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{CRYSTAL'S CLOSET}: DAYDREAMER

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On the busiest day of the week, meetings after meetings, having a quiet moment by myself on the overhead bridge was such a pleasant and sweet surprise. While taking the air from one end of the bridge to the other, I suddenly felt like escaping this reality, running into a wonderland where I would be surrounded by breathtaking scenery, beautiful blooms, stunning fountains, and the sound of nature. Everyone looked happy there. There was no room for stress, worry and sadness in this place. Only love, laughter and care. 

A sudden car horn woke me up and forced me out of my dream. I looked at the crowded road under the bridge where I was standing, all types of vehicle came and went. Everyone was rushing to somewhere and busy doing something. A few thoughts crossed my mind: Where are they going? Where are they from? What is the story behind them? How is their life? Are they happy?
And then, I asked myself: “How am I different from them the moment I walk down this bridge and merge into this life flow?”, “When was the last time I stopped and smelled the roses?”. 

The honest answer scared me.

Like most people, I'm busy chasing my dreams, goals, and targets every single day, one after another. It will never end. I’m not different from the rest, but I’m lucky enough to have five minutes standing on that bridge, to soak in the sunshine, to enjoy the wind and to appreciate what I have in life. 

I guess; five minutes every day is all I need.











Thank you so much for reading! 
::Outfit::
Forever21 chiffon blouse- Also love this one andthis one
Chic wish midi skirt
GUESS heels- Also love this one andthis one
Charles & Keith bag- Currently obsessed with this one
Charles & Keith sunglasses- Also love this one


{CRYSTAL'S CLOSET}: THE RED ROSE

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Another day, another way of wearing floral dress. If you have followed my blog long enough, you probably know that I'm a true flower lover and a hopeless romantic, especially when it comes to red roses. I would be lying if I said I did not like to receive a rose for my birthday, Valentine's Day, or better yet, for no reason. Who could resist a guy who buys roses for his girlfriend every now and then? I know I couldn't. Even if I didn't love the guy at first, I could probably fall in love with him if he did that to me once every month. Ok, fine! Maybe, once every few months. 

I used to buy roses from the wet market to decorate my house in the morning. That's the time when the roses look freshest and most beautiful. I love how it instantly brightened my whole living room, and of course my mood. The sweet smell lingered in the air, around the house, it gave me a sense of love and being loved. 

Sadly, I don't buy roses as often as I used to because I hardly stay at home, but my love for the beautiful red roses has never changed. As you can tell, even though I don't have the real roses in my hands, I must make sure to have them printed on my dress. 




















Thank you so much for reading! 
::Outfit::
Sheinside dress- Also love this one
ZARA blazer- Currently obsessed with this one
Steve Madden heels- Also love this one andthis one
Milanoo ring
Coach sunglasses
Max & Chloe necklace (old)- Also love this one



{CRYSTAL'S CLOSET}: GLITTER GOLD

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Being born with a huge passion for dancing and singing in my blood, I've never stopped myself from getting up to the stage to perform whenever I have a chance. My first singing performance was when I was at six years old. My mom bought me a very expensive sequin dress just for that occasion. She wanted me to be the star of the night. Since then, I've become addicted to everything sparkling: the LED light, the sequin balls, and the shiny dance costumes. I'm so obsessed with the kaleidoscopic crystals that I even used nearly 3000 pieces of Swarovski crystals to decorate my dance costume. I filmed the entire process in this video "How to make a dance costume from a simple leotard" in case you want to watch. I know; it sounds insane, but the amount of happiness that the glittery costume brings to me every time I look at it, it's worth it. 

Fast forward 20 years later, a small little girl has now become a big girl in a small world. She still loves dancing, but hardly has the opportunities to perform like she used to. She has a bigger stage to play with now: the stage of life. But, no matter how old she gets, her love for all the glittery, shiny things and her passion will always remain the same. 

If life doesn't give you a stage to perform, create one for yourself. Just like how I stayed at home on Saturday night, set up the gold glitter curtain as the backdrop, and used the camera self-timer to finish this photo shoot of my outfit by myself at 2am.

 The hall way instantly became a runway, and I felt like I was center stage in my neon sleeves cropped top, ruffle skirt and bad-ass gladiator booties. 











Thank you so much for reading!
::Outfit::
Oasap cropped top- Also love this one and this one
ZARA skirt- Also love this one and this one
Lovisa necklace- Also love this one
Coach sunglasses- Also love this one
ALDO Clutch. 


{CRYSTAL'S CLOSET}: HARBOUR

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Whenever I look at the gigantic ships parked peacefully at the harbor, I can't help but let my mind wander: where are these ships from, what journey have they gone through, where are they going to next, etc...They remind me of what my dad told me when I was young: "life is like the a ship on the ocean. There will be days with blue skies and beautiful sunshine, there will also be days with lightning and thunderstorms. If the ship keeps sailing, eventually it will arrive at the destination". After more than 10 years living away from home, all by myself, now I understand completely what he said and feel what he felt.

