Shopping at Haute District

Bring out that Fashionista in You!

Oh yes, it’s finally here!! Shopping online at Haute District that is. New items are in!

You can now purchase my designs directly here.....
Just click on any of the following links under the ‘Shopping’ section on your right....

Dresses for Work

Dresses for Going Out

Dresses for Clubbing/Partying

........ and you can start collecting your Catherine D. designs in record time!

I do hope you enjoy wearing my designs. Do check Haute District often as I will be updating the collection with new designs from time to time.

Enjoy your shopping….

Pretty Pleats

(Skirt and Blouse from Reem Acra Spring/Summer 2010)

I remember the time when I first started drawing a figure of a girl. I’m sure you remember too. Wasn’t too complicated. A circle for her head, a small upside-down triangle for her body, a bigger right-side-up triangle for her skirt and long ovals for hands and legs. Simple.

Then as I grew a little older, the triangles disappeared and were replaced by a more defined body shape. However, the skirt was still rendered to resemble the top of an umbrella. Most often than not gathered or pleated skirts. I think, the reason for this repeated offence is the dolls we used to play with. Most assuredly, they all came down the manufacturer’s assembly line in poufy skirts or pleated ones – the epitome of feminity!

This Spring/Summer 2010, designers have indulged in creating this feminine silhouette. Bursting out in pleats from the waist, designers pay tribute to the fashionista who knows what she wants and at the same time enjoys being a girl.

I love what Jason Wu did this season. What he did was give an edge to a simple pleated skirt by whacking a sunny colour and then teaming it with a striped T. Newsflash: You will find that the T-shirt has evolved from being a casual wear item to a comfortable blouse you can wear to work. Just take care that it doesn’t come with printed words. Leave t-shirts like that for the weekend.

3.1 Philip Lim did the pleated skirt in so many of his pieces in his S/S 2010 collection. A master craftsman, he weaved his pleated skirts with panels made from different fabrics and textures.

Ms. Prada always has tricks up her sleeves. Her sister collection, Miu Miu, boasted the pleated skirt with appliqué collars and sleeves. I love her collection for Miu Miu this season. Its pure genius and so unusual. Sleeves and collars mismatch yet create a perfect silhouette. The pleated skirt here is so sweet with tiny prints on a pastel background. I’d love to wear this ensemble to work.

Zac Posen’s collection this season was just bursting with colour. This pleated piece stayed true to the designer’s vision for you and me. What is spring/summer without colour? All winter everyone was stuck in the doldrums wearing black, brown, maroon even white. Its time to switch gears and just bolt out the door in the colours of flowers and sunshine! This piece is magical with its blocks of colour that just screams Summer!

So there you have it – my list of this season’s best pleated skirts and dresses. When I was about town (KL town I mean), some boutiques were carrying this season’s trend. You can walk into Colours Boutique for price-friendly pieces. However, you should click on the Shopping link on this blogsite to shop my Catherine D. pleated pieces. There’s more to come, so, keep a close watch. I won’t disappoint.

Intimate Moments

(Lace trimmed camisole set from Juicy Couture)

I have always been obsessed with sleepwear and let me tell you why. Love lace, love tulle, love satin, love sweet little things and where else can you indulge in all things girly and flirty then in your own boudoir!

Slipping on a soft silk satin camisole and to feel its buttery threads caressing the curves of your body is already foreplay step 1. What happens after that is then left to your imagination….

Therein lay the secrets of being a woman. We have this innate ability to sprits ourselves with flowery notes of confidence and sensuality wherever and whenever the situation warrants it. The one tool we use to do that is putting on irresistible inner-wear.

There are so many types to choose from – the more expensive ones that can cost you your half month salary or the more affordable ones that…well…can be purchased for daily use. But for that special occasion, come on, live a little…splurge!

Designers have been conjuring up swaths and wisps of pastel and candy coloured camisoles, loungewear and briefs to the delight of the fashion-conscious fashionista. I love what Stella McCartney does with inner-wear. She’s English and leave it to them to tamper with pastel colours for a frothy finish. This chemise is named the Clara Whispering Chemise and how fitting with its intricate lace and body cut-outs, it is sure to please your other half.

