Style Profile: Me

Wokay, so I haven't been featured on The Sartorialist or run a fashion blog, but I just love interviews because they summarise someone of interest in just a few words. I think it's also great for me to answer interview questions to learn more about myself - things that we never have time to sit down and discover.


I stole the questions from The Sartorialist *ahem*. Can general questions be copyrighted?


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First job?

I think it was at Coffee Bean Mid Valley during the semester break of my IT studies.

Current profession?

Graphic designer. I love the term, but I think it has such a dependent tone to it, unlike other creative titles like 'writer' or 'painter'. Still, I wouldn't want to be anything other than a graphic designer. I can't see myself being happy doing anything else. Except maybe a bookstore owner :s

Who has influenced your design style?

I'm so embarrassed to admit that I don't know many designers by their work, but by name and reputation. I see work as work and designers as people. I come across lots of studio work that I love and that inspire me. I really admire Bibliotheque in UK and Happycentro in Italy. And as for people, I really connected with Michael Bierut of Pentagram after reading an interview with him. That's how individual designers become my favourite people - by their characters rather than their work.

Who has influenced your fashion?

I like a more grown-up Alexa Chung style. I also love aristocratic English style - tweed, hunting attire, ruffles and sharp tailoring. Kirsten Dunst's style and a touch of the Olsen twins also inspire me.

How has your style evolved over the past 5 years?

I think I'm a bit more put-together and am able to tame the adventurous side better than in the past.

Athletics? Hobbies?

Ballet, because I like the discipline and beauty and strength involved. And because nobody knows how hard it really is. My hobbies are computer games and reading.

Never caught wearing?

A scrunchie.

What are your go-to wardrobe staples?

Shapeless but textured sweaters and dresses. This cotton black dress (above) seems to crop up a lot in my pictures.

Which shops could you spend the whole day in?

Bookshops and supermarkets. Vintage shops.

What do you wear when traveling?

The same as usual, but I tend to be a bit more experimental and regret it later.

Most visually inspiring place you’ve been?

Scotland - Edinburgh and the mountains. Probably Lapland once I have been there to see the northern lights.

Do you cherish any particular heirloom pieces?

Do I have any? It would have been cheongsams from my grandmother if we were the same shape and size.

Most memorable gift?

Maxi the mini, from my mother is one. Agatha, the golden goblin fairy, from my stepdad (or was it mum?) is another.

Most stylish movie?

Most recently, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. And next up, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I don't remember older movies very well.

How have you surprised yourself recently?

Maybe... by spending a big chunk of money on a piano for myself. I never spend big chunks of money.

What do you never consider an indulgence?

Buying design books, Agatha Christies and Neil Gaimans.

Most important style advice you’ve received?  

Must be something from my sister, although I don't remember any at the top of my head now.

What do you feel most powerful wearing?

Thin, womanly heels in patent nude or leopard print.

Sartorial rule you never follow?

I don't know any sartorial rules. I just try not to look boring. Baby tee and jeans? I'd rather wear a clown suit out. Heh.

My purse cries tears of snakeskin and metal

Sigh sigh sigh, I've taken a few pictures for the blog, but someone needs to invent a more convenient way to transfer photos from cameras or phones to the computer! Maybe something like Bluetooth in a camera. Just access it through 2 clicks on a computer, without having to either attach cables or remove the memory card and stick it in the computer.

Anyway, I'll write about past interesting events when I have photos to accompany the stories. For now, all I can say is that the house is really quiet because Schrobbenmaster is off to Bangkok on his own. Why didn't I follow him? Because I don't really fancy Bangkok. Don't ask me why I don't, I don't have a particular reason, it just didn't pull me in like other places have done. Well, except for the awesome Green Curry Chicken with Indian Pancake at Wave Place. That is the most awesome green curry ever.

Yesterday, Schrobbenmaster and I were at Bangsar to pick up my stupendously expensive new spectacles. My previous ones are about 5 years old, so I thought perhaps it would be nice to have a new pair. Think again, JY! I'm gonna use these for the next 10 years!

