Ministry of Retail
    Inspiring Fashion, Sharing Fashion Trends on Fashion, Korean Fashion and Korean Style
27
Apr

Camille Co X Ministry of Retail

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Guess which international fashion blogger have been parading Ministry of Retail Online Fashion Store‘s apparel on the streets of Europe?

Cloak Style Jacket in white
See the full entry on Camille’s blog here: Clean and Crisp

Yes, it’s Camille! If you’re a loyal fan of her lookbook/chictopia looks and frequent reader, you’ll be as excited as we are! If you haven’t been reading fashion blogs or visiting lookbook.nu and chictopia, Camille is an international fashion blogger based in Philippines and she brought some of our clothes on her trip to Europe (for her photoshoot as this season’s Mango IT Girl).

Own this jacket but not sure how to style it?

1. Suit it
You may want to take a leaf from Camille’s book and pair it with a high waist style shorts of similar material and colour (her white piece is from Zara), making it look like a set/suit. For those who own ‘Cloak Style Jacket’ in black, you will find a perfect partner in ‘High Waist OL Shorts‘. If you like shiny pieces like what Camille wore on the inside, you may like ‘Shiny Sequins Party Dress‘ too.

2. The Evening Coat
This jacket is so beautiful and elegant, I’d love to bring it along for formal functions. As this style is rather exaggerating, you may want to play down the formality by wearing it over a feminine evening gown. See like how Camille did it with her Mango blazer and dress here.

3. The Weekend Dressy Jacket
Pair it over a simple top and jeans and you’re ready to steal the limelight and have all eyes on you for a weekend date or lunch catch-up with your friends!

 

Military Lady Jacket in white
See the full entry on Camille’s blog here: Hello Again, Barcelona!

Many ladies have commented that ‘Military Lady Jacket’ looks too embellished though the truth but it can be downplayed by mixing and matching your outfit. We’re loving how Camille matched hers.

 

 

Leather Biker Jacket in black, Sashaying Cropped Cape Shirt in apricot, Festive Bling Mini Skirt
See the full entry on Camille’s blog here: Jardin Du Luxembourg

Can you imagine pairing a rocker and rugged black leather biker jacket with a feminine and office-like shirt with a bling party style mini skirt? Camille can and did exactly that, a totally wearable look now that you’ve seen it.

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When we first chanced upon her blog (she’s a nominee for Nuffnang’s ‘Best Fashion Blog’), we liked how stylish and elegant Camille’s outfits are. We even thought they were mostly expensive clothes (they’re not). Camille always mixes and matches her clothes and throw in a little story to her posts (like how my uni classmate cum model for Ministry of Retail’s fashion show, Xiaoqi, did) which makes her a blog a delightful read.

There are a few more items with Camille so you might be seeing them on Camille’s blog pretty soon :)

Wondering what to wear? Hope this post helped!


CATEGORIES: Review, What to wear

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5
Apr

What to do when you encounter lost local Singpost normal mail?

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Normal Mail vs Registered Mail
Most Singaporean online stores and blog shops offer 2 postage methods – Singpost normal mail and Singpost registered mail. Normal mail is delivered directly to the letterbox (unless it is too big to fit in) while registered mail is signature required and hence, delivered to the doorstep. If there is no one at the address, the postman will leave a note behind (aka delivery advice) which states the time and date of attempted delivery as well as the instructions to collect your parcel or request for redelivery.

Normal mail ranges from $0.26 – $3.35 whereas registered mail costs $2.24 on top of normal postage cost. For $2.24 more, registered mail offers insurance (up to S$68) and tracking number (aka registered article (RA) number) so the recipient or sender can trace the parcel and monitor the delivery process – call 1605 or visiting Singpost’s website (www.singpost.com/ra).

Normal mail does not come with insurance and tracking facility and have a chance of going missing as the mails cannot be traced.


What does it mean by lost mail?
If your mail doesn’t reach you by the 4th business day (excluding weekends & public holidays), there is a high chance of your parcel being lost. At times there could be delays due to peak season (Chinese New Year, Christmas period), damaged packaging (Singpost may take some time to re-package your mails) etc.

