thefword

The Weird and the Wonderful

2012-09-05T12:23:00.001+08:00

Hello Scotland and hello Edfringe Festival 2012. An eye opening experience, from not having to get permission to stick posters and leave flyers everywhere to bicyclists getting right of way along the busy roads. Production manager and I shared that sheepish moment, realising advertising was not such a pain in the ass way up North of the United Kingdom. The Edfringe energy was spectacular, spectacularly infectious, and anyone, artiste or not, would get sucked into the carnivalesque 'qi'.

It was a gathering of the Weird and the Wonderful, especially along the famous (and touristy) Royal Mile. From buskers half naked in the 16 degree wind to magicians mystifying eager crowds to comedians making a joke of themselves, that was one crazy street. All the wonderfully weird and weirdly wonderful was so overwhelming on the eyes; I distinctly remember one afternoon zipping through the throngs of students, children, parents, old folks, performers, beggars, bicycles, costumes and props when I decided very wisely to just look straight ahead because there was just way too much going on all around me. Even then, there was enough to entertain.

There's One-Man Star Wars dude, there's that squawking soprano who gets A for effort, yeap no festival would be complete nowadays without those Walking Dead Zombies, the super weird choir of geeky Asians (Taiwanese) in checkered uniforms led by a flute-player (don't ask), the towering stiltwalkers with breathing room a couple of metres above everyone else, a Victorian family straight out of an ancient portrait and the list goes on. Dotted among the standouts are the volunteer sai-kang warriors (Edfringe Street Crew) who keep some sort of order on the Mile and the marketers/ supporters furiously selling their respective shows to any one who comes along.

These budding artistes perform for the sake of sharing their passion for art and talent and hope for a good review by the publications in Edinburgh. Without the aim of profiting from ticket sales, performances tended to be more sincere. Known as a comedy festival because of the worthy crop of comedians flocking to Edinburgh every summer to make people laugh, the comedy that I managed to catch was certainly hilarious. When the time came to take our seats (free seating), as the only two Asian girls in the underground pub, we made sure to avoid seats right in the centre or in front. As if we didn't already stand out, we'd be presenting ourselves as prime candidates for some good natured, if not racist, ribbing. Classic case of asking-for-it had we sat in front.

I love Arts festivals and this is one that I am aiming to go back for in 2013 for sure. Proud to say I was more than just a spectator in this huge Arts festival and more than thankful for the great reviews we received and the new friends made in just a short week.

(Edinburgh is honestly not as boring as it seems., then again, non-festival Edinburgh may be a different story all together.)

<3, Fir

Fashionable Ghosts

2012-08-30T12:02:00.002+08:00

Here it comes again, the dreaded seventh month. Burn, money, burn. Eat, spirits, eat. Run, humans, run. Superstitions aplenty, believe them or not, it's better just to be safe than sorry. The Ghost Festival or Hungry Ghost Festival apparently has a Ghost Day, the 15th of the month, which by the way, is today. Ghost Day is when those iron gates of hell are yanked open by the bouncers of the netherworld (sounds very much like a club by putting it this way haha) and the hungry spirits are released to mingle with humans and have their fill where the living has left them food and various other offerings. They are entertained by the ge tai, where performers put up very loud, gaudy and flashy shows for these spirits. The first row is reserved for these special guests so don't expect to see anyone in the front row. If you do, bless your third eye.

The inspiration for this post stems from a very amusing text I received yesterday from a very Catholic and very concerned mom (thanks for the advice), instructing me to go home early because the gates of hell open at midnight.
To which I replied: Those ghosts would not disturb me if I don't disturb them.
Mom: By going home early, you are not disturbing them. Touché. Very classy.
As Catholics, or any other religion other than those that celebrate this festival, these superstitions and beliefs should not be followed. However, in the uniquely Singaporean manner, everyone subscribes to these pieces of advice anyway, from not stepping on joss paper, kicking over food offerings to the relatively ridiculous like not turning around if you hear someone calling your name from behind you in the dead of night. Honestly, that would likely be what I would call Imagination; poised and ready to make life ever more interesting to make up for the monotony of daily routines. Like I said, better to be safe than sorry so I might just make my way home earlier today.

