Vintage Reclamation | CNY

Hey readers!

So whether or not you're living in my area of the world, I'm sure you'd have heard it's the Lunar New Year. Just saying, I'm perfectly happy to be chinese, although I do admit sometimes I forget that I'm chinese (I mean, speaking English pretty much 24/7 and having lost touch with the language since a year ago). Chinese New Year, or as I will affectionately term it, CNY, is one of the most awesome occasions/holidays ever, especially because of the food. Pineapple tarts, bak kwa, roasted cashews, salted egg butter cookies, tapioca chips etc. Oh drools. 

Anyway, this year I've done something different for my CNY; it's what I'd like to claim as vintage reclamation. So last year end I went for a short trip to Japan and had a haul of vintage stuff from the thrift store there, one of the pieces being a midi (or maxi for the uh petite ones) dress with a bishop raglan sleeve. I tried it on and it felt so old, both literally and in terms of the age at which someone might be seen wearing it, so when I brought it back I knew I wanted to edit it somehow cause after all I really liked the print and the colour. And not to mention, I have a terrible habit of not wanting to take a photo of the original piece whenever I do DIY-ing, so here are pictures to show the piece now at least :)

(Yes, photoshoot time.)

I particularly loved the styling for this outfit as it seemed to all just fall into place nicely, although it's probably ironic that for a CNY outfit I'm taking on a vintage style since people usually anticipate and love buying their new clothes just for the Lunar New Year. Doesn't matter to me really, DIY-ing makes my clothes re-newed + perfectly unique => fabulous, as summed up by my first picture.

Honestly, the most time consuming part of this DIY session was probably the beading. Now I know why embellished stuff are so expensive; it takes time (and bruised fingers).

To describe my styling for this outfit, it's definitely be along the lines of my own take on vintage. The trendy halter neck style dress meets the bold prints that function both on the vintage side and the modern. The complementary blue-green and cool silver beads against the red of the dress add a different dynamic without clashing. Shoes were self-explanatory: cut-out brogues take a fresh spin on the vintage look too. Tortoise-shell sunglasses? Check. Ladies' bag? Check. And not to mention, the simple studs kept the look young, so no over dramatised accessorising to take the attention away from the beading. 

Decided that hair-wise I was always slacking off by just letting it down, so I tried to be vaguely more hardworking this time round. Nah, just kidding, a messy dutch braid was all it took to neaten the look. In terms of make up, I did my usual eyebrows and brown cat-eye, but this time round, I tried a darkish lip so as to balance out my face with the strong print of my dress. 

What I'm Wearing: Vintage DIY Dress, ASOS Marzie Leather Cut-Out Brogues, Metal Detail Bag from Hong Kong, Studs (own), Tortoiseshell Sunglasses from Japan, Estee Lauder Hot Kiss Shimmer Kipstick

Have a blessed CNY! :)

Much Love, 

Jubitai

The Minimalist Pursuit

Hey readers!

Haven't blogged in a mega long time; should be doing my work now, but decided I could afford to take some time out to blog today. Plus I recently got these gorgeous brogues from Shoecult by Nastygal; well, I needed new shoes cause my two old pairs of creepers are dying out like dinosaurs. Plus another few buys from Feistheist (love their minimalism btw)~

Today I've gotta go out again, so may as well do a mini-shoot eh :)

Pretty informal, but here's to an awesome #ootd :) Ignore the bedhead I slept with wet hair :( 

What I'm Wearing: Feist Heist White Mimosa Blouse, Bershka Skinny Jeans, Nasty Gal Charlie Oxfords, Forever 21 Silver Rings and Tear Drop Necklace

Makeup: Did my brows, dabs of concealer, a subtle cat eye with brown eyeliner, and staining my lips with sephora matte red lipstick

I personally really like the idea of staining one's lips cause it adds a subtle pop of colour without going overboard for daily wear, though someday I do want to wear my (full-blown) dark purple lipstick out. 

Hope you've enjoyed the outfit in this post, cause I'm loving' it; always keeping in mind comfort + style + class.

Love, Jubitai

When Inspiration Hits | Music

Hey readers!

I've been wanting to update my blog for so so so long, but haven't gotten down to it cause photoshoots just take so long, especially since I don't have a photographer as of yet (I rely on self-timers); it' super time consuming. But that aside, today, inspiration hit and I wrote a song :)

Watch the vid below to check it out!

