CASETiFY’s newest collaboration takes inspiration from the beloved Pixar film, “Monsters, Inc.”, and the star of the collection has to be the limited edition case that’s inspired by Sulley’s blue fur with purple spots. And just like the characters from the movie, none of the designs are scary, but are instead extremely cute. We’re eyeing the special collectible 3D AirPods Pro case that mimic’s Mike’s hard hat.
If you’re into Randall or Roz, there are also character cases available in CASETiFY’s Impact, Ultra Impact, Mirror, Ultra Compostable, Clear, and Bounce models. Adding to that, there are other complementary accessories made for AirPods and AirPods Pro, AirTags, Apple Watch bands, wireless chargers, MagSafe wallets, MacBook, and iPad. See everything below and then visit CASETiFY online to sign up for priority access to shop everything.
sign up for priority access to shop the collection at CASETIFY.COM ahead of launch on April 27, 2023.
Dyson’s best-selling Supersonic hair dryer has a new two-in-one Flyaway Smoother attachment that creates smooth, smooth hair — what every Singaporean wants. Here’s what it looks like (it can twist up and down):
And when attached to the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer:
This attachment mimics what a professional hair stylist would do in a salon to finish off hair; they would typically use a hair dryer with a concentrated nozzle and a round brush to bury flyaways into the hair. It’s no doubt challenging to replicate this by yourself at home, especially for hair at the back of the head; so Dyson cleverly engineered an attachment specifically for this purpose.
The Flyaway Smoother is the first brush attachment made for the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, and it’s inspired by the multi-styler brush attachments from the brand’s famous Airwrap.
It uses the Coanda effect to tuck stray hair and flyaways under longer hair, which results in a smoother, shinier and neater-looking mane. The built-in brush simultaneously helps to comb down hair in the same way a salon professional would, making it easy to style hair with just this one attachment.
You can find the new Flyaway Smoother attachment within the box of new Dyson Supersonic machines purchased from 13 April 2023, with the machines available in four colour combinations: Black/Nickel, Iron/Fuchsia, Nickel/Copper and Prussian blue/Rich copper (this last one is a Dyson direct exclusive that comes with a Prussian blue Presentation case).
For existing Dyson Supersonic users, the new attachment will also be available as an individual standalone purchase at a later date, and it’s fully compatible with all Dyson Supersonic models.
The new Flyaway Smoother attachment is within the box of new machines (priced at $699) purchased from 13 April 2023.
Apple’s HomePod lineup finally arrives in Singapore and it includes the 2nd Generation HomePod (in white and midnight), as well as all the colours of the HomePod mini (including orange, yellow, blue, space grey and white).
Above: homepod in midnight and homepod mini in yellow.
For the Apple user who subscribes to a vast portion of the Apple ecosystem, the addition of these speakers makes sense — and even more so if you want to set up a “smart home”.
SMART THINGS
Through Apple’s “Siri intelligence”, you can manage everyday tasks and control your smart home with simple commands, and even create smart home automations that will make your life more convenient. Siri will do extra things too, like notify you when a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm is detected in the home, check temperature and humidity in a room, and use Intercom to send an announcement throughout the house. These cool functions need some fiddling with for the initial set up, but once it’s all in place, it’s quite easy to figure out the settings for future smart accessories you want to add on to your Home Kit.
You can check out the list of accessories that are compatible with the Home app on Apple’s website here.
Above: Homepod and the home app.
While these are smart speakers, every person considering one just wants to know, does it sound good?
SOUND QUALITY
Let’s start with the HomePod mini. It’s a small, omnidirectional speaker that has a full-range driver and dual passive bass radiators. As a standalone unit, it projects sound pretty well, and pretty far. It does a decent job of filling a small room with clear sound. I’d recommend this for smaller spaces that don’t require full stereo sound like the kids’ room or kitchen. And since it’s hooked up to the Apple Home app, it’s a great intercom to tell everyone that it’s time for dinner.
Above: inside the homepod mini.
The larger HomePod is a whole different ball game. As a single speaker, music and entertainment sounds clear and robust. But add a second unit and pair them up as stereo speakers, and get ready to be blown away. Classical music sounds beautiful, rock music has an exciting and full bass, while the vocals on pop tunes are clear and soulful. These stereo speakers make me enjoy my favourite tunes all over again, like I’m hearing them for the first time. I was so impressed that I sat my husband in front of the speakers and blasted Manowar, and he agreed that the sound was incredible.
Above: inside the homepod.
WHAT TO GET
The HomePod mini is an easy buy. It has a friendly price point, is small and discreet, and serves its purpose as a speaker, intercom and smart home controller; plus the fun colours make the device all the more enticing.
Above: homepod mini in blue.
Now if you really take your home audio seriously and want to invest in a system that sounds pretty damn good, the HomePod is it. But you need to get two and pair them up as a stereo set to really experience the awesomeness of the sound system. A pair of HomePods will cost you $858, which is just slightly more than mid-range bookshelf speakers from major audio brands like Audioengine and JBL. But the HomePod is no doubt sexier in every way — being able to connect to Apple’s Home app and control things, tapping into Apple’s music catalog, and of course, in looks. These were definitely worth the wait.
