I'm refraining from making Charlie's Angels references about my recent Jigsaw London summer afternoon "tea party" photo shoot because that would take away from the quaint allure of spending a picturesque afternoon in Beverly Hills posing in floral perfection with two beautiful ladies. We shot at a park, an urban oasis centered in the middle of one of the busiest intersections in the city. Muffled sounds of life's hustle and bustle (and mufflers) surrounded us but didn't consume or distract us as we focused on the task at hand-playing with paper windmills, pouring air from teapots, and fluffing our dresses. It was one of the most relaxing shoots I've ever been on. The lovely afternoon made me realize I don't need to travel thousands of miles or spend a gazillion dollars to enjoy an idyllic escape from the chaos of life. The right people, the right setting, and a fabulous dress will most certainly make for a great escape. {on me} Jigsaw London taffeta prom dress | Aldo heels | Chanel necklace {on Whitney} Jigsaw London tea rose dress {on Jenny} Jigsaw London ombre rose print dress Special thanks to Shari for the amazing photos! {live fabulously}

Perfect go to outfit for summer: brights and light layers

I have been using these shoes (which are my mom's) for weeks now and I was finally able to photograph them. They are really comfortable and match almost all of the shorts I own. They make walking around easy and are different from other sandals which makes them stand out. 

As for the outfit: The denim shirt was a perfect layer to keep warm but also stay cool. Then we have (the perfect) white tee and a bright pair of shorts. Then I added some coral lipstick to match the shorts and the outfit was complete.

What are your go to pieces for summer?

Happy Tuesday!

xoox,

Danielle Mid-laugh. Nice Candid photo thanks to my photographer. photos by Amanda

|The Outfit|

Shorts: BIG STAR c/o of TEEN VOGUE

Bag: GERARD DAREL

Scarf: kiosk in Italy

Denim Shirt: OLD NAVY

Tee: GAP

Necklace: EARTHY CHIC

Bracelets: H&M, GAP, EXPRESS, DIY, 

|Thanks for Reading!|

My outfit looks complicated right? But things paired with florals in acidic shades usually are. If it were a white tee or black tee, then this would be a basic, basic outfit. This tee I bought in China. It's dirt cheap, but I hope it doesn't look it. I'm really proud of it actually because it was in a back pile and I had to dig through clothes upon clothes to find it. You don't usually see florals in these colors!

Tee/ Cap/Ring: local store// Jeans: Mossimo// Heels: Taobao// Bag: Forever 21// Necklace: local store

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Anyways, we started our day early. He had just come back from overnight shift, I woke up extra early to meet him. We decided on lunch next to the water, but what I didn't count on was how hot it actually was. Like, my face is melting hot! Tempers flared up, I had to put makeup around three times, we couldn't find any pretty spot with enough shade for photos...until this little alley.

But Leon and I, we always pull through. We took pictures, got some yogurt and cheesecake, and called it a day. Hmmm....I swear I've never been this lazy till I met him =) Sigh...I can't wait for my holiday...can't wait!

See you soon,

- Che

Outfit://Shirt - Thrifted from Me&George//Blazer - c/o sheinside//Skinny - MPT//Shoes - Jeffrey Campbell//Sunnies - H&M//

I've been meaning to do an overall pastel look for some time now but never found the right pieces to combine, until these pair of skinny pants came along. Lucky for me, having a self-confessed fashion addict mother who owns a small boutique (which by the way I haven't visited in ages) come with perks, one being that I get to score stuff for free. So when I found out these were coming to the store, told mum I had to have this particular pair as soon as the stocks arrived. Sure enough, here they are... and after today, I'm completely and utterly obsessed! I mean, one, because they're made in such a soft fabric which make moving around so much more comfortable than wearing normal jeans; and two, because they fit so well, as if they were custom sized made perfectly for my big thighs and oddly skinny lower legs. They also come in varous colors, almost every color in fact, and I'm taking note to acquire a few more pairs sometime soon. Finger-crossed that mum will allow me to have 'em also for free =)

Have a fun week!



