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Red is the colour of my heart.

And the shirt I’ve got on my back.

 

I promise.  I really was trying to come up with something fancy for the header but that’s all I could manage, forgive me.  It’s been a long week.  Planning for Fashion Week in New York.  Getting things together.  Packing at the 11th hour, but of course (I mean, were you really expecting anything different?).  Desperately trying to juggle work and home and blog commitments.  And failing quite dramatically, to be honest GRIN.  If you’ve seen my recent Instastories, organisational skills aren’t really my superpowers.

In support of this claim, I offer up as proof the fact that I’m currently typing this at Gate 19, Terminal E.  Yes, the airport.  Yes, I realise this post was meant to have been completed way before now and gone live this morning.  But as I stated, being organised and staying ahead of the game are simply not quite prevalent in my life skills vocabulary.

END OF CONFESSION

Wait.

Another bit to confess.  I’m absolutely petrified thinking of what lies ahead.  Honestly.  I’m currently experiencing an odd state of outwardly-calm-inwardly-full-blown-panic.  If you look at me now, it’s all chill as I wait for a plane that does not appear to want to appear.  But really, the prospect of 13 shows in 3 days, 5 production meetings with brands and agencies, 2 photo shoots, and meeting friends in between all that.  Let’s hope these shoulders (and the banged-up knees) can carry the load (without too much fuss, I mean, there’s always anti-inflammatories but still).

The aim is to appear cool and calm and collected as I strut around, in my finery, determined to make a statement and stand apart.  The reality is a frenzied bundle of nerves desperately hoping for zero wardrobe malfunctions, minimal blisters, and sufficient gym pre-conditioning to make it through the upcoming sartorial marathon.  That was a mouthful.

Today is the 12th day of Chinese New Year. 

Wow. 

I didn’t even feel those 11 days pass zoom by.

I’d like to share a few cultural things my family subscribes to, when Chinese New Year comes along.  Now, I don’t know if these are specific to Sarawak or something a particular dialect group practices, or they’re merely superstition-based, and passed down through generations, evolving into customs, traditions over time.  Some are going to sound really ridiculous.  Others interesting and quirky.  At least I think so.

There’s this thing about sweeping the floor.  Or rather, not sweeping the floor.  My maternal grandmother believed this to be bad luck.  Seriously bad luck.  As in sweeping away the good fortune of the new year.   Which, during this time, is challenging because floors get oily and dusty from all that cooking and merry-making. And front porches are literally drowning in a sea of red.  No, not blood, but rather, paper remnants of firecrackers.  A generous sea of red.

My mother would promptly ignore my grandmother and just proceed to sweep all the stuff away HAHAHA the former turning a blind eye to fumigating stares and a deaf ear to mutterings of impending doom and gloom from the latter.  It was hilarious.

In retrospect, there was absolutely no truth in this superstition so you go, Mum.

LAUGHING WITH ME YET?

Yes?  Good.

Showering.  Let’s talk about that now.  I had an ex-boyfriend whose mother insisted showers be taken at the stroke of midnight on the eve of Chinese New Year.

Wash away bad luck and ill omen of the previous year, allowing for just the opposite to happen on this new year.  And precisely at the stroke of midnight, which was a physical impossibility given that there was 5 of them in the family, with just one bathroom.  Naturally, this particular circumstance never unfolded quite to his mother’s liking and she would always work herself up to a tantrum.  Suffice to say that after several years of this madness, we broke up GRIN

I have several more “incidents” to share but I’m going to leave them for Friday’s post, the culminating edition of our red endeavours.

But for now, thank you for joining us in this second of a tri-part project between Jodie and her ladies, Eve, and myself.  Today, we decided to push the status quo a smidge and work in a print into the already statement pairing of red with gold.  Go big or go home, yes?  Tell me what you think.

Eve, Teens (the world according to eve)

A satin tuxedo blazer in a pretty print works wonderfully with that bold red tee and jeans.  Throw in some glitzy gold sneaker wedges and kickass sunnies, and baby girl’s poised to, well, kick ass.

Sheela, 40s (sheela writes)

Open toed heels in Winter. Only in Houston, baby, with floral Tropicana pants, engine red shirt and a fave Gold Leather jacket.  I think this is my fave outfit in the collaboration. 

Jodie, 50s (jodie’s touch of style)

The epitome of fresh and fun and flirty, Jodie is.  Those ear muffs are especially tugging at my heartstrings, as are her superheroine boots.  Quite loving the subtle print of her skirt, those little nuances that Jodie’s very much a master of.

Nancy, 60s (jodie’s touch of style)

A slightly more subdued interpretation of the theme this time from Nancy.  Subdued but still impactful.  That animal print twinset is no wallflower and red pants aren’t fading into the background any time soon. Love.

Charlotte, 70s (jodie’s touch of style)

Interesting that Charlotte chose wide-legged pants for this look.  An unusual pairing.  I’m really appreciating the varying shades of gold in her outfit, the gradience making for a delightful vision.  But if I’m to be completely honest, those boots.

Come see us on Friday when we add a third Colour to the already explosive pairing of red with gold.  I do hope you’ll also join the discussion and leave me a comment too, because many of my posts are inspired by what you say, how you feel.

Oh and visit tomorrow too?  I have a very special Valentine’s Day collaboration with the lovely Ada.

So, do you do red with gold and print?

Love, Sheela

Finally made the transition to AV and am now on YouTube as well as Snapchat (sheela.goh), would adore your support through subscribing to my channel/adding my snaps. 

Pretty please?

p/s my photos are by Sofia Touassa

I link up here.

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