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!

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!

fash'on... BAM!

men of fashion

if men want to be fashionable, the best place to start is to learn from fashionable men. the three men that i have selected are not only fashionable themselves. their names are their brands, brands that not only men should know but brands that women have come to be very familiar with. let's see what the buzz is all about.

1) marc jacobs

The Brand

marc jacobs is an american fashion designer. he is the head designer for marc jacobs, as well as marc by marc jacobs, a diffusion line, with more than two hundred retail stores in eighty countries. he has been the creative director of the french design house louis vuitton since 1997. jacobs is on time magazine's '2010 time 100' list of the 100 most influential people in the world and ranked 14th on out magazine's 2012 list of '50 most powerful gay men and women in america'. 

The Man

over the years, marc jacobs' personal style has evolved and changed - from the early days of his career through to his butterfly-like transformation into the gym-honed body that appeared naked in his bang fragrance campaign; from a penchant for somewhat geeky ensembles to the kilts and sharp suits that we expect from him now. as creative director of louis vuitton and designer of two eponymous lines, he is also a style icon in his own right. 

The Empire

jacobs is famous for his sense of humour, which has been known to colour his catwalk creations and he's not afraid of a fancy dress opportunity: he wore head-to-toe stephen sprouse neons by vuitton and donned a blonde wig for Halloween one year, once dyed his hair blue in tribute to japanese artist takashi murakami and dressed as a 'camel toe' for his arabian nights-themed holiday party. here is a man who counts sofia coppola, dakota fanning and even miss piggy as muses.

2) jimmy choo

Jimmy Choo

jimmy choo, born choo yeang keat, is a malaysian chinese fashion designer based in london, united kingdom. he is best known for founding jimmy choo ltd that became known for its handmade women's shoes. he made his first shoe when he was eleven years old. he is perhaps the most notable of students of cordwainers technical college in hackney, england, from which he graduated in 1983. jimmy choo traced his beginnings back to his workshop in hackney, north london, which he opened in 1986 by renting an old hospital building. his craftsmanship and designs were soon noticed and he came to the verge of international notability when his creations were featured in a record eight pages in a 1988 issue of vogue. patronage from diana, princess of wales, from 1990 further boosted his image. in 1996, he co-founded jimmy choo ltd with british vogue magazine accessories editor tamara mellon.

Princess Diana with sons, William and Harry

in april 2001, choo sold his 50% stake in the company for £10 million. he has since concentrated his work on the exclusive jimmy choo couture line produced under license from jimmy choo ltd. when you buy a pair of jimmy choo shoes at a store like bergdorf goodman or neiman marcus, they may be gorgeous and they may bear the 'jimmy choo' label but the ready-to-wear shoes are not designed by jimmy choo. 

Jimmy Choo Couture

today if you want shoes that actually have anything to do with jimmy choo himself, you'll have to purchase them from jimmy choo couture. available by appointment only at 18 connaught street in paddington, london, england.

3) calvin klein

Calvin Klein

calvin richard klein is an american fashion designer of hungarian origin who launched the company that would later become calvin klein Inc. klein was born in the bronx to jewish-hungarian immigrants. he did his apprenticeship in 1962 at an oldline cloak-and-suit manufacturer, dan millstein and spent five years designing at other new york shops. in 1968, he launched his first company with a childhood friend, barry k. schwartz. 

Spring / Summer 2012 featuring Lara Stone

klein became a protégé of baron de gunzburg, through whose introductions he became the toast of the new york elite fashion scene even before he had his first mainstream success with the launch of his first jeans line. klein was immediately recognized for his talent after his first major showing at new york fashion week. Klein was hailed as the new yves saint-laurent and was noted for his clean lines.

