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Swimsuit Alternatives

Jul 12, 2016Aug 15, 2018

In Singapore, it’s summer all year round. A swimsuit is a must; especially in this blazing weather when all we really want to do is to plunge into the cool waters. But the one thing we hate? The thought of scouring through endless piles of swimsuits, only to find ourselves hating on our skimpy little bikini piece which looks great in photos, but actually restricts any kind of movement. While the pool looks at us invitingly, we’re struck by fear of something coming loose, or even worse, coming off entirely. We thought to ourselves, never again. We want to do a cannonball! Water polo! Swim without a care! So the next time we’re heading for a weekend at the beach or a casual pool dip, we’ll be going straight for these alternatives instead.

1. One-piece

Topshop, $59.90. H&M, $59.90.
These might remind you of your childhood days when you were tragically clad in an unflattering black swimsuit that although insanely comfortable, it was not very pleasant to look at. Fast forward to present day, we have a slew of one-pieces that are designed in various cuts and graphic prints – so gone are the days when you associate one-piece swimsuits with wearing a godawful bathing cap. With its body-hugging silhouette, it will definitely highlight your curves, at the right places of course.

2. High necks

Cotton On, $29.95. H&M, $24.90.
They definitely don’t look like the normal bikinis we’re so conventionally used to. Whether it’s a halter strap or a tank top, they are perfect for those who prefer less revealing swimsuits or ladies with smaller chests. What’s more, these will prevent any bikini-related faux pas from happening, especially if you’re involved in vigorous beach activities – no slips or anything, promise. Not only that, you’ll get a resounding nod of approval from your concerned mother.

3. Bustier tops

Urban Outfitters, US$44. Roxy, $66.
Reminiscent of your bustier bralets or cropped tanks, these swim tops are underwired and have molded cups for better support. Also, since they usually extend a little further down the torso, they are a lot more well-fitted than a normal bikini piece. This is especially great for busty ladies who have trouble swimming or moving around in the usual bikini styles, you’ll definitely want something more secure.

4. High waisted bottoms

Seafolly, $115. Monki on Asos, $22.12.
No more living in constant fear of your triangle bottoms coming loose or shifting about, especially if they are teeny-tiny ones that barely cover anything. If you’re perfectly confident of your body, we’d say go ahead; but for those who haven’t achieved that ideal summer bod, or are just paranoid in general, trade in your triangle pieces for these high waisted ones instead. These are great for hiding your food baby too, because let’s face it – we’re all going to have that stomach bloat from sipping too much juice or munching on snacks by the beach.

The Purple Haircare We're Using To Keep Hair Ashy

Jul 12, 2016Aug 15, 2018

Three months ago, I finally heeded the advice of the various hairstylists who have been encouraging me to please be a bit more adventurous with my hair – since I work in an industry that can accept it – and took to plunge to bleach it. One coat of bleach followed by a second coat to create highlights left my hair a quite terrifying shade of orange, but that was before the colour went on, of course – I chose an ashy brown that went on grey on the highlighted portions, as something that ventured slightly into the whole granny hair trend, without being too grey (wanted to be cautious the first time round).
It looked great and I loved it! But unfortunately… this newfound love didn’t last long, as the ashy tones disappeared within two weeks, leaving behind a brassy gold that essentially turned me into an unplanned blonde. So all the warnings were true: ashy tones really don’t do well on Asian hair, which naturally carries yellow tones; it also didn’t help that my bleached hair had such a strong orange tinge to begin with. Not that Asians can’t carry off blonde hair, but I never intended for my hair to turn so yellow so quickly, so I was naturally a bit disappointed.
Three months and a return trip to the salon later, my hair is back to an ashy almost-grey and the yellow has thankfully been covered up, but this time, I’m prepared. Losing the fight against brassy hair over the last few months led to several frantic Google searches and beseeching several hairstylists to tell me the secret to how to preserve the colour of my hair, and by now, I’m quite the expert.
What I’ve learnt is: the ultimate weapon for fighting yellow hair is purple haircare. This is common sense, really, if you know anything about the colour wheel and complementary colours, as purple neutralises yellow. Since my most recent dye session, changing up my haircare routine to ensure my hair gets a daily dose of purple has managed to keep the brassiness at bay thus far. Research and a bit of good luck has led me to the following purple products, and since I’ve found that these aren’t that common in Singapore currently, this is where I share my finds.

RPR Brighten My Blonde range

This was a lucky find, but also possibly my best discovery. I tried my luck at my neighbourhood shopping mall to see if I could find purple hair products I could easily stock up on without having to travel to town or a specialised salon stockist. At Beauty Language, I unearthed this gem of a range from Australian brand RPR, which includes a shampoo, conditioner and leave-on treatment that carry purple pigments to “remove unwanted brassiness and yellow tones from blonde grey and coloured hair”. The formulas use blueberries and chamomile to soothe the hair, and the shampoo and conditioner carry strong purple pigments that don’t irritate my scalp. But it’s the leave-in treatment that’s the star: when I work the light purple cream into sections of hair where a tinge of brassiness has appeared, I see it cancel out the yellow tones right before my eyes. It’s not the best-smelling product, but I’m willing to live with that; because in addition to being a quick fix for maintaining my colour, people have started commenting that my hair looks unusually soft considering it’s been bleached, and I feel it too.
RPR Brighten My Blonde Shampoo, Conditioner and Leave-In Treatment, $19.50 to $45. Available at Beauty Language.

