Byfs1 the androgynous issue by Augustus Loi

By FS

CONTRIBUTORS

Danielle Siauw |Editorial Director|

Danielle@fashionspace.com

Augustus Loi |Editor-in-Chief|

Augustus@fashionspace.com

DANIELLE SIAUW

AUGUSTUS LOI

DOROTHY TAN

Danielle is a geek and a gourmand. The Internet, caffeine and desserts are some of her many addictions. She feeds her eyes with her love for visual arts such as painting and drawing. When not physically eating or gorging on the web, she is likely living out her childhood fantasy of owning a zoo with her two furry friends, Sparky the Dachshund and Wolfie the Siberian Husky. If all else fails, there is always the couch where she lazes, indulging in a side of TV, books and post-caffeine naps.

How did a smart cookie such as Augustus end up writing about fashion? Because bad fashion is fatal: he’ll step on your neck the next time he sees you in one of those tees with sexual haikus on the front. Big deal that it’s pure cotton, spun by Third World natives with a giant crank, using only their bare feet since they have no hands. When not mowing down hapless fashion victims, Augustus enjoys proselytizing against a life lived in denim. Reading comes in at a close second – but only obscure books on post-post-post-modern philosophy or some other gobbledygook – since, really, what’s the point of reading what everyone else has read?

It’s the same age-old story that somehow never gets old. Dorothy traded in her day job to pursue her true love – writing. She has been blogging about fashion for five years and now rambles on about beautiful clothes and shoes (or whatever catches her fancy) at Dfordot.com. When she is not writing about style, shopping, design or lifestyle, you will find her doing ‘research’ on online shopping sites, with her nose stuck between the pages of a Penguin Classic or traipsing around in another city playing out the role of A Stranger In A Strange Land. She also thinks that Abbey Road is probably the best record ever made.

{EDITORIAL DIRECTOR}

Dorothy Tan |Writer|

Dorothy@fashionspace.com

Ong Yi Qin

{EDITOR-IN-CHIEF}

|Writer|

Qin@fashionspace.com

Brendan Zhang |Photographer|

Michael Chng Contributors: Pearl Liu Kate Tan Maisha Miranda Andrea Lee

|Cover Artist|

ONG YI QIN {WRITER}

It all started when Qin found fashion and gave up her berm-and-tunic ways. One thing led to another and a style blog was born. An accountancy student by day, Qin spends the rest of her time curled up in bed with a good movie or a K-pop track. Qin is also a BlackBerry addict and a certified Hello Kitty aficionado. Her greatest fashion memory involved a fashion show and a child-like awe at the stunning clothes before her. That was when she was sure that fashion is, and will continue to be, a big part of pink, pink life.

PEARL LIU

{{EDITORIAL ASSISTANT}

A fashion communication student at LaSalle (College) of the Arts, Pearl aspires to be an art director. Her interest began when she saw an editorial spread by fashion photographer Nick Knight a few years back and instantly became obsessed with experimental fashion imagery. Despite her love of the visuals of fashion, Pearl also finds great interest in fashion theory and history. When not obsessing about fashion, Pearl likes making her own jewellery and knitting.

{WRITER}

CONTENT

EVENTS | 1 2 | NEWS

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition Versace for H&M Dreams & Reality World Hug Day WICKED

3 | ACCESSORIES

TRENDS | 4

Suit Up

The Third Kind

PHOTO ESSAY | 33 Augustus x ERIIN

Spring/Summer 2012

7 | SHOW PARCO next NEXT PROJECT 2011

LOOKS OF THE MONTH | 43 Preppy Chic | Laced Up Italian Brights | Frank Sintra x Douglas Fairbanks 47 | STREET STYLE Maxi Skirts Pastels

INTERVIEW | 9 Depression Hansel Ong Shunmugam Courtney Blackman

CELEBRITY | 51 YAY or NAY

25 | HOW TO Braided Scarf Red Lips Click on an article to go to the page

29 | FEATURE

FRIDAY FAVES | 53 MS GLITZY Danielle 55 | COLUMN Click on an article to go to the page

WE A R E FASHIONSPACE

DIRECTOR’S LETTER H appy New Year to everyone! We are very excited to launch our

first issue of ByFS. ByFS is a fashion magazine – a grassroots effort to showcase the talents and trends in our business. As a digital-only magazine, we are at the vanguard of fashion media. With the exception of our editor, the closest most of us have come to a printed byline is picking up Vogue at the supermarket. Our team is rooted in new media – the bloggers and the entrepreneurs; the rabble-rousers of the desktop publishing revolution. In this issue, we interview three Singaporean fashion designers – two veterans and a new kid on the block. Depres sion’s Kenny and Andrew, and Hansel’s Jo Soh, share their challenges as designers in Singapore. Newcomer Priscilla Ong shares how the past influences her line Ong Shunmugam. The fashion pack take the following as a given, “You are

