beauty lies everywhere...especially in necklaces.

When I decided to write this post I got so excited and giddy because it's about something that is on the top of my "trending" list right now! I really hope you will enjoy it too (a small warning - word heavy post ahead!)! A few months ago a friend came to see me and she was wearing this beautiful necklace - it was designed and shaped like a diamond or gemstone chandelier necklace...but was made completely of rubber! I know my description totally is inadequate, believe me, my words do not do it justice! The necklace was amazingly intricate and detailed and I fell in love with it! I immediately asked where she got it and it turns out it is from a Thai designer named Ek Thongprasart. Now this got me even more excited - I love local designers and am so proud that many current Thai designers are earning a worldwide reputation for their creativity and artistic talent. I came home and googled Ek Thongprasart and found that he sells his line in very exclusive high end boutiques in Europe which is totally fitting given the quality and design of his work. I also found that his jewelry collection can be found here at Club 21 accessories at Siam Paragon ( Bangkok ) - so of course how could I resist a visit there!!!

The saleslady was super nice and brought out every single piece of his S/S 12 that they had for me to try on - here are a few of them! Aren't they beautiful?

I confess I did go abit crazy trying them all on and once or twice I felt a true sense of despair as I asked the saleslady over and over "which one should I get?" like an insanely obsessed person, which I was. The saleslady was so patient and wonderful though and let me take my time.

Aren't they just wonderful? I feel they are so distinctive and besides being unique and beautiful, they they are very lightweight as well! Finally I made up my mind and guess which one I got?

This light purple one! I love this one because it fits around any neckline perfectly and the teardrop design just feels complete and elaborate enough without being overly so. The colour in this picture (above) is however not true to life - the real colour of the necklace is actually more muted, almost a light grey - let me try posting another picture in natural light.

This is the true colour of the necklace in its box taken in daylight. I love it! Actually I love his whole collection but right now I am having fun and enjoying wearing this gem - I wear it during the day casually with a tank top and jeans or at night a bit more dressed up with black slacks, a silver top and a clutch! Its the perfect addition to any outfit.

crystals and charms

I started getting interested in crystals and their energies a few years back. I believe that everything in life has energy and anything with good energy we should definitely keep near and dear to us. I'm a Gemini and born on a Wednesday, so I did some research and found out that my lucky crystals are Rutile Quartz and Amazonite. Rutile Quartz is supposed to draw away negative energy and sooth dark moods, easing difficult situations in good time, while Amazonite promotes confidence and self worth. Another favourite of mine is Rose Quartz, the crystal of love which brings love, attraction and forgiveness.

Besides loving all the qualities that these crystals bring, I also love love love accessories and charm bracelets - so what better than to wear these lucky crystals along with my favourite charms for good luck? During my trips to Hong Kong and Singapore I stop by Thomas Sabo and Links of London which have the most darling charms that I can wear with my crystal bracelets. I especially like Thomas Sabo charms because they have little fasteners which make them so easy to attach and remove. These are my everyday crystals and some of the charms which I mix and match to them. The Rutile Quartz is the yellowish cream one, Amazonite is the deep green and Rose Quartz is the pale pink one.

Aren't they cute? I love them! The silver charm bracelet with the spiderweb heart charm was a recent purchase from Links of London in Hong Kong. I love their sweetie charm bracelet line and this mini one was perfect to wear with my crystals - I saw it at IFC mall and bought the bracelet first. I saw the spiderweb heart and loved it but wasn't sure if I wanted to buy both items. So I left the shop, walked around the mall for another hour, and found i couldn't get it out of my mind! I had to go back and get it! And I am so happy I did, I think it's so unique and I love the juxtaposition of the heart with the spiderweb. I think it goes perfectly with my crystals and I always wear them all together!

Obsession of the day - exotic textures

I am a tried and true bagaholic and lately I have been so obsessed with exotic skins and diffferent textures of leather...for some reason they really draw me in and I can never resist! I have been on the prowl for bags of various skins and textures and have found some that I really love and cherish. Whether they are true exotics or embossed doesn't really bother me, what I appreciate most about them is that they are truly timeless...I can see myself using them in 5 or 10 years and they will still be fashionable and classic.

I found this ostrich skin hobo in a leather shop here in Bangkok where I live. What I love about living in Asia is that you can find really high quality leather goods for very reasonable prices. The leather is buttery soft and what I love most is that it just gets softer and more supple with use. I use it everyday!

Another true love of mine - red and embossed! This is a furla bag I bought during a recent trip to Singapore - the deep red colour, leather texture, and shape caught my eye immediately. It is very easy to use and goes with just about everything in my wardrobe. Red is truly one of my favourite colours for hangbags because I normally dress in very neutral tones and a red bag is a great way to add a pop of colour. Don't you agree that this is a classic?