Food + Drink
Malaysian Chefs Cook at Home: Steak sandwich by Chef Chai, Copper Restaurant

03.10.2019
By Gwen Ong

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What do chefs cook at home? It’s a thought that we often wonder. In our new series ‘Malaysian Chefs Cook at Home’, we invade visit the houses of a few prominent names in the food industry and got them to cook up a simple dish that they enjoy making when the soul calls for it. No frills, simply delicious!
Kicking off our new series is Chef Chai of Copper Restaurant. Chef Chai is trained in Switzerland and he relishes in European cuisine mixed with Mediterannean flavours for his restaurant that he co-runs with his wife, Zeehan Zahari. Located at Menara Shell, Copper has been around since 2015 with a menu that’s ever-changing every few months. Chai’s cooking philosophy is to source local whenever and wherever they can. And sustainably too if he can help it.
Now back to an afternoon in Chai’s home. A particular dish that he loves to make is a steak sandwich that was first created by Zeehan years ago. It’s a meal that he craves for when not cooking himself. Happy to report that Chai’s result below got two thumbs up from the lady of the house herself. Enjoy!

OPEN-FACE STEAK SANDWICH
Ingredients:

Olives with pimento + juice
Mayo
Bega extra tasty cheese
Mozzarella shredded
Pecorino Romano cheese
100g ‘day-old steak’ or fresh steak
Sarawak crack pepper
Turkish pickled chillies
Aop French espelette peppers / chilli flakes
Fresh humane-certified eggs
Alfalfa
Sea salt flakes
Multigrain toast

Methods:

Start off with preheating pan and air fryer.
Same time turn on the convection oven around 200c with top heat funtion.
Season the steak lightly and evenly on both sides.
Add oil to pan, once lightly smokey, sear till caramelised on both sides, turn every 2 minute till medium rare – medium according to preference, let rest.
Wipe clean pan and add oil, heat up, make a sunny side egg, once ready remove and place on a baking tray, set to the side.
Meanwhile mix mayo and olive brine till light and spreadable, fold in chopped olives, mix well and spread on toast.
Slice the beef and lay on top of mayo olive mix, top it up with grated Bega cheese (you can add on shredded mozzarella), grate Sarawak black pepper generously over the cheese.
Slide into pre-heated air fryer for 2-3 minutes till cheese are melted and lightly gratinated.
Make a sunny side egg and bake in oven with top heat to lightly cook the the surface of the egg yolk to reach a thicker viscosity, you can skip this step if you like runny yolks.
Place on top the gratinated cheese, add a small mount of alfalfa, extra virgin olive oil and a side of Middle Eastern chilli pickles.

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Lifestyle
Bottega Veneta partners with The Shanghai Centre of Photography
Art ties

24.01.2017
By Su Fen Tan

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In partnership with The Shanghai Centre of Photography (SCoP), one of the most prestigious photography institutes in China, Bottega Veneta will support four key international exhibitions held at the museum. This collaboration affirms the brand’s strong commitment to art and culture, while honouring Tomas Maier’s dynamic relationship with photography.

“Photography is one of my passions in life, and remains today one of the expressions of Bottega Veneta’s bond with collaboration as the founding dialectic of everything we create. Our commitment in supporting art in general follows the belief that protecting heritage and local culture is the only way of granting a consistent future to the next generations: choosing to partner with SCoP has been very natural due to its dedication in spreading the awareness of local and international photography in China.”

The first of the Bottega Veneta-sponsored series is ‘Made in Germany: German Photography from the 19th Century to Today’, which kicked off earlier this month, and is on exhibit to 2 April 2017. It provides an overview of German photography, from Pictorialism to Bauhaus and West German documentary.

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Fashion
9 Pairs of sensible party heels to dance the night away

05.12.2019
By Stephanie Boey

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The joy of the party season comes with minor stressors. Making sure you find the perfect gift for your loved ones is high up there. But once you’ve settled your presents for everybody on your ‘Nice’ list, it’s also good to splurge on yourself! Treat yourself right and take the time to find the perfect party outfit this festive season (be it rented or bought). Feast your eyes on our handpicked list of petite party bags to go with it, too. Our philosophy this year when it comes to handbags is that less is more. Bring only your essentials and leave the excess baggage behind as we spearhead into 2020.
Next up on the shopping list is arguably the most crucial—shoes. Choose wisely as they are responsible for the comfort and outcome of your night. Just like picking the perfect bag, finding the right pair comes with a few prerequisites. Starting with: What are your plans for the night? If they involve you dancing or being on your feet all night, you might want to ease up on the stilettos and go with a more sensible pair that will be kind to your feet. Key styles to look out for when it comes to a long night out: medium height and broad heels. Square, block heels and platforms provide height while going easy on the feet. If you’re wondering why, it’s because the larger surface area distributes your weight evenly ie. exerting less pressure on your soles (and soul!). Who knew shoe shopping could be so scientific?!
Below, 10 pairs of shoes that will give you a boost, all while being kind to your feet:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Holiday 2019: Sensible footwear” rid=”7716″ order=”a_tstamp”}
For more holiday shopping guides, head to the Buro Christmas Village here!
**Sourcing by Nathanael Hsieh

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Travel
Sights to See: 7 Amazing pink lakes from around the world
Pretty in pink

10.10.2016
By Rachel Au

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Yes, it’s easy to get lost in all the ‘ugly’ in this world today—be it reports of crime, pollution, or just a growing concrete jungle. Things begin to become mundane and life itself begins to grow dull. But that’s where the beauty of travelling lies. Seeing a new city is as much of a breath of fresh air as going on a forest resort getaway albeit less literal. If you’re unable to take a few days off from work in the next few weeks (or months), how about just taking a breather and looking at these amazing pink lakes from around the world?
(And just add them to your travel bucket list while you’re at it.)

1. Lake Eyre, South Australia

Australia is home to several pink salt lakes and there is one located 700 kilometres north of Adelaide—Lake Eyre. It holds the title of the largest salt lake in Australia yet it is rarely ever filled with water, having only been filled to capacity three times in the last 160 years. The pink phenomenon happens when the lake begins to dry up, increasing its salinity as the water evaporates.

2. Hutt Lagoon, Western Australia

Located in the Kalbarri region of Western Australia and beaming in various shades of pink, Hutt Lagoon is more than just a pretty sight—it contains the world’s largest microalgae production plant. The resident algae responsible for the pink hue is called Dunaliella salina. It produces tonnes of beta-carotene which can be used as a food colouring agent as well as acts as a source of Vitamin A.

3. Lake Hillier, Western Australia

Perhaps one of the most represented images of a pink lake, Lake Hillier on Middle Island is a stunning sight for its bubblegum pink against the contrasting lush greenery that surrounds it. The reason behind its bright hue, however, was a mystery for the longest time until researchers confirmed it in a new investigation in March 2016. While the culprit was undoubtedly Dunaliella salina, they found that the lake also contained many other ‘extremophile’ microbes which contribute to its rosy colour.

4. Laguna Colorada, Bolivia

This pink lake is also known as the Red Lagoon as it comes off as a pink-reddish colour depending on the season and thanks to the variety of algae that dwells in it. Rather than its gorgeous mix of colours, the shallow salt lake is more popular for a large number of the endangered James’s flamingo—also called the puna flamingo—flocking to the area.

5. Lake Retba, Senegal

Lake Retba—or as the locals call it ‘Lac Rose’—is another popular pink lake and plays a huge role in the community’s means of living. With such a high concentration of salt—it has even been compared to that of the Dead Sea—it is actually harvested by the locals where they will spend up to seven hours a day using long shovels to pile their boats high with the mineral.

6. Salinas de Torrevieja, Spain

Relatively easier to visit as it’s found next to the city itself, Salinas de Torrevieja is actually made up of two salt water lakes; except one is green and the other is pink. There’s a protected natural park next to it which is a rich haven for flora and fauna, but especially for flamingoes during the mating season. Most of the locals visit for strolls by the lake or just to have a picnic.

7. Lake Burlinskoye, Siberia

Lake Burlinskoye made headlines recently in August as the lake that turns pink during (and every) summer. The natural phenomenon has been attracting more tourists to Siberia or more specifically, to the mountainous Altai region. Unlike the other popular pink lakes, it gets is rosy blush from an overload of tiny pink microorganisms called Artemia salina, a three-eyed, salt-loving brine shrimp with 11 legs that swims upside down.

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Watches
Bell & Ross debuts limited edition watches to celebrate Renault F1 partnership
Race for time

19.04.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

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As the official watch partner of the Renault Sport Formula One Team, Bell & Ross continues to celebrate the partnership by releasing a new limited edition pair of watches: the BR-X1 RS16 and the BR-X1 RS16 Tourbillon, named after the team’s new R.S. 16 race car for the 2016 season.

Introduced at The Grand Prix race week in Shanghai, Bell & Ross’ BR-X1 line is the extreme version of the iconic BR01, drawing parallels to Formula One as the ultimate version of a car. Designed to withstand incredible tolerances, the BR-X1 RS16 Skeleton Chronograph and the BR-X1 RS16 Skeleton Chronograph Tourbillon are both armoured and extremely technical, thanks to its innovative 45mm multi-material case that allows it to withstand incredible tolerances.

The BRX1s are made with grade 5 titanium and carbone  forgé, a high-tech composite material obtained using a unique patented conversion process that compresses carbon fibers in high temperature in a steel mold. After reworking the carbon fibers and composition of the resin, the result is a non-porous, water-resistant single-unit case with clean edges, in a deep black. The unique marbled appearance of each piece is formed by the random way the carbon fibers are mixed. Made from grey-tinted sapphire crystal and appliqué metal indices with photo-luminescent inserts, the dial forms a clear window through which the movement can be spotted. The faceted, Superluminova-filled hands and appliqué indices offer perfect legibility as well, along with a yellow rubber grip incorporated to the case for better handling especially when wearing gloves. Spot the similar hue that is also Renault Sport’s official chromatic on the crown’s yellow rubber inserts and rocker push buttons.

