fl@me or fr@me: monoxious

'by the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes...'

Macbeth Act IV scene 1

with that quote from macbeth, you know that it's one of those posts where i'm going to lash out at someone but you got to read on to see how i do it. it's almost certain though: it will get nasty! like i tell my friends, i don't do nice. anyway, i came across this blog (i can't remember how, i just did.) and it left an impression on me so i decided to feature it in this week's 'fl@me or fr@me'. 

'Nothing happens. Nobody comes, nobody goes. It's awful.'

Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot

first up, remember how i once remarked that i can only tell you that many ways to wear black? well, i am wrong, you can wear black in many different ways, or rather, you can wear black for many, many, MANY days... for four years running! so everyone, i present to you the target of this week's 'fl@me or fr@me'...

monoxious.com

bascially, this is a blog run by two girls who have a passion for all things black so the posts all revolve around black clothes, black shoes, black handbags, black frames, black hole... it's a never-ending showcase of all things black and some other colours...

form:

the entire blog offers a plain and simple layout. the image above is reflective of the entire blog. you will have a straightforward title, pictures of black outfits and a couple of lines by the bloggers. typical ootd ('outfit of the day') blog. comparatively comfortable on the eyes because of its monochromatic colour scheme. you would get bolts of yellow battling flashing pink which explode into a fireball of turquoise.

hence, in terms of form, i think it's pretty stable. definitely a comfortable read (or is it?).

content:

1) deafening silence: the gaps in between the posts makes a reader wonder if they are even interested in conveying their ideas. 'busy' is not an excuse. i'm not certain about you but if i make repeated visits and see no updates on a blog that i find vaguely interesting, chances are, i won't be back for a long long time. 

well, at least they are honest!

2) sorry seems to be the hardest word, or rather in their case... it's used rather freely...

there is constant apology for the neglect of the blog but i can probably infer the reason. boredom and fatigue. the blog has not evolved since its inception. it is still the same. picture... where i bought it... how i felt wearing it... 

and the reason seems pretty standard: (a) i had this for so long (darling, if you run a fashion blog and owned something for so long... either it's outdated or if i'm kind, vintage) (b) this is easy to wear (seriously, how hard is it to match something with a black outfit?) the review of the outfit? i love it, i think you should get it too! (if you are my size, that is...)

3) i'll be blunt on this one. this blog is no longer a 'fashion blog', much like most outfit-of-the-day blogs unless you are wearing haute couture on a daily basis or you are extremely updated with fashion. taking pictures of your daily (i use this term very loosely) outfits and posting it up on a blog does not (i repeat, DOES NOT) make one a fashion blog... if you need help recalling what fashion means, please click here.

the direction that you are heading is where i do not want to go.

conclusion:

the people behind the blog are probably very kind and gentle souls who will go to heaven but i'm not so sure if their blog will follow suit. 

it took me a while to decide but i say, flame this blog... 

would i set them ablaze? not fully but i would barbecue the blog like marshmallows. you would have to watch the intensity of the flame you use and the amount you eat. nice at the beginning but too much and it is reduced to a goo-y mess.

i know that you sell fish BUT i would appreciate a little more explanation on how fish differs. black outfits are safe but it would benefit the readers if the variety of this darkness was explored a little further. the photocopy of a photocopy is still a photocopy. great start, dull finish.

fash'on... BAM!

out, out brief candle; life is but a walking shadow

while thinking and planning for the posts this week, i spent a fair bit of time thinking about my life. using it as a backdrop... the various cultural, national and racial influences... two things formed critical pillars in my life... death and the stage...

mum left us when i was eleven. i remembered that day vividly because it was a day before teachers' day and i was to host the teachers' day event in school... well, now that i am much older, i've learnt that people come and people go but the memories that are jointly created lasts forever... 

two asian icons have done just that... not just in their music but in their style and demeanor... they are teresa teng (邓丽君) and leslie cheung (张国荣)... but let's first talk about teresa teng...

growing up, the songs of teresa teng were often sang around the house... her music often put everyone in a good mood and was (still is) a point of connection for the entire family... what is most striking about her though is her elegance... she was like the princess diana of the east...

teresa teng, other than her music, was best remembered for her dressing as well... always a lady, the cheongsams she dons never failed to dazzle. bringing emphasis to the right places, the cheongsam is now widely adopted in international fashion as well.of course, if you reside in hong kong, you can re-live all of teresa teng's grace and beauty in madame tussauds. 

from a lady to a gentleman, i always had a connection with leslie cheung because we shared the same chinese name. of course, people used to ask if i was as talented as he was... all i would offer in return was a blank look. other than his incredible talent, leslie cheung was the guy that every girl wants to date (but sorry people, he plays on a different team) because he had the boyish sparkle and also the charisma of a man.

if i had to put a word to his style, it would be classic. yes, he's pushed boundaries in his clothes and fashion choices but everything that leslie cheung does, it becomes a hit and remains a classic look.

finally, no post about these two legendary stars will ever be complete without their music... enjoy!

fash'on... BAM!

all that glitters is not gold

at some point, i should pay tribute to shakespeare considering that i am a graduate in english literature... so dear old will, i hope you are happy wherever you are... now back to fashion (that was a quick change, haha!) and this blog...

so we made it to the five hundred page views mark (claps claps, celebrate, join hands, rain dance!)... thank you everyone for popping by (regardless how you came here...) but really, nothing gets me writing continually if not for the encouraging leap in numbers... 

anyway, since we are talking about glitter and black and nothing gold and this is a special post (did i mention the 500 page views?) i'm going to share one of my latest loves...

the cross... reminds me that God is in charge

i took a huge liking to Swarovski crystals towards the middle of 2011... that's a cross pendant that i bought myself for my birthday in 2011... my current keyring is also from Swarovski... lately, i've been eyeing a ring from myself... 

now, here's why i am drawn to Swarovski...

1) not many local men wear / own Swarovski!

2) the limited numbers in singapore (you don't want everyone having the same item as you... brotherhood can be nurtured in other ways)

3) it gives a sense of resilience, unspoken charm...

4) and of course, all the crystal and energy field talk... how can i be left out?

and if you are wondering why i choose to feature black crystals instead of the colourful range that Swarovski has... please click HERE and read the final note at the end of post. there is a theme that i am trying to stick to... haha! BAM!

the keyring