News
7 Things you can do in KL this weekend: 23 & 24 February 2019

20.02.2019
By Rachel Au

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

1. A Shucking Good Time at The Other Half @ TTDI, 6pm – 8pm, 23 February 2019
Enjoy a free flow of the freshest air-flown oysters from the U.S paired with delicious wine for a whole two hours.
RM138 per person. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the website.

2. Plant Swap & Meet at Ohsum Mossum Terrariums @ Sunwaymas, 3pm – 6pm, 23 February 2019
Whether you’ve recently discovered a newfound love for plants or you have seasoned green thumbs, this meet-up will let you swap your plants, give some away or adopt new ‘babies’ for your home. While you’re there, learn more about taking care of various types of plants through the sharing sessions.
Admission is free. For more info, visit the event page.

3. Sunset Chill Flow + Live Music at The Flow @ Bangsar, 5.30pm – 6.45pm, 24 February 2019
The Flow studio’s signature “Chill Flow” is taken to a whole new level. Resident yoga instructor Claudia Gallo will be leading her usual session with the exception that it will be accompanied by meditative acoustic music performed live by the inspiring multifaceted, wellness guru Hannah Lo and the talented singer/songwriter—and one of Malaysia’s best guitarists—Ray Cheong.
The class is suitable even for complete beginners. RM140 per person. Tickets can be purchased via their website.

4. The Astor Brunch at The Astor Bar @ The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur, 12pm – 3.30pm, 24 February 2019
The Astor Bar is known for many things. Among them: The drinks and being one of the filming locations for Crazy Rich Asians. It’s adding another highlight to its reputation and that is its adult-only brunch featuring a curated 5-course a la carte menu with free-flowing alcohol and an ambience unlike any.
RM448+ per person, inclusive of free-flowing red and white wine, cocktails and spirits. Call 03 2727 6690 or email [email protected] to make a reservation.

5. Euro Fun Park at Taman Sri Gombak, till 3 March 2019
Do you remember going to an outdoor funfair as a child? Well, that’s Euro Fun Park and they claim to be Malaysia’s largest travelling funfair, complete with games, rides (both the mellow kind and the exhilarating type) and more. For old times’ sake, why not pop by and relive your childhood?
Admission fee starts at RM4 for adults and RM2 for children. For more info, visit their Facebook.

6. Brazilian Tenderloin at Chambers Grill @ Hilton Kuala Lumpur, the whole month of February 2019
First, a quick background on Chambers Grill. Here is where they offer a menu of prime aged meats cuts or fresh seafood cooked over lava stone, charcoal or a ‘robatayaki’ style grill. That alone is enough to make us salivate. For this month only, they’re including the oh-so-tender Brazilian Tenderloin that will be paired with Rioja wine from Spain. Choose from:

200g Brazilian Tenderloin prepared with chimichurri, confit garlic, RM200
450g Brazilian Chateaubriand prepped with chimichurri, roasted vegetables & rosemary potatoes, RM498 (sharing for 2 pax)
Tenderloin Comparison—100g Brazilian Tenderloin & 100g Australian Black Angus Tenderloin, RM245

For more info or to make a reservation, call 03 2264 2264 or email [email protected].

7. Make a reservation for The Joseph Drouhin Winemaker’s Dinner at Saint Pierre KL, 7pm onwards, 26 February 2019
If you’ve yet to have a taste of Saint Pierre KL’s modern French cuisine, this will be a great opportunity! For one night only, they’ll be serving an exclusive six-course affair paired with luscious and natural French wines from one of Burgundy’s most respected maisons. From scallop served with coriander, avocado and fennel to milk-fed beef with tonka bean and celeriac, expect a myriad of delicate flavours that will surely satiate your tastebuds.
RM598++ per pax. Reservations can be made via 03 2732 5008.

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Food + Drink
Food review: Indigo @ The Blue Mansion, Penang

17.09.2020
By Ronn Tan

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The Blue Mansion, also known as Cheong Fatt Tze, is one of the most iconic landmarks—not just in Penang, but in the whole of Malaysia. Built in the 19th century by Cheong Fatt Tze for his descendants, it’s definitely the place to check out in George Town. Recently reopened after almost 80 days of closure due to the Movement Control Order, The Blue Mansion is ready for guests again, including for dine-in at Indigo.

Photo by Cheong Fatt Tze — The Blue Mansion
Executive Chef Jack Yeap helms the kitchen here at Indigo, with a menu inspired by his upbringing in Penang as well as his experiences as a chef across the globe. Paired with an elegant and inviting setting, one can only expect a sublime experience. With that, I knew I had to give the spot a go and I finally did.
Indigo has a new Tasting Menu—priced at RM200 per person—that consists of five courses. Here’s my full review:
Cold Laksa Capellini with Blue Fin Tuna

If there’s only one way to begin the meal, this is it. Served cold and with condiments of Penang assam laksa, it’s a delectable and unique combination of cultures. Reminiscent of the Japanese cold soba (for obvious reasons), I loved how nostalgia played a role here in terms of taste. Don’t go into this hoping for actual assam laksa but be prepared for something you’ve never experienced before. It’s also really light and hence, can be considered the perfect appetiser.
Would the dish benefit from stronger flavours? Yes. However, it is precisely because of the mildness of the overall dish that allowed the distinctive sourness you would expect from the assam laksa you recognize to shine through. Paired with bits of blue fin tuna, you are presented with an ambrosial creation—one that truly evokes a sense of local culture.
Seared Hokkaido Scallop with Sugar Cane

The next dish on the Tasting Menu is the Seared Hokkaido Scallop—served with spicy fermented bean, nashi pear, kaffir lime leaf, ginger, and sugar cane broth. I’d describe this as the perfect example of size does not matter. In spite of its appearance and plating, this is brilliant. The scallop is prepared well; with the seared ends being my favourite parts.
While the Hokkaido scallop is seasoned perfectly on its own, the sugar cane broth elevated the entire dish. There’s this sensational and interesting combination of sweet and salty. The result? A well-balanced dish that really got the palate on a joyful overdrive. It’s divine how a simple ingredient such as sugar cane can inspire such a concoction—and that is why Indigo is so revered.
Seared Foie Gras

With toasted jack fruit bread, tangerine marmalade, almond sea salt crumble, and balsamic glaze, the Seared Foie Gras is probably my least favourite from the Tasting Menu. I enjoyed it; I really did—but the menu also has four other top-notch contenders. In addition, I have a love-hate relationship with foie gras.
What I really loved about this is the tangerine marmalade. I’ve had foie gras in many different ways but this is something I’ve never seen before. Prepared mildly sweet, the marmalade does not, in any way, overpower the briny texture and flavour of the foie gras. Combined with added dimension from the almond sea salt crumble and jack fruit bread, it’s a rather toothsome dish. I would be happy to give this another go but with a stronger tangerine marmalade flavour profile. That’d be interesting, don’t you think? Still, kudos to the culinary team for putting together such uncommon pairings.
Australian Beef Tenderloin

The main comes in the form of steak, or more specifically, Australian Beef Tenderloin. Prepared medium rare (just how I like it), the dish came with mashed potatoes, sautéed mixed mushrooms, baby spinach, and sauce bordelaise. I’m not going to lie; this dish looks divine and I wasted no time digging in.
Seasoned and cooked with finesse, the steak is everything you’d expect from a premium quality beef. It’s succulent, rich, and lush. However, special mention has to be given to the sauce borderlaise. While you don’t need the extra relish to really enjoy the dish, the mild jus actually complemented the beef without taking away from its natural flavour profile. Not too brackish, the Beef Tenderloin is definitely the way to end the meal with a heavenly bang.
Chocolate and Banana

Aptly named Chocolate and Banana, the dessert comprises of a duo of chocolate, almond praline, and banana panna cotta. My attention went directly to the banana panna cotta. Soft and delicate, its mild sweetness juxtaposes with the stronger chocolate flavours. Although I’m on the fence with regards to the combination, I’m a massive fan of how Indigo manages to include a popular local fruit in a chocolate-heavy creation. We all deserve desserts and we should always go for the best options—with one of them being this particular concoction at Indigo.

Photo by Cheong Fatt Tze — The Blue Mansion
It’s clear that I truly enjoyed the Tasting Menu at Indigo. I remember walking out of the restaurant thinking to myself: “That was undeniably one of the most unparalleled and extraordinary meals I’ve ever had.” It’s the utilisation of common and local produce and ingredients that really upped the ante on the menu—and I have no second thought when it comes to recommending Indigo. Even better, end your night with by staying at one of the guest rooms.

Indigo at The Blue Mansion
Address: 14, Leith Street, 10200 Penang
Contact: 04 262 0006
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Makeup
How to cover acne and scarring with makeup on all skin tones, according to Keke Palmer and a pro makeup artist

22.12.2020
By Redzhanna Jazmin

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To all you lovely people out there struggling with your skin—you’re not alone. Acne is a lot of things, but easy isn’t one of them. Aesthetics aside, acne can be extremely painful and disheartening, especially when it is hormonal. That’s why we’ve done countless guides and self-investigations into the best remedies for acne out there. However, one place we’ve failed to go before is acne coverage.
If you’re a fan of Keke Palmer’s, you’ll know that she recently came forward about her struggles with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). She posted a completely makeup-free selfie to her Instagram and got candid about the PCOS-induced hormonal acne that she has been suffering from.