Speaking of ghosts, and thanks to my friend Google, fashion and ghosts or spirits surprisingly do not mix as much as I expected them to. For all the mystery, allure and eerie-ness that the underworld brings to the table, fashion does not take to it too kindly. I assume it's because these things have no positive connotations whatsoever, and probably serve to frighten more than inspire, to scare more than to impress. Then again, I chanced upon this hologram of Kate Moss, presented by none other than the late visionary Alexander McQueen, way back in 2006. The ghostly apparition of a holographic Moss gently wrapped in what seems like metres of tulle and mounds of McQueen magic was mesmerising from start to finish. The fragility and beauty in the dreamy apparition that lasted for a few minutes was more than enough to make a lasting impression.

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Ghostly apparitions don't appear often but I did find some and they are gorgeous. Fashion chooses to beautify the eerie, as it beautifies all else, hence it loses its ghastly edge but takes on an ethereal quality, much like what Kate Moss the hologram embodied as opposed to say, Helena Bonham Carter in the Corpse Bride. Fashionable ghosts are definitely more Western than Asian. I'm stereotyping for the sake of simplicity because the spirits of the West are somehow less creepy than the pontianaks, demons and vampires of the East. (Add zombies on the West side of the equation and perhaps both sides are more or less on par now, but zombies are on a whole new level). Something to go figure.

Katrin Thormann by Alexi Lubomirski, Vogue Germany, July 2010

For Vogue Italia

Invitation a la dance by Solve Sundsbo

It's the stories about the inexplicable mysteries that endlessly intrigue. If fashion is about story telling then this could be an interesting one to explore. A cabbie, Uncle #1, once told me this story whilst driving through one of the creepiest roads in Singapore, Mount Pleasant road. His friend, Uncle #2 was driving along that same road way before they had proper street lighting. He picks up a girl and everything runs as usual, no funny business. However, when he checked the cash that he was paid, it was joss paper money. Creepy, if your mind is all ready to jump into Tales of the Unexpected but could have been a practical joke, paying the poor cabbie with ghost currency because the passenger was too broke to pay with living dollars and cents. As the saying goes, if your conscience is clear, nothing to fear. Now that is something I fully believe in.

♥,
Fir

To laziness and beyond

2012-08-01T19:06:00.000+08:00

One of the biggest paradoxes in life is us humans working to hard to make ourselves even lazier. Think about it. This greater species, the superior homosapien, that we so proudly call ourselves, cannot spend that ounce of energy to walk to the television to turn it off. Instead, the genius that is our neuro-charged brain cured us of this terrible inconvenience, allowing us to continue couching like limp sacks of potatoes, mouth gaping at the world through a small pixelated window which we gladly flip through with yes, the remote control. Simple yet ingenious. We think so hard to invent such gadgets to make life easier so that we can indulge in such laziness.

Every great invention is a departure from seemingly unnecessary physical exertion. The telephone and the wheel for example tie for first place in my opinion. It is fascinating, even up till today when the handphone or mobile is a necessity, that the human mind managed against all odds to conjure such a then-complicated piece of gadgetry. Granted, Alexander Graham Bell is one of the gifted minds that humanity sees once in a blue moon which explains the brilliance of his invention, the clarity of his thought processes and the eventual physical manifestation of his imagination. Credit the inventor we must but hey, the telephone would be nowhere if others had not improved on it. Same with all the contemporary 'inventions', except today, we call them technological breakthroughs.

The telephone brought the world to the ear, just as television brought the wondrous world to the eye. Facebook has made stalking and network building easier and possible. In such a connected world, sincerity is harder and harder to locate. Birthday reminders are pushed to us, edms substitute for actual greetings and emoticons convey things which we would otherwise not be able to express across space and time. Personally, I felt these ways of keeping in touch were insincere and a lazy way out of things. Recently, as things get mad busy, it seems like it's the only logical way to actually stay sociable whilst going on with the daily motions of life and chasing dreams, achievable or not.

Before this becomes another technologically deterministic post that never ends, the bottomline is moderation. As is the case with everything from food to exercise to all other indulgences. My super late adoption to Facebook was not (contrary to popular belief) a non-conformist statement, it was more of an attempt to not indulge in technology and its affordances. Just a personal experiment that inevitably ended with subscription to the ubiquitous platform. True enough, it didn't kill me nor my social life. I was just a little slow on the uptake when it came to photo viewing; the exasperated laments, "aiya, you don't have Facebook" were actually quite amusing (sorry friends).

