New Arrivals: 2 Tops + 1 Skirt= 3 Beauties

Our Sunniest skirt is in!! Daisy yellow skirt is the prettiest yellow swiss linen ever!

Our colour block Helena Top comes in Pink with Red and vice versa.

Not forgetting our lovely mini florals on Henrietta top which comes in yellow and pink silk!

And we're so proud to share we've gotten a permanent space at TANGS VIVO this coming 29th August 2011! We're just beside SATURDAY and opposite ISLAND SHOP:) Visit us real soon!

Wedding Diary: Mock Up Invites

Just finished doodling some initial art work for our wedding invite! Going for 2 versions for the church and dinner:) Loving the yellow and obviously using my favourite fonts!

Summer Freeze

This is such a great idea for any party this summer!

You've got Mail!

This letter holder is SOO adorable and it's in my favourite colour!

New Arrivals: Hello from Sunny Side Up!

Dyan Origami Bow Dress in Black and Peach with polka dots

Rina Eyelet Dress

Hebe Stripes Top and Dawn Black Slimming Pants

Dyan Origami Bow Top and Selena White Scallop Shorts

Henrietta Pink Dress which comes in crimson red too!

Come by to fit these new designs before they all run out!

We produce very few quantities this season:)

Read and Breathe

These are words for the real women! Check out which designer had this backstage during Paris Couture week 2011!

Wedding Diary: Invites

I always loved embossed and letter press printing:) And I'm seriously thinking of having one for the big day! Isn't this so pretty and grand!

We're on HerWorld.com!

Our cruise collection is up and ready this coming Friday and we're so excited to share them with you! And to kick start this summery hot season, we got a lovely surprise from Niki from Herworld.com who we always look up to for up-to-date fashion reports around the globe and to us the ultimate social media queen giving our latest collection a lovely review:) Read here to find out more and to check out more pictures!

Wedding Diary: Chinese Roots

As the months draw nearer to the big day and despite the workload for Fall 2011 and CNY 2012 collections, my heart is searching for the perfect earring for my wedding! And I've decided to go for this beautiful chinese character aquamarine stone earring for my tea ceremony dress:) Ok..back to work again!

Dreams of Pandora on Brandsfever

If you've been itching to get your hands on the very few last pieces of our collection! Head to Brandsfever from today till 22nd of July to grab them now! We have pieces up to 70% off:)

Persistent Alopecia Leads to Taxotears

“It’s just hair” and “it will grow back.” How many times have those statements been offered up to women who will undergo chemotherapy? Intended or not, they are dodging at best, dismissing at worst a woman’s valid emotions at having to surrender her hair in the name of life. OF COURSE it’s a small price to pay for survival (who doesn’t know that!?), but a price no less. As women facing cancer treatment, we set our eyes on the prize, that being a future that includes life, love, health…. AND the return of our hair.

But what if they’re wrong? Or more accurately asked, what if there is a 3-6 percent chance our hair loss will persist for years following chemotherapy or possibly even for the rest of our lives? Responding to the growing number of women who take Taxotere with other chemotherapy drugs and find their hair does not grow back, Vice President of Medical Affairs for the pharmaceutical gargantuan, Sanofi-Aventis responds:

“Taking into account the benefit brought by this type of therapy, we think things should be put in perspective.”

Ok, but whose perspective? That of the profiteers, or that of the sufferers?

Persistent alopecia is in fact potential side effect of the chemotherapy drug Taxotere when taken in combination with other drugs. There is even a support and advocacy group of women who suffer persistent alopecia due to Taxotere who call themselves “Taxotears.” Their objective is not to get Taxotere taken off the market but to ensure that each and every woman who is offered Taxotere as a chemotherapy regimen be warned that persistent alopecia is a possibility. They simply want women to have the ability to make their own informed choice.

Finding the new “normal” as a cancer survivor is hard enough even when our hair does grow back. We deserve the right to make informed choices. It’s not just about our hair, it’s about our ability to heal and re-identify with the cancer-free version of ourselves.

Have you or anyone you know taken Taxotere and experienced persistent alopecia? If you’ve ever taken Taxotere, were you told beforehand that persistent alopecia was a potential side effect?

Susan Beausang, 4Women.com

Unexplained Hair Loss? Don't Give Up

I have permanent hair loss, also called Alopecia Universalis. That doesn’t mean it will never grow back (it has), simply that it will never stop falling out. Once an Alopecian, always an Alopecian…

It took a lot of doctor’s appointments to finally arrive at that diagnosis and trust me, learning that I had a permanent hair loss disease was devastating, but it was also a giant relief. Hair loss IS devastating, but hair loss with no confirmed cause is even more devastating and completely unnerving.