Original & Mineral Conquer Blonde

O&M is another Australian brand, which shows that the experts Down Under seem to know better when it comes to purple haircare. The Conquer Blonde Silver Shampoo and Conditioner both carry intense purple pigments, but smell light and floral – like the rest of the brand’s products, it relies on botanicals like macadamia seed oil, banksia flower, evening primrose oil and shea butter to clean and moisturise hair. I’ve tried the shampoo a few months back, but having the newly-launched accompanying conditioner as a double dose of purple really helps me feel extra secure about getting my hair colour to stay as it is. And O&M really does a good job at keeping hair hydrated.
Original & Mineral Conquer Blonde Silver Shampoo, $48, and Silver Conditioner (available from 15 Aug), $45. Available at Sephora.

Redken Blonde Idol Custom-Tone

This conditioning treatment has the most interesting format: the purple-depositing formula and conditioner are dispensed from separate chambers, and you adjust the dial to vary the ratio of purple pigment to conditioner as the weeks go by. As more time passes from your hair colour session, the proportion of purple is increased until the maximum level at week 6, when it takes on a rich purple hue to fight the increased brassiness that will probably have crept up on your hair by then.
Redken Blonde Idol Custom-Tone, $24. Available at selected Redken salons.

Aveda Blue Malva

The priciest of the lot, but we know Aveda can always be trusted – the Blue Malva Shampoo and Conditioner come out of the bottle purple, unlike the name implies; the shampoo cleanses gently while the conditioner deeply moisturises, and both smell great thanks to the floral ingredients that also help to both balance the scalp and add pigment. The shampoo isn’t cheap, but then if you’re keeping your hair colour for the long haul, it makes sense to invest in taking care of it.
Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo, $89; and Colour Conditioner, $40. Available at Aveda Experience Centres and counters.

Lush Daddy-O Shampoo

The intense violet in this shampoo comes from the all-natural stuff (in typical Lush style), including violet absolute from the violet leaf, and rose and bergamot oils. There’s also fresh citrus juices and seaweed added to the concoction – an odd combination, but hey, it helps keep hair soft and shiny.
Lush Daddy-O Shampoo, $20 to $59. Available at Lush stores.

Main image: Mansur Gavriel F/W ’16, courtesy NARS.

WATCH: Chvrches And Paramore's Hayley Williams Are Comic-Book Superheroes For "Bury It"

Jul 12, 2016Aug 15, 2018

This music video pretty much needs no introduction, but we’re giving it one anyway. Scottish synthpop band Chvrches (“Churches”) have teamed up with Paramore’s powerhouse-vocalist Hayley Williams for their latest release, “Bury It”. With a video game-esque synth beat, it’s easy to see why they opted for the comic-book superhero look, and we’d be lying if we said that we didn’t adore their animated selves. An artist known as Jamie McKelvie reportedly worked with the animation studio Mighty Nice to create the whole thing, and their hard work has definitely paid off; that last scene with them flying into the sunset gives us all kinds of feels.
We’re still trying to figure out their exact superpowers, though. Telekenesis? Fire? Light? Maybe a combo of all three? Decide for yourself as you watch the video here:

Get All The Sun Protection Essentials You Need At This Pop-Up Event

Jul 12, 2016Aug 15, 2018

You know Bioderma is serious about their suncare when its sunscreen formulas take UV protection all the way down to the cellular level… and offers up to SPF 100 protection. But that’s exactly what the Photoderm range is about – serious sun protection – and from this Thursday, 14 Jul to Wednesday, 20 Jul, you get to feel it all for yourself at Bioderma’s Photoderm Suncare Pop-Up Event!
It’ll be happening at the Raffles City Water Court Atrium Level 1, where you’ll be able to experience a complimentary one-on-one personalised skincare session to better understand your skin’s needs and learn how to better give it proper sun protection.
There’s every reason to stock up on sunscreen while you’re there, since the Photoderm products come in a variety of formats and textures including a dry-touch fluid, cream, and spray; but a minimum purchase of $58 at the pop-up event will let you redeem complimentary Bioderma products worth up to 50% of your total spend (i.e. spending $58 will let you redeem up to $29 worth of products), chosen from this curated list of Bioderma favourites:

Bestselling Bioderma H2O (from the Sensibio, Hydrabio or Sebium range) in 100ml (RRP $14.90)

Sensibio Dermatological Spray (worth $11.90); Sensibio Eye Gel (RRP $32.90); Atoderm Lip Levres Lip Balm (RRP $14.50)

You’ll also want to bring along any of the sunscreens you already own to the pop-up event, because the nice folks at Bioderma are allowing you to trade it in for any Photoderm sunscreen and pay only $25 for it (U.P. $37.90-$49.90, excludes the MAX Spray SPF 50+) – they’re taking in any of your non-Bioderma sunscreens in full or travel sizes.

