Blue daisies

Forgive me, Melody does the cutesey poses so much better than I do. From now on I either pose with a book, beagle or whip.

I couldn't resist this cute little dress when I saw it on the thrift rack. I knew there was no earthly way I could wear it to work or church but who cares? It's covered in daisies! So of course I break out the daisy necklace. I'm matchy matchy that way. Sorry Mel.

Now to find a picnic or a BBQ to wear it to.

Dress: Amcorp Mall Vintage (RM15)
Shoes: Nine West (RM169 after discount)
Necklace: My Kedai Runcit blogshop (RM25)

Belting up for the office

I find jackets, especially cropped, short-sleeved ones, perfect for making an otherwise casual dress a little more work-appropriate.

Paired with closed-toe heels, minimal makeup and a simple bag, it's a great look to take you from day to night--you know, for casual drinks with your mates after office hours.

But I confess, since in my line of work I don't have to be dressed up corporate all the time, I have lost all concept of work-friendly wear! In any case, this outfit is pretty much a no-brainer on days where I'm not going out, or running around.

Dress: Pre-loved
Jacket: RM35, The Summit USJ
Shoes: Shanghai
Bag: RM10, Amcorp Mall weekend flea market

Goodbye, Boring Wellingtons

Since I was a little girl and a fan of Paddington Bear, I've always wanted a pair of Wellingtons. Wikipedia tells me there are also commonly known as: rainboots, rubber-boots, topboots, gumboots, barnboots, and muckboots. I just enjoy calling them "wellies".

I recall one icky, puddle-filled day of college when my shoes got all nasty and wet. Walking around in soaked shoes that squeaked and squished, with my crappy umbrella turned inside-out put me in such an Eeyore mood. A friend told me I should look into buying a pair of "rainboots". I made a face, imagining them to be a fashion disaster and oh so blah. Who wants to wear rubbery solid colour boots that only come in red or yellow?

But I took her advice and I was pleasantly surprised!


I've found the best selection (with a decent price range) at the local Targets. Every year, they release new designs of wellies. It takes a lot for me to say "No" to myself and remind me that I only need one pair!


Click the picture to view at full size and more detail!

The collage above are of my favourite wellies from this year's collection. They used to cost around US$15-20 but they've been raising the price. Each of these retail for $24.99 now. They are found under the Rainboots section at Target. Oh, how I want the black ones on the bottom left with the mini blue whales! By the way Meldee, the pink ones next to those is officially Barbie themed!

And here's my treasured pair of wellies that have been with me for 6 falls/winters and counting! I don't really have a nutty fascination for cuppycake things (as much as bunnies) but at the time, these were the cutest design on the shelves.



Cuppycake and Dotted wellies - Target US$18

I wore them a lot during the rainy and slushy seasons at college since there was a ton of walking thru soaking wet grass and puddles to get from one class to another. I still put them to use now but more to just get me in the doors of my workplace till I slip on my regular shoes. I know they obviously don't match very much...but occasionally, on my rainy days off I'll leave them on and go to the stores. And they still get tons of compliments. Hey, you're not going to look like a kid forever...might as well be silly and put that youthful appearance to work once in a while!

How to dye leather shoes: From cute pink to hot red

I am inordinately proud of myself for successfully dyeing my stained pink leather shoes red! I am also incredibly pissed off with myself for not having documented the process better. Sorry ladies was too excited at the prospect of a new/old pair of red shoes.

If you look at the inner sole of the shoe you can see the colour it used to be. What happened to the poor things was they got cooked, with boiling oil. While studying in London I shared a flat with 4 other students - one of whom I collided with while carrying a piping hot dish. My feet recovered, my poor shoes didn't.


Like most well-worn good leather shoes (these were by Lewre while they were still rather good), they were incredibly comfy so even though they were stained I kept them and nursed the idea of dyeing them a different colour. I knew it could be done mom had used the black version of this dye to refresh an old faded pair of her shoes.

Initially I was going to dye them a nice practical black, but when I finally found a shelf of Dylon Leather Dye at Ace Hardware store (at Ikano). The shades I remember available are black, brown, red, white and navy blue. They are mixable so you can create your own shade. The white would be awesome at either lightening the shades of the other colours, or refreshing white leather shoes that are stained.

