Monday, December 21, 2009

Raffles Design Institute X OC

Orchard Central is one of the latest malls to hit Singapore's shopping belt. Yesterday we visited it again to view the graduation showcase by RDI, one of Singapore's leading design school. Spread over areas on L2, 4 and 5, the exhibition displayed works by the Advanced Diploma graduates in various fields of design, ranging from fashion to interactive media design.



Some really creative pieces of jewellery design were on display. I love the concept of gears fused in jewellery. The graphic design campaigns featured some extensive marketing and design research, and the variety of work was quite impressive.
The most eye-catching one was a campaign regarding chinese funeral and incense burning. The concept was creative and different. We also managed to collect quite a few freebies like a badge and a fresh apple!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Star of wonder, star of night

Image Source: google

It's definitely been a while since our previous blogpost. These hols saw a whirlwind of activities for us - from our Overseas Community Involvement Project in Vietnam to intensive dance practices as we gear up for a dance competition in Barcelona next April. And before we knew it Christmas is arriving!

Malls have sprung up here in Singapore and crowds are high on the festive mood, hinting the end of recession and a hopeful year to come. To most of us, the Christmas season might well be a season of partying and pampering ourselves with the hottest holiday trends -- sequins and all things bling. To some of us, Christmas is a season of thanksgiving and spending time with our families. However to me, be it giving or receiving, the true meaning of Christmas is about celebrating the wonders of God's love, the birth of Jesus Christ and sharing this good news with others. So this post is not about fashion, because right now my mind is set on the beautiful lyrics of Christmas carols, and that joy that I feel beyond racks of holiday partywear and beyond presents beneath that christmas tree.

Have a blessed Christmas!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Fresh Spreads: Trash Couture

Vogue Korea's December issue spells wow, and its the reason why it remains as one of my favourite Vogue editions today. The cover font and styling is always so different that it outshines its comtemporaries.

The cover may appear dark and somewhat unattractive to consumers, but nevertheless, it's still Karlie and her death stare.



Her editorial Trash Couture is far from trashy. Just take a look at the lighting and the gorgeous set, I think Vogue Korea is on its way to win international appeal. I will definitely want to grab a copy for it if I chance upon one!






source: thefashionspot

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Spotlight: Rock & Republic

Rock & Republic looks ever classy and rock with Charlotte Carey as the brand's new face. She is a gorgeous Indonesian-English, currently signed with Storm and IMG New York. Although petite for a model, her dynamic poses in these shoots make her legs look miles long. Watch her working the camera in this video.






This is my favourite dress. The simple deep V neck cut on top makes way for the ultra-embellished bottom. Who says minimalist can be boring.



The knee-length boots and micro mini dress fit perfectly well together.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Heels for a great cause

The fashion community (or rather killer heels lovers) have come together to support a great cause. Jimmy Choo and Elton John AIDS Foundation have launched a photo competition to support the launch of Project PEP, a charity collection that donates 25% of sales to the Simelela Rape Centre in South Africa.

The theme of the photo competition is ‘You, Your Shoes and 72’ and the entries have been really fresh and fashion-forward.

Black hells, mirror ball and leopard prints, an oddly beautiful combination




One of my favourite entry, a vivid sketch of a graffiti heel.
Vivid spiked pink shoes





Jimmy Choos... a gorgeous timepiece.

Do view more interesting entries at www.jimmychoo72.com, the entries are really diverse and unique. Collaboration of high fashion labels with welfare organizations has been fashionable of late, yet I really hope it will never go out of trend.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Fresh Spreads: Interview

Celebs never look greater - other than on the covers of Interview magazine. Even if the cover looks amazingly airbrushed, the makeup is a real stroke of artistry, and the colours simply surreal. One of the most striking cover was Lindsay Lohan in the February issue:



This October/November's cover features Kristen Stewart, of Twilight fame. I can't wait to catch the sequel New Moon on the big screen (even though I really think the movie adaptation can never compare with the original novel).



Photographed by Craig McDean, the editorial spells wow too!







source: www.thefashionspot.com

Friday, October 16, 2009

Links a la m.o.d.e

Ethics and Morality in Fashion City

Edited by Ashe Mischief
This week’s Links á la Mode covers the gambit in regards to the ethical and moral questions surrounding fashion right now…. we have Confessions of a Fashion Editor’s take on fashion blogging & paid posts, and Oranges and Apples reports on a German magazine’s ban of professional models. threadbared talks about Lara Stone, French Vogue, and the controversial use of blackface in recent issue, while Hong Kong Fashion Geek revisits the argument about fashion, price discrimination, and designer knock-offs as Alexander McQueen sues Steve Madden.
As usual, there was a spectacular round-up of links in the forum as well, all worthy of checking out!

