Remember the buzz surrounding the late 80s cult film Back To The Future II last October? 2015 was supposed to be the year where flying cars, hoverboards and self-lacing sneakers were a thing. Also, Nike showed up at Michael J. Fox’s place to present the 2015 Nike Mag, which wowed us all.
Now, Nike unveils its first power-lacing sneaker, the HyperAdapt 1.0, which tightens the moment your feet hits a sensor in the shoe. It’s a dream come true for those who have been waiting patiently for a consumer version of the shoe (and of course for every kidult out there who hates tying shoes up to now). The Nike HyperAdapt 1.0 is the first step into a new era of personalised performance with the concept of adaptive lacing. Designed by the legendary sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield and Nike’s senior innovator Tiffany Beers, the shoes have buttons that lets you loosen or tighten to get that perfect fit. But they’re not stopping there; they’re already thinking about the potential of this new concept, which could possibly provide tailored-to-the-moment custom fit in the near future. No further details were made known at Nike’s Innovation 2016 event two days ago. But what we do know is that self-lacing sneakers are real, and they’re slated for a released to members of Nike+, and will be available in three colours at the end of the year.
See it in action below:
The National Environment Agency (NEA) might have released an official statement saying that, contrary to those WhatsApp chain messages you’ve probably been receiving, no, Singapore’s temperatures aren’t going to hit a terrifying 40 degrees Celsius over the next few days. That’s somewhat comforting, but it doesn’t change the fact that we’re most definitely experiencing a heatwave, and the 34-35 degrees Celsius temperatures the weatherman has predicted is still going to be hot as hell.
So we’re doing whatever we can to keep as cool as possible, and we’ve found that incorporating the right beauty products into our days over this period of time does help a little. We’ve found these literally cool things that will offer some relief in these crazy days, and please do remember to keep hydrated and stay indoors as much as possible, people.
VDL Metal Cushion Foundation
If you think back to science lessons back in school, you might remember learning about why metal feels colder to the touch, as compared to other materials. Okay, we admit we didn’t remember why, and had to Google this: Metal has a relatively higher thermal conductivity, which means it draws heat away from whatever it’s in contact with at a higher rate. Science lesson aside, when it comes to VDL’s Beauty Metal Cushion, this simply means that the patented metal plate in this helps keep the foundation cool, and as liquid-y as possible, so patting it onto your face will offer at least some relief. $52, available at VDL stores. vdlcosmetics.com/eng
Stila Aqua Glow Perfecting Primer
This gel primer has a mainly water-based formula, so when you put the stick to your skin, there’s an immediate cooling sensation – which makes us want to leave it there for an extra long time these days. It also has the huge bonus of getting your makeup to last longer under the all-powerful sun, without clogging up your pores or feeling sticky. We’ve found a therapeutic ritual in rubbing it all over our faces a few times in the mornings. $40, available at Sephora. stilacosmetics.com
LANEIGE Mini Pore Waterclay Mask
There’s something about the texture of this clay mask that makes it feel extremely cooling when it first goes onto the skin. Of course it hardens as it dries, but after it’s washed off, the skin feels refreshed and hydrated, with excess sebum being kept in check. $38, available at LANEIGE boutiques and counters. laneige.com.sg
Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber De-Tox De-Puffing Eye-Cubes
So what you do with these is pop them into the freezer, and once they become ice (eye) cubes, put them in the provided pouch to apply onto the eye area. The de-puffing and brightening properties of cucumber is meant to soothe the puffiness-prone eye area and dark circles, and become a delightful way to cool down at the end of a hot, hot day. $100, available at Sephora. peterthomasroth.com
Korres Cooling After-Sun Face & Body Yoghurt
After you’ve been out in the sun the entire day, you’ll want to slather this yoghurt-based Korres cream alllllll over (tip: it feels extra shiok if you refrigerate it first). The yoghurt also helps increase the water content of the surface skin layers, so heat-induced redness and irritation is soothed. $52, available at the Korres store at B2-16 Raffles City. korres.com.sg
Shiseido Ibuki Quick Fix Mist
A mist will be your best friend in the heat, since it’s really the quickest way to cool your skin down whenever the weather feels like too much to handle, plus your skin gets treated to a nutrient infusion. Shiseido’s newest mist is actually a gel formula that contains a herbal extract to keep skin hydrated, and a complex to keep shine at bay. $45, available at Shiseido counters. shiseido.com.sg
Clarks has rolled out a wonderful new initiative that’s both practical and heartwarming. In celebration of Earth Hour this year (19 March this Saturday!), the British shoe retailer is partnering with The Salvation Army to hold a shoe donation drive for the less fortunate. A month-long affair, the drive will collect donated pre-loved shoes that are still in good and wearable conditions, before passing them on to people in need of shoes.
