Leopard Craze, Cable Knit !!!

Yu is the one who suggested that we should do a Leopard theme girls' night out and we DID!!!!!


Three of us opted for a leopard bottom half...while Ann and Pei choose leopard upper half!! ^^

(Left to right)Cathy: Both bag n' peep-toe heels from Balenciaga
Nicole Richie necklace


Me: Mango big cable off-shoulder sweater
Vintage loop sleeve cardigan
doodle print Skirt 
Gray Leopard tights
Designer Elfi Altendofer Vintage beads earrings + yarn wrapped loop earrings 
Alaia golden lace up sandal 
Chanel 09' cruise matte white reissue 227 


Yu: Dolce & Gabbana leopard polyester sweatpants w/ cuffs
YSL suede peep-toe sandal heels
Nicole Richie necklace



I have 2 ear piercing holes for each ear so I put on two earrings: one bead and one loop for each ear. 
To make them look like ONE in front!!! ^O^



Say "smile" ~



Got legs n' killer heels?



Balenciaga heels and that leopard leggings together paired to be a perfection. 



I probably should update my "autumn coat" post w/ this cape as well. 


Pei found the green/gray cape at Therapy store which priced at $150 ... fabulous for the price and for the look!! (courtesy pic. which means that's Cape isn't mine.)



Where does my cable look stem from?


Ah~~ 



How cozy the look is, eh?!


Hope you had fun w/ our leopard looks!!




Have fun. 
xoxo Rachel 

FOTD, OOTD & A Couple Of Reviews

I went out last night with my bestie, Pamela and it was the perfect excuse to wear my new ASOS dress!  I am so happy with this dress because it the most gorgeous colour and it's so flattering.  Sorry the pics aren't the greatest quality but they were kinda rushed. 

I wanted to cinch the waist to give me a bit more shape and this nude belt seemed like the perfect option.  It's one I got ages ago from Next in their sale, it's been so handy because it goes with everything in my wardrobe!

I love this bag I got from Coast a couple of years ago, it's so unique and I've never seen anything like it since.  It's almost art deco style and the only downside is that it's really small so you can only fit the bare essentials in there.  I hope I can keep it in good enough shape so I have it forever!  Sorry about my freakishly long, thin fingers! My mum said the doctors and nurses all commented on them when I was born!ha ha.  The nail polish I'm wearing is YSL La Lacque in no.42, a really rich deep purple...love it! I feel really sophisticated wearing this polish because the colour feels 'grown up'.

I actually chose to wear my wedding shoes from Faith because a) I love them and b) their neutral colour went perfectly with the dress and added a bit of glitz.  I'm such a magpie when it comes to clothes and shoes...any embellishment and I go nuts for it!  Thankfully the heel on these isn't massive so my feet were still in tact after a night of dancing!

Here's the makeup I wore last night.  I went for a subtle smokey eye, glowy skin with a really natural lip.

Face: Virgin Vie Skin Dew mixed with moisturiser

Lancome La Base Pro as a primer

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Fresco

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light to Medium Bisque under eyes

Estee Lauder Maximum Cover Foundation in Medium used as a concealer

Benefit Hello Flawless Powder in Honey (light dusting to set makeup)

Dior Matte Sunshine Bronzer in Honey Matte all over face

Sleek Contour Kit to define cheekbones

Benefit Coralista

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Beige on cheekbones on down nose

Eyes: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Shadow Creme in Silver Star as a base

Korres Eyeshadow in White all over lid (pale silver shade)

Mac e/s in Print in crease and drawn out past outer corners and slightly under the eyes

Mac e/s in Vanilla on browbone

palest shade in Sleek Bad Girl palette used as a highlight in inner corners

Estee Lauder Double Wear Eyeliner pencil in Onyx along top lashline

Mac e/s in Carbon to tidy up eyeliner

Lancome Cils Booster to help volumise lashes

Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara in Black

Lips: GOSH Darling Lipstick

Dior Addict Ultra Gloss in 236 (Satin Peach)

I just wanted to give a couple of products I used a special mention for their downright fab-ness!