Life is never meant to be easy, it's meant to be lived. Sometimes it's tough, other times it's good. With every obstacles I've gone through, I learned my lessons to make me become stronger and stronger every day. There were times when I was so frustrated with the situation, I kept asking myself a question that has no answer: "Why are there so many troubles that I need to deal with?". But if God was to ask me "Would you want to be a girl who always depends on other people, and has no survival instinct?", the answer would always be No.

I'd love to live my life like a ship on the sea. A ship that faces many storms on the ocean, but still bravely sails through, never giving up. A ship that knows how to enjoy its journey and appreciates every beautiful day it has. Then, I imagined myself as a captain on board. 

Once arrived at the destination, I would totally change my captain's uniform into this crop-top, floral midi skirt, put on my favorite pair of stilettos and start dancing. 













Thank you so much for reading!
::Outfit::
ASOS crop top- Also love this one and this one
Chicwish floral midi skirt- Also love this one
Coach sunglasses- Also love this one
Lovisa necklace- Also love this one

"THIS IS IT" FLEA MARKET

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I couldn't be more excited to share with you a wonderful news. Red Market and I would like to welcome you to the largest indoor flea market, which will be held at F1 Pit building on 10th and 11th May 2014 (Saturday & Sunday). The venue will be fully sheltered and air-conditioned, so you won't have to worry about the heat and the rain :)


When Red Market invited me to grace the event, I was rather hesitant as I didn't know if I wanted to spend 2 days (8hours each day) to sell my clothes. Nevertheless, the thought of meeting you in person got me more excited than worrying about all the planning and preparations. I decided to give it a try. 

So please, if you are free on Saturday and Sunday 10th, 11th May, I would love to meet up with you. Please come join me at this one and only flea market! Besides the live band performances, free photos taking at the photo shoot, you'll also have the chance to meet up with other amazing bloggers as well. 

Here are what you can expect when you come to my booth: 

Shop Crystal's Closet pre-loved and brand new items. You've seen more than 100 Crystal's Closet blog entries I posted, now it's your chance to touch, feel the fabric, have an up-close and personal look at each and every item I've worn. Price tag? You won't even believe why they could be so cheap. 


There are many items  that I've never worn before will be sold. 


And some other brand new dresses come with the price tag :)

 A lot of accessories will be sold that day.



 Jewelry and necklaces. 


 And of course, shoes! How could I skip these!


Aren't these good enough to get you excited yet?
I would also love to take a photo with you and feature on my blog, so please, come hang out with me on that day.
I'm planning to give away gifts and beauty vouchers to the first 50 blog readers or customers who visit my booth (to be confirmed). I'm still looking for sponsorships. If you know anyone who is interested in sponsoring hair/ face/ skincare/ cosmetics vouchers, please let me know. 

There are so many things I need to prepare for this flea market. It's my first time doing this, and I'm not going to lie, I'm actually quite nervous. I don't know how many people will turn up, whether the event will be successful, etc... I hope to receive your huge support. Even just 10 minutes of your time, stopping by my booth to say hi to me is already so precious. 

For more information about the flea market, please visit Red Market website, follow them on Facebook for more update. 

See you at the flea! 
Thank you so much for reading! 

{CRYSTAL'S CLOSET}: PASTEL PERFECTION

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Hi everyone, 

I hope you had a great time celebrating Easter with your loved ones. I had a fantastic weekend spending at the W Singapore hotel, walking around Sentosa, eating delicious food and watching a beautiful sunset by the beach. There was, literally, nothing else I needed except for wishing these moments to last a little bit longer. 3 day weekend seemed to pass by so quickly, especially when I enjoyed it the most. 

After the fun, flirty weekend, it's time for relaxation. This delicate pastel colored outfit helps to calm myself after looking at so much bright golden sunlight, blue sky and turquoise water. Pastel is a signature Spring color, yet so perfect for Summer. I love how it instantly cools everything down even at the hottest moment. Could you tell the 35 degree Celsius heat in these photographs at all? I bet you could not.

I put on this pastel outfit last week to work, and it happened to be one of my busiest days of the week. I assumed these sweet and romantic colors had something to do with my productivity. They gave me a complete sense of fulfillment, feminity and perfection. 

Now, I'm ready to take on a brand new week. Who knows, I might wear another pastel dress tomorrow!  












}: 



Thank you so much for reading!


::Outfit::
H&M floral blouse- Also love this one and this one
H&M pastel pants- Also love this one
Charles &Keith handbag- Currently obsessed with this one. 
Charles &Keith heels- Also love this one
Michael Kors sunglasses
Lovisa rings- Max & Chloe bracelet
Lionette by Noa Sade via Revolve Clothing.
Swarovski  watch. 