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“PCOS has been attacking me from the inside out my entire life and I had no idea,” says Palmer. “My acne has been so bad that people in my field offered to pay for me to get it fixed.”
READ: Keke Palmer gets real about her PCOS-induced acne
“I’ve tried everything,” she continues. “I did accutane twice. People say drink water, have a better diet, but I did all that, I ate all the “right” things, my blood tests were fine, but it took me taking a personal look into my family history of diabetes and obesity to understand what was actually happening with me.”
While her post received resounding support from fans—especially those with similar experiences—many were surprised to discover that Palmer was struggling with acne at all. From her red carpet pictures and Instagram posts, you would almost never know that she had severe acne in the first place, and it all comes down to a great makeup routine.
READ: How to shade match foundation and concealer to deep skin tones
Lucky for all of us on the acne boat, Palmer shared her routine to Instagram, stating: “I’ve been dealing with acne and struggling with coverage for a really long time. I don’t think there’s any shame in it.”

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In summary, the official Keke Palmer routine goes a little like this:

Prep the skin with ample hydrationKeke used: Aquaphor and Caudalie Beauty Elixir
Colour correct areas of hyperpigmentationKeke used: The orange colour corrector from MAC Studio Fix Correction Palette
Follow up on problem areas and spot conceal with a concealer lighter than your natural skin toneKeke used: NARS Concealer in the shade Medium 2 Ginger
Stipple foundation all over the face with a BeautyblenderKeke used: MAC Pro Longwear Foundation NC 50
Set the skin with powder—keep your skin as matte as possible to avoid highlighting texture on the skinKeke used: MAC Dark Mineralizing Skin Finish Studio Fix in the shade NW 58, the Lancôme Absolute powder in the shade Absolute Almonds, and the Ben Nye 6B01
Smooth down any flakes or bits of texture with a little moisturiser and powder mixed together, and pat down with more powder to set

In the tutorial, Palmer also detailed that her acne-induced hyperpigmentation and scarring was never tacked properly by on-set makeup artists, saying: “When I was younger in my movies, they would use whatever was the darkest colour of my acne scars and if you watched [the films] you could see that I was [several] different shades at once. I had to learn how to do my makeup on my own so I could make sure I felt happy and comfortable.”
That’s what we’re here to help you do today. To corroborate Palmer’s tutorial, we spoke to Yuna’s makeup artist Cat Yong to glean some extra tips of acne coverage. Here’s what she said:
What kind of products would you recommend for acne-prone skin that has a lot of texture and scarring?
“In my opinion, you should always go for cream foundations, especially if the acne or scarring is very obvious on the skin. Cream consistencies work best for covering up acne because the texture is often thicker and higher coverage, but it won’t cling to dry spots as much. In addition to that, cream and liquid concealers will also help to cover up any dark spots.”
What are some of the techniques you use when covering acne with makeup?

Conceal the acne areas using a small brush and a cream concealer that is lighter than your skin tone. This helps to tone the redness down in the area
Go in with a concealer that is one or two tones darker than your foundation and spot conceal to even up the acne area and its surroundings
Set your concealer with a fluffy brush dipped in a powder foundation that matches your skin tone

What are some steps you can take to further prevent breakouts?
“Maintaining good hygiene with your makeup tools is very important. Always wash your brushes, sponges and/or powder puffs after every use. This is to prevent the germs and bacteria from growing!
“To wash them, you can use normal bar soap to wash the tools/sponges—try to avoid alcohol-based removers like wet wipes and brush cleaners as they might be sensitising to problematic skin.
READ: The definitive guide to cleaning every beauty tool in your vanity
“Remember: if you have sensitive or problems skin like acne breakouts, always double cleanse your face after makeup. It is very important! Here are the steps I recommend:1) Cleansing water to remove the whole face and base 2) Cleansing milk for the first cleanse3) Your regular daily face cleanser for the second cleanse
“Aside from deep cleansing your face, you have to take extra care of the foods you’re eating daily. Try to limit your intake of spicy, oily, and deep-fried foods. You can also try taking some skin supplements if you can.
“Also, be careful of the skincare and makeup you use. If you feel like a product is causing breakouts or sensitivity, stop using the products immediately! Of course, if your skin condition isn’t improving, it’s best to consult a skin doctor to prevent scarring.”
This interview has been edited for clarity and length. For more acne-busting stories like this, click here for our acne guide.

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Film, TV + Theatre
BURO TV Guide December 2021: ‘Money Heist Season 5 Volume 2’, ‘Emily in Paris Season 2’, ‘Don’t Look Up’ and more

16.12.2021
By Genie Leong

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

December’s new releases promise plenty of variety for all tastes and preferences. From grim dramas to comedy, fantasy and action—here are the top picks for your viewing pleasure:
1) The Power of the Dog

When and where: 1 December 2021 on Netflix
Who’s in it: Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons
Watch if: Slow-burn psychodramas are your favourite kind of movies
Directed by Jane Campion and based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage, this Western gothic drama stars some of Hollywood’s best. Set in the 1920s, the Burbank brothers run a profitable ranch in Montana. Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch) is charismatic but uncouth, while his brother George (Jesse Plemons) has a taste for the finer things in life and aspires towards a higher social standing. Phil picks on his brother, seemingly enraptured by the idea that George is incompetant and dependent on him, while in truth he is no different from most bullies and is actually concealing his reliance on his brother instead. When George marries widow Rose (Kirsten Dunst) and she and her teenage son Peter move into the house, Phil takes it upon himself to harass and abuse her while taking a gradual and strange liking to Peter. Containing stellar performances from the cast and brilliant cinematography, this is a must-watch for the movie buffs.
Click here to watch
2) Money Heist Season 5 Volume 2

When and where: 3 December 2021 on Netflix
Who’s in it: Álvaro Morte, Itziar Ituño, Pedro Alonso
Watch if: You’ve watched and loved earlier seasons of Money Heist
All good things must come to an end, but that doesn’t have to mean all is bad. Part two of Money Heist’s final season brings back beloved characters and tons of thrilling twists. Volume 1 left off on a high note (quite literally for Stockholm, who injected herself with morphine in Volume 1), with a huge sacrifice from Tokyo (played by Ursula Corbero) that will undoubtedly set the tone for the series finale. With Tokyo out of the picture, our favourite gang of robbers are left in their most vulnerable position yet. With the enemy still in the building and dead set on taking the gang down, our remaining robbers will face their greatest challenge yet, but will The Professor’s mistake in the last episode of Volume 1 spell doom for the gang’s heist? Return to the Bank of Spain for the final five episodes of Money Heist to find out if the gang gets the gold and makes it out in one piece.
Click here to watch
3) The Unforgivable

When and where: 10 December 2021 on Netflix
Who’s in it: Sandra Bullock, Viola Davis, Vincent D’Onofrio
Watch if: Redemption stories are your bread and butter
In this Americanised adaptation of the 2009 British mini series Unforgiven, Sandra Bullock plays Ruth Slater, an ex-con released from prison after serving 20 years for violent crime. Set in the rainy city of Seattle, USA, the movie follows Ruth as she readjusts to society in a world that is hostile and unwilling to accept her back into its folds. Ruth goes on a search for her long-lost younger sister and comes across lawyers Jon and Liz Ingram (Vincent D’Onofrio and Viola Davis), who offer her legal aid. As Ruth’s past and the details behind her crime surface, it seems that isolation and helplessness can be as torturous in the outside world as it is behind bars. The Unforgivable promises grim storytelling and complex characters, brought to life by a star-studded and honestly overqualified cast. If you’re up for a gripping tale of perseverance and vindication, this movie will be one of your top new releases of the month.
Click here to watch
4) The Witcher Season 2

When and where: 17 December 2021 on Netflix
Who’s in it: Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, Anya Chalotra
Watch if: You’ve seen Season 1 and count yourself a fan of The Witcher franchise
Everyone’s favourite white-haired monster hunter is back for a highly anticipated second spin, with more magic, monsters and madness to ensue. Henry Cavill returns to his role as Geralt of Rivia, one of several monster hunters with supernatural abilities known as witchers, along with Princess Ciri (Freya Allan) and sorceress Yennefer (Anya Chalotra). The last fans saw of Geralt in season one, he and Ciri were battling a wicked Nilfgaardian army. Season two deepens the relationships between the show’s main characters, with an expected focus on Geralt and Ciri as he brings her to Kaer Morhen, his childhood home. As Geralt helps train Ciri in her journey as an aspiring witcher, dangerous discoveries are sure to cause mayhem and adventure. With countless fans to impress and a reportedly bigger production budget, The Witcher: Season 2 is bound to have you fully immersed in a phenomenal fantasy realm full of exciting quests and riveting stories.
Click here to watch
5) Emily in Paris Season 2

When and where: 22 December 2021 on Netflix
Who’s in it: Lily Collins, Ashley Park, Phillippine Leroy-Beaulieu
Watch if: You’ve seen Season 1, and love outrageous fashion
The sophomore season of Emmy-nominated comedy-drama Emily in Paris brings the perpetually fumbling marketing executive Emily Cooper (Lily Collins) back to our screens. Following Emily as she stumbles through Parisian life and navigates the workplace, friendships and romance, the story will reportedly pick up from where the first season left off—Emily is under the impression that her downstairs neighbour and new love interest, Gabriel, is leaving for Normandy to pursue his dreams of opening a restaurant. But when Emily’s Savoir client, Antoine, offers to help him finance a restaurant in Paris, Gabriel’s stay in the City of Lights means that everything is now more complicated than ever before. With Emily planning a trip to Saint Tropez with Love Interest #2, Mathieu, drama is just around the corner for our wildly dressed protagonist. Will Emily finally get the hang of life in Paris, and find real love? You’ll have to tune in to season two to find out.
Click here to watch
6) Don’t Look Up

