MFW Day 1

Working at MFW as an usher is an exciting job! ๐Ÿ™‚ Meeting guests and they serve even us helpers awesome dinner and desserts before the show. There was cold duck, chicken and salmon and salads. And I got to see Godfrey Tsao. He looks better irl. ๐Ÿ™‚ It was even more fun to work with my classmates and friends, Ser Li, Acelyn Bev and meeting Beatrice backstage!

We got to see the Hugo Boss show as well as Kim Choong Wilkins Showcase. The showcase was done in the Fashion Metropolis, an open area and about 12 models split into two parts with 1 model standing atop a revolving platform like a ken-doll for us to gawk at. The music was strong and tribal like in a korean/asian way.

We met ย our Fashion tutor Lionel and Fashion head Circe there to when they came to watch the showcase. ๐Ÿ˜€

MFW will inevitably be compared with AFF. In terms of prestige, it is more glamourous as it is tied up and held at MBS, a world class hotel. However in terms of management there is still a lot lacking in terms of co-ordination and job task allocation. Guess the team is still very new to all these as it’s the inaugural MFW and the first time the team is taking on such a huge endeavour! Hopefully things get better each day!

Gonna go submit the application forms for Venice Biennale! So many people ย know about us applying for it man! Hope we get it!

MFW Day 2 today! I’ll bring my camera to take photo of the venue and guests! Hehee.

The Fear of the Unexpected

I try to quote my sources under the captions. E.g. From Source: Title. Sometimes I forget my source, so no credits. My bad. I will take the photo down if I may have infringed on any copyrights.

I just tweeted about how I was semi-freaking out from my tutor’s email reply to an email notification that 3 classmates and I were going to miss his class due to volunteering at MFW. I think I freaked out cause I didn’t expect any complications might possible arise and I do not want to come across as a bother to my tutors and fashion head…

But that is the price you have to pay, sacrifices you have to make when you want to grab opportunities for experience and exposure. You will have to somehow impose on others, get out of your comfort zone from what is familiar, comfortable. To meeting problems, trouble-shooting and making right decisions fast.

The briefing for MFW was disorganized. Hopefully the team gets better with each day. Very happy that Bev, Ace and Ser joining me to help out at the event! And Beatrice also helping out as Backstage crew.

Going to pray for a smooth-sailing week.

Xx

Super Weekend & More

It’s been a wonderful weekend!

Saturday was spent at church; prayer meeting, YPM service followed by a round of Citadel with the boys after dinner. Citadel is so much fun! It’s always unexpected because you cannot predict what roles you will get and what choices others will make. So it’s a really spontaneous game and requires a lot of on the spot decision making!

Sunday saw me finally waking up on time for morning service after 7 failed weeks. Got like YA cell and the girls in Benji to pray for me, of course confirm wake up right! ๐Ÿ˜€ Then it was lunch at Er Jie, Yvonne, Angela and Pamela at Taiwan restaurant along Joo Chiat which was good! They served Oyster Meesua, Salted Crispy Chicken and Scallion Pancake (tastes like Prata) which exceeded by sensory expectations! Too bad didn’t take photos of the lunch!

In the evening I met up with 4ayers to celebrate Clinton’s bday! I had tons of fun with them! We had dinner at ION Orchard Asian kitchen. Must try their duck it’s really good, oily & cripsy. Then we headed towards Teo Heng Katong for singing session of a mix of sappy chinese ballads and english pop songs of Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and the old of Westlife and Backstreet Boys! Hehehe!

On Monday I brought my sisters with me to enjoy lunch at Ritz Carlton’s the Greenhouse with the vouchers gifted by Joanna for help I rendered for a card design last Christmas. I think it was a wonderful lunch! Lovely company and ambience and great tasting food with lots of savoury plus sweet food that pleases all palates! ๐Ÿ˜€

This week gna be a super fashionistic week with MFW happening right here in Singapore!

More to come!

Xx

Update: Photos, My sister is back & Moms Needs Mars Review!

