Putting the vet to the test

Rarrrgh so windy I was eating my own hair

Dress: Kate Spade (Similar here) | Shoes: Marks & Spencers (Similar here) | Bag: FCUK (Similar here)

Earrings: Vincci (Similar here) | Belt: FCUK (Similar here) | Ring: Lovisa (Similar here) 

Hello and Happy New Year!

I hope you had a great time over the Christmas and New Year break.

So I was in search of a vet to do Nacho's dental cleaning, not that my previous vet Dr. Boon from Town Vets isn't any good, but I felt that the clinic was pretty pricey so I thought I would try another clinic.

Being a bit of an overprotective pet owner, I decided that I'd do some research on Dr Tan Eng Khim from Vets@RV. There really wasn't much written up about him except for 2 posts in Pets Channel that said he's a good doctor for rabbits. I also did some research on where he went to get his Vet degrees and was sufficiently satisfied so I made an appointment for a pre-dental treatment consultation.

Any pet owner will know - Pets are hella expensive. Consultation lasted about 30 minutes and it cost me 45 bucks! Dr Tan was quite thorough in explaining the whole process but you know, sometimes it's like kind of overwhelming so all I can recall now is that he said Nacho would be put on Methodone so I think my dog may be a meth addict now. He also mentioned Isopropyl and about Michael Jackson's demise from an overdose of it. Okayyy man. Way to put me at ease.

Unlike Town Vets, the clinic smells quite strongly of animals which was kind of a bummer for me since I'm really fussy about cleanliness and smell, but the thing that convinced me to continue on was that I felt like Dr Tan did try to go through the whole process with me step by step, and give me a science lesson so two thumbs up for that. Also, he seems really earnest and well-meaning so I guess I was put at ease, despite the smell and also despite the fact that their webpage is a little... amateur. (Sorry man, just being brutally honest).

We scheduled the dental appointment for two days later and I can't say Nacho happily trotted in at all, (not because of the specific vet but because he just knows the vet is where he gets poked and prodded) and he was pretty out of it the rest of the day after the treatment, but a day after, with the anesthesia and meth out of his system, he's back to his old energetic self, but this time, with nice fresh breath.  I however, am down $379 so clearly less energetic. I think after all my fussing over it, the truth is, the cost of the medical equipment and mad drugs are probably the costliest components. I guess I'd go back to Vets@RV since I think they do seem quite thorough, but maybe if they could just... Febreeze a little bit?

Anyway, long story short: My New Year's resolution is to care for my dog's teeth better so I don't have to put him through this scary procedure annually.

Thanks for reading! 

Prepped

Shirt: ASOS (Similar here) | Shorts: Padini (Similar here) | Bag: Mango (Similar here) | Shoes: Charles & Keith

Sunglasses: Ray Ban | Ring: Old (Similar here) Bangles: Old (Similar here) | Pin: the boo's (Similar here) 

Whenever I've got to attend a wedding, I use the fact that I'm going to be taking lots of pictures as an excuse to pamper myself and get my hair done. Even a simple wash and blow feels like a little luxury and in the wise words of Donna and Tom, 'TREAT YO SELF'.

Prep is a great place to get your hair styled because that's pretty much what they specialise in. It's super convenient to get to because it's at Mandarin Gallery, in the heart of Orchard Road, but the mall itself isn't super crowded so that's awesome for people like me who are allergic to crowds.

The cozy store has space for about 8 people (I think), and they give you good coffee and chocolates!!! 

I had two bowls of chocolates mmmmm

My favourite bit (aside from seeing the va-va-voom hair at the end) is the hair washing. As a kid I used to find it really ticklish but DAMN IT'S GOOD once you get into it. 

Sleepy after a good head rub

The owners are really gorgeous and friendly (probably also because I'm acquainted with them from school days but they are friendly la just trust me) and the staff are all quite experienced. From my recent visit, my stylist Thomas told me that he was previously from a salon in Bugis and that the way stylists get jobs involves them 'auditioning' by being in the salon and working for 3 days and in those 3 days they're basically being tested. How stressful! But I guess they've gotta be confident and show that they know their stuff.

Check out those guns. BANGBANG.

Me after the magic has happened, with the magician!

The products they use are quality stuff... Redken doesn't come cheap man. And Thomas was really liberal with the hair spray because I told him I basically ruin my hair within an hour of getting it done, possibly because I get drunk and end up doing some mad dancing.

Anti-spray face protection. V glam.