{COLLABORATION}: MARKS AND SPENCER #ILIKEITPERKY

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Nothing feels better than putting on a pair of jeans that instantly makes you look so hot, yet still gives you the maximum comfort and confidence. I own, perhaps, 100 pairs of jeans (almost) in different styles, sizes, from different brands, yet I'm still on the hunt for a perfect pair of jeans that can take me from day to night. 

To be completely honest, Marks & Spencer has never been in my mind before when it comes to #jeans as I thought, their clothes are made for tall and big size women. I'm so petite, I would probably swim in them. Until they offered me to try on their latest Scupt and Lift Denim collection, I went from "M&S Denim? Hmm, I'm not sure" to "Oh My God! I love it!". How could I not adore it when the jeans do not only flatter my body figure, but also give my bottom such a sexy shape. I like my butt to be perky, and I assume you want yours to be the same. Besides, I'm absolutely obsessed with any jeans that can elongate my legs, and save me from the trouble of altering them shorter to fit my height.

 Once the fit is settled, the second most important thing that I'll always look for in a pair of jeans is the fabric. M&S Denim fabric quality is much better than what I expected it to be. It is ultra-durable, stretchable and so comfortable. I'm not going to lie, I tried to do a few dance splits in these jeans, and they did a wonderful job. These jeans are seriously made for dancing. 

Looks like Shelley Rand- a Denim Designer for Marks & Spencer and his team did an amazing job in making us-women feel confident in what we wear. Don't underestimate the power of a perfect pair of jeans, they can make you look so chic and sexy even with the most basic white tee, plaid blazer and simple stilettos, just like that. 


























This season, Marks & Spencer is also unveiling a new line up of Leading Ladies to front its Spring/Summer advertising campaign. The collection will be featured in Marks & Spencer’s  international flagship stores including Singapore’s Wheelock Place. 
For more information about the brand and their latest collection, follow Marks & Spencer on their Facebook page.

P/: S This blog entry is proudly sponsored by Marks & Spencer to promote for their M&S Denim Sculpt & Lift collection. 

Thank you so much for reading. 
::Outfit::
Marks & Spencer Jeans
Zara Blazer- Also love this one
Zara white tee- Also love this one
Zara shoulder bag- Also love this one
Lionetteby Noa Sade necklace via Revolve Clothing
Lovisa Layered Necklace- Also love this one
Various rings from Revolve Clothing

{COLLABORATION}: WEEKEND WITH HAVAIANAS

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My weekends are normally filled with a bunch of activities: photo shooting, blogging, meeting people or attending the events. Once in a while, whenever I have a chance to get away from all of these, to have some time for myself, I always feel so appreciated. Last month, the weekend during Easter was an example. No blogging, no work (except for taking these gorgeous photos for this blog entry), I spent my 2-day holiday walking around the beach, watching the beautiful sunset over the sea, eating lots of delicious foods with my 2 perfect beach partners: K. K & Havaianas.

*Read till the end to find out how to win a pair of Havaianas for yourself too.


Thank to FlopStore Singapore for sending me these 2 lovely pairs of Havaianas. To be completely honest, I've never paid any attention to flip flops, as I thought, they were the least important items to think about when it came to packing for a holiday. I could just grab them at any local beach store nearby for like $3. Those cheap flip flops with the bad quality material always ended up killing my feet after 15minutes walking. They gave me a blister in between my toes, broke my skin, left some ugly marks on my feet. It was such a torture.

I was so reluctant to wear flip flops to walk around on that day, but I decided to give Havaianas flip flops a try because they are Havaianas. Besides, they look much more colorful and prettier than those boring black flip flops that I wore before. Then, I started thinking about how to look chic and comfortable at the beach.


I didn't think much about the color coordination when choosing what to wear, but somehow, Havaianas flips lop matched perfectly with what I initially planned on wearing: yellow colored high-low beach dress, purple belt and Love Moschino tote bag.






 Happiness was so simple. It was when I had a chance to jump around like a crazy woman, in a perfect place, at a perfect timing, with somebody special who was patient enough to take lots of photos of me under the hot sun without complaining anything. I couldn't expect anything more than that.







My petite feet were thrilled with joy as they still looked adorable in Havaianas after a whole day of walking. For the first time, there was no blister, no broken skin, no pain, I could probably walk miles in those Havaianas flip flops.




There is nothing like the awesomeness of nature to quiet our mind, renew our souls and heal our hearts. Right there, where I was at, I found my inner peace. Peace was seeing the sunset, knowing who I should thank to.
Thank to K. K for helping me taking these beautiful photos.
Thank to FlopStore Singapore for introducing me to Havaianas so that I can start falling in love with all the happy, colorful flip flops, again.
Lastly, thank you guys so much for following my blog.

Because Flop Store Singapore and I love you guys so much, we decided to GIVEAWAY 2 pairs of the non- Swarovski Havaianas flip flop of your choice of color and size to the 2 luckiest winners. All you need to do is:

1. Like FlopStore Singapore Facebook page
2. Follow me on Instagram:
Follow@crystalphuong

3. Subscribe to my blog:
Enter your email address here: 


4. Leave a comment below and let me know your Instagram user, so I can check. 

The giveaway is open worldwide. 2 winners will be selected randomly, and the result will be announced on 17th May 2014

Good luck!

