are you?

5 Things I No Longer Buy

Meryl Streep in 'The Devil Wears Prada' Inside Look