It's been along time since I had the chance to properly sit (or lie) down and think through something that is overlooked, not through any fault of our own. We're just conditioned to think in a certain way about technology and progress. Technology is just like fashion; ever-changing, having to keep up with the trends, predicting the next big thing, creating sleek and stylish accompaniments for the modern individual, creative allowance within limits and so on. Food for thought.

Fir

Fjällräven Kånken - my one and only

2012-07-16T18:16:00.000+08:00

I first saw the Kånken daypack two years ago in Denmark, and immediately fell in love with the bag's simple design, functionality and durability. The Fjällräven Kånken daypack is a quintessential part of Danish style as I spotted Danes, young and old, toting this bag wherever I went. Bright, cute and eternally popular, the iconic pack has been sitting comfortably on Danish backs for the past 30 years.

The bag was originally for Swedish school children and it still remains the same as when it was released 30 years ago. Made from sturdy vinylon, each Kånken is waterproof, tough and comes in a rainbow of colours suited for all individual styles.

Intrigued by its design and functionality, I became a dedicated follower and eventually got my very own Kånken in Uncle Blue, as a Christmas gift 2 years ago.

Now, it seems like the Kånken fever has caught on in the fashion world - with models being snapped on the streets toting the daypack, looking effortlessly cool yet slightly naff. This bag, in my opinion is the ultimate in utilitarian cool of all daypacks.

The Kånken has also arrived in Singapore, and is stocked at Actually. Sadly, my very own Kånken will no longer be as unique as it once was, since I predict that this bag will be a big hit amongst many here.

-Fal

Geared up for fall - Age of renaissance

2012-07-15T12:53:00.000+08:00

I've always admired the fashion of the ladies of old and have always secretly wished that I could dress in their rich and opulent clothing. Looks like my wish is coming true as medieval dressing is getting a modern touch. Carven transforms 16th and 17th century art into prints on playful swing skirts and dresses, Dolce & Gabbana gives their collection couture-esque elements with intricate beading and opulent embroidery, and Balmain goes baroque (or ba-rock) channelling all-out glamour of the past.

-Fal

March on

2012-07-11T23:24:00.000+08:00

Knit tank top and shorts - H&M, Military vest - Korea, Sandals - Marni x H&M

Life's been slow, and time's been passing slowly, too slowly for my liking. My outfits too, have been a reflection of life in general, I'm always in the most laid back of outfits, and here's me in one of my laziest of weekends.

-Fal

Let's go to Phuket

2012-07-10T11:43:00.001+08:00

So much to say about Phuket but so little time. While we are all well aware that the beauty of a beach / resort getaway is the sun, sand and sea, the other gem in such a holiday is not having to think too much about the holiday wardrobe. In fact, I barely glanced at what I threw into my duffel for this trip so the result was too many tops, too few bottoms. Over there, walking around half naked is the norm; expect to see burly men strutting around in nothing but swimming trunks or bermudas and the ladies draped in kaftans, wrapped in sarongs, or unashamedly showing off those bodily assets, good or bad.

In any case, this was a trip of several firsts. One of which was hitting the roads. The others were surfing, bungee and shopping at a local warehouse. Getting lost is part and parcel of every holiday but I would say we were the happiest lost people ever. Driving along the hilly, winding and narrow terrain, with no clear road demarcations (stop lines and lane lines) and a crappy GPS that was never accurate with where to turn was a super challenge. I was pleasantly surprised though, that I barely heard any horning, this as opposed to cities like Bangkok and Hanoi where the noise pollution can drive anybody insane. While I appreciate my friends for trusting me with their lives, these lovely people were the same idiots who distracted me to hell and back throughout the entire drive back to the beach, screaming, laughing, yelling. Sometimes in Mandarin just to annoy me further (I hate you guys), as if it was not difficult enough to focus on the super narrow roads and hazards in the form of motorcyclists with absolutely no regard for traffic rules, if any. As we always tell each other, with friends like these, who needs enemies.

