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Hypebeasts Alert! Burberry's Releasing A Capsule Collection With Your Favourite Designer

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Hypebeasts will attest that fashion is so much more than a visual language, and the brands they’re most drawn to often have social undertones beyond cool clothes. From Raf Simons to Rick Owens, the impact these brands can leave on fashion kids is powerful enough to make them accumulate months of saving up to drop heat on some of the most unfathomably expensive collectibles. Emerging designers do get their passing spotlight due to empathy for the underdog, but none’s quite risen to the challenge like Gosha Rubchinskiy’s deeply Russian eponymous menswear label.
East European fashion has for a long time stood as an oxymoron; what ideas do a gang of white boys with shaved heads in shearling jackets, skinny jeans and Doc Martens combat boots conjure? To introduce that vision as his brand’s core association seemed peculiar, but once it was presented as a new direction that streetwear could head plus having had green lights along the way from moguls like Adidas and Comme Des Garçons created a perfect storm to build the Hypebeast appetite.
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Gosha Rubchinskiy’s SS18 Runway Show

Tapping into youth culture by featuring a lineup of slogan tees, windbreakers, caps and sneakers seems like a baseline of a brand aiming to cultivate a loyal fanbase; and in Gosha’s SS18 show this notion escalated to new heights when what appeared to be Burberry-check looks that had editors scrambling to confirm which designer’s work they were watching. But of course it was a clever teaser for an upcoming collaboration. Of course.
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Gosha x Burberry Capsule Collection Shot by Gosha Rubchinsky

Much like we’ve lambasted the Supreme x Louis Vuitton team-up enough last year, we’re sad to have to quickly lost another champion of “the people” to the dollar and mainstream. A discussion of Gosha’s Burberry would’ve been valid if not everyone in fashion was hypocritically working with brands/ideals they’ve vehemently mistreated — Saint Laurent at Colette, Gucci with Dapper Dan, etc.
With that being said, these time-transportive capsule collection pieces are subtle with Burberry’s British elegance yet modern with Gosha’s normcore future. With creative director Christopher Bailey having left Burberry with this collaboration as his farewell project to the house, we’re sure his fingers are crossed for the success of this fashion duet.
He needn’t worry.
Gosha x Burberry launches at Dover Street Market Singapore from 6 January 2018.

LG’s Adorable New CLOi Bots May Be Your Future Personal Butlers

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The future is exciting, especially for lazy people. Lifting a finger to do a chore in today’s automated world is just so passé, and robot helpers are in demand. Thing is, they’re usually restricted to vacuum cleaners, or similar boring machines, but LG could soon make things a whole lot more exciting with its new CLOi (pronounced KLOH-ee) robots.

LG Shopping Cart Robot

Shopping Cart Robot

Human-sized, and peculiarly adorable, these new bots will be unveiled at CES 2018 – the numero uno breeding ground for fresh and innovative tech idea, and they could set a new template for robot butlers in the future. Could is the key word as LG has not made them available commercially yet, so consumers won’t be able to buy them.
Bummer, we know. But you may be able to see them around pretty soon. Split into three concepts, each of the CLOi bots has different uses. There’s the Serving Robot, the Porter Robot, and the Shopping Cart Robot, all of which have come after the Airport Guide Robot and Airport Cleaning Robot, which recently completed successful trial runs at Korea’s Incheon International Airport.
LG Porter Robot

Porter Robot

LG Serving Robot

Serving Robot

Basically, these robots carry stuff so you don’t have to. The Serving Robot is an automated waiter, carrying meals and drinks to customers with its built-in sliding tray. The Porter Robot takes care of your luggage and handles check-in services, while the Shopping Cart Robot lets shoppers scan items and view prices using an embedded barcode reader.
What they cannot do, however, is draw from artificial intelligence and machine learning to understand how you feel. Even then, smart home assistants like Amazon’s Alexa and Google Home can’t do that just yet. Though that could be the next step in making LG’s CLOi bots true blue personal butlers.
Hopefully, they’ll be available to the public when that happens.
Stay tuned for updates when CES 2018 rolls around.
For more information, visit lg.com/sg.
Images: LG

The Actually Aint Collection Is PERFECT For Those Who Hate Hypebeast Wannabes

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If it’s one thing that really annoy us about hypebeasts, it’s that they are always going crazy over the latest trends and hypes. It doesn’t matter if its something as insignificant as a pair of shoes or a simple t-shirt – as long as it has the right logos, it’ll be gone in a couple of days or even hours once it drops. Even better if it’s a limited edition collaboration (like last year’s Supreme x Louis Vuitton). You also won’t be able to escape from these hypebeasts wannabes on Instagram as everyone’s taking to the social media platform for their #hypebeast or #hypebae shots in hopes of upping their street cred.
Let us introduce you to the most ironic collection ever for those who think people are crazy for spending so much money on clothes logos – the Ain’t Collection by Actually. Actually‘s tongue-in-cheek t-shirt collection pokes fun at those people who only buy logos for the hype, featuring six different shirts with logos that kind of look like those six super coveted high-end brands but ain’t them. They also kind of look like those cheapo knock-offs from China, but ain’t really. It’s so ironic, yet it’s perfect.
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AIN’T GUCCI TEE, $29