Initially I resolved to dye them a wonderfully practical black. However, I found myself walking out with a box of red. It's the red shoes. I swear. They made me do it.

Each kit only costs RM15.80 and they contain a bottle of leather dye, a brush, instructions and an abrasive sponge to prepare the shoes with. Here are the instructions in brief (with added experience).

1. Clean shoes thoroughly (I used babywipes), moisten abrasive sponge and scrub surface of shoes until it feels slightly rough. Presumably this is to let the dye adhere better.

2. Wipe down shoes till dry, dip brush in paint and apply a thin layer evenly all over the shoe. Like applying nail polish, thin layers and staying away from the fan will help it dry evenly without bubbling.

3. Worry that your shoes look like diseased organs, but let them dry anyway for about 20 mins. Apply a second coat.

4. Hurrah! Things are starting to look better although not completely even. Also the shoes are looking uncommonly bright - completely unlike the deep mature crimson the box promised.

5. Consult mother who insists that the colour will deepen as another layer is added and the shoes allowed to dry completely. "Have faith in Mother England," she proclaims majestically.

6. Apply another coat and admire the shiny lipstick red finish the shoes have acquired. Leave to dry overnight.

7. Shoes are, if possible, an even brighter shade of chilli red. Mother England lied. Put on bright red shoes anyway and feel very very pleased with yourself. Prance around all day hoping people notice your shoes. Which they do because they really are a VERY bright shade of red.

Going croc

For goodness' sake, no! I think I can safely say that I would never go out and purchase a pair of those hideous Croc boat shoes, although my camping-mad parents and future parents-in-law swear by them. I mean going crocodillian--and not in the sense of croc skin bags or shoes either.

The first is a fashion faux pas and the second...well, a grey area in my fashion consciousness, because I don't really like the idea of reptilian skin. But who knows, someday, I may be persuaded.

But in the mean time, isn't this umbrella-ella-ella-eh just the cutest thing ever? *beams*

I reckon umbrellas are actually an accessory by itself--haven't you ever thought that lovely outfits can be spoiled by one of those godawful tacky grandma floral-print affairs?

I picked it up in Shanghai, in one of the wholesale malls along my now-beloved Qi Pu Road. I went a bit brolly-mad and picked up two--this is the one I carry with me in my handbag daily because it's so small and cute.

Observe the print! Happy health-conscious crocs :)

Crocodillian umbrella-ella-eh: RMB35 (about RM17), Qi Pu Road, Shanghai

Yay cold weather gear!

Besides H&M the other delight in visiting Hong Kong was being able to bring out all the cold-weather gear I miss so much! I love boots, don't you love boots? I love boots. But I just can't bring myself to wear knee-highs in Malaysia like some girls do. Well not yet anyway. The full desperation to bring them out hasn't quite set in yet. I still take out my bootiful brown boots (not pictured) and strut around in them now and then. *sighs*

I'm also very VERY proud of my outfit. The boots and jacket are all eBay scores and you'll kill me when you find out the price. The skirt I had second thoughts about wearing in Malaysia but knew it'd fit right in in Hong Kong. To quote Syen "Why am I the one who speaks Cantonese but you're the one who looks native??".

*twirls*

Jacket: By Gap on eBay UK (£3.99 + £5 shipping)
Tights: H&M Amsterdam (€7)
Boots: Synthetic, no brand, eBay UK (£0.99 + £5 shipping)
Skirt: Elements and The Curve (RM35 after 50% discount)

In the navy

Ahoy there!

Yes, I'm still feeling marine-ish. Though this dress is perhaps less naval than another gorgeous sweater dress I have, with its simple lines and colour scheme, well...hello, cap'n!

I've also been hitting the gym lately, and was quite pleased to see that I'm toning up quite nicely indeed *beams*. I can now proudly say I can drop and give 100--although with some degree of huffing and puffing!

I picked up this pretty dress in Bangkok during my mad shopping sprint with Mr M. I say "mad sprint" because we'd been in Thailand for 5 days and I'd not bought much--so in my last five hours in the country, I went bananapots!

