Review : Luxe Singapore

Finding "a hole in the wall restaurant" and chancing upon instragrammable cafes have been my fancy as of late.

My friends say that I value aesthetics more than quality and quite frankly, that is somewhat true at times but not most often. I adore quaint set ups, minimalist interiors injected with rustic vibe that any cafes or restaurants with this theme would surely lure me in.

I've been in a couple of boutique cafes in Singapore and one thing they have in common - pricey. That shouldn't be surprising considering SG is one of the most expensive countries as per Yahoo. Yes, they would all cause a dent in your wallet hence dining frequently is highly discouraged. But food is a basic necessity and not really considered a luxury isn't it? So let me take you to this cozy cafe which I found just a few blocks from my workplace.

When I was sourcing for a place to catch up, chill and just pass time, I'd pen down these 3 things to consider.

1. Location

2. Reviews on Food and Price

3. Ambiance

I decided to meet up with a friend to go over my laptop dilemma ( my entire photo library has decided to quit on me ) and I panicked at the very least realizing years of memories now down the drain. ( be sure to BACK UP your photos  - note to self ). Was going over a list of several cafes in Tanjong ( I was bit biased as I didn't want to wander off from the city ) and found Luxe Cafe which is located at Keong Saik Rd at the Working Capitol Bldg. It's a 10-min leisurely walk from Cantonment Center.

As I turned left at Keong Saik Rd, I immediately saw "Luxe" written on the white pillars of the Capitol Bldg. This Sydney based cafe is nothing short of spectacular. The door opens to a lounge with vibrant colored sofas adorned with a center table and candles. It looks so inviting that it could easily pass of a hotel lobby. I was greeted by the waiter and ushered me to my reserved seat. The photos from their website did justice to the minimalist interiors of the restaurant. It was  mix of sophistication, class and relaxed ambiance. Uncluttered and luxurious.

The menu is limited however they are very much willing to prepare the avocado toast even though it's  30 minutes past 7pm.  They're all friendly, warm and generous. I was looking for something light yet filling and within my price range. The Seared Salmon in Chilli Caramel Dressing (S$28) was my first bet. It was prepared with utmost gusto. A mix of flavors and textures which rolled perfectly on my tastebuds. I just wish the serving was a bit more considering the price.

My friend on the other hand ordered the Luxe Burger with Grass Fed Beef (S$28). He said it was good but forgettable. There's really nothing amazing or special with the taste.

To cap things off, we ordered the much hyped about dessert - Pandan Madeleines ( S$8 ). It was moist, soft and not too fluffy. But forget about the bread, the main show stealer was the "kaya". It was by far the best Kaya I ever had in my 4 years in Singapore. It tastes like vanilla with a hint of zest and a bit of pandan. It was oh so good!

Luxe exhibits an Aussie cafe vibe. The spaces are wide, clean and woody. We thought we're ready to head off when the waiter asked if we are keen to have a slice of cake. We're a bit reluctant but then he said it's from Sunday and they won't be selling it. It was Tuesday and who am I to say no to a FREE slice of delicious chocolate cake. Needless to say, I devoured it in a jiffy.

Luxe Sydney tops the list of the cafes I've been to in Singapore. The service is well executed and you can see the heart put into every dish. It's minimalistic interiors makes it the perfect place for a relaxed weekend brunch and after work drinks. It is well situated, smacked in the middle of Outram MRT and Tanjong Pagar making it a popular spot for yuppies so booking a reservation is highly advertised.

There are still a bit of things to improve on but overall, I'd give this cafe a 4-star rating for its overall ambiance, food and service. It's your ticket to experience that little piece of luxury right in CBD.

Xo,

Jhesy

Flapper Girl - Dazzling 20's

Time-traveled for a night back to the Twenties, Known as the "Roaring 20s" or Jazz Era. It was the age of dramatic social and political change. People were speaking in the same slang, doing the same dance moves and listening to the same type of music. It was referred to as " roaring" as the society is more exuberant and a lot of people defied prohibition and indulged themselves to new styles of dancing and dressing, rejecting many traditional moral standards. It was considered the freewheeling popular culture of the decade.


