happy new year!

the great thing about being of chinese descent (and i'm sure other cultures too) is that we have two new calendars that we follow. my last post was in 2014 and throughout the year, i either had no impetus to write or time was against me. 2014 saw the formal establishment of The Online Edition as a company and there was much to be done. 

anyhow, things are somewhat more certain in terms of the company's development thus it is time to reconnect with one of my favourite hobbies: writing! so here i am again...

in preparation for the lunar new year are my multiple engagements as an events host. i am ever thankful that my clients believe that i am still relevant after all these years. most of these engagements are five years on and counting. being the perfectionist that i am, it not about what i say onstage but the overall appearance as well. so now i present to you, the looks for this season of hosting:

1) the simple

checkerd Armani shirt over jeans

Zara hoodie over red tee with jeans

since the shows span over five weeks, i decided to start off with simpler looks that are more casual and comfortable. generally, it's too early to remind the crowds that the festive season is upon us so it's usually just a collared shirt with jeans. 

2) the layered

red Armani cardigan over black

one of my favourites this season

i love layering especially when it comes to my stage outfits. the base is often to absorb the perspiration (stage lights can be cruel!) and in between shows, i can just hang up the jacket for the essential backstage nap. 

the favourite look is a red Zara blazer with a pair of Armani black jeans with red 'flames' on the bottom. what i particularly liked was how well the outfit shown up on pictures. of course the look was completed with a pair of Puma that i jazzed up with a pair of wings (inspired by the Victoria's Secret models).

new lease of life for a pair of old sneakers

3) the muted

muted outfit so that i don't blend into the carpet

occasionally, i depart from the bright reds. this outfit consisted of a maroon shirt with a pair of faded gold jeans from Zara. to tone it down further, i threw a blazer of sorts over the combination. i was pretty glad at this outfit choice because a bright red outfit would have blended into the table skirting and stage carpeting.

4) the impractical

this final two outfits look good on stage BUT honestly are the most impractical. 

the first is a semi-trench from Emporio Armani over a red Armani Exchange shirt, paired with skinny jeans from French Connection. the outfit is finished with a pair of G*Star boots. this entire outfit is just tight (i blame the skinny jeans!) and seriously hard to move around in. driving in boots were a nightmare.

the second outfit is something for fall and definitely not tropical Singapore. it's a wool Amani pullover paired with a pair of maroon skinny (Armani again!) and finished with a pair of gold Versace. beyond the fabrics, the shoes look stunning but seemed to give me lots of blisters (i don't know why!)

a confession though, i do love these two outfits regardless of their comfort level and they have received numerous compliments.

and FINALLY, this year, i decided to have a little fun. since my closing show involves a camera zooming into my hands and projecting my nails onto a screen, here's what i did:

the devil is in the details...

the audience (and client) had a lot of fun snapping pictures of my nails. ask me if i would do it again? probably but i'll probably go back to the manicurist to have it removed. cleaning up the nails is tough. 

overall, it was a fun season of hosting and connecting with friends (old and new). if you want to follow me on my fashion (and generally my life) adventures, just look me up on instagram (@theonlineeditor). may the new year be one of great health and wealth. haven't said this in a long time BUT...

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chinese zodiac 2014 - part three

it's a little late but better late than never...

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chinese zodiac 2014 - part two

title says it all! part two is for those of you born in the year of the dragon, snake, horse and goat!

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chinese zodiac 2014 - part one

i have a confession. other than having a major weakness for clothes and shoes, i like the study of astrology, not because of superstition but from the way these teachings explain the way the world operates. thus, for the next few posts, i'm going to depart a little from talking about fashion and post some zodiac horoscope videos from a recent show i hosted.

they are for those of you who are born in the year of the rat, the ox, the tiger and the rabbit.

may 2014 be a year of wealth and health!