When and where: 24 December 2021 on Netflix
Who’s in it: Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep
Watch if: You like political satires, and you’re a fan of literally any of the stars here
Have time for another hit film this December? Adam McKay’s Don’t Look Up contains a super star-studded cast and promises layers of dense comedy infused with alarming reminders of how destructive human beings can be. Oscar winners Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence star as astronomers Dr. Randall Mindy and Kate Dibiasky, who are on a frantic mission to warn the public about an incoming comet that threatens to collide into Planet Earth and destroy life as we know it if swift action isn’t taken. The pair become increasingly desperate as their warnings are ignored, even by President Jamey Orlean (Meryl Streep) and her antagonistic administration. The movie uses satire to deliver a serious message about climate change, serving as an entertaining but urgently grave note on modern society’s way of life. With early reviews for the film predicting double-digit award nominations, Don’t Look Up could very well become one of your favourite movies of 2021.
Click here to watch
7) The Silent Sea

When and where: 24 December 2021 on Netflix
Who’s in it: Gong Yoo, Bae Doo-Na, Lee Joon
Watch if: You love sci-fi thrillers and/or you’re a Gong Yoo stan
What better way to close out the year than with a dystopian mystery series starring some of your favourite Korean actors? Gong Yoo and Bae Doo-Na take the lead in this series as Han Yoon-Jae, team leader of an elite group of space soldiers and specialists, and Song Ji-An, an astrobiologist. When extreme desertification razes the Earth and threatens human life, the team is tasked with the critical mission of going to the moon in search of means for mankind’s survival. Their goal is to reach the abandoned Balhae Lunar Research Station on the moon and secure a mysterious sample, but technical issues and the unpredictability of outer space will prove to be as perilous as the dire circumstances back home. With the fate of mankind hanging in the balance, the team will be pushed to their limits as they risk their lives in the deafening silence of space. The Silent Sea may be the last show on your streaming list for the year, but it will certainly not be the least.
Click here to watch
8) Lost Treasures of Egypt Season 3

When and where: Premieres 9 December 2021 with new episodes weekly on National Geographic (Astro Ch 551)
Who’s in it: Rick Robles, Julian Barratt, John Ward
Watch if: You’re obsessed with Ancient Egypt
Uncover secrets from the past in the new season of the National Geographic series Lost Treasures of Egypt. This season will take you back on an immersive journey to Egypt to unearth some of history’s greatest mysteries. Dive into the fascinating details about the rulers of one of history’s greatest civilisations, as well as the ways of life of the people who lived in this empire. Narrated by Rick Robles and Julian Baratt, and featuring experts in the fields of archaeology and Egyptology, this series promises an engaging journey that will not only enlighten your mind, but also awaken a sense of curiosity and intrigue.
Click here for November’s BURO TV Guide

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Features
An interview with Christopher Kane: “Sometimes things grow on you, like a work of art”
A true creative

13.05.2016
By Buro247

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Ten years ago, Christopher and his sister Tammy set out to launch the Christopher Kane brand—four hours or so after his graduation. Fashion was different back then, Christopher remembers it being simpler. Graduates studied in libraries, designers took their time. After a much praised debut that caught the eye of Donatella Versace and lead him to design for Versus shortly after, Christopher was allowed to take what he describes as “baby steps” to success. Over the past decade, Christopher Kane picked up heaps of awards as his main line spawned a multitude of new categories: menswear, handbags and shoes, resort and pre-fall collections—all done without compromising on the quality and character of his designs. Last year, with the support of the Kering group, he opened his first flagship store in London’s Mayfair. An e-commerce website, currently in the making, promises to follow soon.

Looking back and looking forward by turns, but keeping his feet firmly on the ground, Christopher speaks fondly of the ducklings and swans who inspire him, and of his ever-changing girl—bandage dresses, lace and tape, phallic florals and abattoir shoes. Because if “good is great, bad is even better” sometimes:

We’re here in occasion of the 10th anniversary of Christopher Kane the brand, and I thought we could begin by looking back for a moment to how it all started. You’ve often said that making mistakes is the best way to learn, so I wonder what kind of mistakes you’ve made and what did you learn from them, and what would your advice be for new fashion graduates today?
I was much younger back then, and it was ten years ago so the environment, landscape and industry were all very different. Today it’s so much faster. Whereas back then it was much easier to start up because you were only doing two collections, you weren’t necessarily doing pre-fall and resort, because they were such a new thing at that point; everyone would ask, what’s that? And now all of a sudden they’re fundamental to grow any business. I think I was very lucky, I was surrounded by the right people at the right time, but I had to work really hard. I think there’s a misconception that doing this is easy when it’s really not easy at all. It’s a very hard industry to break into and a very hard industry to work in, there’s so much competition. But for me, I went to St Martins which is the most competitive college in the world, so…

It really prepares you.
Yeah, and you honestly work with the best teachers from beginning to end. You’re taught to really just be yourself. It’s a very independent course, you just have to make mistakes to go forward, and nothing is ever perfect so that’s always a work in progress for sure.

It’s interesting that you say it used to be easier to start a brand before, most people would believe the opposite.
I think that’s a total lie. Today there’s a lot of pressure for designers to start, and then when they do start, there’s so much stuff that people want, there’s so much demand on them. But I came at a point when I could take baby steps, you know? It’s true that today you can create your own model, you can do it your own way. And there’s never a right way, like there never was a right way, it was really always a bit of going by your own gut instinct. But I think today it’s okay to just do what you want. Although the fact is you still want to create a business, and it’s great to be successful, so there just are things you need to follow. People need this, people want that, whereas when I started there were just these two collections. In between those, a short holiday? But now, you do not stop thinking about work.

And social media come as a double-edged sword—while they allow for instant exposure and praise, from which young designers in particular can benefit plenty, they could also be quite misleading, or lead to a misleading sense of confidence at least. Because our attention span is much shorter too.
Yes. It’s weird because as soon as I’ve done a collection people are asking me about the next one. But I’ve just done one, give me a break. I’m not a robot, I’m not a machine, I’m a human being, I work with human beings, we can’t predict the future even though we try. It’s ridiculous how much they expect. People are spoiled now—there’s just so much information at your fingertips, your phone, your computer, magazines, and so on. Whereas I remember going back to the library in college, and that’s where I’d do my research, in a library! Does anyone even go to libraries anymore? Do they look at books? Now you can just google. But I believe that it’s always nice to have books to look at, do your research the way it used to be done, not just look at your Instagram feed because—that’s other people’s stuff, and you should make your own.

At the same time though, there’s this kind of democratisation of the spotlight that the internet allowed,  which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Yes, and I totally get that. Like when the bloggers came up and that was such a big issue for everyone to talk about. But I’m totally up for it, I think it’s actually a really tough job. What I don’t like is when they have a negative point of view when it comes to fashion. Because unless you’ve been there and done that, how would you possibly know? People are so easy to make opinions, sometimes you would just want to tell them: shut up! When there are other bloggers like for instance Susie Lau or Bryan Boy, who also have fun but are never negative about it, they love what they’re doing and can’t believe the industry they work in, they’re so happy. But others are just like: nah, that was terrible, that was shit… I’d like them to try it themselves and see how hard this is before they judge. Of course everyone in this industry is entitled to their opinion but they should have respect for one another too. Because, you may not like it now but sometimes it takes time for things to process, to resonate. Sometimes things grow on you, like a work of art—and it’s not all about posting them on your Instagram.

Still, you seem to have adapted quite easily.
You think so? I think we’re pretty old-fashion here (laughs). Compared to other brands I think we were one of the last who got on Instagram. Because it was one of those things that is, you know, just another demand. Nowadays there is this curiosity to see the insides of a company, or a designer, but for me the mystery should still be there. When I was at college I loved to wonder about Cristobal Balenciaga or Yves Saint Laurent, and the mystery that always surrounds them. What they did, you can only imagine; you would love to follow them, but it’s ok that you’re not allowed to. Sometimes things are better left unknown as well.
“I’m not a robot, I’m not a machine, I’m a human being, I work with human beings, we can’t predict the future even though we try.”
But there are different ways of adapting to the increased speed of the system. You’re actually able to show both mens and womenswear, resort and pre-fall collections.
And those clothes even are on the shop floor for longer. See, you work really hard on your mainline collections, you really want to push boundaries, project an image or whatever you’re trying to put out there, but then they’re on the shop floor for hardly any time. And then resort comes in, which has to be even more creative than the main line, but more affordable, so you really need to have scientific problem-solving skills there.

That’s why I really liked the idea of your Pre-Fall 2016 collection, in which you’ve somehow revisited the highlights of your brand so far. Can you tell me about this decision and how did you select the ones you did?
Sometimes it’s important to remind people that I did that first, because at times others can cherry-pick from my old collections and just own my ideas for themselves – It has happened in the past. But now when I see that, I can just move on. I’ve got such a vast archive of my work now, and it’s always good to go back and look for images or toile that I have, because there could be something you’ve been working on for a collection. It could be weeks or just a few days before a show, and you’re trying and trying to make it work but it doesn’t feel right, because it just hasn’t developed yet and it needs more time. So you keep it there, and that’s why it’s always good to go back and revisit old pieces and pictures.

Yet at the same time, the very best fashion is often considered to be the kind that comes as a reflection of the time in which it was made and your collections are always quite unanimously believed to be. There’s a lace and gaffer tape Christopher Kane dress at the Fashion Museum in Bath that was chosen to represent 2013 in their Dress of the Year collection, as a case in point.
True, and there’s a lot that’s coming up this May as well. We’re really lucky that we get asked to do these things. There’s the exhibition at the MET, Manus x Machina, that’s opening on the 5th, which is going to be amazing, we’ve got a few pieces in it as well. It’s all about technology, handmade technology and the contrast between the two. I’m excited to see what they’ve done with it, but I also think that clothes are not museum pieces—they’re nice to look at sometimes but they’re mostly great to be worn.

