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About Me

About Me
CrystalPhuong.net is a Personal Style & Travel Blog based in Singapore, written by Crystal Phuong. The blog was nominated FOUR times in Top 10 Best Fashion Blogs in the annual Singapore Blog Award from 2012- 2015, voted as one of the Best Lifestyle Blogs in Singapore in 2013 by Hotelclub.com, and Best Travel Blogs in 2016 by Foodpanda.com. Crystal hopes to connect and inspire young women to lead a healthy and happy life. Be confident, be positive, and be kind.
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CrystalPhuong- Singapore Travel & Lifestyle Blog 2016

CRYSTAL'S CLOSET: A DAY BY THE BAY

CRYSTAL'S CLOSET: A DAY BY THE BAY

July 31, 2013

A day by the bay is always a good day to me. Last Tuesday was even better when it started off at my all time favorite place: Marina Bay Sands. I and Alicia had a very early morning meeting with client at Starbucks overlooking at the spectacular Marina Bay Sands hotel. Not sure if it was because of the fantastic location that gave my client a good mood or our proficiency at work helped us in closing the deal. But we did it, short and sweet! A good day just got even better. 

 Hanging out at such beautiful places like that, nobody can say "No" to photos-taking time. I know I can't. I even prepared what I wanted to wear a night before for this special outfit of the day shoot. 

Nothing fancy! Just a simple pencil skirt, statement silk embroidery blouse with high heels for sophisticated, polished and professional look. On a fine day when you are looking at your overwhelming wardrobe and not knowing what to wear for work (just like me), grab your favorite pencil skirt and work your way up. The pencil skirt is such an amazing versatile staple that it can make you look casual, sexy, elegant or professional within a blink of an eye. 

 With that said, I strongly recommend you to get at least, 1 -3 pencil skirts in your wardrobe for your work- play - party purposes. You can click here to see how I was wearing my pencil skirt.





















Hope you guys like today blog post! Let me know in the comment section below if you have better style tips on wearing pencil skirts, I would love to hear and feature your style in my upcoming blog entry. 

Thank you so much for reading, everyone!

Talk to you soon.
Crystal
::Outfit::
Pencil skirt: Dorothy Perkins
Embroidery top: Wholesale-dress -Similar here
Belt: Forever New - Similar here
Heels: New Look- Similar here and here
Handbag: Oasap.  
Glasses: Calvin Klein - Similar here



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RAINING BLUE

RAINING BLUE

July 29, 2013

Hi everyone, 

I was just wondering if you have ever played in the rain when you were a kid? I remember when I was a kid, I always loved playing in the rain. Sometimes, I just had to sneak out of the house without getting caught as my parents were worried if I would get sick. It was so fun when you were a child. When I get older, playing in the rain seems to be a great way to lose myself for an amount of time and forget about all the worries. It becomes a stress-released activity to me, yet I haven't had chance to do it again for the past 10 years. 

Only until last week, when I was caught in a very heavy rain in between my meetings, I had no other excuse not to bring my favorite childhood memory back. Even better, I brought my camera with me to capture this perfect moment. I thought we were so unfortunate to be stuck at an overhead bridge but it turned out to be an ideal location for a quick photo shoot under such weather condition. 


 Time and space seemed to stop right at this overhead bridge, giving me an opportunity to enjoy looking at the rain without having to worry about "What should I do next?". 









Knowing that this moment would go by so quickly as soon as the rain stopped and I had to get back to my daily life routine again, I just had to reach out my hand to touch the cold raindrops and to let them splash everywhere. I felt like I was at my 10 years old again. 



At the present, being an adult gets me less excited about playing in the rain. Instead, I would prefer taking a romantic walk with the man of my life, sharing an umbrella and giving each other a tight hug. Otherwise, a quiet corner with a cup of chamomile tea, some fashion magazines would do the job. 

What would be your most favorite way to enjoy the rain (*besides sleeping, of course)? Please share with me at the comment section below. 

 Thank you so much everyone for reading. I hope you had a great weekend and are ready to kick start your brand new week. Good luck!

 Love,
Crystal
::Outfit::
Dress: OASAP- Similar here and here
Heels: ALDO- Similar here and here
Watch: Swarovski - Similar here and here
Swarovski earrings-
ASOS bracelet-
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{TRAVEL} A GUIDE TO SINGAPORE'S CHINATOWN

{TRAVEL} A GUIDE TO SINGAPORE'S CHINATOWN

July 26, 2013
Image courtesy of Singapore Tourism Board. Photographer: Tan Hock Siong.