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AIN’T COMME TEE, $29

The best one in our opinion – the Ain’t Tiffany But Actually Tee. The name is just genius, and from far, the font and colouring just makes you look like you are wearing a shirt from Tiffany & Co.

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AIN’T TIFFANY BUT ACTUALLY TEE, $29

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AIN’T ‘PREME TEE, $29

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NOT DONE BY VIRGIL TEE, $29

Remember when everyone was going crazy over Yayoi Kusama and her super Instrammable exhibition and infinity rooms? There’s also a shirt that makes people wonder if they missed out on the exclusive merchandise back when the exhibition took over the National Gallery. You’re welcome.

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AIN’T YAYOI TEE, $29

It’s kind of like Diet Prada, but not exactly a knock-off either. All we know is that we can definitely afford these pieces cos who realistically has US$590 lying around for a Gucci T-shirt with just the logo on it?

The Actually Ain’t Collection is now available at orchardgateway and at actually.sg.

The L'Oreal x Balmain Lipstick Collaboration Is Finally Here

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When we first shared about L’Oreal and Balmain’s Colour Riche Lipsticks collaboration,  we were unsure if the line would be making its way to sunny Singapore. But the makeup gods have answered our prayers and, from 8 January onwards, all 12 shades will be available for pre-order on ZALORA!


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Left to right: Legend, Power, Rebellion, Freedom, Liberation, Domination, Confidence, Confession, Fever, Urban Safari, Balmain Instinct, Glamazone

The 12 couture shades, each designed by Olivier Rousteing, were made to embody 3 femininities: Glamazone, Rock and Couture. The shades range from deep purples, khaki and greys to a shimmery pinky nude and coral, made to suit women of any skin tone, origin or tribe.
 

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From 8 January onwards, the collection will be available for pre-order online at ZALORA as individual lipsticks ($28 each), by tribe range ($112 each) or, if you can’t resist all the colours, you may order ALL 12 lipsticks which will come with a limited edition L’Oreal Paris X Balmain Vault for $250 (worth $336) on ZALORA, but do note that the Vault is only available in limited quantities.

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Limited Edition L’Oreal Paris X Balmain Vault $250 (worth $336)

We know Christmas is over, but it’s still not too late to get yourself a little belated Christmas present.

The L’Oreal X Balmain Color Riche Lipsticks collection is available for pre-order on ZALORA from 8 January. The whole collection is also available at Watsons, Guardian, SASA and major departmental stores from 29 January onwards. 
For more information, visit ZALORA
Header Image: L’Oreal

Snoopy Takes Over Innisfree For A Pawfully Precious Collection

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It seems like dogs and puppies are the perfect collaboration for makeup collections. Some animals are just not that cute or exciting (like last year’s Year Of The Chicken), and they simply don’t appeal to us as much as cuter creatures like man’s best friend. We’re already seeing canine-themed collections pop up now that we’re fast approaching Chinese New Year, kicking off with ETUDE HOUSE’s Lucky Puppy Collection. We won’t be surprised if there are more launches lined up for the rest of the month!
innisfree has partnered up with Snoopy for a pawfully cute limited edition collection to ring in the Year Of The Dog. And because the critters are the lucky creatures, the entire collection only features Snoopy with the rest of the Peanuts family noticeably absent. We’re not complaining though! Inspired by the innocent, good-natured beagle, the collection is called Love, Laugh and Dream Big in 2018 to hopes everyon will, well, love more, laugh a lot, and dream big. These mantras are super cliched, but it doesn’t hurt to remind yourself daily to dream big as you might get caught up in the mundaneness of everyday life. Here’s how Snoopy is going to take over innisfree and your makeup stash!

 
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My Cushion Case, S$12 each
innisfree’s My Cushion cases are all customisable and also refillable, which means you can keep using this adorable case for as long as you want even when the Year Of The Dog is over. All those cushion cases collectors are definitely going to love it!
 