2010 campaign featuring 2PM

klein's design philosophy is rooted in minimalism (extreme simplicity) and is known for his 'casual chic' clothing, stylish but casual designs created for active women. he typically uses neutral colors or earth tones (browns) and designs separates (articles of clothing designed to be worn interchangeably with others to form various combinations) that work in many different ensembles, from day to night and season to season. at the same time his advertising for jeans and fragrances was being criticized, calvin klein clothing was receiving critical acclaim for its clean, modern lines. time magazine named klein one of the twenty-five most influential americans in 1996. klein won the prestigious coty award three times in a row (1973–1975), becoming the youngest designer to ever have that honor. in 1982, 1983, and 1986 he also captured the council of fashion designers of america award. klein is undoubtedly one of the most successful american clothing designers today.

fash'on... BAM!

viva la evita

evita is a musical with music by andrew lloyd webber and lyrics by tim rice. it concentrates on the life of argentine political leader eva perón, the second wife of argentine president juan perón. the story follows evita's early life, rise to power, charity work and eventual death.

Eva Peron

evita began as a rock opera concept album released in 1976. its success led to productions in london's west end in 1978, and on broadway a year later, both of which enjoyed considerable success. a major 1996 film of the musical starred madonna and antonio banderas. in 2006, the musical was revived in london and on broadway in 2012. evita has had numerous professional tours and worldwide productions, and numerous cast albums have been recorded.

Madonna as Evita

i must confess that i've never seen this production on stage. it was watching the 1996 film version that i was deeply captivated by the magic of evita. i mean, how could anyone resist madonna? haha. anyway, evita (the musical) was nominated for best costume design but it failed to capture any awards (not that it matters). 

the clothes and fashion for the various productions (stage and film) are nothing too elaborate or fanciful. after all, they are meant to reflect the world of eva person and they rightly do so. if you would like a detailed breakdown of the costumes, you can go to this site. the descriptions are down to last thread.

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!

the ancients: greece

usually, the posts within a day will be related to each other but due the massive amount of material that i want to include, 'the ancients' will span two days instead of one. also, lots of credit to my good friend, wikipedia, for providing me with a ton of assistance. anyway, *cues music* let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. before i break out further in song, the first era in fashion's history that i want to share with you is ancient greece.

ancient greek clothing consisted of lengths of wool or linen, generally rectangular and secured at the shoulders with ornamented pins called fibulae and belted with a sash. typical garments were the peplos, a loose robe worn by women; the chlamys, a cloak worn by men and the chiton, a tunic worn by both men and women.

images depicting the chlamy, peplos and chiton 

 fibulae

men's chitons hung to the knees, whereas women's chitons fell to their ankles. a long cloak called a himation was worn over the peplos or chlamys. 

while no clothes have survived from this period, descriptions exist from contemporary accounts and artistic depiction. clothes were mainly homemade and often served many purposes (such as bedding). 

picture from dvallejosanz

despite popular imagination and media depictions of all-white clothing, elaborate design and bright colours were favoured.

fash'on... BAM!

if clothes could speak

every piece of garment tells a story.

halloween, like many other festivals, that we celebrate turned into big business events over the years. while here on the online edition, i do care a lot about the commercial aspects of the fashion and makeup. i also would like to take a little time off to share with you the background story of some asian 'ghastly' friends and spirits. think of it as a mood board for halloween.

the 'jiang shi' (vampire)

image from Jimbo Jones

they are reanimated corpses that hop around, killing living creatures to absorb life essence from their victims. these vampires are said to be created when a person's soul fails to leave the deceased's body. jiang shi, as compared to vampires, are mindless creatures with no independent thought. one unusual feature is its greenish-white furry skin, perhaps derived from fungus or mould growing on corpses.

the pontianak

image from msn

in folklore, a pontianak usually announces its presence through baby cries. if the cry is soft, it means that the pontianak is close. if it is loud, then it must be far. some believe that if you hear a dog howling, that means that the pontianak is far away but if a dog is whining, that means the pontianak is nearby. its presence can sometimes be detected by a nice floral fragrance identifiable as that of the plumeria, followed by an awful stench afterward.