NEW LOOKBOOKS FROM

WHAT’S NEW Click on a lookbook to view

what you wear.” Each season is an opportunity for reinvention; each ensemble, a new character. We’ve been at it since Madonna’s brassieres could point to True North. But with models such as Lea T. and Andrej Pejic in the spotlight this year, the politics of the body has re-emerged in debate. Our feature explores the new frontiers of gender in an otherwise progressive industry. Need some sartorial inspiration to kick-start the New Year? The FS team has your back with an ode to the Prep and a ‘cheongsam’ for the 21st century. For the men, we revisit the greats with legendar y dandies Frank Sinatra, Douglas Fairbanks and Emilio Pucci. But fear not: this isn’t your dad’s wardrobe. We hope you enjoy our inaugural issue. Love it or hate it, email us at byfs@fashionspace.com or tweet us @luvmyfs. Or better yet: think you can do better? Start your own magazine at Fashionspace.com and join the revolution. There’s plenty of room in space.

Yours

DANIELLE

NEW MERCHANTS, INCLUDING

Click on a merchant to view their products

EVENTS

WRITER ANDREA

Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition

LEE

WRITER ANDREA

LEE

“Not even God himself could sink this ship.” Except an iceberg did. The RMS Titanic fell on its maiden voyage in 1912. The ship was built with state-of-the-art technology: how the ship could sink remains intriguing to historians. The Titanic Artifact exhibition tells the story behind the design and conception of the Titanic, and the events surrounding its demise. The exhibition also features a range of artifacts, several of which have never been seen before. The exhibition on this iconic ship runs till 29 April 2012 at the ArtScience Museum at the Marina Bay Sands.

NEWS

titanic.sg

World Hug Day

Since the turn of the decade, the contemporary artists known as the Gao brothers have garnered a huge global cult following with works such as Midnight Mass and Miss Mao. World Hug Day is a global phenomenon and an initiative of the Gao brothers that connects strangers through a spontaneous one-off event at which volunteers hug each other for a total of fifteen minutes as part of an art performance. World Hug Day takes place in Singapore on 14 January 2012 at the Event Plaza of Marina Bay Sands. To complement the World Hug Day event, art gallery Vue Privée will hold an exhibition from 12 to 15 January 2012 featuring past and present works by the controversial Gao brothers. These works include a mix of installations, photographic works and writing pieces greatly influenced by their experiences during China’s Cultural Revolution.

vueprivee.com

WICKED

WICKED explores the untold story of the two witches who feature in L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. With 35 major awards under its belt, including a Grammy, three Tony Awards and six Helpmann Awards, Entertainment Weekly describes WICKED’s Broadway run as the “Best Musical of the Decade”. WICKED opened in the Grand Theatre at Marina Bay Sands on 23 December 2011 and will show till 26 February 2012.

wickedthemusical.com.sg

Dreams & Reality

Ever dreamt of seeing first-hand famous art works, photographs and masterpieces by artists before your time? Now, your dream can become reality. The Dreams & Reality exhibition offers a collection of carefully selected pieces from the Musée d’Orsay in Paris and features works such as Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Starry Night and The Birth of Venus by Alexandre Cabanel. The collection aptly portrays the tide and times of the 19th and 20th centuries, characterised by urbanising social and economic landscapes, and their shifts towards modernity. Dreams & Reality will be exhibited until 5 February 2012 at the National Museum of Singapore.

nationalmuseum.sg

Click on an event to find out more

Versace for H&M When Italian fashion powerhouse Versace collaborates with

Swedish fast-fashion clothing store H&M, the end product is an eclectic mix. Ready-to-wear bold prints hung beside a draped red evening dress; flamboyant floral tights, with an assortment of cropped, studded leather dresses and jackets. The studded rings and bracelets proved a contrast to the cocktail numbers,

whether floral printed, embroidered or in full silver lamé. The collaboration was released in H&M stores last November, featuring iconic Versace designs with exceptional emphasis on fabric and detailing. With prices ranging from S$40 for jewelry to S$400 for leather jackets, most pieces sold out fast – even before the collection was opened to the public.

ACCESSORIES

WRITER DOROTHY TAN

S ince Yves Saint Laurent’s début of the Le

Smoking suit in 1966, the tuxedo has ceased its exclusivity to the gentleman’s arsenal. The move allowed women to literally ‘wear the pants’ and still cut a feminine line. Talk about having it both ways. Some say Marlene Dietrich never looked more desirable than with those wide lapels in the film Morocco.

WRITER DOROTHY TAN

S/S 2012

TRENDS CANDY COLOURS

Dessert shades inspired by sweet treats are the go-to palette of the season. Layer these candy pastels for a fresh take on colourblocking or wear them in bold primaries for an arresting contrast.

While a full blacktie ensemble would pose something of a challenge as daywear – not to mention those dry-cleaning bills – one can always channel that insouciant spirit with some clever accessories. Whether it means smartening up with a quirky ceramic bow-tie, going dandy with suspenders or skipping the heels for a pair of oxfords, these nifty add-ons are a quick way to inject some machismo into any ensemble.

Click on the products for more info

ANIMAL PRINTS

Animal prints take on new meaning as we move away from skins to motifs. Sparrows, bunnies or cats, the animal kingdom is still a hot theme in fashion â&#x20AC;&#x201C; only much tamer and more adorable than ever. Keep the silhouette and details sophisticated to prevent your outfit from becoming too child-like.