And as an added incentive, Clarks is thanking you for your contribution by offering donors a 30% discount the next time they purchase a brand new pair of Clarks shoes. It’s a really thoughtful way to help someone in need, while at the same time, you get to finally purge your wardrobe of all the unworn footwear you’ve been hoarding for years. Plus, you get to share in the sustainable practice of recycling fashion – which should do wonders for both the earth and your closet.
Clarks is accepting all types of shoes: athletic, running, dress, sandals, pumps, heels, work boots, cleats, dance, flats and wedges – no slippers please, ladies! – as long as they’re still wearable. Head down to any of these outlets from 11 March to 10 April 2016 to do your part:
ION, #B2-22
JEM, #01-24
Paragon, #02-12
Suntec City, #02-461 (begins operations end March 2016)
Yes, it’s that time of the year again. We’re one day away from the 12th edition of Singapore Restaurant Week, where you can enjoy special 3-course set dinners at $38+++ and 3-course set lunches at $28+++ from 103 participating restaurants. But if you prefer to dine in at home where you can dress in your sleeping clothes and spend time with family, Singapore Restaurant Week has actually partnered up with the premium on-demand food delivery service, Deliveroo Singapore. This London-based start-up saw its inception in 2013, aiming to deliver food from a selection of independent and high-quality chain restaurants right to your doorstep in an average time of 32 minutes. So far, more than 450 restaurants, including Potato Head Folk, PS. Café and Meat Liquor to name a few, have joined Deliveroo Singapore. For the first time, you’ll actually be able to partake in the highly anticipated Singapore Restaurant Week, happening from 19th to 26th March, without having to leave the house to enjoy these three-course meals. All you need to do is to log on to the website or mobile app and browse through the menus offered by the participating restaurants, such as Capricci, Olivia Cassivelaun Fancourt (OCF), Patara Fine Thai and more. Don’t you just love technology sometimes?
This one’s for the lads – if you’ve ever faced the hassle of having to continuously replace your shaver blades, Shave It Club’s gotchu. (And if you haven’t, do re-evaluate your personal hygiene practices, good sir.)
The Shave It Club presents itself as a cutting-edge (ha) men’s monthly subscription box that will revolutionise the grooming industry. Like any regular beauty subscription box, there’s a straightforward game plan – buy the first box, enjoy it, and continue to pay for a monthly subscription as you receive a new box every month. Unlike most subscription boxes, Shave It Club’s is actually pretty affordable. Membership goes for $15.90 a month, excluding shipping, wherein you’ll start off with four quality blades and a free handle in your choice of colour – Gold, Silver, or Black. After that, you’ll receive a new pack of blades every month till you cancel your subscription.
It’s a godsend for anyone who’s forgotten to buy blade refills, and ended up shaving with rusty and grimy blades. The Shave It Club prides itself on caring for your delicate skin, just like any sincere skincare brand would – which is why all the custom shavers are made of five stainless steel titanium-coated blades. In addition, as a Shave It Club member, you’ll be able to enjoy exclusive discounts from retail partners islandwide, as well as purchase related products from the website like Aloe Vera lubricants. If that doesn’t add some luxe into your personal grooming routine, we don’t know what does.
