My love/hate relationship

Dear Dayre,

Sometimes I have a love hate relationship with my job. And my favourite love-to-hate and hate-to-love part?

PHOTOSHOOTS 😭

Why I love photoshoots

It is probably the MOST FUN part of running a fashion store.

Getting to play dress up and styling the models is super fun especially when you're hyped up and excited about the new upcoming designs and soon-to-be-released pieces 😍

We do both studio and outdoor shoots.

Studio shoots are great because once you get the lighting set up properly, you don't have to fuss over the technicalities too much.

Plus there's aircon!!!

It's much less tiring in a sense because you just need to stay put in one location, but also more tiring because we tend to plan a lot more outfits to be shot in one session as opposed to outdoor lookbooks where you really can't be too ambitious and you're exposed to all kinds of external factors that may affect a shoot.

For instance.. Rain is the number one outdoor shoot spoiler 😭

Why I hate photoshoots

They are SO SO SO SO SO SO tiring like you cannot imagine!

It's both mental and physical.

Prep work for a shoot usually involves the following:
1. Deciding which pieces to shoot
2. Style all the pieces in interesting and fashionable ways
3. Steam iron all the apparel

During shoot:
1. Decide/do hair and makeup for model
2. Set up studio lights/scout for outdoor location
3. Take as many good frames as possible within stipulated time because models are paid by the hour and the longer you take, the more expensive it's gonna be
4. Constantly ensure that model looks good in frames. At the same time, you have to engage the model mentally as well because it can be seen in the frames if your model is "switching off"

Outdoor shoots are trickier because you have to take so many things into account.

Location, props, lighting.. And our crazy weather means that everyone is gonna be breaking out into a sweat even before the shoot starts for real.

We also have to find makeshift places for our model to change in and out of outfits: there isn't always a toilet.

Ok one more thing I hate about outdoor shoots is I always end up two shades darker and I tan so easily!!!! That sucks.

And sometimes… WE ARE LIKE LIVE FEED FOR MOSQUITOES 😭😭😭 I counted ten over bites on my legs last shoot. No joke.

Guys we really need to get some insect repellent.

But why I love photoshoots again and go through them week on week on week..

SEEING THE END RESULTS MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT 😍😍😍😍😍😍

When I sit down at my computer and review/edit/touch up the images, I magically forget how tiring and stressful it was. Lolol.

Behind the scenes of our last shoot..!

We shot a lookbook for one of the most exciting pieces we'll be launching this year.. OUR VERY FIRST EXCLUSIVELY MANUFACTURED AUTUMN/WINTER WEAR!!! 🍁🍂🌿🍁

Not sure why I always end up doing brows for other people…. I have to be impromptu brow stylist too?!! 😂

Poor Chanel got really freaked out when I approached her with this hugeass scissors and went like "Don't worry ok I'm just gonna trim your brows I'm very good at this" 😂 @billetsdouxfromc

Here's how we roll. Everything on a trolley with wheels including the shoes, outfits and other necessities. That's our photographer Nic who likes to wear all the hats I use for styling during our shoots 😅

After hair and makeup in office, we move on to location! As none of us has a car… Uber to the rescue. 🙌🏻

Uber is the best because you can use the GPS map to input a super specific location that some other apps can't do!! So if you're shooting in the middle of Hort park, it really helps.

Oh if you download Uber and use it for the first time… USE MY PROMO CODE LEH!

$10 off please key in YINAG hehehehe ✨

I screenshot this from Chanel's snapchat.

This has probably got to be one of her most physically challenging shoots for us ever 😂

Imagine being all wrapped up in two to three layers and having to pretend that you're in nice cool weather when it's actually swelteringly warm and humid.. Let's not forget the mozzies.

Not a single word of complaint from my very professional model though 😘

Here I am rifling through our box for something: probably a lipstick or what not while model is getting ready for shoot.

During photoshoot days, I literally feel like an "ah sam" 😂 I'll dress as comfortably as possible and wear a long-sleeved loose top for outdoor shoots to try to protect my skin from the sun. Throughout the shoot, if I'm not behind the lens, I'll be fussing over the model's hair/outfit, making sure everything looks good.

Me putting on those earmuffs on Chanel who's going like "Which crazy person is wearing ear muffs at 33 deg Celsius?"

We got quite a few odd stares from passerbys for sure… 😂

It's certainly not easy for the model too who still has to smile and pose for frames when everyone's suffering from the heat, humidity and mosquitoes! Feeling sticky and sweaty and itchy and having your hair clump onto your forehead is really tough.

But at the end of the day…. When you see that crazy nice shot, it really feels amazing. Ultra sense of satisfaction and suddenly it's all worth it to have gone through the sweat and toil.

有没有秋天的感觉?? 🍁🍂🌿✨

So prettzzzzx and I really love this coat 😍

The things I have to do to get the frames I want……. -.- I.e picking up and throwing a whole bunch of leaves into the air like a maniac 😂😂😂😂😂😂

BUT NICE HOR

Some of these photos are actually taken with the OMD EM5 and 45mm f1.8 lens btw! 😍

I'm definitely keeping red for myself 😍❤️ Always have had a special love for red coats because they are so vibrant and outstanding!

It's not like a bright crimson red too. More towards slightly darker, almost burgundy.

This is the original piece that we based our manufactured version on. I love it and always wear it whenever I'm in cold climates! I got so many inquiries on it so I thought it would be so nice if we could manufacture something similar.

So which color is your pick? 😁

If you're wondering how warm this coat is/what temperatures it can withstand, I'd say it's good for autumn to mild winter!

For 12-18 deg it's probably good with one layer inside and maybe a scarf.

For 12 and below (maybe lowest 5-6 deg) I would think that with an additional layer of thermal wear it should be good.

This wrap design made famous by Ted Baker 😍

Yessssss so excited to launch this next week! 😁