AFF Perspective no.1

I have signed up as a volunteer at AFF! I was down at the Tent @ Orchard on 19 (opening night!!) and 21st night so far. Volunteering as usher/packer wasn't easy, for several reasons:

1. Had to wear black the whole day.

All ushers were dressed in long-sleeved black shirt and formal black pants..it got really hot after a while, doing the packing of heavy stacks of magazines and carry the heavy AFF bags to every seat.


2. Strict rules!

Strict rules were a must of course, given that the organizers wanted to portray a professional image, so photography was not allowed!!

3. Appreciated or not?

Sometimes, I felt quite unappreciated as an usher, or quite insignificant in other words. The space between the front row and the runway was so narrow, so standing right in the middle of that narrow passageway shoo ing people off the runway was really weird, especially since i was standing over a switch right in front of David Gan before The Inspiring World of Redken show commenced.
Below: Guest star creating a hairstyle live during the show.



Follow this link to find out more about David Gan's interview with Fashforward. The cameraman blocked the entire narrow passageway, thank God they didn't take too long for the interview!

Of course, the perks of being a volunteer should be recognized as well. I definitely made new friends in the short 2 days, and apart from that, I got to watch the shows for free =)


The Missoni AW show was great, with Tao Okamoto opening the show. She was a stunner on the catwalk!

The LASALLE graduate show was a show to remember as well. There were many gorgeous outfits, and what I loved about the show was te wearable yet creative designs. Not many groundbreaking and OTT creations like in overseas grad shows, but it was great nonetheless.

My two favourite looks are as above. I simply love the well-draped cyan maxi. It is something different from the other maxis in high street stores!

Stay in tuned for perspective no.2 of AFF...

images: zimbio

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!

Spotlight: Tribute to Lacroix

On 7 June I rushed down to the National Museum of Singapore to catch Christian Lacroix the costumier. The exhibition brought in numerous fashion illustrations and costumes from Lacroix's atelier. Through this exhibition, I got to come up close and discover for myself the couturier's ingenuity as a stage costumier.

Firstly, the illustrations of the costumes for various theatre pieces truly reflect the Lacroix aesthetics. Behind each stroke of ink and pencil was spontaneity, vibrancy and humour. His sketches were the first signs of innate creativity as a designer, expressing the silhouettes and dazzling colours on paper.

Lacroix definitely finds theatrical solutions to couture dresses. Each costume was intricately crafted with vibrant textures, such as a corset-like belt embellished with upholstery fringes and heavy layers of taffeta, lace and tulle. The tutu in Les anges ternis were my favourite. Tulle mini skirts in full swing - a depiction of elegance and grace. Lacroix commented on the ballet tutu, "It's a mad invention, both magical and surreal. But tutus are part of tradition. And that's where they take their full measure, their full value."

Les anges ternis (Tarnished angels)

Carmen

Cendrillon (Cinderella)

Il re pastore

La femme sans ombre

Lacroix's illustrations and embellished costumes paint a picture of spectacular elegance light-hearted fantasy revue. One thing to note even in the face of a shaky future for the couturier's house, Lacroix remains an unforgotten legacy on stage.

Go Red for Women 09

In conjunction with the Audi Fashion Festival, Go Red For Women presented by MasterCard, is auctioning 10 little red dresses designed by budding fashion designers from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines. All proceeds from the auction will benefit the Singapore Heart Foundation’s Go Red For Women campaign. Symbolised by the little red dress, the campaign aims to empower women in their fight against heart disease and stroke.

Here are some of my favourite picks:

Inspired by parchutes sashaying high in the sky, this design by Nicholas of Nic Wong evokes a sense of bliss and surrealism. The couture-like details such as folds and draping showcases his clean cuts and structural style.

A well known young thai designer, TIMMY is best known for his combination of modern vintage chic with a feminine touch. This semi-formal cocktail dress is based on the popular children novel The Little Red Riding Hood. I love the crisp asymmetrical cape and the corset-like structure of the bodice.

Reckless Erika is a young and quirky local brand,balancing classic tailoring with more avant-garde use of silhouette, and constructing avant-garde silhouette with classic details. This dress is simple, yet adorned with luxurious pleats and gathers, in a deep red colour.

Jakarta-based designer Nikicio designed a flirty openback short dress that reflects a women's power and sexiness.

Other pretty red dresses:

By Nurita Harith

By Keith Png

By Hansel

source: go red for women

style scout: Asian red carpet

The recently concluded Hong Kong Film Awards proved that Asian celebs can look stunning on the red carpet as well. Each celeb begged to differ at this event of glitz and glamour.

Famed actress Monika Mok strutted down in a nude empire-waisted gown with cascading layers of chiffon.

Tang Wei's shanghainese classic style shines through in a flaming red toga dress.

Zhou Xuin was as sweet as ever, yet sophisticated in a simple monochromatic gown. Her classic updo and scarlet lips adds radiance to her smile.

Sandra Ng's structured gown was uniquely eye-catching. The prints reminded me of the lush art deco period, as well as pretty optical illusion.

Xiong Dailin paired her sweetheart neckline frock with a sparkling choker. I simply love the play of different textures of this black gown.

