Fashion
Top 10 trends from Spring/Summer 2017 to take over your closet
The spring edit

01.03.2017
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Pretty in pink

If you haven’t noticed by now, the colour that is synonymous to femininity and tenderness invades this season’s wardrobe. From cotton candy to bubblegum and pink lemonade, this latest It colour sure is good enough to eat. Whether you choose to keep it ladylike like Valentino and Gucci or give the pretty hue a tomboy-ish spin like at Chanel, the key is to just think pink.

Tug it

No, we don’t mean toga dresses. The very cool cousin to last season’s off-the-shoulder look, single-side necklines are cropping up on the catwalk including Monse, Saint Laurent, Self-portrait and Rosie Assoulin. Flaunting just the right amount of skin, this asymmetrical iteration is fresh, lending a chic, edgy touch to any ensemble.

Bust a move

Lingerie-flaunting isn’t going anywhere just yet. This season, designers’ love for underpinnings of the wardrobe come in the form of bras. Channel a sporty, street-inspired aesthetic with a vivid coloured sports bra spotted at DKNY, or layer feminine bralettes over tops like Kenzo and Giambattista Valli for a flirty look.

A rainy disposition

In case of springtime showers, a slew of waterproof anoraks have been given the fashion treatment. The trusty raincoat is now deemed fashionable and stylish enough to pull off as outerwear—Rihanna went with a Lolita-inspired vibe at Fenty x Puma; Sportmax  and Versace included sporty options for athleisure lovers, while  Tory Burch did preppy-chic with a glossy green jacket.

Military mavens

Along with the bra-loving sentiment, a power woman theme was evident on the runways of SS17. The military-inspired trend has been given a reboot this time around with plenty of options you can choose from. Try a boardroom-perfect look with a chic, waist-clinching look (Bottega Veneta), or go with the classic camo print for extra bada*sery (Coach 1941 and Sacai). For a head-turning effect, you can’t go wrong with JW Anderson—puffy statement sleeves in the form of an edgy, khaki jacket? Swoon.

Fluorescent adolescent

It seems like pink is not the only colour dominating the Spring/Summer 2017 runways. Designers successfully pushed for neon’s undisputable resurgence, a hue often described as fresh, electrifying and youthful. A bit of colour-block action was spotted at Balenciaga while Max Mara opted for a monochromatic approach, proving that brighter is indeed better.

Wide waist cinchers

A spin-off from last season’s corset-like belts, we’re sensing a retro vibe with SS17’s wide, waist-securing options to highlight your womanly curves the best way possible. Whether obi/wrap, embellished, or structured like a corset, take your pick from a variety of ways you can pair it with your outfit.

The new kitten
The impression of kitten heels reserved only for women over 60 is long gone. First became popular on a mainstream level after Audrey Hepburn wore them, the low heels do not only dominate the streets but also on recent catwalks. Acne played with shapes while Delpozo and Prada added embellishments and chic straps. And let us not forget the branded ribbon slingbacks at Dior that everyone is obsessed with.

The snazzy drawstring

Drawstring bags are no longer confined to the gym, and you can tell from the myriad of options on the runway that it’ll likely be the new It-bag silhouette come spring (goodbye, bucket bags). We love how versatile it can be carried—be it handheld, slung over your shoulder, or carried as a backpack. Also, how fun are those colourful M&M-like motifs spotted at Givenchy?

Chunky pendants

After seasons of having wrapped our necks with the choker, it is a refreshing change to see the takeover of navel-grazing necklaces come Spring/Summer. Long lanyards loaded with charms and oversized pendants are spotted on the Vivienne Westwood, Chloe, Prada and Fausto Puglisi runways. The head-turning accessory can bring optimum glamour to your look with minimal effort—what’s not to like?

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Walk a mile in her Stuart Weitzman

Fashion
Walk a mile in her Stuart Weitzman
Keeping grounded

01.06.2017
By Buro247

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

Shoes are the punctuation mark to every outfit and Stuart Weitzman ends with an exclamation point! The god is in the details for Spring/Summer 2017: luxurious leather, suede and stretch satin take centre stage in a variety of cuts, shapes and heel heights to suit a woman’s every occasion.

The Supersonic—a pointed-toe flat with an ankle wrap detail reminiscent of ballet shoes is the perfect silhouette to carry you through every summer garden soiree or leisurely weekend brunch spent with loved ones.

Izara Aishah, actress and model
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Slides are another hot topic silhouette for the warmer months and the Mulearky is just the right shoe for a lazy day. A pale gold mule is just the right shoe to add a little luxe.

Venice Min, model and car racer
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For events that require a little height, the Bingpearls sandal is the perfect accent to flaunt your pedicure and to add a dash of elegance. For girls who like a little edge, Stuart Weitzman’s Clinger bootie has been reimagined in stretch satin with a sturdy block heel-perfect for dancing the night away.

Samantha Katie James, actress, model and Miss Universe Malaysia 2017
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Stuart Weitzman SS17 Samantha Katie James” rid=”5106″ order=”a_tstamp”}

Credits:
Photography by: Li/ImageromArt Direction by: Yi Suen ChongStyling by: Jason LimHair by: Cody ChuaMakeup by: Joey Yap

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Culture
#ShesGotTheMoves featuring Maybelline Wong
Buro dance special

16.06.2017
By Su Fen Tan

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She doesn’t just have the moves, she’s got the musicality and the groove too, with versatility to boot. A dancer by profession, Maybelline Wong doesn’t confine herself to a single genre. Or rather, she feels connected to a range of different dance styles and music—but if she really had to choose, hip hop, soul and RnB are the ones that she’d turn to. Having been dancing since she was a teen, Maybelline’s career really took off when she got into Mizz Nina’s dance crew in 2010, a stint that saw her performing in the same shows as the likes of Justin Bieber and Pitbull. Since then, she has been quite the prominent figure in the local dance scene.

Here, watch as Maybelline tells us a little about her journey in dance, and the challenges that come with it:

Follow Maybelline Wong on Instagram at @definitelymayb_.

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Beauty
Inspired by Chrissy Teigen’s HBOTD? Here are 9 headbands you need to rock this trend

16.08.2018
By Wei Yeen Loh

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If Chrissy Teigen can’t make you pull off a headband, we don’t know who/what will. The 32-year old model and author has been giving us a lowdown of her family vacation in Bali—via entertaining Instagram stories of her indulging in decadent Balinese food, along with a documentation of her statement-making hair accessories with husband John Legend providing the narration and background music.
You can find Teigen’s #HBOTD (headband of the day) in a special folder right below her profile on Instagram lest you need to find out celeb-approved ways of pulling it off effortlessly. Watch her rep the chic-est headbands as she go about her day, from brushing her teeth to working out. Some of our favourites include a scene-stealing polka-dotted, shimmery headband, and a cute “jungle-inspired” (in the words of her husband) green version that was complemented with dog ears from her Instagram face filter. One handy tip to glean from the mum-of-two? Wear it even if you think you don’t look good in it. According to a tweet she had sent in reply to a fan: “They make my forehead even bigger. I look like a moron. That is why it’s so fun. Do it.”
Life motto, right there.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная без списка] Chrissy Teigen Headbands 1″ rid=”6448″ order=”a_tstamp”}
Below, we compiled nine headbands to take you from day to night, no matter the occasion. Wear a lamé or leather version for a party-ready look, or add texture to your outfit with knit, silk and/or rattan headbands for an island-ready getup.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная без списка] Chrissy Teigen Headbands” rid=”6447″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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What went down at Pavilion Pitstop 2016

Fashion
What went down at Pavilion Pitstop 2016
#PitstopXFashionReport

04.10.2016
By Buro247

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The 2nd of October marked the final day of Pavilion Pitstop 2016: Fashion Report. Adding to their track record of successful events, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur wrapped their annual fashion tie-in with the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix after five days of special presentations and showcases.
The line-up was nothing short of a victory lap with the excellent turn out that welcomed a slew of industry insiders and brand supporters, alongside local and international celebrities.
Hosted by Sarah Lian, ‘An Evening with Hugo Boss‘ got the engines off to a flying start as crowds gathered to catch a glimpse (and catch the eye) of their special guest, Mercedes AMG Petronas team driver, Lewis Hamilton. Following that, Rimowa unveiled the product of their creative collaboration with lauded local designers, Jonathan Liang, Sereni and Shentel, Izrin Ismail and Khoon Hooi.
A front row of industry darlings were invited to view the Autumn Winter 2016 collection by Blackbarrett, and the next day, tailored creations by Lord’s 1974 exemplified Malaysian talent in menswear. Performances by Dennis Lau on violin, and singer, Alif Sleeq revved the crowds up before the Lord’s show while Parkson presented Malaysian girl group, De Fam to open the night. Finally, the Parkson Fashion Spotlight shows saved their guests some ‘Seoul searching’ with highlights of well-loved K-fashion labels, Spao, Mixxo, and Who.A.U.

Click through the gallery for snapshots of the event and a few famous faces spotted during the five-day fashion revelry that took place at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Pavilion Pitstop Post Event” rid=”4460″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Beauty
The art of layering made effortless with Chanel Eyes Collection 2017
Your new essentials

10.06.2017
By Wei Yeen Loh

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

Ever wanted to ace a bold eye makeup look but find it more of a daunting task than a 10-minute fun-filled endeavour? Now, Chanel makes it easy for you to pull off a professional look with the new Eyes Collection, featuring a lineup of Ombre Première colours in various textures for you to switch up your eye makeup effortlessly.

First look at Chanel Eyes Collection 2017:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Chanel Eyes Collection 2017″ rid=”5124″ order=”a_tstamp”}
Chanel Ombre Première Longwear Cream Eyeshadow comes in eight new colours with a satin finish and staying power of up to eight hours. Made of a mixture of emollient oils, the product glides on and blends in easily whether you’re using the applicator or your fingertips. If you prefer the classic powder eyeshadow for ease of application, the Ombre Première  Longwear Powder Eyeshadow is your new beauty kit essential. Take your pick from 16 ultra-concentrated shades to take you from day to night, available in matte, satiny and metallic finishes. Remember to fill in your lash lines as well—try out Le Crayon Yeux in three sultry hues for full effect. Complete your look with Le Gel Sourcils to dress your brows in a blend of fibres for a naturally groomed finish.