There are so many possible causes of hair loss, many of them very difficult to conclusively diagnosis, so women and girls with unexplained hair loss seem to greatly out-number women and girls with diagnosed hair loss conditions. Browse any women’s hair loss website or forum and you will find countless numbers of women and girls writing and reaching out to others in hopes of finding someone with their exact symptoms AND with a name and diagnosis for their hair loss. Dismissed by one doctor after another, most of them are desperate for an explanation, any explanation for their hair loss. My heart goes out to each and every one of you as my memories of watching my own hair fall out without any explanation are still raw.

It is true that before learning I had Alopecia Universalis, I could have held out hope that my condition was short-term, that it would self-resolve, that I would go on to once again have a full head of hair. Like most women experiencing hair loss, I was more interested in having an answer. Watching as a part of you gradually disappears and not knowing why is in fact harder than knowing why, even when that knowledge includes confirmation that your hair loss will be permanent. At least then we can get on with the business of readjusting to our new reality, that of life as a woman or girl with hair loss.

My advice to women and girls with unexplained hair loss, don’t give up. At minimum, you need to know why.

Have you ever experienced temporary or long-term hair loss? Did you seek out a diagnosed cause? If you were successful in finding the cause, do you have any advice for others who are losing their hair but have not found the cause?

Susan Beausang, President, 4Women.com

Ovarian Cancer Survival Higher Among BRCA Carriers

Let me start by saying that while I’m a supporter of efforts to raise awareness and cure the cancers that kill women, my first choice is prevention. So, when I learned that I was indeed a BRCA2 carrier, I didn’t pause long before choosing to undergo both prophylactic mastectomies AND a prophylactic oopherectomy (meaning I had both healthy breasts and healthy ovaries removed). Drastic you say?

An estimated 15-40 percent of women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation will develop ovarian cancer, vs. an estimated 1.4 percent of women who have neither the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. How could I possibly surrender my breasts in a determined effort to cheat cancer, only to wait for it to show up in my ovaries? I decided the ovaries had to go with the breasts. My sister, a breast cancer survivor and BRCA2 carrier opted to keep her ovaries and I’ve always wondered about the wisdom of her decision. Well, in a bizarre twist of double-stranded DNA, it seems her BRCA2 mutation just might give her a survival advantage should she ever develop ovarian cancer.

Women with ovarian cancer who have the BRCA2 gene mutation are more likely to survive the malignancy than women with the BRCA1 mutation or women without either mutation, according to Kelly Bolton, a research fellow at the National Cancer Institute. Bolton and colleagues evaluated 3,531 cases of epithelial ovarian cancer (1,178 women with BRCA1 mutations, 367 with BRCA2 mutations, and 1,986 with neither mutation). The five-year survival of women without mutations was 36 percent, while survival rates for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers were 46 percent and 61 percent, respectively.

The researchers do not know why women with BRCA2 mutations had better survival rates than BRCA1 carriers and can only hypothesize at this point as to why BRCA carriers had better survival rates than women without either mutation. The leading hypothesized explanation is that the BRCA mutations compromise the ability of the gene carrier’s DNA to self-repair, making it more vulnerable to chemotherapy. In other words, the mutation that makes us more susceptible to cancer also makes our malignant cells more susceptible to chemotherapy drugs. The chemotherapy could thus be more effective at killing cancer cells in BRCA carriers.

Had I known this prior to my surgeries, I’d still have opted for the oopherectomy. I’m all for surviving by any means necessary. If I can do so by preventing cancer rather than curing it, all the better. Nonetheless, these findings are both important and fascinating to a BRCA carrier who is sister to multiple other BRCA carriers.

Any fascinating BRCA facts in your pile of interesting tidbits? If so, please share.

Susan Beausang, President, 4Women.com

Sources:

http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu/breastgenetics/faq.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110404111040.htm

A Whole Week

If you realized things have been quiet here..that's cause I went to Melbourne:) And boy was it a really great trip with so much art to admire, I particularly love this painting at a winery we went in Yarra Valley!

Food was consistently so awesome, I have to admit I gain some chubs!

Imagine my joy when I spotted Rob Ryan works and bought so many of his cards just to ogle at the beautiful cutouts!

Soaked in the wintery chilly cold breeze with stunning winter blossoms..

Went for wine tasting and cheese loving trip to Yarra Valley!

And we just can't stop eating and drinking and almost getting drunk!

And went totally gawked over this insanely intelligent design from Vienna in the late 1980s

To visiting so many opt shops and bazaars filled with vintage fabrics, lights, furniture, suitcases to posters! Gosh I'm still piecing all the wonderful ideas and penning them down before my holiday memories are gone..

A view to behold

Sometimes in life, we just get so consumed by work and deadlines and forget about the great beauty around us. Isn't this stunning? I took this at Bintan Cabana Beach Resort 2 weeks back:)

Think Yellow!

I think I might try coloured eyeliner this summer!

Moon Gloss

Just got back from a restful and sourcing trip from Melbourne and somehow this manicure reminds me of the lovely architecture and colours worn during this chilly winter! As we head back to work again, we're busy preparing for our TANGS shop and our new collection! Stay tuned:)

Sunny Days are Here!

