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...

fash'on... BAM!

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!

fash'on... BAM!  

i am jennifer hudson

Jennifer Hudson on Vogue

jennifer kate hudson (born september 12, 1981) is an american recording artist, actress and spokesperson. she came to prominence in 2004 as a finalist on the third season of american idol, coming in seventh place. she made her film debut in dreamgirls (2006), which won her an academy award for best supporting actress, a golden globe award, a bafta award, an naacp image award and a screen actors guild award.

Jennifer Hudson: before and after

she won a grammy award for her eponymous debut album, jennifer hudson, which was released in 2008 on arista records and was certified gold by the riaa for selling over 800,000 copies in the united states; sales exceeded 1 million copies worldwide. additionally, it spawned the hit single 'spotlight'. her second album, i remember me, was released in march 2011 and reached number two on the billboard 200, selling 165,000 copies in its first week of release. the album was certified gold by the riaa, for shipping over 500,000 copies in the united states.

Hudson in Vera Wang

Hudson in Versace

in late 2008, after hudson's mother, brother and nephew were killed in a shooting, hudson stepped out of the limelight for three months. hudson resumed her public appearances in 2009 and has since performed at the super bowl xliii, the grammy awards, american idol and the oprah winfrey show. 

Jennifer Hudson in Jenny Packham

hudson has been described as a friend of president barack obama, who invited her to appear with him at a fundraiser in beverly hills in may 2009. she also performed at the white house at the 'celebration of music from the civil rights movement' event. her vocal range is mezzo-soprano. hudson has sold 1,280,000 albums and 2,237,000 tracks in the united states as of february 2012.

Jennifer Hudson at VH1 Divas

impressed? we're not quite done yet. jennifer hudson has also recently released a clothing line which is described to be 'for women of all shapes, with sizes available from 0 to 26.' (sounds a tad clique if you ask me) anyhow, here's a look at some of the pieces from the clothing line.

fash'on... BAM!

i am jennifer lopez

the main inspiration for this week is actually a concert invite that i received from clarence. yup, i'm heading to the concert with him! i can't wait to party the night away but before we experience the magic of jennifer lopez the performer, let's take a closer look at the person and her empire.

Jennifer Lopez

jennifer lynn muñiz (née lopez; born july 24, 1969) is an american entertainer. listed as the most influential hispanic performer in the united states, lopez is one of the highest paid actresses in hollywood and is the highest paid actor of latin descent, making up to us$15 million per film role. lopez has sold over 11.8 million albums in the united states and over 70 million records worldwide. she became interested in pursuing a career in the entertainment industry following her small role in the 1986 film 'my little girl', to the dismay of her puerto rican parents, who believed that it was an unrealistic career route for a latino. following a move from the bronx to manhattan, lopez performed in regional stage productions, before touring with musicals in europe and japan. she gained her first regular high-profile job as a fly girl dancer on the television comedy program 'in living color' in 1991, where she remained a regular cast member until 1993 when she decided to pursue a full-time acting career.

as for her fashion, j lo's most memorable and probably talked about look would have to be the plunging exotic green versace silk chiffon dress to the 42nd grammy awards ceremony on february 23, 2000.

Jennifer Lopez in Versace

in a poll published in the daily telegraph, the dress was voted the fifth most iconic dress of all time. it has been cited along with the elizabeth hurley's black versace dress as one of the top dresses that made versace a household name and the turning point in designer donatella versace's career after the death of her brother, gianni versace. the dress is currently on display at the grammy museum in los angeles.

other than the green versace dress, here are some of my favourite jennifer lopez looks on the red carpet.

Academy Awards 2012

 Jennifer Lopez at the Golden Globes Awards 2009 & 2011

Grammy Awards 2011

i get her long, flowy gowns but my favourite would be her emilio pucci dress from the 2011 grammy awards though she would probably be stoned if she wore the dress to other award ceremonies. if i can use an imagery, the look is like a diamond in the process of being polished. there is a certain edge and roughness to the look yet in the same vein, it exudes the radiance of the gem.

not every look is a winner though. here are a couple of looks that did not sit so well with me.

like they always say, even stars have their off days.

fash'on... BAM!

dragon fashion

a dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that features in the myths of many cultures. there are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the european dragon, derived from european folk traditions and ultimately related to greek and middle eastern mythologies and the chinese dragon, with counterparts in japan, korea and other east asian countries.

Fantasy dragon from fanpop

although dragons occur in many legends around the world, different cultures have varying stories about monsters that have been grouped together under the dragon label. Some dragons are said to breathe fire or to be poisonous. they are commonly portrayed as serpentine or reptilian, hatching from eggs and possessing typically scaly or feathered bodies. they are sometimes portrayed as hoarding treasure. european dragons are more often winged, while chinese dragons resemble large snakes. dragons can have a variable number of legs: none, two, four, or more when it comes to early european literature.

dragons are often held to have major spiritual significance in various religions and cultures around the world. in many asian cultures dragons were, and in some cultures still are, revered as representative of the primal forces of nature, religion and the universe. they are associated with wisdom - often said to be wiser than human - and longevity. they are commonly said to possess some form of magic or other supernatural power, and are often associated with wells, rain, and rivers. in some cultures, they are also said to be capable of human speech. in some traditions dragons are said to have taught humans to talk.

