Shanghai Day 11: Shoes!

My sincere apologies for breaking my promise of blogging daily about my Shanghai trip. My schedule was packed and I couldn't keep up. Anyway, I asked on Twitter if you would like me to blog about shoes I purchased in China, and the response was positive. Hopefully this post would help you when you shop on Taobao or visit Shanghai. Whether you are a shoeaholic or plain curious, here it is - Shoe Porn!

GUCCI Minimalistic Sandals, RMB274/ S$54

I hope I don't offend anymore here for purchasing a GUCCI duplicate. I have been looking for a pair sandals like this but most I have seen in Singapore are either too expensive (ZARA) or uncomfortable. It's expected for heels with little straps to be uncomfortable, but this pair was made with platforms which makes it a lot better. I'm sure you'd understand. The studs are kinda unnecessary but I don't mind. The price is relatively high because it's duplicated to look very similar to the real deal and it's real leather. Even came with a GUCCI shoe box! In case you're getting the exact pair, it's true to size, but do get one size down if you have narrow feet like mine.

Boho Fringe Boots, RMB159/ S$32

I call this my 'Pocahontas' boots. I would probably dress myself entirely in fringe if it was deemed acceptable by society lol. These boots will look super cute with a maxi dress and denim shorts. I'm not sure if it's even partially leather but it's good quality and very comfortable. Runs true to size.

Oxford Boots, RMB356, S$71

This is my favourite pair out of the lot. It's expensive because it's all-over genuine leather, even its interior. I love the faded and slightly glossy appearance, giving it a worn out look by default. Compared to my Dr Martens, these fit my narrow feet a lot better with its slim cut. They can look very androgynous with skinny jeans or pants, just the way I like it. If you are getting the same pair, buy one size down!

FEIYUE Canvas Sneakers, RMB69/ S$14

Probably the most iconic shoes you can buy from Shanghai, also the cheapest out of the lot. They were very popular among local youths in the seventies, worn mainly for sports. I cannot tell you where to buy these because I happened to find them in a small shop along Nanjing Road. FEIYUE had become a timeless classic, and according to the shopkeeper, it's now very popular among the French. In Europe, a pair like this retails for 50 Euros. Ironically, the local youths don't fancy these at all. To me, I just wanted something practical and memorable from Shanghai. Ah, canvas shoes always remind me of good ol' school days!


*Update: I just found out there is an official Taobao web store for Feiyue sneakers! Here: www.cmfeiyue.taobao.com

Fish: A Short Film

Amanda and her father are out fishing. Despite their differing viewpoints, she comes to terms with how being home together is what matters. Is Pride and Comfort the reason why you love Singapore? Amanda and his Father are fishing but with a very different agenda.

A few months ago, I landed in an opportunity where I got to work with Singapore film maker, Ray Pang for this small production. As a budding makeup artist, I have only worked for mainly fashion photo shoots and this was really a whole new experience for me. I never imagined production to be such a complex, tedious project. I can only imagine the tremendous amount of preparation that goes into making movies you watch in cinemas.

I'll leave you to enjoy the clip. It may be short but it contains a deeper meaning within. Feel free to voice out in the comments on what it means to you. :-)

Part of the crew! (Photo courtesy of Ray Pang)

If you are interested, you can head on to see the behind-the-scenes video here!

Shanghai Day 3: Coffee Culture

Knit sweater - Mango | Leggings - Blackmilk | Boots - Dr Martens | Beanie - H&M

Today was a relaxing day. I visited the Propaganda Art museum and got coffee at a French café along Shanghai's renowned street, Hua Shan. The street is known for its French architecture and according to mom, condos were exclusively built for the rich and famous. In every city which I have gone to, I always try to find an afternoon to sit in a cafe. Besides the market place, a cafe is probably the best place to immerse among locals. I like to listen to conversations and observe people around me.

In China, foreigners often perceive everything here as 'cheap', but it's not true anymore. The coffee alone costs RMB35, breaking down to about S$7. Cheap? Not at all. The standard of living in Shanghai is improving tremendously over the recent years, and the locals sure know the art of coffee indulgence. People were well dressed, poised, some were silently engaging in Taobao on their mobile devices. As a tourist, I could only imagine how the life of a Shanghainese is like outside the cafe.

夏朵西餐厅(丁香店)

徐汇区华山路855号(近复兴西路)

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Festival Ready

Pascal boots - Dr Martens

What do you think of whole #coachella wave we've been seeing so much on Instagram lately? I'm not gonna lie, I have no idea who plays during the festival, but I am really inspired by the fashion! They say summer is the best time of the year because you can wear little clothing and enjoy the sun. I guess we take it for granted because Singapore is hot all year round. But now that I am writing this post in Shanghai where it's spring, I honestly miss 'summer' because bath time is a pain. I hate sitting on the cold toilet bowl, walking on cold tiles and freezing when the heater goes haywire. Then again, spring has its perks; I never have to break a sweat!