Photoderm range of sunscreens

And here are some exclusive perks for NYLON Singapore readers: flash the image below to also receive a copy of the “Editing Beauty” book by Editor-in-Chief Adele Chan with a minimum purchase of $58, in addition to redeeming the Bioderma products. What’s more, a minimum spend of $100 will also get you a limited edition Bioderma travel kit worth $45, also on top of the complimentary Bioderma products.

Flash this image at the event for exclusive treats just for NYLON Singapore readers!

Enough about all the sweet perks, and let’s get straight to business –

RSVP for your personalised skincare session at the Bioderma Photoderm Suncare Pop-Up Event here:
http://bit.ly/bioderma_rsvp
Event details
Dates: Thursday, 14 July 2016 – Wednesday, 20 July 2016
Venue: Raffles City Water Court Atrium Level 1

bioderma.sg

#44 FOR ART'S SAKE

Jul 12, 2016Aug 15, 2018

Everything We Want From H&M Beauty

Jul 11, 2016Aug 15, 2018

Rejoice, for the H&M Orchard Building store is set to become a new beauty mecca from next month, once H&M Beauty at long last becomes available in Singapore. There’s been a whole lot of hype since the news was announced, and even now, not all the details with regards to the specific products are available yet, but we’ve seen and heard enough to be able to pick out the things we’re zooming in straight on once the goodies finally hit the shelves next month. Here’s what we already know we’ll be stocking up on.

Precious Glow Metallic Lip Colour

If Kylie Jenner’s Lip Kits and Instagram have proven anything, it’s that metallic lips are the next big makeup obsession. The first H&M Beauty drop will include this limited edition lipstick range, the Metallic Lip Colours, and the six shades are all about high-impact colour like a dark brown that revives the 90s lip, and a full-on pure yellow gold if you really want to have your lips really dazzle.
Price TBC.

Nail Colours

H&M tells us there will be 200 shades of nail polish to choose from, so where do we even start? Most probably from these earthy and muted tones that basically never go out of trend. You probably already own a good number of neutral nail colours, but the off white and cinnamon shades in the above photo are unexpected colours you can add to your collection for your next painfully chic manicure.
Price TBC.

Conscious Beauty Lip Balms

Of course there’s going to be a Conscious Beauty line too, given that H&M does Conscious Fashion lines regularly. When it comes to the beauty products, these are certified organic, and come packaged in minimalist designs that are all made from recyclable materials, so stock up without feeling guilty. We’ve got our eye on the tinted lip balms that come in blueberry, vanilla, lemon, ginger and raspberry flavours, that come in tubes that look luxe, but without a luxe price tag.
$12.90 each.

Conscious Beauty Body Washes

Our bathroom shelf is also about to look a whole lot chicer, once we get to stock up on all the body care products that make up the majority of the Conscious Beauty selection. These Body Washes, and the rest of the body care selections, come in two scents, Vitalising and Relaxing, the first more citrusy with notes of mandarin, grape and lime, and the latter more calming with lavender, vetiver and rosemary.

H&M Beauty is available at H&M Orchard Building from August 2016. hm.com

Here's How Pokémon Go Has Taken Over The World

Jul 11, 2016Aug 15, 2018

Just days ago, Pokémon Go was released; and it’s safe to say that it broke the internet, surged Nintendo’s shares and took over all our lives. The augmented reality game that’s free to play has gone viral, and it’s really not surprising, considering how most of us have dreamt of becoming Pokémon trainers ever since we were young. Owning our very own Pikachu? Catching a Squirtle? WE’RE IN. But of course, we’re slow to the game (as always); Pokémon Go has not been officially launched in Singapore just yet. You’re definitely not alone if you’ve been furiously checking the app every single day or even hour; only to be disappointed by how late we are to the scene. We’ll admit that those anxious cries that follow aren’t that weird either, it’s rather justifiable, really.
So the only way to wait it out – live vicariously through the fortunate ones from the other parts of the world. These are just some ways Pokémon Go has been dominating everybody’s lives; where catching a Pokémon precedes one’s priorities and everyday life, obviously. From creepy shared taxi rides to being motivated to exercise, everybody’s obsessed. Meanwhile, we’re still waiting patiently (well, not really) until we get to live out our childhood dreams.