THE TWENTIES

Decadent and fun, we are thrilled that the Roaring Twenties are making a return on the runways. Iconic elements like the dropped waist and soft, flowing shapes have been spotted in many a collection, but with a sleek, 21st century update. Go easy with the accessories and let the leisurely, fluid clothes do the talking.

SHOW

WRITER PEARL

PARCO

next NEXT PROJECT

2011

LIU

W ell

i n t o i t s t h i r d y e a r, m u l t i - l a b e l s t o r e PA R CO launched it annual showcase, PARCO next NEXT a t t h e M i l l e n n i a Wa l k ’s G r e a t H a l l , l a s t N o v e m b e r.

ing use of construction techniques picked up during their mentorship to create architectural silhouettes.

Unlike last year’s showcase, the theme Borderless Fashion featured not only a wide range of local design talents but also up-and-coming Japanese designers such as Noturne#22 by Michiko Suzuki and Ariki by Ryota Ariki.

Despite the Japanese designers taking centrestage, local designers were not left out. Ready.Made by Sabrina Gunawan featured a series of jewelled head-dresses. Inspired by the concept of bohemian luxe, the collection uses Sabrina’s signature self-designed prints which bear a tribal feel.

Mentored by accomplished Japanese designer Yuji Yamam o t o, S u z u k i a n d A r i k i i m p r e s s e d w i t h a r e f r e s h-

un-coved by Joanne Loh challenged womenswear silhouettes with a series of origami constructions and shapes. A

INTERVIEW

WRITER ONG YI

QIN D epression is the brainchild of Kenny and

Andrew, former advertising executives who, depressed by the corporate world, decided to start a label. Known for their unisex outfits, drop-crotch pants, caped jackets and t-shirts, Depression is a well-known and visible name in the Singaporean fashion scene. Their latest collection, Birth Defects, features Depression’s first footwear line consisting of wedges, brogues and loafers with fringe details. A pony hair envelope clutch available in black and pink is equally to die for. A couple-wear ensemble – a dress and a shirt with an abstract face and bangs - is another item to look out for. This pair is a declaration of aesthetic solidarity over sentimental statement. FS: Why the move to designing clothes? D: We got depressed, that’s why! As much as we enjoyed creating ads, we got tired of the templates clients forced upon us. Frustrated with the industry, we started looking for a new medium for us to toy with. Depression started as a design outfit that would be the antidote to our depression, and fashion became our canvas. FS: What’s the meaning behind the name? Is there any special meaning to it?

DEPRESSION 9

D: Irony and dark humour are our main i n s p i r a t i o n s. H e n c e o u r l a b e l s n a m e, Depression, which arose as an ironic response to our depression over the corporate struggles of our previous jobs.

Dysfunction Depression Store Opening | Cineleisure |

RETROSPECTIVE

| S/S 2011 |

Birth Defects | Soft Launch |

FS: Congratulations on your new store at Cineleisure! Are there any plans to open a third store anytime soon? D : We o p e n e d o u r C i n e l e i s u r e d o o r s on 4 November [2011], and there’s an upcoming media cum VIP private party o n 1 7 D e c e m b e r [ 2 0 1 1 ] . We c a l l o u r new home ‘a hospital found in an industrial district,’ with cement flooring, metal pipes and oxygen masks filling the clinical interior. But what we love most is the location – tucked among a cluster of cool multibrand shops (Rockstar by Soon Lee is one of our favourite destinations) and local designers (Frederic Sai’s flagship looks gorgeous). Cineleisure is fast becoming Singapore’s mall with the most potential. We w o u l d a l s o l o v e t o e x p l o r e a t h i r d shop as long as there is an interesting concept that we can be a part of. So, if there are any leasing teams or angel investors reading this, we would love to get in touch! FS: What are the inspirations behind the Birth Defects line? D: Birth Defects is our AW2011 collection, which was shown during Blueprint this year. Unfortunately, it was not inspired by circus freakshows or genetic mutations! Instead, it’s a mouthpiece on the beauty of imperfections. By adding ‘defects’ or ‘tweaks’ in the construction of garments, the collection aims to re-invent classic wardrobe staples. For instance, the unisex cropped hoodie is a sporty jacket with sleeves that are deliberately elongated. Currently, we’re getting ready to launch our AW2011 T-shirts by Depression collection. It’s our sub-line of graphic tees and accessories that’s less depressing for the wallet.