Shave It Club subscription box, $15.90, available at shaveitclub.com
If you’re all about that #supportlocal vibe, check out Rail Collidoscope this weekend, a joint event by NOISE Singapore and Lush 99.5FM’s LushLovesLocal (speaks for itself, huh). It’s a full afternoon of local music and good art, within the art space of Rail Corridor and its surrounding nature. There’ll be street food, craft beer, live street art jams, and sets by local music acts like Joie Tan and JAWN. Honestly, they had us at ‘craft beer’, but do pop by to visit the Rail Corridor Art Space for the last time before it closes for upgrading work.
Date: 19 March 2016
Time: 12pm to 6pm
Venue: Rail Corridor Art Space, Holland Drive Block 44 Carpark, Singapore 270044
Admission: Free
More information at facebook.com/events/1679021112355960/1688334151424656/
Arts In Your Neighbourhood
It’s shaping up to be quite an artsy-fartsy weekend. The National Arts Council initiative is already in full swing, but of the 27 activities across 17 locations island-wide, there’s still much reason to swing by. Particularly, if you’re a born-and-bred Toa Payoh-ian, you’ll be pleased (and proud!) to know that six exciting arts programmes take place and revolve around Toa Payoh itself – as a tribute to its rich legacy as Singapore’s second oldest satellite town.
From 10 to 25 March, The Real Estates, a photography installation comprising familiar sights and scenes from your beloved Toa Payoh neighbourhood will be up on display, featuring works from our very own homegrown young photographers. Yes, it’s the perfect way to soak in that Toa Payoh pride, and no, it does not consist solely of that dragon playground. And this Sunday, the visual celebration of Toa Payoh’s heritage takes on a musical element, with Arts Imprints Around My Neighbourhood – a music and storytelling trail transforming iconic landmarks in Toa Payoh into fun pop-up performances.
Arts Imprints Around My Neighbourhood
Date: 20 March 2016
Time: 10am to 12pm
Venue: Toa Payoh HDB Hub
Admission: Free (registration required)
More information at aynmar2016artsimprints.peatix.com
GARDEN BEATS: Singapore’s Electronic Picnic Festival
This Saturday, it’s Laneway-meets-Zoukout at Fort Canning Park, where Sunshine Nation brings to you GARDEN BEATS – an epic electronic picnic festival that almost sounds too cool to be true. EDM lovers can look forward to the impressive lineup of international and local DJs, including Alle Farben, LOVRA, KlangKuenstler and many more. Don’t forget your Coachella flower crowns too – there’ll be a Zalora photobooth and many other photo-worthy moments you’ll want to be looking your best for.
Date: 19 March 2016
Time: 1pm to 10.30pm
Venue: Fortgate, Fort Canning Park
Admission: $85/$105
More information at gardenbeats.com
Bash-Up 11: Glitterati Paparazzi
Done with GARDEN BEATS but itching to keep on dancing? Conveniently happening right after, CATO and local streetwear designers Mash-Up are hosting a fashion fantasy-themed party that’s promising all glitz and extra glamour. Expect a trippy illustrated photo wall that changes every few minutes, face painting, and a ton of themed props for you to go nuts with in your pictures. This year’s theme is Glitterati Paparazzi – which can only mean that the dress code is: all out. You might wanna bring along a pair of shades too – as a photo prop, and to hide those massive hangover bags you’re gonna be tackling the next morning.
Date: 19 March 2016
Time: 10pm to 3am
Venue: CATO 237, South Bridge Road, Singapore 058786
Admission: Free
More information at facebook.com/events/529664597215492/
The one thing we think about when packing our suitcase for the next great adventure: versatility. Throw in a pair of jeans, that can be worn a few days in a row and nobody would notice, a shirt dress that doubles up as light outerwear, and a jacket that goes with every outfit you’ve got. If you’re looking to stretch your vacation wardrobe, shoes are just as important to pull the looks together.