Limited to 20 pieces, the BR-X1 RS16 Skeleton Chronograph Tourbillon is fitted with a manual wind Skeleton Tourbillon Mono- Pusher Chronograph, with column wheel movement, and hours and minutes in the center for a traditional display and a 100 hour power reserve indicator at 9 o’clock. It also includes a 30-minute counter at 10 o’clock and a 60-second counter at 2 o’clock for the chronograph functions.

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Fashion
Buro 24/7 Exclusive: Fendi ‘HypnoShine’ video
#fendihypnoshine

23.11.2016
By Buro247

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There are not many who would agree to voluntary hypnotism but the same cannot be said about Fendi’s latest video release. Introducing the ‘HypnoShine’ sunglasses, the Fall/Winter 2016 accessory features fluid yet graphic lines, enhancing the sophisticated sensuality of the ultra-flat frames. Available in cat-eye and squared models, the collection comes in multiple colour choices will have you spoiled. Think green metals with green shaded lenses and burgundy metals with burgundy and amber lenses, amongst others.
Complementing the unique characteristics of the accessory, ‘HypnoShine’ is unveiled in the magnetic video of moving patterns, appearing in a funky yet whirling microcosm. From floating waves and hypnotic eyes to mirrors reflecting shapes and liquids in a surreal world, the cool eyewear are shaped and coloured by fluctuating optical illusions. Taking the new frames into a game of abstract silhouettes from green to blue and Bordeaux to amber, the spellbinding video makes us want to add the full collection to our shopping carts.
Get ready to be hypnotized in the video below – you’ve been warned:

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My Date with Dain Said

Culture
My Date with Dain Said
What Dain said

02.12.2016
By Buro247

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I arrive for lunch at our agreed restaurant along Jalan Mesui to find Dain Said already there tucking into scrambled eggs and toast. “I just woke up and need to have breakfast first. There’s really good Indian down the road, we can have that in an hour or so.”  Okayyy. Gotta love a man with a lusty appetite especially when the ripples created by screenings of his newly-released film are radiating outwards in increasingly significant circles on the international film-festival circuit. He’s just returned from a “secret screening” of Interchange at the Georgetown Literary Festival in Penang and is leaving the next day for another screening in Jogjakarta. The KL premiere last week was preceded a day earlier by the distinction of opening the Singapore International Film Festival 2016. London, Vladivostok, Toronto and Locarno amongst other cities hosting prestigious film-festivals have all unveiled his latest genre-defying feature to considerable acclaim. Variety magazine calls Dain (yes we’re on a first name basis here) “a vital force in energizing Malaysian commercial cinema” with this “ambitious … tastefully exotic” celluloid offering with  “genuinely creative fantasy elements.”

Interchange is beautifully shot with an alternately alluring, alternately dystopian, wholly unrecognizable KL. It’s existentialist angst on an impressionist backdrop. The narrative travels seamlessly between modernity and a tribal past where the supernatural is revealed and artlessly fuses with perception. Where the very real magic of photography freezes the unstoppable in ways we urbanites habitually dismiss. Where a series of macabre murders so elegantly crafted severs mortal bonds even as immortality once again rises.
Dain calls his film a fairy-tale for adults. Actually he uses language much more colourful but nevermind that. Somewhere between the crazy hair and the dangling cigarette, that baritone, still inflected by 20 years of London living, coaxes beautifully quiet, deeply powerful performances from his actors (Shaheizy Sam, Nadiyaa Nisaa and the rest of an outstanding cast) . “I just fall in love with my actors. Robert Altman and I—we do that,” he grins. He describes his favourite scene in Interchange—the confrontation between Adam (Iedil Putra—so so fine in everything I’ve seen him in) and Iva (the lovely Prisa Nasution) in the photography studio owned by Heng (Chew Kin-Wah on full gravitas form). “I did as much as I could with the choreography of movement, the lighting and their performances to convey the intensity I needed in the stillness I wanted. I think what the actors do is amazing.”

Nandita Soloman, Dain’s life and work partner arrives with Indonesian superstar Nicolas Saputra. The crucial topic of an Indian lunch is discussed between the producer and her director while I compliment Nicolas on his superb portrayal as Belian in Interchange.  I ask Nicolas about his decision to take on a  supporting role that didn’t utilize his cinematic heartthrob looks, to which he replied the thought never even entered his mind—he just wanted to play what he thought was a really good role in Dain’s film. I’d met Alvin Wong who plays a policeman in the film at the KL premiere and asked what attracted him to it. “Dain Said of course! Who wouldn’t want to work in a Dain Said movie?” All this on the strength of only 1 released feature film prior to Interchange—Bunohan. Though admittedly that one film did go on to win the NETPAC award at the Golden Horse Film Festival in Taipei as well as all the major categories at the 25th Malaysian Film Festival in 2013.
INTERCHANGE IS BEAUTIFULLY SHOT WITH AN ALTERNATELY ALLURING, ALTERNATELY DYSTOPIAN, WHOLLY UNRECOGNIZABLE KL
Nandita and Nicolas leave in search of sustenance elsewhere. Dain continues with his love for the late Krzysztof Kieslowski’s films and his admiration for Ho Yuhang’s work in Malaysia.  He talks about claiming back the local industry, taking back our stories and making truly Malaysian films for Malaysians across the board. South East Asian films, and the way communities in the region live daily in modernity and magic, rationality and spirituality. Interchange reflects his comfort with multi-culture societies, resonating with his hybrid upbringing across the globe. He talks about The Cinematic Apparatus. How it encompasses the whole system of movie-making from conception to consumption. It’s the system and the tools. How Nandita and him formed their company Apparat to make movies this way. How ideas arrive organically from a snippet of conversation, a snatch of music or, as in the case of Interchange, an old image of tribal women ritual bathing in a river to counteract the evil effects of being photographed. He just wants to tell good stories. Stories that are meaningful and layered and still entertaining. And film being a visual medium—look good too.

I ask him to tell me something about himself that no one else knows. He tells me an unprintable story knowing I can’t use it. Actually he tells me a couple. He tells me about the 20 year old Dain, harbouring a dread of never making it as a film-maker, and dreaming then about being probably just where he’s at in his career today. But now he realizes he hasn’t arrived. He still wants to keep learning. “Because when you think you’ve arrived that’s when you die in every way. I’m not there yet and now I know it’s ok to not know if I’ll ever get there.”

Interchange is playing at GSC and TGV cinemas now.

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MFW SS16: Blugirl

Fashion
MFW SS16: Blugirl

25.09.2015
By Wei Yeen Loh

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

Our review will be posted shortly.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Blugirl SS16″ rid=”3450″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Fashion
12 Petite party bags to tote while you celebrate the festive season

20.11.2019
By Stephanie Boey

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Outfit? Check! Arm candy? Check and check! Next up on the party ensemble to-do list: The trusty handbag. The ultimate party bag is just as important as the previous two. Aside from complementing your *party lewk*, it has to fit all your party and holiday season essentials. Depending on your personal preferences (do you travel light or do you prefer being prepared with a chockful of items ie. wet wipes, mints, gum, band-aids etc), your first step would be to decide on the size. If you prefer a shoulder bag, Prada‘s floral appliqué mini tote would suit your style with its spacious rectangular shape, providing ample room even for the most prepared and responsible party-goer. Want to make more of a splash? Balenciaga‘s clam shell clutch with the pearl strap was made for the mermaid-obsessed. But if you’re looking to up the ante even more, Christoper Kane‘s colourful liquid-filled pouches for Autumn/Winter 2019 will definitely be the talk of the party.

Appliquéd satin tote, Prada

Faux pearl and satin clutch, Balenciaga

Crystal-embellished PVC clutch, Christopher Kane

Mini shoulder bag, Paco Rabanne

Metallic textured-leather shoulder bag, Saint Laurent

Python-effect leather clutch bag, Marni

Mini metallic leather-trimmed calf hair tote, Oscar de la Renta

Padded woven clutch, Bottega Veneta

Beaded wooden shoulder bag, Vanina

Embellished python shoulder bag, Tom Ford

Cube leather tote, Volon

Beaded bag, Shrimps
For more holiday shopping guides, visit the Buro Christmas Village here!
**Sourcing by Nathanael Hsieh

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Dressed up Fridays: Playing with pleats

Fashion
Dressed up Fridays: Playing with pleats
Pretty folds

28.01.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Pleats are one of the most underrated fabric cuts out there—it’s ultra flattering and feminine, yet there are a variety of pleats in the fashion world that you might not even notice or distinguish the differences between a knife pleat or a box pleat. But never fear, at least your styling picks are in line this Friday even before you do your fashion reading:

When a skirt of that calibre is capturing all the attention, keep your separates simple with this Roksanda ‘Berrick’ silk top. The mesh faux collar adds a cute punchy touch to your outfit without the blahness of a black top.

The skirt of the hour is in the form of Gucci’s metallic pleated silk-blend midi skirt from their Cruise 2016 collection. Ways to make sure you’re wearing a flattering bottom? Put on a skirt with accordion pleats like this number and make sure it sits at the slimmest part of your waist.

Give a pop of colour to your ensemble. We’re swooning at Gianvito Rossi’s ‘Tuxedo’ pumps in a lovely shade of wine, and the soft velvet cements its luxe status.

Pleats and pumps don’t always mean school teacher. Add a contrasting modern element to your classic ensemble with Givenchy’s Mini Pandora Box bag in textured leather. We love the structured shell of this fun-sized accessory.

Go with the flow (in this case, it’s gold) when it comes to jewellery. Make sure it’s nothing too ostentatious lest you come across as a walking gold nugget, so slip on Aurélie Bidermann’s ‘Marisa’ bracelet plated in 18kt yellow gold-and etched with an intricate rope effect

Add on a bright lippie to tone down the severity of your look. Clé de Peau Beauté Extra Rich Lipstick in 113 is guaranteed to give you a moisturising slick of spring-worthy colour—we’re a sucker for that glamorous lipstick case too, might we add!

