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!  

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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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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really trashy

trashy picture? Brittani from ANTM

if you were thrown a sewing machine, parts of a car, a bag of leaves, plastic bags and some paper wrappers, what would you do? many reality television series that revolve around dress-making and fashion often have such random challenges where seemingly insignificant or impossible materials (in other words, trash) are given to the contestants to re-create into wearable fashion. well, if you ask me, i think it brings couture to a whole new meaning. anyhow, here is a showcase of clothes which are handmade by contestants and handpicked by me for critique.

1) project runway: newspaper dress

the challenge? to make a dress using newspaper. 

i'm a tad divided when it comes to commenting on this group of dresses because should i credit the ones who made newspaper look un-newspaper or should honour be given to those who capitalise on the uniqueness of the material that they have been given. i guess in a competition setting, one always attempts to stand out and be different but my favourite would have to be christopher!

my favourite newspaper dress

i like how it brings out the white, black and greyness of newspaper and structurally, it combines the toughness of the corset with a juxtaposition against a skirt of fluidity and movement.

2) rupaul's drag race: rupocalypse now!

since the world is ending in a few days' time, might as well pull up some recycled fashion that has to do with the end of the world. for this particular episode, the contestants had to take articles of clothing off previous drag queens and the looks they presented? scary...

this episode was also the premiere of the season hence the looks were a little raw but the look that takes the cake, or rather, looks like a messed up cake goes to jiggly caliente.

yup, the end of all fashion!

the outfit is so bad that it lives up to the title of this post. really trashy. colours are off, the form off, the fit is off. if i didn't recall wrongly, bits of the 'dress' fell off during the runway walk. truly a dress for the end of the world.

3) project runway: car parts challenge

this is a tough one. taking parts of a car and stitching it into a dress. well, i must say that some of the dresses are very impressive.

so here's a little piece of advice before you toss out that bag of trash. maybe, hand it over to a contestant from some reality series and you might be able to save a heap on your next outfit.

fash'on... BAM!

really fashion

a holiday and a weekend off training later, the mind (and body) is much better rested and i'm back for another week of writing. i've had a lot of time to think in the past week. typical topics would be the blog numbers, the direction and style of my writing, where i want to take this blog. couple of things are apparent: numbers have dipped and my material is no longer original. hence, this week shall be a re-journey to discover the 'edge' that i used to have. (read: feisty writing like this and this!)

after much deliberation and arrangements, this week's posts will revolve around real fashion, but what is real fashion? well, you know that The Online Edition always has a twist to the content that i put out. so this week's 'real fashion' is actually a look at the fashion featured on reality television. from the ultra-chic and glamourous to the theatrical and dramatic, if it was showcased on a reality television series, it might just earn a spot on this week's The Online Edition. all i can say about this week: it's all real.

now, for the irrelevant bikini babes and half-naked male bodies (with a bonus).

Miss Universe New Zealand 2012

8 Days Shirtless Guys 2012

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vintage icons: marlon brando

marlon brando, jr. was an american screen and stage actor. considered to be one of the most important actors in american cinema, brando was one of only three professional actors, along with charlie chaplin and marilyn monroe, named by time magazine as one of its 100 persons of the century in 1999.

Marlon Brando

brando had a significant impact on film acting. while he became notorious for his 'mumbling' diction and exuding a raw animal magnetism, his mercurial performances were nonetheless highly regarded and he is widely considered as one of the greatest and most influential actors of the 20th century. director martin scorsese said of him, 'he is the marker. there's 'before brando' and 'after brando'.' actor jack nicholson once said, 'when marlon dies, everybody moves up one.' brando was ranked by the american film institute as the fourth greatest screen legend among male movie stars whose screen debuts occurred in or before 1950.

Marlon Brando in The Godfather

marlon brando is a cultural icon whose popularity has endured for over six decades. his rise to national attention in the 1950s had a profound effect on the motion picture industry and influenced the broader scope of american culture. sociologist dr. suzanne mcdonald-walker states: 'marlon brando, sporting leather jacket, jeans and moody glare, became a cultural icon summing up 'the road' in all its maverick glory.' his portrayal of the gang leader johnny strabler in the wild one has become an iconic image, used both as a symbol of rebelliousness and a fashion accessory that includes a perfecto style motorcycle jacket, a tilted cap, jeans and sunglasses. johnny's haircut inspired a craze for sideburns, followed by james dean and elvis presley, among others.

brando was also considered a sex symbol, one of the earliest in the film industry to achieve widespread attention due to his enigmatic and sexy persona and the reports of his dalliances and relationships with various major hollywood celebrities. film scholar linda williams writes: 'marlon brando (was) the quintessential american male sex symbol of the late fifties and early sixties'.

so influential was this icon that dolce & gabbana paid tribute to brando in their spring 2010 collection.

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vintage icons: audrey hepburn

audrey hepburn was a british actress and humanitarian. recognised as both a film and fashion icon, hepburn was active during hollywood's golden age. she has since been ranked as the third greatest female screen legend in the history of american cinema and been placed in the international best dressed list hall of fame.

Audrey Hepburn

born in ixelles, a district of brussels, hepburn spent her childhood between belgium, england and the netherlands, including german-occupied arnhem during the second world war. in amsterdam, she studied ballet with sonia gaskell before moving to london in 1948 to continue ballet training with marie rambert and perform as a chorus girl in west end musical theatre productions.

after appearing in several british films and starring in the 1951 broadway play gigi, hepburn played the academy award-winning lead role in roman holiday (1953). hepburn remains one of few people who have won academy, emmy, grammy and tony awards.

she appeared in fewer films as her life went on, devoting much of her later life to unicef. although contributing to the organisation since 1954, she worked in some of the most profoundly disadvantaged communities of africa, south america and asia between 1988 and 1992. she was awarded the presidential medal of freedom in recognition of her work as a unicef goodwill ambassador in late 1992, but a month later, aged 63, hepburn died of appendiceal cancer at her home in switzerland in early 1993.

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vintage icon: grace kelly

grace patricia kelly was an american actress who, in april 1956, married rainier iii, prince of monaco, to become princess consort of monaco, styled as her serene highness the princess of monaco and commonly referred to as princess grace.

Grace Kelly

after embarking on an acting career in 1950, at the age of 20, grace kelly appeared in new york city theatrical productions as well as in more than forty episodes of live drama productions broadcast during the early 1950s golden age of television. 

in october 1953, with the release of mogambo, she became a movie star, a status confirmed in 1954 with a golden globe award and academy award nomination as well as leading roles in five films, including 'the country girl', in which she gave a deglamorized, academy award-winning performance. she retired from acting at 26 to enter upon her duties in monaco.

wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainer

she and prince rainier had three children: caroline, albert and stéphanie. she also retained her american roots, maintaining dual american and monégasque citizenships. she died after suffering a stroke on september 14, 1982, when she lost control of her automobile and crashed. her daughter, princess stéphanie, was in the car with her and survived the accident.

Nicole Kidman as Grace Kelly

in june 1999, the american film institute ranked her number thirteenth in their list of top female stars of american cinema. 

The Hermes Kelly bag

while pregnant with her daughter caroline in 1956, princess grace was frequently photographed clutching a distinctive leather hand-bag manufactured by hermes. the purse, or sac à dépêches, was likely a shield to prevent Kelly's pregnancy from being exposed to the prying eyes of the paparazzi. the photographs, however, popularised the purse and became so closely associated with the fashion icon that the purse would thereafter be known as the kelly bag.

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