How to be a funny woman in Malaysia

Film, TV + Theatre
How to be a funny woman in Malaysia
In five short points

02.08.2015
By Buro247

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Whether in a moment of complete bravery or utter stupidity, I found myself on the losing end of a bet which meant I would have to do stand up comedy at an open mic night. With no prior thought or experience on the matter, I was suitably terrified—wracked by the kind of fear that is good for neither one’s bowels or pants.
It also brought upon me a barrage of searing, mind-boggling questions, like: “How do comics do it?”; “Is there a Kinsey scale equivalent for humour?”; and being a woman: “Is it harder to be funny if you have a vagina?” In order to answer these burning questions, I sat down with one of my favourite Malaysian female comics, Luwita Hana Randhawa (Lu)—a caramel-coloured, pint-sized pocket rocket, whose unique brand of humour is unassuming but laser sharp. She shared with us five points on how to make it in comedy.

Stand up comedy requires dedication. You have to work the open mic circuit week on week if you want to get better and gain the kind of exposure to score paid gigs. So it’s not just a bunch of goofy kids hanging out and smoking pot. It also takes hard work and grit.

The greatest challenge about doing stand up comedy in Malaysia is not being woman, but rather the sensibility gap. Malaysia is diverse both in culture and language, which means that there will be times when certain comic nuances are lost on different crowds. This means that you need to…

Know your audience, but always be true to yourself. Everyone should write what they’re most comfortable about. For instance, Lu has a line where she says:
“I know a lot of people like to make boob and dick jokes but I don’t have either of those. So I’m not going to…”
The key here is to write what you know because audiences are quick to spot when you’re being inauthentic. But at the same time…

Your job is to make them laugh. So if you know that your jokes are generally on the fringe, you may want to incorporate what Lu calls ‘broad-based jokes’—i.e. jokes about race, sex and gender. These types of jokes tend to reach a wider audience and get bigger laughs. And finally…

How to bomb with class. ‘Bombing’ is that moment when you’re on stage and your punch line is met with a deafening silence and all you want to do is melt away. Now, how do you deal with that painstaking moment? “You just ride it and the wave disappears” are Lu’s wise words. This final lesson is one to take away and is applicable to your whole life.

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Fashion
Ruth and May Bell are the twin stars of Dior’s Spring 2017 campaign
Double trouble

20.12.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Couture wedding gowns that will make you feel like a fairytale princess

British supermodel twins Ruth and May Bell once again prove that the sister act is still trending right now in the industry, recently starring in Dior Spring 2017’s ad campaign. Previously featured in past campaigns for Burberry and Topshop, the London-born twin sisters take on Dior’s creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri’s new concept of the brand’s femininity — celebrating the woman of today who is modern, open-minded, and sporty.

“I strive to be attentive and open to the world and to create fashion that resembles the women of today,” says Chiuri. “Fashion that corresponds to their changing needs, freed from the stereotypical categories of “masculine/feminine”, “young/not so young”, “reason/emotion”, which nonetheless also happen to be complementary aspects.”
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The campaign is shot by renowned French photographer Brigitte Lacombe, recognised for her intimate portraits of celebrities including Meryl Streep, Martin Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio, and more. Spot the Bell sisters decked in juxtaposing ensembles, including embroidered tulle confections, a fencing-inspired outfit (perhaps the most obvious and recurring element from Chiuri’s feminist-leaning debut collection for Dior), accessorising with the new It bag that features the brand’s name in hardware on the front flap. A fascinating notion of this campaign is how the delicate leitmotif is a striking contrast against Ruth’s choppy, natural hairstyle, lending a contemporary aesthetic to the pared down visuals.

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Lifestyle
Weekend Ride: The Mercedes-Benz C 200 AMG
Style meets performance

01.04.2018
By Cai Mei Khoo

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Backstory: I got into my first ever car accident (yes, over ten years of having a perfect driving record, now tarnished) recently while on the way to the gym. It really is like what they say—it does happen in a blink of an eye. One moment I was checking for oncoming traffic at a T-junction, next thing I knew, I was punched in the chest by my airbag. The car I hit was an older model of the Mercedes-Benz C 200, so perhaps it was kismet that a couple of weeks later, when my car was still at the workshop and I had become one of those I-gave-up-my-car-for-Grab/Uber people, Mercedes-Benz rang to ask if I’d like to review the C 200 AMG.
While it’s nice being driven around and not having to deal with traffic or the lack of parking, it was even nicer to slide into the C 200 AMG—my car had seats upholstered in deliciously red leather, which made for a stunning contrast against the open-pore black ash wood finish. The silver aluminium trim on the dashboard and doors help to highlight the sleek curves of the interior. The C-Class might be Mercedes-Benz’s entry-level luxury saloon, but the AMG kit certainly elevates its look to sports luxe—think Céline broad-shouldered trouser suit worn with designer sneakers of choice.

The C 200 AMG is equipped with the Audio 20 CD multimedia system with touchpad and controller, located in the central control unit, which allows for ease of control, whether you want to connect to your phone via Bluetooth to access your playlists on Apple Music, switch between radio stations or take a call. I’ll be honest, though, the touchpad takes a bit of getting used to—it’s not quite as simple as using a wireless mouse, but nothing a YouTube video can’t teach you.
A few swipes on the touchpad, and turns on the controller had me at ambient lighting, and this was pretty fun. Essentially, this function allows you to select interior lighting; am I feeling warm orange, cool blue or playful purple? It’s probably a good thing that colour choices are limited or I’d end up spending a lot more time in the car, possibly in that parking spot you’ve been waiting for for the past 10 minutes. Speaking of time, what I found a touch quaint was the analogue clock on the dashboard, being so used to looking at a digital watch face.

The exterior of the car garnered quite a few double takes. Personally, I liked the little extras the AMG kit offered, like the chrome trim around the front of the car, diamond-grille mesh, polished aluminium side panels and window trim. The 18-inch 5-spoke AMG alloy wheels and twin pipe exhaust complete the sporty styling of the C 200 AMG.
Performance-wise, the 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine produces a maximum of 184hp at 5,500rpm, while the 9G-Tronic nine-speed automatic transmission gearbox (an evolution of the previous 7G-Tronic) allows for more dynamic performance, and better fuel efficiency. The C 200 AMG goes from 0-100km/h in 7.2 seconds, with fuel efficiency rated at 5.6 – 6.1 litres/100km—pretty fast, furious, and easy on the petrol bills—what’s not to love?
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Additional features like the reverse camera, active parking assist with Parktronic, LED high performance headlamps (that adapt to light and driving conditions), and keyless go (no more fumbling in your handbag looking for your keys) make the C 200 AMG a dream, and a breeze to drive. With safety being a priority for Mercedes-Benz, the car also comes equipped with, amongst other safety measures, Active Brake Assist, an impressive system that makes use of radar and camera data to predict a collision, and in the event no braking is detected automatically applies emergency braking—an essential feature for those with still-perfect (and perhaps those with not-so-perfect) driving records.
The Mercedes-Benz C 200 AMG is priced at RM254,888 on the road, without insurance. For more information, please click here.

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Features
New York Fashion Week AW16 Street Style Day 3: Rocking thigh-high booties
Walk a mile

14.02.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Apart from the usual stylish coats and warm knits, New Yorkers and fellow fashion enthusiasts had their legs encased in chic thigh-high booties of all sorts. From Martha Graeff’s almost matte-like Jimmy Choo pair to Camila Coelho’s suede grey Stuart Weitzman Alllegs, these are making our must-have shoe wishlists for winter getaways. Take a look at how they are styling their footwear picks on day three of NYFW AW16:
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Beauty
Where would Aesop’s new ‘Othertopias’ fragrance collection take you? Perfumer Barnabé Fillion leads the way

29.07.2021
By Rachel Au

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Fragrances have the power to transport individuals to different places. Aesop’s ‘Othertopias’ takes inspiration from “the boat, the shore, and the wasteland”.
For you, where exactly in the world is that when you smell Miraceti, Karst, and Eremia?
“They weren’t exactly real places that I’ve been. I had some ideas for Erémia from the urban garden near my house in Paris, so I went to visit it, but really, I was thinking of all the wastelands and urban gardens around the world (particularly of Detroit). There were also images of shores in my mind. But I never focused on just one because it was important to not be geographical—geography is important, but not of one site specifically—in this project. Reality is a departure point to reverie, to the abstract—that’s how perfume is an ‘Othertopia’: the skin acts as a window between nature and the abstract.”

The name “Othertopias” sound very apt in our current times where people are often stuck at home, craving to be teleported somewhere (anywhere but here). How do you recommend people to wear the three different fragrances under ‘Othertopias’?
“I think the development of ‘Othertopias’ as a collection was where the idea started; each perfume has a facet of spatial exploration. But we had three very clear images that came out of our research for the first three perfumes.