How to channel an eyeful of drama:
Inspired by Chanel ambassador Kristen Stewart’s three outstanding looks in blue, red and black? Explore ways to dress your eyelids with the art of layering, as demonstrated by Chanel Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer Lucia Pica.
Look #1: Into the blue

Look #2: Red eye

Look #3: Black beauty

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Buro Loves
7 Beauty lessons to learn from supermodel Irina Shayk

15.01.2019
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Supermodel and mother-of-one Irina Shayk isn’t merely known for her curves and dating history. The Russian model, who has graced a multitude of covers since her debut in the industry, was recently appointed the face of Marc Jacobs Beauty—a befitting role, given her enviable complexion and standout features that the camera loves. Spotted recently at the 2019 Golden Globes alongside partner Bradley Cooper, Shayk set tongues wagging with her fresh new hairdo—the first time she has sported tresses this short.
Notorious for her figure-hugging red carpet ensembles, Shayk happens to be one of our favourite underrated stars for effortless hair and makeup looks. Below, we compiled seven of her best looks throughout the years, learning a handful of beauty lessons along the way.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная без списка] Irina Shayk Beauty” rid=”6864″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Fashion
Everyday Rock Stars: Lust-worthy statement earrings to add to your jewel-drobe now
Earrings that say it all

01.04.2022
By Kelly Lim

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When it comes to elevating any outfit, jewellery is everyone’s best friend. Simply look to the AW22 catwalks from New York to Paris to see how its done––beyond the thigh-high kicks and furry fun, designers upped the ante with massive statement jewellery that varied from cuffs and bangles stacked up to the elbow, to crystal visions that dared to outshine the chandelier. Of the various takes, cool look-at-me earrings shone through as the hen’s teeth, a timeless, fuss-free trend that can take you beyond the party season and apply instantly to the everyday.

Chanel Autumn/Winter 2022

Simone Rocha Autumn/Winter 2022

Courreges Autumn/Winter 2022

Versace Autumn/Winter 2022

Moschino Autumn/Winter 2022

Valentino Autumn/Winter 2022

Gucci Autumn/Winter 2022

Erdem Autumn/Winter 2022

It’s not difficult to see why. A pair of statement earrings can negate bad hair days, pull together often repeated outfits and make the transition from day-to-night more easily than any other piece. Think brightly-coloured jewels to bring a dose of escapist joy to monotonous looks, or go big or go home in gold or silver styles that can even transform a plain white T-shirt. When it comes to styling options, you can either relish in over-the-top chaos by adopting the “more is more” mentality or embrace a more minimalistic aesthetic by allowing the boujee accessory to speak for itself. And sometimes, as the runways show, a single piece can even be more than enough.
The key to pulling off this bold jewellery trend is to look for pieces that have an architectural design or unique texture (a standout factor that resonates with your style), or choosing options that’ll transcend trends, such as classic stone embellishments or neutral metals if you want something that’ll see through the years. Apply the same rules to your outfit of choice to stay out of kitschy territory––unless that’s the vibe you’re going for.
Look no further for our pick of the best statement earrings to bring even the most simplest of everyday looks to life:

Shop: White Baroque Pearl Earrings, Simone Rocha

Shop: Lucky Flower topaz, enamel & 9kt gold earrings, Bea Bongiasca

Shop: 18kt gold-plated chain-link earrings, Bottega Veneta

Shop: Twisted asymmetrical earring in metal with crystals, Givenchy

Shop: Silver Metal Star Fringe Ear Cuffs, Jimmy Choo

Shop: Green Terra Earrings, Mounser

Shop: Multicolor Medium Butterfly Earrings, Area

Shop: El Condor embellished drop earrings, Isabel Marant

Shop: 18kt white gold earrings with diamonds and sapphires, Suzanne Kalan

Shop: Angela beaded earrings, Shrimps

Shop: Gold hanging earrings, Marni

Shop: Gold short drop earrings, Lemaire

Shop: Pendant earrings with crystals, Miu Miu

Discover everything you need to know about jewellery here.

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Food + Drink
Pink October: 10 Pink Afternoon Tea sets in Klang Valley to support breast cancer awareness

14.10.2021
By Natalie Khoo

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The arrival of October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual international health campaign to raise awareness on the impact of breast cancer. With the Covid-19 pandemic at the centre of attention for the past one-year-plus, this month serves as an important reminder to watch out for other health symptoms that you may have been overlooking, particularly where breast health is concerned.
In other words, here’s your PSA to perform a breast examination, if you haven’t done so recently (or regularly). At the same time, you can also support the campaign while dining-in for a good cause with the return of exclusive Pink Afternoon Tea sets by leading hotels in Malaysia.
Here are 10 Pink Afternoon Tea sets to support Pink October 2021:
The RuMa Hotel and Residences

In support of the Breast Cancer Welfare Association of Malaysia, The RuMa Hotel and Residences will be serving a special edition Merah Jambu Afternoon Tea. The set features an array of unique afternoon tea treats including Raspberry and Rose St Honoré, Strawberry and Calamansi Macaron, and Pink Guava and Chiffon Cake, to name a few. For every purchase of a set, 10 per cent of proceeds will go towards the BCWA.
Availability: From 2 to 31 October 2021
Price: RM150+ per person | Add-on RM75+ for a glass of Pol Roger Champagne (optional)
For further reservations and enquiries, email [email protected] or visit the hotels’ website.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
The St Regis Kuala Lumpur

Along with two other hotels under the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio on this list, The St Regis Kuala Lumpur has teamed up with The Estee Lauder Companies Malaysia to create a themed Afternoon Tea set to support breast cancer awareness. With every purchase of the set, 20 per cent of proceeds will go to The National Cancer Society Malaysia. To curate the Classic Afternoon Tea set, the hotel’s culinary team drew inspiration from the St Regis scent—Caroline’s Four Hundred, named after the 400 esteemed guests who attended the legendary by-invite-only balls held by the Mrs Astor, founding matriarch of the brand. Each set comes with the following:

A limited-edition Pink Ribbon Pin by The Estée Lauder Companies Malaysia
A Pink Beauty Kit (worth RM185), curated by The Estée Lauder Companies Malaysia
A Pink Mocktail
An individual-sized Pink Hazelnut Praline Cake, created by Executive Pastry Chef, Gael Moutet

Availability: From 5 October to 31 October 2021
Price: RM250+ per person
This set is available for dine-in only at The Drawing Room. Prior reservation is recommended. Seating for walk-in customers is subject to table availability. For reservations, kindly call 03 2727 6666 or email [email protected].
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur

Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur’s Latitude 03 will also be hosting a Blushing Pink Afternoon Tea in partnership with The Estee Lauder Companies Malaysia, featuring delicacies like Red Dragonfruit Gazpacho with Aloe Vera and Pearl Sago, Flamingo Crust Seabass, Pink Scones with Chantilly and Strawberry Cream, and the hotels’ signature Pink Macarons. Each set comes served with your choice of illy Coffee and Harney & Sons teas, in addition to the Pink Beauty Kit (worth RM85) curated by The Estee Lauder Companies Malaysia. 20 per cent of proceeds will go to The National Cancer Society Malaysia.
Availability: From 5 October to 31 October 2021
Price: RM198 nett for two persons
For reservations, call 03 2263 7434 or email [email protected].
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown

The third hotel to partner with The Estee Lauder Companies Malaysia is Four Points by Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, Chinatown, presenting the Chinatown Flair Afternoon Tea set which features sweet and savoury treats inspired by the hotel’s vibrant neighbourhood. Each tea set comes with the choice of a homemade Sirap Bandung mocktail or a signature tea blend, as well as a Pink Beauty Kit (worth RM85), curated by The Estée Lauder Companies Malaysia.
Availability: From 5 October to 31 October 2021 (dine-in, takeaway and delivery)
Price: RM138nett for 1-2 pax (delivery charges not included)
To place your orders, call / WhatsApp 012 507 3327 or email [email protected].
Website | Facebook | Instagram
W Kuala Lumpur

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness month, W Kuala Lumpur’s Woobar is offering a Pink Afternoon Tea featuring an indulgent assortment of sweets, savouries, and free flow of coffee and tea. Guests can choose to savour their afternoon tea affair comfortably indoors or dine-in outdoors with a view of the Petronas Twin Towers.
Availability: From 1 to 31 October, Fridays to Sundays, 3pm to 5pm
Price: RM128+ per adult and RM64+ per child for dine-ins | RM148+ per set for delivery (excluding delivery fees)
For reservations and enquiries, call +603 2786 8888 or email [email protected].
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur

Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur is continuing its collaboration with National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM) for the 3rd year running with a special For the Love of Pink Afternoon Tea at Altitude. 10 per cent of all proceeds from the Afternoon Tea will be channelled towards the organisation to help sponsor underprivileged women from Persatuan Ibu Tunggal Shah Alam (PITSA) for mammogram screenings at NCSM’s clinic. Diners will get to enjoy pink-themed sweet and savoury treats including Turkey Cranberry Panini, Mini Rueben, and Strawberry Cheesecake, to name a few. A Delivery Box for two is also available for those who prefer to dine at the comfort at their homes.
Availability: From 1 October to 31 October 2021, 3pm to 5pm daily
Price: RM188 nett per person
For dine-in reservations, call 03 2113 1888 or visit this website. To order the Delivery Box, call or WhatsApp +6012 288 2135 (an advance order of 2-hours required).
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Hilton Kuala Lumpur

