Festive fun

It's nearing December and the radios have already started blaring out the same tired Christmas songs. And as is the case every year, retail stores are focusing on what to wear for the awaited 'office party.' For me, this conjures up images of Granddad dancing, awkward conversation and David Brentisms. But for many stores, it's little black dresses, high heels, faux fur jackets and sequins all the way.

It's a time when you're *allowed* to go all out - you know, wear that turquoise eyeliner you've always wanted to but not quite built up the courage to... who cares about the photographic evidence?!! Throw caution to the wind.

I bought a midi black dress with lace panels at the waist which give the illusion of an hour glass shape - never a bad thing! However, the extreme side slit which I've noticed is featuring more frequently this year is something I'm not entirely comfortable with.

I would probably spend a lot of my time making sure I'm not indecently exposing myself which is not really the ideal way to spend the Xmas party. Also, I think it can look a little 'Strictly come dancing' and can easily become tacky. So I've sent that ASOS number back.. despite loving the lace panels...

Looks like it'll be some last minute shopping for me then...

Burgundy love

Burgundy's a big colour this season, if you hadn't already heard. As a fan of rich jewel tones, I've gone a little crazy on the burgundy accessories front. Usually I hate matching stuff but I am so in love with my new suede burgundy bag from Karen Millen and my burgundy pashmina is super easy to throw on to combat the chilly morning commute. Please ignore the messy desk - I work in organised chaos, obviously.

Ombre dip dye

I've wanted to dip dye my hair for a while but was considering the various ways to go about doing it. Initially I wanted to dye the ends of my hair turquoise but seeing as I have to look somewhat professional/ corporate at work, this was a categorical no-no. Instead, I settled upon the ombre effect which is a much subtler take on dip dye and was sported on the catwalks of last year (yes I a am a little behind, I know...)

Being Asian, dyeing my decidedly thick and stubbornly dark hair has always been somewhat of an issue so I immediately assumed that I would have to get my hair dip dyed professionally. But, after some research, I came across Loreal Preference Brush on Dip Dye, which allows you to dip dye your hair from the comfort of your own home. I was initially sceptical as there have been countless times where I've tried to dye my hair at home and rather than transform my hair, it's remained the same colour, albeit with a slightly different tint to it, and dried it out. But I decided to go with it anyway and was really pleasantly surprised. It was incredibly easy to use and apply and most importantly of all, it worked. As you can see in the picture, it's pretty subtle which is what I wanted. The good thing about this trend is that it's very low maintenance - no touch ups required, just let it grow out and fade naturally with time.

I'm pretty pleased with the results and it's saved me a fair few pennies doing it at home.

The importance of being charming

I’ve always had a “thing” for charm bracelets and necklaces. Perhaps it’s to do with the fact that I tend to hoard things for sentimental value or maybe it’s just because they can be so darn pretty. Anyway, I’ve been on a long quest to find a great charm bracelet to invest in. I’ve considered the cute tactile Links Sweetie bracelet and the sterling silver Thomas Sabo charm bracelets that have become increasingly popular. However, I tend to veer towards gold as I think it suits my skin colour better and the complete ubiquity that they have enjoyed puts me off somewhat. Part of the inherent charm, pardon the pun, of charm bracelets is the fact that they feel personal to you. If everyone is wearing the same bracelet, its specialness is somewhat diluted.

I’m still holding out for finding the right charm bracelet. I’m currently veering towards Astley Clarke’s beautiful classic collection of yellow-gold charms. I mean, how cute is this ‘Nut King Squirrel Charm’?

Granted, I would probably only be able to afford the bracelet void of charms as it stands (damn my bank balance) but still I’d like to think, I could amass an enviable collection of charms eventually... it would be an investment, clearly.

Mulberry: the decline of the luxury sector

Mulberry, the British heritage brand that is best known for their classic bags with celebrity fans such as Alexa Chung and Lana del Rey, seems to be struggling in today's tough economic climate. Their shares lost nearly a quarter of their value today indicating the steep fall in international sales (yes, yet again, we are looking at the ailing Asian demand).