What was the process like in creating these fragrances with Aesop, from start to end?
“This collection is about the study of interstitial space; it is a piece of research on the boundaries between real and imagined. The concept served as scaffolding the development of these perfumes. They are an homage to the work of Gaston Bachelard and many other philosophers and thinkers that have worked with the idea of these spaces that are relative to realities—that are not utopic—but have a connection to mythology, or poetry, and have this capacity to make us travel and unlock reveries.
“I was collaborating with a philosopher friend of mine, where we went through various texts, and we thought about perfume as an interstitial space itself, and how we could create a collection around this concept. When considering the texts, we thought about geographical space, poetic space and abstract space, and we started to find an idea of the perfumes being able to project us into a poetic landscape. So, the concept was poetic, conceptual, philosophical—it gives access to reality, but it’s slightly stronger than an experience because it’s perfume.
“The aesthetic behind this is the idea of a transition from the physical to the conceptual. It’s a transformation, it’s a transition, a pause, a gap, a lending, and a breath. It’s a little bit like the mental image that a reader has in their mind when reading poetry. In a way, literature transports, as does perfume. I think, for us, it has been important to have some geographical, geological, botanical, etymological, phenomenological and psychoanalytical references to the project. A large part of the creative process was the work I did with the philosophers, gathering the ideas and then sharing them with the creative team at Aesop, and then starting to formulate the fragrances. In a way, when I mention the idea of the images that the reader sees when they read poetry, this is little by little how the perfumes shaped into those conversations, through the study and exploration of this process.
“In relation to the idea of interstitial space, we wanted to interrogate the relationship between Man and Nature, because we are working with ingredients that come from nature. We also wanted to explore the idea of a dialogue between Science and Nature, a concept that is familiar and important at Aesop. In each of the ‘Othertopias’ perfumes, there is always a presence of this relationship between Man and Nature. Sometimes the Man is fully imminent, such as with Miraceti, and sometimes it is nature that is more obviously present, in its never-ending resistance against the mineral city. Each ‘Othertopias’ perfume is a tool for measuring the relationship between Man and Nature.
“And when I think about a Window to Nature: The idea is the juxtaposition of dreams and memories, reality and mythology, space and the time, and Man and Nature. It’s a juxtaposition of many concepts that are important.”

We read in your profile that you’ve been composing fragrances using traditional craft-oriented methods. In layman’s terms, how is it different from “modern methods”, and how do the results differ?
“Of all the fragrances I have created, ‘Othertopias’ is some of the most complex I have ever made. We have used a number of CO2 extractions and unique ingredients that are very sophisticated. In Miraceti, we include a blend of Labdanum (a transformation of a cistus into an absolute), Ambrette, and Styrax; together these are a very sophisticated compound and are also very historical ingredients. We also included Chilli Leaf, Green Maté, Ambrette and Red Seaweed, all of which have not been used before. The Red Seaweed is a CO2 extraction, so it is a very technical ingredient. We didn’t want to use ambergris, but the idea of alluding to this was important to the perfume’s conception. So by blending together Labdanum, Styrax, Tobacco, Ambrette, Black Pepper, Red Seaweed and Patchouli, it can smell like ambergris.
“On new techniques used, in Miraceti, the Frankincense we have included is what we call a ‘super essence’, so it’s a Frankincense Absolute that we have redistilled, which is two processes alone, a sort of double extraction. Red Seaweed is also a supercritical gas extraction (CO2 extraction).”

SHOP: Aesop Karst Eau de Parfum 50mL, RM715

SHOP: Aesop Erémia Eau de Parfum 50mL, RM715

SHOP: Aesop Miraceti Eau de Parfum 50mL, RM715

Miraceti has spice and warmth. Karst is stormy with mineral notes. Eremia is green, seductive and floral. But what do the three fragrances share in common?
“The approach with ‘Othertopias’ is much more to build a recognisable landscape, and suddenly open the window to nature, the window to reverie, the window to memory, and the window to abstraction. The choice of superposition of spaces that this collection projects makes them need a more complex formulation—they offer something a little bit more experimental.
“I hope to transport the wearer to a much more engaging territory, where people need to interrogate their reality, meaning not only seeing what you see as it is, but understanding different perceptions. We will use the shore as an example: you go to the sea, you sit with a friend on the beach looking out to sea, and you realise how you can see the world differently. You are sitting at the same point together, looking at the same thing, and yet you see totally different things. The sea is a good example for the whole project and life in general. The aim of the project is to give us a feeling of freedom and implore you to work with sensitivity and to have another field of perception.”
Aesop’s ‘Othertopias’ is now available with each 50ml EDP retailing at RM715. Alternatively, Aesop offers a “Call and Deliver” service where customers may call the nearest Aesop store to purchase products with complimentary delivery for purchases above RM400. Find out more here.
For more information, visit their website.

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Lifestyle
Michelle and Melissa Pong of Fat Spoon share their love of food
Happy tummies

14.07.2015
By Buro247

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The Pong siblings have made quite a mark in the food and beverage industry. Their first forray into food was their eatery in Damansara Uptown called Fat Spoon Cafe, which serves modern nonya favourites with a contemporary twist such as ulam fried rice and spicy beef macaroni soup. It did so well that they also released a cookbook titled The Fat Spoon Cookbook.
Early this year, Michelle and Melissa opened another fusion cafe, this time in the Desa Sri Hartamas neighbourhood. The Japanese-inspired Mei by Fat Spoon uses ingredients such as torched salmon, sashimi, beef tongue and mentaiko for their rice bowls with seaweed, avocado and cucumber as fresh accompaniments and is a hit with foodies.

Was there a moment where you realised you wanted to be involved in the F&B industry?
Michelle: I think what mainly drew us in was the idea of doing something we love and being able to make a living out of it. It’s quite idealistic if you think about it, but if you’re passionate about what you do and if you have the right people on board with you to run this machine, it really can be quite a ride!
Tell us some childhood food stories. Do you have any foods that remind you of your childhood?
Melissa: The kinds of food we fought over at the dinner table are fish eye balls and chicken cartilage; it was never burgers or ice cream for us. Growing up, mum would shove at us anything slimy and say “natural collagen, eat more!” and eat, we did. I guess she’s adventurous when it comes to food and naturally we took after her.

What is the inspiration behind the fusion styles of both your restaurants?
Michelle: We like to believe that comfort food is our signature style; the kind of food that gives you all sorts of warm fuzzy feeling on the inside. That bit definitely comes from home, because that’s how grandma and mum would cook for us. The only difference is that we play it up a bit by mixing less conventional ingredients together, it’s almost like injecting a little bit of youthfulness and playfulness into otherwise conventional dishes, and I think that for us is the most exciting bit in the creative process. You just never know what works so you play and you experiment and sometimes you get something gold to add into the menu. We take inspiration mostly from travels, the web and old family recipes.
Which chefs or restauranteurs are you inspired by?
We’re very much influenced by Southeast Asian street food for their honest, wholesome flavours, Japanese sushi bars for their emphasis on amazingly fresh produce, and quirky cafes for their wit and originality.

What dishes would you recommend at Fat Spoon and Mei By Fat Spoon? What are some personal favourites?
Melissa: At Fat Spoon, we personally like the Perut Ikan with Rice because it’s something our grandma would cook for us at home. It’s a traditional Nyonya dish that is really tedious to prepare but one that’s very close to our hearts! Our other signature dishes are Ulam Fried Rice and Claypot Sampan Beef Noodles.
At Mei, you can’t go wrong with the Light-braised Beef Shortribs. It’s the perfect meal to have on a rainy day or when you’re in need of a pick-me-up! Our Summer Bara Chirashi Bowl is very popular amongst the ladies; it’s vibrant, it’s got various textures and it really taste like summer!
Your biggest accomplishment yet?
Michelle: I think plunging ourselves into the family business not knowing if we’d able to work together professionally was a bit of a gamble at the beginning, but being able to iron out the creases, learn from mistakes and see results from our partnership is something we’re truly grateful for. I think that on its own is something we’re really proud of.
What are some lessons you’ve learnt on your journey so far?
Michelle: I’ve learned that if you view challenges in life (and in business) as opportunities rather than obstacles, you really learn and grow so much more as a person. Also, always be curious about everything and anything because once you stop being curious, that’s when you stop being a student of life!

What is an easy dinner recipe you’d whip up when you’re short on time?
Melissa: We always make sure we have some basic chicken stock lying around for some last minute meals. Otherwise, having some miso paste stocked at home will always come in handy. So at anytime, you’ll have some wholesome noodle soup whipped up within minutes, just make sure to stock some staple ingredients like noodles, eggs and vegetables.
Name one ingredient you can’t live without.
Melissa: Growing up with our grandma who’s Nyonya, we definitely have a soft spot for Asian herbs. Some of our favourites are lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, torched ginger flower and holy basil just to name a few. We love incorporating them into our daily meals and xperimental dishes as it gives so much more depth in flavour and aroma. It almost feels incomplete without it. Not just with savoury dishes, you can even experiment with Asian herbs in desserts. Trust me, it’s a lot of fun!
If you weren’t in F&B, what would you be doing?
Michelle: Honest to god, we’ve asked ourselves this question a million times and still can’t find an answer. It would still be lifestyle-related, I reckon.
What can we expect next?
Well, we never sit still for too long that’s for sure, so yes, there will be more projects coming along but you’ll just have to stick around and see for now!

Fat Spoon is at 73, Jalan SS21/1A, Damansara Utama, PJ.
Mei by Fat Spoon is at 22G, Jalan 27/70A, Desa Sri Hartamas, KL.