So they’re both inspired by, and belong to the present. But at the same time again, you’ve got this autobiographical thread that looks back to your past.
Absolutely, everything points back to something or someone who I grew up with. And it’s not like because I’m Scottish, everything needs to be either tartan or kilts, though I do love both. But there’s always a silhouette there and there’s often a person that’s referenced in each collection. Not always, but the past two collections for example were all about outsiders, outsider artists, or recluses, who create their own world and are so unsophisticated that they’re actually better than anyone else, though they may not know it. And that’s people I grew up with in Scotland, characters I went to school with, the ugly duckling that then becomes a swan. That happens in every walk of life. These are the people who made a difference, like strong teachers I’ve had. I’m still in touch the best art teacher I’ve had, and a great teacher at St Martins also, Professor Louise Wilson. I think everyone has had an experience with a really good teacher that pushed them, it’s so important.

But you can always reach a balance between these two seemingly contrasting influences, of the immediate present and the memories of your past.
It’s always good to look back, at the same time it’s always good to look forward. But right now I’m just living in the now and getting stuff done! (laughs)

I did want to ask also about your brand evolution in terms of your female inspiration—and I wouldn’t quite call her a muse because that’s perhaps too limiting a concept when there’s just so many, “spectrums of femininity” I think you called them, that your work addresses.
You know I don’t even have moodboards. I mean I do have moodboards now because I work with merchandisers so you do have to put images up, but it’s more for them to understand references. And I don’t quite want to give her away I think, for anyone who walks in and sees it. I mean, it’s good to be private.

Of course. But from the girl in the body-con bandage dress of your first collection for SS07, to the faded beauty of the hoarder in AW16, a certain gradual growth can still be traced, we can almost see her blossoming into a complex and complete woman, in a way.
Yeah, it’s an evolution for sure, but I still love that girl in the body-con dress as well—she’s young, she’s bright, she’s sexy, she’s cool… and then the hoarder, she’s really cool but she’s not for everyone, she’s quite eccentric. But that bandage girl can still own a piece of it and that hoarder may still want a piece of that body-con. We try to be inclusive, we try to bring in everyone, and some seasons we may lose someone, because they don’t get it, it may be too far ahead, but then we also bring more people in and maybe get more customers. You can’t always please everyone.

That’s true, especially if they’re inspired by real people.
Yes, and there’s still a common thread throughout all of them, though they might appear completely different. I see it and the people I work with see it, it’s not so noticeable to everyone else but that’s alright too. It’s because we change directions every season, and the reason for that is that I get bored really easily if I’m honest with you.

As most people do these days: we all got used so quickly to these new rhythms.
Yes, but that’s me in particular. Other designers are good at doing the same thing over and over, like Azzedine Alaia. His work is so beautiful, he’s such a craftsman, it’s amazing – but I couldn’t do it. I mean, you never know, maybe I’ll slow down as I grow older. But for now, people also love coming to our shows because it’s always a surprise. And when I go at fashion shows, I like that too, the anticipation. Nowadays everyone loves a surprise, the newness.

Because of that loss of mystery that you were talking about before. We are all so informed now, that many new collections become, if not quite predictable, at least worth a guess before the show season has even begun.
Yeah, and also why would you put clothes there that have been seen before? Fashion is all about moving forward, that’s how I create—by being really creative. Don’t think about people being able to share it, think about reaching the height of creativity and from there you can make all these other great pieces but you just really need to aim high. Someone said the other day: I think ideas have run out. I’m like, what? How can ideas even… how would you know? Why don’t you just get off your phone and think for a little bit?

I think collections should be ever-changing. But then there’s also things that we always do. We always use lace, we always have florals. For me florals are just so phallic and so erotic. That’s why we did Lovers’ Lace because for me, a penis and a vagina look like the reproductive system of flowers. And that’s ok because it’s nature, and it’s beautiful. But people were quite shocked by that and I always marvel at these reaction. Well, just go buy a normal floral dress then, that’s ok. But while it might be ok for them, it’s not ok for me. I’m always about pushing myself.

And now that the brand is entering its preteens, what are your plans, and your hopes, for the weeks, seasons, and decade ahead?
Oh that’s really sweet, I never thought of it that way. But see it’s weird because like I said, I’m always in the now, I try not to think about the future. Because when I do, I feel that I’ve got too much to think about and if I start stressing about it now, I’ll never get anything done in the present. But of course, on the optimistic side it’ll be more stores, and the e-commerce we’re launching now. Just the usual stuff that keeps a business afloat. And then obviously new categories, which could be anything from cosmetics to perfumes, I’m open to anything really.
“I’ll respect everyone else, even though I may not like what they do, but I’ll always be respectful. Because it’s a hard job.”
And you’ve already got handbags and a shoe line, and sneakers. Are they all based around the same theme of the main collection, design-wise?
Well, things need to link so normally yes, a bag would reference the main collection—but it depends. Occasionally they can also be totally apart, and that looks ok too. Someone will tell you that it doesn’t fit, and you’ll have to argue about it: that that’s the whole point, it doesn’t need to be perfect. Of course technically, construction-wise, they do. But when things are too perfect, that’s boring. They need to have a little spark. Good is great, but bad is even better sometimes, because you’ve never seen it before. It could be a plastic bag—that did happen on the runway—or the abattoir shoes. When I did the abattoir shoes people were like, abattoir shoes? And I was like, yes, they wear plastic bags over their feet to cover them from blood. That’s a reference.

Finally, we’ve talked a lot about change, and how essential the notion of change is to the idea of fashion. But also about how fast the turnover has become now, that quite a few talented designers have been famously unable to keep up. Some say we might soon be reaching the point where a revolution will be necessary to avoid collapse. Do you believe that will happen? How do you live, and prosper, in times of change?
You know, when Raf left Dior I was so sad because I used to love going to the shows and Raf is just one of the most talented designers ever. And for a while, everyone was talking about how things may change. I mean, when you think about how he was in such a hard position, and he’s a really strong guy, but he just couldn’t do it anymore. So as a smaller brand, you realise that we’re quite happy with being quite small. And we’re lucky that Kering are very supportive on this, that they’re all about being creative, pushing boundaries and standing out, that’s what they truly believe in. And without them my flagship store would have never been possible.
But see, what happened with Raf got people to start talking about this issue, and designers already had been talking about it for five or six years at least. The demand, the pressure, it’s high on everyone, small to big. That happened to highlight it for a few minutes, but then everything was back to normal. I don’t know if the system will change, though everyone seem to think so. I think that you need to be loyal to your designers, I’ll always love Raf like I’ll always love Miuccia. And I’ll respect everyone else, even though I may not like what they do, but I’ll always be respectful. Because it’s a hard job. And fashion itself, that always changes. It’s like… evolution. We may have four arms one day. Will people question that?

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Features
What you need to know about investment pieces and pre-loved shopping, according to fashion resale platform Vestiaire Collective

24.06.2020
By Joan Kong

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Thanks to the increase of sustainability-driven and bargain-hunting shoppers in this day and age, the fashion resale market is booming like no other, and it’ll continue to thrive for years to come. According to the 2020 Resale Report by the world’s largest online consignment and thrift store ThredUp and GlobalData Retail, the secondhand apparel market is valued at about US$28 billion today and is expected to reach US$64 billion in the next five years. The COVID-19 pandemic has, undoubtedly, lend a hand in propelling the industry too.
A quick search on Google will lead you to a long list of resellers, but Paris-based Vestiaire Collective has been one of the leading platforms in recent years with almost nine million members in 50 countries worldwide. Founded in 2009, the brand has also set its sights in the Asia, having set up an office in Hong Kong two years back, and partnering up with online fashion retailer Zalora in recent months for its expansion.
To get more insight into the pre-loved industry and fashion investments as a whole, we spoke to Vestiaire Collective’s co-founder Fanny Moizant, and Head of Australia and Southeast Asia Duncan White to get more insight into the resale market; as well as Zalora’s Head of Sustainability and General Counsel, Louise Pender on some of its sustainability plans moving forward.
Bring us back to the start. How did Vestiaire Collective come about?
Fanny Moizant: After having my two daughters, I was inspired to start my own company. I came up with the idea to launch Vestiaire Collective after noticing significant changes in the way that people were consuming fashion: buying more and wearing less.
The rise of social media and fast fashion has led us from an era of possession to an era of usage, where consumers are urgently in need of a sustainable solution to cope with this behaviour. This soon led to the creation of Vestiaire Collective, a company dedicated to providing an opportunity for people to extend the lifespan of their pre-loved items, therefore minimising waste in fashion.

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A post shared by Fanny Moizant (@fannymoizant) on Dec 30, 2019 at 1:59am PST

How has the pandemic affected the resale market?
FM: Clearly this period has encouraged everyone to focus on what’s really important to them—a time to re-evaluate what’s essential, and also their consumption habits and values. I believe consumers will focus on buying less but better, thus adopting a more sustainable conscious lifestyle moving forward.
On the selling side, we’ve seen a huge uplift in deposits at +88 per cent YoY in May which is in part due to the lockdown where people have more time to clear their closets. Consumers are also becoming more resourceful in the economic crisis and starting to sell as an extra form of income.
Vestiaire Collective was founded during the global recession in 2009, by offering customers affordable luxury and the opportunity to transform closets into an extra source of income. Our resilient business model as an online resale platform has played an important role for people who want to raise funds from their wardrobe during this difficult period.