INTERVIEW

WRITER ONG YI

QIN

HANSEL H ansel by designer Jo Soh is a Singaporean womenswear

label known for its quirky playfulness. Jo aspires to design clothes that women of all ages would feel and look fabulous in. We caught up with Jo to find out more about w h a t i n s p i r e s h e r, h e r f a v o r i t e s h o p p i n g haunts and what her next collection is about! FS: Why did you take up fashion design and what is the story behind Hansel? J: I grew up with a very fashionable mother who had a large wardrobe of clothes. I have been exposed to different sorts of clothes and understood how appearance can make you feel different about yourself. I decided

to pursue fashion design when I was 12 years old. FS: We have noticed that many of your collections are based on a signature print of an animal – the previous being a swan, and now a donkey! Are you a huge animal lover? J: I did not choose to design the prints on different a n i m a l s. W i t h m y d r a w i n g b a c k g r o u n d , I i n j e c t m y personality into the brand. Most of the prints are actually drawings that I drew with my wax crayon. FS: Can you let us know what your next collection will be about? J: Our next collection will be based on the rainbow ‘kueh lapis’ and it will be launched next year in February.

Click on the image for the full lookbook

Hansel Pop Up Store | Tokyo |

RETROSPECTIVE

Hansel Opening Party | Mandarin Gallery |

Hansel x Maybelline x Steve Madden 17

Click on the image for the full lookbook

FS: We have seen celebrities such as Katy P e r r y w e a r i n g H a n s e l . I f y o u h a d t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o d r e s s a n y c e l e b r i t y, w h o w o u l d i t b e ? J: Zoey Deschanel. She is very quirky and loud – just the right Hansel girl. FS: What are your fashion pet peeves? What would you never be caught dead wearing? J: My pet peeve would be to have a statement like that. I do not care and I will always wear things with a sense of humour – even if its tacky. FS: Which are your favorite countries for shopping and what are some of your favorite stores? J: It used to be H&M in Hong Kong and Uniqlo in Japan. If I were to shop overseas, I would try to look for local designers since every country has its style. FS: What do you think about the local fashion scene? What do you think are ways we could improve the scene? J: I think the local fashion scene is improving. More people are taking up fashion design. Its an industry that is starting to grow. We have support for each other. There is more interest in the local market and people are beginning to think of it as a viable career. What we can do better is – designers must focus on creating great products – that would convince more people to buy. More and more people can tell the difference between good and bad designs. Quality is one thing. FS: Last question: if you had 24 hours to spend alone in a city, where would you go and how would you spend it? J: I would love to go anywhere and do nothing b u t d r a w, p a i n t i n g, a n d r e a d – m a y b e d o s o m e sports and have long walks! I would love to go f o r a m o n t h a s I d o n o t h a v e m a n y o f f d a y s.

Click on the products for more info

Click on the image for the full lookbook

INTERVIEW

WRITER ONG YI

QIN FS: What kind of materials do you use for your designs and do you source these materials personally? P: Fabric plays a key role in all our collections because we capitalise on the lush textures and rich prints readily available throughout the Southeast Asian region. A central focus is our use of traditional Asian textiles: f o r e x a m p l e, v i n t a g e J a v a n e s e ‘ b a t i k ,’ B a l i n e s e ‘ b a t i k ,’ C a m b o d i a n ‘ i k a t ’ a n d C h i n e s e b r o c a d e. We also experiment with technologically advanced fabric like silk blends, organic crepe and soy fibre. Yes, I source my materials personally, usually travelling across Asia with not much more than an empty suitcase! FS: What inspires you and your designs?

ONG SHUNMUGAM At Ong Shunmugam, past meets present in the most pleasing

way. Focusing on construction, fit and cut, instead of passing trends, this local womenswear label brings together traditional and modern design elements to create a refreshing hybrid. Designer Priscilla Shunmugam’s latest collection, Guardianship, is a tribute to the body-loving ‘cheongsam.’ Updating this oriental classic with Western-style details such as colour-block paneling and ruffled peplums, and intriguing eco-friendly materials such as soy fibre, the resulting pieces retain the unique cultural symbolism of the ‘cheongsam’ while being delightfully wearable. We s a t P r i s c i l l a d o w n f o r a q u i c k c h a t t o g e t t o know both her and her fledgling brand a little better! FS: I am aware that you were a lawyer before starting Ong Shunmugan. Why did you decide to move into fashion design?

P: I was trained as a lawyer but I chose early retirement. In 2008, I packed my bags for London with nothing really set in stone, except for an open mind and some savings. The fashion scene there seduced me – I bought a sewing machine on a Friday, on Monday I started a dressmaking course and a few weeks later, I took up pattern-cutting. From a young age, I’ve always liked the risk of creating something and watching people react to it. I suppose having these very innate inklings, the transition into an institution like law school was always going to be a challenge. T h e t r a n s i t i o n b a c k h o w e v e r, h a s b e e n a l o t s m o o t h e r, a n d t h a t p r o b a b l y s a y s a l o t . So, the decision to design womenswear was not pre-meditated, it just came to me when I finally learnt to trust my instincts.