Why do normal mails go missing?
- Wrong address written (be it human error by sender or wrong address given by recipient)
- Delivered to wrong address (encountered this 2x, received mails which belongs to neighbours)
- Theft (by passerby if mails are left unattended)
- Fell out from sack etc (especially small parcels)
- Damaged for certain reason (heard of the flood at Orchard Road? torn packaging etc.)
- Fraudulent sellers (claim they mail out but did not)

What to do when you’ve experienced lost mail?
Firstly, you should contact the sender/seller/online store for help. Double-check whether it was mailed out and get these information: Size of parcel, colour and description of packaging (box? paper envelope? polymailer?)

1. Send a complaint feedback to Singpost (they usually respond in 2-5 days) *this is the most useless method but try anyway*
2. Call 1605 and ask for the contact number of:
- your nearest post office (nearest in terms of location on the map, the one which usually hold your mails when no one is around)
- the regional HQ in charge of your area (area = first 2 digit of mailing address)
- return mail unit
3. Go down to the nearest post office (see point 2)
warning p.s: when calling/enquiring on your parcel, be sure to state it’s a normal mail (hence there is no RA or tracking number). When you mention ‘normal mail’, the typical reply: “oh for normal mail we can’t track…”, still, let them know you understand that but request for them to search for it anyway

How to prevent or reduce the chance of having mails lost or delayed?
We’ve shared these tips on The New Paper previously. As an online seller, we do our part by:
- Using quality packaging (we use polymailer which is waterproof and tear-proof, instead of paper envelope)
- Printing the address as per provided (reduces human error in unnecessary copy-pasting, writing etc.)
- Including written address (in case of rejected mail, wrong address provided etc.)

As a buyer, you can request for:
- Registered mail (costs $2.24 more but offers you peace of mind)
- Seller to include written address
- Use better packaging or at least request for corners of the mail to be taped
- Certificate of Posting (costs $0.20 more, if you are worried that the seller is not trustworthy however the mails might still get lost)

At the end of the day, sometimes things and wrong and mails go missing. To prevent the headache and heartache associated with normal mail, perhaps your best bet would be to top-up $2.24 and enjoy peace of mind. More online shopping related tips and articles coming up (i.e payment, how to protect yourself when you shop online etc.)

**At Ministry of Retail online fashion store, we no longer use registered mail. Instead, we offer courier (insured shipping) which is faster and more flexible. Normal mail (standard shipping) is only offered to Singapore buyers. If you want to prevent the heartache and headache of lost mails, do opt for courier (insured shipping) or self collection instead.**

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CATEGORIES: Online Shopping

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1
Mar

Office Wear Online – Great Finds under $50.

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Do you know first impressions are formed within the first few seconds and it takes about 20 more encounters to undo a first impression? If a bad first impression was formed, do you think you’ll get the chance to have 20 more encounters with the same person to undo the image?

Don’t be caught off guard, always dress professionally and appropriately for work. It doesn’t matter if you’re on a contract, a temporary staff or a receptionist, you may never know who you’re meeting on the job.

In this post, we’ll share with you 8 work appropriate office wear items that can be found online under S$50!

the secretary office dress, color block dress

1. The Secretary Office Dress, S$49.50

Like the look of a short sleeved office blouse paired with a pencil skirt but want to skip the hassle of tucking here? This dress in faux two-piece style is a blessing! Look smart without having to worry about tucked out blouse. Plus, the pretty waist belt is included.

2. Red Trenchdress, $46.50

Love trench coat? Achieve a 2-in-1 purpose with this red trench style dress. Want to wear it as a trench coat by unbuttoning it and pairing it with your office outfit or casual outfit. Look smart for work by wearing this trenchdress and pairing it with the nude/beige belt (included)!

lady women work vestpumpkin coloured blazer

3. Deep V-back Vest, $39.80

Fascinate your colleagues and friends with this amazing and attention-grabbing vest. Pair it with a long sleeve shirt and pants and look smart and handsome. Ladies in the art / creative industry / job scope will love this artsy look. Pair it with a long sleeved top with a slim waist belt and a pencil skirt for a professional OL look.