The Chief Executive, Bruno Guillon, is pretty optimistic though and maintains that Mulberry is still a profitable firm. In fact, in the 6 months to the end of September 2012, UK sales increased by 13% compared to the same period in 2011. It's almost impossible to walk around London and NOT see several people with their Mulberry armcandy. Their classic and beautifully crafted designs are loved in the UK by women of all ages and the recent celebrity designs have pulled in a newer, younger generation too. But whether Mulberry will pull in the punters in Asia is yet to be seen.

Love of androgyny

I've always been a huge fan of the 'androgyny' trend that pops up every now and then in the fickle world of fashion. Ever since I was little, the idea of power dressing has really appealed to me (admittedly my "rower" shoulders mean it permanently looks as if I'm wearing shoulder pads). In some ways, the androgyny trend can be seen as an offshoot of power dressing. Immediately, I think of beautiful women (or men a la David Bowie) with chiselled features wearing a sharp masculine suit - how wouldn't that make you feel powerful? Plus, there's something incredibly mysterious about not showing much flesh - the antithesis of what seems to be the norm nowadays.

I was attempting to clear out my wardrobe as it's starting to look ridiculous now and I noticed that I do have a significant number of items that could be classed as 'androgynous'. I'd been going through a girly phase for a while and in my schizophrenic style-mind, I've been feeling the need to reflect a new-found assertiveness in what I wear. I think I'll juxtapose the masculine sharp suits, crisp high-neck white shirts and brogues with dramatic make-up and big hair (think Robert Palmer's super stylish 'Addicted to Love' video...)

Trouble in Boden

Boden is one of those brands that has a really defined target market - you know, the upper middle to upper class group of women above 35 who shop at Waitrose, eat cakes from Cath Kidston tins and sport Orla Kiely bags when they visit their local farm shop for organic produce. It boasts celebrity fans such as David and Samantha Cameron which says a lot about its "image".

Anyway, Boden has appeared in the press quite a lot lately because they've hired Helena Christensen as their new model. Apparently, a lot of Boden's core customer base are annoyed as they feel that Helena, being a gorgeous supermodel an' all, should not be considered an accurate representative of 'real women.' I totally understand the push for getting more 'real women' (i.e. women of all different sizes, ethnicities etc.) out there but I think this is a bit ridiculous as it's not like they've stuck some emaciated 15 year old model in their campaigns.

Helena is clearly gorgeous but I don't think there's anything bad about seeing a gorgeous woman in clothes. Everyone wants to look good and it's common sense that good clothes on a good-looking woman will make you more likely to buy. And in many ways, she does fit into the group which Boden are targeting: she's 43, a mother and works as a breast cancer fundraiser. A load of hot puff...

The perfect statement accessory

I have to confess I have a love/hate relationship with accessories. When I was younger, I loved the trend, probably started by Mary Kate Olsen, where you pile on the accessories to achieve a sort of hobo chic look. But since that phase, I've become really averse to over accessorising - I think it can make an outfit look too 'busy' plus loads of bangles jangling on the table is not the most practical.
Despite this, though, I've always loved the idea of a statement accessory that really brings an interesting dimension to an outfit. Generally, I'd say I'm quite minimalist in what I wear - I like clean, tailored lines and often darker or more muted colours, so a statement accessory can really make the outfit from something that could be a little drab to something that looks far more 'high fashion.'
Today I'm wearing a fun colourful statement bracelet to set off a rather dark outfit. (I'm wearing a grey cotton three-quarter length top and a faux leather pleated skirt, if you're wondering from the picture).

The faux jewels (and I like the fact that they're obviously faux as it adds a more tongue-in-cheek vibe) are different sized rectangles and make me think of abstract paintings. I've already had a few compliments this morning and if you're a sucker for compliments, statement accessories are the way to go!
I think it's nice to have a pretty plain outfit to juxtapose with the statement accessory and took this a little further by painting my nails a lovely nude/ dark taupe colour (Barry M, 'Mushroom').

