The King of Pop may be long gone, but his legacy still lives on.
Come September 29, that legacy will once again make its way to streaming services, CDs, and vinyl’s as part of a new 13-track Halloween-themed album that’s the first posthumous Michael Jackson material to be released since 2014’s Xscape LP.
#MJScream pic.twitter.com/pD1g41E3aX
— Michael Jackson (@michaeljackson) September 5, 2017
First teased on the late singer’s official Twitter account as a 15-second video that featured black cats, full moons, and other Halloween imagery, the new album will be titled Scream and will contain some of his most ghoulish hits, including ‘Ghosts’, ‘Torture’, ‘Thriller’, and ‘Dirty Diana’.
The album shares the same name as the 1995 duet hit single by Jackson and his sister Janet, which made history in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the most expensive music video ever made with the cost of $7 million.
The highlight of the album is a five-song mash-up crafted by pro remixer The White Panda. Called “Blood On The Dance Floor x Dangerous”, the single is MJ’s only new material in three years, and fans hoping for more music from the singer’s treasure chest of unreleased songs will have to prepare for disappointment.
John Branca, co-executor of Jackson’s estate, told the Rolling Stone that he doesn’t foresee “releasing any more unreleased music for quite some time”, although he did didn’t rule out launching “interesting record releases in the very near future”.
Nevertheless, it’s always great to dabble in a little bit of nostalgia, especially when it concerns one of the greatest singers to ever walk the face of the earth, and 2017’s Scream seems like the perfect way to do just that.
For updates, visit Michael Jackson’s Facebook page here.
Images: Michael Jackson
This Instant Camera Can Print Gifs Because Why Not?
Whether you like them or not, gifs are practically unavoidable. We admire them; laugh at them, and even make some of our own just for the fun of it, all because they’re found almost everywhere. But the one thing that we’d never have expected to do is to print them out.
That’s now a reality thanks to Abhishek Singh, an aspiring designer and coder who’s invented a camera that’s able to do exactly just that.
Yes, that’s right. You read correctly. This futuristic, gizmo of a device is able to print out gifs, and here’s how. Called the Instagif NextStep, the camera captures you, or whatever you want really, in action and then proceeds to print out a cartridge that displays your memory in full-blown moving form.
What you plan to do with these cartridges next is entirely up to you, but the possibilities are limitless. How about a gift for a friend or colleague? No problem. Thinking of sprucing up your bedroom with memories? The floor’s all yours. That’s the beauty of Singh’s camera, and we’ve got to admit, it’s a pretty ingenious idea too.
As it’s not mass-produced, you shouldn’t expect this to come out in your average department store. Singh however is a really considerate guy, so he’s included instructions on how to build a similar camera yourself, and who knows, you’ll be printing moving memories one day too.
Check out how to make the camere here.
Images: Abhishek Singh
4 New Ways To Wear Gingham This Season
Gingham’s not new; the classic print has been around for ages, most closely associated with Brigitte Bardot of course, who, way ahead of her time, wore a pink gingham dress for her wedding back in 1959. So yeah, you can say that gingham, in all its iterations, is at best retro-chic, and at worst, a relic. Well, not when we look at this year’s version of it.
On the Spring runways, we’ve seen designers from Christopher Kane to Altuzarra fronting the fabric in all sorts of modern ways, and then, this new line of thinking quickly seeped to the It girls of Instagram who wear them with pride — whether it’s an off-shoulder dress, ruffled top or a pair of fashionable boots. And why not?
The pattern’s breezy and classy all at once, great for laidback looks, while you can also see it as a rejection of the whole minimalist and clean lines style that’s been a cultural obsession lately. That’s because gingham’s messy — it totally rolled out of the bed with you — or bold and grungy, and when paired with the right accessories, can easily transform from workwear to slouchy weekend attire (think the oversized shirt) to the feminine rockstar vibes we’ve been celebrating this side of the millennium.
If you’re on the hunt for those cool black-and-white checks, you’re in luck, because we recently snagged an exclusive discount code on Zalora for you guys, and trust us, they’ve got plenty of gingham styles to go around. You know the drill — shop to your heart’s content and still find that you’ve got some allowance left over for more!
Quote NYLONSG15 when you hit checkout on zalora.sg to get 15% off* your purchases, from now till 31 December 2017.
*Only 1 Promo Code may be used at a time, valid for one use per customer only, and does not apply for certain excluded brands. Other T&Cs apply.
Ruffles
By far the most popular style this season, ruffles give texture to a toga top or off-shoulder piece, though our favourite way to wear them would be on skirts. What’s different about this new way wearing gingham is that you shouldn’t even bother being neat, or even think that ruffles immediately spell sweet and feminine. The point is that the patterns don’t line up — skirts can come with a slash of asymmetrical gingham across it, which we’d immediately want to grab our oversized rock band t-shirts for thanks to how grunge-y this whole look is, or ruched and pinned on a pencil skirt. This way, it gives off the perfect I-don’t-care-how-I-look vibe.
Off-The-Shoulder
One of Spring’s biggest trends combines with this one, in order to form this pleasing hybrid. See, you don’t want to just wear gingham on a shirt because that’s kind of basic isn’t it? Elevate it a little with this girly style that allows you to show off your shoulders — in particular, look out for details like ribbon, tie-sleeves or subtle lace.