Marni was thinking polka-dots when she designed this camisole. I love that this camisole can be worn in the bedroom but come to think of it, you could wear this underneath a white business suit to chisel off the hard edge and put a little feminity to your ensemble.

But if romping around your boudoir is what gives you the kicks, then, this playsuit from Mimi Holliday is what you want. Tie a red silk ribbon around your waist and you’ve set the mood for a playful chase before lights out.

And for you new brides or brides-to-be, I’m sure the all important shopping you have to do would be a trip to the lingerie department. Don’t sweat it. I’ve got the perfect first-night ensemble. You’ve worked so hard all these months to get your body in shape to wear THE dress and to look your best in the pictures that will be taken as a lifetime memory, right? So, why hide that great body under layers of cloth. All you need is a little teaser and the perfect one is this snow white silk tulle brief with a bow from Damaris (pictured below). That’s all you need to wear…. and it will be a night you will never forget!
(All inner-wear in this article is from net-a-porter.com.)

All Things Pink

Sweet, feminine, soft, girly, youthful…that’s what the colour pink brings to my mind. Funnily, of all the colours in the world, this one hue has not received enough spotlight though it has played a major role in a woman’s life.

Think about it, from the moment we start recognizing colours as a toddler, we’re surrounded by pink – Barbie’s pink dress, pink ribbons, pink dresses, pink balloons, pink icing on our pink themed birthday party cake….Pink!!

And pink doesn’t stop at childhood, as adults, this colour is still bigger than ever. Remember how many times we have melted just eyeing that sweet blush pink slip with the softest lace or the pastel pink pair of suede flats with the tiny satin ribbon in the front? Not forgetting the simplest yet the most romantic candy in the world – cotton candy. Its floaty, light-as-a-cloud pink sugary wisp has become the star of many a romance movie scenes. Remember receiving a dozen blush pink roses from your Valentine? It sent the butterflies a flutter in your stomach didn't it?

See what I mean.

Spring/Summer is the time of year when designers absolutely flirt with pink and they know very well how it will put a spell on us. Micheal Kors painted his chronograph in bright pink for the outdoors so you can be rough and tough in the middle of nowhere or on a tennis court yet maintain your feminity.

John Galliano for Christian Dior spun a few sheer pink dresses in his collection. This one is my favourite. Short and sassy, this dress is just perfect for a casual cocktail.

Burberry Prorsum had swaths of fabric knotted and intertwined on all their pieces in their collection. This piece is so sweet you’d want to take a bite of it! A great outfit to wear to the office. Yes, you heard me, to…the…off...ice! That’s the thing, why should work-wear be so boring? Well, that subject calls for another post on my blog.

Moschino Cheap and Chic sprinkled blush pink on their pieces. This one is simply flirtatious especially when you’re out partying with friends. Flawless legs required.

So, can you strike this colour off just because you’ve grown up? Nah…not in a million years. Truth be told, at this age (no, I’m not giving away my age), I still have a soft spot for pink and I think its going to be that way for a long time to come.

It's in the Jeans

I remember my first pair of jeans. I was 13 (ahem…not too long ago). The denim was a blue/white wash, straight leg and because I was a little skinny then, the top of the jeans went right above my waist. The material was a little too starchy for comfort and boy did it rise to my blossoming chest whenever I sat! I hadn’t heard of any fashion magazine then – never knew it existed actually. So you can guess that I hadn’t the faintest idea what to team up my first jeans with. The only thing that came to my mind was my basic yellow t-shirt my mom bought for me and thought it was cool to tuck it in and let the loose stiff waist of the jeans sashay about me as I walked! Thank God no one video taped me then! Gosh, how I managed to get through teenage-hood, I wonder.

Amazing thing is, today, you have an over-abundance of styles of jeans to choose from. Most jeans are of soft denim that moulds around your curves and they all have Spandex! Oh yes, that God-sent creation which took the word ‘curves’ to unimaginable heights!

