Style Savvy: Trendsetters

Style Savvy Trendsetters

One of the most overlooked title in the 3DS library, Style Savvy: Trendsetters is a very adorable shop management simulation. Starting as an assistant, and subsequently taking over as the owner of the boutique, this nifty store management simulation requires the player to satisfy clients' clothing preferences, keep up with stock, as well as enter fashion contest.  From all the customers to please to the over 12,000 unique clothing items as boasted by the makers, this game is full of content to please any inner fashionista.

I have only played this game for less than an hour but I must say I'm really impressed with the production value of the game. I have also been enjoying every minute of it and look forward for my next trip back to satisfy the inner boutique fashionista in me. Will definitely come back to talk more about it later.

わがままファッション GIRLS MODE よくばり宣言！
The JP version of the game have a much better cover image than the US Style Savvy Trendsetter cover.

Morning Commute

Don't you hate it when your routine get disrupted because of incidences. That's what happened this morning to me, when I'd kept to my schedule (which usually give me about 20 minutes to spare before I reach the ferry terminal), only to relies that my connecting train is delayed due to a signal failure at one station, affecting the entire line. The delay is expected to be 30 mins, but knowing how it worked before, I know I wouldn't be able to pull it, even if I were to fly from the destination station to the ferry terminal.

So I had to exit the station, tried in vain to call a cab for 10 minutes, and finally decided to take a 10 minute bus ride near the cit (where I know people who exit at, ie available cab) to zip down straight to the ferry terminal. Hopefully I will not miss my ferry or I'd be uber miff at spending the extra for the added frustrations.

Some immediate thoughts:

- seriously, the frequency of the breakdown and delay doesn't indicate coincidence. It's a systematic fault, why can't anyone see that or do anything about it?

- there just isn't enough cabs around. I know I hate this, but seriously, just open the cabby services to foreign investors and drivers already 

- the new highway is ridiculous. Even though I live so close to 5 major expressways, I couldn't get on 2 of them just because of the intelligent design they put in. The detour just infurariate me everytime I take a cab.

Collaborator Rants

 
Absolutely not a happy bunny today. Received the latest draft from our collaborator this morning, and to my horror, it is not completed. There was no hint of apology for not putting those in place, and there were even more questions raised on the eleventh hour. I mean come on man, it's a draft! That doesn't mean a shoddy job. A draft is supposed to be a complete document!!!

Seriously, this project is so frustrating on every turn. Firstly there were all the administration that pushed me back from the July start date to October; and then there's the delivery timeline that was unadjusted despite the delayed start. This meant that the first deliverable (which is due in less than a month) was reduced from nine months' to six months' timeline.

While no one at the start actually think it was an issue, it was the understanding that all the parties are professional and able to deliver up to scratch delivery that would make the client happy with us.

And against the ominous tone, the project started. Our collaborators went back and did their first draft back in December. To the shock of everyone (including our client who we invited to sit in for the video conference), the draft was totally against the technical specifications and horribly written. The comments themselves were enough to shock how little understanding they have of the system, how little work they have put in, or how much they really appreciated the aim of the project. Questions were already buzzing then, but no red light since three months seems aplenty.

Then the next draft came earlier this month. I got so fed up with it that I overhauled the entire structure from head-to-toe. My boss, who's the nice one, told me to integrate their stuff and retain some of the fashion. But it was high praise when I deliver a fully written draft in less than a week turn around time. And yes, I really can't do pre-dawn writing that well nowadays. The sleep-debt is just worse with age. 

So it was with that draft that we send back to impress and set the tone right. That was a week ago. They picked up some issues from the draft and promised to finish up with some improvements, including examples to consolidate the elements proposed in the guideline. That was with the understanding that we are delivering the draft to our client for review this Friday.

Their version came finally yesterday, hours before we were scheduled for our video conference. But that version was one section short (that section they promised to put in just a week ago). My boss (who wasn't having a good day) blew her head off her top, repeatedly telling me to cancel the conference. I had to spend time to convince her to let the meeting resume to its schedule and have her attend the meeting just to clear out some misconceptions. I was personally doubting what my role was really in the guidelines, given that from the start, I'm just coordinating and not even supposed to be writing or research for this bit of the work. That meeting was luckily painless mostly with them going back to continue working and deliver a full document for fine editing. Which brings back to today's draft. It's still incomplete.... Seriously, is the definition of draft different in different culture?

Meanwhile, the component I'm supposed to be working on is literally at the arse-burning urgency. Gah! Not a good day.

Not a good mood to work effectively too! :(

Eight

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight...

One of the thing I really hate about my current set-up is the sharing of the photo-shoot area with my large study desk. It really feel very limiting for the angle of lights available. See how over U-i and Delphine are, while Hecate seems to be a tad under? 

Left to right - Hecate (PW One-off Wake Up Goldie), Elf Ony (DOD LE), Lavin (PW One-off), Christine (PW One-off Wake up Lottie)

I must say that the Rembrandt effect from the Nik's Collection Analog Efex Pro is really superb in isolating subject off the background. It even does that eerie outlining effect that one could only achieve through painful. Hmm... at least it is visible for Christine and Lavin, but not so much for Hecate.

Left to right - Henrietta (DOD Ony), U-i (DOD), Delphine (DOD LE). 

A bit overzealous overlay of Colour Efex Pro soft landscape effect in this one. I guess the messy hair of Delphine is a bit unforgivable too. Guess you found me out. I was just being lazy and place them where they were when they had an "accident" this morning. Luckily no face-up were damaged. Only messy hair...