Dresses
The easiest way to slip some gingham into your wardrobe has got to be a full one-piece. When the pattern’s repeated on such a scale, it suddenly becomes more graphic in nature, which is something you can channel in the various types of dresses, whether it’s a fit-and-flare style with small prints that blend into the fabric from afar, or a casual shirt dress with large checks. You can also opt for a clean-cut asymmetrical dress that plays up on the scale of the print, something that’s definitely different from ginghams past.
Colours
No girl dislikes black and white, because they’re just way too versatile colours really, but if you find that you want to stand out from everyone else with this trend, go ahead and diversify. You’ve got the whole colour wheel to choose from, though what’s currently trending are blues and pinks — still pretty traditional — or an unexpected green. Red’s a common variation too, though do think about your accessories in order to avoid looking like a walking picnic mat.
Quote NYLONSG15 when you hit checkout on zalora.sg to get 15% off* your purchases, from now till 31 December 2017.
*Only 1 Promo Code may be used at a time, valid for one use per customer only, and does not apply for certain excluded brands. Other T&Cs apply.
- Promotion period is from 1 September to 31 December 2017.
- Only one Promo Code may be used at a time.
- The Promo Code may be used on www.zalora.sg only and must be entered upon checkout to be effective.
- The Promo Code is valid for one use per customer only.
- The Promo Code does not apply for certain excluded brands as set out at www.zalora.sg/faq-non-sale/.
- The Terms of Service set out at www.zalora.sg/terms-of-
service/ shall apply to all uses of the Promo Code. - ZALORA reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions or to cancel the Promo Code at any time.
Best Smartphone Alternatives if You Don’t Want an iPhone 8
The world waits with bated breath as Apple prepares to unveil the iPhone 8 on September 12. After all, the company’s new flagship gadget is poised to become the most radically improved iPhone of all time, with an edge-to-edge infinity display, wireless charging, and the removal of the TouchID.
But to some folks, that doesn’t make a difference. Either the iPhone 8 will be too pricey for them (KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says it’ll be the most expensive iPhone of all time) or they’re just not interested in the first place. That said; here are your best alternatives:
OPPO R11
Photography enthusiasts stand up and take note. OPPO’s recently launched R11 is a gem of a picture-taking device, sporting a crystal clear 20-megapixel plus 16-megapixel dual camera on its rear, with an advanced 2x zoom to boot. Power-wise, the R11 will definitely lose out to the iPhone 8, although a gorgeous AMOLED 5.5-inch display and an affordable price of $699 more than makes up for things.
OPPO R11, $699, available via www.oppostore.com.sg.
Samsung Galaxy S8
It’s a testament to the Galaxy S8’s prowess when you consider that this was the phone that dragged Samsung out of the mire after last year’s exploding debacle. That just shows how good this device is. In terms of design, the phone is exceptionally beautiful. And there’s nothing much to complain about specs either. It has a Super AMOLED touchscreen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip, while it runs on Android 7.0 Nougat.
Samsung Galaxy S8, $840, available via www.lazada.sg.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8
While the Galaxy Note 8’s predecessor was a little too…well, how should we put it, fiery for its own good, the 2017 version is bigger, better, and most importantly, safer than ever. For that, you can thank an eight-point battery check and stricter rules for the battery review process. Speaking of batteries, this phone’s juice is enough to last you for the whole day, plus it has dual-cameras and an improved S-Pen as well.
Samsung Galaxy Note 8, pre-order yours via www.samsung.com/sg.
Huawei P10 Plus
This isn’t a new device by any means – it was launched way back March earlier this year, but that doesn’t change the fact that the P10 Plus is Huawei’s best phone yet. While incredibly sleek, the P10 Plus comes off looking like an iPhone clone, although it has a fantastic dual camera at its disposal (that’s what Leica lenses are for), great quad-HD resolution, and a swift processing with its Kirin 960 processor.
Huawei P10 Plus, $998, available via www.harveynorman.com.sg.
Sony Xperia XZ Premium
If you’re the sort who just loves as many features crammed into one gadget as possible, then the Sony Xperia XZ Premium will definitely be up your alley. Get a load of this, it has two “world-first” features: a 4K HDR screen, and the ability to shoot slo-mo video up to 960fps – in other words, that’s slow enough to see a bee’s wings flutter Matrix-style!
Sony Xperia XZ Premium, $808, available via www.lazada.sg.
Nokia 8
Out of all the brands on this list, Nokia is the one that has suffered the most in the past decade, but that hasn’t stopped them from making a comeback with the Nokia 8 – the company’s first ever high-end phone. And it’s premium as you’d expect. Besides a Dual-Sight video function that allows users to stream live clips in real time to social media, it also has a 5.3-inch QHD display and a Snapdragon 835 processor.
Nokia 8, retailing at €599, availability TBC.
HTC U11
Once a major player in the Android scene, HTC has had a few tough years. That said; the Taiwanese company is hoping to become relevant again with the HTC U11 – the world’s first squeezable phone. Sounds weird, yes, but the function is actually quite useful. You can give the phone a variety of short and long squeezes to launch apps, while it is a powerful phone too, with an octa-core Snapdragon 835 processor.