::Outfit::
Havaianas flip flop- Thanks to FlopStore Singapore.
Love Moschino handbag- Also love this color
Forever 21 beach dress- Also love this one
Michael Kors sunglasses
Lovisa jewelry



{CRYSTAL'S CLOSET}: PRETTY IN PURPLE

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Every time wearing this purple midi skirt, I always think of the song "Pretty Woman", especially whenever I walk down the street. It's strange and funny how our mind works (my mind, to be accurate). I don't know if you have ever experienced the same thing, but having a beautiful song playing in our head, while walking down the street in a beautiful outfit, feels pretty awesome. It's like a confidence booster or something.

Possibly, this midi skirt is the chief cause that makes me feel that way. The romantic purple color, A-line shape in shiny silk material, how not to feel pretty in such a unique wardrobe staple?

I wore this skirt to work on Monday and to attend one of the events on Saturday. I loved this skirt so much, I just had to wear it twice in a week. Because this skirt was already quite voluminous at the bottom, I wanted to give it a balance by pairing it with a fitting black lace top. I absolutely adored the transparent back of this blouse that gave just the right amount of sensuality and desirability to the wearer. Once the outfit was set, choosing the right shoes and accessories was just a piece of cake.

It will not take much effort to look glamourous if you choose to wear a statement skirt like this, I guarantee.












Thank you so much for reading!

::Outfit::
Zara lace top (old)- Currently obsessed with this one
Chicwish midi skirt- Also love other colors: red, green, pink and neon
Guess necklace- Similar one here
H&M Sandals- Currently obsessed with this one
Rayban sunglasses
Lovisa rings- Also love the similar bracelet and rings. 

{CRYSTAL'S CLOSET}: PURITY

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It was one of the very rare days I suddenly had the urge to be in all white-on-white ensemble, even with matching colored accessories, except for the red Love Moschino handbag as the only highlight. Surprisingly, this head-to-toe snowy look caught more attention than any colored outfit that I've worn before, including this striking Neon Is The New Black outfit. 

I came to office; everyone looked at me. I walked down the street; so many people stared at me from the top to bottom. They made me feel like "Did I do anything wrong or offend anyone here?." But my worry didn't stay long as the crisp, clean, and pure outfit quickly gave me the confidence to walk my way and to be different. It made me feel good about being a spot of white among thousands of colorful colors on the street, a small piece of purity at a crowded place, in a complex world. 

Strangely, the all-white look always makes me feel like I'm an angel whenever I  put it on. A pure and innocent angel that has the power to motivate and influence people to stay away from negativity in their lives, to live happily without complicating things. I truly believe that we are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. As long as we purify our mind, a happy life will follow. 

Now, the question is: How pure is your mind?











Thank you so much for reading!

::Outfit::
Tommy Bahama boyfriend shirt
Zara midi skirt- Also love this one andthis one
Love Moschino bag (old)- Currently obsessed with this one
Charles & Keith sunglasses- Currently obsessed with this one
Charles & Keith heels- Also love this one
Lovisa rings- Similar one here and here. 


{EDITORIAL}: STOPPING TRAFFIC

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One of the craziest things I've ever done so far, since I became a fashion blogger, was doing a photo shoot at the middle of the road, in front of the traffic light, like this. I, and the three photographers from Sneak Peektures, whom I would always like to call them as "The Three Musketeers", had a quick discussion in the car before the shoot. So many locations were suggested: an overhead bridge, a beautiful garden, or even abandoned houses, but my mind was only thinking of one place: the street. As the well-structured bag in a vibrant hue reminded me of the city color and landscape, with many skyscrapers, I wanted to connect these four objects together, and to bring their ideal relationship to life. After driving around the city, passing by so many streets, we decided to have our photos taken at the financial district- Shenton Way.

It was, indeed, a very spontaneous, fun, and intense photo shoot.

We waited for the traffic light to turn red, and quickly ran to our position, in the middle of the road, in front of many cars stopping. While I focused on posing for the camera, my Three Musketeers started snapping their shutter away to capture as many photos as possible within 15 seconds. At the very last second, we ran back to the pavement before the cars could run over us, and waited for the light to turn red again. After running back and forth, under the hot sun, for 4 consecutive times, we finally had the photo we wanted. I couldn't be happier to see how beautiful the actual photos turned out compared to the ones in my own imagination.

It took a lot of courage for me to stand there, not worrying that all the curious eyes in public were on me, and accidents could possibly happen. But it took even a lot more Passion for me to come up with this crazy idea. Hard work paid off! 

Life is short. If there was ever a moment for me to follow my Passion to do crazy things that matter to me the most, that moment had to be when I stopped the traffic in my cobalt blue dress, with Phillip Lim.

















