Designers Give Fashion Advice: Karl Lagerfeld

Who should we take fashion advice from if not from designers, those people who create pieces we consider fashionable? The latest to reveal secrets of good style was Karl Lagerfeld, an iconic Chanel designer

Karl Lagerfeld’s Fashion Advice #1: “Buy what you know works for your body and only buy something if it fits well.”

Our interpretation: Even if you would die for that pair of slouchy pants you should stay away from it if it makes your hips look huge. This rule works for anything in terms of clothing. If something doesn’t look great on you just move to the next shelf, you don’t want it.

Karl Lagerfeld’s Fashion Advice #2: “Never underestimate the power of a simple T-shirt, jeans and a jacket. It always looks very chic.”

Our interpretation: You look perfect in a dress but isn’t it a bit uncomfortable to run errands in the city wearing it? Jeans and a t-shirt are always better. Accessorize your look to avoid looking plain.

Karl Lagerfeld’s Fashion Advice #3: “Lots of women look great with no make-up on, so if you have good skin, keep it bare.”

Our interpretation: If you are naturally beautiful and don’t really need a concealer to hide problem spots on your face go without makeup. Russian supermodel Sasha Pivovarova believes the fact she uses little makeup is her beauty secret.

Karl Lagerfeld’s Fashion Advice #4: “You can’t avoid all the color and the brights out there. Give it a go. By next autumn/winter we will all be wearing black and grey again because everyone will be fed up of the color and print!

Our interpretation: Spring and summer are the perfect seasons for wearing color. You simply cannot go grey and dull when everything around is so vivid and lovely. Not daring enough to rock flashy garments? Opt for bright accessories instead.

visvim SHOE BRUSH

A good shoe brush is essential for the care and maintenance of your most precious footwear. Realizing this, visvim has released its own version for those interested in improving the appearance and extending the life of their shoes. Featuring a handle that’s been made from genuine wood, the top of the brush has been stamped with the brand’s logo. Offering a choice of between two bristle types, the brush also comes with a white polishing cloth and is priced at $650 HKD (approximately $85 USD). Available for purchase now through Samplekickz.

Mizuno Wave Prophecy

The Mizuno Wave Prophecy hits select retailers across the country on May 6, 2011. Seven years in the making, Mizuno’s vision for the shoe was to create one that optimizes the amount of compression in the heel, alleviating stiffness in the forefoot, and reducing the shoe’s overall weight. The shoe gives you the “ride of your life” as the technologies are built to work in harmony with your foot. Mizuno’s award-winning Wave Technology achieves the two things runners want in shoes: cushion and stability. The Prophecy accomplishes this without putting two separate and sometimes contradictory materials together. The shoe essentially features two Wave plates, stacked and molded together at different densities to facilitate landing on either the forefoot or midfoot. This is what provides the dynamic ‘ride’ feeling you get when you run in the shoe.

BlackDA Leica i9 Concept Camera for iPhone 4

The iPhone 4 was undoubtedly the catalyst for an all new movement in digital photography. The ability to instantaneously share imagery together with a competent performing package and social apps such as Instagram have made the iPhone 4 virtually uncontested in ubiquity. BlackDA create a concept that hopes to further enhance the properties of the iPhone 4 with its Leica i9 concept. Based on a “Compliment without Compromise” philosophy, the i9 serves as an add-on camera and case. The case includes internal flash memory to house images from a Leica 12.1 MP CMOS sensor and lens which also contains 8x optical zoom. Paired together, the BlackDA Leica i9 Concept Camera boosts greater performance with the connectivity of the iPhone 4.

The Green Hornet & Kato Medicom Toy Bearbrick 100% Pack

A movie that has created a relatively big stir in Asia thanks to role of Asian superstar Jay Chou as Kato, The Green Hornet & Kato merchandising scheme includes a series of figures by Medicom Toy. The Bearbrick 2-pack features the signature costumes of each of the lead characters played by Seth Rogen and Jay Chou. A release is set for May 20 at select retailers globally

Marvel Comics x Stussy Series One Collection

On April 27, Stussy will be releasing Series One of the collaboration with the legendary Marvel Comics. Series One includes nine designs featuring some of Marvel’s most iconic superheroes mixed with Stussy’s iconic graphic language. Series Two will release on May 6 featuring nine guest artists interpreting their favorite characters from the Marvel Universe. Each purchase will include a limited edition pack of Stussy x Marvel trading cards, while supplies last. The Stussy x Marvel Project will be available at Stussy.com, Stussy Chapter Stores and select retailers.