No Sebum Mineral PowderNo Sebum Mineral Powder, $10
The loose powder only comes in one colour – but it won’t stop any of us from falling in love with it! And if you love versatile products, you’ll be surprised at what else this little compact powder can do. Besides blotting your face, the powder can also be used as an eye and lip primer, as a dry shampoo by dabbing it only your oily scalp or hair, and as a deodorant on your body. If you have loose glitter for festive occasions, just mix it with the loose powder as a base and you’re all set.
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My Palette Case (Small), $10, My Palette Case (Medium), $13
Another customisable product for all you people who are very picky with your beauty products! The My Palette case comes in two sizes – small and medium – and you can then fill it up with your favourite shades. These interchangeable cases can house eyeshadows, blushers, and even concealers, making it a really useful kit for traveling. Once you’re done, just head back to get more eyeshadows and blushers!
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Vivid Creamy Tint in 3 new shades, $16 each
We all know how much different a lipstick can spruce up your face, even if you are not wearing any other makeup. The innisfree Vivid Lip Tint gives your lips a tinge of colour without too much of a shine or matte finish for a more natural look. The Snoopy cases comes in three different shades of red, just nice for CNY visiting.

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Real Color Nail in 5 shades, $4 each

If you can’t afford to get manicures and pedicures, just do them yourself. The limited edition nail polish comes in five pastel shades that remind us of the old school Snoopy comics that we used to read in the Sunday papers. The cheery colours will be sure to brighten up your day, and are really easy to match for more colourful looks.

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innisfree x Snoopy® Limited Edition Orchid Purple Box, $43
You can also get a bundle Orchid set which comes with an Orchid Enriched Cream, Orchid Eye Cream, My Body Daphne Body Cleanser and Jeju Volcanic Color Clay Mask (Calming) housed in a travel-sized bag featuring Snoopy. The Jeju Orchid is known to help retain the youthfulness of your skin, and this travel kit will keep your skin nicely hydrated and vitalised when you’re on-the-go.
Other than beauty and skincare products, you can also get exclusive Snoopy collectibles. With a mininum purchase of $50, you’ll get to bring home a Mandarin Orange bag and three Snoopy angbaos that you’ll keep for your favourite nieces and nephews.
Snoopy Hongbao with Mandarin Orange Bag

It’s the angbaos that we’re eyeing, honestly

If you spend more than $100, you’ll get the Mandarin Orange bag, angbaos, and an additional tote. The denim eco bag comes in three designs, featuring the mantras Love More, Laugh A Lot and Dream Big and a sequinned Snoopy in three different colours. Who knew Snoopy could be this flashy and fashionable at the same time?
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The innisfree x Snoopy® Limited Edition Collection will be available from 15 January to 28 February at all innisfree stores, and the innisfree x Snoopy® Limited Edition Orchid Purple Box is available now till 28 February. 

These Super Cutesy Tiny Bags Are Great For Putting In a Lipgloss, Tissue, Bread

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With large taxis to drive fashion editors and bloggers around the various industry capitals during the past few seasons of fashion week, donning a bag around town during those times seemed almost like an uncool thing to do. They not only provided efficient transport between venues far from each other, they also could double up mobile dressing rooms for those who had them to change outfits and grab quick snacks during downtime because no one in fashion wears the same thing for the whole day or ever eats full meals for that matter.
But that prediction couldn’t have been more wrong. Not only have handbags never left the fashion scene, they’ve been making the headlines of trend reports and appearances on some of the most esteemed names. From Cult Gaia’s semi-circle rattan clutches to Chloe’s ring Niles, to Jacquemus’ crazy rendition of Southern France where girls in giant floppy beach hats don bags they can barely carry by the handles, visual osmosis has officially made it’s way to our wallets because we’re investing in super teeny tiny bags this spring/summer!
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Jacquemus’ Mini Chain Bag, Chloe Nile Semicircle Crossbody on its SS18 runway show, Cult Gaia’s Semicircle Ratan Clutch

Check out some of our highlight selections, from more price-friendly statement pieces to steeper costing ones we’re sure we’ll wear out again and again:

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Mansur Gavriel Mini Mini Sun Leather Tote $825 on MyTheresa, STAUD Bissett leather bucket bag #342.11 on Net-a-Porter, Marques Almeida Oversized curb-chain leather shoulder bag $776, Loewe Elephant mini leather cross-body bag $1835 on MatchesFashion.com, Bao Bao Issey Miyake Prism Top Zip Pouch $205 on MatchesFashion, KARA Nano Tie Cross Body Bag $350 on Shopbop, Roksanda Dia Leather Shoulder Bag $1825 on MatchesFashion, Manu Atelier Mini Pristine Croc Reddish Brown USD545 on Manu Atelier, Christopher Kane Safety Buckle Devine Shoulder Bag $1615 on Farfetch
 Header image: The Pool

