In Vogue

Sunday September 6, 2009

Ideal for idling

By DZIREENA MAHADZIR

I'VE always been a fan of dresses and have written extensively on how versatile this garment is. They are perfect for any occasion, easy to dress up or down with the right accessories, and hardly take up space when travelling.

So I was excited when I came across some pictures of lovely maxi dresses with embellishments around the neck and sleeves. They would be a perfect addition to my wardrobe; the plus point was that they were designed by one of my favourite people, Yiu Lin.

The gorgeous 30-year-old, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting and finance and a masters in applied finance, is regularly featured in local fashion magazines. Always perfectly dressed at events , she is also the owner of the Shoes, Shoes, Shoes boutique in Bangsar, KL.

Just the dress to lounge around in. Inset: Yiu Lin, who believes chic clothes need not cost a bomb.

From shoes to dresses – what could be a more natural progression? Yiu Lin's new label, IdyLinn, comes from her name and the word "idling".

"The idea started when I was in a luxury resort in Bali, idly watching people go by in all their fabulous resort wear. I realised then that it was hard to get special pieces – be they resort wear or just chic day wear – that were intricately embellished yet did not cost an arm and a leg," she says.

"Back home, there were either the boring, simple mass-produced pieces, or intricate stunning pieces that were way too expensive for the average shopper. Also, women these days are looking for comfortable pieces that cover their flaws and flatter their bodies.

"IdyLinn is just that. We make stunning pieces at affordable prices, and they are comfortable and fuss-free. We also do customised orders. Our customers are women who look for and appreciate effortless style."

The brand, launched a few months ago, focuses on four simple silhouettes – the capped maxi, the toga, spaghetti maxi and sleeved kaftans.

"Our initial collection plays with a material that flatters all shapes and sizes and is crease-proof. We also use chiffon – it fits perfectly with our concept of comfortable, fabulous clothes. Each item is intricately beaded by hand."

With all sorts of brands flooding the market, what makes hers any different?

Yiu Ling says the silhouettes of her dresses are very simple and they stand out for their ornate and intricate embellishments.

"We source glass beads from Japan, stone beads from Thailand and semi precious stones from Kathmandu."

IdyLinn is in the midst of developing two more shapes and its next collection will focus more on prints.

IdyLinn is available exclusively at Shoes Shoes Shoes, 31-A, Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur. Call 012-214 0608 or e-mail
idyLinn@gmail.com. Prices range from RM269 to RM590.