Now, Michael Kors has unveiled the latest Jet Set Six, in a Spring edit that calls for lightweight, brighter-looking beauties. The campaign, starring model Lily Aldridge, has her roaming around Los Angeles looking cuter than ever, and as gorgeous as her face is, we can’t help zero-ing in on the shoes too.
These, of course, deserve their own names. The Sofia, is a leather gladiator sandal style that suits shorter hemlines if you will, everything from casual shirt dresses that show off those gams to boho-glam outfits. For the Claudia Flat, it’s a dainty slingback that comes python-embossed, appropriate for work and a casual shorts-vest-ribbed knit tank combination.
You know how hot white sneakers are right now, so of course there’s the versatile Craig sneaker in there, with just enough white mesh detailing to keep it interesting. The Holly sandals, with a gilded knot, is just made for laidback vibes, and you could step out into the city or to the beach/poolside in them. Along with that, the Maxwell Wedge, made of denim and jute, are the perfect anchor to breezy dresses or even flared pants.
When evening calls however, you might wanna slip into the Jackie sandals. The gold colour adds instant class even if it’s a boring outfit, while the un-killer heel length keeps it comfy if you intend to stay up all night at the bar or dance floor. Honestly, each of these are a worthy investment if you’re talking about getting the most mileage during your travels (pun, intended). At least, get ready to re-think your suitcase. Michael Kors Jet Set Six Spring 2016 collection, available at MichaelKors.com and in select Michael Kors lifestyle stores.
We’ve all felt the pain of having to shell out $15 for a bowl of bingsu, and dropping $10 on ‘luxury’ café desserts is unfortunately becoming second nature. (I’m paying for the ambience and overall dining experience after all, you tell yourself.) But contrary to popular belief, fads and good food don’t have to be expensive – even when good food is the fad. And right now, in this era where sweet, cold Asian desserts lord over all other food groups, you’d be surprised to find that there are actually many other less hyped, heartland options which are a lot easier on the wallet. So the next time you find yourself wrecked by a craving, try satisfying your sweet tooth for under $10 at a nearby mall – ambience be damned.
Small but to the point, you might remember dessertstory from when Taiwanese snow ice had first washed onto our shores and was first blowing up on the island, a few years ago. But thankfully for that, the trend manifested into a chain of stores dishing out hearty snow ice desserts that’s both good and cheap (most items on the menu are priced below $5) – and located in malls that don’t require you to make a sweaty trek all the way down to Chinatown.
Outlets:
Junction 8, #B1-K12
NEX, #03-17
Hougang Mall, #02-18
Northpoint, #B1-21/22
Sun Plaza, #01-26
Lot One, #B1-K10
Clarke Quay: Sweet Dynasty
And if you’re more of a town-dweller, you can get your snow ice fix at Sweet Dynasty in Central, as well as other traditional Taiwanese desserts like yam and glutinous creams and sago puddings. The food easily goes for under $5 too.
Address: Central, #B1-25
Bingsu
Ah, the perennial favourite. As much as we’re all for splurging on quality bingsu, it’s a little detrimental to our finances when you’re dealing with a bingsu addiction as severe as ours. The solution? Giving up more “famous” bingsu for their half-priced relatives hidden discreetly in heartland shopping malls.
Impressively sized portions that taste decent and cost only $9 and below. Most notably, an Oreo Bingsu is price at an unbelievable $6.80. At this rate, you can have an entire bowl of this Korean shaved goodness to yourself – if you can manage it – and still have money for seconds! (Goodbye diet.) There may only be five flavours, but when you’ve got a price point like that, you don’t complain. Bonus point: no darned queues.