Thank you so much for reading
Photo by: Sneak Peektures
Edited by: Crystal

::Outfit::
Light in the Box dress (old)- Also love this one and this one.
3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Satchel via Ssense
Charles & Keith sandals- Also love this one
Rayban sunglasses
ASOS belt & ASOS hat and rings



{CRYSTAL'S CLOSET}: MOSCATO

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There is nothing like having a glass of Moscato at the end of a busy day to reward myself. I am not a big fan of wine, but somehow, I became addicted immediately to the delightfully light and refreshing taste of Moscato when I first drank it. The light, perky fizz and natural raciness of the fruity wine instantly make me feel better regardless how tough my day could be. 

Having to deal with so many meetings; problem solving; targets; and deadlines at work constantly gives me so much stress, I need a solution to keep me stay motivated and happy always. Coming home to a glass of crisp and refreshing Moscato is one of the many solutions that I have. Then I realized; a happy day to me was also no longer the day with a lot of parties, clubbing until the next morning. I would rather spend time at home, watch a nice movie, with someone special while drinking my favorite wine instead.  

It's amazing to see how a repeated action can become our habit, and how a habit can become our lifestyle over a period of time. If you were to ask me what would I do to release my stress, you'd likely hear me saying: "Drink a glass of Moscato".

We are what we drink. I've probably drank Moscato too much that I even chose to dress up like one, in the "Moscato" color, with my black-yellow color-block midi dress, on the day I took these photos. 
 











Thank you so much for reading!
::Outfit::
Oasap color-block midi dress- Also love this one, and currently obsessed withthis one
H&M Ankle Cuff heels- Also love this one and this one
RaybanSunglasses- Currently obsessed with this one
Lovisa jewelry- Also love all of these from Max & Chloe



{EVENT}: PROTECT TO TELL- CERVICAL CANCER

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Today's blog post is neither about fashion nor beauty, it's about an important topic that I couldn't ignore. It's none other than our health, women's health, to be exact. I always believe that a healthy woman is a pretty woman, which is why it's so important for us to know how to take care of our health. When I was invited by OC Group (thank you Rachel) to the brunch event "Protect to tell- Cervical Cancer", I couldn't say No even though it was held on my resting- day. 

A #selfie shot of my hair and make-up in the cab on the way to Lady M (Fullerton) where the event was organized.  



It was a pretty event with so many lovely pastel colored decorations; from the registration table, to the flowers and the balloons. Even the cakes looked so pretty there.


I dressed up in purple, which happened to match with one of the colors of the event. 



Throughout the brunch, we were shared so many useful information about the 10th most common cancer in Singapore females: CERVICAL CANCER. I wrote the first blog post about Cervical Cancer 4 years ago, and that was the first time I learned about this cancer. 

Just in case you don't know, Cervical Cancer is one of the preventable cancers, and is curable if it's treated in the pre-cancerous stage. Nevertheless, there were still 360 deaths reported out of 960 new cases diagnosed with Cervical Cancer from 2008 to 2012 in Singapore.

Why?

Perhaps, many people didn't know about it. Even if they knew, they didn't think that they were diagnosed with Cervical Cancer. Read these common myths below and see if you have the same thinking:  

Photo credits to: GlaxoSmithKline Pte Ltd

In short, any women with age from 25 to 69 who have had sexual intercourse are at higher rate of developing cervical cancer. You are advised to have you Pap smear test once every three years. Even though HPV Vaccination helps to prevent certain HPV infections and reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer, it does not guarantee that you are 100% protected, thus you need to do a regular Pap smear to detect changes in the cervical cells. 

Cervical Cancer if detected in its early stages can be treated, and the treatment is simple and almost 100% effective. You can go to any gynaecologist to get the Pap smear done, and payment can be claimed via Medisave. 

Please take a good care of yourself and stay healthy because your well-being is not only important to you, but also to many of your loved ones. 

I did my Pap smear and had HPV Vaccination 2 years ago, what about you?

{CRYSTAL'S CLOSET}: SUMMER VIBE

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Blue, green, yellow, orange, red, turquoise..., there are endless varieties of the color palettes that only one season of the year could offer. It's none other than Summer. Days in Summer get longer and brighter, exposing the beauty of nature at its best, in all vibrancy and energy possible. The thought of being able to soak up the sun, lying down on the white sand, and having a glass of Strawberry Margaritas makes me so excited. Do I even need anything else? Maybe, just my camera or iPhone to help me capture the most beautiful time and space, I'm all set. Or even when I'm not at the beach, taking a walk around the garden and surrounding myself with endless greenery would probably be my most favorite thing to do. I'm so glad that I've never taken Summer for granted. Given the fact that I'm living in the tiny island that generously offers warm weather all year round, that simply means no layering is needed when it comes to fashion. Less-is-more approach with simple silhouettes has always been my fashion verdict, that explained why after looking at so many dresses in my closet, I decided to go minimalist with the most basic wardrobe staples. 

