Conferences Abound

It was a short work week, but super intense. This is turning out to be a year of conference panels at work. Almost fun, save for the work part. Tehehehee. That kills brain cells. But it feels awesome to be working the brains and keeping the edges sharp. I don't get to meet many friends or sane acquaintances now, so it's a welcomed thing to meet some of them at these work events. 

I need easy shoes for these full-day things. It's not fun having the feet bound up in tight shoes all day. Some women can do it; I'm not one of those. I don't own heels much anymore. Unless they're in the form of loafers. I need to cover distance, and that can't have me tottering in pain within an hour of arriving at the conference venue. 

I have no idea how this year's work projects blew up into busy work weeks spanning months. Aside from my usual projects, I have continuous conferences to attend (and work at) on the calendar. Q2 is mad; Q3 seems to be chaotic too. I sure ain't complaining. It will pay my next year's bills very nicely. 

Back-to-back conferences for weeks on end mean that I needed to decompress. That meant spending time alone in silence. That included not talking to the husband, and not even eating meals with him; he's used to it by now. Hurhurhur Of course the dog doesn't mind. Dog feels my vibes more than needing to hear my voice. 

Are You Team Tight-on-Tight or Tight-on-Baggy?

Grinned when I scanned through the fun headlines. Oh, are we at this now? Apparently we are!!! We do all own sportswear. The fashion has evolved through the years. Leggings used to come in flare bottoms. That was hilarious. I always found that design flaggingly cumbersome while running. 

Now, with renewed emphasis on fitness and all sorts of gyms coming up and with more than IronMan and duathlons, we also have Spartan Races, CrossFit, and the still-hot format of Hyrox, gym wear has never been soooo popular. And it's not just shorts and tees. People could live in it all day. Many live in sportswear exclusively on weekends. At least I do. And many dog owners I know do too. It's practical and comfortable for our crazy humid weather in Singapore.

Are you team tight-on-tight or tight-on-baggy?

We're at this, 'Millennials and Gen Z Are Fighting Again. This Time About Gym Clothes.' by Madison Malone Kircher, published in The New York Times on March 17, 2025. I couldn't stop laughing because I had to pause even while reading this short article, to get onto IG and TikTok to actually check it out. 

And here I thought we were done at gym socks! Apparently not. It now extends to everything one wears at the gym. 

The infamous “war” between millennials and Gen Z has found a new battleground in recent weeks, with a fight brewing on TikTok over workout clothes.

There are two camps: People who like wearing tight-on-tight outfits to the gym — think leggings and a well-fitting tank top — and people who prefer baggier ensembles. According to some users on TikTok, these preferences fall along generational lines, with millennial women favoring the tighter outfits.

My gym offers tees and shorts, and socks on loan to gym-goers. Many people take it up so that they don't have to deal with stinky and wet clothing fermenting all day in the office before they get home to launder them. I don't bother wearing the gym's stuff because I'm more comfortable in my own clothes. 

I can wear just a sports bra and leggings at the gym. But I prefer wearing a tank or crop over it. Sleeveless. Sleeves are warm and cumbersome for me. Baggy or tight — I only care about whether they flap too much or get in my way during a workout. A workout at the gym ain't a dance competition. I can't wear a baggy top that flips into my face if I'm doing inversions at Pilates right? I live in activewear because of the dog and the crazy Singapore humidity. 

I wear leggings or pants most of the time because I'm not into wearing skirts or even shorts. Running gives me that 'runner's itch' in my thighs, so that's ameliorated by wearing tights even in this heat. I've grown used to it. Sometimes I get that itch on my arms, stomach and neck too. It's exercise-induced urticaria, a response by my allergic mast cells. Zzzzz 

Are you Team Crew Socks or Team Ankle Socks? 

I'm all ankle socks because I'm not bothered to get out to buy new socks. Socks that end higher on the calves give me a rash. I need certain types of toe socks for the gym for my bunions and such, so I don't bother wearing thick crew socks or anything. Dohhhh. 

So I'm not into tight-on-tight. Neither am I into tight-on-baggy. I LIKE SLIM-FIT, CAN? 

Seriously. FFS. Just wear what you want and what makes you comfortable. 

Red, White & Blue Bag :: 紅白藍帆布袋

Since the 1960s, Wah Ngai Canvas (華藝帆布, established in 1954) and its founder Lee Wah 李華 are known as the maker of the iconic red, white and blue nylon bags, literally, 紅白藍帆布袋. Films used to have these bags to store corpses in, but nowadays they use suitcases. LOL I also have an actual 紅白藍袋 that I use to move bulky items around and when not in use, it's folded up. These are as sturdy as the IKEA bags.

Now, the popularity of these bags meant that they're an avenue to do social good. A concept shop run by New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association have the disabled and mentally-challenged workers up their mental health by sewing these bags in workshops in Kowloon and sold all over the world. They're obviously priced a lot higher than what you can buy off of Taobao, Shopee and Lazada. As consumers, we then choose where we want to spend to get these bags. I simply want neat and tight stitching. It's meant to be brand-less. It's supposed to be the antithesis of a brand, or at least not a designer brand. 