Apple Reportedly Has a 40% Chance of Buying Netflix

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When it comes to the movers and shakers of the tech world, few companies come bigger and richer than Apple. The California-based company has loads of cash in its coffers, and isn’t afraid to use it, having previously bought Beats Audio for $3 billion and more recently, scooping up Shazam for US$400 million last month.
But that’s all going to be dwarfed in comparison to Apple potentially acquiring Netflix, which Citi analysts claim that there’s a 40% chance of happening. US$75 billion is the amount Apple will have to cough up in order to purchase the streaming site, which would make it their largest acquisition of all time.
Apple has recently received $252 billion in repatriated cash thanks to Donald Trump’s corporate tax cut, and yes, they can use it to buy new companies, with Netflix touted as the most obvious choice by analysts.
And considering that content creation isn’t exactly Apple’s strongest suit – they did make a scripted video series with Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon however, there is some logic to buying Netflix. Plus, there’ll be plenty of leftover dough from that $252 billion cash kitty, even after Netflix has been bought.
Don’t believe the rumors just yet though. Things may not get that exciting. At the end of the day, Apple is a still a company primarily focused on technological and engineering needs, while there isn’t much of a need to boost content creation compared to a few years back.
It’s more likely that Apple will use the repatriated cash to buy back stock and reward stockholders.
That may not be such a bad thing. It would suck to see Apple monopolise Netflix, potentially leaving Android users out of the picture. Whatever the case may be; as long as they don’t stop Netflix from doing what they do and making good shows, we’re all good with whoever the company belongs to.
Cover image: Apple

Fashion Is For Everyone (And Every Animal…?)

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Fashion can be pretty intimidating when we take our first steps into the pool of trends, styles and brands to find what suits us best. Outfits that look great on models and celebrities may not always look that amazing (or appropriate) on us laypeople. However, these unlikely models are showing us that fashion does not discriminate by rocking every single outfit that they put on. We have to say, they may just be more chic and stylish (and better paid) than us humans.

Zappa The Cat (@zappa_the_cat)



Zappa, a 3-year-old white short-haired cat, hails from Rotterdam, Netherlands. Her Instagram account mostly features her lying around, sitting in bowls, sleeping and making funny cat faces – in other words, normal cat stuff. But occasionally, Zappa puts on dapper streetwear looks and poses for the camera. Her soft, white fur gives her an air of sophistication and confidence which makes streetwear suit her to a T. Long story short, Zappa was made to model. Her featured outfits are custom made to fit her agile body, replicating human regular products of major brands like Off-White and Stüssy. Ahh, this cat is living the life.

Bodhi, Meanswear Dog (@meansweardog)



You’ve probably heard of Bodhi from a few years back but he is still enjoying a solid modelling career. Bodhi, a 7-year-old Shiba Inu, is probably the most stylish dog you will ever see. He is such a natural in front of the camera that designers like Coach and ASOS have hired him as a paid model for their brands. His style is versatile, ranging from Hawaiian shirts, bow-tie tuxedos and sleek leather jackets – and he rocks all of them. Bodhi was raking in $15,000 a month a few years ago, just from modelling gigs alone. Although some time has passed, it doesn’t seem like this dog is getting any less popular, sporting brands like Levi’s and YSL in his recent Instagram posts.

Doug, The Pug (@itsdougthepug)



Okay, perhaps Doug isn’t the most sought after model compared to Zappa and Bodhi but the ingenuity of outfits that he gets dressed in for his Instagram makes up for the lack of fashion brand partnerships. Doug’s Instagram photos are carefully orchestrated by his owner, Leslie Mosier, with each outfit and pose matching the props and background. The 6-year-old pug’s looks range from black leather punk rock, topped with a wig to being dressed as a piece of bacon, staring at a plate of bacon and eggs right in front of him. Doug’s versatility shows us that we don’t need to limit ourselves to a specific style all the time – as long as our clothes make us happy, who can tell us otherwise? Also, did we mention that Doug has been cradled by Cole Sprouse, the cast of Stranger Things and kissed by Camila Cabello? His life is definitely better than ours.
Header image: Hypebae

See Through The SS18 Season With CHANEL's Monochromatic And Crystal Clear Treasures

