Motoring Heritage Day

To me car talk is as foreign as Hebrew. My descriptions of motor vehicles usually start and end with its colour. But that did not stop me from paying a visit to the Motoring Heritage Day at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. 

Videos from the Grand Prix in 1960's

 One of the vintage bicycles

which is identical to one that was given to the late John Paul II as a gift

Sketches made by visitors on site

 The very flashy Alfa Romeo

 I wonder what this honk would sound like! 

Cute frog eye lights and emerald green

This would make a sweet wedding ride.

We joined one of the guided tours, which included briefing on each model by an enthusiastic volunteer who was occasionally joined by the owners of the vehicles themselves. I certainly am not fluent in the car talk but I have definitely learnt a thing or two. In a way vintage cars are not that much different from an ideal feminine figure from the 1950's; both were voluptuous, curvy and glamorous. 

This was my second time in Tanjong Pagar Railway Station that is no longer in operation and my fondness for it has definitely grown. From its exterior façade in art deco style and the lobby with plenty of natural light flooding through large windows, decorated with long panels of paintings depicting daily activities of early day Malaysians, to the long empty platform and the part of rails which has survived after the closure of the station, everything about it oozed a sense of elegant nostalgia. Instead of spoiling the day out, the light drizzle did the opposite by enhancing the beauty of the venue. I hope this place will continue to be put to good use with more interesting exhibitions!

Au Chocolat & The Art of the Brick

This year my birthday fell on the first day of Chinese New Year. Many of my friends were away in their Malaysian home towns while others were spending the holidays with their relatives. A Timbre party like last year seemed impossible, the day was quietly but pleasantly spent at Marina Bay Sands. 

First stop was brunch at Au Chocolat, a French inspired bistro occupying a large corner above the skating rink. Separated from the dining area was a confiserie selling all kinds of sweet treats, sliced cakes, gelati and merchandise. 

The charmingly decorated dining area

A train circling the shop on a suspended rail!

An excited crowd gathering in front of the café enjoying the lion dance

I ordered cappuccino while W ordered ice latte.

My coffee was not as rich as I'd like and the foam was not thick enough. 

Chicken dumpling in a consommé.

Not sure if the dumplings were Chinese-inspired but the pastry tasted very much like wanton skin! It was nice but not exactly what we would have ordered if it was not part of the set lunch. 

Pork belly with mash potato and garden vegetables.

The skin was crispy and the meat nicely seasoned without being too salty. The mash potato was silky smooth. Of course the boy complained about the small serving!

It took me some time to pick from the numerous desserts and I decided on the stuffed French toast. The cornflakes-coated brioche was extra crunchy and was covered with creamy mascarpone, a generous amount of refreshing berries and chocolate sauce. It was an indulgence for my sweet tooth!

Offering a wide variety of desserts and all-day breakfast, Au Chocolat is an obvious spot for brunch or afternoon tea. It has a whimsical atmosphere and waiters were attentive. Alternatives such as savoury crêpe, burger and meat dishes are also in the menu but obviously not their forte. I would not mind returning to sample their cakes next time!

Au Chocolat

Bay Level L1-03,

The Shopped at Marina Bay Sands

As a birthday treat W also took me to see the exhibition The Art of the Brick. It features sculptures and mosaics portraits made by Nathan Sawaya with nothing more than Lego bricks (and perhaps a bit of his specially-formulated glue) He is one of the thirteen Lego Professors and rightfully so. It was a spectacular exhibition for Lego fans of all ages.