I have some of those in nylon, and a mini version as a stylized tote made of fabric. The fabric tote was a fun buy from Hong Kong. I was in Cheung Chau and walked into a shop selling handmade fabric bags. The lady boss could make a few for me in the desired designs if I had another day to return to pick it up or 2.5 hours to wait for her to make one bag. I couldn't. So I simply took what was available on the racks. There was one in water-resistant frabic. The lady's stitching was top-notch, and she made an extra layer of fabric for the bottom of the bag. 

Sure, the nylon ones are used mainly for dog things and activities or supermarket runs. But this fabric tote — I'm very fond of. I don't just use it to carry random extra items around or as a shopping bag. On some days, I also use it as a bag-bag. I don't need to lug around designer bags all the time. They're just stashed at home. If I feel like taking them out, I will. If I don't, then I don't. I don't feel any social pressure to do so (got past that); I needn't live up to anyone's sartorial expectations. 

Cute Little Things for Choya

Fri Feb 4 Choya hasn't been put in too eeeky festive garb over this period. Well, I didn't bother to trawl the shops to find something I wanted. It was too much effort. It's also unnecessary, so I'll just get one or two items. Clothes for Choya are too fussy unless we're visiting, (when she doesn't need to pee) and we're honestly not doing much of that this year. 

Randomly put different pieces on her over the past week or so. I tend to put these on her when the weather is fine, and mostly in the evenings. Mornings are way hot, and those are for runs, getting in some proper exercise, soaking up Vitamin D, and rolling about in the grass. 

The girl gamely wore it all like the pawdel she is. She is quite the head-turner. Most Shibes are. Oof. The speech bubble pins are hilarious. Her tailor gamely sewed everything I asked for. Bows and bandanas are still my to-go additions to an already cute doggo. These are convenient small pieces of apparel that I don't mind eking out storage space for.

Then, there's the matter of getting some photos for the lunar new year greetings for the 'Gram. Since T is better at Procreate and stuff like that, I asked her to help me add stripes to the dog's photo so that she can be a silly Tiger on a lunar new year greeting. Hurhurhur.

Yes, Those Are FitFlops

I haven't really thought about buying dress shoes for a long while. Well, my line of work doesn't exactly need me to dress up. When I conscientiously shy away from socials that require dressing up, the invitations also dwindle. Replacing dress shoes when the leather soles or tops deteriorate isn't my priority. Keeping worn shoes in my wardrobe is a big no-no. I'm not enthusiastic about walk-in wardrobes; I didn't bother carving out space for one in this flat. 

I've pared down the wardrobe loads. I eschew the designer brands for shoes now. I refuse to pay for a pair shoes that cost more than S$450. With Choya in my life, I need shoes that I can run in. They also need to be somewhat resistant to poop and pee, and rain. I'm not in the habit of spending S$1100 on a pair of flats that are oh-so-chic but they aren't exactly comfortable, and still can't withstand six months of walking the dog.

To that, I've caved in to FitFlop, especially when they've updated their brand lines and trotted out a whole slew of very comfortable shoes. Yes, you heard that. I used to avoid FitFlop like plague. That's because I keep seeing them as ugly kiap-kiap platform flip-flops worn by people donning the most horrendous clashing colors from head to toe. Now, I've decided that I'll simply embrace FitFlop. I can't remember, but did the brand ever advertise it as some sort of shoes that help you exercise or something? Anyway.

That day I walked by a random store doing a 'moving out sale', and bought five pairs of FitFlop- sandals, ballerinas and slip-on flats. These will replace all the shoes that I've worn out. Since I can't get to Bangkok to buy shoes, and I don't really want them to be made from the old moulds (from two years ago), I'll just put that on hold till I can get back to the beloved city.  

I have bunions, and high arches. My feet loves them, that's all it matters. All my FitFlops are in neutral color palates. Monochrome mainly. I'll try my best to wear them as stylishly as I could. But I'll hit 50 years old soon. I don't think I can avoid being labeled an 'Aunty'. OH WELL. 😆

What Size Do You Wear for Uniqlo Tees?

The children’s clothing section at Uniqlo in China has gained an unexpected new clientele: adult women.  

In the latest viral challenge to sweep Chinese social media, women pose for dressing-room selfies in children’s T-shirts from the Japanese fashion giant. The trend has ignited a heated debate about whether it promotes body shaming, with experts raising concerns that it reinforces the country’s unhealthy standards of beauty.

Published on March 18, 2021 in The New York Times, Yan Zhuang's 'Women Posing in Children’s Clothing? Fad Sparks Body-Shaming Concerns' raised many eyebrows. China has had so many viral internet challenges for being thin across the years. It's not even fitness. It's beyond dumb. 

