Make It Happen

Turtle neck crop top - ASOS | Mary janes - Dr. Martens

An ideal weekend for me usually sums up with church, time with my girlfriends, popping by a hip cafe or two, get my outfit shot if possible. Since the haze miraculously (thank God) cleared up two days ago, summer is at its full blast again so Nigel and I went to explore a cafe that specializes in restoring vintage furniture. Totally love their decor; mismatched, customized furniture everywhere and drool-worthy pastries that'll leave you spoilt for choice. A great hideout for first dates, conversations or simply if you have a sweet tooth.

Ice latte @ Carpenter & Cook

+65 6463 3648

19 Lorong Kilat, #01-06, Singapore 598120

Tulip (aka. mom) jeans - thrifted for $2 | backpack - Saint Jack (mom's vintage)

As I have mentioned in my previous post, this pair of jeans has to be my best thrift buy so far. Since it's meant to be high-waisted, I thought what better way to rock it than a crop top? So Rihanna-esque! I'll look even more badass if I added some gold chain necklace but nah, shall save it for another time. I love that the crop top isn't too short because that'll expose my untoned tummy, but still sexy nevertheless since it reveals a small inch of midriff.

Belt - Uniqlo | Amethyst necklace - AMEN | Hoop earrings - Bugis Street

Some people might say pants like this are so unflattering and resembles Ronald MacDonalds but I can't care less be honest. The loose form of the jeans has an unconventional appeal which makes it stand out from your regular skinnies. I'm still looking for more ways to wear them but so far, my favourites are knotted tees and crop tops.

Photos by Nigel

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Attention: Google Friend Connect followers

It has been brought to my attention that GFC will be ceasing its services in about three weeks time, which means readers who are following me via GFC will no longer be able to view my posts...very soon. :-(

In order to stay in touch with you, I highly urge you to follow me on Bloglovin' instead. As a blogger and an avid reader of other fashion blogs, I truly have been enjoying Bloglovin' so far. It's almost like a Twitter feed but for blogs! Makes blog surfing a breeze.

Q: What's so great about Bloglovin'?

A: It is more streamlined, has a cleaner template, allows you to comment easily on every post, save your 'liked' posts, group blogs into categories, read on the go with the Bloglovin' app, explore popular and recommended blogs and more!

Q: How do I import all my GFC blogs to Bloglovin'?

A: Easy! Simply follow this tutorial to import all your RSS feed from the Google reader.

Q: Where do I follow you?

A: Simply create an account and follow ULIMALI!

It would be great if you would allow me to stay connected with you so make sure you come over the other side! On my part, I will work hard to create good quality content for you to enjoy.

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Haze Edition: Paddle Pop

How is everyone doing in this PSI400 haze situation? Can't think of a more interesting greeting..when haze seems to be the only thing Singaporeans are concerned as of now. For the benefit of my foreign friends: Singapore is currently experiencing severe haze due to the forest fires originated from Indonesia. 

While I understand that it is best to stay indoors, my rebellious instinct urged me that this weather is going to be awesome for photographs! The blanket of particles somehow create a dreamy, fantasy-like atmosphere, as strange as it sounds. And I was right! I'm not encouraging any of you to risk the hazardous act. I hope you enjoy this set of photos and keep in mind that this wouldn't be possible without my two really helpful photographers who braved the haze with me! 

Water color drapes top - c/o Dressabelle

I decided to go for a lightweight, flowy ensemble because comfort is priority in this suffocating weather. I love the layers and colours of this camisole which really reminds of of Paddle Pop popsicles! Since layered tops like this tend to be volumous, it is important to reshape your figure with a belt or any high-waisted bottom.

Middle of the shoot: buildings along the horizon is disappearing into the haze

Maxi skirt (worn draped) - Bangkok | Studded belt - Taiwan

Thanks to Chriselle's helpful tutorial, I learnt to wear an ordinary maxi skirt in many different ways. In my case, I simply tucked a small part of the hem into the waist band. I swear Chriselle's is the queen of versatility. I am a huge fan of her fashion tutorials and I really think you will find them inspiring too.

Scale sequin clutch - ZARA

Beanie - H&M | Cross earrings - New Look | Watch - Casio

The idea of today's outfit is a feminine take on festival fashion. Yes, I love channeling my inner hippie but at times I still want to look girly and polished for day time. Even though the colours for this outfit is mostly pastel and muted, I retained some rocker elements by adding metallic jewelry.