I know I'm still quite raw at this, so do pardon any mistakes/nonsensical lyrics and stuff (especially the last part :( )! Meanwhile here're the lyrics for you to follow while watching the vid~ 

Here's What I'm Not

Verse 1:

I'm not just here for your entertainment, your clown of five years

I'm not just here; your thrill ride seeker, dream spurrer

I'm not just here to take your burdens 

Here's what I'm not, not for your mere expectations

Chorus:

Here are my thoughts of little consequence which may not mean a thing to you

Here are my overridden voices taking centerstage, take the mike from you

I'm drawing the veil, breaking the heart ache,

You left in your wreckage

Verse 2:

I'm not just here; your wine glass partner, turn the corner

and I'll be there no matter how or why

I'm not just here to take your burdens 

Here's what I'm not, not for your mere expectations

[Chorus]

Bridge:

I wasn't kidding when I said promises are meant for keeping

I wasn't kidding when I said forever is forever

I wasn't kidding when I said promises are meant for keeping

I wasn't kidding when I said promises are meant for keeping

[Chorus]

What I'm Wearing: F21 Velvet Skater Dress, Sephora Matte Red Lipstick

And as usual, the happy shots to end off!

Much love,

Jubitai

Vulnerable | Salvaged

Hi readers! 

Haven't blogged in a long long time/

This whole "holiday" has been crazy packed and I've already fallen sick twice within a single month. Feeling somewhat terrible even as I blog right now. Anyway, just did this shoot yesterday, and right after which I got a fever and slept so much I got tired of sleeping. Sadly, the shoot turned out not as great as I hoped for it to be, and I had to salvage what I could this morning. Then again, I'm somewhat enjoying the vintage grainy feel of the shots after editing.

I just felt like this song echoed this shoot. A Great Big World and Aguilera's voices complement each other really well; they're beautifully haunting and vulnerable in song. That was exactly it: the vulnerability which reflected the sentiments of my shoot. 



There's that certain sense of solitude and guarded vulnerability. I wonder, maybe, if you know the feeling when you're so made-up and trim on the outside, so gelled together without a single thing out of place, yet you're crumbling down inside. Well, it's been happening to me. Ironically, whilst others may get confidence out of their looks, sometimes I feel downright terrible when I dress up and I lose my self-assurance. Even more ironic that I call myself a fashion-art blogger on my Instagram profile. It hasn't always been like that though; might also be the result of a myriad of things happening so far and a few of my own heart issues like my oxymoronic tendency to push people away the more I favour them (only some people, not all my close friends of course). Perhaps it was good for me to have fallen sick yesterday, gave me quite a bit of time to chew up the big pieces of heart issues and think 'em through. Therefore, letting some things go and I'll be on the road to physical and emotional recovery. Haha but don't get me wrong, I'm not depressed or anything, just overworked in my physical/emotional capacity for the moment. Here I am, with my little slice of vulnerability.

What I'm wearing: Pale Pink Hi-Neck Dress purchased from Carousell, Purple Vintage Ruffle Maxi Skirt from Hong Kong (thrifted)

Sorry about the lack of happy pictures to end off for this post~

 (Still with) Much love, 

Jubitai

DIY | Kimono Kraze

Hey readers!

I guess I caught on to the Kimono craze, and I DIYed my own Kimono Outerwear. Materials weren't that cheap at Arab Street with the printed cloth going at $10/m and the inner lining material at $5/m, but I guess still better than heading to spotlight. I took around 5 hours just to piece the entire kimono together from scratch, with inner lining and all; need to practice to work faster. If you guys are curious on how I did the kimono, do refer to Elle Apparel's tutorial as a reference model --- really useful!

Moving on to the exciting part: the shoot!

By the way, I was looking through the photos and I just couldn't help but laugh. I just looked like such a tree hugger in some of the photos.

What I'm Wearing: Handmade Black Floral Kimono Jacket, Black Leotard, H&M Basic Black Skater Skirt, ASOS Grey Creepers, ASOS Jewelled Hand Harness

(Btw I've posted this look on Lookbook, do help to support! It'll be much appreciated ^^)

I'd say this DIY project was definitely a success because it was the first time I bothered with inner lining and stuff, thus it was presentable before a camera. Yayers!

Other than that, I've also made a skirt out of the same material, which I may post later if I do a shoot with it or feel like it. Meanwhile, let me just flood this following part with some happiness and randomness.

i) Today was a beautiful day.

 (probably already developing some treehugger instincts huh)

ii) So many girls hope to be more beautiful in one way or another. (myself included)

ESPECIALLY the whole thigh gap thing nowadays.

So unless you want to be a tripod, stop worrying! (okay this sounds nonsensical but let me explain)

You want to show more leg?

Sure, a tripod's got three.

You want longer, bronzier, skinnier legs?

Yeah, that all falls under 'tripod' too.

I'm so bad at telling jokes that only sounds funny in my head.

iii) The light hit the crystals beautifully. No editing needed. 

Sorry for the weird format of posting today cause it's all a messy mix. Nonetheless, ending off with more happiness ^_^

<<<<<<< Happy holidays! >>>>>>

Much love, 

Jubitai