The media in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, and even the fans are extremely critical of celebrities and how they look. That's how the entire fashion industry is driven. The western concept of beauty ain't that much different either. It's seriously superficial. It's like how people used to like three-inch bound (and smelly) feet on noblewomen, and how we marvel at our grandmothers' or great-grandmothers' 21-inch waist, evident in their heritage and heirloom tailored cheongsam, kebaya and such. 

But for many Asian women, it's not a fad or diet thing because many are petite. Sure, many aren't. And that's okay. People come in all sizes. Although big women in Asia needs to face a lot of nonsense from relatives who think it's in their right to tell you every year if you've grown fat or thin by their standards. There's no pleasing another older Asian woman who outranks you in terms of familial hierarchy. However, it isn't cool if it's body-shaming, and it leads to unhealthy body image and self-esteem issues as well as anorexia and bulimia. 

The thing that got me raising eyebrows is this, Brandy Melville's sizes. Wasn't there a store in Singapore at ION Orchard and then it closed? I don't know anything about this brand. So this is news to me. Madness. 95 pounds = 43 kg. I stand at 161cm / 5ft 2. I fluctuate between 45 to 48 kg. I have kept this weight range for about 13 years. I'm not doing this to be fashionable. I'm doing this so that I don't drop dead suddenly from clogged arteries, diabetes and high cholesterol. Without an exercise regime and an overdose of carbs, I flew up to 65 kg. That was seriously unhealthy. I couldn't even walk up an average flight of stairs without being out of breath. Now, I'm generally a size S for most brands, UK8 and US2/US4, depending on what it is. Oddly, I can be a L to XL for Asian brands. HAHAHAHA.  

The challenge has been labeled the latest iteration of “BM style,” a type of fashion recently popularized by the cult Italian brand Brandy Melville, which is youthful, casual and, above all, thin (its stores carry only one size: extra small).

Since the brand opened its first Chinese store in Shanghai in 2019, it has become an aspirational symbol for young women desperate to squeeze into its clothes. An unofficial sizing chart circulated on Weibo showed how much women at various heights would need to weigh to fit — a 5-foot-3 woman would need to weigh 95 pounds.

Brandy Melville did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Anyway. I still buy from Uniqlo since their casual wear is priced at a range I like. Yes, fast fashion, child labor, Xinjiang cotton and all that. I read those. I'm not buying more, but I'm not throwing out what already has been bought. For Uniqlo's standard tees, I wear a Uniqlo Size XL for kids. Or its occasional 160. I can't help it! I like my tees skimming, a little tight. It doesn't have to be snug. Uniqlo's women's size S can be still a tad loose; size XS isn't often available. Conversely, the man can never fit even an XXL for Uniqlo tees. Hahahah. They don't carry 3XL often for men either.

Anyway, may I point you to the insult of 'OlymPig'? That was made 'popular' by the Tokyo Olympics' ex creative chief Hiroshi Sasaki. Talented entertainer Naomi Watanabe responded to 'Olympig' with a formal statement and emphasized that she is comfortable with her body. She has magnanimously not attached any missiles to the man who uttered it and made fun of her. What grace.

As a celebrity, she said, it is true that people tell her that she “is big.” 

“I’ve been working with the full understanding that people poke fun at my appearance,” Watanabe said. “I am happy with my body. Being fat is not everything (about me), so I will continue to work as Naomi Watanabe, as always.” 

She mentioned, however, how she feels as an individual. 

“I sincerely hope the world becomes a fun and rich place where (people) respect and accept each other’s uniqueness and viewpoints.”

Wearing Shorts Out

Do you wear shorts? I rarely do. I don't wear them to run because 'wind rashes' appear on my thighs if they aren't covered by tights. I don't wear them to the exercise studios because I don't like so much bare skin touching mats and such. Also, I generally get a ton of bruises on my legs from krav maga, so I don't really want to show 'em off to the world. I don't wear shorts at home because it's cooler to wear dresses. Hurhurhur.

However during lockdown in the months of April to June, it was so damn hot exercising at home that I bought three pairs of shorts from Decathlon. Now that I’ve stopped working out at a gym, and do HIIT stuff at home, these shorts still come in handy. These shorts that are more like tights. The flappy shorts have got additional tights in there, upholding my modesty in all exercise moves. For S$10 each, I have no complaints!

My legs are too pale. LOL They're in the 'original' skin tone while my shoulders and arms are shades more tanned. Since the shorts are already being used, I try to wear them while walking the dog in the mornings. Let's see if the legs get a bit of color on them in the sun. I don't fancy wearing shorts when I'm out with the dog because, mozzies, and in case other enthusiastic dogs jump on me and leave nail marks down the front of my thighs. 

That day I wore shorts to pilates for the first time. Even the instructor was like, “Oh. Is this the first time I see you in shorts?” Well, yeah, I guess. I had my own towel, so all was comfy. Had some bruises, but nothing splendid and eye-catching. Hahahah. I had my legs off of the Reformer and Chair mostly, so it didn't feel too awkward. 

New Hunter Rain Boots!