Navy-and-cream dress: THB150 (about RM15, hoho), Platinum Fashion Mall, Bangkok
Belt: Cats Whiskers
Shoes: RMB28 (about RM14), Qi Pu Road, Shanghai

Dirty Little Secrets

There are many things people keep to themselves. The tough girl who doesn't let others know she has a soft spot for stray animals. The quiet introvert at work who goes home to multiple drawers of racy lingerie. The snobby girl at the mall who refuses to tell you where she got her shoes. We all keep secrets.

I'm in a sharing mood today, so let me tell you one of mine.

For those of you who don't already know, I lurve corsets. Sadly, the ones that I wish to own are way out of my budget. Ah, but that's not my secret for today.

But before I go into that, this picture below is of two very beloved items in my dresser. The first, the most gorgeous notebook ever. The second item is a pleather cuff bracelet. Sure, I can't afford to start a corset collection at the moment. In the meantime, these sexy little reminders of my dreams to come keep me content. I had bought the bracelet before the notebook. Coming from two separate stores, I just got really lucky they were the perfect match.



Every now and then in my college years, I'd feel the need to be silly. There were many grassy areas to chill out between classes. I would look for a comfy spot, take out a textbook to study and lay my corset notebook on the same side as the wrist my bracelet was snapped on to. One thing I love about America...people are not afraid to start small talk with you. And let me tell you, my matching notebook and bracelet were to college boys (and girls!) as donuts were to Homer.

There's just something about the thought of corsets that get gears going. Males want you wearing them, females want to know where you bought them.

People would always ask me what I wrote in the notebook. I would reply and tell them it's only for me to know. So, that was my secret. Isn't it funny how a notebook without a single word in it contains so many memories?


Notebook - Spencer's Gift Shop US$4.99
Cuff Bracelet - Hot Topic US$6

P.S. Lol, I wonder if Kahani yelled "Stop the presses!" the second she read my title. Hey, you know...I figure after all that blog chatter about caveman bonking, this is pretty mild!

Diva Haul

Sorry for posting so many haul posts in a row, but ladies, Diva is on sale and I don't know how long it will last. So this is about timeliness! Mel clued me in on their wondrous "nothing-over-21" sales where they have racks of products on which everything is RM21 or less. I found all these lovelies during the current sale!

Had my eye on this baby for awhile, but couldn't bring myself to shell out RM30. RM21 = Ka ching for a lovely (dragonfly) art deco (dragonfly) inspired (dragonfly) brooch.

I adore this 3-necklace-in-one vintage-inspired piece. It's a case of if you don't have a sweet victorian granny to rob, fake it. If I had one wish it would be that the gold was more faded and less bling. I look like a vintage gangsta when I wear it. But it makes me happy so I'll just be the lady in da hood and deal with it. Any suggestions on what I can put in the giant locket?

Statement pieces go the distance I'm starting to learn. I haven't worn this yet but I can't wait to to!

Jewellery: Everything from Diva (All RM21 except for earrings - RM13)

Saccharine satchel

So perhaps it isn't a satchel per se, but it is a slingaround bag-purse thingo, and made of soft, pink leather. Best of all, it did not come with a hefty tag--and it's probably one of my best finds at the op shops.

Doing a bit of research online, I found that the maker of this bag, Faigen in Sydney, Australia, is purportedly one of the oldest bag-makers in the country. According to this blog site (I wouldn't believe everything it says though, given it's only got one post) the company's been around since 1928.

However, I doubt this bag is from way back then--my guess it's probably from the 70s, at the very most.

Anyway, I picked it up for a mere AU$1.50--the clasp's a little scruffy and there's a small tear near the strap, which is barely noticeable--what you do notice though, is that it is real leather. And pink! Ah, gotta love it.

Pink purse: AU$1.50, the op shop at the Churchill Shopping Centre (can't remember what it's called!)

Hong Kong H&M Haul

*cue hallelujah chorus* I really LOVE H&M. In Europe it was my happy place and seeing it again in Hong Kong was like visiting a dear friend. If I could have hugged the display window I would have.

Sadly, practicalities did not allow me to blow my entire fortune on the store, so here's my rather modest haul. The knit bodycon dress is muey sexy and very unforgiving but I loooove it.

This satchel was on half price and it's just in time to replace my ancient decade-old satchel that is falling apart.
Dragonfly hairclips. Nuff said. ;)

Of course the beagles got pressies from Hong Kong too... (as a result I had to get my parents pressies because how would it look if the dogs got something but they didn't?)