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Beauty
12 Best Malaysian beauty holiday gift sets to #SupportLocal in 2022
#SupportLocal

05.12.2022
By Redzhanna Jazmin

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BURO Beauty Empties Giveaway Week 2: Win up to RM4,500 worth of beauty prizes

We’re officially in December, which means that the holiday season is about to ramp up. What better way is there to celebrate the holidays than to give back to our local community?
READ: #SupportLocal: 13 Malaysian skincare brands every beauty lover should know
In the latest instalment of our BURO Holiday Gift Guide, we’re rounding up the best local offerings to gift this Christmas.
From the best of Mount Chuck’smas to Lilin + Co’s best home scents and even Malaysia’s newest beauty brands on the block, we’ve got your December gifting covered ahead:

Handmade Heroes
Jolly Pamper Christmas Gift Set, RM289.90

This comprehensive gift set from Handmade Heroes has everything you need for a holiday glow from top to toe. It features the brand’s best-sellers like The Ultimate Snow Shroom Hyaluronic Acid Serum, the Cocolicious Luscious Lip Scrub, the Beauty Warrior Face Mask and the limited-edition Peppermint Cocoa Super Duper Nourishing Body Scrub, alongside other festive goodies.
SHOP HERE

Chuck’s
You’re Cool Skincare Set, RM148

This holiday set from Chuck’s is designed to keep your skin protected, featuring a mini Very Important Sunscreen, the Lucky Lip Jelly in Beam, and the Chuck It Mask.
Use the mask to target problem areas in your skin, then follow up with the sunscreen to stave off harsh UV rays and further skin damage. Then, finish up with a layer of the Lucky Lip Jelly to keep your lips smooth and kissable!
SHOP HERE

Lilin + Co
Premium Large Candle Gift Set, RM260

Fun fact: A Malaysian brand has made it onto Sephora’s shelves! Indeed, Lilin + Co is an artisanal fragrance brand that specialises in hand-poured soy candles.
This stunning limited-edition holiday set includes two large scented candles in the scents Blackcurrant and Plum and Mulled Wine. In addition, you’ll find a gold wick trimmer and candle snuffer to complete your collection.
SHOP HERE

Lumi Beauty
Double Merry Christmas Bundle, RM388

Have yourself a merry Gleaming Christmas with Lumi Beauty’s new holiday gift sets. This Double Merry Christmas Set has all the brand’s best-sellers like the Bakuchiol Skydew Cloud Moisturiser and the Vitamin Glow Super Serum, in addition to complimentary goodies like the Terry Pouch. It’s not one to miss!
SHOP HERE

Kittie Yiyi X B.Seen
Cotton Candy Taffy Gift Set, RM208

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Glam up your eyes and lips with this collaborative gift kit from Kittie Yiyi Beauty and B.Seen. Within this festive kit, you’ll find Kittie Yiyi’s Cross the Line Eyeliner (a BURO Beauty Empties winner!), the B:Seen Eyebrow Pencil, the Kittie Yiyi 247 Lipstick, and a makeup sticker.
Available at the Mount Chucksmas Popup at Starhill until 7th December.

Gote
Nice Bundle, RM158

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This grooming bundle is packed with shower and post-shower essentials to keep you feeling (and smelling) squeaky clean. It contains the Sense Bar Soap, a face Towel, and a choice between the brand’s Eucalyptus + Bergamot or Geranium + Sandalwood Sense Scented Deodorant.
SHOP HERE

Nyala
Chuck’smas Christmas Bundle

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Revive your senses with Nyala’s feel-good home essentials. Consisting of the Serene Candle and the Bergamot Lisse Room and Linen Spray, this duo will whisk you away to olfactory bliss for the holidays.
Available at the Mount Chucksmas Popup at Starhill until 7th December.

Petit Moi X B&BLabs
BRB Currently Escaping Reality Set, RM350

This three-part set has everything you need to unwind and reset for the holidays, including an exclusive glow-giving seaweed face mask from B&B Labs, a comfy Petit Moi embroidered jumper to snuggle up in while you mask up, and a roomy tote bag to store your new goodies in.
SHOP HERE

Ölelés
Wink At Me Electric Eyelash Curler, RM108

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Take your beauty routine up a notch with this electric eyelash curler. Designed to give your lashes an extra oomph in both curl and staying power, the Wink At Me Eyelash Curler is a must-have.
Shop here or available at the Mount Chucksmas Popup at Starhill until 7th December.

The Olive Tree
Secret Garden Discovery Gift Set, RM249.90

This dreamily-scented gift set is the perfect introduction to this local brand. In this limited-edition holiday set, you’ll find the brand’s Shampoo, Body Wash, Body Lotion, The Gardener’s Dreams Trio Soap Kit and Travel Hair Brush.
SHOP HERE

CS12
Holiday Collection

CS12’s local lineup has received a stunning makeover for the holiday season, inspired by the festive hue of Morandi dark green.
In addition, there are plenty of exclusive deals available for a limited time only!
SHOP HERE

Mellow Jellow
Jellie Bestie Bundle, RM198

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Treat dull, dry skin and wearied senses with this candy-coloured bundle from Mellow Jellow. The Jellie Bestie Bundle is the perfect discovery kit for the brand, consisting of two Chamomile Rosemary Hydrating Soothing Mask boxes and the adorable Jellie Bestie Marshmellow Candle.
SHOP HERE

Find more beauty gift guides like this here.

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Fashion
Milan Fashion Week AW17: Highlights of Day 5 and 6
Closing with gusto

27.02.2017
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Streamlined silhouettes were in abundance at Fulvio Rigoni’s second collection for Salvatore Ferragamo. Those who love sleek lines and sensual yet structured pieces would enjoy what he offered for AW17, as his repertoire lies in cutting fabrics to create chic, clean and almost architectural shapes. Standouts were tied-around skirts with fold-over waists, animal prints in subtle, muted shades, a sleeveless puffer dress-jacket and not forgetting, the wonderful colour palette consisting of mint, stone, and beige alongside bolder hues such as aubergine, orange and pink.

Francesco Risso apparently drew inspiration from the archives for his debut collection at Marni, peppering floral prints on dresses of all sorts from long-sleeved high-necked ones to satin strapless frocks. Also evident was a slight retro-leaning influence in the silhouettes, motifs and colours, demonstrated by fur coats and turtlenecks paired with flared trousers, the occasional print on print with varying kitschy checkboard motifs and the like. Perhaps the strapless dresses that cut unflatteringly around the torso could have been omitted, for its lack of cohesion to the collection that was supposedly created with “multiplicity” in mind.

Like its men’s show over a month ago, Dolce & Gabbana lined up its runway with celebrity kids, toddlers, members of royalty, and more for models, proving that basically everyone in your family can have fun while looking fab (obviously). How Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana pulled strings to outfit more than 140 people of diverse shapes, sizes, ethnicities, ages and more for this grand spectacle—and pull it off is still a query as we type. Sibling models/celebs include Chase and Mackinley Hill, Neels and Kendall Visser, Rachel and Michelle Yeoh, Dani, Alessandra, and Dominik Garcia, and Chloe and Halle Bailey. Clothing wise, the duo didn’t stray far from the house codes, with fab fur coats, elaborately embroidered and floral frocks, and embellished ensembles that spelled decadence.

On the last day of Milan Fashion Week AW17, Giorgio Armani rolled out a whopping 82 looks that featured so many details, silhouettes, and separates that we wouldn’t be surprised if your head’s spinning after the 50th dress. The recurring ensemble throughout the collection was the jacket-and-pants combo, available in various colours (mostly vivid primary hues i.e red, blue, and green) and textures (velvet, jacquard, mohair). A handful of evening-worthy looks closed the show appropriately, ranging from crystallised tuxedo jackets paired with satin pants, strapless gowns with pleated bodices, and an embroidered dinner jacket with blouson sleeves.

Related stories:
Milan Fashion Week AW17: Highlights of Day 4
Milan Fashion Week AW17: Highlights of Day 3

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Fashion
Paris Fashion Week AW17: Highlights of Day 2
Moments and momentum

27.02.2017
By Cai Mei Khoo

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Elegance reigned supreme at Alessandro Dell’Acqua’s Rochas—daytime dresses were long-sleeved and cut below the knee, and worn with sheer knee-high socks. Coats wrapped around the body like a cocoon, belted around the upper midriff, finished off with a crystal-embellished ‘R’. More embellished Rs were found on the top flap of mini sling bags and further high-shine pieces were found in the dazzling fringed skirts and dresses in black and gold. Evening gowns, one in plain black silk chiffon, the other in black lace, were worn with crystal-embellished pointed-toe flats, perfect for dancing the night away in.

The power slogan continues to gain momentum; at H&M Studio the word of the day was ‘Love’, which showed up on dresses, tops, skirts, scarves, earrings and more—all of which, plus the entire collection, were made available for purchase immediately after the show, marking H&M’s first foray into the See Now, Buy Now model. Speaking of post-show, The Weeknd (currently seen on H&M billboards around Paris) performed his biggest hits to a very receptive crowd that included Lucky Blue Smith and Kristina Bazan. Back to the clothes, hot pink looks punctuated a mostly black and white collection, which ran the gamut from frilly bohemian-style dresses to sporty parkas to lacy lingerie looks and fluid blazers, cut for ease of movement. Backstage, a sign read ‘we think this is a time when we should all support each other, show and celebrate love’. Uncharacteristicly, models at the H&M Studio show were all smiling as they took to the runway—now that’s a show of love.

A reunion of sorts expressed the legacy at Dries Van Noten‘s 100th show. He may have dialled down the spectacle in terms of show sets but that blank canvas of just the light, sound and clothes set the perfect stage—zero distractions from the jaw-dropping reunion of his former models who reprised their walk for this milestone celebration. Carolyn Murphy, Alek Wek, Kirsten Owen, Amber Valletta and Liya Kebede were amongst the nineties’ golden girls seen that day and on them, a plethora of prints from the archives—revived and refreshed.

Kenzo never strays from the bold and graphic. This time round, Humberto Leon and Carol Lim’s answer to updated visuals came by way of criss-crossed fabric manipulations in either collaged plaid numbers or stitched on stripes with trailing strips, and straps. The urban Kenzo wearer will be pleased to find a whole array of outerwear styles to buy soon—oversized parkas with flaps galore, generous coats with nipped in waists and curved sleeves, and ample puffers made to be as reflective as can be. Also sure to fly off shelves: colour gradation in cable knits and languid silks.

