Top 5 Pick-Me-Ups for Instant Glam

There’s nothing like a little instant glam to give a tired mama some sparkle. Consider these super quick, low-cost fixes your secret style superpower, mamas!

Are you a mama who still wants to look stylish even in the face of, well, being a mom? Do you want to know more about fab local designers and brands? We’ve teamed up with fashion bloggers (and Singapore mamas) Ms Yin/Ms Yang to bring you a monthly dose of fun and practical fashion tips that are equally perfect for fashionista mamas or mamas who are just happy to be out of their gym clothes or flip-flops. You can read more here about the column!

When the spirit is lagging and you need to bring you’re a-game to the style party fast, here are Ms.Yin | Ms.Yang’s top 5 tips for an instant glam injection!

There’s no doubt that heels always add the instant glam factor to any outfit. From making us feel taller, to even encouraging the opposite sex to be more helpful (it’s true, according to French researchers!), there’s no denying that a good pair of heels can lift any outfit. If the idea of stilettos makes you grimace, go for a trusty pair of wedges, preferably embellished or glistening in gold (obvs). We love local shoe designers Emblem, Lilla Lane and The Tui Collection for fabulous feet wherever you might be.

Dress: Koogal | Shoes: The Tui Collection

We’re talking the bigger, the better! And the good news is that they don’t have to be designer to tick the glam box. Ms.Yin is a huge fan of affordable sunnies from 7-Eleven here in Singapore, and Ms.Yang has picked up some great pairs at the supermarket. So, never dismiss those cheaper alternatives that you may find in the most unexpected of places. Singapore high street hero Charles and Keith also do an exceedingly good line in stylish sunnies. Plus, it has been scientifically proven (Ms.Yang is on fire with her research today!) that cheaper sunglasses perform just as well as the more expensive pairs when measuring the UV light passing through the lenses with a spectrophotometer (fancy word borrowed from the scientists).

Dress: Indii Breeze
Sunglasses: Vintage
Turban: Turbans for Tots on Etsy

…Or go even one better and have a mini makeover before you go out! You don’t need to fork out for a professional make-up artist, just swing by one of the make-up counters on your way home and if you buy a product they normally will oblige and help you apply it. But if time is of the essence, then a bold lip and a good set of lashes can instantly take you from drab to glam in a heartbeat. At Ms.Yin | Ms.Yang we’ve kissed goodbye to short-lived lip glosses and become real converts to the long lasting liquid matt lipsticks that many cosmetic brands are now selling. In particular, we love the Natasha Moor “Molten Matte” range that boasts 12 hour staying power (which we can vouch for), and is waterproof, kiss-proof and won’t leave that nasty lipstick transference on the glass when you drink. But sneeze at your own peril when applying, as once on, it’s there to stay! Tip: Remove with oil-based make-up wipes, otherwise you’ll be scrubbing for a long time!

Dress: What the Frock?!
Shoes: Emblem
Cape: Nasty Gal
Sunglasses: Excluniqueeee
Ring: Bebe
Bag: Diane von Furstenberg
Lipstick: Natasha Moor

If you’re time-poor make this the focal point of your outfit, but forget neutral, we mean statement colours, metallics or embellished (all over if possible!). More is definitely better in this situation. Even if you’re wearing an all-black ensemble and feeling a bit meh about life, an intricate clutch can take run-of-the-mill to hello glamour in a nano second. Local favourites include Desti Saint, Elyse and i and Moniko available from The Boutique Society.

Get 10% off Moniko products at The Boutique Society when you use the code sassy10!

Or anything embellished, really — yes we know you might be saying enough of the embellishment already but after all Ms.Yang | Ms.Yin are never knowingly understated, EVER!. But believe us: jewels add instant luxe to any outfit. One of the easiest ways to glamify (yep made-up word by Ms.Yang) an outfit is to add an oversized pair of earrings or a statement necklace (but not together, that would be even too much for us). Either of these can be stuck in your bag and pulled out later for instant glamazon. Last year, we discovered Klungsee Samadun, a shop based in Bangkok who make the craziest and most fabulous earrings and they ship internationally plus are very reasonably priced to boot. And our very own homegrown Boheme craft exquisite earrings with semi precious stones.

So, there you have it, our top tips for the instant glamma mama effect!

Dress: Indii Breeze
Earrings: Klung See Samadun Shop
Blue bracelet: Lustre