Ola amigos! Hope all is well with you. :)

Over the weekend, I went on a window shopping spree with the best buddy and wound up with a myriad of photos for (yes you guessed it), another Inside the Dressing Room post! We were on the hunt for dresses for her upcoming dinner and formal/work clothes for my new job.



To our delight, H&M rolled out some affordable pieces and we found ourselves with armloads of clothes to try on. I was also in Brands Outlet a couple of weeks back and tried on a couple of items as well.

Let's get right into it!

Item #1: Quilted formal black flared skirt from H&M, RM39 (sale!)

I immediately picked up this classic, versatile piece from the sales rack in a size L. The quilted material is extremely stretchy and comfy, great to pair with a simple white tee.

Item #2: Beachy crossback striped dress from H&M, RM79

All hail the stripes! I saw this piece on a mannequin and literally went on a hunt for it (Size L). Alas, it fit well around the chest area but I felt that the waistline was a bit too low on me. Would still have bought it if I had the $$$ though. Way too adorable to pass up!


































Item #3: Feline printed top from H&M, RM59 (super super love)

You're gonna hear me roarrrr...I can't get over how amazing this top is (Size L)! It was made with a thick structured fabric and would be perfect paired for work AND play. Sadly, the top was a bit out of my price range but I'm heading back with my next paycheck. Wait for me!

Item #4: Mint Green Flared Dress from H&M, RM39.90

Upon realising that I need more colour in my wardrobe, I felt obligated to try this out in a size L. It fit extremely well and would definitely suit all kinds of occasions. Throw on a denim jacket OR a black blazer - outfit complete!

Item #5: Grey Flared Dress from H&M, RM39.90

Essentially the same design as Item 4, but in a work-appropriate colour palette. What a steal!

Item #6: Blue printed skinny slacks from Brands Outlet, RM49.90

I had never been able to fit into Brands Outlet's slacks/jeans range (Size 10), so I was pleasantly surprised when I tried this on! Subtle, barely there prints add to the overall semi-casual vibe of the slacks.

Item #7: Dark blue printed formal shirt from Brands Outlet, RM49.90 (RM69.90 for 2)

Of late, I'm drawn to loud printed shirts and this was right up my alley in a size 10. It would go well with black slacks or a pencil skirt and pumps. Easy peasy!

And that brings us to the end of this post. I have stockpiled a few posts to revive this blog, and would definitely look into investing in some lighting/camera equipment for better photos. Do leave a comment to tell me what you think - your feedback is welcome here! :)

Thanks so much for reading and see you soon. Happy shopping! xx

Hello & Happy Lunar New Year 2014 to those who are celebrating! This was a rather quiet new year in my opinion, perhaps largely due to the rising costs of living and inflation.

Nevertheless, the New Year is the best opportunity to reconcile with relatives, spread cheer & joy, and of course, collect red packets.

For me, it is also the best excuse to whip on some traditional outfits (ie: the Cheongsam or Qi Pao)!

Pink Cheongsam from Oriental Noble, Sunway Pyramid, RM100+

Nude wedges from Ti Amo, RM59

Clutch from Padini, RM42

Not gonna lie...I've always been petrified of Cheongsams. The form-fitting material and cutting guarantees that every little flaw will be exposed whether you like it or not. 

But this year, I conquered my fears.

For the first reunion dinner with my maternal grandparents at a fancy restaurant, I donned this pink flowery Cheongsam which belongs to my elder sister. Not sure about the exact price but I'm guessing it costs RM100+. 

I paired it with nude wedges and a pink clutch from Padini. Also, so sorry about the blurry picture!

Grey T-Shirt from H&M, £5

Military Shorts from Brands Outlet, RM39.90

For the second, home-cooked reunion dinner at my paternal grandfather's place, I went with shorts and a T-Shirt for comfort. Tucked in the T-Shirt to expose the gold studs on the military shorts.

White Cheongsam from Oriental Noble, RM259

Dong dong qiang! On the first day of CNY, I wore this white Cheongsam with burgundy embriodered flowers. I loved the traditional buttons running down the side, creating a more streamlined and slimmed silhouette.

Cheongsam girls!

Paired it with blood red lips (Revlon's Colorburst Lipstick in True Red) and eyeliner (but you can't see it in this photo).

Cheongsams are certainly not an everyday necessity - however if you wish to take the leap and invest in one for future wedding dinners/formal occasions, it's still not too late! Here's some resources to purchase plus-sized Cheongsams online:

1. Femme Elegante
2. Beauty Myth
3. Miracle Mall
4. GC Fashion Online

Hope you enjoyed reading, and have a very prosperous new year! :)

Love,
Mabel.

Gong xi fa cai! :) 

Apart from Christmas - the Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year is my absolute favourite time of the year. Red money packets, savoury cookies, free flow of alcohol...what's not to love? 

And as tradition calls for, a new year often poses a reason for a new you. But like many others, I quickly realised that I hadn't much time left to hit the stores.

Thus, I decided to put together a few outfits from my wardrobe to usher in the new year - no extra money spent! There's no harm in recycling outfits, as long as you switch up the styling, no one may even notice ;)

Top: Cotton On, RM30
Shorts: H&M UK, £5

 Flats: Vincci, RM20

Bracelet: thrifted, RM20

If you don't believe in the superstition of wearing black in the new year, welcome to the club. Nothing screams CNY like tones of gold & red - and this ensemble is something I would wear to a reunion dinner at a relative's house.

The sequinned sleeves are slightly dressy, yet toned down by the nude shorts. Fit for a casual setting especially if things get a little crowded and humid.

 Jacket: Independent Boutique, RM39
Neon dress: H&M UK, £7

Heels: Walk In, RM42

Belt: Primark UK, £2

For the first or second day of new year, feel free to bust out the pinks and reds! This neon dress is much too loud to wear on regular days, but I think its just perfect for CNY. If your family is more conservative, the puffy jacket adds formality to tone down the look just a notch.

 Dress: Padini, RM40

Wedges: Ti Amo, RM49

Gold Belt: thrifted, RM10

Of course, you can't celebrate CNY without stepping out in red and gold. I wore this outfit a few years back - with the exception of the gold belt. The cotton dress is perfectly breathable and endlessly practical especially if you're going to be collecting ang paus from house to house.

Learn how to do a chopstick chignon here!

Hi-Lo Dress: Cotton On, RM30

Belt: Independent Boutique, RM15

Heels: Padini, RM42 

In case you hadn't realised already - I'm all for flowery patterned dresses especially during the festive season. This Hi-Lo dress was an absolute bargain from Cotton On Online, and it is perfect for sit-down lou sang dinners when you want to look a bit more dressed up.

Top: Cotton On, RM15

Skirt: Cotton On, RM15

Flats: Forever 21, RM49

Hair Bow: Chameleon, RM3.90

Finally, greeting visitors can be a tiring affair. I'd throw on a cotton skirt and simple top which is comfortable yet not too homey. Add a hair bow and you're good to go!

This post was inspired by the Click Network's latest video on CNY Fashion by The F Word. :)
My latest fashion inspiration icon: Wendy's Lookbook

Thanks so much for reading! I hope this post gave you some styling ideas for the upcoming festive season. Do leave me a comment telling me what YOU would wear for CNY. Wishing you a very happy New Year & happy holidays!

Love,
Mabel.