Seasonal Hair

Have just had a change in hairstyle again. I swear every time I come out of the salon I have a new cut. Seems like it’s a vicious cycle this relationship I have with short hair. I can never   grow my hair pass shoulder length probably because I lack persistence and determination to grow my hair past that annoying stage. For the time being (again), I am loving short hair.

This is probably the shortest cut I’ve had, it is a short pixie cut and to me it seems very Agyness Deyn inspired. I was absolutely in love with Agyness Deyn’s hair when she had it short a few years back. Though seemingly androgynous at first sight, it definitely grows on you and the styling opportunities are endless. And on the plus side, my hair grows at top speed so having it this short means it I can actually have a 6 week interval between hair cuts.

A common question amongst my friends is do I miss having long hair, and the answer is yes of course and I have tried clip in hair extensions, wigs and growing my hair out. After having shorter hair for nearly 6 years I am glad I plucked up the courage to get a huge chop 6 years ago. I trusted in my hairdresser at the time and we did it. Looking back now, long hair was easy and it was ordinary because I felt like I had the same long straight hair as every other Asian girl.

For those of you wanting a change from long hair,  get a mid length bob for a start, they’re easy to grow out if it doesn’t work out. Getting a change in bangs is another way of changing up a hairstyle, especially with the change in season at the moment go for a blunt fringe.  A major tip is to find a hairdresser that knows how to cut your hair and stick with them.  Trust their opinion on the cut and colour – they know what they are doing.

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Michelle

New pixe cut – thanks to Brad @ French Revolver Studio

Weekly Wrap Up

Getting back into a 5 day work week from a 7 day week wasn’t  exactly easy. Fell sick as soon as I got the chance to relax makes me want to go back to being busy again. Luckily I was able to fill my days with other non pharmacy related things.

Last weekend I attended Trish Peng’s last fashion show in New Zealand. She is definitely a talented designer and I am sure her designs will make it far in L.A.

Trends that were spotted in the collections include colour blocking in both her RTW and evening line. The colour blocking seen in the RTW is brights with neutrals and the evening line was more the mauves and olives with neutral tones.

I was also fortunate enough to be a model for one of the shows at the Industry – NZ’s premiere event that was over the weekend. It was an onstage hair seminar where each hairdresser showcased a certain technique or style.

And to end on a high note, I just booked a mid year trip to Malaysia where we’ll be doing tonnes of diving, shopping and eating.

More to update next week.

Michelle

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Review | Sebsastian Trilliance Shampoo

I have been using this amazing shampoo for about 3 months now and have just realised I have yet to review it!

I was fortunate enough to be gifted this from French Revolver Studio a while back. I have been using it most days although I do sometimes alternate it with the KMS Free Shape shampoo.

What it does

Trilliance as its name suggests is designed to bring shine and glossiness to the hair in which it most certainly does. I have and others around me have noticed that the shampoo does polish away the dullness in the hair.

At first I was a bit skeptical about using this shampoo as I haven’t had the best experience with Sebastian shampoos in general. I have used the Hydre range and for me it was just too much for my hair, it made it feel very dense and at times oily. The Trilliance range proves itself to be a light shampoo , I normally wash my hair on alternate days and it still keeps it shiny and non greasy.

Ingredients of Trilliance Shampoo: Water/Eau, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Glycol Distearate, Dimethicone, Cocamidoproyl Bethane, Sodium Citrate, Cocamide Mea, Sodium Xylensulfonate, Frangrance/ Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Salicylic Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Methylparaben, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Quartz, Methylchloroisothiazolinone.

Seems like a whole bunch of jargon, but comparing it to the Hydre which I have used in the past the main thing that springs to mind is that the Trilliance contain SLS (sodium laureth/lauryl sulfate) and the Hydre contains ALS (the ammonia version). Perhaps this one switch of a key ingredient changes the product entirely for me.

Wella Brilliance vs Sebastian Trilliance

Comparing it to Wella Brilliance, the Trilliance tops it off by a notch. The shine is just that much more noticeable and the hair still remains smooth and soft. Sebastian Trilliance costs a little bit more than the Wella Brilliance but I wouldn’t be too fussed about the difference when you see the results.

Cost Factor:

At your local salon, it might cost you about $40 a pop for a shampoo, but Beauty Bay does it for about $15 AUD but be prepared to wait a few weeks for it. Strawberry Net also sells the Sebastian range for cheaper than retail as well and have the in-salon size bottles but they don’t stock the Trilliance range. In my opinion, all in all not a bad buy for a decent shampoo.

In a nut shell:

Though I was almost certain Sebastian shampoos and I don’t get along well, I was proven wrong by the Sebastian Trilliance shampoo. It produces a glossy finish which lasts for days and is light-weight. It’s a perfect shampoo for those with normal to combination hair. Beats the other shine shampoo I have used in the past such as the Wella Brilliance and it’s still affordable.