Outlets:
JCUBE, #02-67
Punggol Waterway Point, West Wing, #01-K16
Fried Ice Cream Rolls
This Chaktuchak fave has made its way from bustling Bangkok to sunny Singapore, and it’s both novel and yummy enough to justify splurging on. But there’s no need for that, seeing as most cups go for under $6. And you’ll be pleased to know that most of the places selling this treat are located in easily accessible residential areas. It might be the fact that it’s still packaged as a primarily “street food” kind of dessert, or that the cooking method of using a large iced grill (minus points for #aesthetic) doesn’t warrant a fancy café setting – but hey, as long as it doesn’t break the bank.
Jurong and Boon Lay: Happy Rollies
Good news for NTU kids – you can get your pan-fried ice cream fix without even having to venture too far away from Pulau NTU. A night market and bazaar regular, Happy Rollies is all about premium ice cream flavours and unexpected toppings like Kinder Bueno, which all go for $5 a cup. Very student-friendly indeed.
Address: Bazaar next to Jurong East MRT Station and Boon Lay MRT Station
Sembawang: Coyoro
Well well, looks like Sembawang is shaping up to be quite the dessert haven. The new outlet in Sun Plaza is definitely a more accessible alternative to its maiden outlet in East Village in Changi. At $7.90 a cup, these rolls definitely are a little steeper than the average price, but then again these aren’t your average, everyday ice cream rolls. Coyoro makes its rolls with yoghurt soft-serve so frozen yogurt freaks get the best of both worlds – the fried ice cream roll experience in a froyo consistency!
Address: Sun Plaza, #B1-41
Amidst the hype that the adidas NMDs has created from today’s launch, adidas continues to release shoes with their signature Boost technology with the new Pure Boost ZG. The adidas Pure Boost first hit the streets in 2014, and was lauded as one of the best sneaker releases of the year. Even Kanye West was seen sporting a pair while he was making his way around New York City that year. However, the silhouette took a back seat in 2015 as the brand focused all their efforts on the Ultra Boost and Yeezy Boost instead. Well, it’s a new year and the brand is making up for it with this new iteration; a new running shoe that features a patterned Primeknit upper (it looks a little like the Yeezy 750 Boost’s upper) to provide a fit that can adapt to your foot’s natural movement and expansion. Underneath it is the full-length BOOST midsole with a stretch web-inspired outsole designed to deliver responsive energy return, exceptional comfort and multi-surface traction. Other features include a lock down mid-foot band and a heel counter.
adidas Pure Boost ZG Prime, $179. Available at adidas stores.
Whether you’ll admit it or not, Disney Channel in its heyday was a huge part of our childhood, and with it their sizeable collection of original music. We love ourselves a good opening theme song, because not only did it set the tone for a new show, it stuck with you and earned a soft spot in your heart as you grew and watched the characters and seasons grow with you. So in a sappy burst of nostalgia, we decided to put together a list of all the best DC theme songs of all time, so we can all reminisce about a time where theme songs were actually good enough to be chart-toppers.
You’ll notice that the quality of music kind of awkwardly tapers out towards somewhere around 2008-09. As one indignant DC fan bluntly commented on the 2009 JONAS theme song video: “This was the start of the Disney downfall.” Indeed, Sinner Clique, indeed.
1998: The Famous Jett Jackson
We’ll be the first to admit we don’t exactly remember this series or its theme song; but we promise a quick listen will have you mightily impressed. Damn, 1990s! Such sick, awesome music.
2001: Lizzie McGuire
Perhaps not the most memorable theme song either, but definitely a top player – especially with those bouncing red dodgeballs that any 90’s kid is bound to recognise. Hmm, back when Disney Channel still didn’t force all their leads to sing their own theme song either (regardless of whether they could actually even sing).
2001: The Proud Family
Oh, hold up. You never knew Penny Proud’s catchy theme song was performed by the one and only Destiny’s Child? Well neither did we. No wonder we were so into it!
2002: Kim Possible
An all-time favourite, for sure. You’re lying if you say you don’t occasionally quip, “Call me, beep me, if you wanna reach me.” before breaking out into a cheesy grin. As Ron would say, BOO-YAH.