HomePod (2nd generation) ($429) and HomePod mini ($139) is available for order from APPLE.COM/SG/STORE and in the Apple Store app starting March 30, with availability in stores beginning April 6.
While New Balance shoes have been the talk of the town lately, here’s an underrated pair of trainers that deserve a little shoutout: the Propel v4. Technically a running shoe, we must admit that we were a little fooled by its campaign images — in a good way, of course.
The FuelCell trainer’s sporty silhouette is predictably paired with sportswear, yes, though the white upper and its pops of colour just as easily go with khakis, blazers and skirts, or what we call cosy streetwear. Take a look at how they’re styled and you’d have to agree.
Another good thing to note is that the FuelCell Propel v4 is made for all runners, from elite ones who’ve done their fair share of marathons, to leisure runners, and even beginners who, no shame, have just made the transition from scrolling on the couch to pounding the pavement. This is in line with New Balance’s interest in building an inclusive community that celebrates all kinds of runners, no matter their style and motivation.
New and experienced runners alike will appreciate the running technology that’s packed into the latest Propel v4, which is now paired with a softer, more energetic underfoot that fuels both comfort and performance.
The shoe features a TPU plate for superior propulsion, which is wrapped between two layers of FuelCell foam that helps increase forefoot stiffness and give a higher energy return; in less technical terms, the innovative technology offers great rebound that helps drive us forward, for a shoe that constantly keeps us moving.
The design of its upper further helps with the shoe’s wearability. Its premium technical upper mesh features a no-sew construction for a sleek fit and feel, while the material itself is highly breathable and comfortable as it wraps around your foot.
[click on the images below to expand.]
New Balance’s iconic “N” is presented in contrasting shades across the side of the shoe, and while the men’s pair sees a bright swipe of orange in an otherwise monochrome colour palette, the women’s shoe boasts streaks of purple and orange, as well as a surprise neon yellow outsole that peeks out when you run — which makes a statement whether you’re in tights or slacks.
When going for a more casual look, we recommend relaxed cuts that still look put-together when layered in the right proportions, cool yet comfy socks, and an accessory or two such as sleek jewellery or a hat to elevate the athleisure style. Now that we know how the Propel v4 is just as equipped for the pavement and the street, the question is this: how would you style it?
The New Balance FuelCell Propel v4, $179. Available at New Balance stores at Novena Square, Suntec City, Vivo City, Paragon, Jewel Changi, Parkway Parade, and Tampines Mall, on New Balance, and in selected iRUN stores.
Cute, compact, yet armed with intuitive technology that makes it incredibly easy to brew a cup of coffee, the new Nespresso Vertuo Pop is making a statement alright, with advanced features packed into a sleek machine, as well as bright colourways that will definitely add a refreshing pop of colour to any space.
This latest machine is considered an entry model in the Vertuo range, all the more appealing thanks to a reasonable price point of just $249, which then gives us access to Vertuo’s high-end features. It also earns seriously playful style points, as the Vertuo Pop is available in classic Liquorice Black, as well as Spicy Red, Mango Yellow, and Aqua Mint, where each shade will certainly jazz up a dreary coffee corner in your home or office.
Standing at just 25 cm, we’re still able to enjoy various brewing styles at a touch of a button, thanks to Vertuo’s intelligent brewing system that identifies the barcode on each corresponding coffee capsule. This innovative Centrifusion™ technology then adjusts the ideal brewing parameters that honours each specific coffee blend, in order to achieve the best aroma and crema.
Small yet powerful, it brews up to 4 different coffee styles, ranging from a short espresso (40ml), a double espresso (80ml), a gran lungo (150ml) to a large mug of coffee (230ml).
The Nespresso Vertuo Pop Up Experience
To celebrate the launch of the new machine, Nespresso will also be having a series of Vertuo Pop Up Experiences across Singapore, happening from 5 April till July 2023, where you’ll get to immerse in the vibrant world of the new range. These experiences take after the four new colours of the Vertuo Pop, while interactive art displays and, as always, a complimentary cup of Nespresso coffee, add to the fun too. Test your knowledge on coffee and you’ll even stand a chance to snag yourself some Nespresso vouchers!
The Nespresso Vertuo Pop Up starts at Suntec City Atrium (Convention Centre), Level 1 from 5 – 16 April 2023. This will be followed by pop-ups at VivoCity, Northpoint City, and Causeway Point. Follow @nespresso.sg on Instagram for the latest updates.
The Nespresso Vertuo Pop, $249, available at Nespresso boutiques and online at nespresso.com/sg. From 5 April to 20 June 2023, enjoy up to $30 off Vertuo Pop machines.
CHANEL Beauty continues their story on red with a Spring-Summer 2023 makeup collection that honours the shade across flushed cheeks and smouldering eyes.
