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New York Date Night
Have been thinking how it feels like to be in the states for quite a while (after watching so many Hollywood movies). And finally I am here visiting the vibrant New York City.
從小到大，多得看過無但數荷里活電影，一直在想如何美國是什麼感覺。 紐約市，像是世界上的一個聚焦點，城市上精采的五光十色，早已聽說過。
A beautiful bar corner inside Vin et Fleurs.
The first night I spent in this place. We had a nice dinner in a beautiful French restaurant named Vin et Fleurs in Soho area. Everything about french seems to be delicate and romantic. Even the lights in the front door of the restaurant could tell.
And the famous spot - Times Square. We arrived a little bit late on a Monday night. Less crowded as usual, but everything is still really lively. So much my imagination of American-Manhanttan vibes.
Outfits:
(Coat) Sandro
(Pants) mukmuk: wardrobe
(Boots) Marks & Spencer
LOVES,
CHARLOTTE
Say No To Negative Thinking
I don't know about you, but some days I wake up with such negative emotions and anxiety that just glue me to my bed for hours of uselessness, until even the stillness in oblivion could not bear me and pushed me away. Lack of confidence, low energy, self-doubt... Negativity has been a haunting nightmare, worse than any imagination of wardrobe malfunction.
I tend to indulge myself in these negative thinking. Some people combat this problem by immersing themselves in entertainment or substances. Perhaps sleeping and solitude was my distraction too, but as everyone knows, nightmares are a force to ignore, they linger somewhere in your room, patiently waiting for the moment you lose down your guard, and strike mercilessly.
So recently I decided to face this problem upfront, and to learn more about these thinkings. I started to ask myself "What do you really want?" "Who do you really want to be?"
我並不是樂觀的人。幾年前曾經輕度抑鬱，兩年前漸漸變好。(也謝謝身邊的男朋友和朋友！1）
可是，誠實的告訴你，有時我仍會讓消極情緒和焦慮影響到。沒自信、自我懷疑... 這些消極、負面的思想其實一直在傷害自己。
有些人會選擇逃避、有些人會沈醉在負面的情緒中。雖然我不是什麼self help專家，我卻想分享幾點、對我非常有效的小建議：包括寫作、創作、和自己對話等等... 問自己「你真正需要什麼？你想成為一個怎樣的人？」好好了解自己，也許是心靈的最好解藥。
Write It Down
Listen to Yourself, Know Yourself.
Sit down, grab a pen and a piece of paper, write down everything that you've been thinking. No matter it is about "what is in my working schedule?" "What should I eat for lunch?" or "How do I feel this morning?"; try to write down everything that is running through your mind. Writing is a process of self-listening; most importantly, you are also observing your mind. Get to know what is in your mind is a crucial factor to knowing what your problems are.
Talk To Yourself
Be Honest, and Precise
When I was younger, I used to think that those people who whisper or talk with themselves are weird. (Boyfriend alert.) Only now I realized it is the best way to communicate with yourself. (He talks to himself even in his sleep.) Our world constantly make it difficult for us to concentrate in our mind. Try to talk to yourself in the morning, ask yourself: What kind of day do you want? What can I do in order to achieve it? In the evening, refresh your mind by listing the things you have achieved, your most enjoyable moments, and say goodbye to negative thoughts; you will begin to feel serenity and it definitely improves your sleeping quality too.
Just simply say "I know you can do better tomorrow!" "Thank you for being yourself." You will be amazed by the power of your thoughts.
Learn To Be Happy Alone
Loneliness is a Blessing
“Paradoxically, the ability to be alone is the condition for the ability to love.” ― Erich Fromm.
Most people underestimate the importance of being alone. I am a person who loves personal space, most of the time I prefer having a cup of coffee and reading alone instead of hanging out with friends. (Yes, I am an introvert.) Meditating, reading, dreaming... It also means you have to refuse to look at your phone for some time. (What is it for anyway?) When you know how to be alone, you stay calm and peace in a quiet environment, you can take care of yourself and so you now know how to take care and love the others, too!
I am not a self-help guru, and I do spend a lot of time and effort to learn how to cope with negativity. I know how hard it is to cope with stress, at the same time I cannot deny - we are the only person who can thoroughly understand ourselves. Try not to focus on the past, and concentrate on here and now - What can I do for a better me?