Over at The Lounge at Hilton Kuala Lumpur, guests can expect a Pretty In Pink Afternoon Tea featuring a medley of pink-themed delicacies. Among the highlights include beetroot-infused scones served with rose-whipped chantilly cream and the hotel’s signature hibiscus jam.
Availability: From 1 October to 31 October, 12pm to 5pm
Price: RM98 nett per person
Prior reservation is required. For reservations and enquiries, call +603 2264 2264 or visit this website.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur

In collaboration with the Breast Cancer Welfare Association , Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur has curated an exquisite Pink Afternoon Tea set, presenting an array of delicacies in a splash of pink. For every purchase of the set, five per cent of proceeds will go towards BCWA to support its initiatives. Diners will also receive a limited-edition Pink Courage pin from Bowerhaus for each purchase, with additional pins available for sale at RM20 nett.
Availability: From 1 October to 31 October, 3pm to 6pm
Price: RM84 nett per set | RM54 nett for the special kid’s set
For reservations and enquiries, visit this website.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur

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A post shared by Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur (@fskualalumpur)

The Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur has teamed up with the Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia for the fourth consecutive year to support its breast cancer research initiatives. Available for dine-ins at The Lounge, RM10 of every purchase of this afternoon tea set will go towards the association and its causes.
Availability: From 1 October to 31 October, 2pm to 5.30pm daily
Price: RM208 per person
For reservations and enquiries, DM the hotel on Instagram or get in touch via the Four Seasons App.
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Sofitel Hotel Kuala Lumpur Damansara

Sofitel Hotel Kuala Lumpur Damansara has partnered with the Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia (BCWA) to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer with a tantalising Pink October Afternoon Tea served at Le Bar Cocktails and Stories. The pink-themed set will include finely crafted creations tinged with French-inspired elements such as Ispahan Macaroons, Raspberry Financier, and Pink Lady with Earl Grey Infused Apple Compote.
Availability: From 8 to 31 October, 2.30 to 5.30pm daily (delivery is also available)
Price: RM138 for two persons
For reservations and enquiries, contact 03 2720 6699 or email [email protected].
Website | Facebook | Instagram
For more ways to support Pink October and breast cancer awareness, head over here.

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Film, TV + Theatre
10 Picturesque movies that are the perfect (virtual) travel escape

15.05.2020
By Kelly Lim

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Miss travelling? Need a vacation? So do we. But for the foreseeable future, the prospects of getting on a plane and jetting off to a picturesque getaway are slim. Thankfully, there are plenty of cinematic fixtures that will get you far and wide, around the world and back in time with just a press of a button.
From the sun-kissed coasts of Naples to colourful cities scattered across Latin America, here’s a round-up of scenic movies that will broaden the limits of your horizons far beyond the view of your window.
The Beach (2000)

Leo DiCaprio plays Richard, a young budget traveller in search of a fabled paradise in the form of a pristine, untouched beach (and some sort of meaning in his life) among the islands of Thailand. A backpacker’s dream, the film spotlights the clear waters and sandy white beaches of the Ko Phi Phi archipelago in Krabi, enticing viewers so much that it led to the closing of Maya Bay a few years back as its coral reefs suffered from pollution caused by the influx of tourists.
The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)

This 2004 biopic chronicles Argentinian guerrilla fighter Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara’s journey of self-discovery before he became the Marxist revolutionary icon. He embarks on a motorcycle road trip with his friend Alberto Granado, travelling across some of Latin America’s most scenic natural locations, from the Andes mountain range to Machu Picchu and Venezuela’s Guajira Peninsula, while opening his eyes to the political injustice in the country along the way.
Midnight in Paris (2011)

Ah, Paris. The city of lights, love and the Eiffel Tower, where countless flâneurs have strolled its streets in admiration and wonderment of its quaint beauty. Follow Gil Pender, a wide-eyed screenwriter and aspiring novelist played by Owen Wilson, as he retraces the steps of creative progenitors in Parisian culture, sipping coffee in traditional al-fresco cafés and sauntering along the Seine before he accidentally travels back in time to the height of the Belle Epoque, a period in French history when arts, music and literature flourished. Crash a soiree full of 1920s literati and share a shot with Hemingway, because past or present, Paris always enthrals.
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
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Traverse the golden coasts of Italy during the 1950s as you follow a sociopathic Matt Damon, aka Tom Ripley, who travels to the fictional island of Mongibello (actually the island of Ischia and its tiny neighbour, Procida in real life) and infiltrates his way into the lavish lifestyle of Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law), the playboy son of a wealthy American businessman and his girlfriend, Marge (Gwyneth Paltrow). From the pristine beaches of Lazio under azure blue skies to the Spanish steps in Rome and opulent hotels of Venice, the movie is a luxuriously beautiful depiction of Italy in all its Mediterranean, sun-drenched glory.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

The first Hollywood film to showcase the epic scenery of Iceland as well… Iceland (productions like Oblivion, Prometheus and Thor have used its location as a setting for a different country or mythical land), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is about a daydreaming, work-laden New Yorker who challenges himself to leave behind his imaginations and experience the real-world instead. From the fishing village of Garður to the glacial lagoons of Jökulsárlón, Icelandic sceneries form an integral part of the movie and was also used to depict the breathtaking landscapes of Greenland, Yemen and the snowy peaks of the Himalayas in Afghanistan as Mitty embarks on a rollercoaster adventure.
Roma (2018)

Roma follows the story of Cleo, a young live-in domestic worker for a middle-class family in Mexico City against the backdrop of sociopolitical upheaval taking place in the country at the time, and is an ode to the women that raised filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón when he grew up there during the 1970s. Shot dynamically in black and white, the semi-autobiographical film is full of detailed shots of the Colonia Roma neighbourhood, from masterful streetscapes to intimate portraits of domestic life, represented entirely from Cuarón’s personal memory. This film is also the first Netflix Original to receive a whopping 20 major Academy Award nominations in 2019, taking home Best Picture, Best Cinematography and Best Foreign Language Film.
Mia and The White Lion (2018)

Shot at the Welgedacht Reserve in South Africa, Mia and the White Lion imagines the tale of a young girl (Daniah De Villiers) who becomes best friends with a white lion cub. The production profiles the expansive beauty of South Africa’s landscape, featuring sprawling savannahs and the diverse wildlife that calls it home, with filming taking three years to finish so that the cast could bond and develop real relationships with the animals that were featured in it.
The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

This comedy-drama will take you on an intense rail journey through India’s varied landscapes, from chaotic market streetscapes to rust-hued deserts and lush mountains, through the eyes of three brothers on a quest to reconnect with themselves and each other after the death of their father. In classic Wes Anderson fashion, The Darjeeling Limited is eclectic, stylish and visually vibrant, portraying India as a character in its own right, central to the siblings’ healing, full of cultural diversity and rich heritage.
Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

A film that’s close to home (the majority of its scenes were actually shot in Malaysia), Crazy Rich Asians will take you on a vicarious journey around Singapore through the lives of the elite, from the awe-inspiring Gardens by the Bay and the infinity pool on top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel to the colourful quarters of historic Chinatown and a bustling cluster of hawker stalls. While CMCO is still underway, the film is also the best way to sneak a trip to the tranquil coasts of Langkawi or one of our country’s well-known estates from the indigo-blue Cheong Fatt Tze mansion in Penang to the minimalist Be-Landa House on top of the rainforest canopies in Kuala Lumpur.
Call Me By Your Name (2017)

Shot in Northern Italy, this Academy Award-winning film centres around a dreamy Italian summer in the ’80s, where its main protagonists Elio (Timothee Chalamet) and Oliver (Armie Hammer) meet and begin an impassioned affair that irrevocably shapes the rest of their lives. Through idyllic shots of the Lombardian countryside, filled with fruit trees and midnight swims in the sea to the quaint Piazzas and cobbled streets of Crema full of centuries-old architecture, the visually and emotionally ravishing film is full of sights, language and culture that will keep you yearning for more even after the credits start rolling.

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Food + Drink
When too much still isn’t enough for our fur kids
Pampered pets

17.06.2016
By Buro247

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Along with children, domestic pets of the canine and feline variety—fur kids to their adoring ‘parents’—have leapfrogged into position as indulged treasures for whom no expense is too much. Mobile dog salons, luxe animal boarding, pet attire, and premium pet food are just some of the many tangible signs of their freshly minted status as pampered family members.

On matters gastronomic, it’s no longer acceptable to feed the family dog Brutus bones, unfinished family dinners, and the occasional dog biscuit. These days, owners discuss ad nauseam the organic, holistic, award winning foods they scramble to feed their pets—because no price tag is too high to keep their pedigreed pooches in optimum condition.

A photo posted by Purina (@purina) on Nov 26, 2015 at 2:00pm PST

To wit: sea bream, surimi, sole and snapper in a decadent silky broth, and Tasmanian salmon with potato and dill, are not culinary offerings from your favourite restaurateur, but pet foods from Purina (albeit, granted, Purina’s ‘Fancy Feast Royale Broths’ range) and Cesar for cats and dogs respectively. But at RM4 per single serve of Cesar, you can easily imagine how spending for Brutus can add up, especially if Brutus has decided that he prefers his dinner mixed with a little premium dried food, such as those manufactured by Acana, producer of “biologically appropriate pet foods” made only using “fresh regional ingredients”. Hence, an approximately RM78 pack of Acana Classics includes “55-65% meats, including cage-free Cobb chicken, whole eggs and wild-caught flounder, plus sun-ripened fruits and vegetables from Canada’s Okanagan orchards”.

Even as the sheer absurdity of the language is source for great mirth, it’s also striking that more care has been invested in crafting these sentences for pet food than for most human products. But that’s not all. As a corollary to human dietary trends, pet food providers now also manufacture gluten-free, grain-free, low-glycemic, vegetarian, paleo, and corn-and-soy-free dining options (a steal at approximately RM125 per 2.2kg bag of dried food) for their hirsute clients.