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one boy, two feet, three cities

greetings from taiwan! well it has been a three-month silence but the silence has not been without reason. the second half of 2013 has just been packed to the brim and thus it took time away from reading and more importantly, writing about fashion. well for the final post of 2013, i am going to tell you a story.

a boy was mindlessly surfing the internet one day and he came across a pair of gold-coloured shoes. it glittered and sparkled. that instant, he knew he had to get it so he went to the nearest flagship to enquire about it. however, the buyers didn't bring it in (at least according to the sales people) so he was left to dream about the glistering gold. 

months later, he went to another country. this time round, he was wandering around aimlessly and stumbled across the store. he walked in to ask about the pair of shoes but the people at the store seemed reluctant to serve him so he settled in his heart that the shoes were never meant to be.

another half a year later, he was shopping in a third city. a total stranger walked past him carrying a paper bag bearing the logo of the shoes that he so desired. so with a little tinge of hope, he walked into the store and saw the following:

no gold shoes... after chatting with the ladies at the store, (to cut the long story short)

so here are a few lessons that a boy with two feet learnt after searching through three cities:

1) never lose hope and have patience

2) the answer to our desires can be yes, no or not yet

3) always work hard so that you can afford that pair of dream shoes (i actually said i'll take the shoes before asking about the price tag)

4) i have an incurable love for shoes

i'm in bliss crossing from 2013 to 2014... i hope you are too! happy new year and lots of virtual hugz to you!

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thoughts about true fashion

for those who know me beyond The Online Editor and as a real human being, you would know that i have been on a break for the last couple of weeks. no work, just time to read, hit the gym and really sit down and think through my life. for those who just know my virtual persona, i have, well, been silent. for the second half of 2013, i have set myself on a journey of pursuing wisdom. the motto that i adopted: gathering information is the act of knowledge, learning what to do with it is wisdom. it's an extension of the idea of hearing versus listening.

anyway, in the last month that gone by, much happened in my personal life and those i hold dear. all the events led to this post. what exactly is true fashion? what does it take to be a true fashionista? here are just a couple of thoughts and a glimpse into the space i call, my mind.

1) true fashion does not hurt: just think back the time when you wore a pair of jeans that were two inches tighter or looser. how did you feel? i don't know about you but the last time i walked out of the house with a pair of sneakers a size smaller, i had blisters all over my feet. granted that they were the most fashionable of the season but forcing a fit has pain written all over it. if the shoe does not fit, change it!

2) true fashion know you're flawed: have a short torso? wear vertical stripes to elongate the body. unhappy with the shape of your face, have a haircut that brings out the best of features. all these 'corrections' that fashion makes is because it knows that no one is perfect yet it does its best to help you conceal your flaws when you are out in the public. true fashion makes you look good and presentable when you face the masses but it does not make your flaws disappear. thus, never forget to thank that outfit which made you stand out from the crowd and made you feel like a million dollars. you can lie to the entire world but you cannot lie to the stripes that elongated your torso.

3) true fashion never fade: think couture! you can wear it from day one to day 837489234 and it will still be a remarkable piece of garment. yes there are always seasons in fashion and heidi klum's all-too-familiar 'in fashion, one day you're in and next day, you're out'. however, i think true fashion never goes out of style, it never fades. it is always there to support you even through your darkest and toughest outfit choices. there will always be THAT ONE fashion item we run to that affirms our style status. if you have an entire couture collection, you are truly a rich person.

4) true fashion is unique: we often try to dress like someone else or copy the style of an icon but does the other party have the same fashion issues as we do (see point two)? we often try so hard to fit in others or blend in with the crowd that we forget to be individuals in our dressing. we no longer pick clothes that are signature to our personality and character. maybe what works for everyone else does not really work for you. why try so hard to fit in? are you really that afraid to explore your brand of fashion? it exhausts me to dress alike. i'm really much better off with my unique style. if you are really meant to be a copy of another, you would not be given your own set of fingerprints.

finally, as this week draws to a close, i wish that each one of you will discover the joys and beauty of true fashion!

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i, me, mine

hello, hello, it's really been a long time since i logged in to pen a few thoughts (although it will be more than a few thoughts after i'm done, haha!) anyway, i finally found motivation to write something. i told myself, if i can run on the treadmill for forty-five minutes, i should be able to spend a couple of minutes updating my blog. the main subject of this post... ME! (too bad, no gossip about miley cyrus today)

anyway, quick item list of what i have accomplished / done in 2012 so far...

1) simultaneously coached four schools for debates... three of them produced results that i am pleased with, one not so much

2) hosted a lot of events... follow me on instagram (@theonlineeditor) if you want to check out the events that i host. the pictures are not exhaustive though. many times, i rush to the event venue, hop onto stage and before i know it, we're done. no pictures taken.