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Fashion
The best looking stars at the MTV Movie and TV Awards 2017
Off-screen

08.05.2017
By Buro247

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The night was off to an exciting start as host, Adam Devine was joined by Josh Gad, Hailee Steinfeld and Rebel Wilson in a Beauty and the Beast medley that involved bursting into song and flames. Formerly just known as the MTV Movie Awards, the newly revamped awards show with its new title now honours the best from both big and small screens.

A post shared by MTV (@mtv) on May 7, 2017 at 7:19pm PDT

But prior to the ‘Stranger Things’ kids stealing the show as usual and Emma Watson picking up the first genderless Best Actor in a Movie award, stars turned heads on the red carpet in dazzling ensembles. Be it the sparkly getups like those of Allison Williams’ and the original Belle of the ball, colour blocked frocks as worn by Zara Larsson and Tracee Ellis Ross, or an all-white outfit worked to a tee by Millie Bobby Brown and Zac Efron; we couldn’t help but appreciate the wearable yet fierce looks from the event.

Even the two Wolverines (see first picture of story) approve.

{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”MTV Movie and TV Awards 2017″ rid=”5063″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Fashion
Louis Vuitton brings a bout of edge and elegance for “Series 7”
#LVSeries7

20.07.2017
By Wei Yeen Loh

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One thing you can expect from Nicolas Ghesquière’s campaign images for Louis Vuitton is an A-lister cast that usually comprises strong heroine-like characters. Case in point, Series 5 starred Selena Gomez amongst a “tribe of determined” women, and Series 6 featured an all-female lineup including Michelle Williams, Sasha Lane, Jennifer Connelly and Adèle Exarchopoulos exploring Paris in the sultry heat of summer. For Autumn/Winter 2017, Ghesquière once again teams up with photographer Bruce Weber for Series 7, taking inspiration from raw elements and stark lines of an urbanised, industrial alternate reality. This time, his lineup include prestigious guests—legendary French film actress Catherine Deneuve is spotted gracing the ads as she cradles the new calf-leather City Steamer in her arms; along with Jaden Smith, Riley Keough, Sophie Turner and Kevin Mischel decked in the brand’s latest collection.

“The collection of Nicolas Ghesquière is always something that everybody expects and waits for because he is radical in his views and it’s very important for a lot of people … he goes in a line, he has really his style,” says Deneuve. “He’s not one to try to make you look pretty. Things run much deeper than that. He’s not looking to be loved. He wants to give people something to remember. He digs deep for fabrics and forms. He’s very much a futurist and incredibly talented in that respect.”

Check out the full campaign here:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Louis Vuitton Series 7 Ad Campaign” rid=”5270″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Style guide: Coachella 2018

Fashion
Style guide: Coachella 2018
Festival fashion

14.04.2018
By Joan Kong

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

Coachella is back again for another year, and if you’re still deciding on your festival outfit, fret not, our last minute shopping guide is here to help you out. The first step to give your festival wardrobe that trendy refresh? Ditch the flower crowns and kimono outerwear; instead, incorporate these nine big trends from SS18 into your look—we’ve got you covered from head to toe. Belting out to Beyoncé, The Weeknd and Eminem has never looked this good.
Straw hats:
Take cover from the sun at the desert with these lightweight straw hats that add that vacation-ready vibe. We love the easy-to-care-for material that makes packing a breeze. To start, go for a classic fedora or Panama hat from Maison Michel and Rag & Bone, but if making a statement is your aim, Miu Miu‘s embroidered piece, or our favourite—the oversized straw hat from Jacquemus—will do the trick.
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Tiny sunglasses:
Although the eyewear might not be the most practical when it comes to shading your peepers from UV rays, the resurgence of the itty-bitty trend is definitely not one to ignore. A black pair like Off-White‘s and Le Specs‘ is a safe way to try them out, but we’re in favour of the bright and bold cat-eye shapes from Céline and Illesteva that add that bit of drama to your overall look.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Coachella 2018 tiny sunglasses” rid=”6129″ order=”a_tstamp”}
OTT earrings:
Arguably the easiest way to make a statement, these jewellery are definitely our favourite way to accessorise. Add some shine to your ensemble with metal pieces from JW Anderson or Dries Van Noten, or adorn your lobes with the ones from Oscar de la Renta or Dolce & Gabbana for more head-turning factor—you don’t need pierced ears to sport the latter!
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Coachella 2018 OTT earrings” rid=”6134″ order=”a_tstamp”}
Sheer allure:
There’s no better time to flaunt some skin than at a festival, and the best part? It’s also one of SS18’s hottest (no pun intended) trends. The see-through blouse from Saint Laurent lets you play with different lingerie underneath (our pick: the lace bralet from Fleur of England), but if you’re not in the mood for mix-and-matching, the Self-Portrait dress will look good with a pair of cowboy boots. Anna Sui‘s long tulle outerwear lends that sway-with-every-move silhouette.
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Dark denim:
When it comes to denim, dark washes definitely took a backseat compared to the more statement-making trends, such as dramatic flares and embellished pieces, but this season, prepare to sport dark indigo denim a little more. The Alexa Chung, Balmain and Saint Laurent separates make up your trusty festival wardrobe, while Fendi‘s pearl logo jacket lets you nail three trends at one go.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Coachella 2018 dark denim” rid=”6132″ order=”a_tstamp”}
Plastic fantastic:
It may be hot in the Indio Valley, but there’s no stopping us when it comes to looking our best for the see-and-be-seen festival. If you’re feeling skeptical about the material, rock them in small doses in the form of a Marni clutch or Valentino slides. Alternatively, get a Burberry trench coat (that doubles up as a raincoat), or layer a sexy bralet under a sheer Balenciaga shirt for that juxtaposition.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Coachella 2018 plastic” rid=”6130″ order=”a_tstamp”}
Lavender hues:
It’s time to give millennial pink a break and ease into the Pantone of the year with a pastel tone (that also happens to be SS18’s It-colour) to start. A beautiful colour on almost any piece, such as the dresses from Preen by Thornton Bregazzi and Coach, you can also don a pair of jeans (from Tibi) that’ll look good with a cropped top. Finish off with earrings from Peter Pilotto for a monochrome look.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Coachella 2018 lavender” rid=”6131″ order=”a_tstamp”}
Fanny packs:
Call them fanny packs or belt bags, prepared to spot an abundance of these carriers during Coachella—not that we’re complaining. As trendy they are convenient, these bags let you enjoy a fuss-free weekend at the festivities. But instead of a plain piece, go for eye-catching options by incorporating suede or velvet material into the mix (à la Gucci and Miu Miu), or take it one step further with charms (Balenciaga) and fringes (Alexander Wang).
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Coachella 2018 fanny pack” rid=”6135″ order=”a_tstamp”}
Ugly sneakers
Say goodbye to your boots and gladiator—the clunky sneakers are our choice of footwear this year for a stylish and comfortable finish. Opt for darker soles like the Stella McCartney leopard trainers or the fan-favourite Balenciaga Triple S to avoid staining your shoes in the mud, but for fail-proof pairings, the black-and-white Acne Studios and Vetements pairs are a great pick.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Coachella 2018 ugly sneakers” rid=”6137″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Beauty
Trending: The blunt haircut that everyone can pull off
Sharp shearing

23.05.2017
By Gwen Ong

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Bella Hadid has done the deed, so have Selena Gomez and Olivia Wilde. The blunt cut has quickly become a firm favourite of 2017. With clean lines and dramatic angles, the chin-length chop is both edgy and sophisticated as it accentuates the jawline and cheekbones.

The blunt cut is versatile and universally flattering on everyone whether you go sleek and straight or flirty and wavy. Yes, that’s right, you don’t have to restrict yourself to the straightened look for this hairstyle to work. You can get a modernised version with curled hair and have the ends cut really blunt. It is the update we can’t get enough of.

For girls with round face shape, we know your concern, opt for a slightly layered or texturised cut and longer bob so it creates movement and elongate the face. While for those with long faces, get a chin-length layered cut to add width and texture. One edgy and windswept hairstyle coming up!

Need more convincing to take the plunge? We went celebrity stalking spotting. Check out these celebs who have gone for the sharp chop – who do you think wore it best?

A post shared by Lucy Hale (@lucyhale) on May 17, 2017 at 5:12pm PDT

A post shared by Nina Dobrev (@nina) on Apr 28, 2017 at 9:35pm PDT

A post shared by Bella Hadid (@bellahadid) on May 2, 2017 at 6:57am PDT

A post shared by Hailey Baldwin (@haileybaldwin) on May 17, 2017 at 11:01am PDT

A post shared by Olivia Wilde (@oliviawilde) on May 10, 2017 at 6:29pm PDT

A post shared by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on May 22, 2017 at 9:56am PDT

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Fashion
7 of Malaysia’s coolest dads and where to shop their looks
Local Zaddies

18.06.2023
By Benedict Unang

Featured image: @awalashaari/Instagram

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

Fashion is, perhaps, the last thing on many fathers’ minds, especially when they are wearing multiple hats—from achieving career goals to getting together with the family. However, these roles haven’t stopped some dads from having fun with fashion and you (or your superhero) can do the same! Make the most of this Father’s Day to freshen your wardrobe, and who better to serve as your inspiration than these Malaysian dads? Keep reading to see some of our favourite ‘fits from them and where to shop the looks!

Awal Ashaari

In addition to his flourishing career as an actor and TV host, Awal Ashaari is a fashion star who often appears in the front rows of fashion shows, both locally and internationally. Although he has been colourblind his entire life, that doesn’t hinder him  from pulling out all the stops in the name of style!

Zip front denim vest, Dickies

Baggy denim pants, Courréges

Blue square sunglasses, Dior

Samba OG shoes, Adidas

Bernard Chandran

As Malaysia’s King of Fashion, Bernard Chandran never misses any opportunity to dress in ways that reflect his feelings, thoughts, and actions. A peek at his Instagram account reveals how he likes extravagant accessories and eye-catching designs because, well, why not?