Rocky with his fave twisty cigarette-shaped chews. He walks around with one tucked into his cheek like this for ages. I can't find them in M'sia so picked up a box of ten for him.

As Toby eats the puny ciggies in half a heartbeat, I got him this large pizza flavoured rawhide roll. It's taking him a satisfactorally long time to gnaw his way through it.

Dress: HKD150 (~RM70)
Bag: HKD100 (~RM45)
Hairclips: HKD29 (~RM12)
All from H&M Hong Kong

Tattoo Prints

Tees and jeans used to be my thing back in my fashion shy teenage years. I really felt like I overdid them for so long, so I pretty much stay away from anything that resembles them...even cute baby tees.

However, I am a sucker for butterflies on clothing and tops with prices that don't even scratch my purse :)

Believe it or not, this top costed a mere $3 at Walmart. I was slightly embarrassed to buy it because it was located in the juniors sections and was designed by the girl who plays Hannah Montana. But hey, it's three bucks! Plus, I'm sure Max Azria put his share of talent into creating it. I can't afford a slinky BCBG dress, so this is as good as it gets for now. I love it because I can layer a long sleeved top under it or a cropped cardigan over it for those chilly wintery days. I think it's really creative that the print is slanted along the side instead of the front.



To go with my butterfly tattoo tee, I picked out one of my favourite skirts. I found this pre-loved skirt on eBay using the keywords "satin and lace skirt". What a find! Baby pink satin layered with black rose print lace over it. While their tattoo prints share some common ground, each of these pieces obviously come from opposite ends of a clothing store. I think it's fabulous that you can make simple kiddy tee work with an evening-wear skirt.

By the way, I am totally freezing my behind off for recent blog photos. I hope for a warmer day to come around soon so I can take like 10 outfit shots at once!

Butterfly Tee - Miley Cyrus ft. Max Azria for Walmart US$3
Black and pink lace overlay skirt - eBay US$5
Shrug - $6
Boots - Aldo

Sugar, oh, honey honey!

Being a flea-market bug (Geddit? Geddit?) I acknowledge that sometimes you find OK stuff...others, you find meh stuff. And then there's stuff like this dress--jam-packed of wholesome sugary goodness that makes me go "Oooooh!"

With gorgeous girly lace, ruffles, flower-shaped buttons--what's not to love, really? And it's pink (well, not really, more of a dusty rose, but I shan't be pedantic about it--that's Kahani's job!) All for a sweet RM15.

That's the beauty of flea markets--you really don't know when you might find something that was made for you!

Flowery dress (yes, I do wear it to the office by the way, to the delight of my boss' personal assistant) : RM15, Amcorp Mall weekend flea market
Brogues: Bata Warehouse, Subang Parade
Star-shaped mirror: RM5, Daiso

Drenched in Sunshine

I miss missing the sun. In Malaysia we have too much of it and it's all too hot. But in Europe the sun was something to celebrate. A reason to run out, buy sandwiches and have a picnic in the park. And when the sun pops out a girl needs that perfect sundress. Here's one of my faves. It even doubles up as a skirt for workdays.


The second shot is included purely because the elusive Toby popped out... =P

Dress: Curve Street Market (RM60)
Shoes: Vincci (RM35 after 50% discount)
Sunglasses: H&M Milan (€1)

Frockspiration: Mad Men

If you don't know of it yet, Mad Men is a TV series about the advertising industry in hte '60s. While slightly depressing (even the kids are gloomy) what keeps me coming back for more are the CLOTHES. The amazingly gorgeous vintage-styled clothes. I personally thank shows like Mad Men for bringing back a love for the vintage items I so love.

Main protagonist Don Draper with his wife Betty. Don is a man's man. Often seen with a cigar and a whisky, philandering aside, he makes you wonder why men just aren't made that way anymore. Betty however is perfectly coifed all the time, brittle and clearly going slightly mad. But her clothes are oh-so-pretty and Grace Kelly-ish.

The wonderful Office Manager Joan... I owe at least part of my fondness for this dress to her incredible style. Even though she's a plus-sized lady she's gorgeous, sexy and I hope she never loses a pound! I love her character in the show - she's strong, feminine and very competent.