It's high summer again and we are itching to get some cool and refreshing treats all day long! In just 2 weeks time, our high summer collection will hit all our stores:) We cant wait!!

Reflections On The Promise Of Hair

(The following is a letter from sister Alopecian and fab beaudiva, Therese, posted here with her permission.)

I feel the need to write something. I have been living on “the other side” for a while now, meaning I have only worn my scarves in the privacy of my home. Outside I have worn my wig. And as each day of wearing it has gone by, I have despised the wig more and more. Beautiful as it looks, it has nothing to offer ME - only something for the eyes of others - a woman with hair. Meaning? A normal chick. No big deal, no questions… does she have…? Is she….? Hmmmmm.

So in the process of all this, I ordered another wig from someone else, one that promised me an easier fit. No glue. No tape. Beautiful waves. He even sent me the cap to try on before the hair was ventilated. I tried it on and it fit. It took 10 weeks to complete.

It arrived today. Hair as promised. The cap fits, except for the neckline, and with the type of material it is made from, this cap cannot be altered now. Basically, it’s beautiful but worthless to me.

Ironically, for the last few days, between Chicago turning into the tropics and me getting the worst cold I’ve had in centuries, I have only worn my scarves. Of course, I have been off from the hospital too, but yesterday I had a mandatory meeting there and without thinking twice, (hell, even ONCE) I put on one of my cutie-patootie beaubeaus and out the door I went.

Last week I looked at the 4Women website and at the new photo contest winners. I didn’t dare look at the new scarves for fear I would betray my Yaffa.

Today I look at the new waves I can’t wear because the cap is wrong and the old Yaffa with hair thinning out and drying out - and I reached for my favorite beaubeau.

I wonder, did I want hair because I wanted hair, or did I want hair because I was surrounded by sweet young thangs at the hospital with thick pony tails and Bambi eyelashes? I had not been exposed to that kind of environment for a long time. And to think how proud I was that I got my job wearing a scarf on my head. And how upset I was when I first wore the wig and someone told me I looked younger. Shame on that guy. That’s like telling a woman she looks nice in a dress because it hides her big butt.

In this disjointed letter to you, I think I am saying that I have once again expensively learned that I cannot put back on my head what a disease took away and feel “real.” In the scarves, I am comfortable and colorful. In the wig, I am encased in mesh that to others looks like hair but to me, feels like a hat. It’s only when I look in the mirror that I see the hair. So, really, what good is it? Other than offering some comfort level to others and perhaps a way for me to hide again… I thought I was done with that.

So like Linda Ellerbee would say, “And so it goes.” Back to June 2009, when I first placed an order for 2 scarves. And they are still 2 of my favorites.

Time for more.

Love,

Therese

We're Hiring: Full Time Fashion Retail Advisors!

It's time again for us to grow our team and we're currently in a hunt for Full Time/Part Time Fashion Retail Advisors at our new space at TANGS ORCHARD and TANGS VIVOCITY this coming August! We're seeking passionate and hardworking retail advisors to share our great love for good fashion and great taste!

If you have the qualities as stated below, please contact us soon for an interview.

- A warm big smile

- A flair for Fashion

- A great sense of style-

- A hardworking and committed attitude

- Team Player

- Excellent communication skills

Job scope:

- Responsible for store activities

- Stock take and price tagging

- Visual display and planning of stock placement

- Actively promote both the brand and product

- Communicate fluently and earnestly with customers

- Up to date with fashion trends

- Manages sales to ensure full customer satisfaction

- Work closely with management on any updates given by customers or store front

Requirements:

Singaporean and PRS welcome to apply.

Minimum "O-level" or equivalent

At least 1 year retail experience required.

Able to work rotated shift.

Full time to commit for at least 1 year.

If you're interested or know of anyone interested please send in resume to priscilla@ilovechalk.com stating current and expected salary together with a recent photo.

We got featured in a Japanese Supplement Magazine!

Another belated post where our works got featured in a Japanese magazine! On the lovely model is our Kasey owl print dress:) It's currently going on a 15% discount at Parco and To The Nines now!

We're featured in Orchard Central Shopping Booklet!

Our Kelly dress got featured in the shopping booklet of Orchard Central. Find this dress at our stockist To The Nines, Soon Lee and Parco:)

We're featured on Alexis Magazine!

This post is a little late but Thank you to Alexis Magazine for featuring us in the Blueprint edition!

Cups and Such

This installation is really brilliant! A new form of spilled art.

Hot Seats

Drool worthy chairs to own!

Puff Parcel

OMG..imagine durian puffs with chocolate ribbon tape! Divine combination ever:)

Mini Her

Sara is so talented!

Fairy Tale Playground

This shoot is breathtaking!!!

Mirror mirror on the wall

Isn't this such a great pick up line to place in your bedroom when the tough gets going!