Related stories:
Paris Fashion Week AW17: Highlights of Day 1

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Beauty
New year, new skin saviour: The Revitalizing Hydrating Serum by La Mer
Get that glow

06.12.2016
By Su Fen Tan

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BURO Beauty Empties Giveaway Week 2: Win up to RM4,500 worth of beauty prizes

If there is one skincare resolution you should make and keep this year, it should be to remember: don’t skip the serum in your beauty routine—and La Mer has just the skin saviour for you to look forward to every morning and evening. Inspired by the earth’s moisture balance, the new Revitalizing Hydrating Serum is formulated to create a mini-atmosphere of continuous hydration for the skin, thus activating a healthy moisture cycle that boosts the skin natural healing process for intense revitalisation. After all, hydrated skin is synonymous with healthy skin.

A deeply replenishing serum, it floods the skin with sea-sourced actives and the cell-reneweing energies of La Mer’s Miracle Broth. Each drop of Revitalizing Hydrating Serum contains tiny micro-droplets of The Deep Hydration Ferment, which penetrates rapidly to plump skin with healing hydration from deep within the skin’s surface. Meanwhile, Lime Tea Concentrate—a powerful antioxidant—protects against external elements, allowing the skin to repair and revitalise. With continuous hydration and energy, your skin will soon appear visibly smoother, youthful and more radiant.

How to use: Apply onto fingertips and gently sweep over face and neck. Use every morning and evening for optimal results, followed by your moisturiser.

Want to try this new skin saviour for yourself? We are giving away 10 sets of La Mer The Revitalizing Hydrating Serum (15ml) with a travel pouch! All you have to do is enter your details in the form below and tell us your New Year’s resolution:

Enter details here to join the competition
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Email Address *
Full Name
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Tell us what’s your New Year’s resolution?

Giveaway terms and conditions:
– This giveaway ends at 11:59pm, GMT+8, 18 January 2017. The winner(s) will be announced on 19 January 2017.
– The winner(s) of this giveaway will be notified via email.
– All information must be entered to qualify for this giveaway.
– Inability to contact the winner(s) within 3 months of notification will result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner(s).
– Prizes not claimed within three months of notification email will result in forfeiture.
– This giveaway is only open to residents in the Klang Valley.
– Buro 24/7 Malaysia will not entertain any complaints on the quality and quantity of the prizes after the prize is in the possession of the winners.
– Buro 24/7 Malaysia shall not be liable for any loss, including but not limited to direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage, personal injury or death which is suffered or sustained (whether or not arising from any person’s negligence) in connection with participation in this competition or accepting or utilising a prize.

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Beauty
The 5 perfume houses you need to know for your niche fragrance fix
Signature scent

03.04.2023
By Redzhanna Jazmin

Image: Henry Jacques

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BURO Beauty Empties Giveaway Week 2: Win up to RM4,500 worth of beauty prizes

Find ‘The One’ (read: your new custom-made signature scent) with these local and international perfume houses…
Sick of smelling your signature scent on everyone else? If you’re looking for a fragrance that will help you stand out from the crowd, going bespoke is guaranteed to get heads turning (in the best way possible, of course).
From consultations with some of the world’s top perfumers to private perfumery workshops, these custom brands are here to excite your olfactory senses in the most immersive and creative ways. Ahead, find five niche perfumers that will help you capture your unique blueprint through your new go-to scent:

Le Labo

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One of the most sought-after perfumers in the industry at the moment, Le Labo’s standalone boutique in Suria KLCC is a must-visit for fragrance enthusiasts. Each of their signature scents such as Santal 33, Rose 31 and Tonka 25 are made-to-order right before your very eyes, giving you a fresh bottle of fragrance every time.
Find it online or in-store at Level 1, Lot 150, Suria KLCC.

OLFAC3

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The Malaysian-owned luxury perfumer has their own repertoire of signature scents, but also offers the unique experience of bespoke perfume creation, where individuals can create their very own scent with the brand’s Chief Fragrance Designer, Aien Mokhtar. Custom-made fragrances begin at RM800, and you can even explore the option of a private perfume workshop if you’d like to learn more about the basics of perfume-making.
Order online or check out the store, located at 1-13 Level 1 GM Bukit Bintang (GMBB).

Fragrance du Bois

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The luxury French perfume house boasts the use of their own pure and natural signature oud and with a completely traceable supply train, making it ethical and sustainable. Apart from their regular stock of fragrances, the perfume house offers bespoke consultation sessions with one of their French perfume artists, allowing you to create your own unique, tailor-made scent.
Find their signature scents online or in store at F6 Explore Floor, Starhill Gallery.

Malay Perfumerie

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Another Malaysian-owned artisan brand, Malay Perfumerie is run by Fazzillah Noordin whose mission is to revive the once-rich fragrance culture of the Malay people using traditional French perfumery techniques. The brand further prides itself on its sustainable business model, with a special focus on supporting local farmers and reducing their environmental impact by ensuring they only buy in small quantities when raw materials are in season.
Find it online.

Henry Jacques

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One of the few family-owned perfume houses left in the world, Henry Jacques was dedicated to creating bespoke fragrances for their clients before opening their realm to the public. This house is well-known for incorporating the rarest of ingredients in its fragrances, including Bulgarian rose, iris, and oud. At the Henry Jacques boutique in Pavilion KL, you can choose any of the essences they offer to include in your very own custom-made fragrance.
Henry Jacques is located at Lot 2.54.00, Level 2, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

For beauty stories like this, click here.

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Technology
#BuroBrides: 5 Easy apps to help plan your wedding
Virtual wedding planners

22.05.2016
By Rachel Au

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Threads 101: How to start and everything you need to know

Dear #BuroBrides, tying the knot is a wonderful event and planning the celebration for the big day should help bring you, your fiancé, your bridal party, his groomsmen and of course, family members closer together, and not tear each other apart because of stress. The key, as most past brides would tell you, is planning in advance. But it can be hard to keep track so our next best suggestion (the first being hiring a wedding planner to do the job) is to have it on your phone—wedding planning apps.

Hilda – Wedding Assistant

You might not plan to get a wedding planner but you can get a virtual assistant to help. You can chat with Hilda and share your wedding plans, and she’ll recommend the vendors according to your requirements. With the app, you can also enjoy the best deals from some of the vendors. However, Hilda currently only assists couples who are getting married in Indonesia. Destination wedding, anyone?

Appy Couple

Be a happy to-be-married couple by being an app-y couple! This app is pretty much an all-in-one wedding package because you can create a website as well and it’ll be in sync with your app. From guest lists to sending invitations to collecting RSVPs to sharing news, it’s the medium for you and your guests to connect before, during and after the wedding.

Bridestory

One of the hassles of planning a wedding is finding the right vendor and sometimes you’re either boggled by the vast amount of options out there or you just don’t know where to start looking. That can be solved with Bridestory—it offers millions of wedding inspiration and the vendors behind them, is linked with vendors in more than 60 countries and you can check out their reviews.

Wedding Happy – Wedding Planner

More of a literal wedding planning diary, the app will first ask for your wedding date before creating a customised schedule with to-do lists, checklists and suggested due dates for them. It also has a nifty ‘Payments’ tab to help you keep track of what’s due, what has been paid and how much of your budget is left.

Pinterest

When it comes to wedding inspiration, this is the place to look for it—especially if you’re planning to customise or DIY some of the decorations.

Related stories:
#BuroBrides: 7 Bridal Spring 2017 trends to try for your big day
7 Amazing places to have a garden wedding in Malaysia
Buro Tries: DIY Bridal bouquet tutorial with Mekar.my
6 Amazing wedding photographers in Malaysia

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Fashion
The most colourful looks from the Critics’ Choice Awards 2018
True colours

14.01.2018
By Joan Kong

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Couture wedding gowns that will make you feel like a fairytale princess

Following the #TimesUp initiative on the Golden Globes’ red carpet, while some celebs continued to stand in solidary at the 2018 Critics’ Choice Awards by opting for dark gowns, the rest have all turned to colours and embellishment to give the blue carpet a spruce-up. Here, all the actresses who embraced sweet saccharine hues and dreamy details yesterday:

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Fashion
The best of PFW SS19 day 4: Y/Project’s accordion fold bags

28.09.2018
By Stephanie Boey

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Couture wedding gowns that will make you feel like a fairytale princess

Statement bags for the win, even more so when designers have a sense of humour and model them after an early 20th century squeezebox. Shaped like an accordion, with leather straps threaded through its pleats reinforced by steel grommets, the box-shape bag is seen in two sizes-a large briefcase shape and a mini bucket bag. We’re big fans of the latter, its miniature size and characteristic shape makes it the perfect party bag to bring on a night out. (Check our other favourite mini and micro bags here). Albeit small, the petite bag is big enough to fit all your essentials. We figure storage will be a cinch too. Just like an accordion, squeeze to compress.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Best of PFW SS19 day 4: Y/Project’s accordion fold bags” rid=”6607″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Lifestyle
Cancer season: Get to know your Cancer friends through memes

29.06.2021
By Eugene Chen

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7 Things to do in the Klang Valley this weekend: 15 & 16 July 2023

For those who are born between 21 June to 22 July, it’s finally your season—Cancer season. To those who aren’t familiar with astrology, Cancer season is a period of emotion. Cancer is the fourth astrology sign out of the twelve and falls under the group of water signs (Scorpio, Pisces, Cancer). On top of that, it’s also a cardinal sign, also known as the “instigators”. This means Cancerians demonstrate the qualities of proactive leaders and tend to be highly motivated. Much like the serene oceans and rivers that hide what’s below the surface, water signs are quite complex characters often associated with being very emotional and reserved, which explains the theme and energy of Cancer season.
There are different alignments of the planets and stars, and all of these highlight different aspects of your personality, purpose in life, and links to your past lives. However, most people focus on your “top three”, which are your sun, moon, and rising (or ascendant) signs. Lana Del Rey, Chris Pratt, Meryl Streep, Solange Knowles, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, and Selena Gomez are some of the many famous Cancerians you may not have known were born under this sign.
The literal Latin translation of “crab” is “cancer”, which explains the symbol for this zodiac sign. Cancerians are also represented by the crab because of the hard exterior that keeps them safe, as they’re soft and vulnerable on the inside. Cancerians are known as empaths; they feel everything deeply and are easily wounded as a result. They enjoy decorating their home, making it comfy and cosy since that’s where they prefer to spend most of their time. Most of them tend to be more traditional and crave stability over misguided adventure.
We’ve compiled a bunch of memes for you to better understand our soft and emotional Cancer friends. Even if you’re not a Cancerian, you’ll be feeling the general mood of this season and relating to some of these:
1.