Don’t get me wrong. I love animals as much as I love other people’s children. My best friend and constant companion for 16 years was my dog, so I totally fathom the unbridled joy and unconditional love they afford and offer their humans. What I don’t get is this madness of spending silly money on food that, let’s face it, is a farce of marketing and a method for manufacturers to capitalise on our need to anthropomorphise our pets. To wit: a friend feeds his cat different flavoured meals twice a day every day, because as a family member, he believes she deserves the same variety and quality that he routinely enjoys.

It should come as no surprise then to glean that US$70 billion was spent on pet food in 2015 alone. But apart from Brutus’s diet, there’s also his mental health to consider, with many owners now sending pets for therapy for anxiety, depression, and a host of other psychological ailments. All I can say is if my human dressed me up as a taco, leprechaun, or a skunk for Halloween (true story: Americans spent US$370 million on Halloween pet costumes in 2012), I would be depressed too.

A photo posted by Taco (@taco_thedog) on Oct 31, 2015 at 11:05am PDT

Animals may fill the vacuum that many of us live with. They definitely shower us abundantly and infinitely with love sans conditions, at least, till death do they part. You may even reasonably tell me that spending on Lucy the hamster saves you thousands in therapy, but friends, wouldn’t you agree that it’s time to take a very deep breath and consider that we don’t have to buy US$400 Swarovski-studded leashes for our dogs for them to know we love them? If Brutus could talk, I’m pretty confident he would say the same. As John and Paul said, “All you need is love. Woof.”

Follow Fay on Twitter and Instagram at @misskhoo.

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Body + Wellness
How to sleep better at night while working from home

20.03.2020
By Redzhanna Jazmin

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Working from home has its advantages, such as not having to be stuck in traffic and putting on makeup every morning—but it also means spending a lot more time at home than we usually do. With no clear boundary between work and personal time—and a lot of uncertainty about the state of the world at the moment—your beauty sleep is bound to suffer.
So, whether you need some tips on calming your nerves, some pointers about your circadian cycle or some sleep-inducing exercises, we’ve got you covered.
Stick to your regular sleep schedule

This means waking and sleeping at the same time each day and regulating your body clock—don’t take working from home as an excuse to sleep in till midday. Plus, while you’re at it…
… avoid napping
Yes, you’re working from home (and probably from the comfort of your bed) but this is no excuse to nap twice a day! In fact, an afternoon nap is the easiest way to ruin your sleep cycle. Avoid the temptation: Stay awake.
Keep your work out of the bedroom

When working from home, there isn’t a solid boundary between work and personal time, so you have to create it for yourself. Allocating work to one space in your house (that is, not in your bedroom) will ensure that you don’t associate bedtime with work, allowing you to relax and unwind properly. Plus, it’ll stop you from going insane when working from home.
Don’t eat too late (and watch what you eat)

Make sure your supper is done and dusted at least four hours before bedtime so that you have time to digest before you rest. Plus, avoiding super sugary foods and high-carb foods will help you fall asleep faster (and stay asleep). Wash your dinner down with some chamomile tea, the sleepiest of all tea blends.
Take a warm bath or shower before bed

Nothing’s more relaxing than a warm soak in a bubble bath, or a nice warm shower. Plus, it’s scientifically guaranteed to help you fall asleep—it lowers your core body temperature which signals to your body that it’s time for bed.
Relaxation exercises

4-7-8 breathing method
This breathing technique is a common practise to reduce stress and calm anxiety because it relaxes the nervous system. So, if the current state of 2020 (a disaster) has got you feeling a little nervy, use this to calm down.
Steps:

Place the tip of your tongue behind your upper teeth
Exhale completely through your mouth
Inhale through your nose for four seconds
Hold your breath for seven seconds
Exhale for eight seconds

Progressive muscle relaxation
This is a great way to release tension and is a really common practice in yoga. Start with your eyes closed, and work from the very tip of your toes upwards: Tense every muscle group (progressively) in your body for two to three seconds, then relax them. Inhale when you tense, exhale when you relax.
Meditate

If you need a little more guidance to relax and unwind, try meditation (you don’t actually have to be sat like that on a beach, you’ll just feel like you are). Clear your head of the worries that have got you tossing and turning—try some mindfulness apps to help you relax, or try this YouTuber’s Guided Sleep Meditation programme.
Aromatherapy

Even if you don’t believe that essential oils can cure cancer or help reduce fatty liver (they don’t, by the way), you have to admit they smell pretty good. There is, at least, some science to back up the benefits of aromatherapy, relaxation and sleep; because our olfactory senses are wired directly to the part of our brain responsible for memory and emotion, certain scents may help to evoke happy memories and help to calm your nerves and induce sleep.
Here are a few essential oils you can try out to help you get some shut eye—mix them into a diffuser, add a few drops to your nightly bath or mix them with water to make a spray for your bed linens and clothes.

Lavender: to reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality and increase time asleep
Vanilla: to reduce hyperactivity and restlessness
Rose: to reduce stress
Jasmine: to reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality

Note: If you’re allergic to essential oils, please don’t do this.
No blue light before bed

Your gadgets emit blue light, which interferes with your sleep by inhibiting the production of your body’s sleep-inducing hormones and throwing your circadian rhythm off balance. Put your phones and any gadgets away at least an hour before bedtime—or, if you must, use blue light filters that either come built-in to your devices or get f.lux for your laptops.
Don’t look at the clock

It’s a slippery slope—the second you check the time, you are resigned to insomnia. Obsessing about how late it is and how little sleep you’ve gotten will do nothing but stress you out further. If you’re struggling to get to sleep, try laying still with your eyes closed; even if you don’t get back to sleep, at least you’ll have gotten some kind of rest.
For more articles like this, click here.

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Beauty
Kens Apothecary celebrates the festive season with a charming carnival theme
Deck the (beauty) halls with boughs of holly

11.12.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

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This long weekend calls for checking off your gift shopping list if you are homebound and have plenty of time on your hands. And if you’re planning to hit the plethora of malls in Klang Valley one of these days, stop by any of the Kens Apothecary stores for a handful of good reasons: Firstly, it’s got everything under one roof that you can probably buy for everyone on your shopping list; and secondly, the store’s unmistakeable holiday spirit is too lovely to pass up. The stores’ window displays exhibit the prettiest rotating Ferris wheels decked with coloured LED lights hoisting an array of product ideas, along with white snow and miniature pine trees to complete the Christmas carnival theme.

“Thea idea of the Ferris wheel is to let customers know that we have more than 100 gift ideas in store — from stocking fillers to luxury skincare coffret sets offered by customers’ favourite brands like Caudalie, Diptyque, Marvis, and Annick Goutal, to name a few,” says Ken Lim, founder and managing director of Kens Apothecary. “The choice is endless and you are certain to find something for your loved ones.”
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Kens apothecary christmas” rid=”4640″ order=”a_tstamp”}
We recommend checking out the newly opened store in Suria KLCC if you haven’t been. And when we say that your gift shopping list’s needs can me fulfilled here, we truly mean it as the brand offers exquisite gift-wrapping service that features a new holiday themed wrapping paper decorated with Christmas ornaments — that’s one less hassle to worry about after a long day of shopping. This gift-wrapping service is available in all Kens Apothecary stores at an affordable price.

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Lifestyle
Don’t miss: An art bazaar celebrating women in the arts

24.11.2018
By Su Fen Tan

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Now in full swing at the Museum and Art Gallery of Bank Negara Malaysia, this year’s Art Bazaar celebrates female talents in the local art scene. The event highlights a diverse range of artworks and crafts, from bespoke stationery and textile design to paintings. Featured artists include Audrey Lim, Dini Hazwani, Dania Amani, Paperweight Studio and Shan Shan Lim.

Besides an exhibition and sale of the artists’ works, there are also live art demonstrations, talks and workshops that are open to the public. The Art Bazaar 2018 will run until 28 November 2018, so head on down to get inspired and maybe pick up an artwork or two in support of the amazing women in the arts.

For more information on the line-up and programme, refer to the Instagram post below:

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Food + Drink
#BuroEats: 5 New places to visit in KL for October 2017
Want to grab a cup of coffee?

06.10.2017
By Rachel Au

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1. Blaq Coffee Store

Serving a generous slice of clean, aesthetic elements for its interior and a wide variety of freshly roasted coffee beans, you can easily spend hours at this Instagram-worthy coffee bar. Besides enjoying a good cuppa and some cakes, you’re welcomed to purchase blends and coffee-making tools as well.
Address: G-30, Shamelin Star, Lorong 6D/91, Taman Shamelin Perkasa, Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 8am-11pm
Phone number: 018 225 6946
Facebook | Instagram

2. Super Saigon Pho Cafe

It’s not often you come across a Vietnamese restaurant with a modern, Instagram-worthy interior. Launched by the founder of La Juiceria and her partners, the menu here boasts Melbourne-style pho, freshly made bahn mi, bun cha and other classic dishes. Above all, it only uses halal-certified ingredients and suppliers.
Address: 28, Jalan Datuk Sulaiman, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 11:30am-10:30pm (Mon-Fri), 10am-10:30pm (weekends)
Phone number: 03 7732 8874
Website | Facebook | Instagram

3. Jao Tim

After last month’s #BuroEats’ list, we’ve been pretty attracted to local hidden gems—places where you’ll easily miss if you don’t look too carefully. Along the shop lots on Jalan Sultan is a signboard that says ‘Jao Tim’ on the first floor. It means ‘hotel’ in Cantonese and the place did indeed use to be a hotel. Now it’s a cosy cafe slash event space/art gallery that has retained some of the past elements from the 1900s. There are coffee and drinks but the food menu here is still humble—their croissants and the grilled cheese sandwich come highly recommended.
Address: 1st Floor, No. 61, Jalan Sultan, City Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 11am-9pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone number: 017 782 3202
Facebook | Instagram