P : T h e O n g S h u n m u g a m d e s i g n p h i l o s o p h y r e f e rences a spectrum of Asian heritage: for example, the Chinese and Indian civilizations, the Southeast Asianspecific races of the Peranakans and the Malays, or even Japanese, Indonesian and Sri Lankan peculiarities. I t i s a b i g p o o l t o t a p f r o m , b u t I t r e a d c a r e f u l l y, e v e r m i n d f u l o f a s s u m p t i o n s o r g e n e r a l i s a t i o n s. On a personal level, I get my inspiration from t h e s i m p l e s t p e o p l e a n d t h e s i m p l e s t t h i n g s. FS: What are your favourite online shopping websites? P: Net-A-Porter gets top marks for showing e v e r y o n e h o w t o s h o p o n l i n e l i k e a g r o w n u p. FS: Congratulations on opening your first store in Hong Leong Building! Are there plans to open a second store? P: Thank you. We are just settling in, trying to get used to being in Raffles Place. It is funny to have almost every major bank across the street and then us in our modest little corner. Another retail space? Let’s see what happens from here.

Click on the image for the full lookbook

INTERVIEW

WRITER ONG YI

QIN

FS: Prior to working in the fashion industry, you have worked as a sales and marketing director. Why the jump to fashion?

FS: I understand that you sit on the board of the Ethical Fashion Forum. Are you very actively involved in the environmental scene?

C: I have always liked fashion ever since I was young. I loved how I could dress a certain way and people would treat you differently. I went on to take courses at the Lond o n C o l l e g e o f Fa s h i o n a n d t h e n f o u n d e d Fo r w a r d P R .

C: No, I wouldn’t say that I am. I don’t see ethical fashion as a granola thing. I see it as the only way that fashion can go. The human race must think more ethically about the way clothes are made. Clothing should be environmentally safe. People have to be treated fairly.

FS: What was your most memorable experience in the fashion industry?

F S : Yo u a r e a l s o a c o - f o u n d e r o f T h e I n d u s t r y. D o y o u m i n d t e l l i n g u s a l i t t l e m o r e a b o u t i t ?

C: My most memorable expereince was having my f i r s t c a t w a l k s h o w o n s c h e d u l e i n Pa r i s. I h a d t o c o n v i n c e t h e P a r i s F e d e r a t i o n t o p u t o u r s h o w o n t i m e. FS: What challenges since your founding

C: We have four meetings a year called Networking Expert Meetings. We interview fashion icons during the meetings and it is also a way to bring the fashion industry together. It is to help designers and others who work in the fashion industry in isolation. We also do classes to help people learn aspects of fashion such as intellectual property.

have you faced of Forward PR?

C: I have to stay up to date with the changes digitally because the digital world is moving very quickly. I also have to keep up with different bloggers and it is quite time consuming to visit all the blogs. It is important to sift through the key influencers among the bloggers. FS: Can you tell us more about the job of a fashion PR executive? C: As PR reps, we are liaisons between designers, big fashion events and the media. It is important to get editorial coverage for our brands and to have celebrities wear our clothes. We also have to think of unique collaborations and which celebrities to endorse. We often work ver y closely with stylists. FS: In your opinion, what are the key skills that a fashion PR rep should possess?

FS: Being already involved in so many aspects in fashion, are there any other projects that you would like to tr y?

COURTNEY BLACKMAN

CS A fashion PR executive has to be good in both written and verbal communication. She has to know and meet a lot of people since communication is the foundation of PR. It also helps to have a good sense of humour.

As the founder of Forward PR and co-founder of The Industry, who also sits on the board of the Ethical Fashion Forum, Courtney Blackman i s o n e b u s y – a n d v e r y f a s h i o n a b l e – l a d y.

F S : Yo u w e r e r e c o g n i s e d b y A c c e s s F a s h i o n i n 2 0 1 0 as a style icon. Who are your personal style icons?

We met up with her last week to chat about the biggest challenges in practising public relations for the fashion industry and to pick her brain on the key skills she thinks a fashion PR rep should possess.

C: Daphne Guinness. I think that she is ver y fascinating.

C: I’m not sure. I like to be on the business side of fashion. I could never be a stylist, designer, or the creative kind. I’m not sure what I would like to try, but I would really like being an editor. FS: What are your thoughts on the blogging scene? Do you think that blogs will overtake traditional media? C: I think it’ll be interesting to see. Younger generations are very digital. I do not think it would be just blogs. There will always be room for traditonal media. It is quite nice to hold a magazine and read. Environmentally, there would also be a cap on paper production soon. F S : B e i n g a f a s h i o n P R r e p, e d i t o r, b l o g g e r, e n v i r o n mentalist, which is the most challenging role for you? C: I think for now fashion PR is challenging. You have to be very aware of so many things and you look after multiple brands. You have to know where each one sits in the media. It is important to get celebrities to wear your clothes and your brands on the right blogs and magazines. At the moment, we are going into a recession, big brands are pulling out of advertising and it is harder to get PR for smaller brands who have less money. FS: Lastly, its the holiday season. What is on your holiday wish list? C : I n e v e r w a n t a n y t h i n g f o r t h e h o l i d a y s. I h a v e e n o u g h s t u f f. M a y b e s o m e c h o c o l a t e w o u l d b e g o o d .

HOW TO

WRITER DOROTHY TAN

BRAIDED SCARF

Click on the image to play video 1. Take scarf & fold into thirds.