Nothing much to update except for the news that my sister is back! & for the now pretty regular update of inspirational photos I source from everywhere.

In between Advertising and Marketing classes with Desmond, Bini, Kat & I went for lunch at PS, watched Mars Needs Moms (more on that later) and Watsons shopping. Teehee.

Mars Needs Moms is apparently a Disney movie-flop because they pumped a lot of money in but it is not a hit. Maybe because of the terrorizing idea of aliens stealing a kid’s mum just doesn’t make for a movie hit. Anyways I rate it 3.5/5 and it’s a funny, entertaining show that I think I would have enjoyed more as a kid. ๐Ÿ™‚ The ending reminded me of Avatar. Hee.

My sister brought back so many goodies from UK! Chocolates, KRISPY KREMES (3 BOXES), Absolut Vodka, Chocolate crusted pop rice. YUMMMMS~ I shall post pictures of them soon~

Shall go and do some work for Studio and Marketing projects! Ciaos~

Of Happier Days~

Images from all over the place. Notably, FashionToast, Modelina, Nylon Blog, Weibo, The Cut.

Very sleepy cause woke up earlier than usual (8am) to attending a programme review meeting. But I tweeted that I’d blog some good news so here it is as promised:

I feel happy, hopeful. The interview with Jackson from Phunk Studio went well today, I hope to be meeting them soon. Lucinda and Ling Ling agreed to write recommendation letters for Priscillia and me so we’re really excited and can’t wait to submit our applications for VB and keeping our hands clasped in prayer! Hehe.

Realised been moody and irritable these days cause of PMS. -.-

Steve Lawler from Kult came to share with us on Monday. You must check out his website here. I insist ok! He’s a creative director cum interactive media engineer. What with coding etc. Super cool la ! I think he can totally write his own game lorh.

Ok enough of the singlish and the gushing. Lol. And I, shall go sleep.

๐Ÿ™‚

Pictures: Lunch With Bini~

Posting some pretty pictures taken with Bini today. We had lunch after our last CCS lecture for the semester, at Angels themed cafe at Plaza Sing, outside Spotlight!

Umm getting a bit busy. Editing posters for YWCA Volunteers Award, application for Venice Biennale and interview with Phunk Studio tmr for the Transmission lab! I really hope Priscillia and I both get in for Venice Biennale internship!

Um I need to go edit stuff and go to sleep. Tmr programme review with the board 9am in the morning!!! I hope I can wake up on time!

xoxo

 

My God, what tough lessons you teach.

Tired camels.

Caveat: This one is really deep and spiritual and very personal. Don’t make assumptions about me, you or anyone after reading this. IF unclear, consult me, God, your pastor, my pastor. Once again, this blog is just a small percentage of my life, doesn’t represent my whole and I’m just feeling emo and very deep at this point of time. Take withย a pinchwhole lot of salt. Xx

The devotional material (Every Day with Jesus, One Year, Bread for the Journey) I’m currently reading really speaks to my heart about the current dark spiritual period I’m facing.

The devotion today talks about how darkness exists to develop character. I para-phrase from Oswald Chambers, “God can take a single moment to make a heart pure but it takes a lifetime to develop character.” Character is precious because of the struggles, the contradictions, the battles fought to obtain in. Amen.

My God has been speaking to me over the course of this dark times. More recently, also from devotion material, from a story of how a woman heard the spirit telling her during winter, “next summer’s apple’s are already on the tree”. I knew that it’s meant for me as well.

But, how do I put it across? I’m like at the end of my tank. Spiritually dry and burnt. It doesn’t help that I haven’t been attending Sunday services because 1. I don’t have the discipline. 2. This probably sounds like an excuse but I may not have people to accompany me so I’ll be alone & awkward. 3. Increasingly affected by the burdens I face that I willingly escape from.

Yet to be perfectly honest, even when I attended Sunday services (when I started to experience spiritual darkness) it wasn’t as though I was more spiritually refreshed by comparison.