Bobbi Brown Corrector is a fantastic product for anyone who suffers from darkness under their eyes, whether it's hereditary or from lack of sleep.  It's pinky salmon tone cancels out any blue/purple tones under the eye and I like to use it as a base, then apply my usual concealer over the top. 

If you do this in very thin layers then you will have bright eyes in no time!  I find the tried and tested 'triangle' technique works best for me.  Click here to read my previous post on how to deal with dark under eye circles. 

The Bobbi Brown Corrector has a really creamy consistency which means it doesn't dry out the delicate skin on your eye area.  It never creases on my eyes and I attribute this to applying it in a very thin layer as said before.  It lasts all day with no need for touch ups and it has become an everyday staple in my makeup routine.

I look like a proper dumb blonde in the above photo! It made me laugh because I have really vacant expression! ha ha.

My search for the perfect bronzer has come to an end with the incredible Dior Bronze Matte Sunshine Bronzer in Honey Matte.  This bronzer is EVERYTHING you could ever wish for.  It has a matte formula that looks super natural on the skin (essential for that subtle winter glow), it lasts all day, the powder itself is really smooth and incredibly blendable, it has an SPF20 and the packaging is gorgeous!

I much prefer matte bronzers for the daytime, especially in winter because the light is so much more stark and 'white' in the colder months so you want something that will work with your skin and not just sit on top.  This bronzer really works with your skintone and gives you a glow, rather than looking you're wearing a bronzing product.

It feels comfortable and moisturising on the skin and never ever looks powdery.  You get alot of product for your money and given the high quality of the bronzer, it's definitely worth paying extra for this one.  If you prefer a bit of shimmer in your bronzer, Dior also do a version that would appeal to you.  I know I will repurchase this product repeatedly because it's so reliable and always creates the look I want with minimal effort.  I love the fact that it enables you to just swipe your face quickly with a big powder brush and go!

It truly deserves holy grail status!

There's always been something that draws me to highlighters, they excite me like no other makeup product, they look beautiful and they are like a magical tool to transform your skin from dull to radiant in 5 seconds.  I have always heard loads of things about the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Bricks and it's one of those products you see repeatedly featured in magazine beauty sections.  Everyone seems to go crazy over any new limited edition Shimmer Bricks.  I have been using and loving my Dior Shimmer Powder in Amber Diamond that I bought a few months back but curiosity got the better of me (fellow makeup lemmings will understand this!).

However, because Dior Amber Diamond is a more peachy toned highlighter, it's always nice to have another variation and this Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Beige is a great way to get that really polished look but with more gold tones.   The product itself looks beautiful in the pan...

And when you swatch it, you can then see why so many people go nuts over it, because it has the prettiest iridescent gold glow that reflects light beautifully.  I got excited after swatching this because if it looks this great in a swatch, just imagine how good it will look on your face!

I always find that highlighter is essential if you want to create sculpted cheekbones, I like to place the product on the highest part of my cheeks so it catches the light.  I avoid the apples of my cheeks as this can make you look too shiny.  The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick is definitely SLIGHTLY more shimmery than the Dior powder and is more obvious once applied.  But as long as you use a light hand and place the product in the right areas, it can really awaken your face and give you a healthy glow. 

The Shimmer Brick is slightly more powdery than the Dior one and it does shed more when the brush comes into contact with it.  So my only warning about this product would be to dab the brush in it rather than swirling it around as that may create a mess!  Overall I love this highlighter and it definitely comes in the top three I have ever used, together with the Dior Shimmer Powder and Benefit's liquid highlighter High Beam.

What Everyone Wants in November 20/23!!!