HTC U11, $880, available via www.lazada.sg.
Cover image: Benjamin Geskin/iDrop News
You'll Wanna Sport Every Look From The PUMA x Sophia Webster Collection
We’ve got unicorns, technicolour, slides and sneakers, and an athleisure sports kit you can wear to your next barre class — seriously, can things get any more hyped-up millennial than Sophia Webster’s collaboration with PUMA? The long-awaited collection finally released in full yesterday, and were obviously in hot demand, seeing how they’re mostly sold out by the time you’re reading this. With good reason too.
The generous drop includes plenty of items, including bike shorts, leggings, a bodysuit, crop tops and a bomber jacket — with the usually natural elements of birds of paradise flowers and leaves done in bright colours that pop off black or grey bases. And since Webster, our NYLON cover girl and prominent British shoe designer, is known for her fun shoe designs, you wouldn’t expect anything less would you? Take a closer look here.
First off, we can’t help but notice how the distinct PUMA logo is now replaced by a prancing unicorn on some of the sporty tops, all dance and streetwear-inspired. “Second only to my love of design, is my love of dance, and the opportunity to collaborate with PUMA enabled me to bring these two passions together,” Webster shares. We also love how the Bodysuit, satin Shorts and Reversible Bomber all feature her hand-drawn cage pattern.
A lot of the wear not only looks good but makes sense — and stretches your dollar too. You’ll see the Reversible Bomber jacket worn two ways here; the jet black side is all sleek and subtle, while you can also turn it inside out for an eye-catching clash of prints. Same goes for the Crop Top, designed in lightweight performance fabric, that has the ‘Birds of Paradise’ print on one side and the ‘Leaf’ print on the reverse.
How PUMA really comes into play is through the performance gear, and that’s really why we’re loving collaborations such as these — they bring together the best of both worlds, creative and unique designs, on innovation that’s been thoroughly researched, that, well, performs. We then get Cycling Shorts with a black mesh panelling that you can layer under the more flashy satin Shorts, or leggings with a nice semi-sheer mesh side panel. These see the same cage print and contrast fluoro piping, and made to be flexible, soft and comfortable.
Let’s finally get to the shoes shall we? We’re definitely loving the Pearl Hi-top sneakers that feature a unique rubber cage detailing, which quite reminds us of the whimsical butterfly wings motifs the designer loves to place on the back of her heels. This forms a unique bright outline that stands out against the knitted print upper, further accentuated by the fluorescent colours or shoelaces.
Elsewhere, cute slides and sandals also get the fluoro treatment, including two pairs of the PUMA Suedes in bold new colourways, and with fluoro speckled soles. Once again, you’d want to act fast to get them before they flash past your eyes again.
PUMA x Sophia Webster, available at sophiawebster.com, and from 9 September at Puma’s website, PUMA retail stores (Bugis+, Paragon, Suntec City) and authorized retailers (Limited Edt, Pedder on Scotts, and CK Tangs Plaza).
Changi Airport to Officially Open Terminal 4 on October 31
The future of air travel has arrived, and it’s in Singapore. Changi Airport Group (CAG) announced on Wednesday (September 6) that the newly constructed Terminal 4 (T4) will begin operations from October 31 onwards, with a slew of exciting new features introduced as part of the new space, which takes over the former Budget Terminal.
Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan described the opening in a Facebook post as a “labour of love”, mentioning that over 100 trials involving 2,500 airport staff and 1,500 volunteers were undertaken since construction was completed in December last year.
The new terminal, which is slightly less than half the size of T3, is an architectural gem to behold.
For instance, the new 225,000 square metre space is distinguished by its high ceilings that allow natural light to stream in. There are hypnotic kinetic structures called Petalclouds that move and rotate at different spots, while there is also plenty of greenery too: say hello to a grand total of 186 trees and green walls.
And as if the new space wasn’t gorgeous enough already, the terminal also takes some of its design cues from tradition elements with installations that showcase Singapore’s history, the most impressive of which is a 10 metre by 6 metre interactive LED screen display that become quaint Peranakan shophouses.
At the end of the day though, the main draw here is technology, and boy, it is as futuristic as you’d expect. A facial recognition system will snap photos of passengers at various stations, while start-to-end self-service options for check-ins will be implemented, in addition to a centralised security screening system.
As for the airlines operating at T4, there will be nine of them – the AirAsia Group (four airlines), Cathay Pacific Airways, Cebu Pacific Air, Korean Air, Spring Airlines, and Vietnam Airlines.
For more information, visit www.changiairport.com.
Images: Changi Airport/Khaw Boon Wan
How To Give Yourself A Professional Pedicure
You may be a pro at nail art or facial massage, but what about DIY pedicures?
To do a comprehensive treatment of your digits, what you need is time and patience, so set aside an hour this weekend and pamper your feet with these easy steps:
1. File Your Nails
Before doing anything, you need to first shape your toenails.
Clip your toenails straight across — never rounded at the corners — just in line with the end of the toe. Then, file straight across with a nail file to avoid ingrown nails. This helps to thin out thick nails or buff nails that have been discoloured from polish.
