A Little List of Things to Love...

[pix from river island and mr. porter]

Clockwise, from the top:

• Chunky knit buttonless cardigan in ecru - River Island.
• Asymmetric sweatshirt jacket in grey - River Island.
• Denim backpack - River Island.
• Orange-faced watch in gunmetal - River Island.
• Ted leather satchel in tan - Mulberry.

BigFat 'Cool Holiday' Collection?

It's been very warm down here in the valley. So warm that even the fully-powered fan couldn't do its job very well. Coupled with the humid weather, the ambience felt a bit stuffy and sweaty (steamy? ha!). One way to avoid all those condition is to take myself up, up and away. No not to the sky, but almost there. On the highlands, hundreds of meters above the sea level. It's much cooler over there since the temperature is normally 6-7 degrees less than in the valley.

As I mentioned in the previous post, Cameron Highlands is quite close to my house - about 40 mins journey - where the Louis Vuitton menswear ad campaign for SS11 is shot. Going up there, one way to avoid the cool weather being too harsh to the body is to wear long sleeves. Since I can still feel a bit of heat warming up (though not as scorching as down here), the fabric of choice would definitely cotton or linen-based. It can absorb sweats better, while the long sleeves could also protect the chill at the same time.

Opening up my wardrobe, there are a selected few which I can consider to be taken together with me. Most are cardi, some are sweater and there's also long-sleeve tee. I also like the three-quarter sleeve merino cardi which by pairing up with the tee inside would be okay to avoid the chill.

Waterfalls...

... Don't go chasing waterfalls,
please stick to the rivers
And the lakes that you're used to
I know that you're gonna have it your way
or nothing at all
But I think you're moving too fast ...

~ TLC - Waterfalls (1995) ~

Black microstripes 'waterfall' cardigan @ TOPMAN

Adidas SLVR Autumn 2010

Apart from Y3 which is designed by Yohji Yamamoto for Adidas, the other 'high fashion' line that I also like from the famous sport's brand is SLVR. Their new collection for Autumn 2010 conveys the simplicity and clean silhouettes as usual, with great tailoring that combines the sportswear with a dash of casual-formal look. I love the new knitwear like the jumper and cardigan worn by Ryan Koning, as well as the jersey jacket seen on Kaka. Very cool indeed...

[pix from adidas]

Spotted: H&M Cardigan on Ford Model Casting Call

Spotted on Ford's model, Bobby during the casting call for NY Fashion Week.
It's the cardigan by H&M with the embossed horizontal stripes in cotton.
The same cardigan design that I wore during the previous snooping at H&M.
Pretty cool. They come in various colors like pink (for SS09),
mustard, black and grey (FW09), and olive, navy, green and ultramarine (SS10).

[pix from fashionisto]

Opening Up with All Saints

Unbuttoned cardigan doesn't seem to become that huge last Autumn/Winter 2009 since not many people are seen in them on the highstreet of London. Maybe because men don't really get the idea yet back then coz it reminisces what women used to wear. But this coming autumn, as what the cowl neck made a huge trend this year, I'm guessing that open cardigan could be a massive fad too which bring the extra edginess to the dailywear.

The open cardi that I like are these lots from All Saints, by which their knitwear is always my all time favorite due to them giving something different compared to the basic look Uniqlo or H&M used to have. Most of them drop way below your waist to give the cardi-meet-jacket kind look, which is pretty helpful if I wanna opt not to wear a usual blazer for that day. Material wise ranges from fully cotton to linen/cotton that I think is quite lightweight; and cotton/cashmere to wool and alpaca/acrylic that are quite heavy and much 'warming'.

I like the designs: from the simplicity of Alexi and Flex, to the penguin-like tail of Brooklyn and Chicago to the frill front of Edge and Morris which resembles what Songzio did for Spring/Summer 2011 (or also look like most of Valentino dresses!).

Some of them got an oversized pin to tuck both parts together. Or if you're a daring one, wear it with a USB wrapped around the waist. USB as in the ultra skinny belt, not the pen drive, fyi. :)

All Saints Alexi

All Saints Brooklyn

All Saints Chicago

All Saints Edge

All Saints Edge

All Saints Morris

All Saints Flex hooded cardigan

[pix from all saints]

Bolongaro Trevor 'Iggy' Cardigan

The design duo - Kait Bolongaro and Stuart Trevor who are former designers of All Saints - always created something that you can't find anywhere else on the highstreet. Like this merino wool cardigan in charcoal grey. It's something different, something edgy and design that provoke you to wear and set you apart from everyone around. Codenamed Iggy it features a dual layered front with an extended button fastening and signature rear cross panels and a disjointed hem. I love the combination of gradual black and grey seen on the plackets and on the pockets which makes it stand out even more.

I know this is unlike the typical cardigan that you wear to the office. Well, not a usual office, no. But wear it, then you know you're definitely serious in styling yourself way ahead than your colleague.

[pix from coggles]

Sheer Hooded Cardigan @ Diesel Black Gold

I love sheer clothings coz it gives me the feeling of barely there whenever I wore one. When I said 'barely there' it can go in many ways - barely there because it really shows off the body underneath since it's a bit see through. Or barely there because sheer fabric is usually very lightweight, meaning that you hardly feel its wearing you down when you put it on. Or maybe barely there because it doesn't truly protect you much and feel like wearing nothing - comes wind and you'll feel the chill since it's quite meshy to the construction as a whole. The thing is, it takes a major gusto for anyone to really rock in sheer clothings. It's not anyone's cuppa tea - but when you wear one, you'll definitely know what fashion is all about.

I love these cardigans at Diesel Black Gold for summer 2010 which features sheer fabric in cotton-viscose mix. Cotton cardi is always great for summer since the material can absorb sweats better, plus it doesn't heating up the body unlike merino wool. These lots are very lightweight and comes in various colors like grey melange, night blue and olive green. And it's hooded, which making quite a trend especially during this pre-coll for autumn.

The choices how to wear it is up to you. If you've got a great toned pecs or mleavage (male cleavage, that is) that you're dying to show off, just go au naturel on the underneath. For less fortunate like me and some of you... erm, let's wear a nude vest or tee inside for that similar silhouette. :)

[pix from diesel]