Stud-detail cotton jumper, Etro

Cotton-wool single breasted coat, Lemaire

Leather pipe-trim trousers, Alexander Wang

Slip-on suede boots, Premiata

Jovian Mandagie

Jovian Mandagie sees the beauty in minimalism and requires no gaudy accessories to express his sense of style. Along with his knack for mixing and matching pieces, he makes any ensemble look appealing and cosy by nailing the right colour palette.

Plain cotton t-shirt, Rick Owens

Slim-cut chino trousers, Acne Studios

Round-frame tinted sunglasses, Oliver Peoples

Re-Nylon sneakers, Prada

Roen Cian Nagapan

Nothing will stop Roen Cian Nagapan from experimenting with fashion, even if he gets caught up with different endeavours. While he brings his A-game to every occasion, this denim moment, in our opinion, suits the father of two the most!

Levi’s 1936 Type 1 Jacket, Levi’s

Levi’s 502 taper fit jeans, Levi’s

Alpha bravo navigation backpack, Tumi

Stan Smith crepe shoes, Adidas

Aiman Hakim Ridza

When Aiman Hakim Ridza is not in front of the camera, he settles for an off-duty style that’s all about ease and comfort. Throw on some band tees and cargo shorts, and the actor is all set to tackle the day!

Crew-neck sleeveless vest, Jil Sander

Knee-length cargo shorts, C.P. Company

Ami De Coeur marl-knit socks, Ami Paris

Dior warp sandal, Dior

Bryan Loo

Between running his well-known F&B business and taking care of his family, Bryan Loo consistently finds opportunities to get creative with fashion no matter the occasion. From light pink double-breasted suits to a yellow designer bomber jacket, the award-winning entrepreneur is versatile and not afraid to experiment with various hues.

LV Graphic mesh long-sleeved t-shirt, Louis Vuitton

All-over logo-print shorts, Moschino

Saffiano leather shoulder bag, Prada

Greca-print sandals, Versace

SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin

SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin is not one to hide his stylish sensibility, as he makes time to dress up in designer clothes whenever he can. Streetwear, in particular, is right up his alley, and we think he has nailed it through the years.

T-shirt in cotton, Saint Laurent

Leather biker jacket, Tom Ford

Slim fit jeans, Zegna

Lace-up high-top sneakers, Mulberry

For more fashion reads, click here.

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Lifestyle
Life is not plastic fantastic – David Attenborough tells us why

08.06.2018
By Gwen Ong

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

Sir David Attenborough is a name you’d recognise as the person behind the fascinating Blue Planet series. Over the years, the TV presenter has travelled the world and opened our eyes to the wonders of the wildlife and ocean. But in his journey, he has also shown us the devastation that plastic has caused on marine life.

When his Blue Planet II series aired a few months ago, many were taken aback by how plastic has flowed into the ocean waters, how albatross parents were feeding their chicks plastic and mother dolphins were potentially harming their new-born calves through nursing them with contaminated milk. Shocking how these lives were affected!

“We use plastic – or have done until now – with total abandon, without any care or concern about where it’s going to go and what it might do,” said Attenborough in a BBC Radio 4 interview. If this continues, some of the animal species that we take for granted could go into extinction. He warns that the human race will live to regret this if we don’t take steps to protect the natural world.

Every year there are more than 300 million tons of plastic produced globally and out of this, 10 percent will end up in the sea. A report by The Telegraph noted that there is a 1:2 ratio of plastic to plankton, and if this is left unchecked, we’ll be looking at more plastic in the ocean than fishes by 2050. If that doesn’t alarm you, it’s also been found that humans ingest about 11,000 pieces of microplastic each year from eating seafood. Fact is marine animals aren’t able to digest plastic and chemicals tend to leach into the waters. So you can say it comes back full circle into your tummy.

“We have a responsibility, every one of us,” he said. “We may think we live a long way from the oceans, but we don’t. What we actually do here and in the middle of Asia and wherever, has a direct effect on the oceans – and what the oceans do then reflects back on us.”

Let Attenborough’s closing message from the final episode of Blue Planet II serves as a reminder to what our responsibilities are.

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Watches
SAG Awards 2020: All the stunning jewellery spotted on the red carpet

20.01.2020
By Joan Kong

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After the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards headlined the first two Sundays of 2020, it’s now time for the third biggest film ceremony of the year: Screen Actors Guild Awards. As usual, you can always count on Hollywood’s biggest names to pull out all the stops when it comes to their red carpet ensembles, from the most impeccable makeup to head-turning gowns and the accessories. Below, we shine the spotlight on all the stunning jewellery that was spotted on the A-listers—scroll through to get some styling tips while you’re at it.
Unlike her big and bold gown at the recent Golden Globes, Jennifer Lopez opted for a chic black dress by Georges Hobeika this round, but she made sure to still give an equally statement-making finish with earrings, necklace, bracelets and rings from Harry Winston that are made of around 200-carat worth of diamonds. The estimated price? Over USD$9 million. Charlize Theron also opted to accessorise her muted Givenchy gown with diamonds, but instead of wearing the bracelet on her wrist, she pulled a surprising move by styling it down her hair parting because she didn’t have time to touch up her roots before the event—a genius move, in our opinion. Michelle Williams, too, wore her Forevermark diamond brooch in her hair, and left the rest of her look simple and sophisticated. The dazzling rock aside, we also love the pop of colours that elevated some of the get-ups, including Danai Gurira‘s rainbow Bvlgari necklace and Scarlett Johansson‘s Taffin drop earrings. Christina Applegate‘s mismatched earrings will be the trend to try for our next formal event.
Scroll through for the best jewellery of the night:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] SAG Awards 2020 jewellery” rid=”7816″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Lifestyle
7 Things you can do this weekend: 24—25 March 2018
What's your game plan?

21.03.2018
By Buro247

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

1. Retro Riuh at APW Bangsar, 10am – 9pm, 24 & 25 Mar
Get groovy this weekend at Retro Riuh as they pay tribute to the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee. Expect pop up stores, performances that will take us back to the past, and open mic sessions. They’ll also have workshops on learning how to play the ukulele, photography and coffee stain art.
For more info, visit the event page.

2. Sunny Side Up Market—Celebrating Women at Slate at The Row, 11am – 6pm, 24 & 25 Mar

The upcoming edition of Sunny Side Up Market will be honouring female entrepreneurs in conjunction with International Women’s Day earlier this month. Head over to Slate at The Row this weekend and have a look at over 35 pop-up stores—all run by our local superwomen.
For more info, visit the event page.

3. ASA! Celebrates Year 1 at TREC KL, 8pm – 3am, 24 Mar
Kuala Lumpur’s outdoor music-centric flea market, A Sunday Affair is back and they will be celebrating their first anniversary this coming Saturday. Be prepared for a day of shopping at crafty stores from the artisan market, a night filled with live performances, and last but not least, an after party that will be going on till late.
For more info, visit the event page.

4. Ballet Illuminations 2018 at KLPAC, 16 Mar – 25 Mar
This weekend will be your last chance to catch Ballet Illuminations 2018. To conclude their Malaysian tour for the year, the Singapore Dance Theatre will be having a Classical Weekend which includes ballet pieces such as Coppélia Act III, The Nutcracker Act II and Kitri’s Wedding. Catch fellow Malaysian Jeremie Gan who will be performing on both days.
For more info on showtimes, visit the website.

5. Everyone Can Quill Easter workshop at Cziplee Malaysia, 10.30am – 1.30pm, 24 Mar
Learn a new fun skill—paper quilling! It’s the art of cutting paper into long thin strips that are then rolled, shaped and glued together to create intricate decorative art pieces.
RM130 per person. For more info, visit the event page.

6. Concrete Decor workshop at The School @ Jaya One, 11am – 1pm, 24 Mar
Make a decoration piece for your home and show it off to your guests when they come over to visit. In this workshop, you can choose to make either a candle holder or a mini planter. Light refreshments will be provided.
The workshop is priced at RM90 per pax. Bring a friend to enjoy a special rate of RM160 for 2 pax. To reserve your seat for the class, book here.

7. Try out Nepresso’s new limited edition coffees
If you’re planning to just chill at home this weekend, why not make yourself a cup of coffee with one of the two limited edition coffees that Nespresso has launched? These two new coffee capsules are worth to try as they were inspired by the places of origin for coffee—Ethiopia for Arabica coffee and Uganda for Robusta coffee. Since a cup of coffee is best enjoyed with a book and relaxing music playing in the background, we have a great list of books you should be reading right now.

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Lifestyle
March 2022: New SOPs for close contacts, Sinovac booster extension, children’s vaccination and more
Things to know

24.02.2022
By Adelina Tan

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

This evening, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin held a press conference to announce Malaysia’s new SOPs for close contact cases. He also provided updates on the vaccination status of those with two doses of Sinovac, in addition to vaccinations for children above five years old. Here’s what you need to know:

1. New SOPs for close contacts from 1 March
Over 18 years old:
– No quarantine for those with booster shots and no symptoms—an RTK test must be done on the 1st and 3rd day
– 5-day quarantine for those with booster shots and symptoms
– 5-day quarantine for those fully vaccinated but no booster shots
– 7-day quarantine for the unvaccinated
Those who test positive must report their status on MySejahtera and undergo home quarantine.

When in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19, update your symptoms everyday via the Health Assessment Tool on MySejahtera so that @KKMPutrajaya can monitor your health daily. pic.twitter.com/D0wN1BeLhi
— Khairy Jamaluddin (@Khairykj) February 24, 2022

Below 18 years old:
– 5-day quarantine for those fully vaccinated
– 7-day quarantine for the unvaccinated

My dependent tested positive for COVID-19. What should I do to get the Home Surveillance Order (HSO) for the dependent in MySJ App?
Please refer to the infographic below and remember to adhere to the SOPs.#mysejahtera#mysejahteratrace#reopeningsafely pic.twitter.com/LejurVlSPz
— MySejahtera (@my_sejahtera) February 24, 2022

2. Booster deadline for Sinovac recipients extended to 31 March
Those above 18 years old with two doses of Sinovac must get a booster shot by 31 March 2022 to maintain their “fully-vaccinated” status. Those who fail to do so will have their MySejahtera show that they’re only “partially vaccinated” from 1 April onwards.