Cute Marc Jacobs mouse flats

... never get old. I remember when these were the big thing in 2005/6 on the perfectly pedicured feet of Mischa Barton (back before she went AWOL) and Nicole Ritchie in her scarily thin phase. Anyway, I suddenly remembered my love for them, looked them up and it looks like they're still going strong. You can buy them on Bloomingdales.com with a pretty reasonable postage fare to the UK. Time to wait for my pay cheque...

Cheaper option Strangely, Accessorize have jumped on the cute flats bandwagon and brought their own kitty flats out at £26, a fraction of the price! Granted, they're nowhere near as cute as the real McCoy but if you're on a tight budget and love the concept, then they're still a great find!

M&S's not-so-sparky idea?

The Sunday Times reported that Marc Bolland, CEO of M&S, is anticipating a comeback for Marks and Spencers in the form of a gizmo that allows you to find the 'perfect' pillow. As well as this, Bolland's looking to greatly widen the variety of cheese and meats available from the deli counter to entice more shoppers in to breathe back a little life into the fading department store. Poor M&S. As much as I am rooting for their success, I can't help but feel that Bolland's lost the plot a bit with a bizarre pillow gadget. Surely the better way to revive M&S would be to sort out their ailing fashion department. Now's the time to bring in top fashion buying talent and a complete restructuring needs to be considered. Enough faffing about with pillow and cheese - sort out the root problem first!

Will retailers win gold during the Olympics?

Many retailers have extended their trading hours during the Olympics, in the hope of benefitting from the rush of tourists flocking to enjoy the events in London. At least, this is what many retailers hope for - considering the wash-out of the last few months, weak consumption levels and growing concerns surrounding the eurozone crisis, a boost would be most definitely welcomed.

Figures as revealed by the Centre for Retail Research do seem to support this optimistic view, estimating an increase in total spending due to the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee to total £1,069 million which is definitely good news. However, a few good weeks doesn’t give UK retailers the all-clear. The net effect is pretty unclear as well as many would-be tourists would no doubt be staying away from travelling to London this summer because of the all this Olympics kerfuffle. It won’t only be London that’s affected either – it’s believed that other UK areas could see a downturn in their visitors as people choose to stay away from the UK altogether. So to weigh up the increase in spending relative to the costs (i.e. the opportunity cost of missing tourists who have avoided the games and the wages of the retail staff working extra hours) is rather more complex than it would seem at first glance. The Olympics’ impact on the UK economy remains to be seen...

China growth slowdown negatively affects luxury market sales

China's tremendous growth in the last decade has been the hot topic as the rest of the world has looked on in wonderment (and fear). Their phenomenal levels of growth (and the fastest reduction in poverty the world has ever seen) has led to an emerging middle-class which saw a substantial increase in demand for luxury goods. Burberry had the foresight of this potential market expansion while Aquascutum didn't, to their detriment as they went bust in April. However, Burberry and other luxury fashionhouses are facing problems as a large portion of their market share belongs in Asia and China's slowdown threatens their profit-making abilities.

It is interesting to note that China is very big on corporate gift buying. 'Guanxi' (social connections) are an integral part of Chinese society and have been so for many centuries. Businessmen and women often buy potential clients or partners ridiculously expensive luxury goods, like Rolex watches, as an 'investment'. The Chinese value recriprocity and corporate gift buying often speeds up bureaucratic processes, helping to cut through the huge levels of red tape. The slowdown in growth is likely to negatively impact luxury goods sales (due to tighter budgeting regarding corporate gift buying), although as guanxi is such an established tradition, I doubt this will vanish. Instead, it's more likely businessmen and women will substitute to 'less expensive' luxury goods.

China (unlike the US and Europe) has more ammunition to bolster growth. Chinese authorities are taking both monetary and fiscal action and their proactive approach puts China in a better position than the weak US and the sovereign debt-ridden Europe. This does not mean that Burberry and other luxury brands should become complacent, though. Issues that China faces are also of a more deeprooted structural nature, e.g. the real-estate bubble, exacerbated by the problem of persistent land-grabbing by local officials. These are more pressing than the current growth slow-down as they ultimately dictate China's ability for future growth. Thus, the root causes need to be addressed before the effects (ie the slower growth) can be fully tackled.