4. Tie two ends, but off to the side.

2. Pull hair into ponytail & secure with elastic.

5. Braid hair together with scarf.

3. Centre scarf over top of head.

6. Secure with elastic.

T he

definitely a goodie. Remember the HermĂ¨s SS10 ad featuring Karlie Koss with a twill braided through her hair?

scarf is possibly the most versatile wardrobe item you could own. Think of it as a blank canvas. There are a million and one ways to wear a scarf but one way to do it is to braid it. It is incredibly easy and the result is always fun and stylish! Braiding a scarf into your hair may be an oldie, but it is

Not only is it pretty in a bohemian flower-child kind of way, it is also great for keeping your hair in place. The beauty about it is that it works whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing spring-cleaning or going to a summer music festival.

HOW TO

WRITER DOROTHY TAN

RED LIPS

Click on the image to play video 1. Apply white tone eyeshadow on the eyelid.

4. Apply light blush on cheeks.

2. Apply medium tone on the outer corner of the lid in a triangle shape.

5. Apply red lipstick using a lipstick brush. Ensure that inner corners of lip are covered evenly.

3. Using black eyeliner, line upper lid.

I t may not be the easiest thing to pull off, but there is little

esis to that ‘au naturel’ nude look that defines beauty right now.

Glamorous, sultr y and incred i b l y s e x y, b o l d c r i m s o n l i p s a r e t h e a n t i t h -

H o w e v e r, y o u c a n b r i n g t h e t w o e x t r e m e s t o g e t h e r by keeping the face fresh and clean while letting the lips do the talking, pun intended. Add a sleek eyeline r and multiple coats of mascara for a stronger evening look.

doubt that red lipstick is a classic and every woman s h o u l d h a v e a t l e a s t o n e i n h e r m a k e - u p c a s e.

FEATURE

WRITER AUGUSTUS

LOI & PEARL LIU

Even Louis Vuitton darling Marc Jacobs has been a target of this double standard. When Lorenzo Martone spoke to Butt magazine about then-boyfriend Jacobs’ penchant for skirts, Martone said, “He knows I don’t love it. I mean I loved it for a couple of months. I thought, ‘Okay, it was a cute joke. Get over it.’” When senior designer Riccardo Tisci cast transgender model Lea T. as the face of Givenchy this fall, some saw this as a progressive move. Others saw a cynical grab for attention. Male at birth, Lea underwent sex reassignment surgery in March 2011. The fact that her father is renownED Brazilian football player Toninho Cerezo was more fodder for the press. Love Magazine capitalised on this attention when they offered two editions of their Spring/ Summer 2011 issue: one featured Lea solo; the other kissing supermodel Kate Moss.

THE THIRD KIND 29

B orn in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 20-year-old Andrej Pejic

has had the honour of walking in both a frock – a wedding dress, to be exact – and a suit in Jean-Paul Gaultier’s January 2011 shows. He ranks no. 18 on models.com’s list of Top 50 Male Models and no. 98 in FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women. It is 2011, and h i s a n d r o g y n y s t i l l r a i s e s e y e b r o w s i n a n i n d u s t r y o t h e rwise legendary for its progressive bias on the subject of gender. “Androgynous?” some scoff, “He’s a man that looks like a woman.” The same industry might have liberated women from corsets and put them pantsuits in the ‘60s, but would it ever do the same for men and dresses? The unspoken fact remains: for a woman to wear pants is empowering, but for a man to wear a skirt?

Waifish Moss, who heralded a new look in the ‘90s, was herself compared to a boy by then-fellow underwear model M a r k Wa h l b e r g. Wa h l b e r g h i m s e l f i s the physical epitome of the alpha male. The deliberation that led to Lea’s surgery isn’t uncommon in the transgender community. When she appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show in September last year, she echoed the sentiments typical of Gender Identity Disorder (GID) sufferers, “I felt very uncomfortable keeping it [being female] in.”

GID sufferers describe being born in the wrong body. Model-turned-entrepreneur Tyra Banks sparked controversy when she interviewed on her talk show the parents of childern suffering from GID. Some of the children were as young as seven years old, leading viewers to ask whether or not parents should decide if their children should undergo reassignment surgery. In parts of Asia, transgender issues are either aided by or contend with the contexts of culture and history. Hinduism accommodates the notion of a third gender, but even traditionally Hindu societies are complicated by Judeo-Christian influences from the colonial experience. In Thailand, the ‘katoey’ or transgender community is a visible part of life. Lynn Visudharomn, editor-in-chief of 2Magazine, says, “To be honest, I do not consider it too much. But because I live in Thailand, the idea of transgender and transvestites is very prevalent. Personally, I like that.” As a fashion magazine editor, Visudharomn sees the use of transgender models in editorials as a way to talk about the issues surrounding gender through fashion. Recalling male model Cole Mohr’s appearance in a dress in Marc by Marc Jacob’s Fall/Winter 2008, Visudharomn says, “I think every styled

fashion shoot is done to convey a certain message, and therefore it’s the message that matters and the models that best fit the cause, the objectives. The model needs to be effective at portraying and conveying the concept that’s most important regardless of gender.” From an observer’s perspective, it is impossible to read Tisci’s mind – we can only describe what we see and hazard a guess. But the impact of Lea for the transgender community is unquestionable: her visibility is a rallying point. Whether her or Pejic’s appearances on the covers of well-trafficked magazines represent a PR tactic, an earnest statement of gender politics, or both, we can only measure the effects. As readers, it is we who decide whether such redefinitions become a fad or a turning point.