Links à la Mode : October 15th

  • Confessions of a Fashion Editor – Morality, the law, and fashion blogging
  • Denimaniac: – Best Denim Shops Q&A with LA’s Mister Freedom
  • dramatis personae – Costumes from Holidays Past…
  • ferOHHHsh: – Champagne from a shoe?? J’Taime Le Rituel!
  • From Betsy With Love – Bringing some Lynchian Style to the Web!
  • Grit and Glamour – Manscaping 101: Guys should groom, not preen. A little chest hair never hurt (but a shaved chest does).
  • Hong Kong Fashion Geek – What’s the harm in Steve Madden doing an Alexander McQueen knockoff? Is it really sue-worthy?
  • idiosyncratic style: – Idiosyncratic Style: Dare to put your legs center stage this season.
  • Independent Fashion Bloggers – Poll : How do you feel about Sponsored Posts?
  • Large Black Diary: – Austie has a beautiful collection of hair accessories
  • Oranges and Apples: – German magazines bans professional models – an in-depth disussion
  • Prom Mafia – Betsey Johnson does DC.
  • Rags to Reverie: – Five tips for shopping at an American Apparel Flea Market
  • Retro Chick – Lusious Lingerie: Vintage Style from Fred & Ginger
  • sweetarchivia: – Review of Man Shops Globe event held at the San Francisco Anthropologie store
  • The Art of Accessories: – The Art of Accessories shows you how to accessorize your winter wardrobe with tights.
  • THE COVETED – SPUN Around: Integrating organic basics in your wardrobe.
  • The Curvy Fashionista – The Business of Plus Size Fashion: Blogger turned boutique owner Marie Denee discusses the growth of plus size fashion.
  • The Working Wardrobe – Virtual Dress Code: How Professionalism is Working its Way into the Avatar Wardrobe
  • the3st: – The First EVER Philadelphia Fashion Week is this week. Interview with the directors of the week:
  • threadbared: – We react to the recent Lara Stone editorial in French Vogue in “Blackface, and the Violence of Revulsion.”
  • mode.ulation: – Mode-ulation is back from hiatus..we bring you a quick glance through Paris fashion week with the cutest trend – the updated toga.

Monday, October 12, 2009

t.r.e.n.d: Tulle

Billows and billows of luscious tulle floated down the Spring 2010 runway. One of my favourite luxe fabric, I believe tulle is really difficult to handle. Nevertheless, designers, armed with their couturesque craftsmenship, created several gorgeous tulle pieces effortlessly.

Viktor & Rolf is definitely one of my faves this season. Each and every looks spells artistry. Quoting one of the duo at Viktor & Rolf, "With the credit crunch and everybody cutting back, we decided to cut tulle ball gowns." What a great concept conceived with great execution.



Lanvin's signature volumes now reworked in orange tulle.


source: modelcouture

Friday, October 9, 2009

t.r.e.n.d: Toga 2.0

We are finally back - somehow I do not like the fact that exams come during fashion week. I treated myself to the latest Paris runway happenings and found that my favourite trend - the one shoulder toga is here to stay!

A la Greek goddesses:
At Elie Saab, the toga flesh-toned gowns were so flowy that they look like drapery on Greek sculptures in the Louvre.






All ruffled up, a little like Giambatista at Stella McCartney:

Chanel delivers a classic toga with a cheeky peek-a-boo effect:


source: modelcouture

Saturday, September 26, 2009

B.R.B: nerd time




Be right back!
We are about to have a study leave as our exams are in a week's time.


Saturday, September 19, 2009

Model Moment: Rachel Rutt



Spring has kickstarted in NYFW, this time, with fresh-faced Australian import Rachel Rutt. Born Half-English and Half-Singaporean, (go the little red dot!) the Pan Asian is touted as Aussieland's answer to Devon Aoki. Beyond that, she is framed at 5'11, and sweeping through New York with some of the familiar runways under her belt.


^ Backstage at Australian Fashion Week

She already modelled for several big names such as Erin Wasson X RVCA and Cynthia Steffe (below).
Looking fierce at Vivienne Tam and Mark Fast:


Be sure to watch out for her as she sets her mark in fashion in the near future - I can already picture her in adverts and campaigns in glossy mags across the world!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Let the Ad out of the Bag: Fall 09/10

There is no time to lose in fashion. Before I knew it, the Spring 2010 Fashion week has commenced when I was just about to blog about the array of fall 09 ad campaigns that greeted me in my latest magazine purchases!

My favourite is definitely MIU MIU.As compared to the previous seasons, this fall 09 ad has definitely toned down in colour, but definitely not in terms of impact. To me, this is the quintessence of timelessness -- a quality which merchandisers should seek to exude in their ads in the gloomy times of recession.





I really love how simplicity is luxury in here.On the other hand, Prada, evidently aiming to simplify and employ the same tactic, pales in comparison for me. I really loved the collection and expected an austere, perhaps medieval and silently impactful ad campaign. However, I do not quite relate to the water and models' expressions. Stronger, more uniform expressions would have definitely helped.

Sadly, I prefer Prada's previous campaign where many outfits are displayed in a single ad. This season's would have been more impactful if the colours were tweaked in the direction of Miu Miu's monochromatic palette.

And Fendi's monochromatic palette of stonegreys spells sublime! Rich furs and lush bags toted by stunning Stam and cold stone walls, this Fendi campaign is, no doubt, leaving smoke in my eyes.

Seems like I'm feeling biased towards reduced colours this season, but no, I really do love the burst of colours in the ad campaigns of Louis Vuitton, Kenzo and Marc Jacobs!
Marc Jacobs is intriguing and I'm really drawn into its ads and having the confidence that its campaigns would only get better in the seasons to come.


On the flip side of the coin, a few ad campaigns were definitely a letdown.One of them would be YSL. I applaud its courage to encapture the inspiration of Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian MAn. Surely, this drawing is revolutionary but it needn't be so explicit in the ad campaign. The naked man makes the ad look cheap. Perhaps the rationale behind the use of the Vitrutian Man idea is to boast the exquisite proportions and workmanship of Yves Saint Laurent's craft, but the representation is simply not apt.

Gucci was also quite a letdown. The juxtaposition of models with awfully hip poses made it look tacky. It does no justice to the clothes. I wish more energy was put into the ad, with a portrayal of motions frozen in time instead of still cliched poses that kill the energy of the clothes. The fall 08 campaign of models prancing in the fields was much better.



How about you, which are your favourite ads?