At once bold, fresh, passionate, and classic — and according to Gabrielle Chanel, a colour that speaks of freedom and independence too — red, in all its various hues, now features across not just lipsticks and nail polishes, but a mascara, eyeliner, and glowy makeup stick. We’re most excited about the two new oversized palettes too, with colours that can be used on the eyes, across the cheeks, onto the temples, and anywhere you want to add warmth or definition.
The exclusive Les 4 Rouges Yeux et Joues palettes both feature a matte sienna red that inspires their respective series of colours, each with four matte and satin shades. Among the curations are a warm rosewood, peach and rose gold highlighter, as well as rosy beige and a “tomette” tile red; these red shades are buildable and blendable, which adds to their versatility when creating striking or subdued makeup looks.
Similarly, the colour red is featured on new shades of the Baume Essentiel, a multi-use glow stick now in Rouge Frais to accentuate cheeks with a radiant glow; the Le Liner de Chanel in Rouge Noir, and the Stylo Yeux Waterproof eye pencil in Or Rose; and the Noir Allure mascara in Rouge Grenat, to be used as the finishing touch on a bold red smokey eye.
CHANEL Beauty’s latest innovation, the Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick, arrives in harmonious shades of soft mauve beige, delicate dusty orange, deep sienna red, and a bold dusty red, while the collection — and look — is complete with nail polishes in Watermelon and Rouge Cuir, so you can go just as matchy-matchy on your nails as well.
CHANEL Spring-Summer 2023 Makeup Collection. Available from 3 April at CHANEL Fragrance & Beauty Boutiques and on sg-eshop.chanel.com; and from 7 April at CHANEL Fragrance and Beauty counters.
Imagine walking into a gym where instead of weights, barbells and other typical equipment, you’re greeted with Hermès belts, hats and scarves — that then become your new exercise gear. That’s essentially the idea of HermèsFit, a unique fitness concept that’s set to arrive in Singapore from 14th April.
The sporting event sees a bespoke Hermès Gym in the heart of Orchard Road, where visitors get to take part in a host of activities that make good use of the fashion house’s beautifully-crafted accessories.
Ballet Arms with Bracelets.Carré Yoga.
The event will be Hermès’ next stopover, following pop-ups in Tokyo, New York, and Sydney. In what’s described as “an elegant, joyful expression of fun and fitness”, think of this as a novel way to get active with Hermès’ most coveted accessories.
Yoga with silky and colourful carrés that grace your skin as you get into your flow, stretching with belts that are able to withstand every pull and tug, balancing with hats, or doing an entire ballet routine with bangles — whatever your pick, you know you’ll get to work out in style.
Hat Balance.Belt Stretching.
The space will also be decked out in the house’s signature motifs, Hermès orange included, with one of the key highlights being a weights wall complete with custom Hermès barbells and kettlebells, a silk-inspired calisthenics course, a boxing ring that doubles as a photobooth, and even a juice bar.
Another area is reserved for a series of punching bags wrapped in decadent carré prints, while there’s also a round ping-pong table, with custom rackets, where you and your friends can challenge each other to (hopefully) friendly matches. In the evening, the central boxing ring will be transformed into a stage for live performances, DJ sets, and more.
Scheduled workout classes will take place in dedicated private studios within the gym. The classes are as follows:
Carré Yoga — find your balance in a series of scarf-inspired poses
Belt Stretching — pick the perfect belt to help you breathe, stretch and relax
Ballet Arms with Bracelets — tone your arms and core with stylish bangles
Shoes HIIT — get your heart pumping with Hermès shoes as weights
Hat Balance — keep your hat on while getting into poses
Small Leather Goods Workout — work out with grace, strength and flexibility as you hold onto Kelly wallets or other small leather goods
To discover the world of HermèsFit, register online for your preferred time slot or book a class online to enter the gym and meet your trainers. And of course, turn up in your best athleisure wear for this offbeat event!
HERMÈSFIT 14 – 23 APRIL 2023
at 16 ORCHARD ROAD
FREE ADMISSION
FROM 11AM TO 8PM DAILY
TO REGISTER FOR ENTRY & FITNESS CLASSES, PLEASE VISIT HERMES.COM.
The first time I stepped into an & Other Stories boutique in London — and then subsequently, Los Angeles and Seoul — I was mesmerised by what can be described as a dream wardrobe, understandably so when your hear why. Cosy, and with soft natural light filtering in through floor-length windows, the space wasn’t packed to the brim, but instead lined with clothes thoughtfully placed on racks that sat between cushy sofas and rugs, with neat little nooks that housed shoes, jewellery and accessories. Each display felt perfectly curated and picked out just for me, the hopefully-discerning shopper, whether they’re grouped according to colour, trend, or a straight-up vibe; stories, if you will.
Stockholm-founded fashion brand & Other Stories can also be summed by one curious phrase — “wardrobe treasures” — a personal favourite of mine used by Shawna Trunk, Concept Designer of the brand’s Los Angeles Atelier, when she was in Singapore for the opening of their first-ever store in Southeast Asia. Fast-forward just several months later, and we’re now celebrating the launch of the second & Other Stories store, an inviting new space at Raffles City Shopping Centre.