Editorial | For the love of

Photography, Editing & Styling : Michelle Alisa 
Model & Make up: Hyde Sham

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Lookbook | In White

These are my latest additions to my wardrobe. I purchased this cute dress from Neuw. I really like their designs it’s plain enough so you can accessorize it up to your liking. The other thing that I bought recently were these 80%20 haircalf boots from MyHabit which I was super disappointed with. When I got them they were perfectly fine, fitted well but I literally wore them out twice then the sole began to part with the shoe. Not what I expect when they are suppose to be a decent pair of boots. Lucky MyHabit were happy to refund my purchase and I didn’t even need to send the boots back. Effectively a free pair of boots which is great except it does need some repair work done. But I must commend MyHabit for the way they dealt with the situation.

For those of you who don’t know much about MyHabit, it’s similar to what we have here in NZ with NZsale except better by 100 + times. It is a branch off Amazon.com and they have new sales everyday including designer items at super discounted prices.Shipping is reasonable as well at $15 to NZ and takes about 2 weeks.

Also on another note, I have chopped all my hair off. Have decided to go pixie short for winter. Thanks to Brad @ French Revolver Studio who always does an amazing job on my hair. The team there Sky, Sally and Brad are awesome. They know what they are doing and what looks great. And to top that off they are doing an amazing deal on a cut & colour – check out this deal here.

Michelle

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Neuw Dress, 80%20, boots

Neuw, Dress

Neuw, Dress

Lookbook | Neuw things

I have been so busy drowned in work , with 7 days on a week for the rest of the month (= 28 days on 0 off), I haven’t really had much time to sit down. Though in saying that, the effects of overworking hasn’t exactly kicked in yet, I’m still at ease in that aspect.

I had a bit of spare time on Saturday morning and scored 2 pairs of Neuw shorts in New Market. I have been trying to get my working wardrobe up to scratch but these shorts were too good to be missed. Summer’s nearly over here but hoping to plan a trip to an exotic location in June.

I also got my Melissa shoes in the post from myhabit.com 2 weeks ago. They are super comfy and yes they smell like bubble gum. They are my second pair, I am madly obsessed with their range of shoes. They are great for work as they are flat and they go with almost anything. In a nut shell , they are reasonably priced (around the 100-150 mark) you won’t be disappointed with these. You can get them on ASOS.com as well and they have free shipping but my habit have daily deals and can often get things for half price.

Michelle

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What I am wearing: Kookai top, Neuw shorts, Melissa Shoes, Bally Bag

Shoot for French Revolver | Q&A-Hair Modeling Work

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to be invited back for another photoshoot with the French Revolver Studio. It is for a hair competition and we’re still waiting for the actual photos that were taken on the day. I have had a few queries about hair modeling from some readers so I’ll just answer them below.

I walked into the salon with an open mind and had no idea what they were going to do to my hair and also agreed to whatever they said they were going to do. What I think is that hairdressers know what they are doing, they would never make your hair look ugly or make it so that it doesn’t suit you (well especially in this case as it is a hair competition to show off the hairdresser’s style and technique). It’s like if you go see a medical doctor you wouldn’t argue with their diagnosis because they know more than you do.

I have been a hair model on and off for about 3 years now and it’s just awesome what opportunities that these jobs bring and the wonderful people you meet. If you ever get the opportunity to do something like this, take it. Yea it might be a bit scary to begin with if you are getting your long locks chopped to shoulder length, but hair grows back.

Perks of the job

Free cuts, colour, treatment (I even got the Keratin treatment done for nothing (review coming shortly)) and products.

Height issue: 

The other thing about hair modeling work is that it often suits those for fall short of the fashion model requirement. As often with photos they are only mid shots or face shots. At 163cm, I wouldn’t be booked for fashion jobs. As the hairdressers really want to showcase the hair, they will often overlook the height factor in some cases, I have done 2 relatively big named catwalk shows including one for KMS as part of the NZ fashion week and one for The Long Lunch for the opening of Ponsonby Central and I would have never dreamt of doing anything of the like.

I hope that answers most of the questions, feel free to comment or email me (fishingforfashion@live.com) if you want more information.

Michelle

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Review | au.sunglassesshop.com & SXUC sunglasses

I have recently been in touch with au.sunglassesshop.com and was fortunate enough to be given a pair of SXUC sunglasses for review.

This range is completely new to me but at first glance at the range it appears that they are all in the style of very high fashion names minus the hefty price tag.

I got a pair of the SXUC Bruno in brown. They are wayfarer style sunglasses which are definitely one styles that I was tossing between getting a few months back. These glasses remind me a lot of the Illesteva range one of which I was very keen on getting.

When selecting a pair of glasses, I look at the style of the frames and how it frames the face and also the quality of the lens, colour and whether or not they are comfortable on the eyes. It’s no good getting a pair of glasses that looks great but doesn’t shield the sun from your eyes. I was very surprised that the SXUC range despite it’s lower price the quality of the lens is not compromised.