1. You’re not alone when everybody’s just as insane as you are.

the migration to capture squirtle ft. my reaction #FIUPokemonMasters #PokemonGO @PokemonGoHub pic.twitter.com/mPVLOGOjxg

— lynch (@lynchetaa) July 11, 2016

2. It’s an obsession when you’re entering a police station to get Pokéballs.

3. Safety first, folks.

This guy did his best to get me killed this morning. #PokemonGO pic.twitter.com/REi2KOCOco

— Hel Gibbons (@blackic) July 8, 2016

4. Having to break into someone’s house to claim the Gym is really no big deal.

I kid you not, I just walked into someone's backyard so I could claim this Gym on Pokemon GO! 😂 pic.twitter.com/h03Q2QqUMz

— Ali-A (@OMGitsAliA) July 7, 2016

5. When catching a Pikachu is obviously more important than being kind to some adorable kids.

6. You know it’s getting out of hand when there are driving posters dedicated to Pokémon trainers.

7. The reason for the poster above.

I am fearful for my life tbh #PokemonGo pic.twitter.com/eyENSPTDyV

— Greg Bennett (@GreggyBennett) July 9, 2016

8. Tired of random strangers appearing in your home?

Australia is a MESS #PokemonGo pic.twitter.com/Jjz5QouJaG

— holmen (@gomezswifts) July 10, 2016

9. Pokémon Go might just be the most effective workout app yet.

So, for context, I'm a "bit" overweight. Something in the above 500 pounds range. Just got pokemon go the day before yesterday, but the servers were down the whole time. I was finally able to get online yesterday afternoon. I could lie and say I set an outrageous goal for myself and somehow managed to meet it; but really I was just trying to catch some pokemon. I could also lie and say I feel great; but no, All I feel now is pain. Didn't feel too bad while walking, but after sitting down to write this post, man is it catching up with me fast. I "can't wait" to find out how I feel tomorrow.

The TENERO x TO-FU Collection That We're Instantly Fans Of

Jul 11, 2016Aug 15, 2018

Truth be told, we’re not usually drawn to cartoon plushies and cutesy t-shirts, but what we’re partial to, and the world tends to go crazy over, are designer toys. With this in mind, few things are as iconic as TO-FU OYAKO, a series of characters whose faces are essentially square blocks of soft tofu. Look past their awkward smiles and obvious association with the kind of food your grandma probably loves, and you’ll find a well-lauded figure founded by Tokyo-based design collective, Devilrobots. They’re really just chameleons who take on many forms, from redesigned Disney or Sanrio characters, to t-shirts, watches, and even toothbrushes, every one of them a limited edition collectible.

So whether you’re a kid, art & design buff, serious toy collector, or anything in between, be prepared to go crazy over the iconic square face, now all over lightweight bags and wallets. Created to commemorate TENERO’s 5th Anniversary, and in order to celebrate the brand’s desire for combining fashion and art, the TENERO x TO-FU collaboration perfects the casual, everyday look while exploring what “wearable artwork” really means.

Sure, you get fun, quirky prints on functional bags that are easy to carry around, but only the most eagle-eyed observer (or you, since you’re reading this now) can tell that this happens to be a specially-designed character created just for the brand. Among the TO-FU characters tumbling about the print, there’s a unique backpack-toting TENERO TO-FU that sports the “T” logo and the brand’s iconic teal colour, right down to its freckles. It’s hip to be square, indeed – now more than ever.

TENERO x TO-FU collection, priced from $69 to $179, available at all TENERO outlets. toccotenero.com
Photoshoot
Photographer: Gladys Soh
Styling: Jessica Ho
Model: Krystal Yeo

I Love Fanny Packs And I'm Proud Of It

Jul 11, 2016Aug 15, 2018

Anything with the word “fanny” in it sounds vulgar. It does after all, refer to a woman’s genitals or a person’s buttocks. Lovely. And when it comes to fanny packs, what comes to mind are usually drinks stall uncles or…. Heineken aunties at the Holland V coffeeshop. Not exactly a covetable item in the fashion world, eh? But I LOVE FANNY PACKS and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Just so you know, if the name disturbs you, you can also call them waist bags or belt bags. Or a man purse.
Look how stylish they can be!
This Gucci version is made from coated canvas and has an adjustable suede strap. Wear it through your belt loops and it can serve double duty keeping up your pants.

Image: net-a-porter.com
Gucci Dionysus coated canvas and suede belt bag, US$1,508, available at net-a-porter.com

This is your perfect clubbing bag!

This one has the iconic Balenciaga face and fits your cards, cash, keys, makeup, phone, and even camera! It’s perfect for clubbing because 1) it’s small and discreet, 2) you don’t need to check it in, 3) your hands are free to hold drinks, 4) it’s black.

Image: net-a-porter.com
Balenciaga Paper textured-leather belt bag, US$875, available at net-a-porter.com

Your man won’t be embarrassed.
Here’s a style he wouldn’t mind carrying.

Photo courtesy matchesfashion.com
Dolce & Gabbana Vulcano leather-trim nylon waist pouch, $660, available at matchesfashion.com

It’s great for travelling.
Here’s an extra large fanny pack (there I said it again!) for bringing on board a plane. It’s large enough to hold a Macbook, iPad, cardigan, makeup pouch, wallet, and so much more. As expected of Hermès, this is made of the highest quality leather and is surprisingly light — again, great for travel. Carry it over one shoulder like a tote or sling it cross body.