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2.

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3.

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4.

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Film, TV + Theatre
BURO TV Guide April 2021: ‘Love and Monsters’, ‘Emma’, ‘Night In Paradise’, and more

05.04.2021
By Adelina Tan

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14 Thrilling new TV shows and films to stream in July 2023

Wondering what you should binge-watch next? Try these empowering TV shows and films popping up on your favourite streaming platforms this month:
Made for Love
When: 1, 8 and 15 April on HBO GO
Watch for: Cristin Milioti, Billy Magnussen, Dan Bakkedahl, Noma Dumezweni

Based on Alissa Nutting’s novel, HBO Max Original series Made For Love is a darkly absurd and cynically poignant comedy about Hazel Green (Cristin Milioti), a thirty-something woman on the run from a suffocating 10-year marriage to Byron Gogol (Billy Magnussen). She soon discovers that the tech billionaire has implanted a monitoring device in her brain, allowing him to watch her every move and know her “emotional data”. New episodes premiere at the same time as the US.
Thunder Force
When: 9 April on Netflix
Watch for: Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, Bobby Cannavale, Pom Klementieff

In a world terrorised by supervillains, estranged childhood best friends Emily (Melissa McCarthy) and Lydia (Octavia Spencer) team up again after gaining incredible abilities no regular human possesses. Armed with brains, humour and newfound powers, the Thunder Force may actually save the day.
Night In Paradise
When: 9 April on Netflix
Watch for: Um Tae-gu, Jeon Yeo Bin, Cha Seoung-won

Written and directed by noir film specialist Park Hoon-jung (New World, V.I.P., and The Witch: Part 1), Night in Paradise follows a hotshot gang member (Um Tae-gu) who’s on the run in Jeju Island after his revenge plot goes awry. Cornered and with no desire to live, he meets a woman (Jeon Yeo Bin of Vincenzo) who has also been cornered to a dead end in life.
Emma
When: 10 April on HBO GO and HBO (Astro Ch 411 HD)
Watch for: Anya Taylor-Joy, Johnny Flynn, Bill Nighy, Mia Goth

A remake of Jane Austen’s coming-of-age classic for today’s audiences, Emma follows a beautiful, smart and wealthy young woman who decides to match-make couples. Despite her intentions, the meddling results in romantic missteps alongside her own challenges of growing up and finding true love.
Love and Monsters
When: 14 April on Netflix
Watch for: Dylan O’Brien, Jessica Henwick, Michael Rooker, Ariana Greenblatt

An Oscar nominee for Best Visual Effects, Love and Monsters is set seven years after the Monsterpocalypse, when all of humanity has been forced to live in underground colonies. After reconnecting with his high school girlfriend over the radio, Joel Dawson (Dylan O’Brien) decides to risk being eaten alive by monsters to meet her where she lives, on the coast 138 kilometres away.
Coast New Zealand Series 2
When: 21 April at 9pm on UnifiTV (Ch 501)
Watch for: New Zealand’s beautiful coastline

Uncover 16,000 kilometres of dynamic coastal stories with an expert team who’s passionate about New Zealand. This beautifully shot docuseries is a voyage of discovery into how the nation’s history, people and culture evolved with the rugged yet enthralling landscape.
Shadow and Bone
When: 23 April on Netflix
Watch for: Jessie Mei Li, Ben Barnes, Archie Renaux, Freddy Carter

The much-anticipated TV adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s worldwide bestselling Grishaverse novels is finally here! Shadow and Bone is set in a war-torn world where lowly soldier and orphan Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) must learn to hone her power, in order to survive and set her country free from a monstrous threat.
For March’s movie and TV recommendations, click here.

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Lifestyle
Buro Reviews: Lifestyle Juicery’s cold pressed juice cleanse
Juice has never been so essential

06.09.2015
By Buro247

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7 Things to do in the Klang Valley this weekend: 15 & 16 July 2023

Cold pressed juices have been gaining traction over the past few years, but what are they exactly? As opposed to a traditional extraction, cold pressed juices are made with a hydraulic press machine that exerts up to 50 tons of pressure on fruits and vegetables to extract the natural sugars, vitamins, trace minerals, enzymes and other nutrients. This gives cold pressed juice the vibrant hue that you don’t see in homemade juices. Many health enthusiasts believe that you should give your body a break and drink nothing but cold pressed juice to detox your body for a few days in order to reap the wide range of benefits.

Lifestyle Juicery was established from a passion to bring people food and drink products that are healthy and convenient. Codi believes that a cleanse is the perfect way to make a nutritious change, reboot the system and start afresh. That is why he decided to start with juice cleansing plans that offer home delivery. He encourages his clients to make a plan that suits them as it is a very personal choice. Lifestyle Juicery offers 4- or 6-day cleanses to give their clients’ bodies enough time to work on self-healing and detoxifying themselves.

I went on the 4-day cleanse by Lifestyle Juicery and here is what I experienced.

Day 1:
The juice arrived at my office before I  did, so they were ready for me first thing in the morning. The first bottle of juice was a mixture of carrot, orange, celery, pineapple, apple, and parsley, which was light and revitalising, with a predominant carrot flavour. As I am not able to drink my usual morning cup of coffee while on the cleanse, I was pleased that the juice managed to get me energised and ready to seize the day. I prefer to take my time sipping on my drinks and it took me 2 hours to finish this bottle of juice, which meant that by the time I was done with one I was ready for the next bottle.

Each bottle is about 500ml which is a very generous amount of juice in a bottle compared to other brands of cold pressed juice. Since I was going from one bottle to the next, I didn’t find the lack of food too difficult. I did sip on other things while I was drinking the juices like green tea and lots of water, as advised.

As a person who stays up late, I worried that I would get hungry in the middle of the night but the nut milk (my last bottle of the day) kept me satiated for a surprisingly long time. The first day ended with ease and I didn’t have any cravings or hunger pangs at all.

Day 2:
I woke up famished on Day 2 but found solace in my first bottle of juice. The juices are the same 6 bottles that should be drunk in the same order every day. I drank this bottle a lot quicker than I had the day before and it kept my hunger at bay. The only difference was the caffeine withdrawal was starting to kick in on the second day and I felt headaches and dizziness. This was quickly overcome by drinking lots of green tea and water.

I did feel more focused at work, which may also been because I wanted to keep my mind away from the headaches and many food distractions on my desk, but being more focused is one of the benefits of a juice cleanse. Although I did not refrigerate my juices on Day 2, this didn’t affect the taste of the juice at all.
Being more focused is one of the benefits of a juice cleanse.
Day 3:
I went for Hot Yoga in the morning and found it quite a challenge, but drinking more water quickly fixed that. It is important to stay hydrated during your cleanse because juices are a natural diuretic and you will find yourself going to the toilet more often so you will have to replenish your liquid stores by drinking more water.

I did feel quite used to the cleanse on this day and looked forward to each bottle of juice as I have come to really enjoy each one. I also felt happier and more calm, and was impressed by my ability to resist food for this long. By this day, I was more aware of old eating habits and I won’t lie, I started silently judging other people’s food choices as they ate in front of me.

Day 4:
Day 4 was easy as my body had gotten used to the routine, although I did feel like I missed the sensation of chewing on food. The headaches I felt on Day 2 and 3 were gone by this day and I stopped craving coffee or tea. All I had was water to help me through the day and I was also looking forward to being able to eat again.

By Day 4, I felt significantly lighter and found out that I lost at least 3 kgs in the past 3 days. I was also a lot less lethargic on this day. I would say that Day 4 was much easier than Day 2 and 3, and I had a mixed feeling of relief that the cleanse was going to end and worried about what I was going to eat the next day.

Overall, the experience was really refreshing and I felt good for giving my body a chance to rest from all the snacks I usually eat at work. Post-cleanse, I am more aware of my food choices and the quantity of food that I was eating. It is also much easier after the cleanse to stop eating once I’ve had enough instead of finishing everything that is on the plate.

Another thing to note is that the service given at Lifestyle Juicery was extremely commendable. They checked in on me every morning to find out how the cleanse was going and sent motivational emails daily to encourage cleansers on their journey. Any questions I had about the cleanse were also immediately replied.

To get started on your juice cleanse with Lifestyle Juicery or for more information about juice cleanses, email [email protected] or visit www.lifestylejuicery.com.my.

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Art + Design
Now in Penang: ‘Treasures of a Straits Chinese’, an art exhibition
Nyonya art

01.02.2018
By Su Fen Tan

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8 Best art galleries to visit in the Klang Valley

Launching today at the G Art Gallery in G Hotel Gurney, ‘Treasures of a Straits Chinese’ is Tiffany Choong’s first solo exhibition. An illustrator and pop artist from Penang, Choong’s work is inspired by her upbringing in a family with strong Chinese traditions as well as modern western influences, with a particular focus on Peranakan culture.