2. Buff Your Feet
Skin becomes softer when wet. So for dry skin, soak your feet in warm water to soften it. Then, use a foot file — you can try a metal file if you have severely dry skin, but make sure you increase force gradually.
For corns and callouses, do not use blades to remove hard skin as it can be painful and even worsen the condition. Only have this done by a qualified podiatrist, if necessary.
3. Treat Dry Skin
Did you know that the skin on our feet is 12 times thicker than anywhere else on the body? So slough away! Go for fruit acid peels to tackle excess hard skin especially on the heels and balls of feet. These help to break down the hard skin and leave our feet soft and refreshed.
If your feet are in relatively good shape, simply buff them with a grainy scrub.
4. Soak Your Feet
A foot bath is a great treat at the end of a long day, even if you’re not doing a home pedicure. Soak your toes in a concoction of essential oil (of your pick), fresh lemon, mint, and Epsom salts to reduce swelling, neutralise odour and kill bacteria.
Finally, dry your feet thoroughly.
5. Moisturise
Now massage your feet with some heavy-duty moisturiser before slipping into a pair of cotton socks. Elevate your feet to reduce swelling, and chill for about five minutes.
6. Prep Your Nails
Use a cuticle pusher to push back all cuticles, and then remove any excess dead skin around the nail bed.
Next, use a cotton pad soaked in nail polish remover and wipe it firmly over each nail. This removes any bit of oil or moisturiser that may prevent your nail polish from adhering well to your nails.
Yves Rocher YRC Manicure Mail Polish Remover Bath, $15
7. Paint
First, find a comfy spot where you can perch your foot.
Begin with a layer of base coat. Next, take the polish, and start just below the cuticle down the centre of the nail. Push the brush gently towards the cuticle (but not touching it) before painting straight down to the nail edge.
For the big toe, one stroke in the centre and two on either sides should suffice. For smaller nails, one or two strokes is enough. The key is not to inundate the cuticle with nail polish.
If you do make a blunder, use an orange stick wrapped in a remover-soaked cotton wool and clean up the area between nail and skin. Once the polish feels dry to the touch, add some high-shine topcoat to seal the colour in.
8. Top Off With Oil
For an extra professional finish, apply a drop of cuticle oil on each nail after the topcoat has dried, then gently rub the oil in to nourish your nails and your skin.
Article originally posted on ZCOOP.
ColourPop Has A New Fall Palette, and We Think We're In Love
The start of Fall, though a non-existent concept here in the tropics, means the onset of pumpkin spiced everything (including the long-awaited arrival of the OG pumpkin spiced drink here in Singapore!!). The burnt orange hue starts to make more frequent appearances in both fashion and beauty collections, and we welcome it with wide open arms.
In terms of makeup, we’ve spoken of wearing this pumpkin spiced trend on the face before. Essentially, it’s a seasonal variation of wearing warm-toned makeup, which as you might be aware, is a trend that’s divided beauty camps quite a bit (looks great on Instagram, but will it look like an eye infection in real life?!?!).
Still, because we never fail to fall hard for a good warm-toned eyeshadow palette, we already want ColourPop’s latest launch so bad.
Meet the “I Think I Love You” palette, and yes, we’re pretty sure we’re in love already.
ColourPop really does do fantastic eye palettes – the combination of shades is always on point, and the pressed powder formula is a dream to blend – and after the runaway success of their previous two 12-shade palettes, the “Yes, Please!” and the “She”, both of which are currently sold out, the “I Think I Love You” looks set to be an instant hit too.
As compared to the “Yes, Please!” palette, which is made up of mostly mattes, ColourPop seems to have amped up the glitter and shimmer factor a lot more for this one. The mix of rose gold, copper and bronze is also a little less intimidating than the reds and yellows of the “Yes, Please!”, so if you’re not that adept with an eyeshadow blending brush, this would be an easier way to take on the warm eyeshadow trend. There’s a matte black shade to anchor it all too, so you can easily use it to line the eyes for definition.
ColourPop “I Think I Love You” Pressed Powder Shadow Palette, US$16. Available on colourpop.com from Thursday 7 September 2017, 10am PST (Singapore time Friday 8 September 2017, 1am).
Bamboo Is The New It-Bag Material
We’re not the first people to tell you this — you’ve seen it yourself on your social media feed, these wooden bags slung across the arm of your favourite fashion blogger, or placed carefully beside a poolside flatlay because #summer, and why not? Bamboo bags, or those with bamboo details, are getting their day in the sun simply because they look so stunning. The trend isn’t fed to us via giant billboards or 10-second advertisements, the buzz comes straight off scrolling social media, and that’s the thing: like the designs themselves, it’s all about being subtle yet pleasing to the eye too. Just so.
Most famous of all? Cult Gaia‘s Ark Natural Bamboo Handbag, a casual clutch-bag hybrid that goes perfect with laidback wear. Sure, the Los Angeles-based brand has the word “cult” in it, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t caught by surprised when the bag speedily gained popularity when bloggers and even celebrities started making it their own, especially in the US, probably because the natural, sturdy material looks so unique in a sea of leather or fabric styles.