Photo courtesy Hermès
Hermes Cityslide Cross pouch in Cristobal bullcalf, POA, available at Hermès.

AAPE By A Bathing Ape x One Piece

Jul 11, 2016Aug 15, 2018

AAPE By A Bathing Ape is back with a collection dedicated to One Piece fans. As one of the world’s best-selling manga series, you’ll easily recognise One Piece’s iconic skull symbol in this collection, combined with AAPE’s quintessential moon face logo and camouflage elements. With AAPE’s affordable pricing and trusted quality clothing, we’re expecting One Piece fans to go wild with this collection – what with the great range of T-shirts in various designs, hoodies, pants and caps in AAPE’s signature black, white and jungle camo colours. The artful combination of AAPE’s classic streetwear elements and symbolic One Piece motifs easily makes this collection an aesthetic one; and frankly, you needn’t be embarrassed to pay homage to your favourite manga series on the streets now.

Moon Face Tee, $99.90. Logo Tee, $99.90.

Characters Tee, $99.90. Kings of Pirates Tee, $99.90.

Camo Zip-Up Hoodie, $289. Bermudas, $159.

Cap, $79.90.

Waterproof Bag, free with minimum spending of $300.

AAPE By A Bathing Ape x One Piece Collection, $79.90-$289, available in end July at AAPE Orchard Gateway.

How To Wear Midi Skirts

Jul 8, 2016Aug 15, 2018

It’s easy to forget about the midi skirt – its sometimes length may be daunting to some, and others might find it too difficult to pull off. But we’re all forgetting about what the good ol’ midi skirt can do. It’s flattering for any body shapes and height – making you look slimmer and taller than you actually are. So forget about the fear of not wearing them well, you can pull off anything with just a few simple things to bear in mind.
1. Details

Topshop, $126. Asos, $55.31.
Try skirts with belt or wrap details that will instantly make your coordinate look more polished and well put together – even if you’re just wearing sneakers and a plain top. Also, skirts like these are especially great for lazy days; its details will definitely prevent your outfit from looking too boring. For a more unique style, we would pick skirts with a subtle pleated design at the side; it’s a seamless mix of simplicity and sophistication all into one.

2. Go for funky colours

Topshop, $76.90. Topshop, $106.
Another great way to wear a midi skirt is to pick those with funky prints and colours. Not only are they incredibly easy to style with (just a simple black or white top will do), they are essentially statement pieces that will always stand out even if you’re just wearing minimal accessories and a boring pair of shoes. The plus side? You will definitely not lose sight of them in your clothing stash in the wardrobe – easy for those grab-and-go days when you’re running late.

3. Pick the right shoes

Asos, $44.24. Boohoo on Asos, $39.82.
Speaking of shoes, they are essential to pull off the ubiquitous midi skirt. We’d say that the shoes you pick will either make or break your outfit. The wrong pair will make you look sloppy; defeating the original purpose of the good ol’ midi skirt. Pair your flouncy midi skirts with white sneakers or a pair of sandals for a casual, off-duty look. Alternatively, wear your body-hugging skirts with heels or boots if you’re planning to go all out. Rounded flats are a definite no in our books, as they will only highlight the short part of your legs, and not your entire figure. Ditch them, now.

4. Coordinate accordingly

Zara, $49.90. Missguided, US$16.90.
General rule of thumb: don’t wear tight cropped tops with body-hugging midi skirts, unless you’re going for a wild night out, or if you have a great figure. If you’re not blessed with an hourglass figure, you might want to skip the tight coordinate and go for something more forgiving – a slouchy top tucked into a tight skirt will look more flattering. It’s also much easier to hide your food baby after dinner.

5 Local Online Stores To Check Out

Jul 8, 2016Aug 15, 2018

With the rise of taobao and carousell amidst an already highly-saturated sphere of online blogshops, it’s easy to dismiss SG-based online stores as “boring”, “standard” or even “daylight robbery” when you consider the dirt-cheap prices of the exact same item on taobao. But you’ll be surprised at the number of local online stores which provide original, quality clothes. The best part? Free shipping! Plus, say goodbye to those long waiting periods, which typically induce a reasonably amount of fretting over the possibility that your package has gotten lost or damaged in the mail. There’s no place like home, after all.

SOIGNÉ The Label

All images taken from soignethelabel.com
Pronounced “swan-yeah”, the French term to describe someone who is dressed elegantly, SOIGNÉ The Label began in 2015 thanks to fashion blogger Jessica Tham. While they don’t necessarily have the widest or cheapest selection of clothes, the brand’s clothes stand out with their timeless silhouettes and elegant designs, and having that outfit which can be dressed up or down for any occasion is a definite money-saver in the long run.