4. Pumpkin Blazer, $47.80

Like colour block blazers? Skip the usual black and white colourblock combination and opt for this autumn colour (black on pumpkin orange). Pair this with shorter skirts to look stylish but be careful of your office’s rule on the length of your skirt.

sleeveless satin silky white office blouse with bow tielace blouse with peter pan collar

5. Pleated Sleeves Blouse, $34.50

This lovely blouse is a great steal! A silky white sleeveless work blouse with a tie at the neck. Look elegant by pairing this with a silky pleated skirt of bright colours or with prints.

6. Peter Pan Lace-dy, $42.80

If your style is the lace, crochet or flora kind, this is the one for you. Look dainty by pairing this with tulle or pleated skirts with a korean style hairband and some dainty pearls. Be careful though, as this outfit is sweet looking, it may command you less authority.

palazzo pantswide leg trousers

7. New Era Palazzo Pants, $45.80

Palazzo pants can be worn to the office especially when it comes with a button and zipper closure instead of elastic waistband. Tuck in a sleeveless white blouse, wear heels and bun up your hair!

8. Wide Leg Trousers, $45.80

Go vintage! Remember the era of wide leg trousers? It’s trickling back. Reminisce the past in this trousers which boasts high waist fit and wide leg cut. Great with (tuck in) sleeveless blouses.

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Check out the above 8 office wear recommendations under $50 or for more great office attire options,

Shop online at MINISTRY OF RETAIL Online Fashion Boutique (www.MinistryofRetail.com) now!

Plus! Get FREE S$5 credits when you sign up for mailing list!

p.s: Join our 15,000 strong Facebook page to see what we’ve been up to!

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CATEGORIES: Office wear, What to wear

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27
Feb

Oscars 2012 – Red Carpet Fashion >>> The Hidden Gems

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Oscars 2012 ended yesterday and has set the fashion scene and newsroom abuzz with conversation. It doesn’t matter whether you know what is Oscars (it’s an awards ceremony, by the way) or what happened during the event as everyone is most concerned with the red carpet fashion – what stars wear the moment they hit the red carpet.

Let us take a look at who graced the best dressed ‘awards’ (unofficial, that is) this year plus some hidden gems we dug out!

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace – Ok this is not a hidden gem but a gem nonetheless. Presumably the most talked about and winner of the ‘best dressed award’ for Oscars 2012. The high slit and her signature pose, though a little unglamorous has drawn so much attention that a twitter account was set up for… her leg! No kidding. That twitter account even has 11,000+ followers. We do have to admit that the black velvet dress is sexy although it doesn’t reveal too much skin and it’s so ‘Hollywood’ that no accessories (necklace/bracelets/clutch bag) is needed!

Shop similar fashion on Ministry of Retail:
Mrs Addams Slit Long DressLittle Velvet Dress
L-R: Mrs Addams High-Slit Long Dress (S$40.80), Little Velvet Dress (S$45.80)

Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford – A hidden gem! Although most people/media site crowned Angelina Jolie as the best dressed. We beg to differ. The simplicity of Gwyneth’s outfit and the elegant of the white + cape combination clinches the best dressed award from us anytime. Seems like Gwyneth prefers to stick to clean long lines, recall her Grammy outfit (a Stella McCartney) here.

Shop similar style on Ministry of Retail:

L-R: Cloak Style Jacket (S$55.80), Military Cape Vest (S$55.80)

Rose Byrne in Vivienne Westwood - A total hidden gem. There was little mention of this lady at the Oscars but I think what she have here is awesome! I love her hairstyle and how the neckline blends nicely with her fringe and earrings (it’d have been a disaster if it’s the other way round). The liquidity of her sequin gown causes lovely drapes to form and also clings to her figure (thus showing off and enhancing it). A total hit!

Meryl Streep in Lanvin – A hidden gem (sustainable material) Love the glittery gold of this gown against Meryl’s fair (and well-maintained) skin. The details (such as the neckline and the drapes at the waist) could have been better and more flattering (after all, Meryl Streep is not some 20-30 year old young lady with a slim and slender body) but nonetheless we love how Meryl rocked this gown. We love it all the more when we found out that the dress was made from eco-friendly material (read more: Livia Firth’s Green Carpet Challenge).