2003: That’s So Raven
She is, and forever will be, Queen of Disney Channel. Long after Raven Symone’s reign on Disney Channel ended, her powerful vocals and sassy attitude are still a defining feature of Disney at its peak – not to mention genuinely inspirational, seeing as the show was one of the few to actively promote healthy body image throughout. Here’s a bonus inclusion for all Raven fans out there – Raven and her co-star Anneliese van der Pol (whom you’ll remember as BFF Chelsea) recently reunited for a live musical throwback, complete with everyone’s favourite “Yup, that’s me!” Such crowd-pleasers.
2005: American Dragon: Jake Long
2005 certainly was a big year for Disney Channel theme songs. First in the pack of three is this feisty animated show revolving around Asian-American Jake Long. We’ll close one eye to the fact that the show was ridden with, erm, Chinese stereotypes that sometimes bordered on being offensive, and just enjoy the harmlessly fun song.
2005: The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
Another DC classic! The pumped-up theme song paired with the fun character intros made for a seriously enjoyable track to crazy-dance to; its 2008 spin-off The Suite Life On Deck had nothing on it.
2005: The Buzz on Maggie
Here’s an underdog you probably didn’t see coming. Skye Sweetnam lent her vocals to the opening theme song that, even back then, was quite the girl power anthem. Who knew mosquitoes made such good television entertainment?
2006: Hannah Montana
With this epic show and intro came the birth of a pop culture legend – but perhaps also the toxic marketing plan of turning every Disney Channel star into a triple-threat. Thankfully, Miley actually is a natural, which is probably what contributed to Hannah Montana’s worldwide success (not to mention five whole albums under the HM moniker that did impressively well on the charts).
2007: Phineas and Ferb
There’s a hundred and four days of summer vacation, and school comes along just to end it…! Face it, it’s just one of those theme songs you have accidentally memorised because it was permanently on the telly. Phineas and Ferb was one of those animated shows that unexpectedly featured a lot of random musical numbers and catchy tunes; and surprisingly, we enjoyed them.
2007: Wizards of Waverly Place
Looks like we’re bringing the nostalgia to a close. Many fans agree that Wizards was one of the last few Disney Channel shows of decent quality, and while Selena Gomez might not be the most powerful singer, her voice on the catchy theme song has secured a place on our list of the best DC opening songs ever.
It was a while back, while casually scrolling through the updates from our go-to beauty bloggers, that we first came across these very, very curiously named lip glosses:
From left to right: Nic Cage Churning Butter One Crisp Thanksgiving Morn, Nic Cage Posing For A Calendar With Shiny Bright Red Cars, and Nic Cage Resigned To A Loveless Marriage For The Good Of The Realm.
Wait, Nic Cage as in, National Treasure-hunting Nicolas Cage? Yup, that’s indeed his cartoon likeness dressed in female period costumes printed on the lip gloss tubes, and it’s truly the funniest thing we’ve seen when it comes to makeup. It doesn’t really make any sense, but then that’s exactly the fun of this range, and the rest of the cosmetics by Portland-based Shiro Cosmetics, who are the small team behind these handmade vegan and cruelty-free makeup. Soon enough, we were browsing through the rest of their online store, and we found that these Nic Cage lip glosses are just a small part of the makeup geekery they’re so good at.
First of all, there’s the Battle of the Boy Bands, two makeup collections that awaken the 90s fangirls in all of us with colours and packaging inspired by only the two greatest boybands ever to grace this earth: the Backstreet Boys and ‘NSYNC.
Top row, from left to right: I Have A Littrell Crush On You, Teach Me Howie To Love, You Can McLean On Me
Bottom row, from left to right: Quit Playing Games With My Carter, Seven Minutes In Kevin
Top row, from left to right: A Chris For Good Luck, I’ll Fatone For My Sins, Love At First Lance
Bottom row, from left to right: Justin Time, The Thrill Of The Chasez
And we weren’t surprised to find an entire collection dedicated to the Potterheads. You’ll know you’re a true fan if you recognise which parts of the books these shade names came from:
Top row, from left to right: A Free Elf, Have A Biscuit, Potter, Constant Vigilance!