& Well Dressed

All images taken from andwelldressed.com
Formerly known as lacepipe, andwelldressed offers chic apparel and accessories. In the later half of 2015, the brand made the shift from being curation-based to creating their own designs, and a whole new concept was born. The clothes they offer provide a slightly more youthful silhouette, “combining current trends with a clean aesthetic” to create versatile pieces. By making an effort to “retain simplicity while injecting subtle details that add to functionality”, their pieces are definite wardrobe staples that you’ll find yourself reaching for over and over.

Depression

All images taken from shopdepression.com
Don’t let this brand’s name – or their masked men – scare you off, there’s nothing sad about this brand…except maybe the fact that we don’t have the cash to own all of it. Begun by self-taught fashion designers Kenny Lim and Andrew Low about a decade ago, Depression draws inspiration from Singapore’s sub-cultures to create a brand that is marked by “a streak of rebellion and a taste for the macabre”. And, you know, black, lots of black. Not that we’re complaining; after all, it goes with everything and anything. Who says angsty fashion is relegated to teenhood and ripped jeans?

Collate The Label

All images taken from collatethelabel.com
Debuting at Singapore Fashion Week 2015 is no easy task, but that’s exactly what COLLATE did, with their pre-fall collection Beyond The Borderline. Their description of the collection is without a doubt the essence of their brand in a nutshell: “clean lines, elegant silhouettes, and subtle, feminine confidence”. With clothes for all occasions and a handful of quirky, experimental colour block pieces, COLLATE is definitely a label to check out.

In Good Company

All images taken from ingoodcompany.asia
In Good Company is the brainchild of four Singaporeans, offering apparel, accessories and – if you visit their flagship store in ION Orchard – food. Their clothes are ideal for everyday, frequently featuring loose-fitting silhouettes and lightweight materials for maximum comfort. But we can’t help but gush over their necklaces, with their playful colours and geometric shapes, perfect to make any simple outfit pop.

Featured Image: Images taken from Depression, & Well Dressed, and SOIGNÉ The Label.

We Tried A Makeup Removing Glove… And Things Didn't Go Well

Jul 8, 2016Aug 15, 2018

Here’s a disclaimer: not everything that comes into the office is great. Every now and then we get an iffy product you’d think twice about bringing home for a test run – but we do it anyway. Today’s beauty oddity of choice (not really) – the Sephora Water Cleansing Glove.

“It’s magic!” the back of the packaging claims. Other bold promises include effectively cleansing and removing makeup from the face, eyes, and lips, and leaving the skin soft and clear – simply by wetting the microfiber glove and rubbing it over your face. The instructions for use were literally that: wash the glove, wet it with just warm water, and run over the face. I really wish I could tell you it came with more details – fine print, maybe, on how exactly this glove could remove impurities without the use of any makeup remover or oils; but there were none. Can you really blame a person for being skeptical.
Thus began the nerve-wracking makeup removal process, with a heart full of doubt and a palm-ful of soft black fluff. The glove was comfy against the skin; but let’s be real, it was pathetic. I suppose it took my base and blusher off, but considering I’d only worn sun block and day cream today, that’s hardly an accomplishment. Pretty sure it did absolutely nothing for my eyebrow pencil too, which even tissue can remove.

And don’t even think about lipstick – I was wearing a light, berry-coloured matte balm that, though longwearing, can usually come off with a light hand. I had to forcefully pseudo-exfoliate my lips just to try to get the colour off, and ended up with gross pink bits flaked off all over the glove – which is pretty unhygienic to put back onto your face, especially for a “reusable” glove. And that was just a balm; imagine how completely useless this would be on a liquid lippie.
The worst part of all was that it shed everywhere. For journalism (!), I pushed on and endured the bits of black fluff that clung to my face the moment I began rubbing, but it was hard to ignore when it started raining over my sink too. At the end of the whole process you’re left with a barely cleaned off face, worn out skin from all the rubbing, and so much black fluff on your face you might as well start your own skin disease epidemic.

via GIPHY

The glove is meant to be washed with soap and water, or in the washing machine, after every use. After that, you can go back in to remove the next day’s makeup once more – if it dries in time, that is. In a word: don’t. Please don’t subject your skin to the torture of a poor quality skincare regime just for the novelty of trying a cleansing glove, or even because it’s a “lazy” alternative. You’re much better off sticking to your regular makeup removers and cleansers, because the skin on your face is not something to fool around with. Plus, you save all that time spent on scrubbing your sink clean of black fluff afterwards too.

Sephora Water Cleansing Glove, $16, available in Sephora from 15 September 2016.

