Finding rest in Penang

“He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities.” —Benjamin Franklin

I wasn’t expecting to go overseas with my family this holiday season, but Alan whisked me and JJ away for a week of family fun and soaking in the warm golden sun. We had a few destinations in mind: Hamilton Islands, Bangkok Thailand or Hong Kong, but we decided to go back to Penang, Malaysia; to the place we first had our overseas trip together when we started dating.

Our little family flew with Qantas and Jetstar Asia, and we checked into the Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa (Batu Feringgi Beach, 11100 Penang, Malaysia) for a 6 nights stay. Besides devouring bowls of Assam Laksa, sipping endless supplies of Mocktails and Teh Tarik, I spent a majority of my time braving the humidity and 37 degree heat exploring George Town. This little town was perfect in every way – a photographers and art lovers haven to say the least. There were plentiful of hidden gems to discover such as 3D interactive street art, textured walls, piles of ruins, and odd combination of coloured buildings which eventually grew on you. We were really lucky to come at a time of Hari Haya (Malaysian New Year) because the streets were quite deserted which made walking around town a breeze.

Here are some of our most favourite places spotted around George Town. Pictures of me taken by my love, Alan Woo, and the rest are from yours truly x

black jumpsuit // ALICE MCCALL purchased from Very Special Kids Sale
red dress // ZARA
rose gold sandals // BARED FOOTWEAR
clutch // OLGABERG

 

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On the Streets with Aimee Manton

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Nice to meet you Aimee, and thanks so much for hanging out with me.

Well why don’t you tell us in a few words…

Your occupation/degree:
I’ve currently deferred my Uni studies to focus on Modelling.

The word you say too much is:
Amazing. (That’s true…she did say that a lot while shooting)

Describe your personal style in five words:
Minimalist, comfortable, chic, edgy, rock and everything black

One item of clothing you can’t live without:
Leather jackets.

Your prized procession is:
My dog.

What are your hobbies when you aren’t modelling?
Reading, Brunching, music and exercise.

What is the last item of clothing you bought:
Knee high boots and high rise stripey pants.

Solids or patterns:
Solids.

Who is your style icon?
Emily Rata.

Your favourite place in the whole wide world.
The beach.

One of the rules about how a girl should dress is:
Less is more.

 

model \\ AIMEE MANTON represented by Vivien’s Modelling Agency

FIRST LOOK
black and white magpie loafers \\ BARED FOOTWEAR
leather jacket \\ LEE COOPER
hat \\ LACKS OF COLOUR
striped pants \\ URBAN OUTFITTERS

SECOND LOOK
skirt \\ DELPHINE
leather jacket \\ LEE COOPER

The Perfect Coach Backpack

As much I love the idea of holding a clutch or a handbag, I can’t escape from the fact that a backpack is best suited to my photography work and life style. I’m a fashion photographer on the move, so carrying a backpack makes sense for all the ridiculous amount of heavy gear (wait, more like tissue paper and shopping receipts) that I put in my bag.

Huge thanks to Coach Australia, I was completely won over when Georgina from the St Collins Lane Flagship store understood my needs as a mum with a 4 year old and a photographer; and immediately showed me the “Manhattan Foldover” backpack.

Ohhh…..it was perfect in every way. Just let me explain why:

  1. Efficient and Multifunctional
    • It is spacious and has three separate, inside compartments – I can fit my laptop, hard drive, book, my lunch, camera and two lens. YAS!
    • Has two outside zip pockets – one for my lipstick and keys, and the other for my iphone. YAY! That means I don’t have to rummage through the inside compartments for my keys when I’m in a hurry.
    • It has an outside zip to access directly into the inside compartment. WINNING! That means I don’t have to undo the clip closure to get my wallet!
  2. Unisex
    • Though the Manhattan Foldover backpack is a part of the Men’s Collection SS17, I honestly believe this bag is perfect for a girl, even better, the right fit for a petite asian girl like me.
  3. Modern and good looking 
    • The zip details, clip closure, and stitching of this backpack makes it look modern and luxe. To top it off, I had my name embossed on a Coach tag at the St Collins Lane store which added a personalised touch;
    • This bag can go hands-free or hand-carried like a tote!
  4. Comfortable
    • The straps are well padded, and are adjustable which means no matter how heavy the bag may get, I am rest assured that my back is taken good care of. I’m sure my Oestopath would be happy about that.
  5. Quality Leather
    • What makes this bag so extra special is that it is crafted in Sport Calf Leather. The type of leather used in baseball gloves, and it will age and soften overtime.

So can you see why I am so impressed with my new backpack from Coach?

Thank you Coach for my beautiful backpack! Ok guys, if you are like, overwhelmed with too many choices, just go and speak directly to Georgina or one of her staff at the St Collins Lane store. They know their stuff inside out, and be more than happy to find you the perfect bag!