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A post shared by Vestiaire Collective (@vestiaireco) on Apr 15, 2020 at 8:23am PDT

Why do you think the fashion resale market has grown so much in recent years?
FM: There’s a combination of factors driving the rapid growth of the resale market. Firstly, there’s increased consumer awareness and interest in sustainability, leading consumers to look to resale as a smart investment and an eco-conscious alternative to throw away fashion. The clear departure from “ownership” answers the need for newness, as more people prioritise usage over possession and consider products in terms of usage and resale.
We recently partnered with BCG to release a report which found that 71 per cent of consumers today choose to shop secondhand as it’s a way for them to access quality products at affordable prices. Of the buyers surveyed, 62 per cent find the resale market attractive because they are looking for sold out or limited edition items. These factors combined are driving a fundamental shift in our consumption habits which has created a perfect storm for the resale market to grow.
Do you think the growth of the resale market is directly linked to sustainability?
FM: Absolutely. Sustainability is one of the main concerns for the fashion industry and consumer today, and circular fashion is a large part of this movement. The idea is that the industry needs to eradicate waste from all elements of production, right through to encouraging consumers to extend the lifespan of their pieces for as long as possible. The linear fashion model is no longer sustainable, I believe circular fashion is the future for the industry and the consumer.
Allowing fashion lovers to extend the lifespan of their beloved products and encouraging participation in the circular economy were, and remain, core foundations of Vestiaire Collective. Sustainability has always been at the heart of who we are and what we do. We encourage people to buy good quality items and resell them when they no longer need them instead of succumbing to the idea that fashion can be throw-away. Resale platforms such as Vestiaire Collective have disrupted the industry by offering an easily accessible platform for consumers to practice circular fashion.

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A post shared by Vestiaire Collective (@vestiaireco) on Apr 15, 2020 at 5:27am PDT

What sets Vestiaire Collective apart from a sea of fashion resellers?
FM: Part of our appeal is that we cater for a large mix of circular fashion lovers by offering a wide array of brands including but not limited to luxury pieces. Aside from that, there are a few factors that set Vestiaire Collective apart from other resale sites such as;

Authentication and quality control: We have a dedicated team of specialists in our main locations around the world to ensure that all products are properly authenticated. This is key to guarantee trust with our customers.

Global community: There are currently over nine million users engaging with the site daily and this number continues to grow. Customers like the fact that they can interact with each other through the platform, and they’re shopping amongst like-minded individuals.

Fashion DNA: Our curation experts curate our catalogue which now features over 1.8 million products. The site is updated daily with over 8,500 new products to ensure newness, often reflecting the latest trends and in-demand items.

Sustainability: This is a mindset that more customers are embracing–being more mindful about consumption, and being aware that we all have individual responsibility towards our consumption habits. I operate the “one in, one out rule” for my own wardrobe, and I encourage others to do so. It’s all about buying less, but buying better.

What do you have to say to those who are hesitant about the luxury resale model?
FM: For those who have always wanted to buy premium fashion but could not afford: Resale market gives you access to premium fashion at affordable prices. According to our BCG x Vestiaire Collective 2019 report, 62 per cent said that they bought a brand they like for the first time secondhand on Vestiaire Collective.
For those who only buy first-hand premium fashion: The resale market offers you the opportunity to fund your next purchase. Secondhand sellers typically use resale to recoup some of their money back on firsthand purchases, often so they can reinvest

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Beauty
Mindful beauty: 24 Minutes with Kelsey Schiavon
Holistic healing

02.06.2017
By Terry Saw

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What inspired your journey as a mindful beauty educator?
“Without a making a conscious decision, everything that has happened in my life so far has led me to this career. Blessed with curves from a young age, I always really struggled with body image and the pursuit of standard beauty ideals. I started my first diet early (we’re talking around 10 years old) and seesawed back and forth between obsessive restriction and total loss of control with food.

“I never quite felt good enough, pretty enough, or thin enough and wasted years trying everything I could to attain that ‘perfect’ made-up version of myself. In my late 20s I finally had my ‘ah-ha’ moment and realised that by deeply nourishing myself with whole foods, holistic beauty rituals, conscious movement and mindfulness all of that other stuff would fall into place.
“Totally inspired, I began my studies in nutrition, aromatherapy and anthropology and this combination of knowledge plus the realisation that I was certainly not alone in my past struggles led me to my true passion – helping women understand that they are absolutely beautiful and radiant, just as they are. My aim is to remove the all too common feelings of self-hate, insecurity and restriction and replace them with unconditional kindness, compassion and love for self.”

Mindfulness is finally gaining a lot more attention, what do you think about this shift in perspective?
“I know! It’s so exciting to see these topics finally gaining some traction. I think it’s so incredibly important to slow down and appreciate every little moment that we experience on this planet. We’re often so busy running around, trying to build careers, start families and chase happiness that we forget that everything we need is right in front of us.
“If we can shift our perspective and simply practise gratitude and mindfully experience the joys of life, we start to achieve things like clear skin, weight loss, stabilised energy levels and balanced moods without nearly as much effort. What’s really cool is that mindfulness is gaining interest from the scientific community and studies are beginning to show the actual physiological benefits to meditation and mindfulness-based practices.
“I think a large part of this shift is due to social media, which sounds counterintuitive, but it’s true. Although social media can certainly be very mindless, it can also act as a powerful platform to share ideas and philosophies that inspire change – such as mindfulness and mindful beauty.

“Mindful beauty is a concept that is very close to my heart as I’ve always loved expressing myself through fashion and beauty. However, as I got older I began to notice that these industries were often exclusive, with a pretty narrow definition of beauty. This is why I think mindful beauty is so important – because it’s okay to embrace these wonderful means of self-expression, and we can do this while still working to shift our perception of beauty and embrace the very unique and wonderful things that make us all beautiful in our own special way. There truly is no ‘one’ type of beautiful and that’s what mindful beauty is all about—changing our perceptions of societal ideals, and of ourselves, and realising that we are beautiful and worthy just as we are, right now.”

How has the concepts of mindfulness or mindful beauty changed your life over the years?
“In the past, I’ve always struggled with the belief that I should be more like ‘her’. I should be prettier, have better skin, wear more fashionable clothes etc… and it wasn’t until I started incorporating more mindfulness-based beauty rituals into my life that these feelings started to disappear.
“Suddenly, I didn’t need to look or act like anyone other than my beautiful self. I was enough – as I always had been – but suddenly, I could see that. It’s funny, because I talk at length about mindful beauty rituals, but because I incorporate these slow and intentional rituals into my life, I spend less time in front of the mirror than ever before.
“I no longer waste hours picking apart my made up ‘flaws’ or poking the bits of fat that don’t exist. This change in perspective has led to deeper happiness, more fulfilling relationships and an understanding that life is precious and here to be enjoyed. So yes, basically mindful beauty has completely changed the way I live my life!”

What are some of the easiest ways to practise mindfulness in our everyday lives?
“Anything and everything we do in a day can be done with mindfulness and my favourite suggestion for bringing it into your life doesn’t require a single tool – all you have to do is breathe deeply.
“We spend the majority of our day taking short, shallow breaths which can leave us feeling anxious and stressed. Every hour or as needed, practise mindfulness by taking three big, deep belly breaths to help reset and bring you back to the present moment.
“In order to make mindfulness a habit and a regular part of your day, I also always suggest scheduling in self-care and mindfulness-based exercises like you would a doctor’s appointment – practise a no cancellation policy!”

Your Instagram @kelseyschiavon is a collection of beautiful images and content, which as we know, requires a lot of time, planning and effort on top of juggling an inspiring career – what is your secret to balancing it all?
“First of all, thank you! I love taking beautiful images and writing words that hopefully inspire just a few people to treat themselves more kindly – but in all honestly, I’m not on social media all that much. I post images; engage with my community and other accounts that I follow just a few times a day – and other than that I’m not online – I’m in real life!

“Other than that, I’ve also had to become much better with my time management. I block off times for specific tasks instead of multi-tasking (which we all know is just massively inefficient!!) and I’m also lucky enough to work at the times that are most efficient for me. I know that I’m most creative in the early afternoon and late at night (strange, I know!) so that’s when I take pictures or develop content.”

What does an ideal day off look like?
“Slowly wake up, stretch, light candles and palo santo, and enjoy a delicious cup of organic superfood coffee (coconut oil, collagen peptides, cinnamon, vanilla, touch of maple syrup) outside on the patio with the sun beating down.

“I’d probably head out to a hot yoga class or the gym and follow that up with a delicious breakfast with my partner before we hit the road and enjoy a day exploring our city/province or country. Travelling is one of my greatest passions and my favourite way to disconnect and recharge, so even small doses of exploration make for a memorable day.
“Finally, I would wind down with a gorgeous glass of red wine and homemade dinner – with a couple pieces of raw chocolate for dessert of course!”

What is the one message you want Buro 24/7 readers to take away today?
“Just.Slow.Down. Everything is going to be okay – so don’t let life pass you by as you’re busy stressing about all the little things. Remember that you can’t hate yourself into a version of yourself that you love, so be gentle and always come back to kindness – everything else will work itself out.”

Follow @kelseyschiavon and check out her beauty blog that is packed with wonderful reads, wellness tips and superfood recipes to kickstart your very own mindful beauty journey.

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Style
Cole Haan collaborates with Rodarte for a capsule collection of shoes and handbags

11.09.2019
By Stephanie Boey

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Days after releasing the photos to their latest Spring/Summer 2020 campaign starring a strong list of female actresses, Rodarte makes headlines yet again in the span of a week with the news of their latest collaboration with Cole Haan. Known for their comfortable and sensible footwear, Cole Haan’s groundbreaking Grand Ambition collection gets a Rodarte spin.