4. Big Canvas Cafe

Amidst the bustling KL city is a mini sanctuary of a cafe that’s highlighted by a large mural of a garden and several shades of green. The space is best described as cosy and the food fare here is nothing short of simple indulgences. Sometimes they would even host art jamming sessions.
Address: No. 34, Jalan Mutiara Raya, Taman Mutiara, Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 11am-9pm (Mon, Tues, Thurs), 11am-10pm (Fri-Sun)
Phone number: 03 9133 8639
Facebook | Instagram

5. Neighbour’s Coffee Bar

Formerly known as Neighbourhood Coffee in Sri Petaling, the cafe has recently relocated with a new name but still serving the same fluffy Japanese soufflé pancake and other tantalising brunch offerings.
Address: A-G-1, Seri Gembira Avenue, No 6, Jalan Senang Ria, Happy Garden
Opening hours: 9am-6pm
Phone number: 012 721 0307
Facebook | Instagram

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Beauty
#KLFWBeauty: 2 New statement eyes at tomorrow’s shows
Day two-drama

12.08.2015
By Terry Saw

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The designer/show: Khoon Hooi, 13th August @ 7.00pm
The look: Strong & sultry
Lead artist: Sandra Foo

What’s key to achieving statement brows seen here and how does this look complement and/or contrast the collection?
“Bold, thick brows do not equate going all-out bushy or completely dark. The intensity of the brows (for your personal look) should always reflect your own idea of beauty. If you’re happy taming a few stray hairs here or filling in a few sparse bits there, carry on. Well-groomed brows will instantly give your face a more symmetrical appearance. I felt this look ‘liberated’ the collection you’ll see tomorrow night.”
What was your key inspiration for this look?
“I was inspired by androgyny and the idea of a boyish beauty – the strong, masculine eyebrows framed the face in a more dramatic way.”

Your personal runway-to-real way tips to achieve this strong brow?
“For softer-looking brows, fill using powder. If you want something more dramatic, use a pencil instead. A clear brow wax (before colour application) will help create a sharper look. Always remember to keep things natural by only filling in the areas that require it – colour within the lines, so to speak.”
The designer/show: Alia Bastamam, 13th August @ 9.00pm

The look: Laidback Glam
Lead artist: Felix Nguyen

What were your creative aspirations for this look?
“I wanted to create a really glamorous look, which was also slightly unkempt without losing any softness. At the same time, it had to be really modern as well. So, this is my idea of a beach-inspired look that’s also a little more dramatic. I thought it referenced Alia’s similarly glamorous yet laidback style perfectly.”
If this look conveyed one message, it would be…
“Absolutely effortless, with a touch of glamour.”

Let’s talk about a day-to-night transition for this look:
For day – Go easy on the liner. Keep the application only to the upper eyelid to define the eyes.
For night – Line both the top and bottom lash lines and layer on Sparkle Eye Shadow for a little more drama.

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Lifestyle
An elegant afternoon tea experience at EAST Hong Kong
Wouldn’t mind a cuppa

29.08.2015
By Buro247

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The exotic tea flavours of the terre d’Orc tea selection will rotate each month. Terre d’Oc, which translates to ‘a tasteful lifestyle’ is a French organic brand that originated from the Southern part of France in Provence. Known for its unique fair trade background, the traditional recipes of this tea selection carries a distinct aroma.

The beautiful afternoon tea set offered by Feast will feature tea inspired food using the aromatic and versatile terre d’Oc teas such as a Tea Smoked Duck Breast Tasting Salad, Tea Smoked Salmon & Marble Tea Egg Finger Sandwiches, Vanilla and Caramel Black British Tea Cupcakes, Almond Green Tea Macarons, and Cinnamon Sri Lanka Black Tea Panna Cotta.

The afternoon tea set is available from Monday to Friday, from 3pm—5.30pm. Email [email protected] or call +852 3968 3777 for reservations or more details.

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Lifestyle
Divorce of the Songs: Song Joong-Ki and Song Hye-Kyo are splitting

27.06.2019
By Ronn Tan

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One of South Korea’s fairytale celebrity romances has come to an unfortunate end, much to the heartbreak of fans around the world. Song Joong-Ki has officially filed for divorce from Song Hye-Kyo on 26 June after two years of marriage. The stars of Descendants of the Sun, the 2016 hit South Korean television drama, have both released their statements on the sad news.

Song Joong-Ki said that he “hopes that the divorce process can be wrapped up amicably, rather than denouncing one another and arguing over who is to blame”. As for Song Hye-Kyo, she said through her management company, United Artists Agency, that “the reason is differences in personality, and because the two were unable to overcome their differences, they were forced to come to this decision”. In any union, it is important to have personalities that match. #TakeItSlow.

News such as this are rare in the South Korean entertainment industry and therefore, this divorce can be surprising to many. Fans will have to wait to see what happens next. You are (not) my everything after all.

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A-listers who are now doing television

Film, TV + Theatre
A-listers who are now doing television
Onto the small screen

20.01.2016
By Buro247

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The big names of Hollywood aren’t alien to the world of television. Oftentimes, the transition happens from television to the big screen, as seen in the cases of stars like Katherine Heigl (Grey’s Anatomy), Jessica Alba (Dark Angel) and Jennifer Garner (Alias). Thus, television always seemed to have a clean break from the likes of Hollywood, where there Hollywood was the ultimate goal to fame and success.

But today, it seems to be the other way round. More and more A-listers have gradually hopped onto long-running series, such as Kerry Washington on Scandal, Claire Danes on Homeland, and Viola Davis on How to Get Away with Murder, but many of these names have previously established some sort of relationship with the television world. Other A-listers, like Kevin Bacon (The Following) and Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) have began to get comfortable the television circuit since 2013.

But in the past year, the names have increased, and more and more A-listers have began to dominate various awards categories for television series. Here are the ones that took us by most surprise:

Kirsten Dunst, Fargo

Kirsten Dunst has pretty much been an A-lister her whole life. A child actress (Jumanji) turned teenage sweetheart (Bring It On), turned damsel in distress (Spider-Man), you wouldn’t expect to see Dunst’s name roll up on the credits for Fargo, a new television series based on the 1996 film of the same name. Recently nominated for her role in the dark comedy series, Dunst had joined the cast in its second season, as Peggy Blumquist, for which she was nominated for best leading actress in a series.

Halle Berry, Extant

Did you know that Halle Berry has been on a sci-fi thriller series since 2014? Neither did we. Berry stars in the title role, as an astronaut – Molly Woods – who becomes pregnant while on a 13-month solo mission in space. She hasn’t quite been recognised for her first television venture in over two decades, although she was most recently nominated for awards for her role in the sort-of sci-fi, action film franchise X-Men: Days of Future Past, where she appeared onscreen for less than two minutes.

Jamie Lee Curtis, Scream Queens

Jamie Lee Curtis could more or less be considered a Hollywood staple, with numerous roles ranging from romantic comedies to action films. It turns out that the actress isn’t a stranger to television series, having appeared for several episodes in NCIS and New Girl. But most recently she’s been getting a lot of action for her role as Dean Cathy Munsh in the new comedy horror series Scream Queens, where she recreated an original scene from Psycho, in which her mother Janet Leigh laid down one of the most iconic screams in Hollywood history.

Queen Latifah, Bessie

Queen Latifah is probably one of the most multi-talented actresses walking the red carpets right about now. Not only does she have an extensive background in music; her presence – which crops up rather randomly in film, most often as a sassy word of advice or two – on the big screen seems to be a staple. It’s probably the least surprising then, that the actress appeared on the television movie Bessie, playing the late, great Bessie Smith, who was a legendary blues performer in the 20s’ and 30s’. Latifah also picked up a Golden Globe nomination for the role in this year’s awards show.

Every main cast member in True Detective

True Detective knew it would hit gold once it first kicked off in 2014. Matthew McConaughey first took the title role as Detective Rustin Cohle, while Michelle Monaghan played the female lead Maggie Hart. Season two rolled around and the series decided to take things up a notch, signing on Colin Farrell and Vince Vaughn onto detective roles. And then freaking Rachel McAdams – known for her extensive string of bitter-sweet fluffy comedies – signed on as a female detective. And so did Taylor Kitsch, as an officer. Yeah, there really isn’t really any sanctity left on television anymore with A-listers filling up all the spaces.

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Fashion
Net-a-Porter collaborates with Stella McCartney for the year-end party season
Holiday spirit

12.11.2017
By Joan Kong

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

The holiday season is coming up in a blink of an eye, and Stella McCartney is helping us to ring in the festive season with a Net-a-Porter collaboration, launching a 10-piece ready-to-wear collection that’ll make you anticipate your year-end parties even more. If you’re all for making an entrance, the one-shoulder black and gold fil coupé floor-length dress will do the trick; but if you’re in the mood to mix and match, opt for a draped satin skirt that exudes femininity like no other. Those of you who are partying away in a colder climate, finish off your look with a faux fur jacket for that luxurious touch.

“The collection is basically looking at women’s needs in this day and age; taking an incredibly luxurious, sustainable look at fashion and looking at a woman’s wardrobe from day to evening.” — Stella McCartney

Below, the pieces that’ll help to complete your party-ready wardrobe:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Net-a-Porter x Stella McCartney collection” rid=”5663″ order=”a_tstamp”}

Aside from Stella McCartney, the e-retailer has also partnered up with three other brands—Emilia Wickstead, Roland Mouret and Rixo London for the holiday season, with a disco party-themed campaign video that makes us want to get our groove on—stat:

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Features
Paris Fashion Week SS17: Day 6 Street Style
Cushy coats

04.10.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Among the few recent street style lessons we’ve picked up from fashion week patrons include layering effortlessly without looking like an onion along with how to nail the ‘drape over’ look with cold shoulder tops and jackets. But today’s street style inspo incorporates elements from both lessons: how to brave the cold while making a fashion statement. Street style regulars donned outerwear of all sorts on day six of Paris Fashion Week SS17, from outré textured coats to classic, boardroom-ready Balenciaga jackets. We saw camo prints, a tasseled vest worn over a trench, a boxy patchwork denim jacket, and our favourite outerwear in the form of a gold jacquard coat (worn over denim, no less!) Whether you want to channel your inner #BossGirl or flaunt your inner fashion peacock, here’s how stay warm and look stylish at the same time:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”PFW SS17 Day 6 Street Style” rid=”4457″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Technology
Everything you need to know about the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
A new generation of iPhone

13.09.2017
By Rachel Au

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Updated as of 4 October, 9:05 am
Source: https://www.buro247.my/lifestyle/news/malaysia-s-total-medals-won-2017-sea-games-kl.html

The iPhone 8 will available in Malaysia beginning 20 October 2017 with pre-orders for the phone beginning 13 October 2017.