Here's What You Can Do At BOUNCE Singapore

Jul 8, 2016Aug 15, 2018

BOUNCE has recently graced our shores with an adrenaline arena that includes a huge trampoline park, Singapore’s first indoor adventure course (X-Park) and the internationally famous Leap of Faith. Hailed as one of the world’s best indoor adventure parks, we were real excited when we finally got the chance to visit the arena. Not to worry if you’re not exceptionally sporty or fit (neither are we!), their friendly staff will be present at each station to help you out. To make things easier for you, we’ve rounded up some of the segments we tried out at BOUNCE Singapore:

Free Jumping Arena

Basically a huge space for those who just want to do some casual bouncing and playing around – which was great for us newbies. The both of us sheepishly creeped into the area enclaved by children, and the staff at the station patiently taught us the basic skills of bouncing; yes folks, bouncing isn’t as simple as we all thought it was. It was embarrassing when we found out that we were incapable of bouncing as enthusiastically as the children who were effortlessly performing special tricks, while we were left struggling.

The Wall
For those of you who are more experienced or just have greater guts, you can move on to The Wall, a zone specially made for stunts and tricks. The trampolines in this area are different than the ones in the Free Jumping Arena; they are specially made for performing and practicing intense stunts and movements.

But don’t worry about completely failing, though. Their helpful staff will always be present to assist you in case you have difficulties, or any interest in learning a new trick. Reina kindly taught us how to do the “sit jump” trick – where we bounced and sat back before jumping up again. Sounds easy, but both of us had a hard time learning this seemingly easy trick. After a few tries… Amanda did it successfully.

While we were struggling to pick up this simple trick, Reina showed us another trick that many professionals do – “Wall Running”. Safe to say, we felt very useless after witnessing her do it so effortlessly.

Slam Dunk

A mini basketball court in the arena, you can practise slam dunking here, because let’s face it, not many of us are capable of doing so without the help of a trampoline. If you’re petite or a complete sports noob like me, you wouldn’t even be able to jump high enough (even in the kids section) to touch the hoop. I’m guessing many of you might be scoffing a little now, but hey, you go try!

Trampoline Dodgeball
Ok so dodgeball’s fun yet difficult… but with a trampoline? It’d be pretty hard to dodge any balls coming your way while trying to maintain balance on the trampolines.

Big Bag

Meant for you to practice your stunts and moves, the trash-looking bags are there as a safe landing spot. It’s a great place for practising flips, spins and any other cool stuff you can’t do at home. We felt safer and more confident to go crazy, knowing that there’s a soft spot to cushion our fall. Needless to say, we were our wildest here.

X-Park

Our favourite segment of the entire arena, an adventure park reminiscent of the one on Ninja Warrior. The park features several obstacle courses such as a balancing beam, rock climbing, the spider climb, flying fox and more challenging courses. Be warned: you might feel extremely old here; the park certainly speaks out to agile and nimble children who are more fearless than we are.

After excitedly but painstakingly going through the entire course, we’d say that the hardest obstacle to go through would be the swinging hoops. Sure, they may look easy, but the self-proclaimed monkey bar expert that I am failed this course. It was embarrassing for us, unfit and inactive folks, to get through the park – what with the gazes from the adrenaline-high children around, with their incredible sense of speed. Nevertheless, it was a good time we spent there laughing at our incapabilities.
We definitely had a great time at BOUNCE Singapore – but a warning to all you unfit folks like us; you will definitely ache the next morning.

BOUNCE Singapore, from $19 per pax (adults) and $14 per pax (children), Cathay Cineleisure Orchard, 8 Grange Road, #09-01 Singapore 239695.

5 Up & Coming K-Pop Boy Bands To Look Out For

Jul 8, 2016Aug 15, 2018

Love ’em or hate ’em, boy bands have been around for decades. While we can debate all day about their origins and what exactly defines a true “boy band”, there’s no denying that South Korea has played a huge part in the boy band phenomenon, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be letting go of the trend any time soon. Shallow critics of the K-Pop boy band movement usually have criticism that’s along the lines of “they wear makeup”, “they’re manufactured”, “they can’t actually sing”, etc. But you’ll be surprised at the pool of talent when it comes to K-Pop Boy Bands, you just have to know where to look. To get you started, we bring you 5 up & coming groups, with a variety of styles and sounds.
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Seventeen (세븐틴)

It’s no surprise that Pledis, the company behind groups like After School, has ambitiously debuted this 13-member boy group. Yes, contrary to their name, there aren’t 17 members, so you won’t take that long to memorise names and faces. Don’t let their numbers scare you away, though, Seventeen have been putting up some really good, self-produced (yes!) music ever since their debut. Their sound leans pretty heavily on an upbeat, youthful sound, but the instrumentals on their tracks really take the cake; whether it’s brass or base, those musicians know how to play. Tie everything together with some Seventeen rap flair and super-sharp dance moves, and you get one of the youngest and biggest rising boy bands of this year.

Monsta X (몬스타엑스)

While they haven’t exactly found mainstream success just yet, Monsta X have found a pretty solid following with the consistency with their hip hop concepts, and it definitely helps that their leader Jooheon is the younger brother of Block B’s leader and big-name producer, Zico. Don’t let their “bad boy” snarls fool you, though, they’ve proven time and time again on various variety programmes that they’re actually just a bunch of lovable dorks. Sound-wise, their singles are definite club bangers, but their albums also feature a couple slower tracks like Blue Moon. They’re still trying to figure out their signature sound a little more, but we can’t say we’re not rooting for them already. After all, they came out of a survival programme literally called ‘NO MERCY’, so we don’t expect them to back down any time soon.