Consisting of footwear and handbags, Cole Haan x Rodarte sees silhouettes such as stiletto pumps, booties, slip-on sneakers as well as structured circle bags and soft satchels. “We wanted to collaborate with Cole Haan because they are such an innovative company that really values the same things we do in terms of design and pushing the boundaries of what is expected in the landscape of fashion. We were really impressed by the level of innovation that Cole Haan infuses into their product in order to deliver unparalleled comfort,” said Laura Mulleavy, one half of the sister team behind Rodarte.
The Grand Ambition sport pump and slip-on sneaker comes in three different colourways of true red, bubblegum pink, sleek onyx and optic white, constructed from a combination of embossed croc leather, patent leather, neoprene and lace detailing. The two bag silhouettes come in matching colour variations, embellished with studded details. At under RM1,700 each, we’ll consider these babies a definite steal.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Cole Haan x Rodarte” rid=”7566″ order=”a_tstamp”}
The Cole Haan x Rodarte capsule collection is now available at Cole Haan Pavilion KL and The Gardens Mid Valley. Psst, we have it on good authority that there’s going to be a second drop scheduled in November.

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Fashion
8 International Hijabi fashionistas you should follow on Instagram, stat

27.05.2020
By Kelly Lim

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In need of style inspo for Raya? Here’s a round-up of some of the most stylish Hijabi ladies on the internet

As the fashion world becomes more and more inclusive, modest wear is slowly (but surely) taking its place in the industry, and has become more omnipresent in recent years. Gone were the days where modest fashion is perceived merely as wearing covered-up clothing. Nowadays, it’s also a way for Muslim women to showcase their style by experimenting with different trends that defy the typical stereotypes—while remaining modest, of course.
International brands are launching modest wear lines or more elaborate collections to cater to this untapped market. Thanks to the power of Instagram, we’ve found a list of Hijabi fashionistas with enviable styles that even non-Muslims aspire to emulate. Here are the ladies who you should be following, stat.
Sara Sabry

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A post shared by Sara Sabry | سارة صبري (@sarasabry)

It’s undeniable that Sara Sabry has got style, but her super-fun personality will shine through as you scroll through her IG feed. In between her fashionable OOTDs, are the funny short videos that’ll make us—and her one million followers—laugh. Often spotted in the latest trends, she always adds her own touch into the looks, be it a cap over her hijab, or a bum bag over a dress.
Leena Asad

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A post shared by LEENA SNOUBAR (@withloveleena)

Always spotted in white or light tones, the Texas-based influencer often leans towards neutral-hued clothing that radiates a demure vibe. To play things up, she includes girly touches such as lace, ruffles, and florals into her outfit.
Fatma Husam

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A post shared by Fatma Husam (@fatmaa)

The Dubai influencer is the epitome of feminine elegance. Her signature style usually comprises of a pastel long dress or a plain trousers look with a long outerwear layered over, resulting in silhouettes that flow with every move. If you need some inspo on easy, polished dressing, look no further. Apart from that, we like how the 28-year-old edges it up once in a while with her athleisure looks and bold colours. Her enviable bag collection—filled with arm candies from Chanel, Hermès, Dior, Louis Vuitton and more—is worth noting too.
Saufeeya Goodson

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A post shared by Saufeeya (@saufeeya)

Based between Dubai and New York, this fashion blogger showcases the versatility of her style on her feed, from rocking a street-cool all-black ensemble to a feminine colour-block ensemble. She plays it up with her hijab too. Depending on her outfit, you’ll find her in chic turbans in an array of colours and prints that no doubt complements her look—she’s definitely an inspiration for Hijabis out there.
Maria Alia

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A post shared by Maria Alia Al-sadek (@mariaalia)

Based in NYC, it should come as no surprise that the half Palestinian and half Puerto Rican fashionista has that too-cool-for-school vibe when it comes to her sense of style. In an interview with Nasty Gal, she revealed, “I think it’s really important to show that you don’t have to limit yourself based on modesty or your religion or culture—you can still be stylish.” A scroll through her feed and you’ll notice her effortless attempt at rocking various styles, whether it is a cinched-waist prairie get-up or a full layered snow bunny look.
Khaoula El Boumeshouli

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A post shared by Khaoula Boumeshouli | خولة (@khaoulaboumeshouli)

A modest style influencer based in Amsterdam, Khaoula El Boumeshouli’s love for neutral hues is apparent from her Instagram feed, and she perfectly shows how to elevate the simplest jeans and sneakers get-up with a statement outerwear, It-bags of the moment, eye-catching sunnies and a pop of colour. Her casual-cool style is one that’s easy to emulate.
Sally Omo

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A post shared by Sally Ashour 🕊 (@sallyomo)

Sally Omo’s style can be described as polished with hints of vintage flair. When she’s not in a blazer or pantsuit look, you can find her in ’50s or ’60s-inspired polka-dot maxi dresses or a ribbed sweater-shirt combination, but either way, she always looks sophisticated. Her trendy footwear options—from Gucci velvet loafers to Fendi monogram heels—have our seal of approval too.
Nabilah Kariem Peck

The South African native calls herself “a skinny girl with fat dreams”. When it comes to her #OOTDs, one thing’s for sure: she has got all her poses down pat. We love her bold more-is-more aesthetic; anything but a T-shirt-and-jeans girl, she consistently opts for interesting textures, prints and statement accessories to give her outfits that extra ‘oomph’. Her love for leopard prints is apparent too.
Marwa Meme Biltage

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Marwa—or more known as Meme—may have the least followers among the lot, but trust us when we say that the Irish-Palestinian beauty is one of the rising style stars to watch. The founder and EIC of fashion and lifestyle magazine Mademoiselle Meme, she’s always spotted in nonchalantly trendy (yet modest) ensembles that make her one of the most loved modest fashionistas during New York Fashion Week.
Discover more on modest fashion here.

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Beauty
7 Beauty trends from Paris Fashion Week AW19 that took the runways by storm

12.03.2019
By Wei Yeen Loh

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#1: A sultry crimson lip

The glam Parisienne look was entirely lip-centric on the runways of Chloé and Louis Vuitton. Two ways to wear it include: 1) smoking out a subtle winged eye in monochromatic eyeshadow hues (because red on red has never looked this good), or 2) embrace your inner ’80s-loving spirit with a dramatic cat eye and and bold cut crease. Tip from legendary makeup artist Pat McGrath (at Louis Vuitton): use a crimson lipstick finish that’s creamy instead of matte or glossy for a chic touch.

#2: Blush, blush, blush

This look is probably a go-to in every lazy girl’s guide to looking good in five minutes. No time for a winged eye, dark lip, or sculpted face? Fret not! All you need is lots of blusher and a good brow product, as seen at Isabel Marant and Chanel. Take the no-makeup glow to a new level with a blush hue that suits your skin tone—whether a coral shade for a sun-kissed glow, or a pretty pink shade for a rosy look. Finish your look with brow gel to keep your brows naturally groomed.

#3: Bucket-load of goodness

The bucket hat has made its stealthy move from the street scene to the runways with a luxe spin. Take cues from Dior and Valentino by rocking this season’s most popular hat—either in a head-turning animal-printed (and veiled!) version or with a lacy, prim hat that draws attention to your peepers. What even are bad hair days when you have this lifesaver?

#4: That ’70s shag

No perfectly coiffed hair can be as effortless as this throwback hairdo. Whether it’s Celine’s rocker-chic layers or Miu Miu’s textured, ultra-long waves, the ’70s shag is our new favourite too-cool-for-school look. The must-have product to ensure your mussed tresses stay messy is a super strong finishing spray.

#5: Coloured lenses

The only runway-approved way to wear colour over your eyes is with finesse. At Valentino, Pat McGrath let the eyes do all the talking with an ethereal dash of colour over the lids—all in jewel tones, paired with bleached eyebrows and clear lip gloss. The beauty look at Lanvin was similar, but in diffused touches in the inner corners of the eyes.

#6: A graphic gaze

Not for the faint-hearted, the graphic lash trend is more than just spidery lashes and the like. Val Garland made silver foiled lashes a thing at Giambattista Valli, with these metallic fringes intentionally placed slightly beneath the lower lash line for an exaggerated look. At Dior, Peter Philips offered a pared-back Twiggy-inspired look with drawn-on lashes on the lower lash line for a trompe l’oeil effect.

#7: Silvery stunners

If the above-mentioned makeup trends have failed to pique your fancy, this last one might just catch your eye. The alternative to a coloured gaze or graphic eye would likely be a textured look. Koche gave us new ways to experiment with our pots of loose glitter eyeshadow with a full-on glitter eye, while Anaïs Jourden let the peepers do all the talking with metallic, paint-smudged lids.