Sleeping Girl 1 (DOD)

Same deal with Sleeping Girl 1. I must say that her donning of U-i's clothing is just a superb combination. It provided a dual message of approachable sweetness, with a strong independent characteristics. The hair (also originally U-i's) also show her lovely pink-shaded elven ears. She is just amazing with this look.

On a side-note, I really really need to give them names. It's been long overdue for most of them.

Moving Room - Early Planning

One of the highlights for this year would be moving from my current room (teeny-weeny) to a slightly larger (but still tiny) room. Despite the size of the room, there are many good things I'm looking forward to, including more wall space and an adjoining/personal bathroom. My current room have two "missing" walls due to a built in wardrobe on the width of the room and an entire row of windows on the length of the room. It make going vertical to maximise storage space a challenge. As for toilet access, I vouch that there is nothing simply better than a personal bathroom. For one, there is no need to queue (especially in an emergency), and I could finally personalise it to make it a haven for bodycare. 

There are a number of issues with moving of course. Firstly, stocktaking and moving out. I make it a habit of stacking stuff in my sty over the last dozen years. It is a messy situation that I'd always make do with one operational space that I multitask it for my tatami futon, computing space and photo-shoot area. So it is by no means a small order moving out, that would comprise of the daunting inventory checklist and the difficult decision to throw things away. Secondly, there is the issue renovating and furnishing the new room. As the process will likely be prolonged, with the current occupants taking their time to remove the items, engaging someone is really out of the question. 

Those considerations aside, at this early planning stage, I really need to finalise a theme for the new room and adjust accordingly to the theme. I guess the only reason for my sty at the moment is because of the disorganised mess I'd allowed myself to get into since my last move from the old apartment to here. By having a theme, it forces me to *hopefully* be more organised.

Here are some themes I'd considered since late last year:

(1) Princess Suite Theme

Taken from Basking Ridge Real Estate

A princess suite theme feature a living space that is befitting of a royal princess. Not to be mistaken by the Disney princess kids' theme bedroom (which are the dominating search results for "princess bedroom"), a princess suite theme offer a mixed of open space and functionality. It's not as septic as a minimalist showroom theme, and it provide the comfort factor that is befitting of a princess. 

I have only stayed in a princess suite while holidaying in Thailand, and that stay was the most memorable part of the entire trip. The feeling of self-worth is just enormous after every night there. There are some things money can buy and the feeling of being treated right might just be one of those. Seriously, if I could pull it off, this is one of the best bedroom to come back home to. 

Taken from Park House

(2) Ravishing Purple Theme

I'm obsessed with purple. It is such a mysterious colour, like it is whispering, "I like to keep you guessing...I'll spring you when you least expect it!" It is attention-grabbing and at the same time pleasing. 

Taken from Wave Avenue

The most interesting about purple? It provides two different mood more strongly than other colours. Here's an artist impression of the same room in daylight and nighttime. Notice the difference in mood.

Ravishing purple daytime theme. Taken from Perbear42 DeviantArt

Mysterious purple nighttime theme. Taken from Perbear42 DeviantArt

(3) Lolita Theme

One of the main complaint I have for my current stay is the lack of motivation to tidying up. It's an operational mess that I'd rather keep my room completely shut than to show it to anyone. While princess suite theme will be quintessential comfortable living and purple theme is mysterious and elegant, I am afraid they might not be strong enough a theme to keep the inspiration of organisation up. 

Lolita fashion on the whole is grounded up from user-based ideas, and there are many guides out there to make the room lolita (e.g. How to Lolita Your Room). This make it a lot more hands-on and personal every step of the way while planning for the new room. 

Sweet loli room. Taken from Lolita Fashion Wiki

Primarily based to showcase cute and sweet personality of the inhabitant, lolita rooms feature numerous decorations, from the jumper-skirt/dress, fashion accessories, plushies, dolls and other cute things.

Looks like an authentic living space isn't it? Definitely not those unlivable showroom.
Taken from skyrawrz Tumblr

Best of all, the lolita showcase room idea fit into a room with no awkwardness. It would be really awesome to have a lolita-theme open wardrobe in the new room.

Pick-and-match never look easier... Taken from Kyashii tumblr

Pastel living space. A closet that opens up to a well-arranged wardrobe is just heavenly.
Taken from superlolita Tumblr

I'm getting ahead of myself though. Before I could really decide on the theme, I guess there is the space issue that I would need to resolve. Thanks to the internet, generating room design has never been easier. Here is a quick 5 minute clicky action on Sweet Home 3D, a freeware design software.

The new room is going to be tiny...

The realisation that the new room is scaring-ly tiny really put my hopes in dash. I think my next ideas should be looking at space-saving solutions that is fitting of one of the themes. Quick searches on google is quite positive though. I'm already seeing potential in the following designs to integrate into the room:

Bed/Chest of Drawers Combination

Space-saving design for little girl's room. Taken from femaleways.com

Curtain Partitioning

Curtains are really great idea without too much cost.
Taken from IKEA 2013 Catalog

I guess space-saving design will be hanging on the back of my mind for the upcoming weeks while I toil in the early plans of room moving.

Photographic backdrop doll-style

Dream of Doll

It's been a year since I'd started doll photography, and I look with amusement the number of gadgets purchased to facilitate the obsession. One of the key item is the photographic backdrop. They are really flexible in blocking out messy surroundings in my space-constraint room. They also provide great results as well, close to what I have in mind sometimes.

Out of the backdrop I'd gotten, I still love this one the most. It gives a outdoorsy feel; a bit of fantasy feel. Just. Love. It. 

My DOD Girls

Dream of Doll

Here's what happen when the dream of dolls come alive.

From left to right - U-i, Ony, Delphine, Elf-Ony and Sleeping Girl 1. All DOT size.