NCT

If the more the merrier is your basic principle in your pursuit of happiness, then NCT is the group for you. Their acronym stands for “Neo Culture Technology”, which, we’ll admit, we don’t understand. But back to the number of members: we don’t know. Yup, the group has been marketed as one that has a unlimited/infinite number of members, otherwise known as ka-ching for their agency S.M. Entertainment. Is it any wonder that the company behind groups like Super Junior is intent on world domination with possible the biggest boy band ever? At present, the group currently debuts/shuffles members around according to units, so the track above is by NCT U, but they’ve also recently debuted NCT 127. In terms of the songs they put out, the vagueness of their marketing means that they technically have the power to experiment with whatever sound they want, so we can’t quite nail a genre to their name. So far, we’ve heard a hypnotic, super-low bass-heavy track, something a little more like an indie pop band, and a really weird club banger. But hey, you do you, NCT.

WINNER

Survival programmes seem to be all the rage these days, although it makes sense from a marketing perspective: you basically generate hype and gain fans even without having to form the actual group just yet. Winner are no exception to this rule – thus their name – emerging from YG Entertainment’s ‘WHO IS NEXT’. For a YG group, they definitely display a flair for music that’s a little different from their boombox-blaring, bling-wearing counterparts, but we like that. Their sound is undeniably hip-hop, although it’s intelligent enough not to lean too heavily on growling raps and overdone bass drops, presenting a more nuanced sound that can definitely be enjoyed by everyone.

DAY6

While they’re a little older than the other bands on this list, we couldn’t leave DAY6 out for the very reason that they’re an actual band. It’s interesting to note that JYP – their agency/CEO/head producer – have chosen to steer their marketing away from being labelled as “idols” to just being there for the music, which is undeniably refreshing, although we’d love to hear more from them in general. The talent of this group is overwhelming at best; all of them can sing, which can be pretty rare when you already have a frontman. The music they put up is straight-up pop rock or alternative rock, and their self-written tracks are typically bittersweet songs about romance. The rap in their music rolls a little more like speak-singing, probably because JYP tends to have a pretty fixed idea of how rap should sound like in pop music, but it melds together with the rest of the song pretty well instead of drawing too much attention to itself. All in all, we just want more DAY6!

Featured Image: Winner – Sentimental (YouTube)

You Need To See The All-New LANEIGE BB Cushion

Jul 8, 2016Aug 15, 2018

The next time you head out to stock up on your trusty LANEIGE BB Cushion, you’ll need to look out for something that looks quite different from the BB Cushion we’ve become used to: gone is the white case, and in its place is this beauty of a case with a holographic cover that brings to mind the idea of “sparkling beauty”, which is what the brand embodies, and… perhaps unicorns and rainbows.

Wait till you open it up, though – the real surprise is on the inside. We’ve never seen the BB Cushion this way before: the surface of the cushion now features a pattern of pop-up diamond shapes, what the brand calls the 3D Skin Fit Cushion. The whole idea is to allow for a more even application, since this new cushion design feels a bit less bouncy, so it’s easier for the applicator puff to pick up a full coat of the product.

This new cushion design will be found on the Whitening and Pore Control versions. The BB Cushion_Whitening uses the Sparkling Coat™ technology that features a coat of pearlescent particles to manipulate the light around your face, creating some serious glow, as well as micro-sized water particles for a dewy finish. It’s not just whitening on the skin surface, though – the formula also contains the Melacrusher™ technology from LANEIGE’s White Plus Renew skincare line to break down the membrane on melanin particles, the culprits behind skin discolouration and a dull complexion.
For something more shine-busting, the upgraded BB Cushion_Pore Control uses the Selective Oil-Balancing Powder™ to maintain a matte complexion, and the Pore Minisizing Technology, also borrowed from LANEIGE’s skincare products, to control sebum production. There’s also now the Cotton Candy Powder included among the ingredients – nothing sticky and sweet here, but rather, it helps keep the BB texture delightfully airy and porous, so your pores won’t be choked.

10 neutral and cool shades to choose from!

We’re fortunate enough to already have given these new cushions a try, and we have to say there really is a marked difference as compared to the previous version. The 3D Skin Fit Cushion allows the applicator to pick up more product with each tap, so the coverage felt more substantial, while staying even. And as promised, it lasted through the day without showing signs of sweat and grime – a real feat, considering the weather these days.
We already know many people who swear by the LANEIGE BB Cushion, but we’re quite certain this major revamp will be winning over even more fans. If anything, who can resist that holographic packaging?

LANEIGE BB Cushion_Whitening and BB Cushion_Pore Control, $59 each. Now available at LANEIGE boutiques and counters. laneige.com.sg