& Other Stories at Raffles City Shopping Centre.& Other Stories at Raffles City Shopping Centre.
“Our collections are built around inspiring fashion stories. All our lines are diverse, ranging from masculine tailoring to feminine chic, and designed to provide endless styling choices of lasting wardrobe treasures,” said Shawna, who also tells us how her and her team are endlessly inspired by vintage clothing shops and flea markets. The idea of treasures not only denotes cherished pieces we’d want to hold on to as long as possible, but the joy of hidden finds, something that the brand gets right, thanks to a peculiar way of designing their collections.
Compared to the other brands within the H&M Group, & Other Stories stands out for its diverse range of sophisticated styles, neither too utilitarian nor too on-trend; think coveted and elevated staples that make fun additions to a capsule wardrobe. In particular, these are designed by & Other Stories’ three ateliers in Paris, Stockholm and Los Angeles, which reflect the styles and cultures of their respective cities.
A look from L.A. tends to be more flirty, bold and feminine, while a Stockholm staple tends to focus on strong silhouettes and city-girl cool. Parisian style, on the other hand, indeed does bear the je ne sais quoi of French-girl chic, with timeless and simple, yet flattering, apparel.
Artist collaborations are a big part of the brand’s DNA as well, and often explored via in-store artist residency collaborations that happen during pop-up events or with art scattered throughout the creative floor space. & Other Stories’ Raffles City boutique, for instance, sees local artist duo RIPPLE ROOT’s hand-painted art brightening up shelves and display corners, as well as prominently featured across the store’s store-front windows.
Before you head down to admire this season’s Spring/Summer 2023 apparel of romantic flowery dresses, and pops of sage, lavender and cornflower blue, we hear from two key women at & Other Stories, who tell us more about why the brand’s making such an impact across the region.
Lina Söderqvist, Managing Director at & Other Stories, shares on how Stories’ store design is vital to their success, while Shawna Trunk, Concept Designer at the Los Angeles Atelier, talks about dressing for one’s own style, and her top picks for a season-less capsule wardrobe.
How does & Other Stories compare with sister brands H&M, COS and Monki?
Lina: “Stories’ ambition is to be unique towards all competitors, so we consider many brands when defining our uniqueness. Our three design ateliers in Paris, Stockholm and Los Angeles is one major thing that creates this uniqueness. Thanks to this set-up, the customer can find a wide range of styles, colours, prints, cuts, fragrances and gifts at Stories — all captured with different perspectives and inspiration sources.”
How would you say the Los Angeles atelier is different from the one in Paris and Stockholm?
Shawna: “Having design ateliers in three different cities, brings a genuine diversity to our expression and collections. A big part of the inspiration comes from the cultures in each city. Where I’m based, the Los Angeles Atelier collections captures the sassy, stylish and joyful LA girl. The collections are flattering and feminine, can be dressed up or down, ranging from modern classics to bold statement pieces.”
And yet, what are some core design tenets that keep the design language cohesive across all the ateliers?
Shawna: “Our collections are built around inspiring fashion stories. All our lines are diverse, ranging from masculine tailoring to feminine chic and designed to provide endless styling choices of lasting wardrobe treasures.”
How do you and the team do market research for upcoming collections?
Shawna: “We love to go shopping for vintage clothing when creating upcoming collections. There are so many amazing vintage shops and flea markets in Los Angeles, the inspiration is never ending.”
Does being “on trend” matter to the brand — why or why not?
Shawna: “& Other Stories is a one-stop styling destination and we’re all about saluting one’s individuality rather than dictating how anyone should dress. Our customer is a woman with a love for fashion who creates her own style. She wears things that make her feel good and that reflect her personality.”
Does the brand still believe in brick-and-mortar stores — how would you describe the ‘& Other Stories’ store experience, especially the one in Singapore?
Lina: “Yes, the digital and physical stores work together and are equally essential for us. As shopping behaviour is constantly changing, different platforms offer different possibilities.The interior of our stores acts as an extension of our design ateliers in Stockholm, Paris and Los Angeles, which provides an inspiring experience for our customers. We constantly draw inspiration from these cities’ creative and inspiring environments but also look at how we can speak and connect to our local customers when designing and creating our physical stores.
From an architectural point of view, we’ve looked into localising the store(s) by utilising more natural architectural materials known to Singapore, such as wood, enabling the store environment to feel feminine, warm yet contrasting. We also have more and bigger plants here to reflect Singapore as a garden city – bringing the feeling of the outdoors in our store.”
The idea of building a capsule wardrobe has become quite popular these days. What are your top 3 clothing picks that would fit in?
S: “I tend to mix feminine pieces with polished and tailored pieces, which is especially easy to do within the three different atelier collections at & Other Stories. The majority of my wardrobe is neutrals but I love to play with a bold colour or print once in a while. While I may vary on my fashion identity day to day, one thing is for sure — you’ll never catch me without my gold jewellery.”
