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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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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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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five things you should know

it's monday morning again... another week begins... how is it going to turn out? no one knows but we go on anyway... 

after an entire week of children, this week i invite you to join me on a journey of learning, going back to fundamentals and basics. for the next five days, as i continue my growth, we shall learn some terms and jargons together... for those who have prior knowledge, good for you... but for the rest of us who don't, you are welcome...

so to kickstart the entire week... here are five things you should know about this blog and me...

1) the online edition is not merely a fashion blog. i will do fashion writing. i will tell you about certain trends that are going on. i will tear outfits apart (not literally... at least not everyone's, not every soul looks good naked) but the online edition is more than that. it is an avenue for me to be a writer and explore the world through the medium of fashion. certain posts are going to make you go 'huh, what is he thinking?'. that's the idea... i am expressing thought...

2) compliment, critique, comment, challenge... i invite everything... one of the main reasons why i create this blog is not just to air my thoughts but to have avenues for conversation. fashion is a big concept to digest but if we see it as a constant dialogue, one day we will all understand... i hope to be a participant and not just a bystander. honesty is the best policy, so please give me your frank opinion (just be ready for a discussion if we disagree.) hence, i will tear you apart if i can, you can also return the favour. 

3) numbers matter... more than once, i asked myself why the obsession with page views. first up, it is not because of the advertisements and the possible income. ask yourself, if you are a chef but serve up food to zero patrons, are you still a chef? similarly, for a writer with no readers, i constantly ask myself what wrong did i make that readers don't return... so now you know, i have my insecurities too and the numbers keep me going...

4) i am a techno idiot... everything you see on the blog is my own work. i would love to have fanciful layouts and trench coats twirling around but until i learn how to do it, you have to live with my dull layout. of course, if you would like to help me with the layout, i never turn down help (as of now, i have no budget!)... don't come here and expect perfect shots of my daily outfits... anyway, most of the time, i am rushing to get out of my house and moving around for engagements, i hardly have the energy to stop and pose for the cameras (oops, did i just offend more bloggers?)

5) finally, laugh lots... life is too short and this post is way too serious... there can never be too much laughter in your life. if you have problems laughing, just turn to the person next to you and be glad that you are not him / her... unless the person is God then the joke's on you...

now that you have faithfully completed reading the post... here's are some half-naked bodies and victoria's secret girls to spice up the post... (hey i need to justify the freaking labels right? i would love to have 2000 hits on one single post... haha... did i just insult a fellow blogger? ouch!)

image of A&F models, courtesy of inside retail asia

image courtesy of iamcatwalk.com

want more? google it yourself... haha... 

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