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Last October Karl Lagerfeld transformed the Grand Palais into a spectacularly realist waterfall and sent his girls down the CHANEL runway decked out in iridescent pastel tweeds and luminous transparent shields. Wonderment at whether Lagerfeld was hinting at the state of our climate by erecting a “natural” environment probably done up with heaps of heavy-duty concrete and meticulous wiring behind the scenes was unanimously overcome by the sheer beauty of his SS18 collection.
Sunlight from that Parisian daytime reflected off the model’s outfits so they looked more like mythical sprites emerging from a cave located by a distant coast miles away from human contact, and the breeze generated from the gushing of water served a clever reminder that we should go out and smell the roses more often.
If you’ve hunted down CHANEL’s Cruise 18 togas and greek-chic ornaments, even booked a flight straight to its “Mademoiselle Privé” exhibition in Hong Kong this January-February, these elevated Jumanji-wear are right up your alley.
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What’s a CHANEL show without a display of some of the most drop-dead gorgeous handbags? In line with Lagerfeld’s vision of the season, there are re-imagined classics like the Gabrielle and BOY constructed with transparent PVC and rubber canvases dyed in luminous in-between shades to achieve the aesthetic multidimensionality of an ocean’s refracted waves. These materials have also been thinned thread-like and “needled” to mimic the tweed fabric iconic to the CHANEL brand. The piece de resistance of the bags has to be the ultraviolet BOY with turquoise trimming, which disclaimer!: no mermaids were harmed in the process of making it.
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The girls also featured a range of clear raincoat boots heeled and riding up at various heights accented white or black that would be great for keeping dry treading through rainy New York or London without missing out on feminine sex appeal unavailable with other practical options like Uggs or Doc Martens. For a more unisex option, this court sneaker embossed with CHANEL’s double C’s have peeking transparent PVC panels to reveal funky socks underneath should you choose to rock a pair of them.
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Of course, rain doesn’t come from the ground-up. Even if you’ve your precious feet covered, you’ll still need some protective headgear to shield your fresh perm from drenching and plastering to your mascara-drooling face. These 90’s hats reminiscent of those from Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s wardrobe have been taken in at the brims and given a makeover to match the boots of the collection. If hats fly off in a storm, this hood will secure even your neck and shoulders from a drip of rain!
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After the rain shines a rainbow, and these CHANEL SS18 jewellery reflect that literally and figuratively. Inspired by the pearls of spring water and the treasures of the deepest sea, these sparkly beauties come in an assortment of silhouettes and tones that captures all the eccentricities of even the most esteemed CHANEL collector. Personally, we’re taking to this sunshine yellow and peach pink resin bracelet with encrusted strass double C’s — it’s like the dawn of a fruitful day’s been captured in a single accessory.
The #CHANELSpringSummer 18 collection launches in Singapore boutiques mid-march.

“Worst Movie of the Year”, Netflix’s Bright, Gets Upcoming Sequel

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If you gather every cheesy stereotype in the world, and lump them together in a single film, you’ll get Bright. Despite a cool US$90 million budget, Netflix’s biggest original movie project to date was polarising at best, having been relentlessly skewered by critics, while receiving a whopping 11 million streams during its opening weekend.

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But money trumps everything, doesn’t it? So it’s no real surprise that the film, dubbed by many as the “Worst Movie of 2017”, is receiving another big budget sequel. In fact, a sequel was planned even before the first movie was premiered, although a release date for the upcoming movie has not yet been announced.
Netflix announced the sequel with a mock audition of “orc” actors trying out for roles in the new movie. You can view it below:


There’ll also be a few changes when the sequel rolls around (nope, Will Smith and Joel Edgerton aren’t going anywhere). Director David Ayer will return to direct and write the sequel, replacing screenwriter Max Landis, so hopefully there’ll be a lot more creative cohesiveness the next time around.
Judging from how Suicide Squad turned out though, our hopes aren’t high. Sorry Ayer, but the facts are the facts. That movie sucked big time.
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In any case, Bright isn’t the worst film in the world and we can think of so many other horrendous examples – namely, The Emoji Movie, Transformers 5, and Justice League. It’s just that everything could’ve been so much better. The script looks magic on paper (no pun intended), and the whole modern fantasy vibe is pretty cool.
What should really complement the flying bullets, makeup, and special effects, however, is a lot more thought behind the show’s plot. More background context would be nice too, so that everyone can understand how humans, elves, and orcs came to co-exist, and why wands are so damn powerful, besides the fact that they make most people explode.
Improve all that, and the Bright sequel may be better than the first. It won’t take much for that to happen, though.
For more information, visit netflix.com.
Images: Netflix

New Year, New Addition To McDonald's Signature Collection

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We just entered 2018 and McDonald’s has already prepared something for us to get excited about again! It hasn’t even been a month since it released its amazing cheese fries and juicy Angus burgers (that we are still gushing over, btw) but the Golden Arches have just announced the newest addition to the Signature Collection: The BBQ Pulled Chicken Burger!
 