Ironically, these enemies are among the few whom I would call if I had to bury a body. Trust does not come easily to most. There are exceptions of course, friends that are so gullible who would believe 'conditioning' at the end of gymnastics is all gymnasts going into the girls' washroom at the end of the walkway to wash their hair with the same conditioner. Exceptions aside, as one grows older, it gets harder and harder to establish a critical level of trust in another person. Questioning every action and guessing every agenda is extremely exhausting but in such a competitive working environment that all twenty-somethings are sucked into, it's every (wo)man for him or herself and leaving your back wide open for a huge parang to come slashing through is no fault of anyone but yourself. A support system at work is as important as the one that everyone should have at home. Unfortunately, not so prevalent in Singapore.

No sense in dwelling on this unsolvable problem. Establishing personal indicators of trust is probably the only way to make sure your back stays unscarred and unscathed. Once it gets exhausting, run off for a getaway, like Phuket.

Bungee off a crane. Mad but we went for it anyway.

First thought is fire hazard, just look at that roof. But, it's a gorgeous bar.

Morning fuel, with compliments from the Kata resort buffet line.

A road hazard caught on camera, complete with bags of plastic bowls and metal pots. Fearing for the windscreen of the rented car, we intended to overtake this blurry road hog but to no avail. Switch your gaze to the right and that is the oncoming traffic. Look left, there's grass, the rare white painted line signaling the road shoulder. Now you tell me, HOW NOW?

♥,
Fir

Geared up for fall - Hide and chic

2012-07-08T22:11:00.000+08:00

The material of choice this upcoming season, whether it's from trimming, to applique details or full on outfits, prepare to experiment with lots of leather. I can't wait to embrace this trend.

-Fal

Kool Like Karlie

2012-07-05T09:31:00.000+08:00

Karlie by Terri Richardson

This six-foot bamboo pole of beauty and grace caught my attention because she had ballet training when she was younger. As someone who has nothing but love, passion and absolute respect for ballet as an art and ballet dancers as the most dedicated artistes, I am naturally more inclined to people who have experienced the beauty of dance and gone through the love-hate and obsessive compulsiveness that comes with perfection of this art form. Repetition of the same motions on a regular basis, just to achieve a personal standard that the dancer sets for his or herself based on the limitations of the respective bodies, without complaint is proof enough of the discipline a dancer has mentally and physically to push the body in that way.

It never occurred to me that it is a talent that dancers can move their bodies the way they do. For most part of my dancing years, the comparison I took on with my own body was with the professionals, oftentimes questioning why the turnout is not turned out, why the torso is too short, why can't I turn triples just like that and so on. Until about the age of 20, it came to my realisation that I was already gifted with one statement the ballet mistress made in class "remember the body doesn't naturally move or stand in this way" (or something like that).

Ballet in particular is the foundation for most forms of dance. Watch So You Think You Can Dance and the judges usually advise the non-ballet trained to at least take a few classes to get their basics together. Ballet is so precise that there is no space for mistakes and one wrong placement will definitely, without a doubt, lead to muscles building in the wrong areas, killing lines and inevitably the professional career. This highly technical form of dance basically forces you to truly understand your body, from muscles that ache daily to those that you never even knew existed. It teaches form, discipline, posture and rhythm, which is exactly what Karlie herself referred to, that ballet taught her how to move.

The versatility of this leggy beauty is nothing short of impressive. If models are blank canvasses onto which hopes, dreams and ideas are displayed upon, then Karlie is definitely one of the top dogs. Her ability to morph into any style or look is a quality I believe all models dream to possess.

Alexander Wang Lookbook

From couture to Victoria's Secret to regular girl, Karlie has pretty much done it all, and all in her youth too. Talk about accomplishments.

Saucy and sultry for none other than Vogue Italia

Good morning Karlie

With Frida Gustavsson

And fellow VS Angel, Chanel Iman. Candid this-is-super-fun shots are the best.

Adorable. Although not my favourite type of dog, but who's complaining?

Such is why, Karlie is model of the moment in my books.
And then there's Freja.
Float.

♥,
Fir

Geared up for fall - Oversized chic

2012-07-04T23:28:00.000+08:00

Another of my favourite trend for fall winter - going oversized. Blown-up proportions have replaced the body-con fad of seasons past, and Acne, Proenza Schouler and Balenciaga show us their take on sculpted and boxy silhouettes.