Bottom row, from left to right: Amortentia, Felix Felicis, Polyjuice
There’s also a Hobbit collection, a League Of Legends collection, and a Game Of Thrones collection. Obviously, Shiro Cosmetics does makeup for geeks, and we love it. Besides the very pigmented formulas in a variety of finishes, many of their products also come with character illustrations corresponding to the shade – think of it as your favourite Deviantart fan art printed on your makeup.
We’re thrilled that Shiro Cosmetics ship internationally, because these products really deserve to be shared with the world. Shipping to Singapore is a very affordable US$12.95, and the products themselves hardly go beyond US$10. That’s our cue to load our virtual shopping cart with that gorgeous golden Felix Felicis lip gloss that sure is a convincing representation of liquid luck, along with a whole bunch of Nic Cage colours (that nude shade actually looks really great on the lips).
A photo posted by Honest Beauty (@honest_beauty) on
Best to treat your skin to nontoxic, eco-friendly products if you’re guilty of wearing makeup everyday – which is probably what Jessica Alba had in mind when she launched Honest Beauty. The skincare and makeup line is completely free of potentially harmful ingredients, a godsend in an era of chemical-ridden cosmetics. The primers and moisturisers give more than adequate coverage, but still keep your skin hydrated and nourished at all times – honest.
Drew Barrymore’s bohemian-themed makeup line is just as aptly named “Flower” as it is full of pretty, girly products. It might be Barrymore’s maternal instincts setting in, but the rose-gold packaging and floral accents in the makeup sure make for a sweet and comely line that’s just as easy on the wallet. One of Barrymore’s personal favourite products is the Glisten Up highlight chubby stick, which is both wonderfully pigmented and easy to use. The good news is that the makeup is of guaranteed premium quality and all under US$15; the bad news –unfortunately, Flower is only available at Walmart stores in the U.S., but you can always craft your wishlist now just in case you get to make a trip up soon.
Whether it’s big, luxurious waves or straight and timeless slicked-back hair, you can bet that Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe’s hair game is always on point. So it only makes sense that the band of sisters released a full line of haircare, styling products, and heat tools, in addition to their 2012 makeup line “Khroma Beauty”. The products are good for everything from sexy bedhead to Kim’s current favourite ghetto-girl braids, as the brand’s Instagram page (@kbeautyhair) will be quick to tell you. Never be caught with a hair out of place again, ladies.
For base makeup:
Eva Mendes’ Circa Beauty line, of course. Who else to provide us with the secret to flawless base makeup than the glowy Cuban goddess of the big screen – who doesn’t look anywhere near her age (42, FYI). Nail Mendes’ perfectly airbrushed red carpet look with the impressive range of liquid foundations, concealers, and bronzers – which work together to create a stunning natural look that’s radiant without being too much.
Now we wouldn’t normally spend more than a few seconds admiring, well, a fridge. Yes, the technology in them’s pretty amazing these days, with various cool compartments and water/ice dispensing units and all that award-winning energy efficiency, but they all kinda same-y after a while, just you know, large silver containers.
Not anymore. It’s like a whole new world after we laid eyes on these Smeg units, designed by Dolce & Gabbana. The brand’s FAB28 refrigerator was given the makeover of a lifetime, one that pushes it into the realm of art, under the creativity of the fashion house’s best ateliers.
While the both companies hardly cross paths, this unity happens to be a perfect match: both “Made in Italy” companies inhabit an excellence, respect for tradition and creativity, which translates across to this collection. Each fridge sees images by Silician artists, whether these are lemons, the trinacria symbol, cart wheels or medieval knights and battle scenes, all important elements of the marionette theater. We’ve seen these same intricate designs in D&G’s candles, festive baubles, and bags.