Apple’s 2017 keynote has ended and with that, everyone can now finally rest their anticipation for the next iPhones. It turns out almost all the rumours were true: We’re getting an iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, and an iPhone X. Too much to take it all in? Don’t worry, we’ll break it down for you. Read below for everything you need to know about the two shiny new iPhone 8 series and head over here for the lowdown on the swanky iPhone X.

The design: A beautiful (and super durable) glass finish for the back with a rich depth of colour to match the aerospace-grade aluminium bezel. Comes in space grey, silver and gold. They’re water- (IP67) and dust resistant.

Display: iPhone 8’s 4.7-inch and iPhone 8 Plus’ 5.5-inch screens will both feature Retina HD displays with the addition of True Tone which helps to automatically adjust the white balance to match the surrounding light.

Sound: Is your current iPhone just not loud enough? Stereo speakers on the new one have been redesigned to deliver deeper bass and a 25 percent increase in its volume capacity.

Almost lightning-speed performance: Say hello to A11 Bionic, the most powerful and smartest chip ever in a smartphone. It’s 70 percent faster than the A10 Fusion (the iPad Pro uses A10 X and we can attest it’s monstrously amazing) which means any action you do on the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus is seamlessly fast and yet energy efficient. This includes sleek graphics performance too.

iPhone 8 Plus has cameras designed for AR: Each camera is individually calibrated with new gyroscopes and accelerometers for accurate motion tracking.

New cameras: The popular 12-megapixel camera is now improved with a larger and faster sensor, a new colour filter and deeper pixels. That’s not all; it’s equipped with a new Apple-designed image signal processor to deliver advanced pixel processing, wide colour capture, faster autofocus in low light and better HDR photos. And there’s a new quad LED True Tone Flash with Slow Sync to make the backgrounds and foregrounds in photos look more uniformly lit.

Video enthusiasts will love that: It can now deliver the highest quality video capture ever in a smartphone with better video stabilisation, 4K video up to 60fps and 1080p slo-mo up to 240fps. With great quality comes the great concern about storage but iOS 11 ensures both iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus support HEIF and HEVC for up to two times compression and storage for twice the photos and videos.

The camera on the iPhone 8 Plus: Exclusively on the bigger iPhone 8 Plus is dual 12-megapixel cameras and the introduction of Portrait mode with Portrait Lighting. The latter allows users to capture stunning portraits with a shallow depth-of-field effect in five different lighting styles.

Dear Malaysia: iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will be available in 64GB and 256GB from  apple.com/my and are also available through Apple Authorised Resellers and select carriers. They will be available via the Apple Malaysia website on 20 October with pre-orders to begin on 13 October 2017.

*The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus will be in stores in more than 25 countries and territories beginning September 22. For more info, visit the website.

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Food + Drink
Party like you’re in New York at the new Lavo Singapore
It’s called ‘vibe dining’

08.12.2017
By Rachel Au

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Imagine having brunch on a sunny Saturday afternoon except there are flashing lights throughout the dimly lit restaurant, a pair of DJs turning up the heat on the decks, and people dancing on the tables.
Imagine some of your brunch favourites—fried chicken and waffles, almond crusted french toast and super-sized eggs Benedict—except once you’re done, it’s quickly replaced with a large bowl of punch complete with glow sticks.
Imagine ordering a whole bottle of 1942 tequila (or more) and ten minutes later, you hear an orchestra of whistles and when you turn to look, you see a girl, propped on another staff’s shoulder, wearing either an iridescent or leopard print outfit, approaching your table with more waitresses all waving the bottles in the air. Fast forward three to four hours later, you exit the restaurant to find a setting sun.

This is a typical Saturday (party) brunch at Lavo New York; and you can expect several slices of that on the 57th floor on Marina Bay Sands’ Tower 1, where the ultra new and shiny Lavo Singapore resides. But this isn’t just any addition to the Singapore entertainment scene. There’s a name for that experience I just described. The Tao Group, a leading restaurant and nightlife company in the United States, and the company behind Lavo, calls it ‘vibe dining’.
Vibe dining is relatively new in Asia, seeing as Lavo Singapore marks Tao Group’s first foray into Asia, but the concept is no stranger to the company who invented it. For starters, Lavo Las Vegas, a restaurant-casino-sports lounge, is going on 10 years. Lavo New York, restaurant-cum-nightclub, turned seven just a few months ago. Lavo Singapore, on the other hand, is poised to be a restaurant and rooftop bar.

For the uninitiated, Tao Group co-founder Noah Tepperberg has a pretty good summary of what vibe dining means. While in New York to experience the said concept, I asked him to give me the gist of it. He said it boils down to a DJ in the restaurant (“Not hidden but where everyone can see him/her,”), the lighting (“It has to be augmented,”) and then there’s the staff as well (“We train them to be part of the party,”). “We built it to have a lot of different components,” said the nightclub mogul.
Tepperberg’s attention to detail is evident. Tao Group’s immense success over the years is proof of that with close to 30 establishments under its umbrella, and with more to come. The 42-year-old revealed the company’s formula for success lies in the locations. “All of our places have a certain ‘wow’ factor from the moment you step in. And we always say that we hire people for their smiles. We want the staff to be engaging and that’s a big part of it too,” he said.
Patrick Lang, vice president of global restaurant and nightlife development of Las Vegas Sands Corp., added, “It’s more than just the food or the drinks. It’s a multi-faceted approach. Location, design, music, lighting, environment, customer service—these are all the ingredients that add up to a great experience, and one that keeps the customers coming back for more.”

Tepperberg and Lang’s responses were of a humble tone. The massive crowd (and the queue outside) Lavo New York was not. Party brunch on a Saturday still sounded plausible. It was the start of the weekend after all. That same excitement, however, didn’t flicker a tiny bit when we visited for dinner the next night—a Sunday—but the vibe sure took an alternate approach. “Wait till you see it at night. The place changes. It’s different,” Lang had told me. He wasn’t lying. Tepperberg’s ‘The lighting has to be augmented’ came floating into my mind. There was more. Sundays at Lavo New York are Riviera Sundays, a weekly themed dinner party hosted by a man named Rocco Ancarola, and that night’s theme was Roger Rabbit.
Stilt-walkers strutted across the restaurant while the guest DJ matched the music to the ambience and costume-clad dancers showed their best moves on countertops. On the table, a selection of Lavo’s decadent dishes made to share—from the signature one-pound meatball made from fresh wagyu beef, Italian sausage and veal (served with fresh whipped ricotta) to the classic Caesar Salad to the mouthwatering New York Strip Steak to the Truffle French Fries. At intervals, there were a couple of intriguing performances on the main stage as we dug in—from a mini burlesque show to a Jessica Rabbit lookalike swallowing knives of different lengths before ending with a rifle to a belly dancer dishing her curves with a LED-lit cape.

While it’s uncertain if Rocco’s Riviera Sundays will make it to Lavo Singapore, Lang has hopes it could for special occasions. What you will certainly be able to find at Lavo Singapore is that distinct Italian American cuisine, the quality one-of-a-kind dining experience and several elements of the interior. “We literally flew the vintage subway tiles and bricks—the same ones we use in Lavo New York—from our suppliers here to Singapore to recreate that exact look and feel,” said Tepperberg.
The tiles are actually quite a significant part of Lavo’s beginnings. Every concept for a restaurant or nightclub under the Tao Group was born from a story. Tepperberg considers Lavo’s to be pretty unique. They had gotten a spot at the Palazzo Las Vegas but there were already several restaurants there—Mario Batali’s Italian steakhouse, Mexican, French, you name it. “By the time we finalised the deal, there weren’t many cuisines left,” he recalled fondly with a laugh.
They decided to lean more towards an Italian Mediterranean menu and started thinking of famous Mediterranean places. One of his partners, Marc, then mentioned an old club in Paris, which was a Moroccan bathhouse. “I don’t know why he thought Moroccan when he thought Mediterranean but we started to use the idea of a restaurant revolved around a bathhouse theme. Hence, Lavo is actually Latin for ‘bathe’.”

Coming back closer to home, the defining factor that sets Lavo Singapore apart from its sister branches in the US goes back to Tepperberg’s winning ‘ingredient’: Location. “Three of the four walls are glass looking out to the city’s skyline so we had to use a variety of ways to bring Lavo’s look and feel into the place, whether it was the ceiling, accessories, light fixtures, antique mirrors or the furniture, which were all custom built,” he said.
“There’s that whole indoor and outdoor experience too. We’ve got a huge wraparound terrace so we created this really cool arrival experience. We also played with greenery to match the view so quite some time was spent thinking about the landscaping as well,” quipped Lang. He was describing the entry garden and the sprawling outdoor terrace. The latter features a light timber trellis, an outdoor bar and a custom made gelato cart.
“There’s nothing like it in town,” said Tepperberg on a final note. He’s right.

Imagine being 57 storeys high on the iconic Sands SkyPark with an Instagrammable interior of beautiful round leather booths; a section of floors peppered with gorgeous tiles; grand lighting that emits a warm ambience; and floor to ceiling windows with a million dollar view of Singapore’s skyline.
Imagine the lights changing according to the theme and time of the day; the music by guest DJs following the pace of the place; the unwavering energy of the staff; and transitioning from cocktails at the bar to dinner at the booths to dancing the night (or day) away on the tables and banquettes.
Or don’t imagine at all and pay them a visit. Lavo Singapore officially opens on 8 January 2018.