3. Walk-in vaccination for children above five years old starts 1 March
Parents can also make appointments for their children’s vaccination from 7 March. The MySejahtera app will be updated in stages to enable this.

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A post shared by Dr Jezamine Lim Iskander (@drjezaminelim)

4. MAEPS Covid-19 treatment centre will reopen
The centre at Serdang will be reopened for low-risk patients to ease the burden on hospitals.

While the SOPs for asymptomatic close contact cases no longer require self-isolation, we advise being cautious by keeping your mask on around others and keeping a safe distance. It’s also wise to do this in public even if you’re not a close contact—with newly reported Covid-19 cases breaking the 30,000 mark today in Malaysia with 31,199 infections.
Current Covid-19 vaccines are also proven to reduce the severity of infections, especially among teenagers and seniors. Those who have not yet received a booster shot are more vulnerable to severe infections that might have been prevented.

One year ago today, #PICK was officially launched. 79% of Malaysia population have been fully vaccinated with 61% of adults boosted so far. Thank you for doing your part to protect yourself and each other.
— Vaksin COVID-19 (@JKJAVMY) February 24, 2022

For more information on Covid-19 variants and boosters, check out:

Deltacron? IHU? What we know about all the Covid-19 variants so far
FAQs: A guide to Covid-19 vaccine booster shots for Malaysians
8 Myths about Covid-19 vaccines spreading on every parent’s chat groups—debunked

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Beauty
Sulwhasoo launches limited edition sets in support of Penang’s cultural heritage

08.10.2018
By Gwen Ong

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Our cultural heritage is something that we should be proud of and a subject that is worth caring about. Since 2006, Sulwhasoo has been championing the value of traditional culture and master craftsmanship through its Sulwa Cultural Exhibition. This year, Sulwhasoo is reinforcing this message again in its global initiative ‘Beauty from Your Culture’, which focuses on the need of preserving our heritage.
As part of the CSR campaign, the Korean brand is introducing two new limited edition sets to support the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO in its effort to help preserve Penang’s cultural heritage. The limited edition sets feature a unique design of a phoenix to represent the noble beauty of royal women. The artwork showcases geometric shapes with Korean patterns such as circles, triangles and hexagons.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Sulwhasoo Beauty From Your Culture 2018 Sets” rid=”6655″ order=”a_tstamp”}
The male phoenix is called Bong while the female phoenix is named Hwang, the former has a saw-toothed tail and the latter has a vine-shaped tail. Also pictured is the chrysanthemum flower that represents fidelity and the philosophy of everlasting beauty, and the character ‘Su’ (壽), which stands for a strong commitment to precious herbal ingredients based on traditional Korean medicine. Everything that Sulwhasoo is about.
The ‘Beauty from Your Cultre’ limited edition sets include the brand’s signature product, First Care Activating Serum EX and the Perfecting Cushion EX. These are available for purchase until 31 October 2018 at all Sulwhasoo outlets with 10 percent of the sale of each set going to the Malaysian National Commission for UNESCO in aid of Penang’s cultural heritage preservation.

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Fashion
From the early 2000s to now: How the fashion choices at the Met Gala changed through the years

04.05.2020
By Stephanie Boey

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

The first Monday of May is set in stone as one of fashion’s biggest dates. It celebrates the opening of the annual exhibit by The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York with a fund raising gala meant to encourage patrons to donate in support of the arts. The first gala was held in 1948 for the then newly-found institute and it’s reported the dinner tickets were priced at US$50 each!
Since the ‘70s, the Met Gala has been organised by Vogue U.S, and remains a longstanding tradition until today. Currently lead by one of the fashion industry’s most influential editors Anna Wintour and with the exciting choice of theme every year, the Met Gala has witnessed many iconic looks over the years.
What would’ve been this year’s 2020 Met Gala was ‘About Time: Fashion and Duration’. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Met Gala has been postponed indefinitely. (A bunch of hardcore fashion fans are organising an unofficial online Met Gala on Twitter. More on this here). You’ll be surprised to know that what may seem like an unprecedented event in Met Gala history has indeed happened prior. In the past 20 years, there were two years in the early 2000s (2000 and 2002) that had the Met Gala off the roster.

So what’s a fashion fan to do in the absence of the Met Gala this year? Answer: Dive into the archives. Some of the most interesting themes through the years include 2004’s ‘Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century’, 2006’s’ AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion’ and 2008’s ‘Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy’. In recent years, ‘Punk: Chaos to Couture’ in 2013, 2015’s ‘China: Through the Looking Glass’ and 2016’s ‘Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology‘.
When it comes to fashionable attendees, Rihanna wins the game. She has consistently brought statement-worthy and head-turning looks to the red carpet since her first appearance in 2007. She may not attend the gala every year but trust that she does shut it down when she chooses to grace the red carpet with her presence. Her most recent appearance was at the 2018 Met Gala for ‘Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination’. Dressed as a pope in a exquisite jewel-encrusted bodice and coat by Maison Margiela, Rihanna looked like she fell straight from heaven. Don’t even get me started on the Guo Pei dress from 2015! That canary yellow gown single-handedly paved the way for fashion memes.
Being best-dressed at the Met Gala includes perfecting the fine balance of being elegant, while pushing the envelope and keeping to the theme. The best looks through the years are head-turning but rightfully so. Warranted attention, but not too much. There’s a strong yet quiet confidence that comes along with a great red carpet look, it’s about stealing the limelight for all the right reasons. Here are the costumes and themes that hit the nail right on the head:

Iman at the The Met Gala 2003 Goddess: The Classical Mode

Gisele Bündchen at The Met Gala 2003 Goddess: The Classical Mode

Anna Wintour at The Met Gala 2003 Goddess: The Classical Mode

Scarlett Johansson at The Met Gala 2004 Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century

Elle Macpherson at The Met Gala 2005 The House of Chanel

Vanessa Paradis at The Met Gala 2005 The House of Chanel

Natalia Vodianova at The Met Gala 2005 The House of Chanel

Selma Blair at The Met Gala 2005 The House of Chanel

Sarah Jessica Parker at The Met Gala 2006 AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion

Charlize Theron at The Met Gala 2006 AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion

Sienna Miller at The Met Gala 2006 AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion

Eva Mendes at The Met Gala 2006 AngloMania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion

RIhanna at The Met Gala 2007 Poiret: King of Fashion

Kate Bosworth at The Met Gala 2007 Poiret: King of Fashion

Kirsten Dunst at The Met Gala 2007 Poiret: King of Fashion

Naomi Campbell at The Met Gala 2007 Poiret: King of Fashion

Anna Wintour in Chanel Haute Couture at The Met Gala 2008 Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy

Amber Valetta in Versace at The Met Gala 2008 Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy

Naomi Watts in Thierry Mugler at The Met Gala 2008 Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy

Rihanna in Dolce & Gabbana at The Met Gala 2009 Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion

Kate Moss in Marc Jacobs at The Met Gala 2009 Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion

Agyness Deyn in Burberry at The Met Gala 2009 Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion

Jessica Stam in Rodarte at The Met Gala 2009 Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion

Eva Herzigova in Dolce & Gabbana at The Met Gala 2009 Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion

Miranda Kerr in Jil Sander at The Met Gala 2009 Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion

Alexa Chung in 3.1 Phillip Lim at The Met Gala 2010 American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity

Eva Mendes in Dolce & Gabbana at The Met Gala 2010 American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity

Jessica Biel in Ralph Lauren at The Met Gala 2010 American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity

Christina Hendricks in L’Wren Scott at The Met Gala 2010 American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity

Coco Rocha in Zac Posen at The Met Gala 2010 American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity

M.I.A. in Alexander Wang for Gap at The Met Gala 2010 American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity

Sarah Jessica Parker in Halston Heritage at The Met Gala 2010 American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity

Iman in Prada at The Met Gala 2010 American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity

Beyoncé in Emilio Pucci at The Met Gala 2011 Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

Shalom Harlow in Marchesa at The Met Gala 2011 Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

Leighton Meester in Louis Vuitton at The Met Gala 2011 Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

Ginnifer Goodwin in Topshop Unique at The Met Gala 2011 Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

Ashley Olsen in vintage Dior at The Met Gala 2011 Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty

Carey Mulligan in Prada at The Met Gala 2012 Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations

Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren at The Met Gala 2012 Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations

Beyoncé in Givenchy at The Met Gala 2012 Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations

Chloë Sevigny in Miu Miu at The Met Gala 2012 Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations

Miley Cyrus in Marc Jacobs at The Met Gala 2013 Punk: Chaos to Couture

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Fashion
Jenna Lyons to leave J Crew after 26 years
Jenna out

04.04.2017
By Buro247

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

Along with being the second in command, creative director and president of J. Crew, the Jenna Lyons persona has become almost synonymous with the brand. Although her journey at J. Crew began in 1990, the brand properly flourished into its position of immense cultural impact after CEO Mickey Drexler came on board in 2003. Since then, the two have elevated the pieces from the classic American wardrobe to preppy versions of phenomenal gravitas.

“There’s a lot of mutual respect between Jenna and me,” said Drexler in an exclusive piece with Business of Fashion. He also conveys that prior to the exit, both parties were in agreement that the “time for a change” has arrived and Lyons will proceed with a switch of environment.

Lyons offers, “It has been beyond my wildest dreams to work with such an amazing team of people at such an incredible brand and alongside Mickey—one of retail’s most talented visionaries… I am excited about the next chapter for J. Crew as well as the opportunity for other creative leaders within the organisation to step up and take on new responsibilities.”

The brand—like many others—has suffered in a market obsessed with fast fashion. Net sales dropped 6.7 percent in the fiscal year that recently ended and improvements are yet to be seen despite collective efforts. The design department will be left at the hands of Lyons’ deputy, Somsack Sikhounmuong, who was previously head of the women’s section. The role of creative director will largely be eliminated.