The lesson I learnt is: Just because you haven't heard of the brand, doesn't mean it's not known.

This particular brand is called Lindberg and is from Denmark. They are amazingly light and minimalistic and cool and... and... all that... well, I just really have to make myself feel better by telling myself how much use I'll get out of them over the next 10 years.

(If you visit their website, you could be forgiven for thinking that they're just some nerdy, glasses manufacturer, but let me just point you in the direction that these glasses are way more expensive than the Prada ones I tried on as well)

Since we were in Bangsar, we just strolled around BV I and II and stumbled into a store called thirtyfour. Oh, woe betide my purse, for I fell in love with their snakeskin cuffs!

And after pondering for the entire dinner at Chatterbox, I finally bought one.

In case you're wondering why I have a picture of my cuff so quickly when I don't have any of New Year's, it's because I took the easy way out and took a photo with my iMac.

Thirtyfour is a bunch of Malaysian designers and smithers who are trained in industrial, metalsmithing and all sorts of other design fields. It's really interesting, so go visit their website.

The founder, I believe, is the one who went to Parsons in New York where she studied metalsmithing, after which she opened thirtyfour there and consequently in Berlin and Singapore. After a few years, she decided Malaysians were finally ready for such sophistication and opened a store in Bangsar Village II in November. This is the story I got from the two shop assistants.

I'm really glad I found it! I love the sophisticated yet tough look of the accessories (not lovin' the sharp chunkiness of the bags as much though, but to each his own).

So go visit if you're in the mood to support Malaysian stuff that is not boringly traditional or berkualiti.

I'm lovin' it

I've just fallen in love.

In a country which labels sweet chilli sauce as "spicy", I've just discovered their little secret. It's Tabasco's Habanero Sauce! Omg, it's powerful. And tastes yummy. You need just 2 drops on a slice of pizza to have your tongue burning and prickling nonstop.

Good for clearing blocked noses too.

Here's a quote from Lewis, a British cop series, which I really like...

"Is this 'good cop bad cop'?"
"No, this is two good cops."

See the pun there? :P

Revealed: Orange Juice

I'm no expert on juices, but I have tried a few in my time, so here goes. Keeping in mind that these are all carton juices and they're not gonna taste 100% fresh, this is my guide to Orange Juice.

Let me start with popular names.

Marigold. Just had some today, and contrary to what I thought before, it's not too bad. It might not have tasted all that great, but I was too busy discussing work to really take note. I did notice though, that it has a very strong (and artificial-looking) orange colour. For goodness' sake, we've all had freshly squeezed orange juice before and a juice that looks like it's been overly fake-tanned is not gonna make us drool with anticipation.

Peel Fresh. This is my least favourite among orange juice brands. It's so darn sweet that I have to wonder if the 'real orange pulp' inside really is authentic pulp, or "really orange" pulp. I don't know what else to say. This brand is just too sweet to be real orange juice, dude.

Ceres. Okay, this brand is really quite affordable even though it looks high-class. I had this quite some time ago so my memory of it has faded somewhat, but I don't remember enjoying it much. Where Peel Fresh is too sweet, I think Ceres is too sour. And I really hate orange juice that's too sour. Why not invest in some proper oranges that are friendly to the tastebuds?

Liqui-Fruit. This is my favourite brand. I only recently discovered it, and I'm lovin' it! It's from South Africa and is also quite affordable. I think it's under RM5 for a carton. Besides their orange juice, I've had other flavours and it still tastes real, authentic, juicy and just right on them good ol' tastebuds. It's also easy on the eyes. Meaning it's not too orange and not too yellow lah. I'm not sure if it's as widely stocked as the previous brands, but do look for it and try some! As far as I know, they're sold in Village Grocer @ Bangsar Village and Cold Storage @ BSC.

There are other brands I'd love to try, like Florida's Natural, but it's just too expensive (nearly RM20 for a carton, admittedly double the size of the brands above, but still!). I'm sure it tastes yummy though.

I hope this will help you save time during your next supermarket outing. Hehe.

Stay tuned for the next instalment of Revealed!