PHOTO ESSAY

PHOTOGRAPHERS KATE TAN

& MAISHA MIRANDA

Augustus x ERIIN 34

For the full interview, visit blog.eriin.com

LOOKS OF THE MONTH PREPPY CHIC

WRITERS DOROTHY TAN

& ONG YI QIN

WOMEN LACED U P

A nother pretty cheongsam in lace B ring

out the British char m in t h i s p r e p p y b l a z e r- a n d - s h o r t s combo. Complete the look with the ever-so-current oxfords and an oversized Mulberr y satchel.

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with peplum. We love how the yellow brings out the baby blue through the lace and ruffles. We pair this with an ultra modern plastic oxford in the same baby blue and a luxe clutch from Givenchy. Bring out the delicateness of the dress with pearl accessories

LOOKS OF THE MONTH ITALIAN BRIGHTS

WRITERS AUGUSTUS

LOI & PEARL LIU

MEN F R A N K SINATRA x DOUGLAS FA I R B A N K S

I n 1915, Frank Sinatra was born F ollow in the dapper footsteps of

Florentine fashion designer Emilio Pucci and inject some exuberant colour into your wardrobe. Start small with a vividly-hued accessory, but keep your silhouettes slim and sporty.

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in Hoboken. In 1939, Douglas Fairbanks died in his home in Santa Monica. But how does a modern dandy pay homage to these gents without looking like a walking cliche? Keep the bow-tie; lose the black. Think old blue eyes in a Bentley on the coast of St. Tropez

STREET STYLE

WRITER ONG YI

QIN

MAXI SKIRTS

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STREET STYLE

WRITER ONG YI

QIN

PAS TELS

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CELEBRITY

WRITER ONG YI

QIN

YAY NAY

FRIDAY FAVES| MS GLITZY | V ivacious fashion and lifestyle blogger MS GLITZY writes about

everything from high fashion to the latest must-visit pig-out spot. When not trying out the latest beauty products or partying up a

storm at the hottest fashion events in town, she spends time in exciting cities such as Hong Kong and New York. Join her on her adventures for a hearty dose of all things fabulous and fun. 1. INSTAGRAM | My favourite iPhone camera app. I am now addicted to snapping pictures on the go, beautifying it with a retro filter before sharing the photos with my friends! When I’m bored, I dive straight into Instagram to check out my friends’ snapshots. Hope to see you guys on Instagram; I’m “msglitzy”! 2 . L AT T É | I m a k e i t a p o i n t t o v i s i t a recommended cafe in every city that I visit. I order a cup of latté and just s i t b a c k a n d e n j o y m y m o m e n t t h e r e. 3. NISHITA CHEONGSAM, ONG SHUNMUGAM | I am a fan of modified ‘cheongsam‘ dresses that show off the beauty of our Chinese culture, yet flatter different body shapes. Moreover, a ‘cheongsam’ dress makes us all look polished and effortlessly sophisticated. 4. CLAD IN CHRYSANTHEMUMS, MODCLOTH | I a m n o t a v e r y a d v e n t u r o u s d r e s s e r, so a statement necklace works wonders i n a c c e n t u a t i n g m y d a y - t o - d a y o u t f i t s. 5. OLIVA, OLIVA ONG | My current ear-candy. This album consists of mostly covers reinterpreted with jazzy and bossa nova arrangements. It is such an enjoyment listening t o O l i v i a ’s s o o t h i n g a n d s o u l f u l v o c a l s. Favourite track: Track 2; I Feel the Earth Move.

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| Danielle | D anielle shared with us some of her favourite things. She

absolutely loves her little dog, Sparky. A decadent choco-

late cupcake makes her day, and an elegant black-andw h i t e A n t o n i o B e r a r d i n u m b e r, h e r n i g h t o n t h e t o w n .

1. BICOLOR DOUBLE WOOL DRESS, ANTONIO BERARDI | I like the geometric abstraction of Frederick Hammersley’s painting. Made up of black and white fabrics stitched together to form a simple and elegant shape, this dress is art in itself. 2. EVY MULTI GOLD CHAIN & SUEDE CLUTCH, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO | A simple suede clutch in gold and black, structured with a half-moon flap. Suitable for day and night. I absolutely adore this. 3 . 8 5 M M B R U S H E D C A L F S K I N P U M P S, SALVATORE FERRAGAMO | Ox-blood red is the new black. It is easy to match and can be worn for both formal occasions and for work. 4. SPARKY, MY LITTLE DASCHUND | Sparky is the joy of my life. Vertically-challenged and strange-looking German weiner but totally cute! 5. NUTELLA CUPCAKE, MARMALADE PANTRY | My weakness and indulgence! Absolutely delicious. 6. ULTIMATE GUITAR COLLECTION, JOHN WILLIAMS | A prolific guitarist and composer for Hollywood’s greatest films, such as Star Wars, Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones, John Williams is one heck of a talent. This classical guitar album is one of my favourite music collections, featuring great guitar classics such as Concierto De Aranjuez and The Mission.