My least favourite part of the process would be the part where I fork out cash. Although ok, the past few times I've been, my super generous friend Angie has been paying... I'm not sure why she's so generous, I'm pretty sure she's not from this planet. 

Overall it's a pretty quick process, 40 minutes from start to finish, which is pretty much about as long as I can sit semi-still. My hair looks gorgeous and I wish I could come here every day. 

Shades because I'm a rockstar. (i've got epic eye bags lah)

So the team recently opened a new outlet called Prep Luxe at the newly renovated Capitol building and they offer a larger suite of services beyond styling so you should check it out if you feel like getting a haircut. I think they also give you champagne as you get your hair done so that's always fun and is a great place to throw a drunken hens party/pampering session.

Thanks for reading!

Miss No

Jumpsuit: Smooch the Label | Cape-blazer: Smooch the Label | Shoes: Shutz (Similar here) 

Bag: Mango (Similar here) | Ring: Jessica Buurman | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 

My mother always said 'no' was my favourite word.

'Want to try some [fruit that looks like the love-child of a hedgehog, a shoe and a piece of wood]?' 
'NO'
'Want to go to [cool place where people will be and socialising will take place]?'
'NO' 
'Want to play [fun game that will ultimately make me look like a wobbly noob]?' 
'NONONO!'

Totally my face

Pic from here

I said a big 'no' to wearing jumpsuits but here I am, wearing a jumpsuit. I couldn't help it. I succumbed to the cool print and the overall fashiony vibe. But I have to say, as cool as it is, it felt really ridiculous every time I went to the washroom. Undressing and then dressing yourself every time you need to pee is both silly and exhausting. And I drink a lot of water. I also have a slight fear that I forget to lock the door and someone walks in on me in nothing but my underwear. Or that the fire alarm goes off and I don't have enough time to get properly attired before running out of the burning building of doom.

Perhaps I should just save this piece for special occasions that last maximally 2 hours.

Anyway, here are a list of sartorial no's in my book. But I'm in a jumpsuit so who k(no)ws?

The-Emperor's-New-Clothes gown

Pic from here

Maybe if my bod were as rocking as Beyonce's then we'd be in business, but I just don't understand this sheer trend. It's like paying a lot of money for very little fabric.

The unitard

Pic from ASOS

Oh come on, even the name is stupid. I suppose I might wear this if I decide to turn to a life of burglary or ballet. Burglary seems much more likely. I have the grace of a drunken sea cucumber. 

Tie-dye anything

Pic from here

I just can't. If I had to describe my style as what it is not, I would start with 'Not hippie' first. 

Velour tracksuit

Pic from here

Maaaaaaybe I'd wear something like this in black on a plane... But I doubt it. I just can't carry this look off. Although I had a classmate in uni who wore these all the time, in so many different colours. I don't know why she never felt hot/like she was wearing pjs.

Anyway, not to be a hater, I think if you wear these things, then good on ya, I'm sure you look bangin' but I just can't imagine them on myself. But I said the same thing about jumpsuits, so I guess only time will tell.

Thanks for reading!

Obliterate me

Dress: Dorothy Perkins (Similar here) | Bag: Charles & Keith | Shoes: Sheinside

Sunglasses: Karen Walker | Ring: Gift from Jee Fang from Lovisa (Similar here)

I somehow imagined my dress to be covered in polka dots and even tagged it as such but then I realised that actually they're more like raindrops. Anyway, doesn't matter because I love polka dots so I'm just going to pretend it is what I thought la la la la la la la I can't hear you la la la la. My love affair with polka dots is really only second to my love affair with fatty foods.

So you can only imagine how much I wish I could check out the Yayoi Kusama Obliteration Room in person and paste some stickers and be a part of the art. This is totally going to be my inspiration for the house of the future.

Obliteration Room image taken from here

My aunt first told me about Kusama a couple of years ago. She's an incredibly fun artist who uses dots on everything she does in a myriad of colours. I checked out her 'Dots Obsession' when I was in France and I loved it so much, I wanted to take it home but it didn't fit into my suitcase.

Photo taken by uncle John.

To fulfill my Kusama Kraving (this should totally be a thing), I got a keychain and a folder. But the room is the one I want (Please note for future birthday and Christmas presents. Thanks.) She also did a collaboration with Louis Vuitton in 2012 so LV bags and such are also welcome.

So kawaii and so useful

Anyway, if you're a more fortunate individual than me, please please please check it out and maybe get a souvenir. Thanks for reading!