A Bathing Ape 2011 “Golden Week” Collection

(Click on the pic for bigger image)

In celebration of “Golden Week”, an extended holiday period observed in Japan and China, BAPE has released this mini-collection. With a focus on the warmer months ahead, the collection consists of summer wardrobe staples like polos, short-sleeve shirts, shorts and graphic t-shirts. Of course, several of the items feature the brand’s signature camouflage motif including a backpack and a pair of cargo shorts. The collection is available for purchase immediately through participating BAPE store locations.

Hyundai’s fuel cell concept

 The 2011 Seoul Motor Show that runs in South Korea from March 31 to April 10 plays host to the world premiere of the all-new Hyundai Blue2 concept study. The name, which is to be read ‘Blue square’, is a combination of Hyundai’s sub eco-brand ‘Blue Drive’ and the number `2’ from H2, the symbol for hydrogen gas. Codenamed HND-6, the prototype is Hyundai’s first sedan styled Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV).

The four door saloon is powered by a fuel cell electric system that produces 121hp and returning a fuel economy of 34.9km/ℓ of hydrogen. The concept is also equipped with low-resistance tires and alloy wheels which are designed to improve aerodynamic performance. In addition to the fuel cell technology highlights, the Blue2 sedan also hints at a possible direction for the South Korean firm’s next design language, albeit in a futuristic form.


The car’s interior styling continues the futuristic look of the exterior and comes packed with features such as a unique info-entertainment system operated by a Motion Sensor Moustick, a haptic wheel and motion sensor that respond to the driver’s touch and hand movements. The dashboard has an asymmetric design while Hyundai added that it used a variety of eco-friendly materials.



How to Choose Shining Clothing



Every season designers create shiny clothing because even if such items are not very trendy they are still perfect for special occasions. Women like sparkling pieces but are often unaware of how to choose those to look good rather than vulgar.

Shiny item as an advantage.


Shiny items tend to attract attention. No matter if it is a tiny brooch or a glitzy blouse people will look at it before they notice all the other. This gives you a number of advantages. By focusing on a sparkling piece that you accentuate your asset with, you distract attention from the areas you don’t want to show. So, if you have a thin waist try a glitzy belt. If you like how your legs look opt for a pair of shiny pants. If your goal is to hide your heavy thighs go for a shiny top or just a sparkling scarf as an accessory.

Don’t overdo.

Be careful not to overdo with shiny clothing as you can end up looking tasteless. The rule is simple: the shinier the item the less you should emphasize it. You can wear sparking things during daytime but beware of making people’s eyes tired of your attire.

Shiny clothing is no-no for plump girls.

Shiny clothing makes a woman look bigger but it looks great on slim girls. If you know your weight isn’t ideal but glitzy pieces are your weak point try to use shiny details.

The simpler the better.

By wearing a glitzy item you already attract too much attention to you. The fabric itself does it all. So, if you wish to look harmonious stay away from elaborate designs.

Combination rules to follow.

Shiny with shiny is not a good idea. Go for matt clothing piece to combine with the glitzy one you like. Besides, avoid wearing accessories as well if you want to be elegant. Don’t overload your look. Even your makeup and hair should be natural.

Shiny dress for a special occasion.

Long shiny dress is great for an evening out, even if it is too shiny. But beware of getting all attention at the party where you are not the main person. It can be too uncomfortable.

Kia Forte hatchback drops into Singapore

Local Kia distributor has just announced the arrival of the new Kia Forte hatchback, fresh off the back of the recently-revised Forte models with new six-speed gearboxes earlier this year.

Oddly enough, as I was driving the six-speed Cerato Forte the other day, I was wondering to myself, when will Kia bring in the Forte hatchback, if at all.

And lo and behold, they have done!

It promises to be exciting times ahead for fans of Korean-made cars. Chevrolet and Kia fired the first salvos earlier this year with revised versions of their Cruze and Cerato Forte sedans respectively.

Hyundai was prepared to hit back with the launch of their new Avante replacement (which will re-use the Elantra name once again) in the next couple of months, but Kia pulled off another trick by releasing the Forte hatchback.

We're expecting the Cruze hatchback before this year is out too, so all three manufacturers are most certainly battling hard for the consumer's dollar.