At ‘Treasures of a Straits Chinese’, Choong invites the viewer to rediscover Nyonya motifs in a modern context. For a taste of what’s in store for you, learn about some of these traditional symbols that will be on display at the exhibition below:

‘Treasures of a Straits Chinese’ will run from 1 February to 30 April 2018 at G Art Gallery, Level 1, G Hotel Gurney.

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Style
Fashion buzz: Cardi B is the star of Balenciaga’s Winter 2020 campaign, Louis Vuitton Men’s goes for round two in Tokyo, and more

09.09.2020
By Lea Rina

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The ultimate wedding shoe guide for the bridal party

Balenciaga unveils its Winter’20 Campaign featuring Cardi B

Two years after the release of Cardi B’s hit single I Like It that featured the lyrics “I like those Balenciagas, the ones that look like socks!”, Balenciaga proved that the love is mutual as it tapped the rapper as the face of its Winter 2020 campaign.
Self-styled and self-shot during the lockdown period, the star was pictured laying in her own backyard surrounded by children’s toys (presumably her daughter, Kulture’s), dressed in an asymmetrical satin gown that highlights her curves. Aside from Cardi B, the campaign also featured the brand’s very own creative team of stylists and designers, who all photographed themselves wearing the new collection at home.

Virgil Abloh presents the second Louis Vuitton Men’s SS21 show in Tokyo

Following last month’s show in Shanghai, Louis Vuitton Men’s is back for round two in Tokyo with an event held at a cruise terminal in Tokyo Bay. While the cheery, parade-like mood remained, the latest SS21 runway included 59 new looks in the line-up, further expanding the surrealism themed collection. Some of our favourites? The hoodie and skirt-over-pants ensemble that’s adorned with not one, but eight plush figures, the coat that’s emblazoned with monogram print that’s given a psychedelic twist, and more.
Artistic director Virgil Abloh also took the chance to dismiss the plagiarism allegations by Belgian fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck with an 83-page show notes that detailed his references and inspiration behind the collection.
Check out our favourites looks below:

Saint Laurent presents Sportin’ Life, a documentary by Abel Ferrara

Selected as part of the 77th edition of Venice Film Festival, Sportin’ Life is the latest international art project that’s produced by Saint Laurent. Directed by famed American filmmaker Abel Ferrara, the documentary—which premiered on September 5—explores the personal history and the creativity of his own life, that’s presented in a raw and sharp format.
In a statement by the brand, Abel Ferrara says, “I have been shooting predominately documentaries the past 10 years or so. Whatever the subject–Piazza Vittorio, Padre Pio–we also film the process itself….so our team and I are a part of it. The subject of my new documentary is the relationship I have to my work, to Willem Dafoe, and my music and art. These relationships are the starting point and I could not avoid facing what the world went through this year with the pandemic.”

Tommy Hilfiger launches Make It Possible program for the future of fashion

Tommy Hilfiger has sealed its commitment to environmental and social sustainability with the launch of its Make It Possible program. Its ultimate goal? To create fashion that “wastes nothing and welcomes all”.
So far, the brand has committed to achieving 24 targets by 2030, and that covers four main pillars including “Circle Round” that highlights all-round sustainability; “Everyone Welcome”, to ensure the company is inclusive and accessible to all; “Made for Life”, which takes climate change into account; and ‘Opportunity for All”, where equal employment opportunities are created.

Khoon Hooi’s Autumn 2020 collection is inspired by the wild wild west

Giddy up, but make it glamorous. For Autumn 2020, Khoon Hooi referenced an unlikely era—the Wild West—in its collection, from the cowboy and rancher culture to the desert cacti, the picturesque sunsets, and the starry night sky of the Mojave desert. Result? A line-up of dresses that are peppered with plaid, fringes, and stars, accentuated with intricate embelilishment, and rendered in the brand’s signature elegant silhouettes.
The collection is now available on its website.

Wanderlust + Co celebrates its 10th anniversary with the Chasing Clouds collection

Wanderlust + Co is turning 10 this year, and what better way to celebrate than by releasing a line that pays homage to its signature celestial aesthetic? Dubbed the Chasing Clouds collection, the pieces tell a story of togetherness—one where we’re all a community within the universe.
Available in a three-part series, the first is the ‘Light Seeker’ line that is inspired by vintage art deco and geometric shapes; the second features the ‘Universe’ range that highlights cosmic prints and mantras; while the final ‘Chasing Clouds’ collection shines the spotlight on clouds, sunrays, and stars.
Check out its website for more.

Read last week’s Fashion Buzz here.

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Beauty
What you missed at our first Facebook Live event with Nars
#BuroxNars

30.01.2018
By Su Fen Tan

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BURO Beauty Empties Giveaway Week 2: Win up to RM4,500 worth of beauty prizes

In case you missed the memo: Nars is releasing a new foundation in February (that’s just a couple of days away!), and it is definitely one worth looking out for. Available in 33 shades, the latest Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation is a 16-hour, fade-resistant foundation that glides on like a dream and promises a radiant, all natural finish.

But before it officially lands it stores, we held our very first Facebook Live event with Nars yesterday morning to give you the low-down on this new wonder base. Hosted by our editor-in-chief Cai Mei Khoo at the Nars boutique in KLCC, we were joined by three Friends of Buro—Patricia K, Kiran Jassal and Juanita Ramayah. As a prelude to the event, we ran a mini game on social media last week to let our readers take a guess at the three girls’ ideal Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation shades.
After a week of anticipation and guesses, the answers were unveiled live on Facebook as each girl took their turn at the chair with the help of Nars makeup artist Jackie—did you guess correctly?
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Then, Jackie gave a quick guide to Nars’ 4 steps to flawless skin. First, apply a primer that best suits your skin type—she recommends this as an essential step for longer-lasting makeup given our humid weather. Next, create the perfect, dewy canvas with the Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation. Tip: a little goes a long way. As an optional step, use the Radiant Creamy Concealer where needed. Finally, set the makeup with powder. Using the 4-step guide, the girls proceeded to create their own day look while Cai Mei held a quick trivia with the viewers along with our deputy editor, Gwen Ong.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Buro x Nars Facebook Live event” rid=”5879″ order=”a_tstamp”}
If you missed it, watch the whole event here and learn what the girls think about the new Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation (makeup tips included!):

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Food + Drink
#BuroSupportsLocal: 8 dessert cafes and home bakers to know that will satisfy your sweet cravings

07.03.2021
By Sanjeeva Suresh

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Review: Sky35 KL presents an omakase experience plated on Hermès finery

Kick off Ramadan on a sweet note.
1. Elevete Patisserie

Photo: Elevete Patisserie
Body Copy:

Photo: Elevete Patisserie
Address: 12, Jalan SS 26/13, Taman Mayang Jaya, 47301 Petaling Jaya
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm (closed on Sundays)
Email: [email protected]
Contact: 018 370 3770
Facebook | Instagram | Website
2. A Pie Thing

Photo: A Pie Thing
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Photo: A Pie Thing
Address: 128 G, Jalan SS 21/35, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm
Email: [email protected]
Contact: 012 951 5233
Facebook | Instagram | Website
3. The Dairy Bar

Photo: The Dairy Bar
Body Copy:

Photo: The Dairy Bar
Direct Message via Instagram to order
Instagram | Website
4. Food Foundry

Photo: Food Foundry
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Photo: Food Foundry
Address: Happy Mansion, BG8, 46400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm (closed on Tuesdays)
Email: [email protected]
Contact: 03 7932 2322, 016 382 6336
Facebook | Instagram | Website
5. Cookay Corner

Photo: Cookay Corner
Body Copy:

Photo: Cookay Corner
Address: Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur
Email: [email protected]
Contact: 011 5647 8129
Facebook | Instagram
6. Batter Cakery

Photo: Batter Cakery
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Photo: Batter Cakery
Contact: 011 5677 0551
Facebook | Instagram
7. Noti Donuts

Photo: Noti Donuts
Body Copy:

Photo: Noti Donuts
Email: [email protected]
Contact: 011 2188 8889
Facebook | Instagram | Website
8. Pretty Baked by EM

Photo: Pretty Baked by EM
Pretty Baked by EM is the brainchild of Emily who credits her mother for her interest in pastries, baked goods and just about anything sweet. The recommended cookie worth a try (which also happens to be the best selling cookie) is the Signature Red Velvet Cookie. Emily describes the flavour as “chocolatey, with a hint of vanilla and a fruity tang”. The selection of cookies includes the Double Chocolate, the Classic Chocolate Chip Walnut as well as the Traditional Oatmeal Raisin.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pretty Baked by EM (@prettybakedbyem)

Address: Hartamas, Kuala Lumpur
Email: [email protected]
Contact: 017 680 3870
Facebook | Instagram
For more on Raya
For more on all things sweet and food-related, click here.

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Lifestyle
7 Things to do in the Klang Valley this weekend (Easter Edition): 16 & 17 April 2022
Easter eggs ahead

15.04.2022
By Natalie Khoo

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7 Things to do in the Klang Valley this weekend: 15 & 16 July 2023

1. Enjoy the Easter Sunday Brunch at The Brasserie

Easter Egg Hunting Box (RM158+)

Easter Chocolate Eggs (RM178+ each)

When: 17 April 2022 | 12pm to 3pm
Where: The Brasserie, The St Regis Kuala Lumpur
Price: Adults – RM368+ (food only) or RM568+ (free flow Sparkling wine, white & red wine, cocktails) | Children aged 6 to 12 years old – RM184+
To commemorate the blessed day of Easter, The Brasserie has prepared a delightful Easter Sunday Brunch featuring a colourful array of local and international dishes that the whole family will enjoy. Little ones can also look forward to egg and face painting activities, as well as a balloonist who will be creating balloon sculptures for them to take home as a souvenir. Alternatively, customers can order an Easter Egg Hunting Box (RM158+) or shop for Easter Chocolate Eggs (RM178+ each) for the children to enjoy at home.
For reservations, call +603 2727 6666 or email theb[email protected]. To dine in the comfort of your home, click here to place your order directly.