-Fal

Smile like you mean it

2012-07-03T23:05:00.000+08:00

My new 'Make me smile' dress from Aussie label, Finders Keepers has a very apt name since it put a smile on my face when it arrived in the mail. The dress is a combination of all my favorite things, it has just the right mix of sports luxe, with the mesh detailing in the front and back, and soft femininity since it's chiffon and draped.

I'm wearing it here with a military vest and my new heels.

-Fal

Geared up for fall - White out

2012-07-02T23:42:00.000+08:00

My favourite trend for summer carries forward to winter. This winter is set to be a white hot one with Giambattista Valli and Alexander McQueen showcasing matching white ensembles and Paco Rabanne unveiling some full white suits. How about a white Christmas, folks?

-Fal

My summer wishlist

2012-07-01T01:12:00.002+08:00

To be honest, Singapore has 365 days of summer, so it doesn't really count when I create my very own summer wishlist. I've learnt to stop complaining so much about not having seasons, but there are still times when I go off on a rant about how terribly boring it is having only one season throughout the entire year.

I'm taking back all the complaining this year, because Spring/ Summer 2012 has been a particularly good year/ season for designers. It's almost like a fashion renaissance of some sorts - all the vivid colours, loose relaxed silhouettes, sports luxe, etc, these are things I wouldn't mind wearing all year round.

Anyway, here's my wishlist of must-haves for this summer (and in my case) all year round.

1. Anthropologie Placid Rush Tank 2. Zara Plaited Clutch 3. H&M for Water Bikini 4. By Malene Birger Sambiara Tweed Shorts 5. Isabel Marant Merry Leather Sandals 6. Moscot Grunya Sunglasses in Crystal

Shorts are my number one summer essentials, and I've bought so many pairs of shorts recently but more on that in another post. The footwear of choice would be sandals because my feet like to soak up some sun and strappy sandals are always comfy and pretty. An easy, breezy tank top in a lightweight material like the Anthropologie one above is necessary. Needless to say, shades are a must. And last but not least, a bikini is essential for days when I just want to cool down in a pool.

1. Tibi Floral Print Silk Dress 2. Zara XL Coloured Clutch 3. O.P.I My Pointe Exactly Nail Polish 4. Stella McCartney Heels 5. Yves Saint Laurent Arty Gold-Plated Glass Ring

When night comes, I always like to look a little dressier but not abandon the summer notion completely. I think this Tibi floral dress is perfect for summer. I'd ditch the sandals and opt for strappy heels, but ideally, still revealing some toes (and I'd prettify them with a dash of polish, this grey happens to be my favourite colour).

-Fal

Laundry Tips Part 1

2012-06-19T00:01:00.001+08:00

I have to confess that I haven't always been good to my clothes, and given it the treatment it deserves. It took a few lessons - burning holes in a skirt when ironing, shrinking tops in the machine and de-feathering a down jacket to realize that all clothes require tender loving care.

So here are some tips that I live by, and that my mom, the professional washer, has imparted to me. I'm loving my clothes a little more so they'll love me back and stay brand new (a little longer), and you should too!

1. Fade scorch marks: If your iron got too hot fix the scorched fabric by hanging it on a laundry line in direct sunlight; the sunlight's natural bleaching action will help to fade the scorch mark.

2. Don't use fabric softener: Fabric softeners, contain undesirable ingredients, such as fragrances and dyes, which can irritate skin and cause other health problems. Plus, they can build up in clothes over time, which ultimately reduces clothes' longevity.

3. Turn clothes inside out: Washing and drying clothing is rough on the outside of your clothing. Turning garments inside out will reduce pilling which dulls the look of the fabric. Don't forget to turn clothing inside out when you hang clothes outside to dry as well.

4. Don't Stuff the Washer: Stuffing the washer is tempting. But it actually makes the machine work harder and it is tougher on our clothes. Clothing can't come clean or have soap evenly deposited when it is packed into a washing machine. Similarly clothing takes a lot longer to dry when a dryer is stuffed with wet cloths.

5. Wash in Cold: Colors in cold. If there is one thing I learned about laundry from my mom, it is that colors get washed in cold. If you want to prevent fading from your colored clothing, wash them in cold water.

6. Don't Over Dry: It's easy to let our clothing over. While this is bad for all of our laundry, it is particularly bad for our bright and dark colors. Over drying will cause your colors to fade.