A factor that defines the look of the era is waist-definition which I'm wholeheartedly in support of. I believe ANY woman looks better with a defined waist. And if you don't have it, fake it.

Even deshabile... she's STILL perfectly coifed. A little less frigid perfection and I'd love her, but as things stand... alas.... that tuxedo though. Rawr!

What's your fave vintage inspiration? Do share!

...with flair

Under pressure to get ready in two shakes for an interview with a Very Important Person and yet feeling loopy, I thew this outfit on the other day and skipped out the door.

I'm not particularly sure if it's office/work-appropriate though, but the person didn't seem to mind!

Which makes me want to ask, where do you ladies draw the line for office-safe wear? Hemlines? Necklines? Colours? Cuts? Prints?

In terms of print, I know this outfit boasts more stripes than an accountant's pantry (go figure!), seeing as how both my dress and jacket were stripey--but I think the bold flowers took care of dispelling any fears of boring!

Carrie dress: Cats Whiskers bargain bin
Jacket: AU$15, Just Jeans
Flats: THB20, Bangkok
Necklace: RMB10 (about RM5), Qi Pu Road, Shanghai

Blossom Buddies

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
Summer photos are quite delightful,
Watch us rock,
Rock our frocks,
Yes, we do!

Soooo...the weather has recently dropped to 10 Farenheit and below (about -12 Celsius!) this week. Trust me, this is only the beginning of what's to come. The only thing I love about cold weather is the 2 hour delays now and then since I work at a school and get to sleep in! I do not look forward to snow days since those days have to be made up before summer break starts.

Anyway, I do enjoy looking through pictures I have taken over the summers when it's dark and freezing out there. I particularly adore a set I took with a friend; Miss B. We have quite different tastes when it comes to clothing and accessories. So, when we met up for lunch at a mall after three summers of not seeing each other, it was a lovely surprise to see we were both dressed up in pretty floral prints. What a wonderful photo opportunity! :)

I like that even though we were both in floral prints, our dresses still had some individuality to them. She kept herself funky with an atypical dress design, while I had to girl mine up with a dusky pink satin sash. Miss B, I'm glad to have been your blossom buddy that day. The memory helps keep me warm this time of year!


Rey's Pink and Rosey Dress - The Gray @ Taipan RM39
Miss B's Colourful Floral dress - Zara


Miss B also runs a bag blog at Bag Addicts Anonymous. She features many gorgeous bags and her personal reviews. Her knowledge of the lastest seasons is amazing! Heehee~

Bibliophile

I adore books. If ifs ands or buts. My parents inadvertedly drove me to a life of crime when they banned reading story books during my schooldays. I learnt to pick locks and to practice slight of hand. To invest in reading lights that worked under blankets and to wear baggy clothing so I could smuggle thick paperbacks.

I'm holding a limited leatherette bound edition of one of my most beloved volumes - Lord of The Rings. It is, very precious.

Dress: Thrifted @ Amcorp Mall (RM25)
Shoes: Mezzanine (RM79)
Necklace: Triple "pearl" strand, Parksons 1U (RM19.90 @ 50%)

La mode

There is just something about stripes and a swingy skirt that make me think of France, or Parisian fashion. Of course, I am nowhere near as fabulous as the amazing Garance Dore, whose page I adore, but maybe I'll get there, someday!

Until then, I can always imagine. *winks*

This cute wraparound skirt, I found buried at the back of one of the closets at home during a rare spring-cleaning session--it definitely belongs to one of my stylish aunts; which one though, I can't say! The top I picked up for 70% off in the 7Angels Factory Outlet along Swanston Street in my beloved Melbourne city.

The headband, I found in Forever21 when I was wandering around morose over something-or-other. The happy shade of red and sparkly diamante made a surefire pick-me-up--and one can't deny the splash of colour it adds to an outfit!

Toga top: AU$5 (or something), 7Angels Factory Outlet, Swanston St, Melbourne
Skirt: Inherited
Shoes: Debenhams
Happy poppy headband: RM25, Forever21

Happy 2010!

Wishing our dear readers (yes, that's you!) a very happy New Year!

May 2010 bring more fun, laughter, love and pretty dresses to us all.

Love,

The girls at Frocking Around

xoxo