Suede ankle boots - Topshop

Photos by Yun Jing & JJ

By the time the shoot came to an end (about 20 mins), the barely visible horizon had turned into a complete blur. Sad to say, we also saw dead fishes on the water's surface, that shows just how toxic the haze is to small animals. I am deeply saddened by the fact that our Earth is on the brim of giving up on humanity, and the only ones to blame are ourselves. So take care my friends! Health is golden.

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Laid Back Boho

Maxi dress with draped pockets - ASOS | Bag - c/o Banana Taipei

Beanie - H&M | Feather necklace - c/o O'ORO | Oxford boots - Taobao

Photos by Nigel

Hello with a short outfit update! It's a known fact that I love a maxi dress for all occasions. I have contemplated for months before I finally purchased this khaki one from ASOS for S$70+, which I personally find quite expensive. But then, it's so worth it because it's just so comfortable, though the straps had to be altered shorter (so I'd suggest getting one size smaller). I'd say it was worth every cent. On days when I feel extra lazy to style my hair, I simply throw on a beanie and that's it. My friends also suggested that I should wear beanies more often because they make me look more girly. Is the side swept hair really that bad on me? What is your lazy day outfit?

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Origami

Sweater - ZARA | Beanie - H&M

Overlay shorts - c/o Dressabelle | Bracelet - Charles & Keith

Basic sandal heels - ZARA

Photos by Yun Jing

Origami bottoms are one of the biggest trends this year and I'm sure ninety percent of you have already seen someone wearing these somewhere. Since I am an active lookbook.nu user, my source of inspiration came from people who rocked the distinguished ZARA skort; appearing on every twenty people whom you scroll past the main feed. Well, what makes the skort so well-loved is its beautiful yet functional design. Mini skirts are nice but often impractical (to me), especially on windy days and if you have to take lots of stairs. Shorts on the other hand are comfortable but admit it, they can look sloppy. I believe firmly that it's always better to overdress than underdress, so somebody must have been a genius to invent a skort. Skorts are probably the second best invention for women after high heels. I like to wear mine with a chunky sweater because it complements the sleek design of the skort. Sneakers like converse or Suparga would go really nice with this outfit but I decided on heels so it's a little more dressy. The beanie was the last touch which toned down the 'seriousness' on the whole. A little unexpected accessory always make things more interesting!

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Slow Me Down

Thigh split maxi dress - H&M $19.90

I'm feeling pretty badass recently. My friend Vanessa asked me, "How would you describe your style?" I scratched my chin and answered, "As of today: I am rocking the I-just-crawled-out-of-a-garbage-truck look." That was the best I could describe with my limited vocabulary bank. Please excuse my unprofessionalism. 

Circle shades - Shanghai | Cross earrings - New Look

My friends and I went thrifting at New2U Thrift Store (read blog post) last week. When thrifting, always wear loose clothes because it's so much easier when you try on stuff in the fitting room. I scored a brand new Vera Moda blouse for $4 and a pair of high waisted carrot leg jeans for $2. I found Science Centre tickets in the jean's back pocket that was dated 2005! Considering how long those jeans existed, its quality was as good as new. My mom said the carrot jeans were very popular in the 80's and often came as a suit set. I personally think vintage jeans are very grungy and comfortable, looks great cuffed up. I plan to wear them with a belt since they're slightly loose.

Arrested! Necklace - c/o O'ORO

"But mama I'm in love with a criminal, and this type of love isn't rational, it's physical." Haha didn't realize the hand cuffs looked so 'wrong' until I received it, but I love it nonetheless. I personally love wearing silver accessories with all-black outfits because they stand out more. These miniature hand cuffs add a playful touch to any outfit, cause sometimes studs and skulls are just too much for daytime. I think they'll look really nice with a denim jacket and creepers too..very Harajuku!

Pascal boots - Dr Martens

MAC Matte Lipstick in Chili

Torte Café (pet friendly)

SCWO Building, 96 Waterloo Street S(187967)

+65 6571 0197

Grilled chicken thigh + baby potatoes + house salad ($10)

Anyway guys, I highly recommend this cafe to you! It's a small cafe located within the same building as New2U thrift store, which makes it perfect when you want to take a break between digging through racks of old clothes. Okay that's not the main point. The food was SO GOOD and most main courses are only $10. I tried their Baba fish - fish fillet with french fries and salad. Though fried, I never once felt it was too greasy or salty. Plus there's no service charge and GST. All seats are outdoors and you can bring your pets. However I wouldn't recommend the coffee...it felt average and slightly overpriced. But trust me, their main courses will impress you.

Photos by Joanne

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