-Fal

Neon baubles

2012-06-12T23:50:00.002+08:00

Here's the latest addition to my jewelry rack: A tousled necklace in the brightest of colours and friendship bands (unfortunately bought off the shelf at H&M for myself). Will someone make me more friendship bands pleaaasee? I'm completely hopeless with knots.

-Fal

Kaleidoscope

2012-06-12T00:14:00.000+08:00

I recently got this skirt from the Topshop sale, and I'm totally loving the myriad of colours it has. I've been having a fetish for crazy prints + bright colours, and I suppose that's just my way of celebrating the summer season. I'm wearing the skirt with my cold shoulder top and boots from Korea and silver clutch from H&M.

On a side note, the Great Singapore Sale has started, and I really need to hit the sales sooooon!

-Fal

Birds of a Feather

2012-06-09T03:59:00.000+08:00

It's time to shake your tail feathers this summer - designers like Altuzarra, Proenza Schouler and Reed Krakoff have gathered together the hottest avian- adorned prints, feathers, and plumes on all things wearable.

1. Altuzarra Dress 2. ASOS Feather Necklace 3. Eugenia Kim Fedora 4. Sass & Bide Dress 5. Reed Krakoff Top 6. ASOS Feather Bracelet Pack 7. Proenza Schouler PS1 Clutch 8. J.W. Anderson ALDO Rise Heels

-Fal

Electric Dreams

2012-06-04T11:05:00.000+08:00

Because I'm not a big fan of the pastel colour trend this season, I turn to the other colour trend - neons whenever I'm putting on my Spring/ Summer ensemble. I have to admit that neons aren't for the faint hearted. But if you're a little bit more daring, these rave shades like hot pink and acidic yellow can really make heads turn in your direction. Here are some of my favourite pieces from Club 21:

1. Marc Jacobs organza top, S$990. 2. Marc Jacobs organza dress with plastic trimming, S$3,690. 3. Carven dress, S$1,160. 4. Alexander Wang polo T-shirt, S$500.

For further information, Visit Club 21’s website at www.club21global.com or follow Club 21 on
-Facebook www.facebook.com/club21global
-Twitter www.twitter.com/club21global
-Instagram, Search for @Club21
-Pinterest www.pinterest.com/club21global
-Tumblr www.club21global.tumblr.com/

-Fal

@firandfal

2012-05-31T09:59:00.000+08:00

Social media. Yes, social media is wonderful, it's great, it connects people, it gives everyone a voice, it helps businesses build relationships, it makes the world a smaller place even as it extends our reach to all corners of this planet, it notifies faster than any other media channel (this is so true) and it gets people talking. Take the video of that Ferrari flying into the taxi, like a scene right out of a superhero flick like Dark Knight (except the awesome Christian Bale will emerge unharmed from the wreckage), which went viral and had everyone slamming the crazy, reckless Chinese dude behind the wheel of that flashy red machine. I should also give special mention to social media as one of the most excellent spy mechanisms in this modern day technocracy.

An article in one of the magazines scattered all over the studio got me thinking about this whole phenomenon and its effect on fashion. Thousands of bloggers there make up the blogosphere, eager to comment on the latest trends and quick to pick up on any piece of breaking news. Anyone out there has a right to say what is fashion and what is not, and no one should stop them from doing so. All these opinions, no matter how subjective, are projected into the same extensive space which we call the world wide web, lying in wait for their respective tags to be picked up by Google or any other search engine.

Sometimes, it feels like you're writing for no one yet writing for everyone. Is a response required for a post to be considered read and digested? Or will it do to have the reader scan through and develop his or her own thoughts about the whole piece and the ideas put across without offering her or his opinion up for debate or commenting? After all, your thoughts have been read and considered, just not commented upon.

So unique is this quality that combined with the nature of the fashion industry, everyone becomes a critic and everyone is an expert. The fashion industry is a seasonal spectacle, aesthetically dependent, subjective but remains within limits, experimental and exciting, frivolous yet worthy of a substantial section on major news sites. Even this opinion that I have of the fashion industry is well worth debating, who is to say who's right and who's wrong? According to Hedi Slimane, creative director of Yves St Laurent, "anyone knows better and each one is a self-made critic". Fashion hence has more breathing room; the world wide web has opened the elusive and closed industry to more creativity and social media has played an audible and visible part in loosening the reins on its progress and direction in more ways than one through its various manifestations (or forms). This is debatable though, as more voices does not necessarily equate to a proportional democratization, fashion could easily become very trend-centric, especially if only what is #trending matters.