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Men's
A guide to all the sneakers spotted at Men’s Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2020

25.06.2019
By Joan Kong

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As Men’s Fashion Week SS20 draws to a close, it’s time for our full breakdown of all the trends spotted on the runways, and what to expect when it comes to this season’s silhouettes, colours, and prints. But before that, we’re focusing on an accessory that gets as much attention as the clothes—sneakers. From the catwalk to the sidewalk, the footwear has proven that it’s here to stay, and below is a guide to all the fresh kicks spotted at Men’s Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2020.
Some of the most notable collections (aside from the Givenchy x Onitsuka Tiger line) include ongoing Nike collaborations with three brands—Comme des Garçons, Off-White x Futura Laboratories, and Sacai. CDG’s design is in the form of an Air Max 95 with deconstructed panels; Off-White and Futura’s is a blue-and-white Dunk Low with blue and orange laces; and Sacai’s LDWaffle kicks are introduced in new black and white colourways. Aside from Off-White, Virgil Abloh also unveiled new footwear at Louis Vuitton; if you’re into sneakers that make a statement, the five-colour design comes with monograms at the back, and an embossed luggage tag cinched to the laces. At Paris Fashion Week, Dior also revealed a few pairs designed in partnership with American artist Daniel Arsham, and we can foresee the boot-like high-top—in a translucent material complete with its iconic Oblique print—to be yet another street-style favourite.
Take a closer look at all the Men’s Fashion Week SS20 sneaker offerings here:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Sneakers Men’s Fashion Week” rid=”7339″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Culture
H-Artistry: A quick chat with K-Pop star HyunA
She’s A’wesome

07.10.2016
By Rachel Au

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One of the biggest parties of the year is happening tomorrow but before the fun begins, we had a quick chat with K-Pop sensation, HyunA. With the recent release of her fifth mini album, A’wesome and a fresh start as a solo singer, there’s much to look forward to – for both herself and her fans. The 24-year-old first made her debut in 2006 as one of the original members of Wonder Girls. She was the group’s main rapper but had to leave within a year due to health reasons, and debuted as part of 4Minute in 2008.

Over the years, HyunA made a name for herself as a solo artist as well as collaborating with other singers in the industry with one of the most notable ones being Trouble Maker, a co-ed unit with Beast’s Hyunseung. However, her fame spiralled even more after starring in Psy’s viral hit Gangnam Style in 2012. Fast forward to 2016, fans were devastated when it was announced that 4Minute have decided to disband although the good news was HyunA has chosen her contract with the agency, resumed her career as a solo artist and released A’wesome in August.

The six songs featured on the album showcased HyunA’s versatile vocal talents and proved she was more than just a sexy icon with talents in only one music genre. She explored other tempos and vocal styles, with all six songs garnering positive reviews. With an extremely tight schedule, she managed to make a stop at Malaysia to perform at H-Artistry 2016 and we couldn’t resist just taking five minutes of her time to ask a few questions.

How did the opportunity to perform at H-Artistry in Malaysia come about?
The organisers actually called me a lot of times to come do this. It has been eight years since H-Artistry came onto the scene and I feel very honoured and excited to be a part of it. Also, I thought this would be a great opportunity to come and meet my fans.

Speaking of your fans, what can they expect from your performance tomorrow?
(laughs) I’m actually wondering about that myself. ‘What kind of performance should I give?’ is the lingering thought. Let’s just say the fans will probably know all the songs I’m going to sing tomorrow so do please sing along with me then!

Congratulations on your fifth mini album! Tell us what was the recording process like.
The main thing was that there are just some many genres of music and each of them displays a different variety of colours and emotions. And I wanted to show all of that in one album. While I made the album with the fans in mind and for the sake that they’ll enjoy it, I really enjoyed every step of recording it. I’m very careful with my songs and ideas for songs. For example, there was a song I thought about doing two years ago and now I managed to release it on A’wesome.

So which is your favourite song off the album?
That’s a popular question and a very difficult one to answer since I love all of them. As I said earlier, there are so many music genres that choosing that itself was difficult, much less choosing a favourite song.

What are your plans for 2017?
It’d be nice to be spontaneous but I don’t think I have that choice. But I can say that I’ll be working on a new project once I return to Korea and hopefully that will lead to more fan meetings and events in Malaysia as well as other countries. All I know is that I want to take charge of my projects and create something that everyone can be excited for.

Couldn’t get an invite? Just head over to H-Artistry’s website to watch the livestream of the event.

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Features
Opinion: Is sustainable fashion actually sustainable?
Style with a heavy cost

14.04.2023
By Phyll Wu

Images courtesy of Pexels

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As the ramifications of global warming and climate change become more alarming by the minute, the importance of sustainability has been a prevalent subject in the fashion world over the past few years, especially following the unwavering rise of fast fashion in the wake of the pandemic. While many brands have stepped up and advocated for eco-conscious practices in the industry, the incessant deterioration of our environment due to the lack of change raises the question: is sustainable fashion actually sustainable or is it all just greenwashing?
With that in mind, before we go any further, it’s crucial that you understand exactly why the need for genuine sustainable fashion is an exigency that cannot be ignored. As improbable as it may seem, fashion is one of the top most environmentally destructive industries contributing to the rapid decline of our climate.

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In 2018 alone, research shows that the fashion sector emitted a staggering 2.1 billion metric tonnes of greenhouse gases. To put the severity into perspective, that’s nearly the same amount as the entire economies of France, Germany, and the UK combined. On an annual aspect, the industry is responsible for eight to 10 per cent of global carbon emissions, exceeding all maritime shipping and international flights combined.

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According to a recent report published by Hot or Cool Institute—a nonprofit think tank devoted to creating a sustainable society—the fashion industry’s carbon emissions are expected to surge up to a whopping 50 per cent by 2030 if no action is taken. And by the looks of it, we’re pretty much doomed.
Now, you might be wondering why the fashion industry has failed to reduce its detrimental impact on our environment despite the countless brands that have championed eco-consciousness in recent years. Well, for the most part, it’s because sustainability has become a marketing tactic rather than an environmental cause—this is called greenwashing, and the fashion industry is an avid partaker.

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As consumers, we tend to take these claims of sustainable and ethical practices at face value as we have a limited idea of what really goes on behind the scenes in the fashion industry. What’s more, it doesn’t help that there are no legal regulations to enforce transparency for the use of sustainability terms like ‘eco-friendly’, ‘green’, or ‘ethical’. Hence, brands are able to get away with these deceptive claims and continue spreading false information.
On top of that, there’s also a common misconception that luxury fashion is the greener alternative to fast fashion. After all, a higher price tag ascribes to higher quality, and higher quality must mean the product was produced with higher standards for ethics and sustainability, right? Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. It’s no secret that the exorbitant prices of luxury items are mostly owed to the status and exclusivity associated with the label. While luxury goods are undoubtedly much finer in quality than fast fashion products, that does not exactly guarantee that they were ethically crafted with eco-friendly materials, even if they were stated as such.

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Take vegan leather, for example. Most people would assume that the fashion industry’s shift from using real animal leather to vegan leather was a progressive move, but that’s highly debatable. It goes without saying that no living being should be slaughtered in cold blood for the sake of fashion—but the use of genuine leather doesn’t necessarily mean an animal’s life was cruelly sacrificed to obtain the material. In fact, that’s rarely the case as most leather are by-products of the meat industry, so using genuine leather actually helps to reduce waste.
READ: All you need to know before splurging on luxury leather goods

Vegan leather, on the other hand, has been known as a nicer means to describe plastic—and we all know what plastic does to our environment. Of course, there are actual vegan leather made from organic sources that are environmentally friendly, but it wouldn’t be vaguely described as just vegan leather. Nevertheless, this is just one of the many deceiving terms that fashion brands, fast or luxury, use to mislead consumers about their ethicality and sustainability practices.
In spite of everything said above, the damages of fashion to our environment isn’t solely due to the destructive practices of the industry—we’re responsible too.

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From a young age, we were constantly made aware of the deteriorating state of our climate and the importance of green living. Although transparency and sincerity are very much needed in the industry, we can’t deny that there are still many people actively purchasing from fast fashion platforms despite knowing the incredibly harmful impacts on our climate. Not to mention, the villainous operations of fast fashion manufacturers are unfamiliar to none. To truly make change, we can no longer disregard the repercussions of our choices.

For more fashion reads, click here.

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Cannes 2017: What the stars wore

Fashion
Cannes 2017: What the stars wore
High octane

20.05.2017
By Wei Yeen Loh

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It’s perhaps an understatement to say that we’ve been swept away by the sheer glitz and glamour that celebrities have brought forth to the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival. This past week and a half of this prestigious awards festival saw an array of class-personified looks that bowled us over. Nicole Kidman and Jessica Chastain delivered high-octane glamour in a variety of gowns, and our favourite Cannes regular Fan Bing Bing went with understated elegance this year instead of her usual bold antics. Elsewhere, Elle Fanning landed a spot on our best-dressed list for being the youngest, most stylish star on the red carpet—she hit a home run with a plethora of princessy ensembles, proving that age isn’t a factor in slaying the fashion game. Stars made sure to close the ceremony in the similar vein, including Monica Bellucci in Dolce & Gabbana, Uma Therman in Atelier Versace and Jessica Chastain in Zuhair Murad.

Below, a round up of all our favourite looks from Cannes Film Festival 2017:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Cannes 2017 Daily” rid=”5076″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Feather in the cap

Watches
Feather in the cap
Breguet’s Rêve de Plume

31.05.2015
By Kenneth Tan

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As it transpires, Queen Marie-Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI, was a rather prolific writer; only that this fondness for the written word was largely confined to letter writing to her husband and family in Austria.
This year, Breguet commemorates this central figure in history, and her penchant for letter writing, with a new high jewellery timepiece dubbed the Rêve de Plume. As the latest edition to the Plumes collection of this august watchmaker, this timepiece features a sculpted diamond feather that recalls the quill pens of that turbulent time in French history.
On the feather’s central shaft lie baguette diamonds while the outer web-like part is formed by brilliant-cut diamonds, selected by size to create the effect of a singular, astonishingly complex, feather. Its white mother-of-pearl dial is shaped by an ‘engine-turned pattern’ to further evoke the delicate vanes on a feather. Both the bezel and flange are similarly set with diamonds, with a single briolette-cut diamond on the crown.
In all, over four carats of diamonds can be found on this timepiece that Breguet has made available in either 18k white or rose gold. Powering the timepiece is the self-winding calibre 586, with a silicon balance-spring that is virtually impervious to magnetism. The timepiece comes with a satin strap with a folding clasp, set with 26 brilliant-cut diamonds.
Best of all, accompanying the Rêve de Plume timepiece is a set of jewellery in white or rose gold, similarly taking after the quill motif. These jewellery additions comprise earrings, ring and necklace with diamond-set feathers, perfect for that next red carpet event where details say it all.