Be ready to change, your life is yours, live it as you choose!
Photographer : Zuice Flower
Outfits : Ziztar
LOVES,
CHARLOTTE
What I Wear in Taipei
Other than the signature neutral tone in B&W that everyone knows I love (Playing with Black & White), there are days I can’t help but to be a little more colourful, especially when the sky of a sunny day just tells you to do so!
Here are four colourful jolly outfits I put on in my visit in Taipei last month.
跟很多人一樣，我的衣櫃中的顏色大多充滿著藍、白、黑和灰。 除了這些基本、「不會出事」的配搭，有時我喜歡找一些比較色彩繽紛的衣服，穿上去不只讓人、也可以讓自己有眼前一亮的感覺。怕穿得太大膽有反效果嗎？其實只要著重色彩的搭配，任何衣物穿在身上都會非常和諧，看上去讓人亦有舒適的感覺。
這次我特地準備了4套不同顏色的衣服去台灣旅遊時穿，看看下面我的色彩配搭小貼士和旅遊時的 #OOTD。
Top: mukmuk: wardrobe
DAY 1 : MELLOW YELLOW
Off-shoulder Top with Light Blue Denim Skirt
What I love most about this top is the cherry stitched pattern on the linen fabric. It reminds me of my childhood, like the little pattern on the cloth napkins my mum used to give me every day. I styled with a basic light blue high-waist denim skirt. As we all know, blue and yellow are contrasting colours - which may look bold and it's a tricky to wear them together. But when it works, it’s shockingly chic!
Tips #1
Pick The Pastel Tone
By choosing the pastel version of two colours, it instantly lessens the divergence of the two. You can see that they go pretty well together, and the look gives a sense of serenity and surprise.
DAY 2 : PASTEL BLUE
Palette Pattern Top & Skirt Set
As most of you may know, I love wearing a matching set. You will be amazed by the possibilities that you wear with the set, no matter it is to wear together or separately.
Tips #2
No more than 3 colours
Most people find it difficult to handle when it shows more than 3 colours (even for me!) With less colours, you can play with shades and saturation of them. When in doubt, 1-2 colours are the safest.
DAY 3 : COTTON CANDY PINK
Umbrella Stripe top with Skinny Jeans
To go with the eye-catching colours of an unique design, like the umbrella shape tank top here, I tend to keep other items basic and simple. Basics like jeans, or white/plain t-shirts works really well - they are like good friends who everyone enjoys their company.
Tips #3
Similar Colours are Good Friends
Different shades of the same colour or similar colours almost always look good together. Like Red & Pink, Pink & Purple, Blue & Green... Just experiment putting them together, and see which combination is the best for your skin tone!
DAY 4 : BEAUTIFUL PATTERNS
Statement Pattern Piece
Let the pattern dominate your total look! The statement piece I am wearing is the Chiffon printed shirt, with lots of small details, leafs, feathers, birds... It is also very light-weighted which is good for playing with layers in the fall.
Tips #4
Stick with the colours in the pattern
This is one of my favourite tricks - I always stick with the colour scheme I found in the pattern. Take this look as an example, there are pink, blue, beige and white in the pattern of the shirt, so I chose a white top and a navy pants to finish the look. It is the easiest way to find perfect colours to match, meanwhile you will never looked colourfully comical. (or is it comically colourful?)
Do you find these tips of wearing colours useful? Girls, do not be afraid of playing with colours. You have to experiment with different colours in order to find the best combination with your skin tone! I have never liked wearing eye-catching colours in my high school years. But once I tried, I can never go back!
Have fun playing with colours.
Loves,
Charlotte
Playing with Black & White
Black and white, which one are you?
Some like it black, some like it white. They are like the couple who never agrees with each other but they live in perfect harmony. It is punishingly hard to stand out from the crowd wearing these colours, as they are the safest choices among the cliches. But with a little creativity and details, you may just be able to do it!
穿黑與白，不一定是沈悶的配搭。只要著重質地、比例上配搭花些心思，黑白也可以不一樣。
我嘗試配搭著兩款比較優雅和不同的造型，利用著兩款Statement的單品：黑色透視上衣及白色泡泡長裙，配搭了兩個和平時不一樣的Style。
The Black Daisy
All about layering & mixing different texture
Top - Ziztar | Skirt - mukmuk: wardrobe
Flared sleeves mesh top with a black asymmetrical skirt. The outfit went well together playing off textures, the top being a great statement piece while the other part keeping low-profile. The little daisy flower stitch just stole my heart!