the biggest question is: why a sudden departure from the animal talk to a mythical creature? i guess the answer is in the dichotomy of the dragon. in one culture, it is respected whilst in another, it is feared. this is probably a parallel of my take of the usage of animals in fashion. i am in-between. would i like to pick a side? i do but each time i choose a side, i think of the valid arguments of the other side so i guess i have to stay put in the middle for a little longer. 

since it's going to be a while before i finally decide, here's how the dragon has been infused into the fashion world.

dragon brooch

Versace Year of the Dragon handbag

Dragon fashion: single ear cuff

fash'on... BAM!

skin(shoe) care

since it has been all about shoes. the final post for today will be for your 'skin' shoes or rather leather shoes. care of leather shoes is not just about making your shoes look good, which would be reason enough to take care of them. it is also about preserving and adding to the life of your leather shoes. whether you spend a lot on your shoes or don't have much to spend, taking care of your leather shoes makes sense. you are either protecting your investment or removing the need to buy new shoes for every occasion. without proper conditioning and care, leather can dry out until it eventually cracks and falls apart.

Gucci woven leather boots 

there are four steps to protecting your leather shoes and keep them looking their best: clean, condition, polish, preserve or weatherproof. before doing a full and thorough session of leather shoe care, you'll need the following items: soft cotton cloths or rags, soft shoe brush (optional), shoe cleaner, leather conditioner, shoe polish or a shoe polish alternative. be sure the products you buy are recommended for smooth leather shoes. 

world's most expensive: A. Testoni shoes

first, remove dirt by cleaning with a leather cleaner made specifically for smooth leathers. you can use saddle soap or a smooth leather shoe cleaner. shoe cleaners come in gels, foams, sprays, liquids and creams. many leather cleaners come with an applicator top or you can use a soft shoe brush to aid in removing dirt from the surface of the shoe. this will also help to remove dirt from any cracks in the shoes. after cleaning, let the shoes dry for a few minutes and begin shining the shoes with a soft cotton cloth - either a shoe shine cloth, or even an old t-shirt, as long as it's soft and made of cotton. conditioning your leather shoes will help soften and moisturize the leather, and protect it from drying out and cracking. certain types of leather, and shoes worn in dryer climates might need to be conditioned more often. some shoe cleaning products will clean and condition your shoes, but if you want your shoes to get the full treatment, or used a product specifically for cleaning, the next step is to condition your smooth leather shoes.

image from kyivpost

use a conditioner made for the specific type of shoe you're working on. also, look for a natural conditioner that is absorbed into the material of the shoe, as opposed to a synthetic conditioner that sits on top of the surface. rub small amounts of conditioner into the shoe, until the entire shoe has been covered with conditioner. after a couple of minutes, wipe any remaining conditioner off of the shoes, as the leather will only absorb what it can.

Versace black leather croc

shoe polishes are available in liquid, cream or paste. liquid shoe polish dries quickly, but is not readily available in a lot of colors and does not last as long as the other options. shoe polish paste is the longest lasting but is very messy and slow to work with. shoe polish cream is a great compromise and is available in lots of colors. get the appropriate color of polish for you shoes. apply the polish to a small, less conspicous area of the shoe to test and be sure the color is right. rub the polish into the shoe with a soft cloth and allow it to dry thoroughly. after the shoe polish is dry, shine your shoes by buffing them with a soft cloth or brush made specifically for shining shoes.

Versace metallic leather platform sandals

weatherproofing your leather shoes will help to protect them from water and other elements that can ruin the finish and shorten the life of your shoes. different weatherproofing products serve different purposes, so you should choose wisely. for example, if it is essential that your shoes are waterproof because you spend a lot of time in wet or messy conditions, and a pretty finish is not as is important, a beeswax product would be a better choice than a protective spray. beeswax products form a protective layer over the surface of the shoe or boot instead of being absorbed into the leather. this provides a better barrier against water, but the additional layers can alter the appearance of the shoes.

the next time you buy a pair of leather shoes, condition them before ever wearing them. this will help insure that your shoes are best protected from the start, and will save time on future cleanings.

fash'on... BAM!

@dd it: hoodies

it's friday, friday! usually, the final post of the day goes live between 10pm - 11pm... but fridays will be no different (thanks to the ability to schedule my posts!)... the post to wrap up the week will also be what i call a 'trend-ing' post... hence the title '@dd it'... it would be an item or something that i personally think we should trend thus you should '@dd it' (add it) to your fashion collection... of course i will try to stick to the overall theme of the week whilst trending a fashion item...

so something that i think we should all @dd it this week... HOODIES! to help me trend this fashion item, i enlisted some A-list help in the art of trending... say hi to justin bieber... 

courtesy of The Bieber SPACE

yup, i'm not even shy to admit that...

i am one of 28 million!

now that we have gotten that out of the way... let's talk the hoodie...

Nicki Minaj in Versace

why i think the hoodie should trend is because it's a nice departure from the collars that we are used to. round neck, v-neck, collared and the list goes on... the hoodie gives a more varied look and of course, it may not be as effective as a cap but it can still block out some sun! of course, in singapore, one can never predict the weather so a hoodie does well as protection (not much though) from the elements... 

my 10 hoodies ranging from Armani to ZARA

oh, if you are lazy to style your hair, wear your hoodie up whilst in public... bring it down when you're in private spaces... BAM!