the best and the worst: week 09

this, by far, is one of my favourite weeks as a blogger. yes, the hectic schedule is there and trying to find every available moment to put in posts was tough but the best moments came when i introduced my blog to more friends and i see them cringe. that is the exact reaction i wanted from readers this week. the selection of content and images were meant to provoke a response. 

after the initial 'eek-ing', my prayer was that there would be conversation on the things that they saw on my blog. increasingly, i am beginning to believe that fashion is truly a conversation. the attitudes of fashion and movement of trends is a continual exchange of ideas. this week, the quest for beauty sailed to the extremes and i must admit that i am overall pleased with the results and responses.

however, i may be glad, we still have a job to do and that is to reward and demerit. here are the results:

best: ties that bind

this post was a 'painful' post to write because no matter how one tries to cushion the material and the angle, the act of feet binding is brutal. i would like to sugarcoat the ideas behind breaking the bones of young girls and limiting their movements but i just could not. there is not explanation to such cruelty. it is definitely good that this was the best post of the week. i am hoping that everyone would then pause to reflect on the modern day parallels. have we allowed ourselves to 'bind feet' just because we want to achieve a certain stereotype?

worst: hair i am...

i think the pattern is clear. the final friday post... and most of my friends agree that it is really a factor of time that the second friday post of the week garners a lot less attention even after much marketing efforts. 

overall, readership numbers are very encouraging. not sure if i have found the formula for The Online Edition yet but it's wonderful to know that whatever i am doing, you are enjoying it. thank you!

sexiest man alive: Channing Tatum

ps: i'm bending traditions a little because i want to send my congratulations to channing tatum for being named 'sexiest man alive'

fash'on... BAM!

@dd it: ergonomic fashion

it’s the end of the week! congratulations, you’ve survived another week. well, i’m looking forward to the weekend because there is dragonboat training and more importantly, IT’S MY BIRTHDAY… i’m turning 21 again. haha... anyway, enough talk about me and let’s talk about what i think should trend this week. since i've shared with you a ton of ways to make yourselves uncomfortable in the name of fashion. this week, we shall trend something comfortable!

comfort is key?

ergonomics, by definition, is the science of fitting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of the working population. effective and successful 'fits' assure high productivity, avoidance of illness and injury risks, and increased satisfaction among the workforce. common examples of ergonomic risk factors are found in jobs requiring repetitive, forceful, or prolonged exertions of the hands; frequent or heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying of heavy objects; and prolonged awkward postures. so here are some items that you may want to add to your closet, just to get comfortable.

image from fatin

Yoga shoes 

all ergonomic shoes, or 'ergo-shoes', regardless of design or manufacturer, are designed to simulate the natural condition of walking barefoot on soft ground, rather than with shoes, on concrete, as we so often find ourselves. they do this by distributing body weight evenly, restoring balance, and improving posture and overall spinal alignment. as a result, back tension and pain are relieved, and muscles throughout the body, generally toned.

besides shoes, there is ergonomic fashion as well. 

Nicolas Vaudelet Fall 2010 

since the weekend is here, let's get comfortable!

fash'on... BAM!

furry's fit

do you recall the time when you saw a picture of someone's pet dressed not as a pet? what was your first reaction? did you gush and download or share the image? if you are a pet owner, what are some tips to take note of if you are going to dress your pet up? i managed to get an expert from the animal kingdom to help me on this...

image from whatthecool

pet retail experts estimate that americans will spend a record $370 million this year to dress up their pets for Halloween. according to the national retail federation, the sale of pet costumes is one of the single largest categories that contributes to making halloween such a big holiday from a retail perspective.

picture from i-mockery

no matter how cute you think boxer looks in his pirate costume, most pets don’t like the constraints of costumes. do experiment to see how your pet reacts to being in a costume. here are some things to consider before dressing your pet up and bringing them out for the day:

1) avoid costumes with accessories your pets can eat. costumes with a lot of buttons, buttons, or bits that easily be pulled off or get snagged could be dangerous for your pet. especially if your pet is going to get antsy and start attacking the costume they’re wearing.

picture from 103.7 Lite FM

2) make sure it’s a comfortable costume. you have your comfort and tolerance levels with your own fashion. so do your pets. they are less inclined to suffer an uncomfortable costume.

taken from venganza

3) ensure the costume doesn’t impede your pet’s ability to walk and/or see. this falls back into comfort. If you pet can’t walk or see, there’s a greater chance they will try to remove the offending costume. hence if you have problems walking in a straight line wearing a patch over your eye, chances are that your pet is not too happy going around as batman.

image from gatewaypets

4) go slow and be liberal with the treats. most pets are used to running around in the covering god gave them, so they might be resistant to the hotdog costume you’re trying to put on them. give them treats after getting a paw in a sleeve or the zipper up a little. treats will make costuming a happy experience for your pets.

graphic from zujava

5) do not cross-dress your pets. i find it distasteful when pets are made to cross-dress so that we humans can have a laugh. it is not funny. 

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comfort is key

hands up, those of you who seen a young girl in the last seven days walk around town in four-inch heels! or you've seen a young boy moving around singapore in a thick wool pullover. as we grow older, we learn about colours, patterns, prints, styles and seasons... but for children, there is only one thing that they know when it comes to fashion... COMFORT!

courtesy of smartys

if children could run around all day butt naked, they probably would. confession time, how many of you, growing up, would run around the house in the buff while your parents chased after to put on you some clothes? yes, good times eh!

anyway, for our love for dolling up children to make them look 'oh-so-cute', let's keep their comfort at the back of our minds...

image from minihipster.com

for the absolutely clueless... start by looking at your fabric / textile selections...

1) cotton: cool, soft and comfortable... it absorbs and releases perspiration quickly, thus allowing the fabric to breathe. 

2) denim: this is made from tightly woven cotton... it's breathable, very absorbent like cotton but heavier and more durable.

3) polyester: strong, stretchable and durable... does not wrinkle, dries easily but it does not absorb moisture, making it hot and clammy when worn in hot temperatures.

4) linen: has twice the strength of cotton... it is one of the most breathable fabrics, making it especially cool and comfortable to wear in the heat. lightweight and absorbent, not stretchy and wrinkles easily...

more details here!

so the next time that you shop for children (or yourself) and all you want is a comfortable outfit, do keep the choice of fabric in mind... 

anne geddes

fash'on... BAM!