Similar to other major cities and countries, Chinatown is Singapore’s tourist heaven. Backpackers skip straight into the exciting Chinese buzz ignoring the obvious glamour and glitz of Orchard Road and Marina Bay Sands. Singapore’s Chinatown is filled with history, suspense and culture. A remembrance of traditional customs combined with Chinese medicines, clothing, specialty dishes and the rituals follow everyone’s journey through the notorious yet exciting part of Singapore. Chinatown is an amazing district to start walking around after 2pm into the night when the neon lights hit and the district explodes with energy.

The History

There’s a vibrant energy that passes through the busy streets of Chinatown. It gives off a different feel compared to other places in Singapore. Don’t be fooled by the lovingly-restored and charming heritage shops and houses, Chinatown still resembles a disreputable past. Shady alleys providing refuge for opium traffickers, illegal gambling and secret societies. Prostitution growing in popularity with rats openly scampering looking for a meal. The standards of living were deplorable with living spaces cramped further into each other after every street. It was suffocating. Sanitation was unheard of. It was the lowest of the low.

So what changed?

Well, several decades later after countless restoration efforts, Chinatown is now Singapore’s biggest landmark attraction for both citizens and tourists alike. It is an upscale commercial and residential area that’s filled with heritage and culture. The shop houses were the only historical item to be spared from being destroyed due to their architectural value. Other iconic changes have since popped up over Chinatown like the Red Dot Design Museum, the Chinatown Heritage Centre and Pinnacle@Duxton residential project. These developments have fused the past and the future to create an architectural marvel. Despite the modernisation efforts, Chinatown still retains the majority of its quirky charm. An intricate group of shop houses from Maxwell Road up to Pagoda Street blends the boundaries between Chinatown and the Tanjong Pagar district. You’ll find pretty much everything here, from dried seahorse to cackling trinkets. Whether you’re looking for sexy men’s underwear or Buddhist paraphernalia, Chinatown has it all. You won’t find such a diverse range of street shops anywhere else in Singapore.

Rest, relax and stay in Chinatown

The area can leave you feeling drained after a long trek, so don’t hesitate to soothe your soles in one of Chinatown’s many spas. Spahaven on 45-46 Amoy Street offers everything a luxury spa would. Or you may opt for Qimantra on 83A Club Street which offers an authentic Chinese remedial experience. How can anyone turn down a traditional Chinese massage? If you’re done for the day or just need to slip in a power nap, then look for nearby places to stay. There are great deals for Singapore hotels this year by many online accommodation websites, such as HotelClub. And if you’re looking for something totally unconventional, then try Living Wellness on 24A Pagoda Street instead. They promote colon hydrotherapy with coffee enemas. Of course, it’s done in a private environment.

What to eat

Tourists definitely need to try local cuisine, especially for the first timers. The most authentic Singaporean cuisine you will find in Chinatown will be at the Singapore Heritage Restaurant on 48 Pagoda Street in the Heritage Centre. The fusion restaurant brings together dishes from Singapore’s historical past and blends them with a quality selection of cocktails. 20 Trengganu Street is home to Yum Cha Chinatown Restaurant, a traditional Dim Sum Restaurant that’s won over the hearts of the locals. It’s become a popular hang-out spot for residents for bringing an awesome dim sum experience to Singapore. It’s on top of a shop house and really gives off an old Singapore vibe while you sit on white marble tables in a circle. Wooden carved Chinese chairs combined with Chinese calligraphy finishes off the already-perfect environment. If you want a mix of the old and the new, then go down Keong Saik Street. An infamous red-light district is now teemed with boutique hotels. You’ll find the charming Hotel 1929 which is home to Ember, a fashionable modern European restaurant that food critics constantly go crazy about.

Train stop: Chinatown on the Purple Line

Recommended for: Couples and adults who love heritage and like to explore

Budget: Cheap food, clothing and souvenirs

Average hotel prices: $150-$250/night

*** This blog entry is written by Sohaib Siddique- is a writer based in London. He has spent the last ten years travelling and studying around the world. He loves travelling light and hunting out technology that will make his money go further for longer.
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AUDREY HEPBURN STYLE.

AUDREY HEPBURN STYLE.

July 22, 2013
Hi everyone, 

This is probably the first and the most exciting Crystal's Closet blog entry that I would like to share with you inspired by a famous celebrity from the 1960s. It's no other than Audrey Hepburn, my biggest fashion inspiration. 


 Audrey Hepburn, born Audrey Kathleen Ruston (1929- 1933) was one of the most elegant actresses in all of cinema. She was an Academy- Award winning actress, a fashion icon in the 20th century and her most iconic role, nominated for an Oscar was in Breakfast at Tiffany's (as in the photo above). She never seemed to try to be iconic, it just came naturally for her. From wearing a scarves, to the Little Black Dress, to an A-line dress, she marked her name on it even after she was gone.