Surprisingly, it didn't take me much effort to look chic, yet still casual in Summer with a simple tank top and floral bodycon skirt. I guessed the only thing that looked extraordinary here was a pair of Swarovski Crystal earrings sponsored to me by Glitz and Love. If you are in love with all things sparkling, I highly recommend you to check them out. I don't see many shops that sell beautiful handmade bridal and everyday jewelry at such an affordable price like that. They are the first one. 






























Thank you so much for reading! 
Photo by: Carmen Chow
Edited by me. 

::Outfit::
ZARA mustard tank top- Also love this one
Sheinside floral bodycon skirt- Also love this one andthis one
GUESSstrappy heels- Also love this one and this one
Earrings: Thank to Glitz and Love
Swarovski necklace and watch
Givenchy bag
Ray-ban Sunglasses

{TRAVEL}: KRABI KALLING

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I first met Krabi 4 years ago on a very short trip that was sponsored by FHM Magazine. It was an off-peak season when we visited, everything was "sleeping" except for some souvenir shops still open with hope to sell to some rare tourists like us. Raining all day long made Krabi even gloomier and quieter than usual. There wasn't any entertainment to excite us, so we decided to shorten our stay in Krabi from 3 days 2 nights to 2 days 1 night, and spent a day in Phuket instead. Krabi didn't leave me with much impression, and I thought I would never come back again.

Nevertheless. 

I agreed to visit Krabi again after listening to my boyfriend's suggestion, and I thought: "Perhaps, Krabi has changed. It's worth to check it out after 4 years." Two days before the departure, we booked the flight, had our hotel sorted and packed our luggage for a short getaway vacation. Knowing what Krabi looked like, I tried to keep my expectations as low as possible, but the thought of going for a first trip with my boyfriend undeniably made me so excited.  

After approximately 2 hour flight, 20 minute car drive and a 15 minute boat ride, we arrived at our home for the weekend- Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas with its own private bay.What greeted us was much better than I expected: a floating entrance to the hotel with many rooms carved into the lush National Park of Pai Plong. It created an opulent vista that looked exactly like some type of paradise in my dream. In that dream, I had my private bathtub, and private beach with blue sky and turquoise water. There, I had it all. 










First day, we had a Thai buffet dinner and hung around our hotel as it was quite late when we checked in. On the second day, we took a boat ride to visit Ao Nang and went for shopping. It surprised me that Ao Nang streets haven't changed a bit compared to 4 years ago. Still the same colorful souvenir shops, beach-themed restaurants lined up nicely along the beachfront road. Even on the weekend of the holiday period, Ao Nang was still so relaxed, calm and peaceful. People looked happy here as if the word "Stress" didn't exist in this small town. Obviously, how could we feel stress when we look at the perfect beach, listening to the soothing sound of waves coming from the ocean every day like that?











Then, I realized Krabi hasn't changed a bit, I was the one that has changed. Four years ago, when I had my footsteps in this little beach town, I was looking for something fun to entertain me like big shopping malls or nightclubs with a lot of people. I left Krabi for Phuket because I couldn't find any excitement there. Today, the same old town where I was standing, I found myself entertained just by looking at the small little details in every corner of this street. From the whimsical curtain, the vibrantly embroidered handbag, to the jungle themed restaurant, the big-sized female dancer statues, and the kaleidoscopic paintings, everything was so beautiful in its own way. I just had to take a closer look to appreciate it more. 


That's when I knew I missed a lot of things in my first trip here, and I decided to do some activities that I didn't do before, on my two days in Krabi. 

Guess what the activities were? Find out in the next blog post. ;)
Thank you so much for reading. I hope you enjoy part 1 of my Krabi adventure.  

{CRYSTAL'S CLOSET}: CROP TOP IN KRABI

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The second day in Krabi was quickly filled up with a lot of walking, shopping, and sightseeing once we had our footsteps in Ao Nang Street. The weather was so kind to us when we were there. With golden sunshine, blue sky, crystal clear water and the striking mountain range, Ao Nang gave me the perfect scenery as a backdrop for my take-home photos that needed no filter to enhance its vibrancy and beauty. 

I didn't prepare myself for a full day of walking under the sun, but somehow I survived like a hero. Thanks to this pair of Isabel Marant gladiator sandals for the incredibly soft leather that saved my feet, and the adorable ASOS floral crop top that made me look so chic even when I was "melting" under the 31°C- 88°F heat. 

Going on a beach vacation like this to me means having the opportunity to be free, be daring, and be adventurous in my fashion style. Bikini. Checked. Ripped denim shorts. Checked. Sunglasses. Checked. Crop Top. Checked. Sun Tanning. Checked. As you can tell, I was so beach-ready in my crop top and denim outfit that showed a lot of skin. It's the kind of outfit that you don't see me wearing to walk around Singapore, but I guess it's acceptable in places like this. I just wanted to have fun, that's all. 