For more information, visit www.MarinaBaySands.com/Lavo and www.lavosingapore.com; or follow @lavosingapore.

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Culture
Let’s talk about sex(ual health education in Malaysia)

07.01.2020
By Redzhanna Jazmin

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First things first—sexual health education includes a comprehensive curriculum covering bodily changes during puberty, sexuality, healthy relationships and biology that allow people to make informed decisions about their sexual health. It is a human right to receive a proper education, yet the rampant cultural stigma, the inclination towards a negative or shaming attitude and blatant misinformation with anything sex-related in Malaysia has prevented the implementation of an adequate sexual health education programme in schools outside of basic biology.
To paint a picture of how effective the current programme is, here are some facts from a recent 2019 study by the Centre for Governance and Political Studies (Cent-GPS): every single year there are approximately 3,000 rape cases, 18,000 teenage pregnancies and 100 cases of baby dumping. In addition to that, the study highlights that the public have some serious misconceptions about consent, healthy relationships, safe sex and birth control. In light of this, the current state of sexual health education in Malaysia can be summed up in one word: dire.
So, what are we doing wrong? To answer this, let’s deep-dive into the nitty-gritty.
Behind the controversy of sex education

Illustration by Stephanie Chang
Currently, 90 percent of respondents agreed that sexual education is not being taught in Malaysian schools. There has been recent talk of introducing formal sexual education in schools between the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development and the Ministry of Education. Although promising, the government is struggling to agree on how to introduce the programme—some think that it should be taught as part of other lessons while others insist that it should be its own programme. In addition to this, there has also been major push-back against the introduction of sexual education in schools which can be attributed to a few factors:
1) The discomfort of parents and teachers with discussing the topic2) Dissatisfaction with the proposed curriculum for religious reasons3) Genuine worry that the programme would encourage youths to engage in sexual activity
The discomfort of teachers and the religious reasons against sex education are understandable with the current cultural climate and will take time to work past. However, the concern over sex education encouraging more youths to become sexually active has less bearing – results from an analysis of sex education programmes in schools by the World Health Organisation has proven that such programmes have led to a delayed onset in sexual activity among youths, and in the case of those who were already sexually active, there was a marked decrease in the extent of activity or an increase in safe sex.
Others argue over when sex education should start: In a 2010 study, majority of the rural parents surveyed agreed that the teaching of abstinence, contraception, open communication with family as well as the Islamic view on sexuality should be taught in schools. However, when asked about more taboo topics such as teen pregnancy or premarital sex, they proved to be more apprehensive. They also agreed that it should be taught at a primary level but could not agree on a specific grade to introduce the programme. So, let’s consider the more controversial aspects of sexual health education and why they must be formally taught.
Safe Sex in all its forms
With the rates of teenage pregnancy and baby dumping soaring, advocating for safe sex seems like a no-brainer; the unusually high incidence rates are evidence that a significant number of Malaysian teenagers are already sexually active. Thus, educating young people on the responsibilities that come with sex, the effects that pregnancy can have on their mental and physical health, as well as their options for birth control outside of abstinence, is imperative in reducing the current crisis we are facing.
Misconceptions of contraception

Providing adequate advice on birth control and making it widely available would help to curb our pervasive rates of teenage pregnancy. Unfortunately, the current understanding of the uses of contraception by the general public is, frankly, not too great. For example, in the study by Cent-GPS, 93% of those surveyed could not say how long emergency contraception was effective for after unprotected sex. Further, many feared that the pill could contribute to infertility and abortion. This is not an isolated misconception: there is a very common old-wives tale that the hormonal pill leads to infertility. To put it bluntly, this is completely false. There is no evidence from any studies to support this—unpleasant side effects like weight gain and mood swings may manifest in some but potential infertility is not one of those side effects. I mean, the main attraction of the pill to married women is that discontinuing its use restores your fertility to normal, allowing for convenient family planning. Further, most who perpetuate this lie conveniently forget (or refuse to acknowledge) that there are many other uses for birth control outside of sex, including the treatment of debilitating reproductive disorders like endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
The stigma surrounding birth control is not limited to parents trying to discourage their children from it; according to articles published by the New Straits Times and Malaysiakini, single women are being denied affordable contraception by Klinik Nur Sejahtera, Malaysia’s version of Planned Parenthood. Although the official policy from the Ministry of Health states that marital status is not an issue in obtaining birth control, some staff at Klinik Nur Sejahtera are reportedly denying contraception to single women. In reality, single women are entitled to contraception after a consultation but this information is withheld, leaving many frustrated and leading them to give up on their pursuits. That said, birth control is relatively easy to obtain over-the-counter at pharmacies but prices range from RM10-RM55: the family planning services provided under Klinik Nur Sejahtera are markedly cheaper. Aside from being highly unethical, there is no point in teaching safe sex if contraception is not available to all.
Sexual abuse and consent
Giving young people the opportunity to have an open conversation to discuss their sexuality as well as learn about consent and healthy relationships is important when considering the sheer number of cases of sexual abuse. The reported incidence of rape is incredibly upsetting, but the actual incidence is much more grave if you consider how many cases must go unreported, or how many victims are actually unaware that they have been sexually assaulted.
We tend to think of rape in the context of dark alleyways and extreme violence, but this is a far cry from the majority of cases. Severe sexual aggression and physical force is only a constituent of rape—what many fail to remember is that rape is sexual intercourse with a person without consent. This includes when they say no, when they are physically or emotionally threatened or are unable to provide informed consent (when underaged or intoxicated).

Text by Redzhanna Jazmin; Infographic by Calleigh Yap

Victim blaming and shaming
Why don’t victims of sexual assault come forward? Well, it probably has something to do with the aforementioned shaming and blaming culture surrounding Malaysians.
A poignant summary of the mentality that ostracises sexual assault survivors is the proposal of a sexual harassment law by Mohd Imran Abd Hamid, a senator from the People’s Justice Party. Shown in this video, the senator makes an ignorant and, frankly, disgusting statement that reads “I propose a Sexual Harassment Act to protect men from the actions, words and clothing of women, which can cause men to be seduced to the point they can commit acts such as incest, rape, molestation, (watching) pornography and likewise.”
I know—the more you read it the more absurd it gets. It is a horrifying reality, that those who run our country and who represent us are so blatantly uneducated. It truly highlights the need for an adequate education. Worse still, this mentality of victim-blaming and shaming is omnipresent, especially in the workplace and in universities, in which culture and policies are complicit in the ostracisation of victims and in allowing the culture of sexual misconduct to thrive.
If not us, then who?

Text by Redzhanna Jazmin, Infographic by Calleigh Yap
So what can we do?
1) Design programmes that fulfil Islamic ideals of sexual education within the context of spirituality and morality, but not at the expense of a comprehensive curriculum2) Age-appropriate sexual education, as detailed in the infographic below

Text by Redzhanna Jazmin; Infographic by Calleigh Yap
3) Update the teaching methods: interesting journal articles from 2017 and 2018 proposed the introduction of an Internet-based resource to teach school children and adolescents age-appropriate sexual education, eliminating the discomfort of teachers and students while providing an effective and comprehensive programme.
Finally, working towards changing the attitudes surrounding sex in Malaysia is a necessary obstacle. It’s clear that the current state of things leaves much to be desired, and treating the topic of sex as a dirty secret has done nothing but leave us with a plethora of upsetting statistics. There is no more room for excuses: taking control of the situation and fulfilling the need for sexual health education in Malaysia is a necessity.

The views of the author do not necessarily represent the views of Buro.

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Fashion
#BuroBrides: Chic footwear options (that aren’t heels) for the bride
Your Cinderella moment

02.04.2018
By Stephanie Boey

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There’s a saying that if you give a woman the right pair of shoes and she can conquer the world. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a pair of shoes, especially on an occassion as big as her wedding day. But if you were ever going to put a pair on a pedestal, wedding footwear definitely fits the bill. It is your wedding day after all, and unless you’re exercising a no-phone rule throughout the ceremony, chances are you’re going to be photographed… A LOT.
But most importantly, you’re going to be doing a whole load of standing, too. And dancing. The key to a happy bride is happy feet. If you are the sort who’d rather go barefoot than totter around in heels, today’s guide to alternative bridal footwear might just pique your fancy. While heels are deemed a requisite for most brides (whether diamanté studded or dainty lace options), go for something within your comfort zone (quite literally) on your big day. From glitter-fied sneakers to beach-worthy flats, these one-of-a-kind steppers can trump any basic bridal heels easily:
COOL KICKS

Serena Williams‘ wedding in November 2017 made headlines for all the right reasons—one of them because she proved that sneakers can be every bit wedding-appropriate. Rocking a short feathery gown to her fairytale wedding, Serena wore a pair of Swarovski-encrusted Nike Cortez that was hand-bedazzled by Michelle Meneses (the task took 24 hours to complete.) But if you can’t find someone who would painstakingly apply crystals on your favourite kicks, opt for one with a silver sheen like Saint Laurent‘s leather sneakers. But if you’re a hypebae bride, walk down the aisle in Balenciaga‘s chunky Triple S in a full-white colourway.

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KEEP IT BOOT-IFUL

Go against the grain like Giovanna Battaglia, who pulled off thigh high Manolo Blahnik boots that matched her macramé minidress during her wedding party look. If one of your outfit changes include a fun party dress that you want to shimmy in on your big night, make a statement with knee-high leather boots from Prada. Looking for Malaysian weather-friendly options? Dior‘s laser cut lattice boots are a breeze.

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SUMMER-WORTHY WEDGES

It may have been a short-lived union, but Bianca Jagger‘s made wedding style history back in 1971 when she got married to Mick Jagger in St. Tropez, donning a Saint Laurent Le Smoking jacket (with nothing underneath), a languid white skirt and matching white peep-toe wedges. Emulate her summer-ready bridal look with wooden wedges by Jil Sander or go the extra mile with studded suede platforms from Alaïa.