I procrastinated and didn't bother asking for my Wellies to be sent over. The three pairs of knee-high Wellies are more useful staying in Seattle and London. The size is rather friendly for the friends to use permanently. The Melissas hurt so bad- they pinch my bunions and OMG, the smell doesn't dissipate even after a year staying in outdoor shoe cabinet. So I threw out those (to the estate’s up-cycle box) and bought a new pair of Hunter ankle rain boots. 

I've been happily traipsing in these new Hunter boots. They took a mere 4.5 days to arrive in Singapore from Los Angeles. The brand calls it the 'Refined Slim Fit Short Rain Boots'. It fits true to size to my Size 6. Such a dream to be walking around in it. I wore of a pair socks. It’s to avoid full contact with the rubber, and also for ease of absorbing raindrops. Hahaha. The boots were crazy comfortable for my bunions. The two monsoon surges over the January weekends have been quite a breeze to go through, thanks to these boots. 

The man however, won't bother with boots in the tropics. He doesn't even bother with heavy duty winter shoes unless we're in Iceland or somewhere that averages -10dC. His Doc Marts carried him from the mud and rain at our Fort Canning And Gardens by the Bay (for gigs) to the streets of London and Seattle. He hiked the trails in them too. Dohhh. For his water-resistant dog-walking options this year, he chose Loom. 

His shoes arrived in a week, as indicated, in time for the first monsoon surge of the season. Whewww. He said that the sneakers fit true to size and felt good too. Great for puddles, he said. Hahaha. Yup, tried and tested loads already. We're in the middle of the Northeast monsoon surges. A few more weeks to go. Then we're in another monsoon, and there'll be plenty of Sumatra squalls. There're many days of which we'll need rain-resistant shoes. He bought his in black. Loom offers these sneakers in either black or white. The white look really good. I'm almost tempted to get a pair for myself too.  

I wouldn't need the boots if I don't have a dog. Yawn. Hahaha. As luck would have it, it hasn't been so rainy or that muddy that she needs her WagWellies. She hasn't worn her raincoat that much either. The double-coated dog can deal with a misting if it's a short stroll. The water simply runs off and she doesn't get too wet. However, I made her wear a raincoat when we went for an hour's walk. Her double coat won't be able to take a soaking. She still loves a romp through the muddy fields. Now, chances are, the mud either doesn't stay on her paws or fur,; if they do, they wash off very easily. But if I had worn a pair of regular trainers, it would be thoroughly caked in mud, and wouldn’t dry for a week. It would be just silly to wear trainers. I might as well stomp along with her in my Wellies. Those are much easier to clean. Just a rinse and they’re squeaky.

Sweatpants Forever

 

 

As it happened, it was the giants who would fall first. Over the next few months, J. Crew, Neiman Marcus, Brooks Brothers and J.C. Penney filed for bankruptcy. Gap Inc. couldn’t pay rent on its 2,785 North American stores. By July, Diane von Furstenberg announced she would lay off 300 employees and close 18 of her 19 stores. The impending damage to small businesses was inconceivable.

Well. I do buy from designer labels. I was all right with dressing up and subscribed to the notion of 'see and be seen'. Then I completely lost interest in it. Yeah, I can buy it, then what? Be photographed in it? Naaaah. The annual budget for renewing the wardrobe is better spent on wheelchairs for my old folks. Acquiring the season's bags, shoes and clothes didn't give me joy. Why enrich companies whose shares I don't own? (On that note, thanks Lululemon. I got a tidy sum from your shares.) I never really had to think very much about money. That's a privilege, not judiciousness or simply being sensible. Prudence comes with age. Money can buy happiness (for myself) if I choose to spend it wisely on experiences to build memories.  

The point is, I read an article written by Irina Aleksander. She wrote about the collapse of many big brand names in the fashion world in ‘Sweatpants Forever: How the Fashion Industry Collapsed’ published in The New York Times on August 6, 2020. It's a great summary of what's been happening around the world to big names in fashion and the entire line of dominoes falling. 

Irina Aleksander began the article with fashion designer Scott Sternberg’s career milestones and his subsequent shifts within the fashion industry from making slim fit ties (he founded a previous success known as ‘Band of Outsiders’ and left it in 2015) to his current surprising hit of sweatpants on Entireworld, which began in 2018. He didn't fancy the traditional model of high fashion and the runway. However, Entireworld would need to restructure its product line in order to be profitable and pay its factories. Ironically, the boom of selling sweatpants to consumers in this pandemic only extended its lifespan for a few more months. It would still face imminent closure once consumers are bored, and he doesn't get funding from willing investors.

In April, clothing sales fell 79 percent in the United States, the largest dive on record. Purchases of sweatpants, though, were up 80 percent. Entireworld was like the rare life form that survives the apocalypse. By betting that the luxury market would fail, Sternberg had evaded the very forces that were bringing down the rest of the industry. “Because you could see the writing on the wall,” he said. “The Neimans writing on the wall, the Barneys. ... Listen, Barneys? That was not a shock to anyone.”