There is a process but when it came to a point where I’d being more stoic and just less susceptible to crying / affected by whatever people said/commented/behaved, it seemed like no matter what I was hearing or reading from God, I was just cynical about it. Well, to be honest, I’m perhaps more stoic and cynical now.

I want to believe that “next summer’s apples are already on the tree”. I do believe. But I don’t. Simply because the current odds are too overwhelming for me. All I can see is how I am failing in my character. The pull from church is getter weaker and I am slowly drifting away…

So many nights I have chucked the thoughts I needed to sort, away from my mind. There are so many things Iย should be doing. But I am tired of doing. And I am doing the bare minimum. I keep asking God, why does this have to happen to me? It’s unfair. I’m tired (even after sleeping for 12 hours because I’m tired of facing things I don’t wanna face, I can sleep forever). Why can’t you just let me see the light at the end of the tunnel?

But no.

It’s as clear as day.

I need to buck up, pull up my socks. Ring an alarm, ask for help. Pray.

Stop avoid church and church people, make more friends. Pray for more church friends who are willing to stick it out with me. Support me, pray with me.

I guess why I bothered to post this is so that I will stop pushing these thoughts away from my mind and take action now.

I heard a message preached today that as Christians we are told to obey before understanding. Obey even if we don’t understand. Because in time to come it will all make sense. Faith in God, is after all believing in the things unseen.

I need to know that this will all work out. I want to stop behaving like an irresponsible coward. ย Its so tough man. It’s really easier to just cower back into my own room and sleep away the weekends.

I need to know God can help me through all these. That I will be stronger. That He is training my character. To have more faith. To be more virtuous.

I have my doubts. That these will be words alone. That I will continue to suffer this spiritual leprosy/lameness/lethargy forever on end.

:'(

Fashion’s IT Bags SS 2011

My Aunt asked me a few days back what the IT bags are nowadays. So I replied her that they are the Celine Luggage bag, Balenciaga Motorcycle bag, Mulberry Alexa Chung bag and for this particular Spring Summer 2011, LV art deco bags and Proenza Schouler bags are all the rage.

So I thought it’ll be cool to collate these bags for this SS 2011 season and maybe update every season. ๐Ÿ˜‰

In no order of merit.

Celine Luggage

Since early 2010, this french designer bag has made its way onto the arms of fashion editors and into the hearts of fashion lovers around the world. However I don’t share the same feelings with those who love this bag. Boxy bags just don’t cut it for me.

Balenciaga Motorcyle Bag

This ย bag is distinctive for its distressed leather look and metal “tooth-paste cover barrel” studs. It channels a rebellious and punk attitude for fashionistas who are in the know because it does not carry a brand/logo. This bag is a hit with me. ๐Ÿ˜‰ Balenciaga is a Spanish brand, a fact I had to google for myself as well!

Mulberry Alexa Bag

This bag is name after famous British fashion icon, Alexa Chung. Mulberry is known for being a luxury English brand and this classic looking bag has been all the rage since its introduction last year. Many replicas (some as low as $40) are already on the market. Imitation is after all, the best form of flattery. I really dig the braided design on the handle.

Mulberry Alexa from SS 2010.

I personally like the Alexa bag and have been watching it for a while now. Many new colours and textures are introduced with the new season and I really like the one above in its bright digital leopard print design.

Louis Vuitton Art Deco Bag SS 2011

When I saw this bag, it was an instant hit with me and I was surprised to know it was from LV as it’s so different from all the monogrammed bags they are so famous for. These bags go with the China-targeted collection. I simply love the harmony of the pop of fuchsia, gold and dark maroon coloured bag.

Proenza Schouler Bag

Proenza Schouler Bag for SS2011
The sturdiness, practicality of Proenza Schouler bag really appeals to me. The bright orange bag is really iconic of SS 2011.

Chloe Paraty Bag

It’s unique shape and comfort of use makes this Chloe Paraty bag a popular choice with many fashionistas.