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The BBQ Pulled Chicken burger $6.45 a la carte

The tender white meat is smothered in smoky BBQ sauce and topped with crunchy purple cabbage and carrots for a fresh and clean finish.
This latest chicken burger is to accompany the customers’ favourite, Buttermilk Crispy Chicken burger, which combines the juiciness of a whole-muscle chicken thigh, the crispy buttermilk batter, the sweetness of the whole grilled pineapple ring and the creamy Colby Cheese all in one bite. If one burger is not enough, get a BBQ Pulled Chicken burger Extra Value Meal for $8.45 and a Buttermilk Crispy Chicken burger Extra Value Meal for $8.95.
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Buttermilk Crispy Chicken burger $6.95 a la carte

McDonald’s has also added Italian Herb Drumlets to the menu! The golden brown drumlets are topped with oregano and basil for an earthy, satisfying bite.
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2 piece Italian Herb Drumlets for $2.20

If two pieces aren’t enough, you may also choose to have 10 pieces for $10.80 and share them with your loved ones and friends (or, just have them all for yourself.)
Of course, what is a meal without desserts? McDonald’s has got our backs. Fries and vanilla ice cream? Please. It is now Apple Pie and ice cream. The crunchy and warm Apple Pie paired with the cold, velvety vanilla ice cream is then topped off with your choice of Hot Fudge or strawberry topping.

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Apple Pie A La Mode (with choice of strawberry or Hot Fudge topping) $2.50

Are you salivating already? Don’t worry, you don’t have to wait long. All new items would be available from 4 January 2018 onwards, in all restaurants and via McDelivery® after the breakfast hours. But let us warn you, don’t wait too long to try these flavourful treats because it’s only available for a limited time! (Why, Macs? Why?)
For more information, visit McDonald’s
Images from Mcdonald’s

We Tried Suisai’s Beauty Clear Powder To See If It’s Worth The Hype

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Traveling always seems exciting, but along with it comes a 101 different things that you have to worry about. How many outfits to bring, where to visit for best Instagram-worthy spots, and 2038974392 beauty and skincare items. You might choose to skimp on your makeup or on your other steps in your regular skincare routine like face masks and serums, but cleansing is a step that cannot be skipped.

While I was at a preview of the Japanese drugstore Welcia BHG just before it opened, I was given a pack of Suisai’s Beauty Clear Powder that locals and tourists in Japan both love to use, especially on their own travels. Powder cleansers are quite popular, though it seems like Suisai’s Beauty Clear Powder is one of the more popular ones. While packing for a short weekend cruise, I decided that there was no better time to try these little hexagon capsules to see if they are as good as everyone says they are.

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So I tossed three into my skincare pouch, marvelled at all the extra space I had, and headed off. Here’s what I thought of the cleanser after using it for an entire weekend.

By Michelle Ng

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What is it: A facial cleanser that comes in powder form, packaged into little hexagon packets for one-time use. As you can see, the little capsules are really tiny, and hold just the right amount of cleanser to cleanse your face once. The directions are also pretty straight forward; just add water and lather the milky liquid into a handful of foam before applying it to your face. The Suisai Beauty Clear Powder contains two different enzymes and amino acid cleansing ingredients that will exfoliate your skin by removing keratin plugs, residue in pores and reducing roughness.

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Just add water! But remember to lather it up into foam – the right photo is before lathering

Pros: After just one use, I did feel that my face was slightly smoother, and that my nightly routine of toner and moisturiser didn’t feel as heavy. My face was left squeaky clean, but not in a drying kind of way. I also didn’t have to worry about squeezing out too much product or about spillage in my luggage. It’s not hard to see why everyone loves these little capsules from Suisai so much.

Cons: While the convenience is great, the price wasn’t that wallet friendly. Each pack, which contains 32 pieces, goes for $27, meaning that it would only last me a month, and half a month for those who wash their faces twice a day. I could get more product out of a facial cleanser from another Korean beauty brand for a cheaper price which niggled at my inner aunty instincts.
I was really happy with the cleanser throughout my entire weekend trip – my face felt smoother without me having to use a separate scrub and I didn’t have all that hassle of struggling to open little sample sachets with wet hands. Until I came back in the middle of the day and felt so gross and oily that I had to wash my face, breaking my normal routine of only using cleanser once a day. I realised that I didn’t have enough capsules to last me till the end of my trip, so the other downside is that you might run out of cleanser if you didn’t budget carefully or dropped a couple somehow (these are so tiny, I’m pretty sure I lost a few too). Alternatively, you can also use half of the capsule to save the other half for later, but the powder dries up quickly once opened.

Would I still buy it: Yes, if I was going traveling and really didn’t want to carry a lot of dead weight around. The cleanser also doubles up as gentle exfoliator, which you can easily work into your weekly skincare routine even if you aren’t traveling. This facial cleanser is too expensive to use on a daily basis even if you stocked up on them in Japan (it’s about $24 for 32 pieces in Japan), and the daily exfoliation might be a little too much for the skin to handle too.