As for this side of the world, the aesthetic might look a little familiar. It first reminded us of window blinds, the kind you’d see in a chic Balinese villa or cosy cafe, and then, something about the architectural shape, like a fan, and detailed construction seemed Japanese too. No wonder though, because the label’s founder Jasmin Larian mentions that the Ark’s inspiration comes from a vintage bamboo bag, a Japanese design that was popular in the 40s. Despite the airy design though, rest assured that the wooden slats are enough to obscure your bag contents, and still make sure that nothing falls out.
Another reason why it’s so popular? The price point. It’s currently US$128 for a small version and US$138 for the large, making it really accessible for a piece of luxury, though you’ll have to pay for shipping fees. If wood isn’t really your thing, you can also go for the reinterpreted styles — the Tortoise Acrylic Ark has an interesting texture, Mother of Pearl keeps the look dainty and feminine, while there are also Malachite and Agate colours.
Elsewhere, luxury fashion house Gucci also has a couple of bamboo bags of their own — though rather than the entire wooden aesthetic, they’ve kept it to just the top handle, now a house classic and a unique element that grounds their lofty, grandiose bag designs.
We’re also offered a bit of a history lesson — the material was first used in 1947 when materials were in short supply after the war, and today, Gucci uses the same technique to heat and bend the bamboo into the desired shape.
All its new Fall/Winter bags see the eclectic handle, with the Bamboo Classic coming in leather or various exotic skins, and a neat bamboo lock closure, plus a shoulder strap in the web stripe. Elsewhere, on the Ottilia, there are displays of butterflies, moths and beetles, studded accross the bag. For a more everyday style though, we picked a simpler style with a gold border about its two flaps.
Then, you might be wondering… ‘Yeah well, $200 is still a stretch for me, I need something that’s actually within my budget’. Let’s just say that we’re, more often than not, always looking for the
Now, don’t you feel a lot better already?
Place Your Face on a Suitcase, and Never Lose it Again
We all know the joys of travelling: learning new cultures, immersing yourself in unknown streets, and hanging out with the locals. Losing your suitcase is not one of those joys, especially when you’re all ready and raring to go after touching down in the airport. You cannot ask for a worst possible start to a vacation.
Thankfully, there’s a handy solution waiting to be utilised out there and it involves nothing but your gorgeous mug. Think it sounds too good to be true? Well, it isn’t. Courtesy of Firebox – a London-based online retailer that sells all sorts of crazy gadgets, you can now customise your suitcase with a picture of your face.
We know, we know. It looks absolutely ridiculous, not to mention a tad bit horrifying, but just think of the possibilities. One, you’ll never lose your suitcase again, and two, you’ll never freaking lose your suitcase again. Now how magical is that? Nobody would take a similar-looking bag by accident now (unless they’re reaaally not that bright).
How it works is that you snap a high-res image of yourself, or whomever you want, and send it over to Firebox. They’ll print the image on a double-sized polyester and spandex blend material that’ll be nicely fitted over your baggage, and you can make it as friendly (or scary) as you want when you pose for a picture.
It’s definitely a fun way to make your personal belongings easily recognisable, and the fact that it’s pretty affordable too – the price of each case ranges from £19.99 to £29.99, makes them quite a steal. We just think those handle pockets can be a little more, well, how should we put it…PG?
Score your case today via www.firebox.com.
For more information, visit www.firebox.com.
Images: Firebox
Disney and Lenovo Join Forces to Create Augmented Reality Star Wars Game
It’s the unlikeliest of alliances. But an alliance it is nonetheless, and what an alliance it may turn out to be. Disney and Lenovo have partnered together to come up with every hardcore Star Wars fan’s dream – an augmented reality (AR) game that brings the “Galaxy far, far away” into the real world.
Called Star Wars: Jedi Challenges, the game can be downloaded from both the App Store and Google Play, and it will be played via a smartphone, a lightsaber hilt controller, as well as the Lenovo Mirage AR headset; which was specially released for the game.
Check out the trailer for the game below:
As seen in the trailer, users will be able to partake in all sorts of exciting Star Wars experiences, AR-style of course. There are lightsaber fights, large-scale battles with AT-ATs, and even rounds of Holochess.
But unlike virtual reality (VR), the gamer is not closed off from reality. Instead, the Lenovo Mirage AR headset layers all these digital experiences into the real world, using a front visor and internal lenses to display your surroundings, with a movement-tracking beacon that’s placed on the floor.
Right now, there’s no word yet on release dates or availability. Once it launches however the entire pack (including the headset, lightsaber hilt, and beacon) will cost US$199.99. Pre-orders are now ongoing at www.lenovo.com.
For more information, visit www.lenovo.com.
Images: Lenovo
Customisable Makeup Palettes For All Budgets
You know the drill: you put down good, hard-earned money for a new makeup palette that has all these gorgeous colours sitting in neat rows, full of the promise that this whole array of colours is going to up your makeup game like never before.
But the reality is that two months into using this palette, you realise that your brush has only been dipped into maybe 20% of the colours inside, leaving the rest to remain in their pristine, untouched states, never to come into contact with your face. Suddenly, blowing close to a hundred dollars on these 12 shades doesn’t seem like such an economical decision after all…
We’ve just come to accept that there will always be those few colours in every palette that will never see the light of day, but thankfully, some brands believe that doesn’t always have to be the case. Enter the palettes that are gloriously customisable, to give you full control over every shade that goes inside – so you know you’ll use everything (in theory, anyway).