Facebook and Twitter have made sharing and connecting among friends as hassle-free as anyone could have it, just one click and you're on each other's timeline. What we take for granted is how connected all these social media platforms are. To link one channel to the other is just a matter of toggling the settings. Not only does this multiply the effect of one comment, it makes sharing, a piece of cake. (I swear the only place where you can have your cake and eat it too is on the world wide web.) Going on multiple platforms and linking them up is putting a loud-hailer in front of the mouthpiece, in a bid to ensure that voice is heard amid the noise in the blogosphere in the world wide web. That being said, thefword is now on Twitter (hahaha) and tweeting @firandfal. (Do follow us for updates and the giveaways once in a while.)

Plans for tweeting actually started quite a while ago but we wanted to wait for the blog to gain traction before we started anything on other social media channels. @firandfal is not a means employed by yours truly to scream over the noise in the web, we just figured Twitter is a great way for the friends who don't stalk Facebook to keep up with the posts. Twitter is my personal preference over Facebook anyway.

Social media may be the playing field of us young ones but things change and social media is fast evolving as we use it. This makes perfect sense of course, as the heaviest users of any appliance or technology will be the ones who determine its direction. Keeping up with social media is tiring, what with so many new platforms constantly coming up and the heavyweights keen to maintain their popularity and relevance among the technocrats, just as the technocrats keep up with each other and the world through the said platforms.

The never-ending social media saga and honestly, in the words of Alice from a Wonderland not very different from our digital playground, I'm curious-er than ever to see what's the next big thing that will change the way we live, learn, communicate (and stalk).

♥,
Fir

Oh fml, this is a way longer post than I meant for. Thanks for reading, as always!

GIVEAWAY Bracher Emdem Leather Clutch

2012-05-23T00:31:00.000+08:00

Remember Bracher Emden, British accessories label that we were talking about in a previous post? Well, thefword has teamed up with them for a giveaway, exclusively for all our readers! As you know, Bracher Emden is going to be stocked in Singapore really soon, and we want to share with you how much we love their unique bags, handmade in the finest leather.

One lucky reader will stand a chance to win a Bracher Emden soft lamb leather clutch flown in all the way from London.

To win, simply follow @firandfal and @Bracheremden1 on Twitter, and send us the following tweet:

'I love Bracher Emden bags! @firandfal @Bracheremden1 #bracheremdeninsg'.

Winners will be announced on Twitter and thefword blog on the midnight of Thursday 31st May.

There's no limit to the number of tweets you make, so start tweeting away!

Please take note that the competition is only open to readers in Singapore.

The impossible storage space

2012-05-22T00:13:00.000+08:00

The incessant love for clothes comes with much wardrobe woes. I think nobody understands this predicament best like Fir and myself do, Fir more so, because her wardrobe is literally exploding.

My woes include but isn't limited to spending 15 mins everyday rummaging through piles of clothes, or having to press a whole new set of clothes again because they got crumpled in my wardrobe or even forgetting that I had that dress or that top, because it fell to the back of my wardrobe and got hidden under a pile of other forgotten things.

And so, I continue wishing for a humongous and gianormous wardrobe, or maybe even an entire room just for my clothes. For now, let me show you some of my dream wardrobes. Hopefully, I'll get one of these fantasy storage spaces in my home someday.

-Fal

Stella in Singapore

2012-05-12T13:00:00.000+08:00

I visited the newly opened Stella McCartney free-standing boutique at the Hilton Shopping Gallery two weeks back, and loved everything about the boutique. The new store's architectural design reflects the designer's signature style - a combination of sharpness and femininity, from its large display windows to pale grey Venetian plastered walls. Hung on the flowing white steel sculptural fixtures are the latest ready to wear collections and you definitely won't miss the oak parquet floor in a bespoke herringbone pattern and colour palette of plums, pale pinks, blush, nudes and taupe (These tiles are going to be in my dream home someday).