3) MADE IT ONTO YOUTUBE!!! more details here.

4) wrote a full script for students, produced and directed it. that took up a good three months hence the silence as well.

5) took up leadership position in a grassroots committee and made a lot of enemies (i think! haha.) well the main thing is i got to share my passion in the arts with a lot more people.

well, to not divert from the main objective, let's talk fashion. i have a love-hate relationship with my hosting work. while i appreciate all the opportunities to meet different people and entertain people, the fashion is a nightmare. i constantly have to make sure i wear (a) something comfortable (b) something relatable (c) something fashionable... after all, i am a fashion blogger. so much of my stage wardrobe is planned way in advance, in fact, i plan my outfits once i get the bookings (which can be as early as six months). of course, along the way, i change my mind but most of the time, i try to be as varied as possible. 

for instance, here are some outfits i wore for my hosting work at tiong bahru plaza:

the jackets

this was for chinese new year. beyond the festive red and gold, i wanted to something a little more atypical of singapore's fashion. in our humid weather, we don't wear a lot of jackets so it stood out from the crowd yet it did not distract from the event.

the skinny

the two photos are my simple shirt and jeans combination that i wore for the filming at tiong bahru plaza. however, both jeans were skinny jeans. i like skinny jeans for the shape they give my legs, an asset that i am most proud of. just be sure that you don't have a lot of movement when wearing skinny jeans unless the fabric allows it if not, it is highly uncomfortable. i usually wear skinny jeans for static assignments... translate: stand there and look good!

the comfortable

i know, i know! the outfits look nothing comfortable right? WRONG... i'm actually in t-shirt and jeans with really comfortable shoes. this event required a lot of running around which means a lot of perspiration. the hoodie and jacket were to cover sweat patches. what brands were the airy hoodie and jacket? not telling... anyway, i don't think they are still for sale.

well, next weekend, i'll be back at tiong bahru plaza hosting another event from 2pm - 6pm. if you are interested to see what outfits i've chosen. do swing by the mall! for my non-singapore readers, just follow my instagram (@theonlineeditor).

till next time!

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breaking the silence...

hey everyone, 

i haven't stopped since my last post. work has just been coming in waves. anyway, i'm just dropping a quick note to share with you that i am well but more importantly, i need advice. for those of you who know a little more about me beyond The Online Editor, you know that i'm a freelance artiste as well. in an upcoming venture, i'm going to combine writing, fashion and my artiste life. so what is one burning question that you would like to find out about the artiste life?

leave a comment or tweet me!

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look mum, i'm on youtube!

when i launched The Online Edition slightly over half a year ago, there was much question from everyone around me as to what my aims were in becoming a blogger. well, i established it pretty early on that all i wanted to do was write. whether it was taking a more controversial stance on certain fashion trends or just to share with everyone how to wear clothes, my intention was to share my thoughts with you in words.

six months on and i am pretty psyched about a couple of new projects that i am involved in. i'll be sharing with you more about the second one in due time but this post is to tell you what's been going on over the last couple of weeks (and what is going to take place over the next month).

i am no stranger to tiong bahru plaza. if you follow my facebook page, instagram or twitter account, you will know that i host multiple events for the mall. other than presenting the various events and deals, it is one mall that i actually shop at. from the cinema to the supermarket, i pretty much have visited every store, in the capacity of event host or shopper. before i go off tangent and start telling you about my shopping habits at tiong bahru plaza, i'm going to share with you something fun happening for the month ahead.

this mother's day, tiong bahru plaza is running a campaign to bring everyone 'a fashionable mother's day'. now before you groan and moan about how it's just another gimmick to get people to shop at the mall, you should read on and be a part of the movement. 

screen capture from episode one!

i was paired up with thomas, the senior design consultant from textile & fashion industry training centre, for a series of online videos. what we did was to go into each store and pick out a trend or style for the mothers. i won't tell you exactly what we picked out (that would be for a later post) BUT here's what i would encourage you to do. first, check the youtube channel of tiong bahru plaza regularly because there are eleven stores we visited. next, make sure you set aside 2pm - 5pm on these following dates: 4th, 5th, 12th and 13th may. it's an event that i wish i could personally participate because there is a good deal. do swing by The Online Edition in a couple of days and i'll tell you more about what's happening at 'A Fashionable Mother's Day'! till then, enjoy episode one of the online series.