Tina Fey in Carolina Herrera – Who knew peplum could look this lovely on a tube-style evening gown? Tina rocked this piece with elegance and a dash of attitude though it’s a little plain. She could have been bolder with a inverted-triangle style diamante necklace, a lovely diamante choker necklace or details of sorts. Otherwise it could be mistakenly and quietly chucked aside as just another little black dress (LBD).

Which other star gracing the red carpet of Oscars 2012 do you think is a hidden gem?

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CATEGORIES: Event

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17
Feb

Grammy Awards 2012 >>> Red Carpet Fashion + Whitney Houston…

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The 54th annual Grammy Awards was held on Sunday, 12 Feb, but what most people would care about the event is not what it’s about (it’s a music awards where all the biggest stars in music will be present) or who won what awards but rather – what the ladies wore! Before we move on to red carpet, fashion and go oh and ah over the looks of the night, there was a heart-breaking news on Saturday – Whitney Houston died.

Whitney Houston was found dead in her hotel room at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles (LA). The night before the Grammy Award, music mogul Clive Davis usually hold a gala hence she was in the area but unfortunately she never made it. Whitney rose to fame with classic songs such as “I Will Always Love You”, “Saving All My Love for You”, “How Will I Know” and “Greatest Love of All”, most of which requires a powerful voice and is often a favourite during singing competitions and talent contests.

Whitney had a great singing career but in the more recent years, she was abusing substance and her drug addiction reportedly affected her performance at concerts. It’s sad to hear how such a lovely and popular superstar was destroyed by drugs. This should serve as a warning to those who choose to walk down that path and let’s choose to remember the beautiful side of her with this video where Whitney sang “I Will Always Love You” at the Grammy Awards 1994:

Alright, let’s move on to the red carpet celebrity fashion at the Grammy Awards 2012.

Our 5 hot picks / favourite red carpet looks for the night:

1. Taylor Swift in Zuhair Murad lace gown

Taylor Swift Grammy Awards nude gown
Taylor Swift in a nude (with gold trimmings) Zuhair Murad lace gown: Arguably, the most talked about dress/lady of the night (60 ‘likes’ on our Facebook page!).

Love the combination of gold, nude and lace with sheer parts and a cut-out to highlight Taylor’s collar bones. The back cut-out showcases beautiful back and a slender waist. Lovely, a total HIT!

Fishtail style long gowns is a red carpet icon. Fishtail style means the dress hugs the waist and hips and fans out like an ‘A’ (A-line style) at the legs area. Shop similar dress:

Golden Fishtail Mini-Maxi Dress, S$48.80: A lovely halter maxi dress in less pronounced fishtail style. The beauty of this dress lies in its versatility as it can be converted to a mini dress just by unzipping the netting layer.

2. Taylor Swift in Kaufman Franco Blue Gown

Taylor Swift in a midnight blue sparkly / glittery gown by designer, Kaufman Franco: This is a less talked about gown, under-rated I feel.

The colour and texture is really lovely though it may look light blue/dark blue depending on the lighting and flash used. Red carpet worthy, though not as intricate as the Zuhair Murad piece. Like they said, you can never be too rich nor too thin. Perhaps a lady can never have too many beautiful dresses.

Shop skirt in novelty sparkly Hollywood Glamour fabric:
Festive Bling Mini Skirt
Festive Bling Mini Skirt, S$42.80: A lovely skirt which is a must-have for parties or even photo opportunities!

3. Carrie Underwood in Gomez Garcia Starlet Confetti White Dress

Carrie Underwood in a beautiful sparkly fishtail style gown by fashion designer Gomez Garcia: We’re literally seeing stars (excuse the pun) at the Grammy Awards, red carpet is a time to bring out those exaggerating and sparkly styles!

Reportedly a match for Taylor Swift’s Zuhair Murad lace gown. As much as I love this gown, I don’t think this beats Taylor’s because firstly, it’s less intricate. It could have been a winner if not for Zuhair Murad gown which had more texture and interesting cut-outs. Secondly, this style doesn’t flatter Carrie’s upper body. Carrie is not a slim and petite woman with relatively broad shoulders and a less defined waistline. This might have been a winner on another female celebrity but not on Carrie Underwood.