(H&M top, Splendid shorts, shoes from Japan, H&M rings, Vanessa Mooney bracelet)

Photos by Tory Ho

Not really sure how that happened, but my friend and I ended up at a theater playing a movie that was completely different from the one we were intended to watch. Either I spoke too fast or the person at the booth didn't understand english... But hey, when life throws you a completely different movie to go to, you make the best out of it. I did end up enjoying it a lot, but then when I exited the cinema, I wanted to cry. Not because of anything sad, but because the weather was so beautiful and blue. The sun was beaming and everything was clear. Even the clouds look fluffier. Taking this perfect opportunity of a week of perfect weather and my photography friend, we hiked up a little higher than normal to take a few shots. 

If only I could dive right into the blue ocean...

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Minkpink floral dress / Asos beanie / Zara bag and shoes

In my last post, I delved into my own qualms about wearing dresses; so I decided to exemplify my worries and the ways I overcome my fears of extensive-girlishness. This dress is an oldie but a goodie (post from a year ago here); what drew me to it was the black detailing that allowed for versatility when styling. My go-to contrast against a feminine piece is usually some leather, especially a leather jacket, but the Shanghai humidity is sadly too suffocating for that kind of warmth. I chose to instead grungify/toughen up the dress with a slouchy beanie, knotted cardigan, and heavy-duty shoes. In other words, this is probably one of the two floral-print pieces that I'm bringing with me to Paris this summer (the other being that one daisy skirt). Packing is always such a problem for me; I always just end up feeling a tad bit uninspired...but, I'm sure just breathing in the Paris air will be inspiring - flying out there tonight! "If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man (or woman), then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast." - Hemingway P.S. A friend's friend, Nina, who has recently been diagnosed with lymphoma, has two more months to live. She is about 30 years old, recently married and has a three-year-old son. more info can be found out here. It would really be amazing if you guys could get tested for a bone marrow match.                       Visit: on Lookbook | on Twitter | on Bloglovin' | on Instagram | on Youtube | on Facebook | on Tumblr

Outfit://Muscle Tee - Forever21//Skirt and coat (not worn) - Pull&Bear//Bag - from a local Store in Prince Edward, HK//Sunnies - H&M//Watch - Casio//

Ignore the face. Little miss grumpy just had a bad day. But don't fret, it's nothing much of a deal and I'm in a better mood now. I just hate it when I had something really good planned and then failed to materialize, you know. Like If I've already had my mind set to do something very particular for that day and end up not getting it done despite my efforts, then expect heavy drama. That pretty much is what happened today<insert more excuses here, blah blah>. But it's not like I can do something about it so what else but frown? I know I'm such a loser, forgive me. We all go through days like this.

On a lighter note, well in case you haven't noticed, Little Miss Violet has finally got a domain! Yay! But let me tell you a short back story to this because as you can see, I'm  using "www.carlaviolet.com" instead of the default "www.misscarlaviolet.com". You see, I purchased the latter a long long time ago. But out of my stupidity and because I was such a newbie, I bought it without thinking and without choosing the best possible domain host. As a result, I wasn't able to integrate it with my blogger account and lo, wasted it. Now that I've finally figured out how to integrate a domain name with blogger, I could'n't retrieve my old domain name anymore. Must have cancelled it because it was useless or it must have otherwise expired, not so sure. But when I tried to re-register it, alas, no longer available. So what else can I do but purchase a new one. Anyway, it doesn't really make any difference. In fact I think this new one is more personal so I can't be more satisfied. =)

That's all I have for you guys tonight. Fingers crossed for a better day tomorrow. Happy weekend!

Denim Vest: Joe's (vintage)// Tee: Pull & Bear// Shorts and flats: local store// Bag: Forever 21// Sunnies: c/o Chicnova

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Ahh, a getaway, where anywhere seems better than the three-island stretch I call home. Because of things bigger than we are, we can't hit HK anytime we want, but the rest of China is a different story. So, since we only got a day and a half, we could only go to the closest town possible, and that's the port town of Zhuhai. 

