Melbourne based blogger Leeyong Soo from Style Wilderness is today’s Stylish Thoughts contributor.
What is the one thing you would spend a lot of money on?
If I knew it would be worth it, I would invest in a great haircut – it’s one of the few things you probably shouldn’t skimp on, especially if you are having your hair coloured, permed or otherwise significantly altered. Unfortunately, though, my baby-fine hair seems to be a challenge for every hairdresser I’ve ever met, so now I don’t bother visiting top-name salons. In fact, the best cut I ever got was from a $10 “just cuts” type place I used to duck into on my lunch breaks in Tokyo!
What is the one thing you wouldn’t spend a lot of money on?
For me, it’s not just one thing – it’s most things. I think the most I have ever spent on any one item is about $200 for a pair of shoes – which turned out not to be comfortable and I ended up having to sell them! I buy just about everything from op shops, get them from clothing swaps or make them myself out of fabric that I’ve had stashed away for years (I’m a bit of a hoarder – you never know when something will come in handy!).
What are your top tips for looking stylish when travelling?
Pack accessories rather than clothes! Although this mainly applies because I tend to travel to places where I have to carry my own luggage, so I try to pack light. I aim to take as few pieces of clothing as possible, but take accessories to give outfits a different look. A scarf wrapped around the head or a bright necklace added to a basic dress can really change an outfit.
Who inspires you?
I love all kinds of traditional dress from all over the world, so although I do love being inspired by stylish ladies both present and past, seeing women (and men too) in their native costumes is more interesting for me. That said, it’s not often that I get the opportunity to visit exotic places and see this kind of thing in real life, so in daily life it’s more about people walking around in the city giving me ideas.
Meet Me on the Streets http://www.meetmeonthestreets.com/
What’s not worth the money?
Anything that doesn’t flatter you. It doesn’t matter how much you spend on something or how cool it is, if it doesn’t suit you and if you don’t feel comfortable in it, it’s not worth it. It really pays to know your style and what you feel most “you” in – I love the nautical look on other people, for example, but feel all wrong in stripes or white cableknit sweaters, so you won’t find me buying into that trend.
What’s your secret to making yourself stand out?
Colour! Melburnians are doing a lot better now than they used to, but I still get a lot of compliments and comments (good ones!) when I wear colourful outfits. I also love accessories – people kind of know me by my big earrings!