a pontianak kills its victims by digging into their stomachs with its sharp fingernails and devouring their organs. in some cases where the pontianak desires revenge against a male individual, it rips out the sex organs with its hands. it is said that if you have your eyes open when a pontianak is near, it will suck them out of your head. pontianak locate prey by sniffing out clothes left outside to dry. for this reason, some malays refuse to leave any article of clothing outside of their residences overnight.

the pontianank is associated with banana trees and its spirit is said to reside in them during the day.

casper the friendly ghost

graphic from cracked.com

i am too spooked to write further on other folklore. so i need something to lighten the mood. anyway, casper is like a dead child, forever haunting the earth, unable to rest. it's a tortured apparition who spends all of his time in a graveyard, hanging out behind his own gravestone. only difference, he's born to loving parents before he passed on. (i think that is the first time i used the word 'love' the entire week!)

so as you roam the streets this halloween and happen to come across the various costumes, take time to appreciate the fashion and more importantly, the stories behind them. after all, ghosts were people too!

fash'on... BAM!

spooky mess

no event or production in this world would be perfect. the question is, even when there are flaws, can we accept them and move on? like i promised in my earlier post, i would take this one to talk about things that got under my skin about sentosa spooktacular. after reading this, some of you might say that i am nit-picking and just overly fussy. perhaps i am but i guess, when attention paid to detail, the mileage earned is geometric. just think of the blankets and hot tea that chanel provided during their haute couture show.

so this post is going to be about the little tweaks that can be made to sentosa spooktacular to make the experience truly memorable...

1) getting out of touch with my roots

during any halloween events, there are bound to be the generous usage of wigs. so i would pay attention to the talent's real hair sticking out. this is something that can be easily resolved with hairpins.

see what was wrong? i didn't noticed the bandana during the event because it was dark but in photos, the bandana stood out like a sore thumb. my guess is that the talent was supposed to keep his hat on with the bandana holding up his hair but he took it off and got caught on camera by a fussy blogger.

2) do you see my true colours?

while the hair faux pas were acceptable, i cannot say the same for make-up. one of the biggest rules in the application of make-up is: when putting on foundation, do not end at the jawline. this is even more important when you are creating the illusion of a character. 

compare the two photos (picture on the right is from another halloween event)... one definitely had more attention paid to makeup. notice that you do not see any skin in the picture on the right. you can afford to use a thinner layer when it comes to the neck and body but it is still essential to avoid two distinct skin tones... lots of blending is needed to prevent patches of bare skin (the other way is to apply beyond the costume line.)

next, you will get your best pictures at the beginning of the night because by the later part of the night, most of the make-up on the faces of the talents have faded due to perspiration. i felt bad for the talents because i know how it feels like to have on theatrical make-up in an outdoor event. well, i do have a couple of tips for those of you putting on scary makeup this halloween but i'll share them later in the week.

so my tip for you: if you want to take pictures with the 'spirits' that have elaborate make-up, do it as early as you can... 

3) spot the brand under my costume

generally, the costumes were fantastic and gave a whole list of photo opportunities. but some attention can be paid to what the talents were wearing underneath. there was too much 'sticking out' of tee-shirts for me. it's like 'hey, i know where that is from because i have the same thing in four colours'. the worst part of this undershirt glitch is when one can actually name the brands (and probably the price!)

after all, halloween is the season of creating the ultimate illusion of spirits back to haunt us. i want to be chased by a ghost who wants my soul, not one who is fighting me for the last discounted piece. ghosts were people too but after these people pass on, i would appreciate if we shopped at different stores.

4) land of lost soles

i saved the best for last. after three pointers, i think i'll allow the pictures to do the talking in this one...

not that scary anymore eh?

yes, i'm picky, fussy and every mean word that you can find in the dictionary but here on the online edition, details are important. after all, there is a reason why haute couture is in a class of its own.

fash'on... BAM!