I said that I didn't keep my hope UP to score anything from Lanvin for HM collection during my family trip to Italy. However, my cousins oversea (Asia) already anxiously called/emailed me w/ the list of things they coveted even more from Lanvin/HM collaborated collection. That had forced me to browse through the entire collection on line. (I normally like to SEE and FEEL things first, believe in love at first sight.... etc. ^^)


All Europe countries starts this sale on 11/23 and we will be at Milano by then. I found out there are two HM stores who participates this big event. If I had the time/energy, I'd make an effort to WAIT IN THE LINE... I assume there will definitely be a line... a long one!! ^^


Now, I believe I want SOME SOME~ ~ from this collection! ^^

Donatella Versace on The View's Fashion Friday!!

La Diva Donatella

This morning on ABC's "The View" (I'm sick with a BAD head cold so I was at home watching!), I tuned in and guess who appeared before my eyes: La Diva Donatella!

It was "Fashion Friday" (the show is actually taped on Wednesdays, I hear), a segment where every Fridays The View's fabulous ladies "introduce" a Fashion Designer to America, and for today's segment it was none other than Miss Donatella Versace. She looked bellisima in a conservative (for her!) black sheath dress and sky-high nude stiletto pumps.

She showed four of her favorite looks from her Fall 2010 Collection:

This royal blue and black wool coat with leather accents, leather skinny pants and patent leather purse...

This orange wool and fur mini A-line coat-dress...

This turquoise silk georgette and mirror-leather detailed gown...

Donatella and the House of Versace PR Office pulled out all the stops for this brief 5 minute segment: She did not just get four models from a local NYC agency, she had four of the TOP TOP Models of the moment, all done perfectly in runway-ready make-up and perfectly center-parted straightened hair. You KNOW that all cost a pretty penny! And Donatella paid for all of it for sure. One of the models at "The View" was in fact 16 year old Wichita Kansas-native Lindsey Wixson, who is Donatella's current fave and a MAJAH model of the Moment. Lindsey wore this:

Silver chain-and-leather strapless mini-dress

All in all, Donatella was very charming and quite funny, especially when "The View's" co-host Sherri Shepherd asked her what she though of Maya Rudolph's HILARIOUS Homage to her on Saturday Night Live...Donatella revealed that she once called Maya and, "I gave her some suggestions on how to do me better. Because I told her, I don't drink. Take off that jewelry because it is too fake, I only wear real. And I don't tell people to "Get Out" I have other people do that. " LOVE HER!!!

Click Below to Watch Donatella on "The View" commenting on Maya Rudolph's Uncanny Impression:

Also, click below for Donatella and the House of Versace being featured in one of my most favorite shows on the Sundance Channel. The series is called The Day Before and the show follows designers such as Versace, DVF and Alexander Wang 24 hours prior to their Fashion Show. It is not to be missed for all Fashionistas!!

H&M Haul and Sleek Blush Review

Now that H&M have an online store, I decided to have a looky at what was currently on sale...I love me a bargain! I love H&M for my casual wear because they do alot of nice t-shirts, cardigans, leggings and shirts that have on-trend details whilst being extremely affordable.  In my eyes, there's no point spending a fortune on a piece of current trend clothing if it's going to go out of fashion within a couple of months.  So, I spend more money on classical basics like well fitting jeans, blazers, winter coats etc.  These items will last you for years so they are more of an investment.

I already have a longline white cotton shirt from H&M that I picked up for £14.99 in the summer and I wear it all the time so I wanted to get another variation to wear with dark blue jeggings.  I spotted this blue fine stripe empire line shirt with rolled up sleeves for only £7.99! Into my basket it went...you can't beat these shirts for a bit of smart casual wear! 

Then this light batwing beige top with 3 quarter length sleeves and shoulder detail caught my attention.  I always look for tops that have a bit of interest about them whether it's embellishment or appliques.  It prevents them from looking too plain.  This one was £14.99.  I got size small because the top is made to be very loose but I prefer it to be a bit more fitted or it would end up looking like a tent on me and that's never flattering on the figure! This soft cotton top will be perfect with some of the skirts I have, thick tights and my New Look sheep skin trim boots. 