Images taken by Alan Woo.

black leather backpack // COACH
sweater knit dress // ZARA
boots // ACNE
socks // COS
black coat // AMERICAN APPAREL

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MBFWA2016 Street Style Highlights DAY 2

Hey everyone! Sorry I missed you all yesterday at Toni Maticevski’s main event. I already had a shoot booked in prior to fashion week so I wasn’t going to let my client down. Don’t worry I’ve been watching all the video clips and snapchats so I’m on top of things, and the show looked spectacular I must add.

Yay! It’s that exciting time of the year again where all the mega fashion blogger stars and celebrities dress in their best threads to the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia event. Overall, my absolute favourites (to name a few) were definitely Isobelle Cornish wearing full Miu Miu and Burberry outfits; Carmen from Chronicles of Her in her Gucci outfit; Brooke Testoni wearing Max Mara sweater and flares; and Emily from Stylebk in Peggy Hartanto. I saw lots of Gucci fur slides, the typical monochrome outfits and variety of deconstructed denim jeans, but Vetements gets my major vote.

Anyway I’ll let you decide so here are my favourite street style looks of day 2. Enjoy x

All images are copyrighted to Karen Woo. Please email hello@karenwoo.com.au if you would like to share any of images on Social Media. Thank you so much for your support. 

 

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Melbourne Central Guest Level Street Style

words // JERRY HSIEH
street style // KAREN WOO

 

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Isobel’s effortless look teaches us about the power of staple pieces. Her grey sweater dress and navy suede biker jacket make a winning combo for the colder months ahead and would easily compliment everything else in the wardrobe. The same could be said about her white Stan Smith kicks. A gentle sprinkle of street edge, I say fly.

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Aiden’s outfit embodies the essence of autumn. I was instantly drawn to his relaxed fitting trousers, which turned out to be one of his original creations. Sign me up for a pair please!

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Why stick to standard black or navy get ups when you can look as fly as Olivia in her business attire? She sets the benchmark of dressing for work with her fit that amplifies personality #businesswearinspo. I especially love her chunky, textured knit and green Camilla and Marc blazer. The silhouette of her look is on point to say the least.

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All eyes on Laura as she brings sophistication to the city. Miss dandy long legs shows off her figure tastefully with a fitted burgundy turtleneck and black leather skirt with side tie ribbon detail. Her strappy heels from Mollini add another dimension to her outfit.

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I’m a sucker for pastel and so should you! As autumn leaves pile up on the sidewalks, you will start to notice the colours of Mengyi’s casual fit on the streets. Her frayed striped pants elevate an otherwise understated look.

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Cathy’s elegant ensemble had me singing praises. The colours of her striped jacket are reminiscent of a painted canvas and blend harmoniously with her maroon flats. She finishes her look with a bold lipstick, chunky gold bracelets and a refreshing amount of confidence! Her outfit shows age is irrelevant when it comes to looking good. Being a tastemaker and understanding what works is the key to standing out from the crowd.

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I love the simplicity of her outfit, the contrasting denim textures and blue hues look refreshing against her white under layer and sneakers.

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Helen has the layering game down pat. I love the grey knit peaking out underneath her grey coat, which provides a subtle contrast of textures. Helen is also a strategic image sculptor. The funnel neck on her coat helps to elongate the neckline and the cuffing of chinos lends the same effect for her legs.

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Jackson’s fit is not only extremely well put together but also endlessly versatile. Navy and brown are matches made in heaven. His quilted navy vest and brown Christian Kimber saddle shoes make a formidable fashion statement.

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Jing Jing oozes swagger in her oversized cotton bomber, skinny jeans and pale pink Melisa platforms. The silhouette of her bomber provides a nice point of difference to the same old bombers you see on the streets. Standing tall and feeling good, that’s a mantra everyone should have.

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There is a variety of ways to spice up your autumn winter get ups. This season, keep things interesting with non-standard, textured and patterned pieces. David’s spotty white shirt and denim jacket with contrast fleece sleeves would certainly do the trick.

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Dean was on his way to a job interview when I pulled him aside for a snap. Is it too early for celebratory drinks? I have a feeling he’s no stranger to making good impressions. The leather jacket is a nice touch and his stylish pair of frames calls for constant eye contact.

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Karina is an undisguised master of switch ups. Her pairing of classic pieces such as the striped polo and white denim pants with edgier threads such as the leather wrap and pointy platform derbys create an interesting point of view. Let’s call this one the rockstar on a cruise.

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Ian stays easy in his everyday street look. As the temperature begins to drop, make sure you snatch up a versatile coat like Ian’s black one so you can brace the cold. I also like a good checkered shirt, it is my go to for lazy Sunday hangs.