& OTHER STORIES, located at ion orchard, #03-24/24A/25/26, and raffles city shopping centre, #01-02/2A.
No nonsense here — we’re talking all the new and upcoming beauty drops that’s got the Internet fired up with excitement. From highly-requested lip oils courtesy of Rare Beauty, to a matte series of Charlotte Tilbury’s liquid blush wands, and undetectable base formulas for a smooth complexion, here are the launches we’d jump the octave for.
GLOW RECIPE STRAWBERRY BHA PORE-SMOOTH BLUR DROPS
While better known for their fruit-forward skincare, Glow Recipe’s first foray into makeup is definitely something up their alley. The clean beauty brand debuts a makeup-skincare hybrid product, the Strawberry BHA Pore-Smooth Blur Drops, which sees a pore treatment and silicon-free primer encased within the cutest rounded case. It’s made to instantly blur pores, while refining them over time — thanks to encapsulated BHA, strawberry enzyme and strawberry leaf extract that work together to visibly reduce pore size and give us smooth skin. The goal here is skin that’s soft with a subtle satin glow.
Selenator or not, you’ve got to admit that Rare Beauty simply nails the most beautiful, fuss-free textures — so we’ve got high hopes for this upcoming launch. The highly-requested tinted lip oil arrives in a unique jelly-like formula that transforms into a lightweight oil, which then nourishes lips while adding a juicy wash of colour. Brand founder Selena Gomez herself tells us it’s all weightless comfort with none of that stickiness; early reviewers also love how it is a rather buildable formula, almost like a slick lip tint.
First, there was the Pillow Talk Beauty Light Wand, a glowy liquid formula that became the talk of the town for its fresh glow. Charlotte Tilbury is clearly onto something here — which is why we think the Matte Beauty Blush Wand is set to be their next hit. Housed in the same soft applicator tube, this new liquid blush goes on easily and in a universally flattering way, for a pop of colour that lifts the complexion. There’s also just the right amount of blur and light-reflecting pigments to give that beautiful soft-focus finish.
With a name this delicious-sounding, Tarte certainly impressed us with their latest — and already popular — skin tint when we were at their booth during the recent Sephora press day. The vegan formula provides sheer-to-medium coverage that flexes as you move, and yet boasts a tough 16 hours long-lasting glow when on the face. Thankfully, the foundation includes hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, encapsulated maracuja spheres, and superfruits that offer moisturising benefits and care for the skin throughout the day. Fans of Tarte have also been raving about its lightweight texture and certified glow!
The limited edition Wild Meadows makeup collection is perfect for Spring — and supports biodiversity and the literal wild meadows of the Carpathian Mountain range of Romania too. Note the beautiful packaging that features the vibrant local flowers of Transylvania’s Hârtibaciu Valley across the range, and on these three Lip Chic lipsticks, which deliver on ultra-hydrating benefits and glossy colour payoff.
$91, available at Chantecaille counters.
PIXI ON-THE-GO BRONZE
The next time you’re on-the-go and out of the house before a full face of makeup, grab a makeup stick. Pixi makes it unbelievably easy with the On-The-Go Bronze, which can be easily swiped on for a sun-kissed complexion any time of the year. Perfect across the cheeks, and even a bit on the lips, all you need to do is swipe and blend in order to get that dream post-holiday glow.
If it’s good enough for HD TV, it’s good enough for IRL too. Cameras are hardly forgiving, though it seems like Make Up For Ever has been making it their personal mission to give us high-performance makeup and the most undetactable base. The new HD Skin Powder Foundation is no different, and is co-created with makeup professionals in order to achieve silky-smooth coverage in one swipe. It also offers 24-hour blurring, mattifying and comfort benefits in a powder formula, which blurs pores while correcting colours and imperfections.
Big, bold and lifted lashes are only a swipe away with Fenty Beauty’s latest Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara, recommended by Riri herself for its voluptuous volume. Once again, early reviews already indicate a stellar product, with many discussing how the creamy formula easily creates dramatic lashes, further aided by a uniquely-tapered brush that’s able to pick up and coat each lash with the right amount of formula.
The new Luxe Radiance Loose Powder from Bobbi Brown gives us even more long-lasting makeup, and the look of airy, luminous skin, via a triple powder complex and hydroponic powders that keep shine at bay. Cordyceps, in particular, is a powerful ingredient that boosts our skin’s natural energy, while we’re on board with the powder’s luxurious compact case, where an innovative mesh netting makes for mess-free touch-ups.
$95, available at Bobbi Brown Cosmetics counters.
KVD BEAUTY GOOD APPLE SERUM FOUNDATION
Fresh from the popular Good Apple range is this foundation, which gives us the same lightweight yet full-coverage effect in a liquid formula that’s infused with an antioxidant-rich apple extract to nourish the skin. The beauty of this TikTok-famous series is certainly in its high coverage, where ultra-concentrated Elastomer Pigments are able to be spread seamlessly over the skin, blurring pores and blending in flawlessly along the way. It’s also transfer-proof and designed for all-day wear, while the 100% vegan formula is housed in a luxurious recyclable glass bottle bearing all of the brand’s gothic aesthetic.