Thank you so much for reading!
::Outfit::
ASOS crop top- Currently obsessed with this one
ZARA denim shorts- Also love all of these
Isabel Marant Gladiator sandals
Valentino Crossbody Bag
Ray-Ban sunglasses
Swarovski watch- Max & Chloe rings and bracelets. 


{TRAVEL}: KRABI SIGHT AND SOUND

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There is always something for everyone in Krabi, whether you are an active or laid-back person. I just have to agree completely with whoever said that.

After spending half of my day walking around Ao Nang, taking a closer look at every detail (I talked about this in the first blog post "Krabi Kalling"), I realised that the more things I explored, the more I would fall in love with this place. Having the right mindset made it easier for us to decide what we wanted to do for the rest of the day. We bumped into a small tour agency in Ao Nang and quickly booked our itinerary after listening the salesman's recommendation. Thirty minutes later, a private car was arranged, and ready to bring us to all the places that we wanted to go to.

The famous Krabi Tiger Cave- Wat Tham Sua, located just about three km away from Krabi town, was our first stop. Many people wanted to visit this place, but then gave up after knowing that 1,237 steps up to the mountain awaited them ahead. I and Ken both love challenges and exercise, so we thought: "What would be a better way to work out during our holiday?". Besides, not every day I could get rewarded with beautiful scenery like this while exercising. 



200 steps were easy, 600 steps got more challenging, 800 steps were a live-or-die kind of situation. The higher we climbed, the steeper it got. I needed a voice inside my head to constantly encourage me "C'mon! No pain, no gain. You are almost there". 

At the 1000th step, I felt like I could walk no more, but the curious thought about "What's there at the top?" kept pushing me forward. If I gave up half way, I would have never had a chance to enjoy this spectacular view. All the sweat, pain and thirst were compensated with this stunning panoramic view of the amazing Andaman Sea and the dramatic limestone cliff formations during the sunset. This was the most satisfying thing I did on this trip. 









Leaving the Tiger Cave, our driver took us to Krabi Night Market as I wanted to buy some souvenirs for friends and family. It turned out to be a food night market instead with hundreds of food stalls along the roadside, selling all authentic local dishes such as barbecued seafood, meat, Thai mango sticky rice, fruits and many more. The market looks chaotic from the outside, but once you dive into that frantic, noisy and smoky crowd, it's actually quite fun and satisfying. 




It was raining shortly after we visited the night market. Instead of eating out, we headed back to our hotel and pampered ourselves with some wine, nice Italian food, in the most romantic place that we've never thought we would be. 


Having to get up at 6am the next day, on a holiday trip was a challenge for me, but it was totally worth it because for the first time in my life, I did Kayaking. I was excited like a kid, and of course nervous too because I didn't know how hard it could it. 
Surprisingly, It wasn't difficult as what I imagined.  Kayaking like this? 

I could do it every day :D 

Even though, it was ridiculously hot and humid, but this view made it all worth it. Sitting on a craft, floating along the river that was calm and quiet like a painting, while looking at the canyons and caves made me feel like life is too short to be wasted with so much stress and worry. 




There were many other things I wanted to do, but time didn't permit, I had to say good bye to Krabi after 3 wonderful days. The last thing I wanted to do before leaving this paradise was to spend my time by the beach, soaking up the sun, listening to the sound of the ocean and feeling so appreciated with every moment I had. Knowing that I wouldn't be able to bring all these wonders home, I tried to capture them as much as I could, and kept them safely in the "Happiness" folder in my mind and my heart.  





If you asked me again, whether I could re-visit Krabi, I knew the answer would always be:  "Absolutely yes".
In fact, I already feel like going back there again, right now. 
Thank you so much for reading, and thank you so much for following me on this travel diary. 
Till next time. 

{STYLE TIP}: WHAT TO WEAR TO PROM?

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I've passed the age to go for prom night long time ago (*sad face), and in fact I have never attended one, simply because there was no such activity called "Prom" during my high school in Vietnam. We had a tea party or farewell dinner, and that's about all. No beautiful gown, no tuxedo, no makeup or any princess moments.

Thanks to Teen Vogue for the "Prom Night" photo challenge invitation, I had the opportunity to experience and learn about the whole Prom-get-ready process. It was fun, exciting and pretty overwhelming. As a stage performer at a very young age, I used to get dressed up formally all the time for some big events, shows and competitions, and yet I had no clue of what to wear when it came to prom. There were so many questions in my head: "What type of dress is Prom appropriate?", "What color would look good on me?", "What shoes should I wear?", "What type of accessories?" etc... At last, I settled for the royal blue gown that I bought a long time ago, but didn't have any chance to put it on. 

I was waiting for the right moment to wear it.

Who would ever think that the right moment was when I and Sneak Peektures did this photo shoot for Teen Vogue? 