Hermes Birkin – The BAG of all bags.

Although the Birkin bag isn’t an IT bag. I thought I needed to put it in for good measure. Hermes is a very prestigious French house that produces limited bags for very high prices. It’s supposedly THE bag all fashionistas aim for and can die happy when they finally get their hands on one. The waiting list for a bag is supposedly 3 years but hastened if you have connections. When you get to carry one, it either means you’re really famous, rich or both.

Now, that’s a lot of bags! Hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did writing it.

xoxo

Prayers for Japan

A beautiful nation, destroyed by the earthquake.
Scarring images of tsunami flooding the nation
Flooded the screens of TVs worldwide
And into our hearts.

Dear God, you can change the heart of men
Surely you can change the state of a nation.
Please keep the young and old, weak and frail
Strong and Healthy through this tough time.

Be Strong, Japan!
My prayers are with you.

In difficult times, we see the courage of men. In this tough times, we also witness the loyalty of a dog for his mate. They were thankfully rescued! ๐Ÿ™‚

The Purpose of Fashion

Just the other day I read this column from the Guardian website. Read it for yourself:

Apart from making a few individuals and companies obscenely rich, what purpose does fashion serve? – Pete, by email

Gosh, I don’t know, Pete. Maybe you could tell me what purpose sport serves other than making the very few obscenely rich and the masses fat and lazy from sitting all day watching pointless matches on TV? And I’ve always wondered, what’s the point of the film industry? Or art? Or fancy cars? Or anything, really, that’s not basic, boring and bland?

Obviously there’s no real purpose to fashion in the way there is a purpose to, say, water or the sun. But if one takes for granted that making life that little more enjoyable for those who like it is, in itself, a purpose, then I guess fashion does serve one. More of one for some of us than crummy cricket and flipping football; less of one for others. If you wish to go around town in a burlap sack or a beige boiler suit, by all means, boiler it up to the max. I could launch into some diatribe about fashion being a form of self-expression, art and commerce all combined in one unique form but I see no need for overcompensatory special pleading on fashion’s part. The purpose is the same as the purpose of Premier League football: to make some people very wealthy and to make others forget the pointlessness of existence for at least a few minutes a day. – Hadley Freeman

After reading it, I knew I had to make a stand for myself regarding the purpose of fashion, since I am in this very industry(or studying for it) myself. Yes, ostensibly fashion is very frivolous and seems to serve no real purpose other than the vanity of men and women. However there are many facets to fashion. There may be runway fashion collections that changes every 6 months with each season but there are also certain fashion styles that are classic and never die.

Fashion is a form of individual expression. Singaporeans may not realize this because we are generally a boring lot that grow up within high-rise buildings and grey concrete but the world is our oyster and we can dress to please ourselves, to brighten up our mood as well as others around us.

Fashion conveys attitudes and statuses. You are what you dress. Fashion serves to give you the power to dress to impress, or dress to be inconspicuous. It allows you to stand out from or blend in with the crowd.

Fashion is fantasy, joyful escapism and solid entertainment. The latest trends and vivid colours of fashionable clothes fill the pages of glossy magazines, television and websites. It pleases the eyes of girls who dream of a better life, open minds to different cultures and lifestyles, enriches.

Fashion is not only about enticing the rich to spend their wealth on the lastest “must have/IT” item. It serves the vanity and needs of the rich as well as the poor. Fashion is beauty and so much more. What’s there to not like about Fashion? ๐Ÿ™‚

Finance assessment today. Really thankful for my friends Bini and Kat. Revised the Revision paper with them yesterday and Bini called me this morning from my deep slumber or I’d have missed the class assessment altogether! I was pretty nervous about it as it’s the first Finance paper in my life and I only started revision yesterday. ๐Ÿ˜› But thank God it went well! I managed to balance the Trial Balance and it was really satisfying.