With dramatic change in fashion came the "new woman" or the flapper. This is considered the symbol of this era referring to young women with bobbed hair and flashy outfits doing unladylike things. Corsets came off, skirts were shorter and style loosened up. Women dress more comfortably but put an added effort in embellishment. Pearls, sequins, tulle, lace and trousers for women were in for the first time ( Thanks Coco Chanel )

I absolutely adore the fashion in the Twenties. One because it is more relaxed yet flamboyant. It has a distinct style and everyone seems to be party-ready yet exudes dainty, lady-like style in embellished head dress, fur and satin gloves.

When our company announced that our Year End Party is all about Haute Couture collaboration; my mind spinned and I became giddy thinking about the runway and the look I would put together. We were given the freedom to choose the style theme for the event and I thought that Gatsby would be nothing short of perfect!

Pulling the Gatsby look was not an easy feat.I didn't realize the limited resources I would have. There isn't a lot of flapper or sequined dresses to choose from in Singapore. I decided to consult the internet and checked for options online. I did find several dress styles which fit perfectly to my preference however, it would take them two weeks to deliver and we're talking about shipping outside of SG. Thanks to some fashion enthusiasts online and to Carousell, I found the "dress". It's copper and gold in color with sequins and beads intricately hand sewn ( see below ). I tried to veer away from wearing black for a change and wanted to experiment with a different shade this time. I fell in love with the dress the moment I saw it online. I figured that with the right accessories, I should be able to pull off the 1920s look. 

How to dress like a flapper girl :

Dresses : 

Shapeless dresses with beads, sequins, lace, fringes, satin and chiffon. Anything that has v-shaped front and back will surely define the flapper look.  Rummage through your closet and look for dresses with knee length, dropped waist-line and has v-shape front and back. This is a good shape to start your 1920s look. Concern about your body shape? 1920's dresses meant to hide the curves. The straight-waisted dress will you give you the figure you need to pull off for the Gatsby look. Show off your decolletage and hide those curves instead. 

Tip : You can also create the illusion of a dropped waist by tying a scarf around your hips. 

Shoes : 

If you intend to go all out and complete the look with the 1920's shoe then I would suggest to exclude stilettos. They were not invented in this era yet. Choose shoes with round closed toe adorned with a t-bar strap and buckles. Opt for chunky heels with medium heel. Another option is to wear Mary Jane Shoes or a tap shoe instead. 

Hats and headbands

You can play around with anything you want to put on your head. Hat or headband is one way to recreate the 1920s look. You can use a satin belt or thin scarf and tied it on to your end. Or bejewelled your hair with beaded accents and sparkly headbands. The goal is to accentuate your hair and it will surely look good on any 1920s outfit.

1920s flapper hairstyle

Bob hairstyle was big in the twenties. One thing I've noticed is that women in this era tend to sport short curly hair or the classic bob cut. Those with long hair pulled theirs altogether in a low bun or chignon. Alternatively, you can also create the kiss-curles hairline using gel or hairspray. This may take a bit of work but definitely possible for those with short hair. 

Tip : Here, I'm wearing a gold necklace which I practically used as a headband. Pinned it using bobby pins and voila! A headpiece. DIY is again so much better. #resourceful

Final Touches : 

Stockings: 1920s flapper girl ensemble will not be complete without these. You can pull them right below the knee. Just make sure they're not thick enough that you'll be mistaken sporting a preppy look

Scarf: Long feather boa or fringes and even fur  are quintessential 1920s flapper style.

Gloves: This will add the classic vibe to the entire 1920s look. Be it in Satin black or gold,  wrap your arms in them and you'd be rocking the flapper look in no time.

String of pearls: Anything shiny, long and beaded. Pile them altogether or layer them around your neck. And remember, the longer the better.

Make-up: If you've seen Gatsby ( the movie ) they altered the look a bit. Daisy was rather looking pale in a fresh -faced make up mostly in flush of pink and pastels. However, if you do want to be the utlimate flapper girl then you need to have your eyebrows defined and your eyes in smokey shade. Red, dark lipstick is a must. You can even emphasize it by drawing a cupid's bow to create the silent movie star look. 

So there you have it, if you're planning to host a party or attend one with Gatsb-esque theme, then you're in for a treat. It is a fun, fashionable era and you can go all out with accessories and embellishments. Dress up and don yourself with shiny beads and pearls, travel back memory lane and relieve the roaring 20s. Dance the night away in jazz and party in glitz n' glamour ( just take it easy on the alcohol I must say ). Oh and don't forget to take a snap of your #ootds. I bet they will be instragram-worthy! 