I've also been mainly living in sports wear. We’ve all been living in sports wear. Oof! Athleisure is all new and hip again because it’s so damn hot, and what else do we wear at home all day? Our athleisure wardrobe is already formidable because of our exercise schedule. With the addition of the dog, we added more items since we largely spend loads of time outdoors. Even the man owns a number of sweatpants from Public Rec and Lululemon. 

I'm cool with sweatshirts. I used to wear those sweats of ice-hockey teams all the time. Hahaha. I'm less interested in sweatpants because they make my butt look like juicy dumplings. Dunwan. So I look to Lululemon, who has done a clever take on traditional sweatpants. They call them 'joggers' and 'dance studio crop'. Wonderful. The designers are fabulous. I can live in tights/leggings for half a day. Then it gets a bit too fitting. Joggers are different — I can live in them all day, every day. The 7/8 cut is perfect for my 1.61m frame.

For many years now, I've been paring down the wardrobe to bare essentials. I keep only those clothes which are pleasing and comfortable to me, fashion be damned. I probably never need to buy another bag with a four-digit price tag ever again. I've never been very interested in anything to do with bags, clothes or make-up. I don't even particularly bother about skincare.

I don't know what this means for designer brands and their boutiques in Singapore. I only know that this would be good for Singapore because it would force us to re-think our love with designer brands, materialism and consumer trends. It would hopefully shift the type of shops that line Orchard Road. Those rents are insane. We cannot keep up this bubble. Recession is here. Perhaps it would give us a stronger sense of support for Singapore designers and labels, and encourage greater creativity to create wearable designs.

Face Masks

Washing hands and maintaining personal hygiene is important. Nowadays, wearing a mask is crucial too. It’s more than just adhering to regulations. It’s about protecting others in the community if we happen to be asymptotic COVID-19 carriers, and also protecting ourselves from some really unhygienic people out and about. There’s something to be feared about close proximity for hours and viral load. At this juncture, I really don't want to be ill from a mere common cold.

Since masks are de rigueur nowadays, I expanded my ‘collection’. Besides the Gill masks (heavy and bulky) and Totobobo (light and comfy enough, but the elastic bands suck), additional fabric masks have been acquired. I decided that simple fabric masks would work for times when I walk the dog. I’m outdoors — I don’t meet people and nobody stands close to one another; no one is in close contact with anyone else. These purchased cotton masks come with an insert as an option to slot in filters or a surgical mask. I don’t see the need to include a surgical mask while doing low-risk activities. Inserting a surgical mask within the cloth mask makes better sense when doing grocery runs at the supermarkets or wet markets or when standing in a queue indoors at the mall for any reason.

Wearing different-colored fabric masks can be kinda fun. They're not difficult to breathe in, and absorbs perspiration. It's just a tad troublesome to have to wash it by hand unless they match my usual laundry timings. I even found the perfect measurements for myself — 20cm X 13cm is perfect. A slightly bigger 21cm X 14cm works fine too. (The man needs longer measurements of at least 22cm X 16cm.) I suppose this passes as a new fashion trend nowadays. Oof. I even bought a set of matching fabric the dog and I from superb bandana/bib-maker Tailorwoof — Choya wears a bib, and I wear a face bib. 😂

Slides from Indosole

We went out for a satisfying lunch to celebrate Y's birthday. We chose the venue purely because it was accessible to Missy after she gets out of school. There were plenty of gifts, and Y actually handed me one too! A gift for me on her birthday?! Whut. It was a pair of slides from Indosole.

There's nothing to scream about this pair of super practical slides. They're great for casual days. There's also nothing to fault about it. It's eco-friendly, minimalist in design, decently made and are quite comfortable. It appeals to us wanting to 'live and consume consciously'. Indosole was a Bali-only thing till people partnered up to bring it into Singapore, and we obviously get free shipping within the country. Recycling tires into slippers isn't new. Indosole simply has great branding and snazzy marketing — "Soles with Soul".

Y giggled as she confessed how she was drawn to the brand's ad on IG. Teeeeeheheheh. She warned me not to wear it out too long during the first wear because the width of the strap across the soles might not fit the feet too well initially and might bite. I heeded her warning. It wasn't too bad for me. I slathered wax across the edges of the strap. Not much bite there. Importantly, these Indosole waterproof slides have rubber soles (made from waste tires) and slight arch support that's kind to my feet's high arches. Love it!

Now Missy FOMO. Haha. She wants one too. 

Rain Boots

The dog doesn't need a raincoat or boots (only if her paws are injured). She's toilet-trained on grass and doesn't mind the rain or puddles. She happily trots out in a drizzle. She doesn't dawdle though. She goes straight out to pee, and if she has poop, poop. I realized that her outer coat is fairly rain resistant. Once she shakes off those droplets and I towel her down, she's relatively dry. She's a small dog, so only a tiny towel is required, not even a bath towel. There isn't a need to use the hairdryer. Ah the joys of a double coated dog!