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Beauty
Coach unveils a new signature scent, featuring Chloë Grace Moretz
A homage to the heritage

28.09.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Apart from its quality leather accessories and ready-to-wear collection, iconic American brand Coach can now proudly add ‘fragrance’ to its reportoire with the new Coach Eau de Parfum.  “What I wanted to create was something different, an alternative to what’s already out there. For me, it was about finding what makes Coach unique. It’s that lightness of American spirit with the known and familiar—and now new proportions,” says creative director of Coach, Stuart Vevers.

Also known as Coach The Fragrance, this sparkling, sensual scent is made for the woman who’s got a free-spirited nature that’s spontaneous as it is feminine—eloquently taking after the same energy and downtown style of the city that Coach was founded in back in 1941. And who better than talented award-winning actress Chloë Grace Moretz to rep this perfume’s campaign? Shot by Steven Meisel, the imagery sees 19-year old Moretz lounging in a vintage Cadillac before making her way downtown to New York City.

A video posted by Coach (@coach) on Sep 19, 2016 at 8:31am PDT

The fragrance’s bottle pays tribute to the American house of leather, featuring Coach’s iconic codes such as the gold turnlock spray cap (resembling the clasp on Coach’s bags), a hangtag in ebony leather and polished meteal, along with the horse and carriage logo engraved into the glass. But the scent is the real treat when it comes to this one: The fragrance opens with a bright whiff of raspberry, pear and pink pepper, before alluding to the creamy floral Turkish roses and gardenia, later on drying down to base notes of sensual, suede musk and sandalwood.

Coach The Fragrance comes in 90ml (RM399), 50ml (RM299), and 30ml (RM189), and will be available from October 2016 at all Coach boutiques nationwide.

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Beauty
Chanel Travel Diary takes us along for a road trip on the Californian coast
Moments captured in colours

19.07.2017
By Wei Yeen Loh

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The best travel experience is when the journey becomes the destination. For Chanel’s Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer Lucia Pica, she came to that realisation during a coast-to-city road trip to California. From the sun-drenched horizons of the coastline to the gritty textures of downtown LA, Pica created her very own moodboard for Chanel’s Fall/Winter 2017 makeup collection. What makes the range stand out this season is the unexpected colour palette—it’s akin to virtually exploring the city by way of blue-greens with grey undertones and rich coppery reds.

The highlight of the collection is the Palette Essentielle: A 3-in-1 face and cheek compact (comprising a concealer, highlighter and blush) that is handbag-friendly for touching up your complexion on-the-go. “I wanted a product that could achieve that fresh skin look I do on shoots,” says Pica. “The palette is my interpretation of a modern woman’s approach to make-up. Makeup should not be covering like a mask, it should be worn lightly on the skin.”
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”chanel travel diary eyes” rid=”5352″ order=”a_tstamp”}
For the eyes, it’s all about an enigmatic sense of intensity (like the ocean, according to Pica) this fall. Two smoky shades of Les 4 Ombres Eyeshadow took inspiration from outdoors, while two contrasting hues of Ombre Premiere Crème and Mono Eyeshadows offers a nuanced look with added depth when layered beneath.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”chanel travel diary lips” rid=”5353″ order=”a_tstamp”}
“I love the idea of matte and shine existing together on the face. I might create a dewy skin with a matte eye, or a matte, velvet lip with a glossy eye,” says Pica. For a vivid juxtaposition, she imbued bright colours for the lips as a counterpoint to the eyes. From nude beige to corals and burnished reds, an element of duality exists within the textures you can explore. Those who love a nude look can opt for Rouge Allure Ink in Lost and Rouge Coco in Daylight; while colour enthusiasts can choose from a range of oranges and reds, including Rouge Allure Velvet in First Light and Nightfall.

Take a look at the rest of the collection:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”chanel travel diary” rid=”5322″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Beauty
Boys in beauty: Game-slaying makeup vloggers you need to know about
Glam guys

19.10.2016
By Redzhanna Jazmin

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The attitude towards men in makeup has come a long way since Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz first sported his signature smokey eye. It’s 2021 now: The online beauty scene has long been infiltrated by the boys and they are showing no signs of slowing down.
While YouTube’s beauty community has long been dominated by drama, centred around a certain group of people, there are plenty of content creators out there that are actually focused on the art of makeup and entertainment.
With years of wisdom in the beauty industry to back them up and engaging content that keeps us all entertained, these guys are doing their own thing (and doing it really, really well). Ahead, find our favourite boys in beauty to follow on YouTube (and Instagram) now:

Hung Vanngo
If you’re a seasoned beauty buff, you’ll probably recognise Hung Vanngo. Also known as one of Hollywood’s most prolific makeup artists, Vanngo has worked with the likes of Bella Hadid, Miranda Kerr, and Emily Ratajkowski, and is the long-time trusted makeup artist of Selena Gomez.
READ: Selena Gomez’s makeup artist, Hung Vanngo, shares 19 makeup tips that will change your life
If you’d like a true masterclass from one of the best MUAs in the game, look no further. On Vanngo’s YouTube channel, you’ll find beautiful makeup tutorials that cover a range of skin types, tones, and textures as well as a range of styles—from more editorial, vibrant looks (below) to modern takes on ’90s supermodel glam.

John Maclean
Forever walking the fine line between masculinity and femininity, Maclean is one of the most refreshing MUAs on YouTube. Imagine an aristocratic vampire teaching you how to beat your face right (and roasting you so politely you can’t even be mad), and that about sums up what it’s like to watch his videos.
Scrolling through his channel, you’ll find makeup tutorials, product reviews and even woodworking tutorials. In other words, it’s an experience—10/10.
NOTE: He has been MIA on YouTube for the past year, but there is still plenty of content on his channel to peruse and learn from. Plus, based on his recent Spring update, the hiatus is about to end!

Robert Welsh
This professional (IRL) makeup artist’s channel is quite the mixed bag, but in the best way possible—Welsh’s channel is chock-full of informative and engaging tutorials, funny (and, yes, still informative) makeup reaction videos, and totally honest reviews.
Plus, Welsh comes with a bonus—his twin brother and skincare vlogger, James (no, they are not the same person). If you’re after some truly hearty laughs, check out their joint channel—Welsh Twins—for “5 Minute Crafts” reviews, history lessons, and plenty of (pseudo)science experiments.

Wayne Goss
Wayne Goss is one of Youtube’s OG beauty legends—he’s been around for years and unlike most makeup tutorials from that era, his tutorials from as many as eight years ago still hold up well today. A classically-trained makeup artist by profession, Goss was one of the pioneering male makeup artists in the late 1990s and continues to drop absolute beauty wisdom even today (in addition to excellent makeup kits from his own brand). Check out his channel for useful tips and tricks as well as celebrity tutorials.

Patrick Ta
Another prolific makeup artist has recently joined the YouTuber club, and his name is Patrick Ta. With a celebrated makeup brand to his name in addition to an impressive celebrity clientele that includes the likes of Olivia Munn, Rihanna, and Ariana Grande (to name a few), Ta is well respected within the industry for good reason. On his channel, you can find in-depth tutorials for all things everyday-to-editorial and plenty of incredible beauty tips to spare!

Bretman Rock
A longtime YouTube favourite, the Filipino influencer has diversified his content away from beauty a little, throwing commentary and mukbang into the mix here and there. With his trademark funny, bubbly personality and flawless makeup skills, the makeup guru’s content is a surefire winner. See his take on a truly topical Zoom date beauty beat below, or check his channel out for his drag tutorials, celebrity makeovers or his hilarious vlogs.

Trixie Mattel
If you’re not yet familiar with the drag legend, we recommend you get acquainted. Trixie Mattel is the drag persona of Brian Michael Firkus, and she has kept well busy since her days on season three of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. With three studio albums, a book deal, a makeup brand (Trixie Cosmetics), and a YouTube channel to her name, it’s no wonder that she’s acknowledged as one of the biggest names in drag. On her YouTube channel, you’ll find all things Trixie, including snippets of her celebrated career in beauty.

Gottmik
You may be familiar with Gottmik, also known as Kade Gottlieb, from season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. He made history as the first trans man to compete on the show and has continued to make a name for himself as a makeup artist, garnering a star-studded clientele that includes the likes of Cindy Crawford, Paris Hilton, Lil Nas X, and Adam Lambert. Check out his channel for all things drag!

 Manny MUA
25-year old Manny Gutierrez was set on being a doctor before he found his true calling: Makeup. Two years later, he now boasts over 4 million subscribers on YouTube and an equally strong following on Instagram. Though he isn’t a professional makeup artist and his techniques are very tailored for social media (read: looks great on camera, may not be suitable for real life), his content is entertaining and he definitely has some fun beauty tips in tow.

Ivan Lam
Ivan Lam is a Malaysian (yay, representation!) who lives in Los Angeles, California and does pretty much everything on his YouTube channel from hair, makeup and skincare tutorials to vlogs with Jonathan from Queer Eye. The self-proclaimed Softboi™ is breaking boundaries by talking about everything from acne skincare to adapting to Western culture, all while serving some looks.

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