I guess especially so now with COE prices showing no signs of coming down, Korean carmakers have to fight even harder for a decreasing slice of the Singapore automotive pie.

Which can only mean more choices for us. Now, would that be a good thing or a bad thing

Katy Perry Keeps Us Focused (Katy Perry Does Campaign for ghd)

 Katy Perry does everything to keep our eyes focused on her all the time. She writes new songs, wears sassy and flashy outfits, poses for magazine covers, gives frank interviews, etc. And now she has decided to try a new thing for her – doing an ad campaign. She has recently become the face of ghd brand and campaign has already been shot. There are few pics you can see so far, unfortunately, but I hope others will come out soon.

On adverts for ghd brand Katy Perry looks glamorous and sexy. At one of the campaign pictures Katy is featured sitting on a huge bed in a room full of roses. She wears a feminine gown with an unusual neckline teamed up with a belt embellished with studs and a pair of pumps in a matching color. Right behind the singer there are styling products produced by ghd. They are just the background but clearly visible.


The second photo shows Katy Perry relaxing by the pool. Her clothing isn’t for the place of course but she looks good. I love that orange skirt.

Ghd are happy to have Katy in their team. They call her ‘the epitome of modern fashion and styling’. Sounds flattering, doesn’t it?


Paul Stoneham, Chief Executive Officer of ghd said:

"Katy is the epitome of modern fashion and styling. Her unique, ever changing looks are the envy of style devotees around the world. Katy completely embodies ghd’s spirit of female transformation and empowerment, as she is recognized as a cutting edge style icon unafraid to push fashion and beauty boundaries. Sassy, stylish and sexy, Katy is the perfect partner for ghd.”

In turn Katy shares her joy on the collaboration. Beside the opportunity to shine on ghd adverts the pop star has got a new sponsor for her California Dreams 2011 tour.

Katy Perry commented:

"I’m so excited to be working with ghd, especially using their tools on my California Dreams Tour to get me stage ready. ghd products have a reputation of being the best products in the biz, and I like being associated with that. I’m very excited to reveal the styles I did with legendary David LaChapelle in the upcoming ghd campaign. Keep your eyes peeled for it!”

Lady Gaga Believes Alexander McQueen Marionettes Her from Heaven (Lady Gaga’s Crazy Interview for Harper’s Bazaar May 2011)

To tell you the truth I have doubts about Lady Gaga’s mental health. And it’s not her fashion choices or crazy implants that make me think so. What alerted me was her interview for May 2011 issue of Harper’s Bazaar in which she revealed her thoughts about Alexander McQueen marionetting her from heaven. The singer said the fashion designer had ‘fashion strings in his hands’ and planned lots of things for her. She mentioned that right after his death she wrote her hit song Born This Way and it was McQueen who helped her.


Lady Gaga said:

"I think he planned the whole thing: Right after he died, I wrote ‘Born This Way.’ I think he’s up in heaven with fashion strings in his hands, marionetting away, planning this whole thing.”



She tried to prove her words by saying it was her label’s, not her own, decision to release the song at the exact day of the one-year anniversary of McQueen’s death:


"When I heard that, I knew he planned the whole damn thing. I didn’t even write the f*cking song. He did!”

Talking to a representative from Harper’s Bazaar Lady Gaga said her famous horns were not actually prosthetics, they were her bones which tended to appear when she was inspired.

She said:
"Well, first of all, they’re not prosthetics. They’re my bones. They’ve always been inside of me, but I have been waiting for the right time to reveal to the universe who I truly am. They come out when I’m inspired.”

When asked if she was worried that her fans might “grow” similar bones the star said:

"We all have these bones! They’re the light from inside of us.”

And Lady Gaga insists she has never had plastic surgery operation because she believes those promote insecurity:

I have never had plastic surgery, and there are many pop singers who have. I think that promoting insecurity in the form of plastic surgery is infinitely more harmful than an artistic expression related to body modification.”

And how many models and actresses do you see on magazine covers who have brand-new faces and have had plastic surgery, while I myself have never had any plastic surgery? I am an artist, and I have the ability and the free will to choose the way the world will envision me.”

Kristen Bell & Hayden Panettiere Brighten Up Red Carpet at Scream 4 Premiere

 Hayden Panettiere went for a more classic combination. She paired her neon orange dress with black satin pumps.