If you like the long sleeved monochromatic dress look, you may like this too:
Slim Long Black Dress
Slim Long Black Dress, S$40.80: The perfect monochromatic long dress. It may look simple and uninteresting but really this is the best dress to show off your curves. You don’t have to show any skin to reveal your sexy femininity.

4. Kelly Rowland in Alberta Ferretti Illusion Gown

Kelly Rowland in nude Alberta Ferretti gown with an illusion yoke and silver floral embroidered bodice: We’re loving this gown for the sparkly sequins, illusion yoke (call it mesh if you want!).

We love this gown though it looks like an unfinished piece. The skirt area could probably take on more details.

Shop dresses and tops with illusion yoke (new word learned!):

Mesh Mess Flowers Dress
Mesh Mess Flowers Dress, S$42.80: A cute boob cut dress to show off your shoulders back – only for the daredevils!

5. Paris Hilton in Basil Soda Goddess-like Couture Gown


Paris Hilton in Basil Soda Haute Couture 2012 Spring Summer gown: Woah – who’s that greek goddess? Though famed for her parties and relationships, Paris Hilton has undisputed good fashion sense

Loving the lace details and gold embellishments on this gown, very elegant!

Shop similar dress:

Petals Princess Dress (sold out): Love the gold on white combination? Too bad it has sold out :(

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11
Jan

MinistryofRetail.com Review – by blogger Zoe Raymond and customers

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Recently we sent blogger Zoe Raymond ‘Turtleneck Tux Dress’ in white for Chinese New Year.

Check out the photo reviews:


Belt up the white piece with a red belt and some red accessories (can be a nice hat, dangling earrings, statement bangles, chic clutch), not forgetting the essential red lipstick for Chinese New Year.

Zoe Raymond is 1.62m, 32-24-34, UK 6

Shop Turtleneck Tux Dress here.

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Photo reviews by a customer on Gmarket:

“Am impressed with the quality of the fabric… can’t really tell in the pictures but its texture is smooth and relatively thicker(but not too thick) than the usual blouses and t-shirts. Very comfortable. Color is nice too=) I don’t really like green clothings but the deep-green of this dress is really nice….”

Shop Turtleneck Tux Dress here.

“Workmanship and quality of dress are really good. Front view & back view look like two different dresses which’s very unique. Only thing is dress took quite a long while before it was sent out but still, it’s a good buy=) Dress when received has some creases but when ironed, it’s alright.”

Two-Faced Dress has sold out!

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Photo reviews by customer, Summer:


Shop for Midnight Drapes here.

Shop for Creme & Co’s Chic Cavalier Midi Dress here.

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3
Jan

What to wear for Chinese New Year?

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2012, year of the Dragon

In a few weeks’ time, we’ll be waving goodbye to the year of the Rabbit and welcoming the year of the Dragon in 2012.

The arrival of spring spells… the need for new clothes!

According to traditional custom (and our womanly shopping excuses), it’s a must to wear brand new clothes and shoes to celebrate the coming of a new year and it’s preferable to wear clothing or accessories in red (bright shades of orange/pink will do too).

Have you done your shopping yet? Place your order (and make payment) by 15 Jan in order to receive your new clothes in time to celebrate the year of the dragon! Enjoy these recommendations:


Breezy Orange Cape Dress

Back by popular demand! A great choice for the new year if you’re uncertain of what to wear. It’s not too revealing plus it’s brightly coloured. Deck out in style this new year and wear bright orange to please the elders.


Red Trenchdress

Prefer a more versatile piece that you can wear everyday even after the festive season? Pick this practical number, wear it on 初一 and for work, thereafter!


Cleopatra Roses Dress

Prefer a dressy version of CNY pick? Opt for this dress (in bright pink/orangey red, quite hard to depict the colour in words or through pictures). You can even wear this to dinners and parties.


Fall Balloon Sleeves Top

Not a dress person? Deck out in this red top in style and class. Pair it with light grey or navy bottoms. It’ll be nice to opt for a pair of red heels.


Exquisite Lace Dress

If your family is not so particular on colours, lucky you. Get feminine and fashionable in this piece with laced sleeves which is not too warm yet chic.


Multi-Colours Scarf

Already decided on a white dress? Add some bright colours to it with this bright scarf. This is also a great piece for tying to your bag to brighten it up.