Beat the heat

Dress: Modcloth

Clutch: New Look

Shoes: Vincci (Similar here)

Belt: Far East Plaza (Similar here)

Carriage ring: Sydney (Same here)

Earrings: Twentyeight Lane

This is a picnic-in-the-park kinda look except that Singapore is so freaking hot right now it would be impossible for me to be outdoors for more than 5 minutes without melting into a disgusting globby puddle of goo. 

And I'm the lake in the background. Pic stolen from here

The weatherman says that Singapore is going to be predictably hot and wet for the next month, and the NEA has warned that Aedes mosquito breeding grounds have increased. I don't know about you but that sounds like we should either run for our lives or wear air-conditioned hazmat suits. Why are you trying to kill us Singapore??? 

I have some suggestions to keep cool but they really aren't without their flaws:

Do not leave the air-conditioned comfort of your house. At all. But you'll need a supportive boss who doesn't mind you taking a sabbatical due to heat exhaustion. It will also be costly as your electrical bill will shoot up.

If you want to save on that electrical bill, you could also choose to live in the office. Again, you'll need a supportive boss who doesn't mind you showering in the sink. You'll probably get tons of work done too.

Take a lot of cold showers. Like seriously go get pruney. In fact, the ratio of bath to non-bath time should be like 8:2.

Drink iced water non-stop. You'll be bloated and need to pee a lot but it's super good for the skin so do it anyway.

But my best suggestion that I seriously think needs to happen is... THE DOME. (Domedomedome!)

Come on Singapore government, let's get a giant dome and place it over Singapore and have it air-conditioned so it's like maybe 15 degrees Celsius day and night. This way we can wear cute coats and have fun layering. Also, no smokers allowed in the dome. Do it do it do it do it do it do it do it.

If it's good enough for Springfield, it's good enough for Singapore. Pic stolen from here

Thanks for reading!

This is not the greatest song in the world. This is just a tribute.

Dress: Smooch the Label (comes with belt)

Bag: Gracious Aires (Similar here)

Sunglasses: Karen Walker

Earrings: Diva (Similar here)

Heels: ASOS (Similar here)

I wanted to write a lengthy and heartfelt tribute to the recently passed former Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew but it feels somewhat disrespectful to do so in a blog post about clothes so I've decided to just kinda touch on it without going full emo. 

I also tend not to write about sombre and heavily emotional things because I've had enough of that in my life and I want to put out happy positive things. But I'd just like to tell you guys that I was very sad to hear of his passing - he was a remarkable man who became Singapore's first Prime Minister at the age of 35 which is just crazy. I'll be 35 in like, erm, some time, and I haven't done jack all. Well, I'm the President of the avid sleepers club but that's about it really.

So I'd just like to say, thanks Mr Lee Kuan Yew for everything you've done, and for the inspiration. You are irreplaceable and will be dearly missed.

Mullet life

Dress: Far East Plaza (Similar here)

Belt: Old (Similar here)

Sunglasses: Karen Walker

Bag: Gracious Aires (Similar here)

Ring: Twentyeight Lane | Earrings: Old (Similar here)

Shoes: Pedder Red (Similar-ish here)

I love these Pedder Red heels - Much like a mullet, it's all business in the front and party at the back. 

Often, I find it amazing that I've ended up working in the highly regulated financial industry. My job isn't really sexy or glamorous even though I suppose if I wanted to swan around the place like Elizabeth freaking Taylor, I totally could. Until I get fired. 

When I was in primary school, I obviously thought I'd grow up and be Miss Universe. I still feel that I am quite skilled in the art of tiara-wearing and hand waving but unfortunately my resting bitch face and general lack of height (among other things) would have automatically disqualified me. In secondary school, my passion for drama kicked in and I was sure that by the age of 20, I'd have won my first 'best actress' Oscar and be Singapore's top export. MOVIE STAR LEH NO JOKE.  I heard that the mighty USB was conceived in Singapore by a Singaporean. And even then I'd totally trump that.

But alas, youthful dreams don't always come true. I'm not complaining about my job because it lets me eat food but I guess I'm a squidge further away from dream Alex than I thought I would be. In order to bring some spice to my otherwise rather mundane life (Not even one paparazzo lying wait in my garbage can!), I try to mix things up with my clothes, and introduce quirky elements to my work clothes. Because I am business on the outside but party on the inside. 

Thanks for reading, my fellow party people.