As you may know, Singapore Blog Award theme this year was all about 1960s and we were advised to dress up according to the theme given on the award presentation day. It took me a week to think of what should I wear and after so many research, I decided to transform myself to my idol just for one day. It's said that when it comes to 1960s fashion, the retro look must have been done to death, but if you've not experimented with the Audrey Hepburn look yet, you haven't really experienced retro. 

And so, I'm shamelessly presenting to you my version of Audrey Hepburn. 



I don't have the naive, innocent looking eyes like Audrey Hepburn, neither the cigarette holder because I don't smoke but I think I have the most basic necessities required to pull this look off: up-do hairstyle, tiara, pearl necklaces, big statement earrings, little black dress and black gloves. 


Off I went to attend the Singapore Blog Award held at Shanghai Dolly (Clarke Quay). It was a beautiful day indeed.




Classic, elegant, chic and simple are the right words to sump up Audrey's style. Less is more! She once said "Boil it all down to what counts the most: What is the essence of what you are trying to do, what is the most important thing? Things only get complicated when you try to address too many issues". This, apparently, is my most important reminder in whatever I do in life. 


Enough of the black and white from 1960s yet? Let me bring you back to the present and see if the 2013 Audrey-Hepburn wanna-be could score any point. 


 I know I don't usually dress up like this on my daily basis, but taking out the tiara, the pearl necklace, up-do hairstyle and the black gloves, I dare to say this is definitely my style.


 Want to look like Audrey Hepburn? The first thing you must do is to pay attention to your grooming as she believed the first thing people notice is how you look: flawless skin, manicured nails and well-groomed hairstyle

The Little Black Dress was also first introduced by Audrey in both films Sabrina and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Because of her, this plain simple staple became so popular that every girl must have it in her wardrobe.

















I was even interviewed by Omy.sg with this Audrey Hepburn look and the next morning when I came to office, somebody passed me a copy of the Newspaper. I was in it! :D 


I don't know if this could be considered a successful celebrity transformation look but I received a number of emails asking me to do a step-by-step tutorial. That simply made my day!

 Thank you so much for loving this new look of me and I'm glad you do like it as much as I created it. I'll try my best to do more celebrity inspired looks in future for you guys, I promise!
::Outfit::
Little Black Dress: H&M- Similar here and here
Heels: Aldo -Similar here
Pearl necklace: Milanoo - Similar here
Clutch: Aldo - Similar here and here
Black gloves: Black (UK)
Statement earrings: Swarovski - Similar here and here


 Photography by: Carmen Chow - Edited by me
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{TRAVEL}: TIL NEXT TIME, TAIWAN!

{TRAVEL}: TIL NEXT TIME, TAIWAN!

July 15, 2013
Hi everyone,

 Suddenly, I don't know how to start this last blog post about #Taiwan trip. The feeling is like when I was in Taipei on my 4th day knowing that this was my last day in Taipei. It's getting emotional.

 My flight back to Singapore was at 8pm so I had plenty of time to walk around the streets and to look for some souvenirs for friends and family. My hotel is located right at Ximending, one of the most popular shopping districts for young people. Ximending is the source of Taiwan's fashion, subculture and Japanese culture. It's like "Shibuya of Taiwan"

The streets at 12pm didn't seem to be very crowded and I had an entire street for myself for photo taking. 

Wearing the "Catch me if you can" cut-out T-shirt, jeans, sneakers and a denim jacket just in case I would be cold on the airplane later at night.



As you can see from the photos, most street shoppers are youths and the way they dress up is pretty similar to Japanese style.

Walking at the middle of Ximending street with my favorite frog hat that I bought for my nephew Miu the other day. It matches my sunglasses, don't you think?

Too much of walking and shopping around under the crazy hot sun worn me out, this was the last thing I wanted to do before leaving Taipei. 

Sitting in an air-con restaurant with a cool drink and looking over the vibrant streets, I knew my trip was complete! 





Taipei had been good to me from the moment I stepped into the city til the minute I left: the food, the scenery, the people (I love Taiwanese people already, why are they so friendly and helpful?), the culture, the vibrant city and the crazy shopping experience and many more. 

The city bid its farewell with this amazing picturesque view when I was on the way to airport, what should I say?
Good bye Taiwan! Til next time! 

I don't know how soon I will be back but I know I definitely will. Thank you for everything! I enjoyed so much my 4 days while I was there. Also, thank you Streetdirectory for filling up my dream-traveling-destination-list.

Thank you so much everyone for following me in my #travelingwithCrystal journey on Instagram & Facebook. It was so fun to share my traveling experience with you guys. I hope you enjoyed the blog entries about my Taiwan adventure. 

Love, 
Crystal
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