 


Crystal earrings

Don’t forget to accessorize! Opt for a classy piece like crystal earrings with shimmering crystals and colourful gems.

p.s: Receive a cute CNY orange paper bag to contain your mandarin oranges with purchase of $88 or more

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25
Dec

MinistryofRetail.com Review – by blogger Beatrice

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Recently, Beatrice went to Korea (winter time) so we thought of sponsoring some winter wear which will come in handy for her trip as well as some nice jacket/blazer for everyday wear in Singapore.

Here’s a compilation and direct link to the items for your easy viewing (click on the image):

British Trooper Coat, size M

The Executive Lady Work Dress (Green) in size S

Contrast Military Blazer in Grey, S

Cloak Style Jacket in white

For your reference, Beatrice is UK 6/8, 1.64m

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2
Dec

Meet the Models – Fitting Session for Fashion Catwalk Show

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The 8 lovely ladies in Creme & Co’s blazers and dresses during the fitting session

In the previous post, you’ve seen the pictures from the Fashion Catwalk Show. This post is about what you didn’t see.

Fitting Session
To be frank, we were rather nervous about meeting the models for the fitting session as there were a lot of firsts. First time meeting most of the ladies (previously we only communicated via sms and email). Thankfully the 8 ladies are a lovely and enthusiastic bunch to work with! First fashion show – gotta figure out what to do. It was a great learning for us.

Jessica in Colorblock Bodycon Dress and Dynamique Ruffles Corporate Dress

Meet Jessica, our tallest model at 1.8m. A medical student, she went straight back to her books after she was done with fitting. Another model wore a similar bright orange/red dress so Jessica modeled the dress on the right in green instead. To showcase the range of work blazers/jackets that’s found on Creme & Co, most outfits are paired with a blazer and Jessica wore The Corporate Blazer in black.


Teresa in Mint Green Party Dress (sold out) and Blue Straight-Cut Tunic

This is Teresa (look at the “war zone” behind her). At 1.5m she was quite worried about being short but actually she’s about the team’s height :P We had a learning point here – Teresa has an apple body shape and we found that dresses that are padded at the shoulders look good on her. Eventually she wore the dress on the left and Criss-Cross V-Dress in moss green, as the blue tunic was too casual.


Xiaoqi in Military Cape Vest over Don’t Look Back Corporate Dress  and Chauve-Souris Ruches Dress

Meet Xiaoqi the fashionista. Xiaoqi is my university classmate at NTU with a quirky fashion sense. She always dress up for classes (while most people wear t-shirts and FBTs), keeps a fashion blog at chanelesque.livejournal.com and weaves interesting stories out of her outfits. She’s what I would term ‘artsy’ – see the kind of Powerpoint slides she create here. Naturally I was excited and happy that she’s modelling for us.

Xiaoqi was given all the cape style pieces that day. As she’s rather fair, she could carry the family colour of ‘khakis’ well.

Brenda in RaffinŽ Plaine Blazer over Sophistique Corporate Dress and Autumn Goddess worn in toga style

This is Brenda, the girl with the mega-watt smile. As she’s super fair, she can carry off bright colours real well. These are the pieces she wore for the fashion show.

Serena in Romeo Romantic Work Blouse paired with Douce Žbouriffer Skirt and Ramasser L’ourlet Shirt-dress

If you’re thinking there’s some resemblance between Serena and Brenda, that’s because they’re sisters. Serena is also very fair hence she can carry khakis and brights well too. She’s really petite (UK4) – the skirt on the left is a bit loose on her. Eventually she wore the Breezy Orange Cape Dress and the shirt-dress on the right but in black with Recadree Work Blazer in red over it.

Doris in Jealous of Green (bestseller) and Cote Applique Office Dress

This is Doris. She has a naturally classy and elegant look so we gave her pieces in similar style with no exaggerating details. She wore Tie a Bow Career Blazer over the black office dress during the fashion show.

Eva in Faye Purple Dress and Belt Up Vest paired with Colorful Printed Maxi Skirt

When Eva put on Faye Purple Dress, the ladies were ‘protesting’ as they feel that Eva has an exotic look and this piece doesn’t bring out that quality in her. So they pointed to the printed skirt in the pile of clothes and I grabbed this vest and who knows, the combination turned out well :) Under the Creme & Co label, Eva wore Jap Prints Corporate Dress and a blazer that has yet to launch.