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update... i've added the first of 11 stores that we visited to bring you some fashion tips!

something's brewing!

well, it's not just my usual morning starbucks BUT there are a couple more exciting projects that i'm venturing into. pray alongside me that i can complete TWO scripts by wednesday and i should be able to work on a collaborative effort with a good friend of mine.

the other project is in its pre-production phase. pretty excited because this is my first 'official' booking as The Online Editor. well, do look out for all the various updates over the course of the week via twitter and instagram. if you are not following me yet, you should because there are some really good deals coming your way!

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costume couture

i know that i've talked about the fashion of broadway before but i just have to share this video with you. the details and the intricate work on a single garment. makes me love the world of theatre even more.

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what do you call a blogger...

...when he's not blogging? 

i stopped blogging because i came to a point of burn out. i thought i could sustain the momentum of three posts a day but i over-estimated my abilities.

then i told myself that i would return once i had some rest. then i realise that rest is never enough. 

anyway, 2013 has been interested thus far. very pleased with the outfits i have presented so far. thank you armani! work has been steady. i am also chairing a new grassroots committee which is a lot of work but i'm enjoying every single email.

the main point of those who know me beyond The Online Editor and as a debates coach, i left a coaching position that i held on to for five years. i had five years but it came to a point where the good could no longer dispel the bad. it was no longer a game of light and darkness, a single beam driving away the curtain of gloom. yes i resigned. i'm still coming to terms with it but...

before i forget... here's an irrelevant half naked man and bikini-clad girl!

shamelessly ripped from another blog

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seasons come and go...

the days become weeks and the weeks have become months.

i have disappeared from my own fashion blog for almost two months. during this time, there was a great spike in numbers for a couple of weeks. it was definitely a pleasant surprise even though i was not actively writing. truth be told, i have been doing some script writing too. =)

anyway, this is just a quick shout-out to everyone that i am doing well. i've just been extremely occupied with work and holding down sixteen hour days are no joke at all. just to justify my ranting on a fashion blog, here are a couple of outfits that i wore during my hosting over the chinese new year festive season. (if you want to get a better glimpse of my clothes, follow me on instagram: theonlineeditor)

i do love my reds and my gold. one of my favourite pieces would be the semi-trench from Armani. it was from last year's fall but i kept it till early this year before showcasing it on stage. love how comfortable it was and the movement it gave on stage. 

well, it's late and there's more work to be done. hope everyone is well!

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reality bites

once again, we are at the hour that a post should go live but today is going to be slightly different. i am leaving this blog of mine for a while to let my mind rest. i thought about finishing up the week but for the last couple of hours, it's just been exhausting to try get any writing done. perhaps i am really in need of a break from the writing. 

i have been toying with this idea for the longest time and this morning proved to be the straw that broke the camel's back. i will be back. i just don't know when. like the parting words of oprah, 'i won't say goodbye. i'll just say: until we meet again'.

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really plastic

plastic surgery is always of interest when it comes to reality television. i'm not sure if it is just our obsession with control. seemingly, having the power (and money) to alter one's looks seems to garner top ratings too. so i present you with some photos from stars of reality television about (you've guessed it!) plastic surgery. 

1) janice dickinson's modeling agency

2) joan & melissa

3) extreme makeover

so what would you 'touch up' if you had the chance to?

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really winners

have you wondered where the winners of reality television series go after their time on-screen ends? the last couple of days got me thinking. for one, we know that the first american idol, kelly clarkson, is doing very well. however beyond american idol, are you able to name some of the winners from other reality television series? if not, this is your quick update on where are they now.