Drew Barrymore in 7-For-All-Mankind jeans (picture above) is all smiles and that’s probably because of the comfort she feels (I’m guessing and I don’t think I’m too far from the truth..). Unlike my super starchy first jeans, 7-For-All-Mankind brand of jeans along with many others are designed and built to caress each curve and allow room for movement. The cut of a pair of jeans has also been improvised to show off a woman’s mid-riff by dipping the waist of the jeans below the waist line and slightly above the hips. This low-rise or mid-rise cut is the greatest gift to vertically challenged women (interpretation: short/petite) in that it elongates the upper body and therefore balances the proportions.

So, what kind of jeans should you invest in and how do you wear it? The power of observation will teach you….gosh…I’m beginning to sound like Yoda!

Let’s start with the skinny jeans a.k.a second skin denim (ok, I made that one up… so sue me!). But really, the skinny jeans are not for the faint-hearted. It has absolutely no mercy. It will hug your pins so tight some have been known to stop blood circulation! (What is with me today, I think I’ve got my Drama Queen hat on!) So, if you’ve got a pretty ok figure, or have a petite frame, then this type of jeans suits you. Any brand of jeans will carry the skinnies. So pick one out that fits your budget. You can’t go wrong with this one. A little tip though: if you have a heavy bottom or a big hip, you can still wear a skinny only make sure you wear a top that’s long and goes right down to just above your hips. This look below is a great way to wear a skinny for most body types.

The wide leg jean is a great cut that helps to elongate the legs. So you shorties out there, you know who you are….add this one to your collection. Minka below wears it with a cool blue jacket that she absolutely rocks in.

If you’re pregnant, God… I have fantastic news for you….my favourite brand of jeans (drum roll….) 7-For-All-Mankind this season made some jeans to fit your growing tummy. That super soft top sewn above the jeans gently caresses you while helping to hold the jeans in place. Get one and try it. Then post here and let us know how comfortable it was wearing one.

What talk about jeans is complete without mentioning the ripped jeans. Ah yes, the rip that can be customized to show off what you want – knee, calf…..butt cheeks (I’m not kidding here!). But the real fashionista knows all too well that less is more. Check out Terri Hatcher here. Ripped jeans looks so good paired with anything and even more so with a white T. The black blazer is the latest trend that the chic ones pair casuals with. I think Terri hit it on the nail this time. Pardon the pun, but she looks desperately chic!

Comfort Clothes

Comfort. That’s what we all love. And when it comes to clothes, it is no exception.

This Spring/Summer season, comfort is top on the list and designers did not fail to deliver. Clothes have got to be light as air, breathable clothes while not compromising on style.

Again, if we look closely at what the big designers have done this season, we will know exactly what to look out for in the casual wear department.

Let’s bring out what Etro did for S/S 2010. From the picture above, you can see Etro did olive green (military mode) shorts and blazer (with a casual spin to it) and paired it with a bold striped t-shirt. This look is great for a trip to the mall or for tea with friends over the weekend.

I love this look below. Also from Etro, the material is light as a feather silk on pants! (Karl Lagerfeld loves silk pants as well). The colours in this ensemble are pastels pink and blue with a white cardigan. But you know what makes this whole palliate work? The black strip right at the hips. That’s what pulls it together and gives it that sporty spin. You might want to try something similar with pieces you already have in your closet then maybe sling a black leather belt low on the hip.

You can’t get by this season without a casual weekend dress. This one from 3.1 Philip Lim is just so chic. Its floaty, light and absolutely girly. Notice the uniqueness of this dress. It has a pleated skirt that just swirls as you walk. What I love most is how the designer put in panels of different materials all over this dress. It gives this dress personality. Check out my Catherine D collection for dresses with pleated skirts. Those pieces will swoon you over.

Doo.Ri did sheer dresses this season. This piece below has been cut with a gathered skirt that whooshes about as you move. Its sheer fabric adds a dose of sensuality but when worn with appropriate underwear (let’s face it we just don’t see ourselves walking out the door exposing our inside wear!), this dress will look stunning and can bring you from day to night. My new batch of designs would have sheer pieces – blouses and dresses. These will be hitting the boutiques next week. So, watch out for my post.