Barbie Hsu literally looks like a Barbie doll in this gorgeous pouffy gown. The red corsage serves as a great contrast against the metallic grey and black.

source: msn, china daily

Arty-farty: Extreme Beauty in Vogue

Unknown Models, by Clifford Collins

WWD.com- Dolce & Gabbana, American Vogue and the mayor of Milan will fete the Extreme Beauty In Vogue exhibition at the Palazzo della Ragione with a red-carpet event on Monday March 2, with the likes of Kate Hudson and Naomi Watts. “This show is about the beauty in its most challenging sense,” Vogue’s Anna Wintour said at a press conference Saturday. “It’s not about lipstick, it’s not about hairspray, but about the very definition of beauty in complicated and sometimes disturbing ways.” The exhibition is designed by French architect Jean Nouvel and features 89 photographs from the past 80 years of American Vogue, exploring contemporary ideas about beauty and coincides with Dolce & Gabbana’s launch of its debut makeup collection. Photographers include Edward Steichen, Erwin Blumenfeld, Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton and Steven Klein, plus an entire section is devoted to Irving Penn. “The photographers that you see on the walls have thought deeply and creatively about these questions,” Wintour continued. “Looking at their work from the perspective of the challenges that we are all facing today, offers a reminder that sometimes the most difficult times can be the most productive in the arts.… As [Italy’s] own great poet Dante wrote, ‘Beauty awakens the soul to act.’ I hope you will feel this after the show.” The exhibition opens Wednesday March 4, in Milan and runs through May 10, before moving to London, New York and Tokyo.

Beauty is "the only thing that time cannot kill. Philosophies die, religious creeds vanish, but the beautiful lives forever. It is the gift of all the ages, the sustenance of all peoples everywhere, and an eternal treasure" - Oscar Wilde

How I wish that I were in Italy! This exhibition is simply breathtaking -- I love how the photographs look like paintings, esp. the work of Clifford Collins, which appears to emerge from the Surrealist movement. Aimed to investigate the role of beauty in our culture, this exhibition captures the cultural attitudes towards female appearance and self-expression while audaciously challenging the limits of contemporary ideas about beauty as we perceive and aspire to it. I'm amazed at the diverse range of ideas of beauty executed in the masterpieces, for example the two works above. While one portrays an abstract fleeting moment of beauty, the other is a classical portrait of Coco Rocha, depicting a traditional concept of beauty. In all, 'Extreme Beauty in Vogue' is definitely an iconic exhibition, what do you think?

Runway Rave: Barbie Show

The iconic doll celebrated 50 years with a runway show featuring looks created by 50 American designers, including Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Anna Sui and Diane von Furstenberg. The world's top 51 models brought the doll to life in three themed wardrobe sets. The first looks were a tribute to the retro dolls of the '50s and '60s, some models were sent down the runway with cool wayfarer shades and clad shiny monochromatic prints and flowing ethereal pouf gowns.
This was followed by a Malibu Barbie-inspired crop with big teased hair and sweet pink makeup, and the finale featured edgier looks with clear plastic toppers that gave the audience a peek into Barbie's bright future. It was intriguing to view the various interpretations of the iconic barbie doll, all with the aim of honouring the 50-year-old doll, this time in a life-size version.

The show was not short of poofy dresses like Marchesa's fairytale-like creation and Monique L'huillier's girlish floral gown.

Therefore, what stood out for me were more cutting-edge designs that added vibe to the classic feminine and girly barbie image, such as this beauty pageant Reem Acra strapless red gown, and Catherine Malandrino's stars and stripes.

While Barbie went on a vacation at DVF, designers like Koi Suwannagate and Threeasfour chose to send cocktail dresses embellished with pop-up petals that are pretty in pink down the runway!

Source: Shine yahoo/ Coutorture

I must say this is an eye-opening show..the combination of teased hair and barbie makeup and pink bejewel-rimmed sunglasses sure transformed many of my favourite models into life-sized barbies! And it's really interesting to see how different designers interpret this iconic barbie doll...long live Barbie!

Marchesa/ Monique Lhuillier/ Reem Acra/ Catherine Malandrino/ DVF/ Koi Suwannagate/ Threeasfour

Style Scout: Bringing the House of Sprouse Down

The Louis Vuitton's Stephen Sprouse Tribute Party was a bash of neon prints, with walls splashed with sprouses' famous graffiti. As usual, supposedly-edgy Agyness Deyn turned up in bright hues, opting for a graffiti-ed coat, strapless LBD and a statement orange necklace. So is Agy edgy, or plain trashy? In my opinion, she dressed appropriately for the occasion. Brave enough to ditch her usual garish-from-head-to-toe ensemble, this outfit has not gone overboard.




Chanel looks really cute in this white dress paired with a leather jacket! I thought she would be a little more experimental when turning up for this Stephen Sprouse Tribute party (like playing with a colour?), rather than sticking to a monochromatic palette. But she compensated it with her cheeky hairstyle -- a twisted updo with bangs!



Arlenis Sosa, the new 'It' girl, opted for a black Louis Vuitton dress. She saved it from appearing boring by accessorizing with huge beaded necklaces, a cuff and a pair of grey heels. Being playful sure does help to jazz up the outfit.



Maryna Linchuk channelled her usual rocker vibe at the party. I like the studded biker jacket and wet-look leggings, but this is nothing special. Nevertheless, she still looks great, I mean, how can she go wrong?


Source: style.com