The SXUC sunglasses cost about 20 pounds (~approx 40 NZD). The only downside is they don’t come with a case , but what do you expect for the price!

More about au.sunglassesshop.com, they cater to all different budgets , men and women styles of sunglasses. They stock the big names such as Tom Ford, Miu miu etc as well as cheaper options such as SXUC.  The great thing is that they ship internationally and even their economy mail arrives pretty quickly. I received my sunglasses within a week and a half of putting down the order and it came from the UK.

Giveaway from au.sunglassesshop.com coming soon, like my  Facebook page for updates, don’t miss out!

Michelle
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SXUC Bruno from Sunglassesshop.com

SXUC Bruno from Sunglassesshop.com

SXUC Bruno from http://www.sunglassesshop.com

SXUC Bruno from http://www.sunglassesshop.com

Lookbook | Gold and Silver

This week I made a couple of purchases at several stores around Auckland. Although I have been living here for most of my life, I have honestly never been shopping in Ponsonby. Having planned a friend visit in Ponsonby I thought it would be a good idea to take a morning stroll along Ponsonby Road rather than catching the bus. As I am more of a online shopping fanatic  I was pleasantly surprised with the range of shops on the street ranging from NZ to Australian designers.

I bought a pair of Sass & Bide Lovestate jeans, the lucky last pair and in my size (woohoo). It’s often hard to get a decent pair of jeans that fits width wise and length wise for me. As these are ankle length jeans they seem the perfect length fit for me. And I love love love pattern and colour, they can be worn to work as they semi look like trousers and my work is pretty casual anyway. They have also been having a massive summer sale so I would recommend popping into check it out for yourself (though sizes and styles may be quite limited now).

I also bought an Alexander Wang dress from Workshop. It’s really just a plain drape dress but the cotton is absolutely beautiful, it’s silky soft.  I will style a look together with it later on.

I am also waiting on a pair of Ksubi boots that I bought online and once they arrive I will most definitely review the website I got them from, you’ll be in for a special treat.

Michelle

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River Island embellished blouse, Sass & Bide Lovestate Jeans, Steve Madden heels

River Island embellished blouse, Sass & Bide Lovestate Jeans

Review | Best online shops 2012

Having been back into reality for a week , it’s not unusual to feel a bit down. Getting straight back into the working life and wondering when and where my next trip will be. On the upside to keep myself occupied I have been browsing several online shops daily and have been shopping.

As promised, here is my compilation of my favourite online shops from last year. For all my international readers, you probably wonder about my fascination for online shopping and my lack of reviews for shops in NZ. New Zealand being far far away from the rest of the world, I constantly have to rely on internet shopping as many brands do not exist here. Not to mention the ridiculous retail prices here (which in my opinion cannot solely be justified by freight). One example is cosmetics , say a MAC lipstick is $16 USD but for us it’s about $40 NZD , which is about double the cost in the US and that is just the beginning.

Here is my list of my favourite online stores in 2012, I have bought items from all these sites and can assure you they are reliable.

Gilt.com – for work wear, designer items, shoes, lifestyle items. 

Gilt offers reasonable shipping and great quality items. Read my review on Gilt.com here

• Riverisland.com – casual wear
• Nastygal.com – casual wear, shoes – particularly Jeffrey Campbell
• ASOS.com – for everything
• Topshop.com – casual wear, shoes
• Urbanoutfitters.com – footwear, casual wear
• Beautybay.com – cosmetics, hair care
• Tobi.com – casual wear

I decided to give Tobi.com a go, they slash their prices daily with their 40% new items and plus 50% off first purchase code, it’s hard to give it a miss. I have been contemplating whether or not to get items from there for a while as I wasn’t 100% certain of the quality of the items, some of them look borderline ebay-like. But I was pleseantly surprised when I received my package. The only down side is their sizing is very limited from S – L , I am usually an XS (or size 6 NZ/ 4-6 UK ) so a few of the items are a bit big for my size. I wouldn’t purchase trousers from them as it’s likely they would be more of a size 7-8 fit.

In terms of shipping, it is free if you spend over 150 USD. I didn’t buy quite that much, I think my order totaled to about $130 USD. I could have picked a few other things to make it up to free shipping but I am always unsure as to whether or not I’d get charged customs tax if I go over $150 so I didn’t risk it. Shipping is only 9.95 USD if you spend under 150 anyway so I didn’t have much to lose. It took around 3 weeks to arrive (including packing time and also bare in mind it’s the Christmas season).

I also got several items from River Island, they had a free delivery offer in November. The parcel didn’t come for ages as it was the Christmas season so I’m just glad I got it in the end.

Bought a lot of beauty items this month as well, so I have more reviews to come!

Michelle

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Tobi.com & Riverisland.com buys and other boxing day shopping

Make up goodies bought in Jan, reviews to come