To remember “Asset + Expenses = Liabilities + Revenue + Capital”
just remember, “After Eating, Let’s Read Comics!” Works like a charm for me. ๐Ÿ˜€

My tutor encouraged me to sign up for Transmission Lab, an apprenticeship programme that culminates into an exhibition at the end of the year. I considered for a bit and decided to go for it so I took a while to get everything together and emailed them just now! I’m not sure how it’ll work out. I’ll be praying about it. ๐Ÿ™‚

My job search has ceased as of the moment. The two job interviews didn’t end with an offer, most likely because I am a full-time student. I need to brainstorm more on what I can possible offer that can give me a satisfactory pay.

xoxo

Living a FREE Life~~~

Hello friends!

Check out this video of my friend Jing Wei and myself; our heads bobbing in the air!

Life is good, school is slack. Not much work and having a lot of fun with Bini and friends!!!

God is good, I managed to present my CCS presentation smoothly for the level 1s and 2s! I was nervous and unwilling to present for the level 2s but they were welcoming (with much thanks to my tutor, Lucinda) and it was quite a fun and happy experience for me to share my work! ๐Ÿ™‚

Google reader is a really really good website/programme! I know I have been singing praises about it, if you don’t already subscribe to one, go do so now! It collects all your web subscriptions to one fine place and you can star and save your favourite articles for keeps! Through this programme, I have also been able to keep track of the really fine websites and they recommend other excellent websites of similar interest! So I have been able to be in the loop for all the fashion business related news. ๐Ÿ™‚

So partly because of the news I read on google reader, I came across 2 websites, CLSA and LuxurySociety (already know this one back when I was researching for my Studio project) and I downloaded a few very informative and excellent analytic periodicals about the asian markets and rising markets. Reading the periodicals and being in a fashion management programme myself, I feel very inspired to start an International Luxury Brand Management school for asia markets! I have no idea how I am going to do that but this is my ambition! (In addition to my other ambition of being a business manager.) Ideally I will start work for a few years and find an opportunity to meet industry experts and business partners who are keen to start a school to train business managers for luxury brands in the asian market.

I just signed up for a weibo ๅพฎๅš account, it’s like the China’s equivalent of twitter except it seems more developed! You can search and follow me: ENATEO! ๐Ÿ™‚

Ok doks, goodnight folks!

Life is but a high school drama


Images from The Satoralist, Garance Dore & My Facebook. ๐Ÿ˜‰

I have so many things going on in head right now.

1. A bit of drama going on in my class right now.
2. I enjoy reading 100+ accumulated google reader posts
3. Which leads to my point that my interests are fashion and business – particularly branding.
4. Which leads to another point that high end fashion brands don’t really interest me. It’s the aspirational branding that interests me, the kind of high quality style and lifestyle that the brands inspire that interests me.

Basically I think that some pretty dramatic high school calibre drama is unfolding in my class which previously involved a certain few people who didn’t appear in class and hence didn’t do their work to the woe of their project group partners. I don’t want to name names here and before I go into details about the drama I think it’s important to know that everyone is right in their own eyes and when there is a conflict, usually both parties are at fault and both will have to compromise and change should they want to restore the relationship. It takes two to clap, no matter how much one party hope things to change it won’t if the other party doesn’t tango, so to speak.

So basically there are two close friends in class, I’ll call them A & B. Some drama happened between the two of them, but A didn’t know. A felt something wasn’t right with them when B was treating her coldly. Then A found out B has been bitching about her behind her back she’s hurt and upset and also can’t really be bothered to talk things through especially since A seems to still be avoiding her.

My 2 cents: It is NOT ok to bitch about your close friends to people you are not close to, i.e. regular classmates. It is hurtful and damaging to the relationship and you should totally talk things through with the said close friend and not avoid her.

And of course, I strongly encourage A to talk things through with B and give their friendship another shot… But it’s really all up to A & B.

I want to have a peaceful college life and I don’t want to be involved in any dramas and I personally empathize with A because it really sucks to fall out with close friend in school (from my experience last year) and besides she also have some personal issues to deal with at the same time. But in a way it’s also good because from this drama, she can see (cheesy phrase) the true colour of B and also it will make her stronger for the (what people always say) REAL world out there.

