Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Dazzle


I sometimes feel like a dichotomy, because if possible, I would spend half of my time swathed in high tech workout gear (oh spandex, my love) and the other half in evening wear. Everything in between is really not as interesting...

Unfortunately, I can think of only a few lifestyles for which this is possible (trophy wife, hostess, beauty pageant contestant) and none appeal. Kind of a pity, I have the perfect shape for highly structured evening gowns... a girl can dream, right?

Anyhooo, returning to reality. Everyone deserves a bit of dazzle from time to time... especially if it is inexpensive!

My favorite nail style is this dipped-in-gold look. When I lived in London my awesome nailist came up with several different variations on this style, and I had them on heavy rotation. I am currently being the guinea pig (but a guinea pig with faaabulous nails) for a nailist-in-training, so it is cheap! For professional and koto-related reasons I cannot have overly long, heavily decorated nails, but somehow I only feel properly dressed if I have some shine on my hands... Man, have I acculturated or what? 笑


I have some issues finding shoes that not only fit, but that I also like. Everything in 25cm seems to be either earthmothery, grandmotherly, or just too plain for words. Thank god for Singapore and its huge expat community. I found these adorable creations in Bugis, and am very pleased. I mean really, there are bows on the bows!

The rainy season has begun, along with a slew of work events I have to organize, confirm, attend and generally fuss about. Hopefully there can also be some time for fun in there as well!

7 comments:

  1. Hi!

    I've been reading your blog for a while and love all the beautiful food and fashion adventures you write about ^_^ Those nails are gorgeous!!

    Sorry to ask this so suddenly but... I'll be heading back to Japan on a university exchange from December this year and have a huge love for hougaku. I would love to make the most of my time there and take koto lessons but I haven't managed to find much info online (in English or Japanese)... I was wondering how you began playing the koto? Did you start going to lessons once in Japan? If so, can you recommend any schools that are great for beginners?

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    1. Hello and welcome Amelia!

      I started playing koto at a shrine, through a cultural internship, and then was given a grant to study it further.
      I would recommend you check out your universities clubs, it is very likely there will be a hougaku club. As for private lessons, there are several different schools of koto, so you should figure out which school's repertoire you like best. In Kanto the Ikuta ryu's Miyagi School and Sawai School are the major ones.

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    2. Thank you for the info!

      I didn't know it was possible to do cultural internships before but it sounds like an amazing experience! I'll check with the university first then and ask around perhaps :)

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  2. Yes, it's official, you and your nails have acclimatized fully. :D

    My idea of evening wear is black Levi's instead of my usual blue Levi's, but I still enjoy looking at stunning evening gowns from a safe distance. Those shoes, however, oh, I could easily steal those shoes ...

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  3. lovelovelove the gold tip nails! is that you in the first pic?? you look so glam!! what was the photo/occasion??

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  4. I also returned to ask that very same question: Is that you in the first photo? 美人です!

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    1. Hi Sarah Marie and Rurousha, that is indeed me. I got some taken for a unpaid modelling gig, which I am now going to use and try to find occasional extra/ad work :)

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