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Film, TV + Theatre
‘Birthcare Center’: All the details on the Korean drama—starring Uhm Ji Won and Yoon Park

03.11.2020
By Buro247

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

Taking over Record of Youth‘s slot is Birthcare Center. The eight-episode drama—airing on tvN—premieres on 2 November 2020 and stars some of the biggest stars in the South Korean entertainment industry. Could this new show join the extensive list of brilliant dramas this year?

Written by Kim Ji Soo and directed by Park Soo Won, Birthcare Center is a comedy drama that deals with themes such as motherhood, personal growth, career women, and more. The series stars Uhm Ji Won as Oh Hyun Jin, Park Ha Sun as Jo Eun Jung, Choi Ri as Lee Roo Da, and Yoon Park as Kim Do Yoon. You will also notice familiar faces such as Jang Hye Jin from Crash Landing on You and Nam Yoon Soo from Extracurricular.

Photo: tvN
With such a brilliant cast, the only other aspect that could make the series even better is the plot. So what is Birthcare Center about? The Korean drama revolves around mothers at a postnatal care centre—including Oh Hyun Jin who is the youngest member on the board of executives at the company she works at and Jo Eun Jung (described as the perfect mother). Choi Hye Sook (played by Jang Hye Jin) is the manager at the popular birth care centre and the go-to person for everything childcare.

Photo: tvN
Birthcare Center airs on tvN every Monday and Tuesday and will be on air for eight episodes. Are you excited for the new Korean drama?
For more Korean dramas to watch, click here.

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Fashion
Edgardo Osorio for Salvatore Ferragamo (featuring Debbie Goh!)
Happy feet

14.12.2015
By Buro247

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

Shoe designer Edgardo Osorio’s introduction to the world of luxury shoemaking was with Italian luxury fashion house, Salvatore Ferragamo, at the tender age of 19. Ten years on and Ferragamo has bestowed a great honour on the young designer (Osorio is the founder and creative director of Aquazurra) with the introduction of the “Edgardo Osorio for Salvatore Ferragamo” capsule collection—the first time the house has ever collaborated with another designer using their name.
“This collection is the perfect, modern twist on the true spirit of Salvatore Ferragamo: irony and playfulness, attention to detail, creativity with a touch of eccentricity combined with the ultimate in comfort and luxury,” says Massimiliano Giornetti, creative director of Ferragamo. The collection has been inspired by classics from Ferragamo’s own archives: the rainbow wedge, the polka dot shoe and the wing shoe have all been referenced by Osorio, but with an unexpected play with materials such as patent, suede, nappa, cork, stones and feathers. See the beautiful Debbie Goh debut the limited edition capsule collection here:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Debbie Goh for Ferragamo” rid=”3686″ order=”a_tstamp”}
The Edgardo Osorio for Salvatore Ferragamo Collection is available at Ferragamo KLCC and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.
Photographs by: Delvin Xian / ImageromStyled by: Jason LimMakeup by: Joey YapHair by: Juno Ko

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Fashion
#ExperienceGiving: Go on a virtual giving trip with Toms
One for one

10.09.2015
By Su Fen Tan

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

Since its inception in 2006, Toms has revolutionised the way we shop with its ‘One for One’ commitment—that is, with every product purchased, the brand will help a person in need. Toms Malaysia celebrated a milestone recently with the official inauguration of their flagship store in Mid Valley Megamall, the introduction of its new One for One product—bags that save lives—and its innovative Virtual Giving Trip experience.

These bags save lives
The brand’s latest mission is to help their Giving Partners deliver materials and training needed to create safe birth conditions. Every year, 40 million women give birth in unsafe conditions without the help of a trained attendant, putting both mother and newborn at fatal risk. With every bag purchased, Toms will help provide a safe birth for a mother and baby in need.

Toms virtual giving trip
The new flagship store consists of a corner where consumers can learn more about their giving program, and experience where the other pair goes through the Virtual Giving Trip. Using custom tools and technology, the 360-degree, 3D experiential film takes you on a journey to Peru to visit Toms Giving Partner, Coprodeli, giving you an amazing virtual, firsthand experience of the impact your purchases are making.

Toms Malaysia Flagship Store is located at Lot T-003A, Level 3, Mid Valley Megamall, KL.

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New and improved: Fendi.com

Fashion
New and improved: Fendi.com

12.11.2016
By Buro247

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

Fendi launches the new fendi.com, a website that is given a facelift including better-integrated content and e-commerce functionalities with an easily accessible, intuitive and horizontal menu for a quicker navigation. From new editorial listings to enhance users’ shopping experience to Fendi Life, a blog-like section with the latest info on the brand’s events and global happenings, fendi.com entices visitors with eye-catching graphics, animations, videos and designs.
Pietro Beccari, Chairman and CEO of Fendi states, “The digital world is becoming increasingly important for us, as it enables us to combine not only video, audio and text materials, but also our digital boutique. It comprises everything really, all our values and DNA. That is why we have re-launched our entire website, since Fendi is always cutting edge and responsive to the needs of a constantly changing market. The internet and the e-commerce are just an additional service for customers and if you want to accompany your product in a sophisticated way your website needs to be of matching quality.”
With customers in mind, the revamped website introduces new sections such as Fendi 4 U, a digital style guide that offers exclusive services with customized recommendations based on user preferences. Understanding the power of social media platforms, fendi.com is also designed to be more mobile-friendly for a social-savvy smartphone experience.

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Food + Drink
Cereal pancakes are the new viral food trend all over Tiktok and Instagram

06.05.2020
By Marissa Chin

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It’s no exaggeration that people are cooking and baking more than ever this CMCO period. First, we had Dalgona Coffee, now we have cereal—but make it pancakes.
Cereal pancake is a simplified yet temptingly more indulgent version of its original predecessor, the Classic American Pancake. It gets its name because the mini pancakes look like cereal flakes when placed in a breakfast bowl—instead of your usual corn flakes, you’re getting a bowl of buttery fluffy pillows doused in maple syrup instead of milk.
While the trend was gaining popularity all over Tik Tok (it currently has 10.6 million views), Sam Schnur from The Naughty Fork created a buzz about it over on Instagram when she posted her cereal pancake video—and the internet went wild with the array of possibilities.

All you really need is a simple pancake recipe (or ready-made pancake mix) and something to squeeze the batter onto the pan. To get the most desired shape, use a piping bag. But don’t worry if you don’t have one, you can use a zip-loc bag and cut a little hole in a corner, an empty water bottle with a poked hole in the cap or even a medical oral syringe in your first aid kit like this Tik Tok user:

Or if you don’t have any of that, handball it with a spoon—but the zip-loc bag will give you the closest chef vibes.
Cereal pancakes are also really versatile to meet any of your dietary requirements. Since you can use any pancake mixture, this will still work with any vegan or gluten-free recipe and still taste just as good.

People tend to top these mini pancakes with the classic combination of a dollop of butter and maple syrup because you can never go wrong with that. If you’re trying out the trend for the first time, this is a simple one to do before you go all Jackson Pollock on your next cereal pancake creations.

Now, the sky really is the limit when it comes to toppings—pretty much anything that you’ve put in cupcakes, birthday cakes and ice cream can be incorporated into these cereal pancakes. Here are some that people have already tried out:

Heck, you can even level up to waffle cereal if you have a waffle maker.

You should know though that cereal pancakes aren’t exactly a new thing—it’s actually inspired by a traditional Dutch dessert called Poffertjes that are made of yeast and buckwheat flour. The viral pancakes use pancake batter instead giving it an American twist.

Pro tip: make sure to squeeze around a 50 cent size of batter on the pan as smaller sizes tend to burn a lot quicker. Also, grease the pan with a neutral vegetable oil like canola oil instead of butter, then add the butter in when pancakes are halfway cooked to crisp up the edges.
Psst, don’t forget Mother’s Day is also just around the corner! This could be the one of many breakfast ideas to treat her to on her special day.

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Lifestyle
#InstaLove: More adorable cat Instagram accounts you should follow right now

08.08.2019
By Tammy Chan

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It’s International Cat Day today and in honour of the occasion, we’ll be updating our old list of best cat accounts to follow on Instagram. So get your thumbs ready ’cause we’re bringing you on a following spree!
@smoothiethecat

Smoothie is a golden-shaded British Longhair that weighs only 2.6kg! Deemed “Queen of fluff”, this furry kitty with striking emerald green eyes (who was born on April Fools Day) has over two million followers on Instagram. She has a brother named Milkshake and they both live in The Netherlands.

@white_coffee_cat

Mr. White (aka Coffee) is a four-year-old British Shorthair cat from California and a cancer survivor. He was diagnosed with lymphoma back in 2016. Fortunately, after a year of chemotheraphy treatments and follow up care, he was finally cancer-free. One look at Mr. White’s feed and you’ll recognise his other ‘sibling’, Nala, who is one hell of a cat influencer herself.
@venustwofacecat

If it wasn’t already clear from her username, Venus is a Pisces Tortoiseshell cat whose face is half black with a green eye and half orange with a blue eye. Despite being an internet sensation thanks to her unique markings, Venus is just an ordinary cat who likes to snuggle on her human’s lap.

@cobythecat

Coby (named after his cobalt blue eyes) is a four-year-old silver-shaded British Shorthair who enjoys canned tuna and long walks on the countertops. Besides that, Coby admits to being playful, sassy and affectionate on his website. Other hobbies include: snuggling, stealing the covers and playing hide and seek.

@hosico_cat

Hosico (Japanese for ‘Star Child’) is a gorgeous male gold Scottish Straight cat from Russia who is known for his fluffy cheeks According to his Facebook profile, Hosico is very shy, loves boxes and his favourite toy is a little black rope. Best part about being a bona fide Insta-star? He has his own line of plush toys, pillows and t-shirts!

@hamilton_the_hipster_cat

Hamilton is a rescue kitty adopted from the Humane Society in Silicon Valley. While his perfect mustache (which are real btw) catapulted him to fame, Hamilton (aka Hammy) was never comfortable around strangers due to him being a feral. That being said, he and his owner are now inseparable.