Priscilla in dress (yet to launch) and Blanche Belle Femme Dress paired with Veste de Revers Jacket

Priscilla, the hot mum. This is her figure 4 months after giving birth, not many ladies can have this kind of figure after giving birth! Somehow she ended up with all the pieces that have navy colour. She wore Entrench in Blue under the Ministry of Retail label.

The Ministry of Retail line-up.

Lesson learnt – it was hard to picture the colours they’ll be wearing so all the models changed into the clothes and lined up according to height. This is to ensure not too many of the same colours are featured and that the colours doesn’t “clash”.

Watch out for the next post (with videos too!) on the catwalk training session where we’ll be sharing with you some tips on how to pose like a model and catwalk like a beauty queen! We’re really honoured to have Vanessa with us as a trainer. Vanessa is the reigning Mrs Singapore World, Image Excellence Trainer and she trained the girls at this year’s Miss Singapore pageant!

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29
Nov

Ministry of Retail Birthday Bash – Fashion Catwalk Show

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Models for the fashion catwalk show (L-R) Brenda, Xiaoqi, Serena, Teresa, Eva, Doris, Priscilla, Jessica

On 9th October 2011, Ministry of Retail celebrated our 2nd birthday with a birthday bash. One of the highlights of the day with the fashion catwalk show with 8 pretty ladies strutting down the runway. Looking at the professionalism displayed during the catwalk, you may not believe that they are our customers and are not models/talents. In fact, none of them has modeling nor catwalk experience! The credit goes to none other than…

Mrs Singapore World 2011

Vanessa! We’re really privileged to have Vanessa as the catwalk trainer for the models. Yes, she’s a beauty queen (minus the airs) and a Mrs Singapore World 2011 at that! Want to know more about her personality? Read this: Do beauty queens walk the talk? Meet Mrs Singapore World 2011, Mrs Vanessa Tan.

This is Jessica, she’s really tall at 1.8m! Recently she participated in the Elite Look model contest and secured a modeling contract :) Really happy for her! If you’d like to engage her for modeling, feel free to email us and we’ll gladly forward the details to her.

Vanessa co-ordinating on the walkie talkie to ensure the smooth flow of the fashion catwalk show.

Final rehearsal before the programme starts! Look at the way they stand *thumbs up*



Some snippets of the fashion show, for more pictures, check out our Facebook page. More pictures up next blog post!

Here’s Vanessa giving a talk on body shapes. Love her energy! She’s also an Image Excellence Trainer at Vanessaism Inc and does mostly corporate talks. Vanessa gave a similar talk at Creme & Co’s launch party, view the photos here. Here’s a little dressing tip from her: Business Fashion 101 By Vanessa Tan

We’re blessed to have nice and generous sponsors like Vanessa and Kaili (picture above). Kaili was giving a talk on the benefits of PERB Ovine Capsules (re branded as 7cel). No joke, each bottle costs S$138 and is given out as a gift with purchase.

Good stuff! This is the table filled with ‘gifts with purchase’ kindly sponsored by Ministry of Retail (just kidding… but we bought some of these), Aqua Rine aromatic bath salt, Hada Labo skincare series and PERB. Items that are not in the picture includes food voucher from Soyato soy-based ice cream, Laurier sanitary pad sample, manicure service voucher by Ladyfinger and vouchers as well as make-up on models by Majolica Majorca make-up brand.

All the guests walked away with a pretty goodie bag filled with goodies from the sponsors stated above. It’s pink as it’s one of the Ministry of Retail’s colours and some says it looks like Victoria’s Secrets :P Xiaoqi likes the word “ambassador” printed on the bag and says it makes the customers feel special when they’re carrying this bag. I’m glad the detail is appreciated :)

Wondering what goes into preparing a fashion catwalk show? Check out the behind-the-scenes exclusive on Xiaoqi’s blog!

http://chanelesque.livejournal.com/103021.html

That’s all for this post, will blog more about the fitting and catwalk training session next time :) Till then!

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