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ALL PUMPED UP

Keira Knightley did girly without being cloyingly sweet for her wedding back in 2013, wearing a pale pink tulle dress, a Chanel tweed jacket, and ballerina flats (in pink, no less). Add a saccharine sentiment to your bridal look with these unusual ballet pumps, including bowed flats from Salvatore Ferragamo, crystal-embellished flats from Miu Miu and a tweed pair from Roger Vivier.

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BOHO-CHIC FLATS

Flat sandals are a go-to choice if your wedding is held in a forest, beach or anywhere in nature—it’s pretty much impossible to trot in four-inch heels in those terrains anyway. A foolproof way to work wedding flats is to opt for anything embellished, whether it is rope and leather espradilles from Chanel, metallic snake skin-effect ankle strap sandals from Stuart Weitzman, or logocentric T-bar sandals from Gucci.

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KITTEN HEELS – AN UPDATE

If you really want to wear heels on your wedding but prefer not to subject your feet to numbing pain, try a lower height with kitten heels. Channel eternal grace like Elizabeth Taylor did during her wedding day, with Dolce & Gabbana‘s feathered slip-ins, Roger Vivier‘s satin slingbacks and Jacquemus‘ quirky ornamental heel.

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*Product sourcing by Stephanie Boey

For more ideas on all things bridal, click here.

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#InstaLove: Hot dudes with kittens

Lifestyle
#InstaLove: Hot dudes with kittens
The purr-fect combination

20.01.2016
By Rachel Au

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Whether it’s after a long day or in between stressful assignments, Instagram has become a place to not only seek inspiration but also serves as a quick escape from reality. As much as we love sweet pastels and pretty flowers, nothing defines ‘eye candy’ like hot dudes or cats—or both put together.

@hotdudeswithkittens
First on this list is of course the Instagram account that started the whole craze after going viral at the start of 2016! Now at 148k followers, you can expect them to update quite regularly. However, just a quick scroll on their feed shows that the majority of submissions picked to be featured are also hot dudes with tattoos compared to the next two accounts below. All feline featured looked absolutely fine.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Hot dudes with kittens” rid=”3751″ order=”a_tstamp”}

@menandmeows
The name ‘Men and Meows’ has a nice ring to it and it is also a younger and less active Instagram account, having only posted the first photo six weeks ago (@hotdudeswithkittens started 58 weeks ago at the time this is being written). Even so, it’s one Insta-worthy account; especially if you love a guy with amazing abs. All feline featured here also looked absolutely fine.

{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Men and Meows” rid=”3752″ order=”a_tstamp”}
@cuteboys_withcats
As the name suggests, this Instagram account features guys with more boyish features and a few beardy ones here and there. So it really depends on what type of guys you like. As for the featured feline, they all looked absolutely fine as well.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Cute boys with cats” rid=”3750″ order=”a_tstamp”}
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Technology
7 Best new features iOS 12 will bring to your iPhone and iPad
An upgraded update

05.06.2018
By Rachel Au

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The annual WWDC is always an exciting time for Apple fans and the first wave of updates has just concluded with one of them being iOS 12. The upcoming operating system comes with a slew of new features but we’ve picked out seven of our favourites that we think you’ll enjoy too.

1. Animojis and Memojis
When Apple released iPhone X’s Animoji, Samsung created AR Emoji. Now, iOS 12 adds Memoji. Users can now customise Memoji characters after their likeness (or don’t) from a set of inclusive and diverse characteristics. On the other hand, Animoji expands its set to include ghost, koala, tiger and T-rex. Both of these features now include winks and tongue detection.

2. Camera opens faster
As would several other native Apple apps such as the keyboard and Control Center. In general, iOS 12 promises speedier, smoother and more responsive animations. This is a big one for us since we do encounter a slight lag when switching between keyboards (English to Emoji and vice versa) or opening the Camera app (and missing the shot by a split second).

3. Group FaceTime
Whether it’s via video or audio, you can now chat with multiple people—up to 32 people, in fact—at the same time. Applicable only from an iPhone, iPad or Mac—or Apple Watch with FaceTime audio.

4. SMS passcode autofill
Some apps or services require an authentication code sent via SMS and more often than not, we’d have to exit the app, go to Messages and then copy the code. With iOS 12, your iPhone or iPad would most likely recognise these codes when you receive them and suggest to autofill it in your current app.

5. Do Not Disturb
Even this feature gets an upgrade (though we have to admit the Do Not Disturb while Driving was a good thought). Or rather, there are more personalised options for it—you can set it to automatically end based on a specific time or location. Then there’s the new Do Not Disturb during Bedtime mode—it’ll dim the display and hide all notifications on the lock screen until prompted in the morning.

6. Screen Time
No need for third-party apps to analyse your time management skills anymore. iOS 12’s Screen Time will give its full attention to create detailed daily and weekly Activity Reports. They’ll show how much time is spent on each app, how many notifications you receive, how often you pick up your phone or tablet, and more. There’s also an App Limits feature for you to set a specific amount of time allowed in an app before a notification pops up to remind you that your time limit is up. This perhaps would work great for parents with their children—especially with the Downtime option, which will restrict selected apps from being used.

7. Notifications
iOS 11 made all the notifications appear in chronological order, which personally, looked a little messy. iOS 12 fixes that with Grouped Notifications, making it easier to screen through and manage. In addition, there are more options to control the notification settings such as to have them delivered quietly or turn off completely.

iOS 12 will be available this fall for iPhone 5s and later; all iPad Air and iPad Pro models; iPad 5th and 6th generation; iPad mini 2 and later; and iPod touch 6th generation. For more information, visit apple.com/ios/ios-12-preview.

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Motoring
Rolls-Royce’s new Ghost and Ghost Extended showcase post-opulence luxury in Malaysia

04.04.2021
By Adelina Tan

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Rolls-Royce has most certainly not “given up the ghost”. Launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2009, the first Ghost went on to become the most successful model in the marque’s 116-year history. It’s proved popular with the younger, jet setting crowd, which is also the trend in Malaysia says Anas Zawawi Khalid, director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur.
Its discontinuation dismayed connoisseurs, but not for long—a new Ghost was soon announced. The most technologically advanced Rolls-Royce yet, the next-generation Ghost debuted globally last September. Following its recent official launch in Malaysia by Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Kuala Lumpur, Malaysians now have the chance to commission it (or glimpse it on local streets).

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Refreshed Design

The new Ghost appeals to refined sensibilities with its minimalist, post-opulence design philosophy which rejects superficial expressions of wealth. For the first time, the Spirit of Ecstasy’s position of honour on the bonnet isn’t surrounded by panel lines, but a “lake” of her own.

This treatment can also be seen in the single strokes and overall lack of shut lines, creating a contemporary aesthetic with an uncomplicated sense of motion. The new Ghost is also Rolls-Royce’s first to sport a unique, lighted front-end. 20 LEDs beneath the radiator grille subtly illuminate the metal vanes, creating a restrained glow.
The Architecture of Luxury

The reduction in design elements is, by no means, a lack in breadth of capability. Cutting-edge engineering and manufacturing techniques lead the way of the new Ghost. It’s built on proprietary aluminium spaceframe architecture—providing strength, rigidity and acoustics to enable Rolls-Royce’s famed “magic carpet ride” experience.
With all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering, it’s agile to “take you wonder by wonder; over, sideways (we’ll take that to mean side lanes) and under.” Speaking of new heights, Rolls-Royce’s world-first Planar Suspension System creates an unparalleled sense on flight on land, never before achieved by a motor car.

Under the bonnet is a 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12 engine, delivering 571PS and 850nm. Simply put, the new Ghost gets from 0-100km/h in a mere 4.8 seconds. Built for both business and leisure, for chauffeuring and driving pleasure, driveability is enhanced with:

LED and laser headlights providing more than 600m of illumination range

Vision assist (including day- and night-time wildlife and pedestrian warning)

Alertness assistant

A four-camera system with panoramic view

All-round visibility and helicopter view

Active cruise control

Collision warning

Cross-traffic warning

Lane departure and lane change warning

An industry-leading 7×3 high-resolution head-up display

Wi- Fi hotspot

Self-park

The very latest navigation and entertainment systems

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Serene and Effortless

To get you from destination to destination with effortless grace, the doors of the new Ghost electrically open as well as close. On-board and door sensors enable the same speed of door operation regardless of hill or driveway angles. Handy, when you live up a hill or have a driveway designed based on feng shui principles.
Rolls-Royce’s acoustic engineers have also innovated a Formula for Serenity to harmonise the new Ghost’s overall acoustics. Interior components are tuned to a specific resonant frequency, creating a sense of serenity. In bespoke audio form, the cabin’s peerless sound studio is an 18 channel, 18 speaker, 1300W audiophile grade system. The fabled Starlight Headliner, now equipped with an enthereal shooting star feature, serves two purposes: illumination and sound.

With air quality given increased importance in these times, a new Micro Environment Purification System (MEPS) creates the cleanest micro-environment available within the cabin of any motor car in less than two minutes. Sit back and sink into only the very best quality half hides, comprising 338 interior panels stitched together with incredibly long and perfectly straight lines.
A new illuminated fascia highlights the Ghost nameplate, surrounded by more than 850 stars to echo the Starlight Headliner’s subtle sparkle. You may also opt to equip the vehicle with a champagne fridge between the rear seats. Developed with the assistance of a Master Sommelier, it has two cooling modes, chilling champagne to six degrees (non-vintage) and 11 degrees (vintage).
Ghost, Extended

A longer version of the new Ghost, the Ghost Extended offers 170mm more space—the most legroom than any four-seat sedan in its segment. Despite being longer, it retains the standard Ghost’s minimalist design and sleek lines.
Rolls-Royce’s new Ghost and Ghost Extended is now available for commission in Malaysia. The Ghost is priced from RM1.45 million, while the Ghost Extended starts at RM1.65 million. Actual pricing depends on customer specifications. Visit this website for more information.

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