You want to know something?

The REAL world is now. There is no such thing as the REAL world. The REAL world is but a world of high school kids masquerading in suits and dresses. One thing I have learnt is that you can’t expect adults to behave like one just because they look like one. And I digress, I hope I will slowly become a mature and responsible adult. And that is what parents need to teach their kids.. not just with mere words but in action and lifestyle as well.

I digressed. So going back to my other points, I was reading my 100+ google posts and I realize that so far I have been subscribing to a lot of fashion and marketing news and reading these updated information makes me happy.

And as I skim and pause on certain posts, I realize that apart from fashion business news, I linger and read in depth on news that covers on branding. And this is possibly due to my interest in graphic design and how that builds and reinforces identity branding. It is fascinating to me how corporations use symbols/text/graphic to brand their products and organization and how good identity branding translates their values to their users and supporters. Successful branding will even draw crowds to their products because of the additional or elevated prestige and status it conveys. Amazing.

As of the moment, I am not captivated or blown away by top luxury/fashion brands. Neither do I feel a great urge or need to obtain on of those IT bags. I don’t feel I need things to fulfill my life. What I like however and day dream about is a certain type of clothes and lifestyle that some top brands convey. Brands like Ralph Lauren and Burberry for example. That laid-back smart casual attire that channels the sophisticated lifestyle you would expect the intellectual rich to have. So yes, I don’t dream for the next IT bag but I dream for a sophisticate lifestyle.

And I guess that’s what branding is all about, for those who can afford it to buy it, for those who cant, to lust after it until they can. Right now I think that these big brands runway trendy items are but a waste of money and just fancy ways for you to spend precious money on to satisfy needs that marketers have created for their own pockets.

I love to blog especially when other things await

I met up with YJ the other day, after I met up with 4A friends to shop for Val’s gift, so we met up at Bras Basah for tea & chat. The main reason I wanted to meet up with him was to ask why when they went for an overseas trip last year they didn’t ask me along.

The answer was simple cause they had forgotten, supposedly with a few other names, whom I didnt ask. I was disappointed when I heard that. He said sorry and I told him I don’t want him to say sorry, that’s why I also took some time to ask, after all these months cause I didnt want our friendships (not just with YJ) to sour, so to speak. I didn’t want to be difficult, to seem demanding.

Well, if they really cared about me, they wouldn’t have forgotten. And let’s say even when they have forgotten, if they still cared, they would have initiated to say they’re sorry. But they didnt, to me an apology is but a formality in that sense. Not that I don’t accept YJ’s apology, I do, and I still treasure all of them as friends.

But I guess I’m just not much of a friend to them as I thought they were to me.

Life is good (apart from certain things I only worry about). I had my 1 week of holiday/”fake” project week cause all our projects were due before the break. And I have watched so many movies in 2 weeks, the number I usually watch in half a year.

They are: 127, I am Number 4, Taken, Beauty & The Briefcase, Love’s Enduring Promise, Flipped, Life As You Know It.

I like I am Number 4 and Flipped best. Go watch them if you haven!

I also want to watch: Black Swan, True Grit and The King’s Speech. Friends recommendation!

Staying over at Bini’s was fun. It was surreal sleeping over at her house cause of the fantastic view from her place. You get to see Orchard road and as far as Marina Bay Sand and Esplanade, pretty!

I am quite satisfied with the poster I submitted for V&P, put in a few days and night worth of effort into the research file and poster (half a night). Will take photos and upload when I get it back! My poster is kind of 3D. Haha.

I wrote a whole lot of things that I deleted cause it’s just be rambling and I didn’t want people to assume things that I am not. So… it was good to just let it out though. Though you don’t get to read it. Haha. Who read this blog anyway. Not the people I am talking about. Haha.

Alright. Bye! ๐Ÿ™‚