Actresses Kristen Bell and Hayden Panettiere Brightened Up the red carpet at Scream 4 Premiere in Los Angeles. The two girls appeared at the event wearing dresses in vivid colors.
Kristen wore an electric blue mini that exposed her back. She teamed up her attire with a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes (which I think didn’t match the look at all.).

Travelteq “Trash Original” Leather Laptop Bag

Made from a high quality Florentine vachetta leather, this laptop bag from Travelteq is classic, simple and elegant. Handmade in Italy, the bag features eight separate compartments (including one for cigars and another for your laptop), each of which contains a water resistant nylon lining. The portability of the bag is enhanced with an outside leather strip that attaches to a trolley and an outside compartment provides extra room for a plane ticket, sunglasses or cell phone. The laptop bag is available for purchase now through select stockists, including Kapok.


Kapok


G/F. St. Francis Yard (near Star Street)

Wanchai

Hong Kong

Fashion Rule Broken! Horizontal Stripes Are Slimming and Flattering!

 For so many years in succession and from so many stylists I’ve heard that horizontal stripes are complete evil that ruins slim shape and makes one look fat even if she is naturally very slender. I always obeyed the rule without even checking if it was really that bad to wear hoops. However, a couple of days ago I read an article about a research based on the sliming effects of horizontal stripes and I was shocked to know that all my life I missed the opportunity to look great in stripes only because someone told me those were bad for appearance of my body. Now I say: GIRLS, HORIZONTAL STRIPES ARE SLIMMING AND FLATTERING!


 Of course I couldn’t believe I was such a fool for such a long period of time and googled photos of stars wearing hoops. They did look very good in those. Alas and hurray!

Well, girls, this fashion rule is totally broken. And now I wonder which other rules are senseless…

Kris Kuksi “Pneumatic” @ Roq La Rue Preview

 Kansas-based Kris Kuski brings his talents to the Pacific Northwest as the artist opens a new exhibition in Seattle, titled “Pneumatic.” The exhibition, taking place at Roq La Rue, will revolve around his highly intricate works produced from thousands of components, in what takes unbelievable patience and skill.

NEIGHBORHOOD Buco Custom Racer Helmets

NEIGHBORHOOD offers another look into two Buco Custom Racer Helmets they’ll be releasing as part of the 2011 spring/summer collection. The helmets are priced at ¥59,850 (approx. $704 USD) for the striped version and ¥52,500 (approx. $618 USD) for the solid. Both are now available through the brand’s webstore.

ALDO 2011 Spring/Summer Collection Lookbook by Terry Richardson

ALDO has just revealed the energetic and fun campaign for its Spring/Summer 2011 collection. Themed “Life’s a Beach,” the color-minded lookbook and promotional videos were shot by photographer Terry Richardson and stars models Sean O’Pry and Lily Donaldson. Featuring key pieces from the collection, the images highlight styles like a stylish boat shoe chukka for men and a multicolor espadrille wedge for women.

Rolls-Royce’s largest showroom opened in Abu Dhabi

The world's largest Rolls-Royce showroom has just opened in Abu Dhabi. Located in the Umm Al Nar area of the city, the new facility was unveiled in the presence of Rolls-Royce CEO, Torsten Müller-Ötvös. The showroom has an area of 900 square meters and can display up to five cars. The unit has a dedicated service facility, a coffee bar and a customer configuration lounge where future Rolls-Royce owners can customize their cars through a variety of color, trim samples and options.


“The Middle East region continues to be an important driver in the global growth of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. Last year the region contributed over 15% of our global sales. Abu Dhabi is no exception and continues to demonstrate remarkable year on year growth,” commented the executive. Not surprisingly, 8 of the 82 Rolls-Royce dealerships that exist around the world are based in the Middle East. “The showroom opening in Abu Dhabi represents one of a line of new and expanded Rolls-Royce showrooms which have been unveiled throughout the Gulf region in the last 18 months. These investments underline the continuing confidence that the company sees in the Rolls-Royce brand across the Middle East,” added the CEO.

To mark the occasion, Rolls-Royce displayed a Spirit of Ecstasy Centenary Collection Phantom Drophead Coupé. The car belongs to a limited series of 100 units built to celebrate the centennial of the figurine that adorns all Rolls-Royce cars. Collection models come with design details such as special white-on-black double-R badge and the legendary figurine bathed in white light.