There are only a 100 of them in the world, and they’re probably ridiculously expensive anyway, so owning one is nigh impossible, but just looking at the artists and how they’re meticulously painting on every detail is pretty astounding in itself.
The first examples of the Dolce & Gabbana x SMEG collection will be presented during the Salone Internazionale del Mobile 2016, from 12 to 17 April in Milan.
The nature of this shoe is already in its name – it’s pretty epic. If the silhouette of this shoe looks familiar to you, it’s because Nike has taken insights from the Magista, a football boot that allows the foot, ankle and lower leg to work together for a more natural and fluid movement, to create a shoe that can achieve the same sensation, but for a different purpose – running. The light and breathable Flyknit upper we’ve all come to love is incorporated into the shoe, but engineered with different densities for precise support and fit at the arch, heel and forefoot. Nike’s Flywire cables are knitted into the mid-height collar to help facilitate lockdown and for a more dynamic fit. The brand has also employed a new dual-injection technology, which uses heat to fuse two foams into one piece that features the traditional Lunarlon construction. To top it off, Nike adds laser-cut geometric pistons inspired by pressure maps of the foot onto the outsole. These pistons are made of Lunarlon foam and move individually to enable pointed compressions. Combine all of these components and you’ll have a shoe with a fit that conforms to your body for a more fluid feel. This versatile running shoe is ideal for distance workouts, progression runs or recovery runs. Nike LunarEpic Flyknit, $269. Available exclusively at Nike Shaw (Shaw Centre #01-07/11).
If you haven’t already guessed, it’s the choker top – and it’s kind of everywhere right now. Truth be told, the whole turtleneck-but-V-neck cut seemed a little try-hard at first, but it’s actually grown on us really quickly since its debut a few months back. Classy with a hint of dangerous sexuality, there’s just the right amount of skin on show (well, unless you’re Kendall Jenner), and the best part is that it actually isn’t too ridiculous a trend to rock in this heat! (In case you haven’t heard, temperatures are supposed to soar to 36deg by end March.)
Seen on the likes of the Kardashians, Jenners, Gigi Hadid, Miranda Kerr, and even darling little trendsetter Lily-Rose Depp, the sassy choker top is clearly a hit with models – completely understandable, seeing as it was actually first a Spring 2016 trend straight off the runways of Fashion Week, in the form of 70’s-style skinny scarves. We’re gonna take a wild guess here and say that they probably aren’t the most functional as accessories meant to keep your neck warm, but hell they’re cute. If you’re down to be daring, ASOS has a neat selection of affordable skinny scarves in a bunch of patterns, which you can use to play up or down any co-ordinates – instead of just having one single choker top.
Tie it from the back for a clean, classic choker look; or have the fabric hang in front for an expensive, almost Parisian air.
And if you’d rather play it safe, there are quite a number of fast fashion-approved pieces that you can rock as entire clothing items.
#1: American Apparel #2: Windsor Store #3: ASOS #4: ASOS #5: 2020Ave
A sleek and simple V-neck top maintains the authentic choker top silhouette, while the off-shoulder alternatives veer towards Gigi Hadid’s personal brand of risqué sophistication. There are even whole dresses available, to transform the regular choker top into an effortless, ready-to-go outfit.
With luck, there’ll be even more options available on the shelves soon.
Ah, it’s not like we didn’t see this coming. Four years after Facebook acquired Instagram for $1 billion, we might see a change that a lot of people might not agree with. According to Instagram, we’re missing about 70% of what’s on our daily feeds, which means we’re not seeing posts from people that actually matter to us. So to improve everybody’s experience, Instagram plans on using an algorithm to show photos and videos you’ll more likely be interested in, according to your relationship with the person posting and the timeliness of the post (sounds a lot like the current Facebook feed). They mentioned that you’ll still see all the posts, but just in a different order, which means that those seemingly more important posts will appear first. There is no solid date on when the update will roll out yet, but Instagram says that they’ll be putting a lot of thought into getting it right and take user feedback into consideration as they go along.
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