2. Shop from 40 local artisans and vendors at Pasar KL

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A post shared by The Pasar KL (@thepasarkl)

When: 15 to 17 April 2022
Where: My Naturi Clubhouse, Chinatown KL
Introducing Pasar KL, the latest community market that’s making its debut in Chinatown this weekend! Founded by the team behind the natural food brand, My Naturi, the market will feature up to 40 homegrown artisans and small businesses ranging from jewellery makers to drink entrepreneurs and vintage book collectors. This marks the first installation of Pasar KL, which is set to be the next thriving center of activity in the heart of the bustling neighbourhood, with plans to extend into weekly markets operating every Friday to Sunday from May onwards.
Follow @thepasarkl for more updates.

3. Watch ‘Coyotes: A New Play’ at KLPAC

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A post shared by Theatresauce (@theatresauce)

When: 13 to 17 April, 2022
Where: Indicine, KLPAC
Following the sell-out success of two Emerging Directors Lab (EDL) showcases, Theatresauce presents a new play exploring the blurry line between truth and lies, written and directed by EDL alum Alex Chua. Coyotes tells the story of two overprotected siblings, Nana and Po, who were raised to believe that everyone in the world is dead and there’s nothing outside their house but man-eating coyotes. Their world is turned upside down when a stranger arrives at their door telling a different story. Torn between two strikingly different versions of reality, which world will the siblings now choose? Watch the play to find out and explore the deeper message of what happens when young people are indoctrinated.
To book your tickets, click here. Follow @theatresauce on Instagram for more updates.

4. Celebrate Easter with Marks & Spencer’s Eggstra Special Easter Friends

Where: Marks & Spencer’s stores
If you’re looking for adorable treats to gift your family and friends this Easter, check out Marks & Spencer’s Eggstra Special Easter Friends collection. From Harri the Hedgehog to Inky the Octopus, the UK’s beloved retailer has expanded its chocolate egg range to put a smile on your loved ones’ faces this season. Eco-conscious customers can also rest assured that the cute eggs are packaged in fully recyclable packaging. Besides these edible creatures, the brand has also introduced new hot cross buns that can be enjoyed on their own or together with the Easter treats and chocolate biscuits.
Shop the Easter collection at Marks & Spencers stores nationwide or online.

5. Experience ‘Omakase Stand Up Eating’ at Tiffin

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A post shared by Tiffin | Tiffin At The Yard (@tiffineats)

When: 16 & 17 April 2022
Where: Tiffin At The Yard
Price: RM188 per person
So, you’ve enjoyed a nice sit-down omakase meal before, but have you tried Omakase Stand Up Eating? While this may sound odd to some, it’s actually a popular practice in Japan known as “tachigui”, and can be a fresh new way of experiencing food altogether! The experienced sushi masters from Isetan Japan’s Sushi Azabu is offering you the chance to try it for the first time ever in KL, happening this weekend only. The experience will be divided into four time slots per day, limited to 10 guests per slot.

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Lifestyle

Aina Nur Sarah|15.07.2023
7 Things to do in the Klang Valley this weekend: 15 & 16 July 2023

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Review: Sky35 KL presents an omakase experience plated on Hermès finery

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Guide to ETIAS: The new travel pass for Malaysians visiting Europe

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13 Speakeasy bars in the Klang Valley for your next big night out

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Aina Nur Sarah|12.07.2023
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13 Speakeasy bars in the Klang Valley for your next big night out

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Technology
7 Virtual spaces besides Zoom to gather for meetings, events or catch-ups

09.01.2022
By Natalie Khoo

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Threads 101: How to start and everything you need to know

We live in an age where WhatsApp, Zoom and Google Meet have become the go-to platforms for both work and social interactions. While nothing beats in-person conversations—unless you’re trying to avoid someone—we’re grateful to have online options that make WFH meetings and personal catch-ups possible.
With that said, the aforementioned platforms are not without limitations. It’s not just the audio and Internet lags or the awkward silences in between that are frustrating. When you’ve gone through meetings after meetings with faces and presentations shoved in your face through small rectangular boxes on another bigger rectangular box (read: screen), you’re bound to get jaded after some time. There’s even a term for it: ‘Zoom fatigue‘ (no hate to Zoom; this applies across all video conferencing platforms).
What if there was an alternative to make virtual meetings more bearable, or dare we say, enthusing? Well, wonder no more—here are seven virtual reality spaces that are reimagining video conferences of yesteryear for tech-savvy users of today.

Gather Town—Meet in 8-bit worlds

Photo: BURO
One of the more popular options today, Gather Town (formerly known as Online Town) is sort of a cross between Zoom and an 8-bit videogame. It allows you to create themed virtual spaces from scratch or based on a reasonable selection of templates, which include office complexes, conference rooms, schools, islands, castles, and more. As the platform operates on a browser (preferably Chrome for the best performance), users can easily switch between different spaces by keeping multiple tabs on.

Each user will appear as a pixelated avatar to navigate rooms, interact with objects (which can be embedded with a file, link, game, image, video, and more), or chat with colleagues, friends and communities within each world. Like Zoom, you can easily turn on/off your camera and microphone, share your screen, and use the chat box. What’s cooler, however, is that you can also have private conversations with one or more users within the same world, by entering a ‘private space’ together or simply moving away from other users. This is called spatial technology—a recurring term you’ll see for other platforms on this list. For a fun games night activity, there are also escape rooms you can explore together!
For more information or to try the platform, visit gather.town.

Kumospace—Customise your own virtual space

Kumospace is another popular platform for both work and play in a virtual yet realistic setting. It allows you to build Custom Spaces from scratch or add personalised touches to pre-made templates, such as logos, music, furniture, YouTube videos, and so many other cool elements. Features include video conferencing, spatial audio, screen share, chat, broadcast, and protected spaces, so users can see who’s online and easily interact with one or more other users within the same virtual space.

In addition, Kumospace allows multiple users to co-host virtual events, which is ideal for special occasions, interactive workshops, or even formal presentations. The platform offers new “drops” every week, including virtual furniture and apps, to help keep spaces fresh and fun—like a simulation game of sorts.
For more information or to try Kumospace, visit kumospace.com.

Mozilla Hubs—Experience virtual reality scenes

Photo: Mozilla Hubs
For an alternative virtual reality experience, there’s Mozilla Hubs—or simply, Hubs. Created by the guys behind Firefox, Hubs is optimised for VR devices but perfectly operational on desktop or mobile browsers, although some may find it nauseating. You can create 3D virtual ‘scenes’ such as an outdoor festival, museum, or even a mad scientist’s house and invite others into the room via a shared link.

Unlike Gather Town, the scenes are not fixed to a room, so you can always change the scene without having to create a new room for the same group of users. You can make use of the ‘billboards’ in each scene to broadcast your audio or video to the whole room, or simply drop PDF files, images, audio and video clips, drawings, and even 3D models (glb format) anywhere around the room.
For more information or to try Hubs, visit hubs.mozilla.com.

Wonder—Network with like-minded users

Photo: Wonder.me
If you’re going for something straightforward that’s more suitable for professional settings and networking events, Wonder fits the bill. There are no special templates or worlds to explore—just a simple room with optional “room areas” defined by boxes, which give the space some structure. For example, the host for a room designed for an investment talk may split room areas into stocks, cryptocurrency, NFTs, etc. so users can navigate to the area that fits their interests and meet like-minded people.

Each room can host up to 1,500 users at a time. Users appear in small bubbles with static profile images, which makes it easy to see more faces on the screen at a glance. Video chats will appear only when two or more users are within proximity, with the option of ‘locking’ the chat to maintain privacy. However, interactions are limited to text (using the chatbox), audio, and video, so you can’t share files, images and the like.
For more information or to try the platform, visit wonder.me.

Here—Brainstorm ideas on a canvas

Photo: @hereHQ / Twitter
Think of Here as a virtual scrapbook of sorts, where each room serves as a canvas for users to pin images, videos, documents, text, GIFs, games, doodles, and so on. Each user will appear in a circular bubble with their profile image/video (depending on whether the camera is turned on).
<
There’s a wide variety of templates to play around with, from moodboards and workshops to movie themes and date night settings. These templates will appear as a 2D background with pre-selected GIFs and elements, which users can add, edit, delete, or move around the canvas as they please. Work/professional templates are rather limited though, but it may still be worth considering for brainstorming sessions or if you’re in creative industries. Otherwise, try it for games night and chill hangouts!
For more information or to try the platform, visit here.fm.

Topia—Hangout in illustrated worlds

Photo: Reddit
Topia is another option to create your own virtual world, especially if you’re fond of children’s book illustrations (in a good way!). The template selection isn’t extensive, but there are plenty of assets to add on to your world later on. You can build virtual offices, holiday-themed settings, festivals, towns, or wherever your imagination takes you.

Like the rest of the platforms above, it uses spatial technology, so audio and video chats fade in and out as you approach or walk away from another user. Only admins of each world can add elements, links, and videos, but anyone can be assigned an admin role by the creator of each world. However, the options for collaboration and file sharing are quite limited and navigation responses aren’t as smooth as we’d like (in our experience), so there’s still room for improvement for now.
For more information or to try the platform, visit topia.io.