The NEA weather app has been wonderful in its forecast, and showing the movement of rain clouds and the intensity of rain expected. Obviously if it's storming, we stay in. The dog can hold her pee. The storm will pass after an hour or so, or it slackens. There will always be a break in the rain. We'll wait. If I can deal with the intensity of the rain, so can the dog. However, this human isn't as water-resistant as the dog. I don a raincoat and a cap to go out, but the shoes are an issue. Sneakers don't cut it. Rubber boots are needed to traipse through rain and rain-soaked muddy fields.

Groaned when I realized that the three pairs of Wellies I own are sitting the friends' cupboards in Seattle and London. I hadn't had the foresight to ship a pair back home for this monsoon season. The shops here don't sell Wellies if I wanted them stat. The knee-high boots are too warm for Singapore, even though we're at 25dC this season. A low-cut version would be more practical. Had to settle for this pair from Melissa. Went out that day to buy them, and the boots were promptly put to use for the dog's evening walk.

As expected, these rubber boots from Melissa aren't as well-designed or comfortable as Hunter Wellies, but they will do. I'm not wearing them out for the whole day. Socks are still needed though. The boots chafe my ankles and pinch the toes a bit. I doubt they would expand. At least there's some sort of cushioning for the soles and heels. The boots fulfill their intended purpose. It's easy to clean off mud and grime. I'll live. However, once the festive season is over and the postal service is less busy, I'm getting those Hunter Wellies to come in for the next round of rains.

A Bum Bag!

Walking Choya requires some items to be brought along. I have lightweight cotton totes to sling over the shoulder. They do the job fine. But as we move into monsoon season, I was hoping for a water-resistant hands-free bag. My current crossbody bags aren't exactly water-resistant, and the Freitag is too big. However, on some rainy days, a light raincoat with pockets is more practical. If it rains any heavier, the dog won't want to get out to be soaked anyway. Hahaha.

Found a hands-free option when I was randomly walking through the mall. I don't quite dig the color, but it isn't unoffensive. The Herschel hip pack seems practical. Haha, yes, however it's designed, it's called a 'fanny pack'. These bags are back in fashion now I suppose. I'm calling it 'bum bag'. Whatever it is called, it frees up my hands to control the leash, and it stays on my ass while I pick up poop and wipe the dog's butt. Then I don't have to contend with a swinging bag on my shoulder.

Packed stuff in for the evening walk when it was drizzling. The bum bag carries the poop bags and wipes fine, along with the phone and estate access card. It also fits a water bottle and a tiny collapsible bowl. Best. The man was ridiculously tickled and kept calling it a 'fanny pack', saying that he'd never carry one. Okay lor. I'm using it anyway. It's really practical. I only carry the bum bag when I'm walking the dog, i.e, I'd be in gym gear. That combination doesn't look that bad what.

This Pair of Red Shoes

Attended J and I's wedding reception that night. It was the after-party for the formal dinner, which made it perfect for us to pop by after a concert. Held at a chic al fresco hotel bar, the wedding couple provided light bites and cocktails. We knew a fair number of people, and we were mainly there to wish the couple well. It was a very enjoyable hour.

I didn't turn up at the after-party in jeans lah. It was a celebratory occasion after all. Found a casual dress that was perfect for the humidity of a Singapore night. Shook the dust off of an old pair of red slingbacks. I've had them for years...... almost to 20 years. I picked them up from a tiny store somewhere in a small village in Tuscany, Italy. The brand name has worn off and I don't recall things like that. I can't remember which village—either Orvieto or Pitigliano. It was a loooong road trip through the region.

I've re-soled them twice, but that's all I did to it. The leather, and especially those thin strips and its buckle, held steady. It's not as if I only wear them on special occasions. They're not super expensive; the splotch of red complements many of my monochrome hues. I'm honestly stunned by how durable the leather is, and how tight the stitches are. They've held up to many wearings. Wow. The low heels made them a rather comfortable pair to stand and walk in. I almost threw them out a few months back. Now, it feels too sentimental to do so. LOL I shall just keep them around and wear them till they fall apart.

A Jolly Brolly Blouse

Sweet Y passed me a most precious gift of a one-off MissyMessy blouse. She has named the fabric design as a 'Jolly Brolly', and it's a little girl's dress in the shop. The dear friend and her mother-in-law has sewn me a special blouse in my adult size every year for my birthday. 😍

This year's precious gift was hung up and hoarded for a few months in the wardrobe before I finally wore it. Well, I wanted the first wearing to be an 'occasion' of sorts. Wore it to the opening weekend at SIFA, and a number of subsequent shows. (Of course I laundered it. It dries fast in this heat.) Hahahah. Depending on the weather and how light I want my bag to be, I'll either wear it like this, or with a camisole underneath. It looks much better without a camisole because of the cut-in flaps at the back.

I dunno how Y gets the measurements down pat. I never needed alteration of any sort on my MissyMessy blouses. She has never taken my measurements either. She assumed! My 'Jolly Brolly' blouse is sewn from a fabric of a whimsical pattern and suited many moods, matching many bottoms and accessories to either keep it casual or dress it up. Importantly, it's comfortable and fits perfectly over the shoulders and at the waist. I love it loads!