The decor of the boutique only serves to complete and heighten the whole shopping experience because customers will be spoilt for choice with such an extensive range of products. The store will carry Stella McCartney's women's ready to wear, shoes, bags, sunglasses and lingerie collections. And the interior design only serves to enhance the beautiful collection that is currently in store. Here's a few of my favourite items that are in store now:

If you haven't already visited Stella McCartney, why not drop in someday?

Stella McCartney is located at #02-19 The Hilton Shopping Gallery. Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm and Sunday, 11am to 6pm. For more information, visit www.club21global.com

-Fal

H&M A/W 2012 Sneaks

2012-05-11T11:59:00.000+08:00

How can I not get excited when I'm looking at a collection like this? Autumn/ Winter at H&M looks like a very luxe affair. The sportswear inspired trend continues, see baseball caps, varsity jackets and boxy tops albeit updated with lots of embellishments. Leather is big this season, and I'm loving the leather jackets, leather gloves and the very awesome leather peplum belt thingy, which I MUST have. And I am dying to get my hands on the digital printed pieces, which by the way, are my favourites so far.

Which is your favourite piece in H&M's A/W collection?

Photo credits - Carolines Mode

-Fal

Oh yeah, we've Met.

2012-05-10T06:19:00.001+08:00

It was the intense gushing on Twitter a couple of days ago about the gorgeous gowns at the Met Ball 2012 that piqued my interest and had me typing 'Met Ball 2012' into my Google search bar. With the exceptions of the odd balls like Coco Rocha with her pink curls and canary yellow pant suit, Alexa Chung in the shirt-under-a-leather-accented-bandeau-tubedress and Leighton Meester's washed sepia look, the A-listers proved again why they command the eyeballs all over the world.

The photo, taken by Kevin Tachman, speaks for itself. Being under the spotlight is no joke. Just imagine the incessant flashes of light, beeping from the cameras, yelling from the reporters, shouts from the photographers as they fight for attention, jostling and pushing behind the 'Do Not Cross' line. It probably takes effort assuming nonchalance and ease in the face of such chaos. The photo starkly juxtaposes the glamour and exclusion of Hollywood with reality - competition, jostling, fighting tooth and nail to get what we need in order to get what we want.

It's literally all eyes on you and these eyes stay on you long after the event. Technology has enhanced the longevity of images and words more than we can ever imagine. Once these photos are launched into the www universe, they don't ever leave. As usual, women come under scrutiny - intense, extensive and unforgiving scrutiny - especially at such events. The media is a sucker for red carpets and the ever-brilliant PR companies will not hesitate to leech on the vast amount of media attention bestowed on the event (a ball, a benefit or an awards ceremony) at no expense, after all they're not the ones wearing the gowns and under the spotlight, they just reap the harvest - numbers, eyeballs, coverage and talking points. Society encourages such voyeuristic activity, supported by technology and an incessant need for more images, more pictures, more proof. So much is seen and so little is heard yet no one ever stops to question anything.

No, I am no Luddite, in fact, I am more than happy to catch a glimpse of the gorgeousness strutting down the red carpets (and runways for that matter). I just think everyone needs to take a step back to consider how far we've come, what technology has afforded us and how we are using it and to what effect. Then only can we appreciate what we have come to take for granted and relish it all the more (and hopefully use it more wisely).

Camilla Belle was nothing short of stunning in Ralph Lauren.

Carey Mullian sparkles in Prada

Emma Stone in Lanvin

Jessica Alba channels bronze grecian goddess in Michael Kors

Jessica Biel in bespoke Prada

Lily Collins in a romantic Valentino which I believe only she can pull off

Emily Blunt in a coral Calvin Klein Collection

Gisele Bundchen, THE body beautiful, in Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci

I have to say it is a waste if such beauty isn't shared.

♥,
Fir

More basics

2012-05-09T11:18:00.000+08:00

Anyone who knows me long enough, knows that I'm a sucker for basics. Anything that is jersey or in a monochromatic shade just gets me going. And I just went on a shopping rampage for basics again. As if I don't already have enough of them.

Here are my latest buys in no particular order of preference:
1. H&M Boxy Top 2. Draped Jersey Dress from Korea 3. CLU Draped Top
4. T-shirt with Neck Strap from Korea 5. Helmut Lang Asymmetrical Dress
6. Cold Shoulder Blouse from Korea

-Fal