I'm pretty sure that many of you will face the same problems like I did. But fret not? I have some really good tips for you: 

1. Spend time looking for a perfect dress. 
A perfect dress (to me) is when it fits you like a glove, makes you feel confident and beautiful. Doesn't matter if it's a ball gown, A-line, mermaid, or high-low dress, as long as it fits you perfectly, compliments your body shape, and instantly gives you extra confidence the moment you put it on. Take it! Prom is one of the most quintessential high school experiences that stays with you for a lifetime. You want to look your best, so don't settle anything for less. 

2. Dress length. 
Floor length gowns always make you feel like an A-list Hollywood star, but if you love dancing on that night, you won't want anyone to step on your dress, so ankle-length dress would be my recommendation. 

3. Shoes. 
You can wear flats all 364 days, but for just one prom night, please invest in a nice and comfortable pair of heels. Remember to wear a pair of ball-of-foot cushion to eliminate tenderness and burning sensation on your feet while dancing your night away.  

4. Beauty. 
Get your pedicure and manicure done. Try not to put on too heavy make-up as you want to look as naturally beautiful as possible. Whiten your smile and take care of your breath, it's such a small little detail, but can ruin the whole evening :(. Lastly, wear your favorite perfume and lipstick and you are ready to go. 

5. Feel. 
The last thing (and most important thing) you need to worry about is how you feel. I might sound redundant here, but trust me, how you feel about yourself will determine how your prom night will turn out. So be confident, be happy, and be yourself! Enjoy the night, smile a lot, it's your time to celebrate. Dance like nobody is watching, but dress like everybody is admiring you. 

If you still have no any idea of what to wear to prom, I have some stunning dresses below that I personally picked just for you. I hope you like it!

Thank you so much for reading, and thank you Teen Vogue for the opportunity for me to experience something new. 

::Outfit::
Lovisa necklace and bracelet- Also love this one and this one
Cesare Paciotti sandals.
Swarovski earrings- Thanks to Glitz and Love.
YSL lipstick- Smashbox eyeshadow- YSL Touche Eclat foundation & YSL Shuffle D'Eclat Finish Veil

Photography by: Sneak Peetures
Edited by: Crystal Phuong. 


{CRYSTAL'S CLOSET}: KRABI SUNSHINE

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In my own thoughts, no beach vacation would be complete without spending some quality time alone at the beach to do what I love. Whether taking a lot of #selfie while suntanning, swimming in the sea, or even just taking a long walk by the beach, such simple things like that would make my day.  This time, I was lucky enough (and felt so grateful) to have Ken with me to help capture all the dreamy moments I had with Ao Nang beach before sunset. I was even luckier to have the golden sunshine and crystal clear water beach create a perfect farewell gift for me to take home: a sparkly and magical postcard of Krabi with me in it. 

In return, I showed Ao Nang my most favorite floral maxi dress that I bought from Light in the box a long time ago, yet didn't wear as I wanted to reserve it for a special occasion. That occasion was when I spent my last few hours before leaving for the airport to have a "monologue conversation" with Krabi at the most beautiful time of the day. While looking at the golden beach, listening to the soothing sounds of waves crashing against the shore made me feel like dancing along to the most melodious song of the sea. 

Krabi, you stole my heart!














Thank you so much for reading!
::Outfit::
Light in the box floral maxi dress
Michael Kors aviator sunglasses- Also love these designs from Shopbop
Valentino Studded Bag
Lionette by Noa Sade necklace via Shoptiques
Lovisa jewelry- Also love these ones from Max & Chloe.


{CRYSTAL'S CLOSET}: BLACK MAGIC

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There are very few people in this world say Black is boring. Based on the fact that, I haven't met anyone who has never worn black outfit before, I assume everyone loves black. Considering myself as the rainbow type of girl who has a weak spot for vibrant colors (You can tell from looking at my Instagram), It's strange to realize that I have more black outfits than any other colored ones. I guess that's where my comfort zone is. When I'm in doubt, I wear black. When I don't know what to wear, I just quickly grab a LBD (little black dress) and go. When I'm feeling strong, confident and capable of doing something, there is no other color than black that I would come back to. Just like how this outfit made me feel last week when I wore it to attend some of my meetings. It gave me the sense of power, formality, mystery, yet still remain the elegance, sophistication and attractiveness that are so close to my style story. 

While this soft chiffon midi skirt with the bodysuit added the feminine touch to the whole black outfit, the silver accessories created a perfect balance to my most versatile-colored ensemble. Its versatility does not only lie in the hundred ways of pairing the black staple with many other wardrobe pieces easily,  but also the various emotions and stories behind every simple black outfit. It can be sexy or professional, happy or sad, positive or negative, evil or divine, it all depends on how you wear it and how it makes you feel. That is why there is only one color can be called Magic on the color wheel and we often talk about it without any doubt: It's none other than Black Magic. 


























Thank you so much for reading!
::Outfit::
Oasap skirt- Currently obsessed with this one. 
Asos bodysuit
Lovisa necklace- Similar here and here
Marc by Marc Jacob sunglasses via Frames Direct
Forever New belt- Similar here 
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