In The Woods :: Cotton Tiered Maxi Dress + Retro Style Leather Shoes

Saturday, February 22, 2020 Simone - Your Style Architect 5 Comments

Hi everyone and hope you are enjoying your weekend.

For those of you following me on Instagram, you would have seen some of these pics already posted earlier last weekend. However as you know with a blog post, I would need a little more time to share my thoughts and views and so this is coming a little later to you guys following me on blogger. Nonetheless here it is.

I would like to introduce you to this bespoke, curated boutique that retails gorgeous, handmade leather shoes which to be honest, when I got my first pair, was not too overly crazy about them as the leather was stiff and it had " bitten" me at the ankles. However, having paid a fair bit for the shoes which was a recently released new collection, I persevered and styled this pair of shoes with a few more outfits.

If I may so, lo and behold, the leather started to soften even after the second wear and the pair of shoes was SOOOO comfortable, I started wearing it more and more often. Then I got my second pair... then my third.. then my fourth.... oh dear... you get the drift.. and it has not yet stopped!

I love The Tui Collection for it's beautiful and unique designs and heading into the 2020s, I had a different vision for my Instagram post and blog and the direction I want to take as an influencer and blogger. I wanted to work with more bespoke and curated as well as local labels. I guess it gives me an edge to see how I can help these smaller labels and of course to help them gain as much exposure especially for these brands which I truly believe in and not because we as influencers have been compensated for.

So you would have seen I have styled a few of The Tui Collection's shoes in my previous post (see here, here & here)  and rest assured, more to come. This gorgeous 1940s inspired pair of Legend heels is as it's name implies. Legendary in style and design, the cobra designed back of the heels gives it an edgy feel and the front of the shoes shouts " Retro" and " Vintage" which is so trendy these days. Pair it casually with jeans or pants for work or the weekend and as you can see, dress up this long maxi full tiered dress from Erika Peña available at Konacoco and you got a beautiful outfit ready for a night out. Of course in line with the whole retro vibe with this look, I found this vintage Eitienne Aigner bag in mom's closet ( which coincidentally I had gifted her almost 20+ years ago) and took it out to complete the look.

I hope you enjoy this outfit and do note that The Tui Collection is now having their clearance sales
( click  here) with up to 70 - 80% off some of their styles. With free international shipping to selected overseas destination, grab your first pair of Tui Shoes now. You won't regret it!!

Do let me know in the comments below which is your favourite pair.

Love,
Simone xoxo

Spread The Love :: Red Ruffle Dress + Upcycle Clutch Bag

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Simone - Your Style Architect 5 Comments

Blooming Tales :: Tropical Off Shoulder Top + Double Buckle Leather Belt

Sunday, February 09, 2020 Simone - Your Style Architect 9 Comments

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all keeping safe and staying away from crowds. Do not forget to continue to maintain a high standard of hygiene. It is really scary how quickly this coronavirus has been spreading in just a couple of weeks and now many lives have been lost and many more are ill. This has to STOP!! I dread every morning to read / hear the news with numbers escalating of those infected in our region.

I am sure for those of you based in Asia, you would have seen how quickly our supermarket shelves have been emptied of basic essentials such as toilet paper, rice, tin food...all  in an evening as soon as our health alert signals was raised to an Orange level, red being the next tier and the highest alert.  It is amazing how the panic quickly seeps through the fabric of society. So even for many of us who are confident that we will not need to stock up to that extent, yet when one sees this panic behaviour in the shops, it is very difficult not to succumb to the same fear and anxiety. I guess the fear of not knowing is the worse... not knowing how quick this will escalate to, how long it will stay this way and even worse if we are all put in some form of a lockdown situation soon. Nation by nation, the wave of fear rides through.

I vouch to continue to maintain my day as normal as I could, so I did a quick shoot outdoors at the hottest time of the day ( apparently this virus does not thrive in heat) where there is the least human traffic in one of the back alleys of my neighbourhood, so I can continue to bring you some cheer with an outfit post and also to keep myself busy and not queueing for toilet paper too!!! OMG!!!! I was just short of posing with a mask on - seriously!!

The weather has been quite hot these few days, hence a nice, light off shoulder top was the perfect top to style and I decided to pair it with a knee length skirt to allow myself to have some form of flow and breathing " space" rather than in a tight pair of jeans in this heat. However, it is a good option to mix and match this top with jeans for a variation if you so wish.  I love my beautiful leather, vintage style double buckle belt, from what is now my favourite shoe and accessories brand @The Tui Collection ( they do offer free international shipping you know and there are sales going on as we speak...), and hence cinched the blouse at the waist with this gorgeous item and immediately this casual outfit, had a little extra oomph pumped into it.

Keeping the look casual still, I threw on my favourite pair of lightweight travel shoes from @anothersole which has a bouncy inner sole and keeps my feet so comfy all day. Made of pure leather, the shoes are breathable and moulds right to your foot shape so there is no blisters or calluses but pure comfort when I pair it with my outfits. I can run around all day in it, my perfect go-to casual pair of shoes. I love this metallic rose gold number cos it's so versatile a colour to pair with my outfits and somehow if you know me by now, more is more and therefore the metallic shade against a casual outfit does always make it just that little bit different for me. The best part of it all, this socially conscious boutique supports the underprivileged by donating 10% of their sales proceeds to help kids in these developing countries. So you can shop - guilt free, knowing that you are actually helping a good cause with your credit card!! ( Anything to make oneself feel better!) I assure you, that you will certainly not be disappointed with your first pair!

Meanwhile, if you are stuck at home on Leave of Absence, quarantine or purely just being safe... you can still enjoy shopping from the comfort of your home as many of these stores I have highlighted today are hosting their clearance sales before they launch their Spring/ Summer 2020 collections. So till we meet again, stay safe and shop on!!


Love,
Simone xoxo