This dress from Etro is my favourite of all casual dresses. Firstly because it comes in my favourite colour! Second of all, it’s got the frills at the top which I think is so feminine. The sheer fabric gives it a pinch of sexiness and the sleeves make you look so breezy.



This dress is girliness indulgence. And why not. It’s quite enough to have to put on appearances of authority at work or in business. This dress calls for a time for ourselves. It’s my time…my time and so help me God I will dress to please me!

Marchesa

Renee Zelwegger and Cate Blanchett were the first few to wear it on the red carpet. A Marchesa dress that is.

When I set my eyes for the first time on a Marchesa piece, it looked like they had borrowed an Indian saree, hacked it with a pair of scissors then wrapped and draped it around, pinned and tucked it in to make an evening dress. That was their debut collection. However, in 2007 the Marchesa designers Georgina Chapman and Karen Craig, displayed their Spring/Summer Collection (the picture above was the first dress on the runway) for the first time on the runway during fashion week. That collection was just beautiful! There were hand-made roses in tulle and silk organza adorning the dresses. It was an incredible show of talent.

Fast forward to today, they have never stopped - consistently making headlines with their meticulous artwork in each and every piece. Georgina Chapman (who by the way is married to movie mogul Harvey Weinstein) has been the face of Marchesa and has worn her designs on the red carpet and gala events with pride.

I love how she wears this dress from her Fall/Winter 2007 collection. What looks like chains is really ropes of rhinestones that were hand-sewn onto the dress. Notice she wears her hair in a carefree style which really brings out the ultra-cool look of her dress. Fashion note: when wearing a statement dress with embellishments, tone down your make-up and accessories. Otherwise you’ll end up looking like you’re taking part in a Vegas show!

She is pictured here with her husband, Harvey. Her dress – Marchesa gorgeous! I am simply smitten by the deep plum colour (which happens to be my favourite colour) and those hand-made roses….a dress to die for, I tell you.

For this season, Marchesa had dresses that were embroidered, some with flat-pressed bows and almost all the pieces had her signature beading. These two here were my favourites from the collection.

It’s fascinating that Georgina Chapman’s Marchesa line emerged just a few years ago and has fast become one of the designer names that roll off the tongues of celebrities and VVIPs . I guess in the fickle fashion business, it not only helps to have talent. It's essential to rub shoulders with A-listers and definitely a plus point being married to one.

All Woman

I have always wondered what size 0 meant. Haven’t you? Or are you one of the lucky ones who fit sample sizes? It’s quite amazing that a full grown woman’s structure can fit a dress that small. And I say this not so much with envy but rather with utter amazement. I have seen a sample dress size before and believe me, even my 13 year-old niece can’t fit into that!

Victoria Beckham, Kiera Knightly, Kate Bosworth to name a few have, according to some credible authors, been known to wear the controversial size 0. So, where do their boobs go? What about their a…? Okay, okay, I won’t get into the details. But you know what I mean.

I guess some women are (in a more refined language) ‘petite’ and some are just ‘all woman’, you know? The latter being the sometimes envied lot who have the curves that make men melt and salivate while the petite ones empty their bank accounts in search of the miracle serum to endow them where they need it most.

What I noticed about Asian women (in particular Malaysian women) in contrast to their western counterparts is that they try their very best in most cases to hide their curves while in the western countries, they embrace it. Yes, it’s our culture and up-bringing that considers exposure of the cleavage or the appearance of a healthy potential child-bearing hip as vulgar. However, I’d like to find a balance in all of this. Yes, you should not be so seductively dressed to a point it looks like an open invitation (Pam Anderson comes to mind) on the other hand, one should be proud of our womanly curves and show it off with style and elegance. Therein lays the answer. It’s in the balance of things.