I already owned the pale apricot shade of the above t-shirt but it somehow got a small hole in the front of it that just grew bigger in size with each wash.  That always happens to your favourite tops doesn't it!  I was delighted to see that not only was my top on sale, but they had added more colours to the line.  Hurrah! And what do you do if you find a top you like??? Why buy it in three colours of course!

I got the soft cotton top with shoulder embellishments in Turquoise, Apricot and Black.  They were bargainous at only £5.99 each!  I love wearing them either tucked into a skirt with a thick belt to cinch me in at the waist OR loose over my jeggings, leggings or skinny jeans. 

Now that it's winter, I have found myself increasingly requiring extra layers to my outfits to keep me toasty and you can never go wrong with a cardigan.  This black one is longline with tiny pearl embellishments all over it (sorry about the bleached out colour in the pic!).  The little pearls are a really pretty detail and prevent this from just being a boring black cardigan.  It was only £17.99 and will be teamed with a dark grey silk dress I have from Warehouse, black tights and black shoes boots from Dune .

So, as you know, I only just started wearing jeggings last month...I know! Where have I been?! It took me a while to get into them but I soon discovered that they are a gift from the gods.  They give the look of skinny jeans with none of the discomfort i.e. you can wear them to a meal and not have to worry about busting out of them before you even hit the dessert!  I picked up these dark navy blue jeggings for only £9.99.  They have a side zip at the waist and a twisted seam that runs slightly down the front of the leg from the knee down.  That detail gives them a kind of utility edge which is very 'now'.

I was in my local H&M store recently on the search for the gorgeous aviator jacket shown below for just £24.99! I asked a sales assistant but she told me that it sold out within the first week they got it in stock...darn it!  My face visibly dropped.  These jackets are everywhere at the moment in various stores and I have convinced myself that I NEED it in my life.  I remember seeing it online though so I may get it next week...watch this space!

Sleek have undoubtedly become one of the best bets for affordable, great quality makeup.  I love their i-Divine palettes and their Contour Kit is a daily essential for me.  I had yet to try their new Blush shades and Rose Gold seemed like a good place to start.

I had seen the shades available in the Sleek line of blushes but none had ever appealed to me in the past.  I tend to go for peachy toned blush as this seems to be the most flattering on my skin tone.  Any vivid bright blushes are a big no-no for me.  As Sleek's powder products are always buttery smooth and really well pigmented, I had high hopes for their blush.

The Rose Gold shade is an intense peachy coral with glorious shimmer and it definitely looks extremely appealing in the pan...

Alot of people have compared Rose Gold to Benefit's Coralista in the past but the Sleek blush is definitely a couple of shades darker and with more concentrated shimmer.  This is not a product that will appeal to you if you like matte blush.  However, I like a bit of luminous shimmer in my blush so it's all good with me!  Here's a pic of Benefit Coralista so you can directly compare the two.  As you can see, Coralista's shimmer is extremely fine...

I am not a fan of clarting on the blush because I have naturally rosy cheeks so all I want is a bit of a glow.  Because the Sleek blush comes with high pigmentation, I really have to be light handed with a very soft brush.  You only need to dab the pan once to get enough colour because it would be easy to overdo it.  This obviously means that you are getting great value for money since you're getting alot of product for only £4.99! 

Although there is more shimmer in the Sleek Rose Gold Blush, it transfers to the skin smoothly and without any gritty, glittery particles.  With light application, it gives my cheeks a lovely glow.  I love the golden sheen you get from this product so it can double up as a highlighter as well.  The powder itself is extremely smooth, easily to blend and lasts all day without having to be re-applied.

So there you have it, you CAN absolutely get fantastic quality products that are readily accessible and purse friendly.