@lilbunnysueroux

Meet Roux, a sweetheart who still lives life to the fullest despite being born without her front legs due to a congenital abnormality. According to her owner, she walks like a kangaroo and hops like a rabbit. There are plenty of videos on her profile that’ll put a smile on your face if you’re going through a long day.

@smushofficial

Described as a sassy ginger kitten, Smush was born in late 2017 with several genetic abnormalities and a cleft lip. Her bad luck didn’t end there as she was later found abandoned at only 10-days-old while suffering from an upper respiratory infection and a severe case of ringworm. As luck would have it, she got saved in time and has now found a place to call home.
@aurorapurr

Did you know? This Swedish blue-eyed bi-colour Ragdoll has more followers than the Princess Madeleine of Sweden and Crown Princess Victoria combined! Named after sleeping beauty, Aurora loves being extra with crystal tiaras, flower headbands and sparkling tutus. Oh, she also enjoys being pampered. A true princess indeed!
@lyo.thecat

From one pretty kitty to another, Lyo is another British Shorthair on our list that deserves your follow. He lives with his two siblings, Mila & Ivy in Italy and they frequently engaged in photo shoots and cuddles (see our main picture at the beginning of the article).
@leo.mainecoon

Now this profile belongs to Leonidas and his younger brother Orion. Known for his sense of style, Leo is a Maine Coon living in the windy city of Chicago. He can usually be seen sporting a flower crown, a bow tie or occasionally, a bandana. Orion, on the other hand, is the family’s Bengal who loves to eat and steal treats.
@pechanko_bocco

We really did save the best for last. Introducing Zuu, 2019’s newest Instagram star! An Exotic Longhair cat, the internet is clearly obsessed with him due to his unique and adorable chin that looks like he’s constantly yelling or just tired of everyone’s s***. Some are even calling him the next Grumpy Cat. Too soon?

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Food + Drink
Late night cooking sessions in the kitchen
Made of dreams

19.02.2016
By Buro247

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The Malaysian preoccupation with food is a well-documented fact, and it’s quite possibly the thing for which we are best known, after badminton and consistently being in the world news for all the wrong reasons. And just to prove that our appetites are truly gargantuan, we don’t stop eating at dinnertime. Oh no. For Malaysians, the late night supper is requisite towards maintaining a healthy sense of hyperphagic equilibrium, so it should come as no surprise that at an ungodly hour when only rats, hookers and cockroaches should be roaming the streets, there’ll invariably be a cluster of hungry punters sitting in a fluorescent lit space, heads bent over a steaming bowl of food, intently wolfing down their meal of choice with blithe disregard for all the health warnings issued by pedantic but well-meaning nutritionists about the myriad perils of late night dining.

Call me weak, but I long ago gave up suppering, because my utter lack of self-control used to invariably result in a queasy post-prandial heartburn that would in turn lead to sleeplessness, and if there is one thing as beloved to me as food, it would be sleep. I am however the lonely exception to the rule, and my fellow Malaysians’ penchant for late night suppers these days extends far beyond the realm of round-the-clock nasi kandar. Nowadays, there’s a veritable plethora of 24-hour eateries to vie for one’s gustatory attention, from Middle Eastern (Al Rawsha, 8 Jalan Kampung Pandan) and bah kut teh (Ban Lee, 222 Jalan Ipoh, Segambut) to Kelantanese (Hayaki, 13 Jalan SS21/37, Taman Tun Dr Ismail) and Teochew porridge (Peng Hwa, 19A Jalan Kelang Lama), so much so that I’m forced to review my supper embargo, if only to quell my growing sense of FOMO.

But it’s the people who have taken late night dining to the next level—by making their own, for goodness sake!—that I’m forced to concede are a superior breed of creature. When there’s a surfeit of eateries from which to select a supper venue, taking the quantum leap to cooking your own supper is an act of heroism, because, really, who has the energy and wherewithal to concoct something edible, let alone palatable, at that time of the night? Enter Daniel Loo, a self-confessed nocturnal friend whose ‘rapid fire’ late night cooking sessions happen because he finds cooking late at night “creatively stimulating”.
“I get a rush of adrenalin from it that I just can’t explain. It’s not the same as cooking when I entertain when I have lots of time to prepare. When I do my past-midnight rapid fire sessions, I truly come alive. The spontaneity and challenge of whipping up a dish with whatever I can find in the kitchen (leftovers included) is exciting.”
The products of his rapid fire sessions range from designer-meets-high-street-bread toasted with lashings of minced garlic and extra virgin olive oil, then sprinkled with sambal hebi, and topped with a poached egg and caviar-to downright exotic. One example springs readily to mind and I’m not ashamed to confess that my mouth is watering with Pavlovian desire even as I write this: leftover briyani rice fried with garlic and paprika, layered with fried basil, eggs, and chicken serunding, then topped with diced avocados, Greek yoghurt and marjoram.

Loo says “going with the flow, improvising along the way, and with a rule of thumb that it should take no more than 20 minutes” are the only guidelines for his home-made suppers. Could this be the sign of things to come, when we voluntarily eschew sleep in favour of culinary inspiration in the wee small hours of the morning? I confess I may not be the first to the table on this one, but I certainly wouldn’t mind a slumber party invitation to his house anytime he has the urge! Yes, Daniel, that’s a hint, and a less than subtle one at that.

Follow Fay on Twitter and Instagram at @misskhoo.

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Hair
Are you over-hydrating your hair? Here’s the difference between over-conditioning vs ‘hygral fatigue’

01.07.2020
By Redzhanna Jazmin

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How does volumising shampoo actually work? Plus, expert tips for keeping your hair looking lush

In the age of dewy skin and soft tresses, it’s easy to get lost in the world of beauty. A face cream here laden with generous proportions of hyaluronic acid, a hair oil here infused with pure, organic argan oil, and a bit of clever marketing (buzzwords, people!) and we’re like putty in the hands of beauty brands. Moisturising products are all around us, and it’s difficult to see the downside to it. Like, can you really overdo it on the hydration?
Actually, yes. As the saying goes, you can have too much of a good thing, and even though we all love a bit of moisture, it may just be making matters worse. Here, we cover when and how hydrating your hair can go awry, as well as haircare solutions to prevent and fix it:
The science behind overhydration
There are a few ways you can over hydrate your hair. The first is through over-conditioning, and the second is through hygral fatigue.
Conditioning is a necessity: It smooths out fraying in the hair shaft, detangles and prevents breakage. However, with over-conditioning, you’re going a little too hard on the hydrating product front. It’s definitely related to product buildup, where products are unable to absorb into the hair shaft, so they end up coating it and causing your locks go from glossy to greasy real quick.
The products coating your hair prevent anything else from penetrating it (except moisture), leaving your hair greasy and flat—often with a sticky residue, overly soft and unable to hold style.

What is hygral fatigue?
Hygral fatigue is a slightly different (but still related) story. Limp, lifeless locks aren’t the result of products weighing the hair down, but more of a symptom of excessive water retention within the hair shaft.
Think of it this way: When your hair is wet, water is held within the hair strand’s cuticle. To be able to hold all of this water, the cuticle swells up, which leaves the hair heavy and weakened. Then, as the hair dries, the cuticle slowly loses the water and shrinks back down to its natural state.
Sometimes, you will find that the cuticle splits or frays as it shrinks, especially if it has been left wet and weakened for a considerable time (hence why you shouldn’t air dry your tresses). The longer you leave your hair wet, the more susceptible it is to developing an imbalance—specifically, the protein in your hair becomes deficient and the moisture goes into overdrive. The discrepancy in protein and moisture levels leaves your hair cuticle permanently weakened as it loses structure.
In addition to the imbalance, the sheer weight of the water in your hair, plus the process of swelling and shrinking puts an incredible amount of stress on your hair fibres over time, which is what eventually leads to hygral fatigue.
Porous hair is particularly prone to hygral fatigue because the splits and breaks in the cuticle make it easier for water to get in, and for water to get out. Therefore, the swelling and shrinking process happens a lot quicker. Either way, eventually your hair is left limp and unable to retain moisture.

It’s important to note here that hygral fatigue is not the same thing as over conditioning—although they lead to very similar outcomes, their underlying causes are very different.
Over-conditioning can happen in the presence or absence of water, while hygral fatigue is dependent on excess water saturation in the hair to occur. That said, it’s not uncommon to experience them simultaneously: over-conditioning can easily lead to hygral fatigue if left unchecked.
What causes over-conditioning?
Your shampoo is too rich
You’re not doing yourself any favours by layering shampoos rich in oils and emollients over the top of your already moisture-treated hair. Leave the conditioning to your conditioner, pre-shampoo treatments and hair masks—shampoo time should be reserved for cleansing.
If you’ve got colour-treated or damaged hair, try to avoid using harsher detergents, even if your hair does have product buildup. Opt for a sulfate-free shampoo for a formula that is less stripping.

You’re using the wrong conditioners
The key is to invest in a conditioner that’s actually right for your hair type. If you’ve got fine, straight and thin hair, skip the super rich formulas infused with heavy butters and oils as they’re bound you leave your hair limp and greasy.
Instead, opt for lighter, silicone-free formulations. Silicone-free is the key here: Silicon conditioners make your hair appear (and feel) soft and hydrated because the molecules fill in the porosity. The result? Your hair feels great, but the hydrophobic silicone seals the cuticle off from moisture and other nutritious products, eventually leaving your hair dry and brittle.
If your hair is textured and is on the drier or thicker side, richer formulas are fine because your locks absolutely needs the moisture. Just don’t go overboard with the application because these is such a thing as using too much product. Speaking of which…
You’re too heavy-handed with the application.
Yup, you may have the perfect conditioner for your hair type, but if you’re applying it by the gallons and hoping for the best, product buildup is going to be a major dilemma. A little goes a long way—so, slathering it on mindlessly is just a waste of product.
You’re conditioning too close to the root
Now, this doesn’t just apply to your daily conditioner—you should be avoiding the root when using anything like serums, hair masks or oils, so you don’t end up with the dreaded greasy roots.