♥♥,

Jhesy

Beat the Haze Lah!

This is a long overdue post. Singapore has been cloaked in sea of haze over the past couple of months. And for the first time in weeks, the sky has slightly cleared up.  At the height of the haze where PSI ( Pollutant Standard Index) was at 300++, most people stayed indoors and locked their windows and doors to escape the haze. While others opted to travel out of the country to take some time off from this eerie.

My brother is visiting from Manila and as it is his first time in the Lion City, it would be a shame not to show him around despite the haze. It was September and the sun even at its zenith was in bloody orange trying its best to shine despite the fog. We braced Raffles City and roamed around Marina Bay Sands with our masks in tow. I thought I've seen worse in 2013 but this year topped the PSI ( Pollutant Standard Index) record at its highest with 321. Classes were suspended and everyone was encouraged to stay in as the situation can impose health risks. But not even the haze could stop us from showing up to Merlion Park and trying to paint the town red.

Top : from Bangkok | Shorts : Cheris | Bag : Cotton On 

We spent the afternoon taking snap shots and walking around Marina Bay. You literally can see just the shadow of Singapore's famous landmarks. Everywhere you look, it all seemed like a blurry sight as if my eye grade rose to 800 mark. It's like that scene from that lousy sci-fi movie "The Mist" which was based on a Stephen King's novel. There were a lot of tourists flockering around the area, making the most of their itinerary hoping to get a descent shot of MBS and Merlion. Tough luck, I tried really, but there's no way you can get an instagramable worthy shot of any of these famous landmarks. Not to mention the burnt smell would really throw you off with the feeling of being choked.

We walked a bit more and took snaps here and there. Despite the haze, it was rather a good afternoon spending some time with my little brother. He seemed to have enjoyed it despite the burnt smell and yes, haze ( pictures don't lie do they huh? )

Fervently praying that the haze would totally clear up in a couple weeks as we roll into the fuzzy, holiday season. The forecast is that, it will stay on until early 2016 ( hopefully not ). Though it would still be best to keep our masks handy at all times and armed our immune system with loads of antioxidants and vitamin C.  Surely, we can definitely beat the haze lah!

♥♥,

Jhesy 

#Gatch24

I have a heart for parties. More so,if it's a surprise for a friend's birthday celebration and that of which involves barbecue, swimming pool and dessert.




Two weeks ago, a good friend celebrated his 24th. The squad orchestrated the whole thing disguising it as a get together and a TJ ( Tender Juicy hot dog )party. Gatch prolly had an idea that we were planning something for his day as it appears to be quite customary to set up a surprise or party for someone celebrating his/her special day. Turned out, he was quite surprised still as we decided to hold the event ahead of schedule. 




I can't remember the last time my tummy was filled with too much hot dogs and pork belly. We were digging in as soon as the food was off  the grill. And just like a scene from a kiddie swimming party, our giddy selves jumped into the pool, foolishly played around, feeling young at heart. 




The rest of the afternoon was spent on eating, sharing stories and showering Gatch with our prayers and heartfelt messages.





To the youngest of the bunch! Happy Birthday Gatch. Praying that you will continue to grow in your spiritual walk with God. May your ache for adventure and wanderlust never cease and that you'll continue to leave a mark wherever your feet may take you. 

Photos by : Jezreel Rombaoa

 ♥♥,
Jhesy 

Into the Woods

Sundays are best spent with God and doing something impromptu like say,  a photo op in a park tucked away from the city.

After church service, the squad decided to lounge at Starbucks and spent hours discussing table topics. Several cups of latte/tea later, we then decided to leave the cafe and made our way to the train station. We didn't have a destination in mind until one of us blurted Punggol Park.



It is one of the leisure parks in Singapore developed with the theme " family leisure". If you're looking for a place to sit back and relax then this is a sure hit. If you can't stay put and would like to stroll on a bicycle or on foot, you may also do so. The park has tracks for cyclists to enjoy and the area is surrounded with shady trees and bench facing the lake which offers a sense of tranquility.




We didn't get the chance to explore the entire area as our lazy selves opted to stay under the shade and used the trees as our backdrop for photo op.It was not as humid as we expected and the light summer breeze was a perfect milieu for us to immerse ourselves in the serenity of the surrounding as another weekend came to a close.

White Top : Cheris | Plaid Cigarette Pants : Scape | Mandals : S&H ( SM ) 

♥♥,
Jhesy