Turned 41

While I like the idea of the get-up being separates, with its top easy and its wide-legged voluminous pants keeping me mobile, I was highly skeptical of the red swirls. However, the large swathes of white keep it rather palatable.

I would also have to wear heels with it since I didn't want the pants to be altered. The pants could be matched with other white tops, and the blouse would match jeans. I could wear this set a few times; they would also be useful separate. I stood in front of the mirror for a long time. I would also have to comb my hair. Hmmm. But Ying convinced me to give the ensemble a go. So I did.

Ying The Label named the separates 'Simple Joy Top' and 'Free your Mind Pants'. These clothes are well-stitched and the fabric falls nicely around the bust and hips. I felt rather floaty in it. If I'm obligated to turn up at events, and somehow new clothes are needed, I tend to buy clothes from Singapore designers. Our local designers will always have that few pieces that I can wear and carry it off without looking like a clown.

The set sat in my wardrobe for seven months. I finally wore this top and pants this year to a lo-hei tea thingy, and later on dinner. The red makes it super appropriate for the festive season, and white balances out my need for simplicity. The girlfriends laughed like crazy and said I could wear this out to the usual National Day events, and in fact, I could wear it every year since it's such a classic, and it would then justify the purchase. Ha. Ha. Ha. 🙄

Today I turned forty-one. I'm comfortable in my own skin. I always seek peace in my heart, and pray for strength and wisdom in understanding God's hand in my life. Come what may, this feels wonderful.

A Floral Romper

My wardrobe is made up of whites, blacks and blues; I'm not into any sort of fashion aesthetics beyond checking out their utilitarian value. To be honest, I've never understood how a new dress would make me happy. I find dresses cumbersome because they're absolutely impractical for a street brawl. I'm pretty much a jeans and tee girl.

I don't quite like buying clothes just for an occasion or to attend an event. I'd rather not go. Hahaha. New clothes are bought when they're needed (say I tear a hole in a top or when it's too worn), not for their aesthetic value. There's literally nothing to pare down in my wardrobe since it's still standing at half empty. Yes, the space includes all the bags I now own (pared down from all the unnecessary ones) and will use regularly. I'm not having bags sit on the shelves so that they're taken out only once or twice a year. All my wardrobes in the various homes lived in have always been half empty since I was a teen; I have no problems keeping it that way. 

Wearing cheongsams for lunar new year really isn't my thing. Modern cheongsams are refreshing, but often I'm not into the cut or the fabric prints. Cheongsams are literally worn once or twice a year. They're just not very me. So I tend to give them away after a few months. I learn not to buy them anymore. I keep some (namely those in grey, black, white and blue), but I think they'll disintegrate before they see the light of day again. 

This lunar new year, at the last house visit, it just happened that we girls were dressed in complementary designs and colors. For the festive season lor! Since we managed to catch one another in time, of course a group photo was in order. Always lovely to see these familiar faces and big smiles.

I've worn Dorothy's clothes for many years. Her old rompers didn't fit me. (Too short and ridiculously tight at the crouch, and no pockets.) But her new romper design does- she pulled the crouch longer, and made pockets. So I bought one, in this most unlikely fabric swirl from Dotted Line. Honestly, I'm not sure I'll wear it again. LOL I tend to shy away from florals and such. But I suppose it doesn't hurt to have them. Although I do chuck them out after two  or three wears because I just can't stand the florals and colors. (I don't even like cut flowers or potted plants.) My dresses tend not to have many embellishments, folds or frills. I cannot deal with extras. 

The romper made me a little dizzy. I felt damn awkward in it, but at least I didn't look like a walking angpow. I couldn't deal with the entire block of florals and decided that a swathe of black was needed to break it up. I put a belt across the waist. It was great- movement isn't restricted at all. The romper's fabric is thin and didn't induce buckets of perspiration in this sweltering heat and humidity.

Jordan & Joan's Wedding

I was happy to attend Jordan and Joan's church wedding, a date which had been blocked out earlier in my calendar, even before they found a church to officiate it. (This is my one and only wedding attended for 2018.) But I was gonna skip out on the fancy luncheon. Oof. However, the couple beat me to the words because they cleverly asked me to be co-emcee for it, in Mandarin. WIN LOR. Liddat how to say no??!

Decided to complement the bridesmaids' color code since it wasn't too difficult. Joan was a darling. She knows my quirks and didn't care about what I wear because she's a really chill bride, and knew that I'd wear something suitable. In the end, I went to Love Bonito (the bridesmaids bought their dresses from the boutique, in powder blue) to pick a dress in a darker blue (the brand calls the color 'seafoam'), a hue closer to grey, and in a design of which I'd wear again.