1) project runway: jay mccarroll

Jay McCarroll

as the winner of the show's first season, mccarroll was awarded $100,000, a mentorship from banana republic and a spot in the prestigious 2005 new york fashion week event. however, jay turned down the money and the mentorship, citing a contractual clause stipulating that the project runway production company would own a 10% stake of all his professional ventures in perpetuity. the company has since dropped this clause.

in april 2008 mccarroll launched his blog and designer fashion boutique, the colony by jay mccarroll. after leaving new york, mccarroll now teaches at philadelphia university and has a fashion line on qvc. mccarroll is a designer for field of view winter guard in west chester, pennsylvania. 

mccarroll also won the seventh season of celebrity fit club on vh1, having lost 40 pounds over the course of his time on the show.

2) america's next top model: adrianne curry

curry was signed to wilhelmina models in new york city. she has modeled for several magazines and has appeared in a commercial for the merit diamonds sirena collection that ran from november 2004 to january 2006.

Adrianne Curry

curry appeared on the cover and in a nude pictorial for playboy in february 2006. she returned for a second cover and nude pictorial in the january 2008 issue. curry made playboy's 2008 top 25 sexiest women, along with the top 100 playboy spreads 2008 edition. christopher knight proposed to curry on the season finale of my fair brady. the show was renewed for a second season and focused on the couple's wedding preparations. the couple announced their separation on may 29, 2011. the couple filed for divorce on august 19, 2011.

adrianne hosted live coverage of blizzcon in 2011, as well as hosting live from e3 for namco bandai in both 2011 and 2012. most recently, adrianne has teamed up with comic book legend stan lee to create her show 'superfans'.

3) popstars (uk): hear'say

Hear'Say

the winners of the series - danny foster, myleene klass, kym marsh, suzanne shaw and noel sullivan - formed the group hear’say. hear’say went on to sell three million records worldwide and scored two uk number one singles before disbanding eighteen months after their formation. today, klass is a television presenter, while marsh and shaw are actors in television soap operas. sullivan is a west end theatre performer, while foster has made occasional appearances in reality television shows.

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really fabulous

for reality shows, other than the talent searches and human interactions, another interesting aspect is the docusoaps that feature celebrities. it's always to interesting to take a peek into the personal lives of public figures. well, the saying goes: the only form of bad publicity is no publicity. as long as a celebrity is on the small screen, it is airtime for their brand and when ratings go up, so will their endorsements and their earnings.

Kimora Lee Simmons

my all-time favourite series would have to be kimora: life in the fab lane. from seasons one to four, one is introduced to her busy schedule and her fashion empire whilst balancing mummy duties. by the way, her children are absolutely adorable! of course, in the later seasons, viewers witness her separation from the baby phat brand and how she rebuild her own label from scratch.

since the split, kimora has launched her kls collection and kouture by kimora brands. she also has an exclusive brand at macy's that offers stylish clothes for under $40. on september 14, 2011, it was announced on her website that she is the new creative director and president of justfab, a personalized shopping website.

if you are interested to find out more about kimora, just click here!

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really judges

in the world of reality television, judges come in various form, shapes and sizes. there are those who are experts in their respective fields, some who are there for mere entertainment and of course, the audience play judge for some shows as well. just a side note about audiences as judge, do you notice how when contestants are eliminated from a show (via audience vote), the studio audience seems surprisingly alarmed and shocked at the results? excuse me, the fellow is given the boot because you didn't vote, what's so surprising about that? get a grip yourself.

anyway, here's a look some of my favourite (current and upcoming) judges from reality television!

1) america's next top model: the jays

The Jays

what's not to love about the duo of 'miss j. alexander' and jay manuel?

i was pretty disappointed with the firing and the latest season just seems a little lacklustre. miss j is always quirky and unexpected. jay manuel, with the cool hair colours, is the mentor to the girls. both of them brought a nice balance to the show. well, we can only remember them in images.

2) american idol: nicki minaj and mariah carey

Mariah Carey, Ryan Seacrest & Nicki Minaj

these two have made headlines even before the show is on-air. if you don't know what i'm talking about, here's a clip.

anyway, i'll be watching this duo closely because in terms of body shapes, they are rather similar. both mariah and nicki are curvy so it'll be interesting to see what the stylists present them with. 

3) the apprentice: carolyn kepcher and ivanka trump

women in power suits! enough said, haha! personally, i think seeing women talk business on television is a huge source of inspiration for womenfolk especially in asia where many still think that the world of business is primarily for the men.

anyway, beyond the apprentice, both women often go for classic cuts and simple dresses. 

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