Wednesday 29 May 2013

A Reimagining of Pretty Things…

I love the relationships we make (Admittedly not always face to face, but through the keyboard!) of Ribbon and Roses customers all around the world. Here is one of our more creative, loyal ones! xx


I completely adore Ribbon & Roses and have purchased many items, often the same item in different colours. My sense of style is very much about pairing the feminine and sweet, such as a pretty blouse, with more uniform and robust wardrobe staples, such as long cargo shorts or a favourite pair of jeans.


Having purchased both a navy and a white butterfly blouse, I decided that I would love one in a lovely shade of pastel blue. I bought another in white and set about dying it to my desired colour. The pictures show how wonderful my little project turned out. The embroidery on the blouse has kept its light, while the fabric itself took the dye bath beautifully. The contrast really enhances this beautiful blouse.


 
 




I also love the soft cotton embroidered blouse and tunic dress. Unfortunately the dress is a little short for me and my liking so I set about lengthening it to tea dress length. Using a second dress, I added to the hemline of the first. I even made a beautiful soft belt to cinch in the waist. This was achieved using some of the chiffon-like interior slip of the dress itself.






Not to waste any remaining material from dress number two, I turned this into another blouse as can be seen in the photos. For something a little different, I dyed it china blue. Of course I already have this blouse in white!




A little tinker here, a small adjustment there, a little thinking outside the box and my lovely Ribbon & Roses wardrobe includes a few extra special exclusive items designed by me!

Lots of Love

Melinda


Melinda’s top 3 things in life would be,  (in no particular order)


 My beautiful boys. They keep me young and we have so much fun together.


 The three "Fs" : Family, friends and faith.
Next would be taking the time to smell the roses. Such a difficult thing to find the time to just be still in this hectic world.


 

Monday 13 May 2013

Get to know the lady behind the Changmoh keyboard....

Questions for Changmoh:
For those who haven’t come across Changmoh yet… please give a little summery and what gave you the inspiration to set up the blog.
It’s a blog about me living in Singapore and invariably local (but sometimes not) things I’ve come across that I love! I was inspired to write a blog after a dinner party of friends encouraged me to.

What makes a positive constructive day in the life of Changmoh?
I suppose it would start with a training session with Hayati at Alpha Fit, (which I hate at the time, but quite like afterwards) then perhaps a spot of writing which I am doing now on a freelance basis for a few magazines (I’d love more of it…so if you’re an editor and reading this…look me up!). Lunch would be with my five year old daughter whose school finishes at the ridiculously early time of 11.30am.  The afternoon is taken up with activities like trips to the botanics, the zoo, sticky picnics involving disgusting things like ‘hundreds and thousands’ sandwiches and so on.
 

Tell us your best beauty secret.
Cinderella nails, level 5 of Far East Plaza, $5 OPI manicures!

Best ever fashion purchase and why?
A DVF retro printed, sleeveless dress with a handkerchief hemline that I can wear to black tie parties, Ascot (with a hat) or…to the beach.

Clothing wise, what could you not live without?
Shorts! I live in them out here

How to you reward yourself at the end of a busy day.
It used to be chocolate which I’ve recently given up. I want to say wine. Yes, wine…and maybe a game of mahjong with some girlfriends.
 

What is your Favourite (fashion)Online Shop?
My-wardrobe.com – I even got my father on to it and he managed to buy me some Ash ankle boots for my birthday.

What’s your Guilty pleasure?
Weekly manicures (hence important discovery of Cinderalla Nails)

Shoes or Bags?
Bags 100%.  Here you kick off your shoes as soon as you set foot in someone’s house so you can get away with almost anything.

How would you characterise your own fashion style? 
Eclectic; hopefully wearing what suits me whether or not it’s in season. Invariably it’s not.

Do you shop on the high street, if so where? 
Yup. Love a bit of High Street bargain hunting.  If I’m back in the UK, I definitely visit Primark and Topshop. Here I’m a Shopping at Tiffany’s gal or M&S for basics, but I tend to buy most of my clothes when I’m overseas.

Tell us a shop (fashion ) secret you have discovered here in Singapore and why you love it.  
It would have to be the great handbags from Ghim Moh market (last shop on the lhs as you face the market, under a blue awning near the playgound). Seriously!

Who do you think dresses well in the public eye?
Olivia Palermo

What would your ideal Saturday consist of? 
Tanglin Club for lunch and a swim, dinner out with friends, maybe at Bedrock (my favourite) or here at home for a BBQ

And finally what's the best bit of advice you’ve been given? 
Worry less, laugh more.

Changmoh's 3 favourite things: 
My girl
and 2 boys xx

Sunday 5 May 2013

Visiting India

We love customer feedback and after an amazing sounding trip to India, Lydia put pen to paper for us!
 
Last month my husband and I travelled to India to visit friends and complete the Golden Triangle circuit through Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.  Excited as I was, it quickly became clear that my Singapore wardrobe of shorts, sundresses and tank tops wouldn’t fit the bill for the more conservative dress in northern India. After a frustrating day on Orchard Road left me void of any appropriate clothing, I happily recalled a Ribbon and Roses event I attended last year and immediately jumped on the website. One visit to Marina a few days later and I was set!
 
 
 


All of the items that Marina helped me choose were not only perfect for India, but also beautifully made and versatile enough for almost any climate. Paired with jeans, shorts, leggings and cardigans, I look forward to wearing them on trips home to the US as well as on future holidays in SE Asia.

 


One unexpected but fun anecdote from the trip was that my friend in India quickly fell in love with my Ribbon and Roses items. When I returned to Singapore, Marina very kindly helped replicate my previous shopping trip, which I boxed up and sent to India. My friend (who has since received the box) is relishing her new items, and we both enjoy the thought of our shared wardrobe being worn in such different parts of the world!

 

Lots of Love
Lydia
 
Lydia's 3 favourite things: 
Making memories with Jon
Morning cups of coffee
Travel