My co-emcee is S, whose sense of humor is extremely difficult to translate into Mandarin. Well, not that I need to, unless it's essential information that the ballroom should be aware of. S doesn't use an emcee script either. Of course we have a program, notes and such at any event. He's cool doing off-the-cuff. I'm not inflexible, but I need an emcee script, regardless of language. I need visual keywords to link up to the rest of the phrases necessary. Also, S is tall, which necessitates me being in heels whenever I have to stand next to him in an official work or social capacity. 🙄 Standing around for nine hours in heels isn't my idea of fun. I brought flats. Those were an absolute lifesaver.

It doesn't matter that the man and I had separate duties to attend to at this wedding. (He was part of the party of groomsmen, and had to be up and about by 4.30am.) I was fine on my own. I knew the families, I knew the friends. The familiarity makes it worthwhile. Importantly, I've known the newlyweds for a decade, and they're people I see often for meals, gigs and random outings. I was comfortable. The friendships made it unnecessary to schmooze very much.

Our warmest wishes, Jordan and Joan. Gluten-and-dairy-free food can be so delicious. Find 'em right kinds. Like your fav 'har cheong gai' from Ban Leong. But stop with the tapau please. Start using that gorgeous kitchen of yours. 😉🥂

Red, White & Blue

Ran smack into my dinner date when I exited a store. She was just stepping off the escalator. What good timing! We were supposed to meet at the restaurant! Then I started laughing. It’s gotta be slightly more than serendipity when we turned up in matching colors and an exact fit in how we chose to wear them.

We were both in white tops paired with jeans of different hues. I had wanted to carry a maroon bag out in the morning, but that was stashed so deep in the wardrobe that I gave up and took this more accessible light brown. If I had brought that out, it would be picture perfect! For some reason, instead of our usual casual flats and loafers or track shoes, she was in a jaunty pair of slightly more formal flats with a pom. She totally intended that to match her bag. It was a work day for me, so I was in heels. And we rarely wear pointy shoes! Wheeeeee!

Both of us like our wardrobes more functional than frilly. Okay she can do frills better. She doesn’t mind lace and eyelets and such, and she has the height to pull off many more styles. So it was kinda randomly fun that we chose this entire combination without prior discussion! Hahaha. I forgot to ask, but we were both likely to have been dragged out to National Day observance ceremonies and celebrations at the office (separately). Still. I’m sure our outfits had nothing to do complementing the upcoming National Day. There’re a thousand ways to wear red and white, and we hilariously picked a similar style. Hurhurhur.

Alo Yoga Leggings!

New leggings! My first pair from Alo Yoga! I’ve been curious about it, but never got around to getting any item from the brand. I've been erm...pretty loyal to Lululemon, especially now that I keep finding very decent items on the sale rack.

The darling girlfriend bought me this pair of new leggings from Alo Yoga, and I loved it that she got it during the sale. I’d have hated for her to spend more money on it than necessary. Of course she would know my size and what sort of designs I’d pick. Hehehehe. She’s very clever.

Put the pair of new leggings through its paces. First wearing at pilates. No pinching, no strange slipping off of equipment, and not too warm. They held up great. I wouldn't wear this pair for HIIT or cardio classes though. It's a tad thick, so it's perfect for pilates and stretch classes, and to wear out for a short bit before or after. My leggings are often worn for at least half a day, so they need to be comfortable. I prefer them slightly loose. Not a fan of compression tights.

Grinned when people went ballistic over Honor Jones's comment in The New York Times titled 'Why Yoga Pants Are Bad for Women' published on February 17, 2018. They kinda rejected her statement that women wear yoga pants "because they are sexy". It's an op-ed, so the writer is entitled to her opinion. However, the writer ought to try doing a pincha or a scorpion with wide-legged thick sweatpants and see if she likes it. Or grunt through box jumps with sweatpants.

Sure, in winter, I'd pull sweatpants over leggings. But once I'm in the studio or the gym, it's all warm enough indoors with air-conditioning and heating. I live in the tropics where leggings are perfect in this heat and humidity while offering full coverage for the purposes of modesty. I'm not actually sure I find yoga pants sexy. LOL. I definitely pick fairly boring designs. Sweatpants are hugely impractical for burpees and uhhhh sweat. I mean, they're heavy, and after they absorb sweat, they're heavier. If you're changing out of said sweatpants after the exercise class, imagine how your gym bag would smell after. Eiooowwww.

Here are two paragraphs towards the end of Honor Jones's not too long NYT article that are the most controversial to a certain group of...women. Remember, it's an op-ed, designed for the newspaper's readers to increase interaction with the digital platform to raise their stats.

All of this turns working out from a healthy thing you might do twice a week into a Way of Life, where $120 leggings are more necessity than extravagance. Consider the way that these fancy exercise clothes have spread from the gym to the street, essentially outfitting women for every activity beyond white-collar work. Consider the way the step-counting Fitbit turns every errand into exercise. When yoga pants are the first thing grown women put on every morning, we can’t help absorbing the message that staying fit is our No. 1 purpose in life. 

Women can, of course, be fit and liberated. We may be able to conquer the world wearing spandex. But wouldn’t it be easier to do so in pants that don’t threaten to show every dimple and roll in every woman over 30?