Here’s an opportunity to look as elegant as Dior Beauty muses Jisoo and Anya Taylor-Joy in their latest campaign — simply sport the iconic brick-red, Dior 8, in the high-shine formula that we’ve come to love from the Dior Addict lipstick.
Designed for exceptional shine in an upgraded formula that boasts 90% natural-origin ingredients, it’s also the first Dior lipstick that doubles up as a fashion accessory.
K-pop musician, Jisoo, featured in the Dior Addict campaign.
The 2023 series sees 10 new colours with dazzling shine, along with three iconic new cases that draw from the aesthetic codes of the House of Dior.
Each of the lipsticks feature a deconstructed Dior Oblique logo on the side, in various finishes — the Brick Cannage case honours the star shade in a matching fabric that bears the canework motif; Rose Montaigne is in a powder-pink tone borrowed from the bag atelier; while the White Canvas version is kept sleek with a subtle Dior Oblique motif.
In terms of the formula, the Dior Addict features an ultra-shine, lacquer-effect finish, along with 6-hour wear that’s extra comfortable thanks to how it’s infused with floral lip care that doesn’t compromise on its colour or pigmentation.
This means the lipstick is hydrating on the lips, as natural ingredients such as jasmine wax and nourishing plum oil aid in that comforting effect; furthermore, these oils also melt instantly upon contact with the lips, leaving a lightweight film that catches the light for a dazzling effect.
Actress Anya Taylor-Joy, featured in the Dior Addict campaign.
Creative and Image Director for Dior Makeup, Peter Philips, has also given us 10 new Dior Addict shades in a flattering palette of nudes, rosewoods and reds. These include: 412 Dior Vibe, a rosy beige; pink hues of 566 Peony Pink, 463 Dior Ribbon; rosewoods 521 Diorelita and 652 Rose Dior; an intense 730 Star; red hues 758 Lady Red and 822 Scarlet Silk; and on the orangey-brown spectrum, 812 Tartan and 845 Vinyl Red.
The Dior Addict collection is also refillable and interchangeable, so you’re free to swap out your couture-inspired cases to suit your mood of the day.
Dior Addict lipstick, $62 each, available at all Dior Beauty Boutiques, Counters, on the Dior Beauty Online Boutique, Sephora and Sephora.sg.
Couture Cases, $45 each, are available exclusively at Dior Beauty Boutiques, Counters and on the Dior Beauty Online Boutique. Refills ($50 each) are available from 15 May 2023.
For Summer 2023, Chanel introduces new colours for their sunglasses and optical frames alongside their classic black and tortoiseshell designs. On their rectangular acetate frame with a distinctly 90s feel, there’s transparent vanilla, peach and pink, with the temples adorned with an oversized double C in metal. On a square frame, the tortoiseshell motif is reinterpreted in a khaki hue, and illuminated by a double C set with strass. There’s also a new folding frame in black nylon fibre with quilted temples; it hides a double C at its centre, and a strassed braid on the inside of each temple, visible only when the glasses are folded. As for the timeless collection, it’s been enriched with more new shapes and colours, including a square optical frame in black and in transparent pink. Check out the designs below.
[CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO ENLARGE.]
The Chanel Summer 2023 eyewear collection is available in boutiques.
March 2023 brings with it many new beauty launches, most of them you can find on our Instagram feed; but what really gets me excited is base makeup — foundations, concealers and primers. When you get your base right, the rest of your makeup will follow through smoothly, plus it adds that dose of confidence to your day knowing you look and feel good. There’s really nothing better than clear, good-looking skin; and even if you’re having a breakout, today’s highly-advanced beauty products will allow you to fake it. These are the ones to update your beauty box with.
Dior Forever Glow Veil and Velvet Veil
No base makeup roundup would be complete without including Dior. The Dior Forever liquid foundation has fast become the industry standard and now they’ve launched primers to match it. There are two variations: Glow Veil (for radiance) and Velvet Veil (for blurring), depending on the kind of result you wish to achieve. Like all Dior base makeup, the textures for these primers are sublime; they are a silky fluid that sinks into skin, evening it out instantly. On weekends or gym days, you could wear these on their own without any foundation for a sheer, fresh look.
Dior Forever Glow Veil and Dior Forever velvet veil, $95 each. Shop online at SHOP.DIOR.COM.SG.
Gucci Beauty Natural Finish Fluid Foundation
Liquid foundations are one of those makeup products that you can instantly fall in love with, and that happened the first time I tried this product. It looks soft and powdery in its frosted glass bottle, which alludes to the kind of finish you’ll get on your skin. It creates a smooth, soft matte texture with medium coverage. And like all good base makeup, this is buildable to something more full if that’s your thing. I recommend pairing this with the brand’s Silk Priming Serum for the best results; you’ll get a finish that Gucci Beauty intended — smooth, soft, semi-matte, yet still natural-looking.