The Iron Man 2 star, Scarlett Johansson pictured above (you noticed not much hype about Gwyneth when people talk about this blockbuster. Wonder why?). I seriously don’t think anyone (including male and female) even blinked when she came on screen! The hips, the chest. The very tight clothes she had on. Wow! Anyways, she is here wearing Dolce & Gabbana.

Take a look at Jennifer Hudson. Talk about curves, the woman has it all – breasts, hips and all. Yet you don’t see her drown herself in baggy, loose fitted layered clothing that in truth does nothing to help make a woman look slim. She is seen here in Peter Soronen. I believe Spandex helped here as well.

Beyonce. Overrated but I respect her for being able to carry off a booty….I mean…a body like that. She is in Roberto Cavalli.

So, what’s good on a curvy body? A slim fitted, pencil cut shift like this one by Alberta Ferretti from her S/S 2010 collection will give you that ultra-feminine look without looking too conservative.

I also love this Roland Mouret dress from his S/S2010 collection. True to his work, this dress is architectural and chic. This dress will help to put some proportion to a voluptuous figure while giving it some definition at the waist.

Which is better, petite or voluptuous? No answer to that. In the end though, it all comes down to you being comfortable with your body. That would exude confidence. And confidence can really be sexy!

You Wear the Pants

(pic is Giorgio Armani S/S 2010)

My dad has always been so strict with us. He had to, I guess, because there was seven of us and just one of him! Okay, we were not exactly angels, you know. As with a lot of household, there was mischief, there was naughtiness ……but children should never be considered normal if they were faultless, should they?

Thinking back to those days when my dad was the only bread-winner in the family, I realised that it must have been pretty tough being the one wearing the pants – the provider, the decision maker, the one everyone depended on.

Today however, women are sharing this role and have taken a new place in society (thanks to women’s lib?). This generation sees more and more women getting involved in other activities apart from managing a home and a huge percentage of them are either in the corporate sector or have chosen to be entrepreneurs.

In the past legends like Katherine Hepburn and Coco Chanel broke the mould and began borrowing from the boys by wearing pants on screen and to work. Since then, designers have been fascinated with such non-conformity. The very thought of women challenging society’s perception of a typical woman’s dress code had tantalized them to morph that masculine wardrobe piece to fit a woman’s curves. She should look sexy, yet intelligent, gentle yet assertive and today’s designers have got it down to a fine art.

While high-street brands like MNG make excellent cut pants, a quick look at what the big designers have done this season should give you some ideas on what looks to shop for.

A pow-wow lunch with business partners for instance, does not necessarily call for black or grey. Giorgio Armani (above) shows that colours can make you look like you mean business just as much.

But if you’re a black/white/grey person, then Rachel Roy gives you a cut of the pants that makes you look chic and gutsy. (below)

When on a more casual affair, Gucci does a mean leather jacket and skinny pants for this season that will surely make you stand out.

An all-girl day out may call for slouchy pants paired with a colourful jacket and top. Donna Karan does it right with this ensemble from her DKNY line. It spells comfort and comfort means a really enjoyable time with your closest friends.

However, no one does sexy pants like Stella McCartney. The white lace blouse with plunging neckline and those camel coloured, perfectly cut pants will make you ooze with sex appeal. Surely no woman would decline looking this desirable and certainly no man will say no to an invitation…..

Spotlight on Vera

I love Starbucks. The moment I walk into the café, the smell of coffee kisses my nostrils and tantalizes my taste buds. That sudden urge to take a sip of Sumatra or gulp down a frothy Frappucino takes control of me and all too soon I find myself floating to my seat, Starbucks mug in hand and the morning paper in the other. There’s something about a Starbucks morning that makes me look forward to the rest of the day no matter how gruelling my schedule is. Wait a minute….this sounds like a great ad for Starbucks – hey any of you Berjaya Group execs out there? My writing services are for hire! Call me.

Anyways, jokes aside, what I really meant to share with you today is all about froth (hence the Starbucks story J). Froth in fashion? Come on…

Well, whenever I look at Vera Wang’s S/S 2010 pieces, that’s what it reminds me of – froth! Take a look at one of my favourites from her collection below.