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COLUMN

WRITER AUGUSTUS

LOI

SPECIAL THANKS DEPRESSION Bloggers

facebook.com/DEPRESSION.label Kenny Lim & Andrew Low

ERIIN

eriin.com Kate Tan & Maisha Miranda

FORWARD PR

forwardpr.com Courtney Blackman

MS GLITZY msglitzy.com

Hoisinivy hoisinivy.blogspot.com

Graphic Designer Michael Chng amoralnation.blogspot.com

HANSEL

W ho likes to have their photos taken? Maybe models –

Abercrombie models. They’re so comfortable, they’d stand around the corner of Orchard Road free-birding in Santa red sweatpants. This confuses me: isn’t Abercrombie & Fitch an apparel company? And don’t they stock underwear? Or did they recently pivot and no one told me? Either way, my hypocrisy had me judging people who went down to gawk while I secretly gawked on Facebook from the comfort of my standing desk – but I digress. So, we suffered – at the legendar y Milk Photographie studio with celeb photographers Brendan and Ollie. Oh how we suffered – getting our hair professionally coiffed, our cheekbones sculpted by magical elves. But our wide grins were a veneer, mind you: you want the photos to confirm that little dream that you were somehow made for the camera, dammit! But you fear that the visual evidence would see that thin layer of esteem fall to smithereens. Everyone thinks they have a fat face – except m e : I k n o w I h a v e a f a t f a c e. T h e t r u t h i s I l o o k l i k e a s l i g h t l y c h a l l e n g e d p a n d a i n p h o t o s. Tw o w e e k s b e f o r e, m y f r i e n d s f r o m E R I I N s w u n g

ilovehansel.com Jo Soh by the office to do an impromptu photoshoot for their blog. Readers, ‘impromptu’ in fashion is code for four hours of prep-time involving no less than a s t e a m e r, a p r e s s e r, h a i r s p r a y, s h o e p o l i s h , a n d complaints about how fat I’ve gotten since graduation. Two nights before the shoot, the great Rachel Zoe’s mantra dawned on me, “Options, options, options.” Not one to forsake the pearls of wisdom drawn from reality TV – and if you aren’t watching The Rachel Zoe Project, shame on you – I found myself coming down the Nicoll Highway at 10 p.m. in the back of a cab with a bag of clothes larger than my person. The fact is, you can’t deny the primacy of the image in fashion, and we in the industry are both perpetrators and victims. Those of us non-models in the ‘rag trade’ have a love-hate relationship with the camera similar to our relationship with animal prints: you want to be the kind of person who can throw on a leopard and not look like a trollop with rent to pay. Alas, some of us are not so blessed. But work is work. And thank Tyra for making us think that a few angles, good lighting and a smize is all it takes. Throw in the ‘liquify’ tool in Photoshop and the attitude is half the battle won.

MAKEUP POLICE

mu-police.org Zuhairee Joe & Zulfadhli Zainudin

MILK PHOTOGRAPHIE milkphotographie.com Brendan Zhang

ONG SHUNMUGAM ongshunmugam.com Priscilla Shunmugam

TAFF

taff.org.sg Lyn Chew

VUE PRIVÉE vueprivee.com Olivier Henry

IMAGE CREDITS STREET STYLE - MAXI SKIRTS

STREET STYLE - PASTELS

http://thelocals.dk/twice-the-charm/

http://streetpeeper.com/fashion/moon-spoonsaloon-girl-copenhagen

pg 54 TL-BR http://eeveryonenosee.blogspot.com/2011/11/ sunglasses-fever.html

http://carolinesmode.com/stockholmstreetstyle/ art/231167/vlada_roslyakova/ http://www.elle.com/Fashion/StreetChic/Paris-Heat/(imageIndex)/7/(play)/ false#mode=base;slide=7; http://carolinesmode.com/stockholmstreetstyle/ art/231180/dellal/ http://styledefinednyc.com/2011/12/pretty-inpink-4.html Pg 55 TL-BR http://littlemissglamorous.blogspot.com/2011/12/ inspiration-bianca-brandolini-dadda.html http://www.fashionschooldaily.com/index. php/2011/09/26/monday-morning-photos-6/ http://streetfsn.blogspot.com/2011/07/fw1112haute-couture-day1.html

pg 56 TL-BR http://wegoodlooking.com/paris%E2%80%93-balancing-act/

http://gvn-styleblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/ streetstyles-of-month-more-glitters.html http://impulseandvision.blogspot. com/2011/12/fashion-of-day-tumblr-20_07. html http://streetfsn.blogspot.com/2011/10/10men-part1.html http://www.fashionising.com/pictures/b-Softness-that-hits-you-6706.html pg 57 T-B http://streetpeeper.com/fashion/pastels-soho http://streetpeeper.com/fashion/pastel-sydney