Gucci Beauty Natural Finish Fluid Foundation, $105. available in 25 shades. Shop online at SEPHORA.SG.
M.A.C Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen
I like the pen packaging this product comes in; it’s handy and hygienic, with a firm cap to protect the nozzle, and an “on / off” button at the bottom. What’s interesting is that this cream is both a liquid foundation and a concealer in one, so the formula surprised me; I wasn’t expecting such a fluid yet creamy texture that glides so well on skin and blends in easily. I expected it to be thick and heavy in order to double up as a concealer.
As a foundation, only very little is needed to cover the entire face. The finish is matte, with medium to full coverage. As a concealer, I spot applied it to dark rings under my eyes and this actually lightened them better than most other under-eye concealers that I’ve tried.
The press release says that this formula is transfer-proof and waterproof (which makes it wonderful as a concealer over spots!), and lasts for up to 36 hours. Wow. It’s also pumped with hyaluronic acid to keep skin hydrated, and there’s caffeine to tighten skin and reduce puffiness (good for the under-eye area).
If you’re having a bad skin day, use this all over to even out skin texture and tone, and then go in with your industrial concealer over your spots. If you’re the sort to travel with your full bottles of liquid foundation, I recommend this as a good alternative because of its convenient form factor.
M.A.C Studio Fix Every-Wear All-Over Face Pen, $63. available in 19 shades. Shop online at SEPHORA.SG.
Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Concealer
The key word to describe this concealer is that it’s soft. It’s like a pillowy cloud on the skin, which you can’t feel at all. You see the product touching and gliding over your face, but you can’t feel it, which ends up being so addictive. I found myself applying more and more of this product everywhere just because I loved seeing it sink in to the skin.
It offers medium coverage and there are blurring powders to reduce the appearance of pores. The product doesn’t feel dry on the skin at all (it’s skincare-infused) and it’s exceptionally comfortable.
Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Concealer, $102. available in 12 shades. Shop online at SEPHORA.SG and tangs.com.
Clé de Peau Beauté UV Protective Cream SPF 50+ PA++++
As far as sunscreens go, the Shiseido group really has some of the best formulas and technology, and their luxury label Clé de Peau Beauté is always at the receiving end of it. They recently reformulated their popular UV Protective Cream with what the brand calls “Adaptable Innershield Technology”. It does the necessary blocking of harmful sun rays, but it lets red light through, which is beneficial to skin. This new version is also infused with Moroccan Thyme extract that helps the skin protect itself against sun damage.
On the skin, the cream feels comfortable and not tacky after settling in. Just a small amount is needed for the whole face, so while this tube is costly, it should last you for a good many months.
Clé de Peau Beauté UV Protective Cream SPF 50+ PA++++, $175. Shop online at SEPHORA.SG.
Cool, chic and sexy. That’s the predominant vibe we got from Saint Laurent’s Spring/Summer 2023 runway, where Anthony Vaccarello envisions a minimalist set that focused on contrasts between translucent fabrics draped delicately across the body, alongside leather jackets and metallic accents in varying proportions. It’s this similar idea of contrast that we get from their key bag of the season too — the Small Kate Chain Bag.
Looks from Saint Laurent’s SS23 runway.The Saint Laurent Small Kate Chain Bag.
Like previous silhouettes of the Kate, and named after imitable supermodel Kate Moss, the boxy front flap style is sharp and to-the-point, embellished with the signature YSL cassandre logo and a metal chain. This iteration though features a monochromatic twist, where glossy black spazzolato leather outer frames a white lambskin centre. Its jewel chain allows it to be worn on the shoulder, and while a play on contrasts, the result is more classy and sleek than one would expect — classic YSL, we say.
The Small Kate Chain Bag, in black and white nappa and glossy calf leather. Available at Saint Laurent boutiques.
Have you heard of Nothing? This tech brand is just three years old and has just three products to its name — Phone (1), Ear (1) and Ear (stick). The reception to these gadgets has been incredible, with the Phone (1) even listed in Time Magazine’s best inventions of 2022. This month, Nothing launches its first-ever second generation product — Ear (2); and while it looks just like the brand’s first generation earbuds, the Ear (1), there are lots of internal upgrades for better sound and experience.
Above: Everything you get in Nothing’s Ear (2) box. It includes the earbuds, charging case, usb-c charging cable, and two additional ear tip sizes.
When Ear (1) first came out, what was really exciting was its see-through “skeleton” design; you could see the internals of the earphones, which made the pair unlike any other earphones available at the time (and still today). So it’s no surprise that Nothing kept the winning design with their second version of it.
Above: The “see-through” design of the nothing ear (2) earphones.
So the important question is, how do these sound? Generally, pretty clear. There’s a new 11.6mm custom driver and a new dual chamber design that is made to deliver clarity at all frequencies; for example, lower frequencies are deeper, while higher frequencies sound brighter. For the average user, it just sounds balanced, and again — nice and clear.