The Suisai Beauty Clear Powder, $27 for 32 pieces, is available at BHG Welcia in Bugis Junction.

Shoppers Rejoice; Korea is Launching a Grand Winter Shopping Festival on 18 Jan

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There are plenty of reasons to get excited about a trip to Korea – the sights, the sounds, the food (oh yes, the food), and the plethora of shopping deals. It’s a cosmopolitan paradise, and nothing but fun. Although things are going to get a lot more happening with the return of the annual Korea Grand Sale from 18 Jan to 28 Feb, 2018.

Poster

Aimed exclusively at international visitors, the shopping festival takes place each winter, and is meant to promote Korean tourism. In any case, it sounds a whole lot more appealing than staying here and enduring Singapore’s perpetual heat, where a simple road crossing can feel like you’re walking in a furnace.
Jokes aside, this year’s event is particularly special, as it coincides with the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, which will be held from 9 to 25 Feb 2018. So expect a myriad of “winter promotions” to hit you with full force, with this year’s theme being the “Special Winter Festival”.


Travellers can also look forward to a range of entertainment options revolving around categories like “Winter Sports”, “Nightlife”, “K-Culture”, and “K-Food”, while international visitors will also be able to receive tourism privileges related to Korea’s winter and cultural attractions.
These include ski resorts; ice skating rinks, indoor snow parks, jjimjilbang (public bathhouses), and performances. Foreigners will also get to enjoy certain perks (yay), such as the Korea Tour Card, a transportation card; and 50% discounts on the Hands-Free Service, a baggage storage and delivery platform.
The Korea Grand Sale may not be reason enough to book plane tickets to Korea. But if you’re planning a trip there and your itinerary needs filling up, you know where exactly to go.
For more information, visit koreagrandsale.co.kr/en.
Images: Korea.net/Korea Grand Sale

Celebrities and Artists Have Embraced Their "Imperfections" And So Should We

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Everyone had their own insecurities growing up – ears that stuck out a little too much, hairy limbs, a high forehead, etc. In our superficial media-saturated world, it’s hard to ignore the airbrushed cover girls, the gorgeous social media influencers and the perfectly proportioned models. It’s painful to admit, but looks do sell. We’ve heard and read of multiple studies that conclude that people who are more attractive are more likely to get hired, promoted, and enjoy more benefits than others. Life is unfair, isn’t it?
But in recent years, some celebrities and artists have started preaching about self-love. Yeah, it is easy to talk about loving yourself when you are already seen as beautiful but we must also remember that these are the people who have personally been subjected to photo editing and criticisms to uphold such beauty standards.
When speaking about embracing insecurities, one will certainly think of Winnie Harlow (aka Chantelle Brown-Young), the Canadian that shot to top model status after being scouted on Instagram to compete in Cycle 21 of America’s Next Top Model. She became the face of Desigual and Diesel, despite having vitiligo (the same condition that Michael Jackson had). Diagnosed at 4, the skin condition caused Harlow to lose pigmentation in her skin, leaving white patches all over her body.



 
Strutting down runways, gracing magazine covers, and becoming the face of large brands, companies fawn over her spirit and attitude. Once bullied and even “moo-ed” at when she was young, Harlow has taken on the role of spreading awareness of vitiligo and has shared about learning to embrace the “imperfections” that have made her a truly unique and beautiful model.
Up-and-coming model, Salem Mitchell, is another example of “flaws” becoming beauty features. The 19-year-old, uploaded selfies posing with bananas, laughing at the people who once bullied and made fun of her freckles – the feature that helped her get signed to top modelling agencies like Ford Models, LA Models and New York Model Management.




https://www.instagram.com/p/BaZyTogFCjA/?hl=en&taken-by=salemmitchell

 
Pop culture has also embraced freckles, with many celebrities and online influencers drawing on “fake freckles” for a more natural look. Some even go as far as micro-blading and tattooing some freckles on! (I actually see a contradiction in embracing natural beauty and trying to create a beauty that seems natural, but that’s for another day.) Beauty marks have become features that make one unique and quirky, and are finally seeing the light of day rather than being covered with multiple layers of foundation and concealer. Coupled with the rise of makeup brands, like Glossier and Milk, that advocate subtle makeup looks, perhaps we would see the freckles that our friends have been hiding from us all this while.
Some artists have also stepped forward to create pieces that showcase beauty within our very own flaws.
For example, Pakistani artist, Sara Shakeel creates abstract and hypnotic art pieces by transforming photos using glitter, rainbow and holographic overlays. Her most raved about series was GlitterMarks – an Instagram series which featured photos with glitter-covered stretch marks.
 