NARS
The opening of Singapore’s first NARS boutique early this year meant that we could finally get our hands on exclusive lines like the 413 BLKR colours, books written by François Nars, and… the NARS Pro Palette range. The empty palettes come in two sizes, small and large, and open up to an expansive magnetic base that you can fill with blush, highlighter, bronzer and contour, eyeshadow, and face powder. We hear that the Pro Palettes have done so well that most of the refill colours are sold out – you might want to keep hanging around the NARS store to catch the next restock.
Palette sizes: Small and Large
Blush: 18 shades
Highlighting Blush: 3 shades
Bronzing Powder: 2 shades
Contour Blush: 2 shades
Pressed Powder: 4 shades
Duo Eyeshadow: 15 shades
Single Eyeshadow: 20 shades
Palettes, $20 to $25; refill colours, $25 to $37. Available at the NARS store at B1-53 Ngee Ann City.
Innisfree
When Innisfree launches a makeup range, they sure like to go big. Last year, it was 100 different cushion cases, and this time round, it’s more than 100 colours you can curate for your personalised makeup palette, appropriately named My Palette. To us, it’s one of the most exciting launches of the year, something helped by the incredible affordability. This just dropped this month, with limited edition palettes designed by Italian designer and illustrator Olimpia Zagnoli available while stocks last. And if you trust our taste in colours, we put together palettes for a giveaway!
Palette sizes: Small, Medium and Large
Eyeshadow: 100 shades (includes 1 primer shade)
Eyebrow: 5 shades
Blush: 22 shades
Highlighter: 4 shades
Contouring: 4 shades
Colour Corrector: 4 shades
Concealer: 3 shades
Palettes, $10 to $14; refill colours, $8 to $11. Available at Innisfree stores.
Make Up For Ever
Eyeshadow palettes are often the ones that get all the attention, but a nicely put-together blush palette never fails to make our hearts skip a beat. So when we get to customise our own face palette… cheers to that. Coming this month is Make Up For Ever’s Artist Face Color palette system, which allows you to unite your optimal blush-sculpting-highlighting combination for some seriously defined facial contours.
Palette sizes: Mono, Duo and Trio
Highlight: 5 shades
Sculpt: 9 shades
Blush: 18 shades
Palettes, $8, refill colours, $32. Full range available at Make Up For Ever stores, selected range available at Sephora from 14 September 2017.
Elizabeth Arden
Because there’s such a thing as decision fatigue, maybe having complete control over every single shade that goes into your eyeshadow palette isn’t always the most ideal thing. That’s why the simplicity of Elizabeth Arden’s Eyes Wide Open collection is appealing: the colours already come in nicely-matched trios for highlighting, enhancing and defining the eye area, and you just have to pick your two favourite trios to put into the palette.
Eyeshadow: 10 shades
Palette, $8; refill colours, $33. Available at the Elizabeth Arden store and counters.
Inglot
The main attraction of this Polish makeup brand is undoubtedly their Freedom System, a comprehensive range of customisable palettes, recognisable for their clear swivel covers. Inglot might not be one of the most well-known brands around, but those in the know when it comes to beauty will know it for being one of the first brands to lead the way with this whole customisable palette trend.
Palette sizes: More than 20
Eyeshadow: Over 200 shades
Lipstick: Over 100 shades
Brow colour: 18 shades
Concealer: 47 shades
Palettes, $15 to $61; refill colours, $15 to $29. Available at the Inglot counter at Robinsons Raffles City and on zalora.sg.
Shu Uemura
Being a makeup artistry brand at heart, of course Shu Uemura would have a customisable palette system – just that it might not be the most well-known one around. The brand actually has a whopping selection of 100 eyeshadow colours, ranging in textures from shimmer to pearl to matte to glitter, and quite a few more in between. Put them in palettes that accommodate up to 8 shades – the cases themselves come inspired by Japanese craftwork, and impressively are made without any glue, plastic frames, or other non-biodegradable materials.
Palette sizes: Mono, Duo, Quad and Octo
Eyeshadow: 100 shades
Palettes, $9 to $35; refill colours, $25. Available at Shu Uemura stores and counters.
Urban Decay
Maybe only the more hardcore of UD junkies will know this, but yes, they make customisable eyeshadow palettes! Those eyeshadow pots can actually be popped out of their case and assembled into your own personalised palette of 4 or 10 shades. The 10-shade palette is actually stackable, so you can add on as many layers as you want – with more than 100 eyeshadow colours available, you can just imagine how far you can take your palette.
Palette sizes: 4 colours, 10 colours
Eyeshadow: 92 shades
Moondust Eyeshadow: 20 shades
Palettes, $15 to $40; refill colours, $30 to $32. Available at Urban Decay stores and Sephora.
Essence
This brand proves that it’s possible to get a customisable eyeshadow palette for under $15. Essence’s new My Must Haves collection includes 20 eyeshadow colours and two palette sizes, with mostly natural, wearable hues – great for if you’re just starting out with experimenting with eye colours.
Palette sizes: 4 colours, 8 colours
Eyeshadow: 20 shades
Palettes, from $2.90; refill colours, $2.90 each. Available at Guardian and selected Watsons.