The staples in her collection are tulle, lace, satin and - her new accessory collection (the necklace worn by the model below is really strings of beads woven together to form a spider web like pattern).

Certainly different from the usual path taken by the majority of designers this season - her palette boasts no more than the shades of black, grey, white and blue (unusual for spring) . No sun-dresses (the way Dries and Oscar did). No burst of colours that Proenza Schouler or Thakoon used in their collections.

A non-conformist who has been in the fashion industry since 1969, Vera Wang started her designing career, designing bridal wear. Till this day, Vera is the go-to designer for new brides despite her expansion into the ready-to-wear line. Even so, she has won the respect of her fellow peers for her unique and artistic pieces.

I guess, all that froth in her designs really stems from her backbone bridal business. That said, there are pieces that have the working woman in mind. Take a look at these two pieces from her S/S 2010 collection for example. Notice that there is a lot of architecture; in particular the pleating and draping techniques she uses to bring out one’s womanly assets.

As for me, there is no doubt that I would really enjoy wearing one of these to work because it just screams ‘designer’! And all of us, who practically work to live a fashionable life, will agree that coughing up the big bucks would be worth it just for that reason!

The Met

You know, whenever I hear that New York is the greatest city on earth, I wonder if it’s just overrated. Nope, haven’t been there myself. However, I must admit, that what I see from movies, with all of its glittering lights and skyline, there is a certain electricity (not the one that’s keeping the neon lights burning) that runs through the city. Broadway, the Manhattan bridge, Central Park and the Statue of Liberty are all iconic of the city that got the likes of Jay-Z and Alicia Keys belting out: New York…New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of, these streets will make you feel brand new, its lights will inspire you…let’s hear it for New York!

The Met is really short for the The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Every year, a fashion gala event hosted by The Metropolitan Museum's Costume Institute is held and the who’s who in the fashion and entertainment industry are all invited. The great thing about this event is that every guest gets to flash their most fashionable outfit and they make no apologies for it.

If money was no object in making your choice of a dress, jewellery, shoes, bags….what outfit would you choose? Gosh! That’s every girls’ dream come true! Well, I tell you, these multi-millionaires who get that coveted invitation to attend The Met Gala, have designers that just throw free dresses, jewellery, shoes and bags at them so that their pieces get the spotlight during the event. I know, I know, it’s unfair but don’t hate the players, just hate the game!

I’ve picked 5 of my favourite outfits worn at this year’s gala at The Met. This is actress Kerry Washington in Thakoon for the Gap. I love the bold red colour and Thakoon’s trademark draping. Also, notice that he had the bustier uncovered on one half of the dress and the other had a drape over the shoulders. Gorgeous!

Then you have actress Chloe Sevigney in Proenza Schouler standing here with the designers themselves. What I loved about this dress was the colour of the lace – a certain sea blue, and the way how the waist nips and tucks so neatly and with precision.

Model Chanel Iman had recently caught my attention with her great taste for what looks really good on her – outfits that keep her looking young and hip. This pantsuit is from Micheal Kors. So unexpected for an event like this, yet I feel is so refreshing and chic.

Actress Carrey Mulligan with her famous pixie haircut in my opinion stood out amongst the elaborate evening gowns that most of the guests were wearing. This short dress from Miu Miu is like a breath of fresh air and certainly puts the spotlight on her. Very clever choice.

And finally, what would any New York event be without the presence of the First-Lady-made-famous designer Jason Wu. He shows off his mastery in cutting a strapless evening gown that simply moulds around Camillia Belle’s petite figure. The actress doesn’t really have curves so to speak but in this dress, she is a picture of voluptuousness all thanks to the designer standing beside her.

So, there you have it, my list of the best in show at The Met Gala. Conclusion? It’s not always the long evening gowns that get to be at the centre of attention, in fact, evening gowns can be quite predictable. If you’ve got in your hands, an invitation to a big dinner event, try something short and chic. You might just stand out among the crowd ala Carrey Mulligan. Clever girl indeed!