Marks and Spencers: a fashion no-no?

Poor Marks and Spencers. This week has seen M&S's low fashion sales in every newspaper worth mentioning. This has led many to comment on how best to boost the flagging department store, with criticisms directed towards the disparate collections - with Limited Collection not trendy and fashion-forward enough to attract the younger fashionistas; with Autograph's sophisticated pieces rather overpriced; with Per Una - well, just a ruffly, frumpy mess - a campaign with Twiggy and Myleene Klass is simply not going to cut it anymore.

The news that Kate Bostock has left as head of general merchanidse to the ever-growing online retailer, ASOS, has led many to speculate on the future of M&S. John Dixon, head of M&S' food business, is all set to replace her. While Dixon did wonders for M&S' food sales, with their evocative (bordering on pornographic) food adverts and Dine for £10 offers, M&S hopes Dixon can wave his magic wand and make M&S fashion flourish again. However, success in the food sector does not automatically translate to success in the fashion sector and one should avoid being complacent. Dixon has a tough job ahead of him. He needs to strengthen the individual collections M&S offers whilst maintaining a M&S thread in each and every one, with a focus on affordable basic and quality pieces. Personally, I think M&S should forgo trying to be "too" trendy - they're never going to compete with brands like 'Topshop' and 'Zara' in attracting the Beautiful Young Things and should focus their attentions on the more mature woman who appreciates well-cut, classic and affordable clothing. Clarifying the target market is vital and they would benefit from being specific, rather than attempting to cast their nets too far upstream.

I hope M&S take heed of the concerns flying around at the moment as it would be a shame to lose a company that has become so synonymous with the British way of life.

I'm at work (thus most definitely shouldn't be blogging) but I found out I got a 2:1 today so am in a state of mild euphoria! The guys at the office were lovely and surprised me with cake and champagne to celebrate so I am already merry yet sleepy after one glass of champagne. Ridiculous - I might as well be 50. Anyway, am savouring the moment and am thinking of treating myself very soon with a lovely investment tote bag. I am currently weighing up the potential contenders as below but I think I will most likely opt for this:

A classic tan leather Ralph Lauren tote - timeless and large enough to fit in all my bits and bobs. Now, just have to wait for the next paycheck!!

Life

It's been a long while since I've written to update. A lot has happened: mostly, normal "life" things such as finally finishing my final exams, passing my driving test on the third attempt (I was beyond desperation at this point), going on holiday and starting work. I'm currently working at a business communications consultancy where I deal with corporate PR. Very exciting but need to get accustomed to this rigid lifestyle of waking up ridiculously early and trying to remain perky throughout the day without my beloved cat naps. I have also discovered a new love for Loreal's much talked about BB (Blemish Balm) cream which is helping me to maintain this facade of being alive and semi-presentable.

I'm really not trying to seem like a typical "girl" here (given my aversion to any form of stereotype) but part of the fun of work is finding work outfits that you can look smart in and feel comfortable. I have yet to try a whole work day in heels although I'm constantly in awe of the career women who stomp about unrelentlessly in the latest Louboutins. I think I have to ease myself in slowly and start with the kitten heel with extra padding in the sole, otherwise I'll most likely be walking like I have some sort of leg injury which is not really the image I'd like to portray.

Anyway, last week I went to Berlin for a short pre-birthday trip and I was struck by how steeped in history the place is. Of course, we had to go to the Holocaust Memorial which was simply beautiful. Much debate has occurred regarding the design - some liken the different sized concrete blocks to coffins of dead soldiers but I interpreted it less literally. The slabs of grey, drab and concrete, seemed to evoke feelings of oppression and as you walk through, there is a sensation of things caving in and a slight claustrophobia takes hold. Inside the memorial, there were plenty of insights into victims of the holocaust and the focus was on them as individuals which I found fascinating, as so often, you just learn of impersonal facts. When you learn about victims in terms of their lives, their ambitions and emotions, everything becomes darker and even more disturbing. It still shocks me to learn how humanity can twist itself and adjust to such blatantly evil and immoral actions.