See you all soon, 27th- 28th Feb ... in Singapore !!!

Goat to Celebrate ...

Something is around the corner...its bright, colorful and has got two horns and four legs. It’s a Goat!

Bet you weren’t expecting that…

Well, the 8^th sign of the Chinese Zodiac is here with the Lunar New Year.

The horse of last year goes back in the stable as the Goat comes bounding out, running wild on the green, cocking its head on one side, its seems to say “Boy, its about time”!

It's Chinese New year or Lunar New year time, again. It kicks off on Thursday 19^th Feb 2015 but the celebrations go on until end of the month… until the last Yee sang is spilled over, every bit of the last cookie eaten and certainly not until you have greeted everyone with a loud resounding GONG XI FA CAI, simply meaning Happy New Year.

I for one love CNY. (Short form lah)…

I find there is something so quaint and endearing about a year, which takes the shape of an animal. Being an animal lover (not the creepy crawlies, badly behaved monkeys and other host of small things and bats)… more of the cuddly, sweetie types. But, I do love the fact that our attributes can be likened to the animal of the year in which one is born. In fact, each animal has its own element (Fire/Wood/Earth/Water/Metal) and comes with its share of lucky things. You need to check that your animal is friends with the goat. Mine is friends alright, not childhood sweethearts but friends for sure.

Another fabulous thing about CNY is the Yee sang. Only prevalent in these parts, the dish is made up of raw veggies, sesame, peanuts and some delish raw fish.

It’s usually served in a large platter to be shared with friends and family. After pouring the plum sauce and generous amount of honey, topped with fish, each person uses long chopsticks and tosses the mix high up. And, as it goes higher, you ask for good luck, prosperity, good fortune and if it spills over its even better…

It’s a must if you haven’t tried it… I wait for an entire year just for this dish. Promise me you will try it today. Promise now !!!

However the thing I love the most is the gorgeous Cheongsam (a Chinese dress), intricate and pretty, one needs to be sort of fit to get into the lovely slim waisted silk dresses seen at all malls… And ahem. I did manage to get one after all…yes I did!!! A funny story really.

Felt slightly sheepish, which is probably a good thing considering it’s the year of the sheep (hahhaah. Get it, sheepish, year of the sheep..eer, why is no one laughing???)

Okay, so it’s the slightly larger variety but the point is I have one…don’t be shy about it, approach the stalls with great resolve; don’t be alarmed by the slim figure-hugging mannequins.

So, with great confidence I picked up what seemed a modest size and asked the shopkeeper if she had any other colours.

Without blinking, she replied “This size no good for you, I have a very large size at back”. I mumbled something about buying it really for my grandaunt but no one heard it.

Well anyhoo, big size it was and when I finally tried it on, it was loose (defy by half a cm at least). And so out I went and loudly I said, “This is good, slightly loose but I think I like comfort” (see…quite clever don’t you think?)

And then she looked back and said even more loudly “no loose, big size fit very nicely”… And just like that, the sullen face broke into a warm smile with an approving look in her eye. “You look very nice” she added.

And there I was ready to give a smart reply and suddenly I melted. All I could murmur was “Thanks, I never had one before, it’s so nice and elegant and thanks so much for helping me”.

I realized later, she had moved on to another customer. My little speech was unheard… futile yet felt immensely satisfying.

It felt like I was now part of the celebrations and even as I left the store, I couldn’t help smile at all and one…

Moral of the story: There are sizes available for all so don’t wait to lose those pounds, get your cheongsam now, LOL… and do what I do…

Coz this Lunar New year am gonna deck up in a bright Cheongsam, meet all my friends, have a Yee sang with my family, hand out a few red lucky money envelopes to kids I see, eat loads of cookies, buy a pet goat (okay, don’t do that one). Decorate the house with lucky charms and hope and pray that the Goat indeed proves to be lucky, happy and healthy all the way through…

So go out there and do all the things and celebrate and integrate and enjoy this wonderful time, no matter if you get a few things wrong, it’s the spirit of things…. After all, Goat to Celebrate in style.

Gong Xi Fa CAI !!!

A day in the life of a RASHEE woman...

So, you clicked on it… By accident ofcourse!!

You are probably wondering if this blog is meant for you coz you don’t know if you are a RASHEE woman. Hmmmm...

In fact, you probably never heard of it!

What is RASHEE ??... should be your next question. It’s a probably a cult or worse a fashion blog to sell you something… Well right you are!!!

Jest kidding, RASHEE is an enterprise started by two young women (lets stick to young coz, age is such a cruel number) who bring their sense of style to lifestyle and clothing creation, yup its one of many!!!!

But here’s the catch, this blog is not about fashion… no siree Bob. Its not!!

And these women I happen to know, they are like all of us and like us, they too have their own special sense of unique, crazy, mad, and a quirky sense of style in all they do.

Between you and me... They are a bit off! One goes on and one about her cat and the other is learning to dance and paint and study scriptures all at the same time.

I mean I know what you are thinking…. The cat sounds so interesting !!

Oh you mean them... yes yes they are very interesting too… yes lead interesting lives, blah blah, good looks, super sense of style, nice and kind... enough already!!!

SO as I was saying... The blog has nothing to do with Fashion!!!

Its about everything and nothing at the same time... get it!!

I know what you are thinking,. So who is this RASHEE woman, only someone who buys stuff from the label... Nope!!!

Coz its about who you are, what you wear is only a mere accessory. (I came up with this line... cool yeah??)

This woman could be sitting cross legged in her comfy tee and tracks drawing something on the floor, or doing her Zumba, or driving to school or meeting someone over a power lunch... yeah! like that’s gonna happen in our expat life (err... I mean don’t lose hope), or launching her own entrepreneurial enterprise, or making food in the kitchen, or having a laugh with her girlfriends, or sitting in the tube waiting for her station..phew… in short, she could be anywhere doing anything…. She could be a secret spy… I know, I know, but at least I can imagine!!

We want to seek stories which reflect different attitudes or same ones…doing same differently, doing different differently, and doing nothing at all... mostly we will stick to the last one... Doing nothing.

But now you see YOU are all part of it as well. As we go through life, we get influenced by people, different points of view, different approaches…. each tells a story…. each reflects a style.

We want to see and hear more, explore more and hence we thought why not a blog… (even the cat agrees apparently…)

Its about nothing important yet something to read about... who knows you may strike a familiar chord with the character or maybe you may find that your annoying sister in law is just like her... in that case, could you get her to subscribe.

IN CONCLUSION, and this is the last I promise…

This blog will look into everyday mundane things, and who knows we may even share recipes for jam one day… (Lets wait that one out for a bit… shall we?)

Its about everyday experiences which reflect a sense of style, adventure, choices one makes, things one likes, dislikes, experiences, pets, children, no children, new stuff, old stuff, old photo, new trip, no news, old memories, new ones, some sad, some happy, some mad... all tell a story… a way of life… A STYLE… Yours and mine and hers…

All captured well in this quote...

"Fashion fades, only style ever remains the same"….

Coming to Singapore !!!

Spring/Summer Collection 2015