Gold Mesh Tank - c/o Dressabelle | Medusa Hem bracelet - c/o O'ORO

Dream catcher earrings - Beadstreet

This is exactly what I would wear to an outdoor music festival. Who wears heels to festivals? I'm not judgmental towards them but I cannot imagine how uncomfortable it would be. What if it starts raining and the ground goes muddy and then your heels slowly sink in? Yikes. Personally, I think boots are the way to go because they protect your feet from moisture and keeps you comfortable. Layering is another great thing to do during festivals. Light layers, of course. I layered a gold mesh tank over my tube dress. The light layers of chiffon flow gently when the wind blows, very pretty! The mesh tank also makes a great bikini cover-up. 

Dress - Lipsyditsy

Photos by JJ

Summer is a time for friends, a golden tan and popsicles. For those of you who go to music festivals, comfort always comes first but it doesn't hurt to enjoy the fashion. Dance, run and move freely, don't forget to have fun, because summer is really the time to live the life!

Shanghai Day 2: Road Accident

A heated argument almost broke into a full fight when our car ran over a man's foot while reversing at a road junction. Let me just refer to that village man as 'Bob'. Bob claimed that his right foot was injured from being run over under our wheel because he was looking at his phone when we reversed the car. 

The moment after the run over occurred, Bob started knocking violently on our car window and demanded uncle (driver) to get out. To be honest, that scared the crap out of me because I didn't know how to react. According to mom who was looking out from the back seat when the accident occurred,  Bob was walking in opposing direction away from the car, which meant nothing would have happened if he were to continue walking away. But somehow Bob made a sudden turn towards our car which caused his foot to get under our wheel.

All I could make out of the situation from inside the car was a very agitated 'victim' demanding for compensation. By then, the local police have already arrived to intervene the argument, and suggested to drive Bob to the nearest hospital for an X-Ray to see if his foot was indeed injured.

Long story short: Bob made it look like an accident on purpose! It's a crime gimmick altogether.

The X-Ray proved that there was only minor abrasion which could not possibly be it if it was a real run over. I didn't even feel like the car ran over something. No bumpy feeling whatsoever, It's funny because when asked, Bob could not produce his ID. He was also very reluctant to go the the hospital. We suspect that he was already injured prior to the accident.

If a victim is seriously injured, he would probably ask for immediate medical attention, right? If it was a real injury, wouldn't Bob be more concerned over if his toes were broken, rather than having the energy to argue? But Bob didn't. In fact, he was unable to answer us properly when we asked what exactly was it that we wanted.

In the end, we still had to compensate a small sum because uncle might have been negligent when reversing. A lesson for all drivers to be extra careful when reversing a car. Especially in China! People do all sorts of things for money. I am just thankful that nothing serious happened! Think I witnessed the darker side of China today..what an eye opener.

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Ending off on a positive note, here's a picture of me, grandpa and mom taken at a garden which was built to tell the story of a classic tale, 红楼梦 a.k.a. Dream of The Red Chamber! It's almost like Chinese Garden but ten times bigger and more scenic.

Bow Print Sweetheart Dress - Nishe

上海大观园 

上海市青浦区青商公路701号 

邮编 201718

Shanghai Day 1: Cat Café

宁静名猫生活馆

Ning Jing Cat Café

275 Dahua No. 2 Road

I have always wanted to visit a cat cafe. There are plenty of pet restaurants in Singapore, which is a great idea, but what about people who do not have pets of their own? Today I went to check out a cat cafe near my residence in Shanghai. It' such and it's a cozy little space! Inside, I enjoyed a cup of coffee with about a dozen cats roaming around freely. These felines were so comical and mischievous, really playful too! They were well groomed and incredibly soft to touch! It was a joy to watch cat enthusiasts entertain these little rascals with laser pointers and toys. Me being me, spent half the time snapping pictures and baby talking to those furry felines. Ah, I just love being around cats!

Watch the short video:

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Wishlist: April

1. Leather look skinny jeans

I'd really like to own a pair of leather looking jeans that aren't really leather, you know what I mean right? No situation is worse than being sticky and gross in tight leather jeans. These one I found looks pretty comfortable, it's actually coated cotton which looks like leather! But damn it they just ran out of my size. You can choose to leave the ankle unzipped if you're wearing fancy shoes.

2. Minimalistic sandals

OMG these remind me of um, is it Celine? Frankly, I almost never wear sandals because I hate getting my toes dirty (like if I stepped into a puddle) but these caught my attention because the contrast of a masculine buckle against the thin straps! I'm still not if I really want to get them. But damn...can you imagine how amazing these would look with denim skirts? *_*

3. Lace skull dress

When I showed Nigel this dress, his reaction was, "Is this a paradox? Mixing feminine lace with an evil looking skull.." If you look closer, the lace is more like cobwebs! Its so beautiful but I can imagine finding the appropriate lingerie nightmarish. It's amazing nonetheless!

4. Boho pants

Probably the most comfortable thing to wear out. Your parents may see them as pajamas. Get some flip flops, a loose t-shirt...perfect for summer and lounging around at home looking fab with nowhere to go.

5. Ballet flats

I've talked about these before but for your benefit I will mention them again. They are only S$16. Are you kidding me ASOS?? I am so happy to find these! Such a steal!

6. Turtle neck cropped top

This cropped top will looking amazing with a gold chain necklace and high-waisted disco pants. I'm thinking of getting myself a cropped top but not the crew neck kind cause everyone's wearing those on the streets.