China has a personality. You will see it everywhere, and you will either like it, or not. Seriously, you will see how fast it grew...garish neon lighting, commercialism everywhere, and fake Prada. But it does have its perks, and I've gotten very used to it.

Furla, Chanel and Bottega Veneta in one shelf? Only in China.

WTH??

Leon's tee: Cotton On// Shorts: H&M// Watch: G-Shock

Leon wearing the 'Love Hurts' bracelet - love hurts because it cuts into his skin everytime we try to hold hands!

We spent the day eating, drinking coffee, a little shopping of course. Mmmm...I love dim sum. It's a breakfast/overnight supper food. They're steamed and fried stuff in little portions that you eat slowly, while having tea. Oh yes, very Chinese. And very good. Ooh, chinese food, I like! Everything is cheap here, even the totally awesome coffee at my fave coffee shop with all that layers and stuff, gosh, it took that bartender thirty minutes to make our two drinks...Leon was impatient, but I told him to wait for it. It's worth the wait because it's so pretty =) I bought some stuff, but I won't be making a separate post about it...they will just come here naturally - a little hint? Hats! So see you soon, - Che

My white KAHLO trapeze jacket screams Stepford Wife and is absolutely fabulous. Although mod-like in nature, the cut is surprisingly versatile and creates a nostalgic yesteryear layer to the outfit. I added some pops of color in the form of a neon yellow RD Style sweater tank, d.RA floral skirt, and kept accessories neutral and muted. I wore the outfit to the Restorsea party at Chateau Marmont yesterday followed by dinner with a lady friend at The Golden State. The Fairfax burgers and Scoops ice cream outpost is one of my favorite eateries in the area. The menu is small but everything is delicious, especially the sweet potato fries and the gourmet yet well-priced burgers. 

In the 1972 satirical novel The Stepford Wives, husbands brainwash their wives into submissive, mindless, and docile ideals relegated to their sole role in life-being the perfect housewife. Of course, at the end of the book, they're freed from mind control and predictably school the hubbies big time. The book left a lasting impression on me as it provides unconventional commentary on feminism, female empowerment, and the rudimentary minds (a sweeping generalization of course) of the male sex.

I can never be a Stepford Wife. Fiery Shanghainese blood runs thick through my veins which means any semblance of submissive docility is completely lost on me. But sometimes it's fun to dress like one. I can wear tea length dresses, trapeze jackets, and kitten heels for the rest of eternity but please don't ever ask me to fetch your slippers.  jacket: KAHLO tank c/o RD Style skirt c/o d.RA heels: Miu Miu purse: Fendi necklace: boutique in Madrid {GBF x RD Style Giveaway}

I've been wearing RD Style practically everyday as the collection is stylish and super street chic. So I'm super excited to give away a fabulous piece from their collection to one lucky GBF reader! To enter, simply "Like" RD Style on facebook AND follow them on Twitter and Instagram. And don't forget to leave a comment and tell me what's your favorite RD Style piece!

Giveaway ends Friday June 28 11:59pm PST. {live fabulously}

(top from boutique (similar ones from Alice Ritter & Talulah), Uniqlo jeggings, Tory Burch wedges, Celine bag, Casio watch)

Schools out and things are rolling. 

Not exactly.. because I still have summer work to do and the two or so months will pass by as soon as I wake up from deep sleep with layers of weird and elaborate dreams. However, I became one busy bee since the first day of summer. Did my art work which could have counted for a four hour arm workout. Sometimes doing something for a extended amount of time will rub off on you. Like this day where I was feeling a little spontaneous pulled out a mix and match look. A floral paired with stripped heels, then brought everything out with a bright pair of pants. 

Hope my little spark of creativity can help lift anyone who is feeling uninspired today. Rock out something bright and get rolling.  

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