But here’s where it gets a bit more interesting. Nothing has added the ability to create Personal Sound Profiles based on a user’s hearing for different frequencies. This is done through the Nothing X App (available for download on Google Play Store and App Store), and equaliser settings are adjusted accordingly.
Above: A screenshot from the Nothing X App.
There’s a world of difference to the quality of sound before and after the hearing test is done. If you get the Ear (2), it’s really necessary to set up a Personal Sound Profile to get the best sound experience from it. This personalisation works quite differently from Apple’s AirPods Pro, which uses the TrueDepth camera on the iPhone to capture the shape of the user’s ear, or the Nuratrue earbuds that use sound waves to map the ear.
On the Ear (2), there’s a also a new function called Personalised Active Noise Cancellation, where users can switch between three levels of ANC. For example, you can choose to allow the Ear (2) to detect distracting sounds in the environment and to automatically adjust the level of noise cancellation.
Other improvements to this second gen product include being able to connect to two devices at the same time, so you can switch seamlessly between them (eg. if you’re using your phone for calls and a tablet for entertainment). There’s an upgraded IP54 water- and sweat-resistance rating, while the case has a rating of IP55. This just means it’ll be fine if water splashes on it; just don’t go swimming with them.
Above: the ear (2) inside its charging case.
Battery life is extended from the first generation (it’s now up to 36 hours of music playback on a full charge of the charging case, and with ANC turned off), plus the Ear (2) case supports up to 2.5W (Qi certified) wireless charging and can reverse charge on suitable devices such as the brand’s Phone (1).
Above: Nothing ear (2) earbuds and charging case.
If you’ve been a fan of the Nothing brand, or you’re just intrigued by the design of these earphones, the Ear (2) is a decent buy that will give you decent sound. It should work with any smartphone or bluetooth device you have, and will be a great conversation starter whenever you whip it out to use.
Ear (2) will be priced at $199 and will be available first on Limited Edt starting from 23 March at 12am and free tryouts experience will be available at select Challenger stores at Bugis Junction, Vivo City, and Causeway Point.
From 8 April, Ear (2) will go on general sale across all stores of Nothing’s partners in Singapore both online and offline, including flagship e-commerce stores on Lazada and Shopee.
You don’t have to live in a pineapple under the sea to fall in love with this latest PUMA collection — though it does help if you love the cartoon character that does. PUMA has teamed up with SpongeBob SquarePants, the wildly animated sponge from the beloved Nickelodeon series, to present a playful series of classic silhouettes.
Shoes, track pants, bucket hats and more feature floral prints and sunny colours, bright yellow and pink included, as the creators imagine SpongeBob and his starfish companion Patrick going on a jellyfishing adventure.
PUMA Future Rider.PUMA Printed Polo Shirt, Printed Shorts, RS-Slide.
We’ve got to talk about the footwear though, as PUMA adopts more than one silhouette in this extensive collection.
A whole suite of sneakers pay homage to SpongeBob and Patrick, starting with the PUMA Future Rider, Slipstream, and Suede. These come in SpongeBob yellow with little textural details that mimic that of a sponge; SpongeBob’s face is seen peeking out on their tongue tags as well, while each shoes features a character hangtag that doubles as a keychain attachment.
Patrick is obviously the inspiration for the Rider FV though, that sees pink suede uppers and a neon green trim, and as for the RS-Slide, its purple-aqua gradient and contrasting yellows certainly remind us of Bikini Bottom.
The footwear series is then complemented by apparel such as the T7 tracksuit with SpongeBob gallivanting beside the PUMA logo, t-shirts, hoodies, shorts, and accessories. Look out for the kids’ designs as well, and a series of green floral-print wear that take after Bikini Bottom’s flower-shaped clouds.
[click on the images below to expand.]
The PUMA x SpongeBob SquarePants collection, $39 – $199. Available on PUMA.com, PUMA stores, and Limited Edt Vault.
At the house of Dior, the colour gold has always been special; it’s a symbol of the brand’s timeless audacity and creativity, and it came alive in their 1947 Autumn-Winter collection that featured a delicately embroidered dress Golconde in gold lamé. And now each season, Dior’s Creative Director, Maria Grazia Chiuri pays tribute to the shade with a Dior Gold capsule collection that’s composed of iconic silhouettes that are given more than a touch of the colour and to dazzling effect.
Gold tones are seen on long dresses and midi skirts in tulle and lace, and even on boxy jackets in blistered fabric.
Iconic bag models including the Lady Dior and Dior Caro are made available in three golden variations – gold, gold pink and silver, with sleek tone-on-tone details, while the Lady D-Joy holds the graphic lines of the metallic Diamond Cannage.
Even shoes get a golden twist with the 30 Montaigne, D-Way mules and Walk’n’Dior sneakers magnified in opulent golden hues.
The Dior Or Capsule is available in Dior store worldwide.
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