 
The photos (which include photos contributed by her Instagram followers) highlight and glorify the marks that are a result of one’s changing and developing body. Instead of hiding them, Shakeel turns them into beautiful, sparkly, and bright patterns that hug the curves and contours of our beautiful bodies.
At the end of the day, these are our bodies and no one can take better care of it than ourselves. Of course, beauty standards change over time but we will only truly be happy with our bodies if we embrace our unique features. Like Harlow said in an interview, “you can’t let someone else lower your self-esteem because that’s what it is—self-esteem, you need to first love yourself before you have anybody else love you.”
Header image: Winnie Harlow

Holy Crap, this Shirt is Actually a Playable Electronic Guitar

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If lugging around a full guitar set is troublesome, and “air guitar-ing” is out of the question (and totally uncool), how does one satisfy their rock ‘n’ roll urges? Playing Sabbath or Hendrix from a JBL speaker over a couple of beers is pretty fun for a few hours, but after awhile, that gets old too. So what’s left?
Well, ThinkGeek has the most brilliant answer to that proverbial question with its Playable Electronic Guitar Shirt.

c498_electronic_rock_guitar_tee2017

Yes, we know what you’re thinking. This shirt is absolutely playable, and is a dream come true for guitar addicts who can’t bear to leave their homes without their beloved instruments. Fitted with 15 major chords, ranging from F to B, the shirt produces sounds recorded from an actual guitar and can be plugged into an amp.
Holy moley, a shirt can be plugged into an amp! Just think about it. 2018 may have been the year that we hoped to see flying cars or at least something as technologically impressive, but playable shirts cut it for the time being. The included mini guitar amp speaker clips to your belt and has a 3.5mm audio jack (can’t believe that this is an actual feature now).
c498_electronic_rock_guitar_tee2017_inuse

Playable Electronic Guitar Shirt with Included Mini Amp

To play the shirt, simply press down on certain parts of the neck and “strum”. By strum, we mean touching the string area, since there aren’t any strings involved. Oh, and if you think that washing is going to be a pain in the ass, not to worry. Spoilage will be avoided as electronic components can be removed.
Maintenance instructions are found at the back of the package, but we’re guessing that you guys only care about is how it sounds. Unfortunately, the answer is not too great. Though for the cheap, low-bit sound that comes out of this tackily designed tee, it’s actually pretty cute, even fun. Just don’t take it too seriously, that’s all. Check out how it sounds like in the video below:


You can also play Joan Jett’ & The Blackhearts’ I Love ‘n Roll on this wearable thingamajig, which you can check out in the video below:


At the end of the day, the Playable Electronic Guitar Shirt will never score you points fashion-wise, but it’s a fun shirt, and a neat party trick. Get yours for US$29.99 at ThinkGeek’s website.
For more information, visit thinkgeek.com.
Images: ThinkGeek

Why The World Is Up In Arms Over Logan Paul's Latest "Suicide Forest" Vlog

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YouTube is full of cat videos, try-not-to-laugh challenges and re-runs of The Ellen Degeneres Show. It’s also, however, a breeding ground for fame-obsessed millennials to experiment the most bizarre stunts, from doing parkour on the top of buildings to destroying makeup in hopes of peaking their video viewership and growing a following. One who’s made a name for himself is Logan Paul, who got more than two seconds in #YouTubeRewind 2017 for his over-the-top social media beef with his also-fame-obsessed brother, Jake Paul last year.
Logan Paul is known for his off-the-cuff derp-y sense of humour. As is suggested, you either totally dig his work or cringe at the thought of watching his videos. But his latest “adventure” has even his most dedicated fans turning on him, and the proof is in the pudding, because social media wasted no time lambasting him for his latest vlog-visit to Aokigahara, Japan more commonly nicknamed “Suicide Forest.”



Without going into too graphic detail, Logan Paul and crew had filmed their excursion in Suicide Forest as a “funny” attempt to see if they could find any ghosts. But as the forest’s namesake would have it, the area is a hotbed for depressed individuals to end their lives. After catching on tape a man who’d clearly only hours ago ended his life, Logan Paul proceeded to barrage the man’s corpse with a slew of insensitive remarks and awkward jokes while his crew pointed and panned the camera to get a clear view of the dead man.



The YouTuber apologised immediately on his social media platforms claiming full responsibility, but many continue to call out his inappropriate actions to be remedied in more substantial ways like donating his salary to suicide prevention charities or boycotting him altogether. The original vlog has also since been removed from Logan Paul’s YouTube channel.
Call the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) hotline at 1800-221 4444 or visit SOS.org.sg to find out how you can help yourself and others from becoming potential victims of suicide.
Header image: The Next Web