Apple Launches Most Advanced Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones of All Time
It may be less than a week till Apple unveils the iPhone 8, its most highly anticipated gadget of the year. But before that happens, the tech giant is giving its latest Beats by Dr. Dre headphone, the Studio3 Wireless, a rare opportunity to bask in the limelight.
And you guessed it. These iconic cans are now better than ever, boasting powerful new features that’ll please even the fussiest of audiophiles.
For that, you can thank a feature called Pure Adaptive Noise Canceling (let’s call it Pure ANC for short). Basically, Pure ANC uses complex algorithms to continuously listen to your environment, blocking out annoying ambient noise like conversations or a train’s movement, so you get to be stuck in your own little musical world of bliss.
It’s not a new tech by any means, but the game-changer here is that the Studio3 Wireless’s Pure ANC is extremely comprehensive. It adjusts for musical leakage caused by different ear shapes, the movement of your head, and even glasses or hair. It also re-calibrates wherever you go, so whether you’re in an airplane or café, noise canceling is at an optimal level.
Now if you thought that was impressive, we’d like you to know that the Studio3 Wireless is also Apple’s most powerful Beats by Dr. Dre headphone ever. Courtesy of a formidable W1 chip, the Studio 3 Wireless has a total of 22 hours of playback time with Pure ANC switched on. Turn that off, and you’ve got an amazing 40 hours of non-stop listening time.
Run out of juice? No problem. 10 minutes of fast charging gives you three hours of playback. Not so convinced by a wireless headphone? Well, the Studio3 Wireless might change your mind as it has incredible Bluetooth connectivity, especially if you own an iOS device (don’t worry Android users, it’ll work great for you too).
Last but not least, the Studio3 Wireless retains the same spiffy design that made it popular in the first place. If you want to cop it, it’ll be on sale from today (September 6) onwards via www.apple.com/sg for the price of $478. Right now, the Studio 3 Wireless is available in Matte Black, White, Blue, and Red, as well as special edition colours Shadow Grey and Porcelain Rose.
For more information, visit www.apple.com/sg.
Images: Apple
You Can Get Your Pumpkin Spice Latte At Starbucks From Today
Every Fall, as the mercury falls and the colour of the trees turn, Starbucks’ most popular seasonal drink comes out to play.
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Meet the Pumpkin Spice Latte, also affectionately known as “PSL”. It’s described as Starbucks’ “signature espresso and milk are highlighted by flavour notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove”, and since its introduction in 2003 in the US, has become a huge customer favourite, becoming so well-known that it’s even made its way into popular culture, and is in some circles regarded as the preferred beverage of the “basic white girl”.
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A Venti-sized cup of PSL sounds absolutely delicious, and we’d love to try it. Unfortunately, it never made its way into Starbucks Singapore’s menus, probably because… “Fall” is nothing more than an abstract concept here. This didn’t stop some Singaporeans from trying their luck, though:
Finally, in our (hypothetical) Fall of 2017, Starbucks Singapore has made the wishes of all PSL fans come true, and yes: the Pumpkin Spice Latte makes it debut in Singapore from today, 6 September 2017. Also joining the seasonal menu today is the Maple Pecan Latte, which is a blend of espresso and milk with maple pecan sauce swirled in, and topped off with a crunchy mix of pecan and praline. Both can be ordered hot or over ice, or even as a Frappuccino.
As far as we’re concerned, this essentially means that the Christmas drinks selection has just lost its place as our favourite Starbucks seasonal menu – and now that Starbucks Singapore has finally brought the PSL in, it better be a yearly affair.
The Pumpkin Spice Latte and Maple Pecan Latte are available at Starbucks Singapore stores from today, 6 September 2017. starbucks.com.sg
Main image: Instagram @starbucks
Places in Asia To Trick Your IG Followers Into Thinking You’re in Europe
Asia is a melting pot of beauty. From towering mountains and picturesque beaches to bustling cities with loads of good food, you name it, and the world’s biggest continent has got it.
But sometimes, certain landscapes may not be unique to the region, instead resembling popular holiday spots in Europe, and in some cases, not even whole cities are original (we’re looking at you here China).
Nevertheless, that doesn’t change their appeal as alternative destinations, especially if you can’t afford that plane ticket to Europe. Behold, the most European-looking places in Asia.
Chocolate Ville – Bangkok, Thailand
Shopping paradise and de facto street food capital of the world, Bangkok is teeming with all sorts of marvellous delights. However, tucked away deep in the city is Chocolate Ville – a whimsical, fairytale-like village that’s made up of brightly coloured European-themed buildings, like bakeries, florists, inns, and ice cream parlours.
Down here, you’ll be spoilt for choice for #OOTD locations, while the village’s “Dining in the Park” concept is not to be missed – think al fresco-style dining with all sorts of cuisines, from true blue European dishes to Thai food, and even Chinese.
Santorini Park – Cha-Am, Thailand
Are you jealous of your friends soaking up the sun in Santorini? Well, here’s how you can do that too, for a lot less money and without the hordes of tourists. Introducing Santorini Park in Cha-Am, Thailand, a replica theme park that looks almost exactly like the original with its charming blue and white houses and cobble-stoned lanes.