The WHite gown
Voluminous Statement White Maxi-skirt
Top - Vintage | Skirt - Ziztar
Still remember my last post, How French Woman style their clothes? I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing your proportion. Here I styled a light weight crop top with the voluminous white gown to balance out the outfit. This statement maxi-skirt instantly brought the outfit to another level. The high-waisted fits of the skirt also made the legs look longer, I looked at least 5cm taller without heels here!
Every details make a difference.
Pay attention to finding your statement piece, feel free to mix & match with your creativity! Your imagination will always bring colours to your outfit, even they are in black or white.
Watch my Styling Lookbook Video here!
Phographer : Ng Yat Lung
LOVES,
CHARLOTTE
5 Rules to Dress Like A Parisian Woman
Impeccably dressed women walking on the street in Paris.
“A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” - coco chanel
When it comes to style, French women always catch my attention. It is a world away from the 'cutey chic' Korean fitting, and just a notch more natural, more subtle than the typically pompous “American Appeal” style. So what makes the French Style so unique and ever-classy?
Here's few rules I observed...
每個女孩都該做到兩點：有品味並光芒四射。” - Coco Chanel
當再不是20出頭，我更著重要找到自己的風格。不同風格中，我最留意的一定是法國女生的天生的氣質美。彷彿她們總有最好的品味：不像韓國的可愛前衛、也不像歐美的流行時尚，卻擁有與別不同、又吸引的獨特魅力。在簡約的造型中總是擁有「不做作」的自信態度。她們知道應該投資怎樣的衣服、也知道如個配搭去突顯優點和修飾缺點。做自己，找出自己的獨特魅力，就是法國風的重點。
Blazer, Tee & Pants - Kitsune | Heels - About Arianne
1: Less is Always More
It doesn’t mean you don’t have to buy anything. Rather, it is about finding the perfect items and stick with them. The cutting has to fit your body and the style should be timeless. One rule of thumb is that my daughter, or even my grand-children could still wear what's in my wardrobe, when the time comes, it will still be in-trend. It also means good investment!
2. Effortless = Comfort
The word “Effortless” comes to mind when I picture the Parisian woman. Effortless doesn’t only mean they look effortless, but also that they won’t wear anything that makes them uncomfortable. For example, a pair of chic flats is always the ideal daily wear. The good ones! Not the cheap ones you find on the streets. A good pair lasts forever - sophisticated, easy-to-wear, comfortable and always in style.
Top & Jeans - Kitsune | Heels - About Arianne | Bag - The Cambridge Satchel Company
3. Finding the Perfect Fit
Again, I can never stress enough: Never wear anything that doesn’t fit your body! If you’re a size M, don’t go for size S or size L because they just doesn’t fit your figure, even when someone tells you otherwise! Often it is not the style that is not working, but than the size and proportion are wrong. (See our following point.) However, I do admit that sometimes slouchy clothes like an oversized boyfriend’s shirt works really well. Well, that is if you don't mind the smell..!
4. Work your Proportion
Many Hong Kong girls underestimated the importance of finding the proportion of fitting on your body. There is a simple rule in balancing your overall shape. For example, if you are wearing a pair of culottes, which the boxy fit carries weight, you should wear something lighter in the upper part; if you are wearing a voluminous coat, a fitted bottom will balance out the top. So, no matter what your body shape is, you can almost wear anything as long as you have this rule in mind!
5. Wear Invisible Accessories
It’s hard not to notice the beautiful and faultlessly dressed woman on the streets of Paris. The thought of their figures and faces often accompany with something more elusive and ethereal - their fragrances. Scent is such a romantic memory.
Take the time to find the looks that work best for you, and try to find ones that can last a lifetime. Embrace your imperfections – even if they are scars, freckles or wrinkles. It is okay to be imperfect. Maybe that is why Parisian women are so irresistible. They are so imperfect, yet comfortably so.
Let your natural self be beautiful, let go of your insecurities, let your confidence shine - That’s how they do it!
PS: Look at how I styled 3 classy, elegant yet effortless looks with Styling Tips!
Phographer : Ng Yat Lung
Venue : Make Your Choicesss Floral Lab