Valentino Retrospective: Past/Present/Future

The Gallery of Modern Art is officially one of my favourite places in Brisbane. Out of all the capital cities in Australia, Brisbane gets to host the "Valentino, Retrospective: Past/Present/Future" exhibition at the GoMA! I went to see the gallery last Saturday with Karen and it was the best exhibition I have ever seen (Yes, it trumps the Pixar 20th Anniversary exhibition in Melbourne in 2008).
The exhibition is really well laid-out. It starts with what Valentino does the best - an evening gown in his signature "Valentino red" from his very first collection in 1965. It then opens up to the first gallery, where garments are grouped according to textile (eg feathers, leather and fur), prints (eg floral and animal prints), colours, silhouetts and techniques. When I walked into this hall, it literally took my breath away I had to gasp. The enormous space is filled with so many different colours, patterns and shapes it is like couture heaven. The second section is a display of documentory videos, fashion magazines from different decades and a huge picture board presenting the history of the Valentino house. The second gallery is arranged mainly by colours; white, black and red. One section is dedicated to pieces from his last collection while the exhibition finishes with the 2009 collection by Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli.
Unlike the Les Arts exhibition in Paris, all the garments are displayed in the open space (on specially made-to-measure mannequins belonging to Mr Valentino himself, of course). I felt like I was having an intimate experience with the couture gowns. You can see every stitch, every sequin, every inch of the fabric. The craftsmanship and the details are so amazing. Looking the clothes from a distance (or on style.com on a computer screen) simply does not do them justice. For the whole four hours that I was there I was just bombarded by beauty and colours. The combination of colours and the juxtaposition of fabrics are so creative. I think I saw a few colours that I did not even know existed ?! Each garment has their own unique character. His designs are so classic, so elegant, so feminine and so timeless. There are pieces from his 60's or 70's collections that are completely wearable today.
I am surprised that Alessandra Facchinetti was not even mentioned at all in the exhibition. Personally I love the few collections that she has done. I thought they were romantic, light, young and elegant. I guess that can be the exact reason that got her dismissed. Too approaching for a couture house maybe?
The new duo definitely have a different direction from the traditional Valentino. They are tougher and more modern. When compared to the collections designed by Valentino himself, their garments seem to be lacking femininity, class and delicacy. Whether they can uphold the Valentino legend is still questionable. But one thing is certain; Mr Valentino is an absolute legend and we will always love his talent!

Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones

Some people say hats are for bad hair days. The Cancer Council says they're for sun protection. Stephen Jones says they complete your outfit, express a statement and transform you into a character.Hats: An Anthology of Stephen Jones is a currently exhibition at the Gallery of Modern Art, showcasing modern and historical hats and headpieces from the London's Victoria and Albert Museum and Stephen Jones's own collection. Here you can see a small selection from the exhibition. Jones's creations are such amazing work. I love how he has such a "British heart". He draws inspiration from the London underground, British passport, the Wimbledon tennis court, the uniform of the guards of the Buckingham Palace. He has the ability to put a paintbrush on a woman's head without making her look ridiculous. His work is so exciting and fun and has changed my perception of hats. Even though I absolutely enjoyed this exhibition, I still think they are missing one thing - a trencher hat!!A couple of hats featured in the exhibition:

John Galliano 2009 Spring RTW

Comme des Garcon 2007 Fall RTW

Sarah-Jessica Parker at Sex and the City Movie premiere

Where the outfit would not be completely without these exquisite headpieces:

Jean Paul Gaultier 2010 Spring Couture

Christian Dior 2010 Spring Couture

Marc Jacobs 2007 Spring RTW

Burberry Prorsum 2009 Spring RTW
(Has a fisherman hat ever looked that chic?!)

Chanel 2009 Spring Couture

Alexander McQueen 2008 Spring RTW

I always think fashion should be about fun. So go wear the biggest bow you have, put a bird on your head, wear colours that are not supposed to go together. Be adventurous. Go big. Have fun. Stand out.

And how can a weekend be complete without baking?

Banana and apple cinnamon muffins :)

Frocking Up

Fashion is transformative. It can give you glamour. It can give you power. It can show vulnerability. It can create drama. It turns a girl-next-door to a diva. And today I went to see an exhibition that demonstrated one of the most theatrical type of fashion - costume.


Frocking Up: The Art of the Costume Maker has been on display at Tony Gould Gallery QPAC since last year and I finally found time to pay my visit on its last day of exhibition. And I'm glad I did. It just shows the amazing ability of clothes to transform a performer/dancer/opera singer. A high-collar Victorian-styled gown in deep purple and royal blue for a Parisian seductive mistress. A ballet dress with tiny bronze bells attached on the body made especially for Tinker Bell. The extravagant robe in bright red and gold prints lined with faux fur for the King. A coat printed with presents, Christmas trees and sugar canes for the spirits in A Christmas Carol, who litereally wore Christmas on them. The costumes have almost done half the acting for them.

And talk about someone who knows the power of fashion:





You've gotta give it to her. That girl knows how to dress. And she wears Alexander McQueen!