You’re overdoing it with the hair masks
This is highly dependent on your hair type, but the general rule is the coarser and more textured your hair is, the more often you should mask it. That said, if you have fine, untextured or thin hair, you’ll want to keep the masking to a minimum to avoid over-conditioning.
You aren’t rinsing properly
Make sure you’re rinsing your products out thoroughly, because leaving residue in your hair opens you up to product buildup. If you’re struggling to do this, you could try reverse washing, where you condition before you shampoo. It sounds counterintuitive, but many swear by this technique (especially for those with fine or curly hair textures), claiming that it restores the bounce in their hair.
How can you fix over-conditioning?

Instagram: @alexachung
Worry not—your over-conditioned tresses can be fixed! Start by purging the conditioning products for a little while. While you’re at it, use clarifying shampoo to help get rid of any product buildup that has accumulated. If neither seems to be helping, give a protein treatment a whirl—it’ll restore some much needed structure to your hair.
(Note: Definitely consult your stylist about the latter. They’ll know best)
How to prevent hygral fatigue?

Treat your hair with coconut, argan or avocado oil before washing
Using an oil that is able to penetrate your hair before washing will ensure that your hair doesn’t take up too much water when wet, thus preventing your hair cuticle from weakening.
Don’t air dry your hair
We’ve been through this before, but just to recap: If you’re air drying your hair, you’re leaving your hair cuticles swollen with water for longer than if you were to just dry it on the lowest dryer setting. The longer you leave it wet, the more pressure builds up within your hair strands, leading to cuticle damage.

Don’t leave your hair sopping wet
If you have extremely damaged hair that doesn’t respond well to heat styling, make sure you’re taking the majority of the moisture out of your hair first. This will take away the extra weight causing your hair to stretch. Squeeze out excess water with a microfibre towel or a pure cotton t-shirt to prevent further damage to your hair.
Lay off the deep conditioning for a while
Leaving your hair wet, even if it’s with a conditioning treatment in, for an extended time will lead to damage. So, if you tend to leave your treatments in longer than the recommended time, or they’re a daily habit for you, chances are all you have to do is lay off of them to avoid hygral fatigue.
Alternatively, invest in treatments that replenish both moisture and protein in order to avoid hygral fatigue.
Are you guilty of over-hydrating? Find out what else you may be doing wrong with your hair.

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Jewellery
The demi-fine jewellery guide and glossary

14.04.2020
By Stephanie Boey

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These 7 genderless jewellery collections are breaking style norms

The demi-fine jewellery trend is one that’s been gaining popularity. Its trendy designs and affordable price point have made it a recent staple among the fashionable set. We’re accustomed to hearing about fine jewellery and costume jewellery, and the beauty of demi-fine is that it lies in the middle, meeting the sweet spot of precious adornments with a price tag that doesn’t break the bank.
Need a crash course on all things demi-fine? Here’s a cheat sheet!
What is demi-fine jewellery?
Often dubbed as “affordable luxury”, demi-fine jewellery strikes the balance between trendy and affordable costume jewellery with the likes of fine jewellery in terms of quality and materials used.
What is it made of?
Demi-fine jewellery uses precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, rhodium and vermeil, as well as semi-precious stones.
What is rhodium?
Rhodium is a precious metal that belongs to the same family as platinum. Rhodium-plated jewellery gives off a reflective white appearance and increases shine, lustre and durability by being resistant to scratches.

What about vermeil?
Vermeil (pronounced vuh·meil) refers to silver items that are plated with a thin layer of gold.
What’s the difference between gold vermeil and gold-plated jewellery?
The rule of thumb when it comes to vermeil is the core metal. Vermeil must always use silver as the main metal, whereas gold-plated jewellery uses other metals such as brass or nickel. In the United States, a piece of jewellery has to be coated with at least 10 karats of pure gold to be considered vermeil.
What is the life span of demi-fine jewellery?
With a good dose of TLC, demi-fine jewellery can last you for years. Just as well as properly maintained costume jewellery.

How do I maintain the shine and lustre of demi-fine jewellery?
Avoid contact with chlorine, salt and heated waters, as well as harsh chemicals.
How do I clean demi-fine jewellery?
Vermeil: Wipe gently with a dry, soft cloth.
Rhodium: Wash with warm water.
**For more jewellery care tips, click here.
How do I store demi-fine jewellery?
For lasting shine, store pieces separately in an air-tight ziplock bag, and keep them away from direct sunlight.
How do I style demi-fine jewellery?
Literally, any way you want. There is no hard and fast rule on how to wear regular jewellery, so the same principle applies to demi-fine. Even the age-old rule of never mixing gold and silver has passed its time. Let your imagination run free, and let your personal style shine through! If you have an existing collection of fine and costume jewellery, why not style them all together?
Ahead, quick style inspo to get you started.

Where can I find demi-fine jewellery?
Malaysia has a handful of local demi-fine jewellery brands! Here’s a list:
i) Wanderlust + Co

ii) ‘Kin

iii) Myjn

iv) The Straits Finery

v) Joanne T

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Culture
From VSCO girl to e-boy: These are the aesthetics of 2020 (find out which one you are!)

26.07.2020
By Marissa Chin

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You’ve heard of the Myers-Briggs test, psychic horoscopes and heck, even quizzes at the back of a teen magazine to categorise your personality traits. Now, there’s a new (and totally hip) way of finding out your character make-up: aesthetic personalities. Whether it’s the summery VSCO peeps or the trendy e-boys/girls, each aesthetic comes with its own set of character traits that run through (most) individuals that identify with said aesthetic.
Ahead, we’ve curated a ‘starter pack’ of the most popular aesthetics in 2020 for your viewing pleasure (psst, stick around for the quiz at the end of this!). For some, this could feel like you’re staring into a mirror while for others, this might be the “A-ha!” moment you were looking for in your quest for self-discovery (yes, it is that dramatic because having an aesthetic you can stick to can be cathartic for many folks out there).

VSCO GIRL

VSCO filled the T-shaped hole in the Internet-sphere during the Tumblr recession around 2018—and another youth subculture was born. Think “Tumblr girls meet surfer vibe” and you’ve got VSCO girls. Their name comes from a popular photo-editing app, VSCO (commonly pronounced as “visco”) due to the app’s aesthetic: vibrant, saturated filters with a tinge of grain and the like. The quintessential VSCO girl is considered the “It girl” of social media who makes being environmentally conscious cool again amongst Gen Zers while sipping their pastel Starbucks drinks (with a metal straw, of course).

VSCO BOY

Yes, we all know VSCO girls but VSCO boys are totally a thing—because saving the environment is not just limited to one gender. They are basically the equivalent of their female counterparts except they swap out the typical friendship bracelets for their tried-and-tested beaded bracelets or rubber wristbands (although they wouldn’t mind wearing one you made, of course); and floppy bangs over loose beach waves.

E-GIRL

Typically associated with the app that rose above and beyond the lockdown occasion, e-girls and e-boys (more on them later) have quickly gained Internet fame for being the poster children of the TikTok phenomenon. The “E” doesn’t stand for “emo”, much to popular belief, and actually stands for “electronic” due to their cyberpunk aesthetic. It’s not hard to see that it has its roots in Tumblr—remember when grunge was a thing? E-girls are the modern grunge girls who now have sad pop music to dance to in their bedroom.

E-BOY

The same can be said for e-boys: they had their time on Tumblr as the edgy skater boy who dressed in nothing but ripped jeans and beat-up Converse; but this time round, they’ve swapped them out for striped turtlenecks and layered silver accessories. They’re also not afraid to paint their nails black for the added coolness.

COTTAGECORE

Cottagecore is a much more niche aesthetic that hasn’t entirely made it to the mainstream public (yet) but it still has a large following for those who are committed to the look. Cottagecore is “grandma chic” personified: it’s an online movement that celebrates all things folkish, the harmony with nature and a romanticisation of urban life that welcomes traditional forms of craft such as foraging, sewing, pottery and the like. Basically, if your grandparents had an Instagram detailing their day-to-day lives, they could totally tap into this up-and-coming aesthetic.

SOFT BOIS

The soft boi is the modern Internet’s response to toxic masculinity. Unlike past boy bravados who don’t talk about their feelings and grew up in traditional gender norms, soft bois are deeply emotional guys who can appeal to your sensitivity and readily have a bunch of deep movie quotes up their arsenal for when they need it. They are artistically and/or musically-inclined and declare themselves as allies at feminist rallies, advocating for equal pay and sexual liberation. Some fan-favourite soft bois include Tom Holland and Timothée Chalamet.

VAPORWAVE

If 90s kids were to have an aesthetic, it would be this. Vaporwave was born out of the electronica music genre and became a visual art form around the early 2010s. Much like cottagecore, vaporwave is an aesthetic that reminisces on the past— albeit a much more recent one—ranging from the 1980s to the 1990s. Typical vaporwave ephemera include early Internet imagery such as Microsoft Windows web designs, glitchy art, trippy acid-dripped images, gameboys and more.

PLANT MOM

Plant moms are often described as shy, introverted and creative individuals who love spending time at home with their plants (it may sound sad but it really isn’t). The plant mom is a maternal plant hogger who loves all things nature and doodles in her bullet journal in her spare time. They’re generally very laid back—until they see that you haven’t watered your plants in a week and you’ve used a few plastic bags too many (she always carries totes-within-totes for this very occasion).
So, what are you waiting for? Now that you know which aesthetics are all the rage, take the quiz below to find out which of these aesthetics you are!

PS. Finding out what aesthetic you are is fun and all but it’s worth remembering that an aesthetic isn’t going to perfectly summarise your entire personality (we humans are known to be complicated beings, to say the least). Every person is unique in their own way even if they are the quintessential poster child of their aesthetic. It also doesn’t imply that you have to be one thing or another—if you want to be both an e-girl and a ‘cottagegirl’, there’s no aesthetic handbook stating you can’t. Note to self: let an aesthetic inspire you but don’t let it limit you!

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