It may not have the sparkling, turquoise waters like the real deal, but Santorini 2.0 packs more than its fair share of fun – there’s a G-MAX reverse bungee to get your adrenaline on, as well as Thailand’s only WallHolla climbing wall.
Florentia Village – Tianjin, China
Ah, China. Nobody rips off stuff quite like them, and even entire cities aren’t let off the hook. The proof? One only has to take a trip down to Florentia Village near the port city of Tianjin. With Italian-themed architecture like canals, mosaics, and fountains, you’d be forgiven for thinking that you were holidaying in Florence or Milan over here.
Oh, and being an outlet mall, Florentia Village is also home to over 200 shops, with “homegrown” brands like Fendi, Gucci, and Prada. Now that you think about it, a counterfeit Louis Vuitton bag has nothing on this!
Austrian Town Hallstatt – Huizhou, China
Well, what can we say? China really outdid every knock-off product ever produced when they wholesale copied the village of Hallstatt in Austria way back in 2011, with the copycat version in Huizhou now a popular vacation spot for Chinese tourists.
And just as you’d expect, almost everything here is cloned right down to a tee, from pastel-hued, old school buildings to a 900-year old clock. All this went down despite irritation from actual Hallstatt residents, but hey, we suppose imitation is the biggest form of flattery at the end of the day.
Huis Ten Bosch – Nagasaki, Japan
We know the Japanese are known for their innovation, although sometimes, they can be guilty of a little bit of copying as well. Enter Huis Ten Bosch in the city Nagasaki, a residential-styled theme park that’s modelled after every stereotype of the Netherlands, with its brightly coloured flower fields, canals, and quaint windmills.
But of course, with Japan being Japan, you can expect a whole lot of funky tech at this copycat holiday spot. Besides a robot hotel that was launched in 2015, a 3,000-metre long VR rollercoaster was unveiled earlier this year, with a drop of 300-metres and a top speed of 200km/h making it the scariest rollercoaster in the world.
French Village – Bukit Tinggi, Malaysia
The French Village in Bukit Tinggi has everything you wouldn’t expect to find in Malaysia. It’s home to beautiful French-style buildings, and it’s relatively cooling as well, with an average temperature range of 25°C to 27°C; which is way better than what we experience here daily in Singapore in any case.
And if relaxing at one of the cafés or snapping photos in front of the beautifully designed buildings aren’t enough for you, the French village ironically has a Japan section that comes complete with a teahouse, restaurant, spa, tatami suites, and botanical garden.
Khajjiar – Himachal Pradesh, India
It’s pretty rare that any place on earth could look as stunning as the Swiss Alps, although India has its scenic equivalent in the form of the hill station of Khajjiar in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.
Dubbed as a “Mini Switzerland”, Khajjiar is surrounded by dense pine forests with panoramic views of the snow-capped Dauladhar mountains, with horse-riding, trekking, long walks, and watching animals peacefully graze the best form of entertainment here.
Gurudongmar Lake – Sikkim, India
Iceland may be known for its crazy landscapes and mind-boggling scenery, but the Gurudongmar Lake in Sikkim, India, isn’t too far behind. In fact, it’s pretty bewildering as well (in a beautiful way of course), being one of the highest lakes in the world with an airplane-reaching altitude of 5,430-metres.
Although as gorgeous as it is, the lake is also considered extremely holy by both Buddhists and Hindus, having been named after Guru Padmasambhava, who was the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, while it was also blessed by Guru Nanak; the spiritual leader of Sikhism.
Cover image: Santorini Park Cha-Am Facebook
Timbuk2 Upsizes Bugis Store, While Unveiling New Fall Collection
It all started in 1989. Timbuk2 founder Rob Honeycutt was a modest bike messenger, although he wasn’t a very well equipped one. That all changed when he started making his own messenger bags to stash essential items, and when people began to show an interest in his designs; well, the rest as they say is history.
Almost 30 years later, Timbuk2 has evolved from a bike-centric brand to one that’s focused on mobile consumers, a quality that’s highly apparent at the company’s newly re-opened store at Bugis Junction. Bigger, better, with a whole lot more bags to choose from, the new store is the epitome of the San Francisco-based company’s free spirit.
“We wanted to make an accessible line with enough function for an everyday essential and with as much irreverence as the person carrying it,” said CEO Patti Cazzato. “These fulfil everyone’s need for individuality and utility on all life’s adventures, matching even the most rebellious personalities with the pack they need to stand out in a crowd.”
For instance, the new Fall 2017 collection features a variety of stylish but functional bags, from handy totes to rugged duffel bags. Some highlights include the “Tripper” – a military-inspired duffel that’s perfect for lugging around on road trips, as well as the “Rookie Pack”; a well compartmented backpack that’s great for everyday usage.
Other items to look out for under the Fall 2017 collection include the “Forge Tote”; a multi-purpose bag that can used as either a tote or a backpack, the “Tuck Carbon Coated”; a spacious, weatherproof bag that’s useful for short overseas trips, and the “Mini Ramble Pack”; a slick bag for those who want a smaller option.
Timbuk2’s Fall 2017 packs are available at its Bugis Junction store, #03-12.
For more information, visit www.timbuk2.com.
Images: Timbuk2
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