Branch—Interact in virtual offices

Photo: Branch
Branch combines the fun and experiences of a virtual world with an easy-to-use interface that’s passive enough that you won’t have to spend much time briefing friends and/or colleagues on what’s what. Developed by two co-founders who used to run Minecraft servers, Branch currently only allows you to create a ‘branch’ from a ready-made virtual office template or from scratch. Users can embed videos on the TVs and computers in each room, draw on whiteboards via the integrated Excalidraw+ app, converse via the live chat box, and share their screens for presentations.

Each user in a branch appears as a coloured talking emoji, which captures the look and feel of live interactions. Spatial technology allows audio and video chats to pop up only when you’re near other users. For more privacy, users can gather in a room and close the door, which bars anyone else from entering (though knocking is allowed, like in the real world). To gamify the experience, users can also complete daily tasks to earn acorns and level up.
For more information or to try the platform, visit nation.branchbeta.com.

Read more stories on career tips here or gaming ideas here.

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Fashion
From Kamala Harris to Michelle Obama: All the noteworthy fashion moments from the US Presidential Inauguration 2021

21.01.2021
By Joan Kong

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Couture wedding gowns that will make you feel like a fairytale princess

Today, at Washington, DC, Joe Biden was officially sworn in as the 46th President, and Kamala, as the first Black and South Asian Vice President of the United States. While political fashion took somewhat of a hiatus during the last four years, at the Inauguration Day this morning, it made its comeback.
Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and their spouses Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff all donned outfits by American designers, and the ladies, in particular, supported emerging fashion designers. On the other hand, celebrity performers such as Lady Gaga and Jennifer Lopez paid homage to their beloved country by donning symbolic hues.
Below, all the biggest fashion moments from the Inauguration Day 2021:
Joe and Jill Biden

The President of the United States wore a custom suit by American designer Ralph Lauren, while the First Lady wore a tweed coat and dress by up-and-coming label Markarian, helmed by designer Alexandra O’Neill.
Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff

Like Joe Biden, the first second gentleman of the United States, Doug Emhoff, also wore Ralph Lauren. Kamala Harris sported a purple coat and dress by designer Christopher John Rogers, and the colour, in particular, symbolises bipartisanship—it’s a call for unity between the Republican red and Democratic blue hues.
Michelle Obama

The former FLOTUS is no stranger when it comes to supporting American talents, and at the inauguration celebration, she donned a monochrome ensemble from young designer Sergio Hudson’s AW20 collection.
Lady Gaga

Not one to shy away from statement-making get-ups, Lady Gaga wore a custom Schiaparelli couture look that features a navy fitted jacket and a voluminous red skirt. Her finishing touch? A gold dove that’s a symbol of peace.
Jennifer Lopez

The pop icon stuns in a head-to-toe Chanel outfit that comprises an overcoat, a ruffled blouse, and flared trousers—all in suffragette white.
Amanda Gorman

National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman read her poem “The Hill We Climb” in a colour-block outfit by Prada.
Ella Emhoff

Kamala Harris’s stepdaughter—a student at Parsons School of Design—sported a plaid Miu Miu coat with a dress from Batsheva underneath. Her headband is from Loeffler Randall.
Meena Harris

The Vice President’s niece wore a Coach coat and a metallic green dress by Ulla Johnson.

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Travel
5 Road trips to take you off the beaten track from Melbourne

29.10.2018
By Adelina Tan

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Guide to ETIAS: The new travel pass for Malaysians visiting Europe

From the incredibly accessible grid-like heart of the city to its distinctive and eclectic surrounding neighbourhoods, Melbourne is a thriving metropolis that beats with a creative pulse, bubbling with diversity and culture — is it any wonder the Victorian capital was named the most livable city in the world for eight consecutive years? But beyond the vibrant, bustling city, there is also a lot more to experience just outside Melbourne’s borders if you’re looking to go off the beaten track — the best trips are often ones with a sense of adventure after all.

The next time you’re in Melbourne for a getaway, consider one (or more) of these road trips to spice up your travel itinerary:

1. Bellarine Peninsula – 90-minute drive from Melbourne
If you’re always down for good food and wine, this coastal area south-west of Melbourne will be right up your alley. A haven of lush vineyards, farm gates, restaurants, golf courses and pristine beaches, it strikes a fine balance between retreat and adventure. Want to pick up surfing? Popular surf town Ocean Grove is a great place to ride your first waves. Tip: If you’re flying via AirAsia, get a 25% discount or a 2-hour public surf lesson with Go Ride A Wave*. For seasoned surfers, hit up 13th Beach which is just around the corner.

To truly get away from it all, book a stay at Lon Retreat, a luxurious accommodation and mineral spa that sits high on a hill in Point Lonsdale, with unobstructed views of the Ocean Grove and the Bellarine. It is also just a 30-minute drive away from Igni in Geelong. Hands down one of Victoria’s best restaurants, it features an ever-changing degustation menu that champions local produce and sophisticated use of the humble charcoal-grill that will most likely have you dreaming of your next visit.

*Promo period: 1 December 2018 – 30 November 2019

2. Ballarat – 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne
A city that was at the heart of the Victorian gold rush in the mid-19th century, Ballarat is a charming mix of history, heritage, contemporary arts, and diverse food and drinks. Step back in time at Sovereign Hill, where the gold rush era has been faithfully recreated as an interactive outdoor folkloric museum, and take a stroll down Lydiard Street to awe at the beautifully preserved historic buildings and architecture.

The Art Gallery of Ballarat itself is probably worth the trip for art enthusiasts. Established in 1884, it is the oldest and largest gallery in regional Australia. Besides housing an extensive permanent collection, there are always interesting contemporary exhibitions coming and going too. Once you’ve toured the gallery, sit down at the in-house Kittelty’s café for some pastries and a cuppa.

3. Grampians – 3-hour drive from Melbourne
To immerse in some of the most breathtaking experiences nature can offer, take on the great outdoors at Grampians. Embark on a walk up to The Pinnacle lookout for stunning views of Halls Gap and Grampians’ majestic peaks, or visit the Brambuk Centre to marvel at aboriginal art and artefacts, as well as ancient rock art dating back thousands of years. Don’t miss the gorgeous cascading Mackenzie Falls too.

Adrenaline junkies will feel right at home here. Get in touch with Absolute Outdoors Australia to explore the terrains of Grampians National Park on a mountain bike, or tackle rock climbing and abseiling on routes set up by Mother Nature.

4. Wilsons Promontory – 3-hour drive from Melbourne
Affectionately known as ‘The Prom’, Wilsons Promontory National Park is home to Victoria’s largest coastal wilderness area. Tasmania aside, it is the southernmost point of the Australian continent. From spectacular rock formations and secluded beaches, to an abundance of native wildlife and flora (spot koalas in the wild!), rest assured there are plenty of scenic trails to be discovered.

Halfway through the 3-hour drive there, we recommend taking a meal break on the way at The Rusty Windmill in Leongatha, which sits at about halfway into the journey. A cosy little restaurant that exudes rustic charm, get your fix of local comfort food done right. How does a cheese tart with free range bacon, sundried tomato and pesto served with salad sound? We hear the cakes are amazing too.

5. Great Ocean Road – 1.5-hour drive from Melbourne
What is a trip to Melbourne without a drive to the iconic Great Ocean Road? It is not known as one of the world’s most scenic coastal drives for nothing. You can opt for a day trip just to see the awe-inspiring 12 Apostles, or take a leisurely road trip over a few days — there are so many points of interest to stop by. The full route spans 244km, from the town of Torquay to Allansford near Warrnambool.

The best thing about taking a drive there (instead of a tour) is the freedom to stop at as many lookouts as you’d like to admire the splendid coastal views. Soak up the surf culture at Bell’s Beach, stop by beach town Lorne for a satisfying lunch of fish and chips, visit Cape Otway light station – the oldest surviving lighthouse in Australia, admire the lush rainforest of the Otway National Park, and of course, marvel at the 12 Apostles at Port Campbell. Tip: Take the Gibson Steps down to the wild beach for a glorious ground-level view of the world-famous structures.

If you haven’t heard, AirAsia will be moving its services in Melbourne from Tullamarine Airport to Avalon Airport from 4 December 2018 onwards. Reduced airport congestion (read: faster immigration clearance and baggage collection!) aside, this also brings you closer to some of the destinations above — Bellarine and Great Ocean Road are just less than an hour away.

Fly to Melbourne, 14 times weekly, with an all-in fare from only RM499 (one-way).
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Beauty Advent Calendar : Bulgari Aqva Amara and Divina
Scents of the sea

02.12.2015
By Wei Yeen Loh

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The new Mediterranean scent from Bulgari, Aqva Divina, is inspired by Venus—the goddess of love and the eternal symbol of feminine beauty. The idea that master perfumer Alberto Morillas had in mind was to create a scent that evoked the salty, sun-kissed skin that you’d find on a summer day by the beach. Bulgari’s Aqva Divina EDT’s notes include salty bergamot, pink ginger, magnolia, nude amber and beeswax for a spicy energy, coupled with a fruity tonaliy and woody finish. The jewel-shaped bottle also draws inspiration from the curves and delicate shape of a seashell—an ultra feminine and poetic metaphor.

To complement the feminine scent, Bulgari Aqva Amara is an aquatic, masculine scent made for the strong, self-assured man. Paying homage to the Mediterranean and the basic elements of the world (water, air, earth and mineral), the top notes of the Aqva Amara include Sicilian mandarin, Neroli, Indonesian patchouli and ollbanum. The copper-coloured rounded bottle is a unique, reinterpretated design that pays tribute to the metal itself—a vital element of the volcanic lands of the Mediterranean.

Bulgari Aqva Amara and Divina is now available at all counters nationwide

Related stories:
Beauty Advent Calendar Day 1: Clarisonic Pedi Foot Transformation SetBeauty Advent Calendar Day 2: La Mer The Renewal Oil

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