Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2021 i Her World Singapore

As kids, it was drilled into us that when we grew up, we would have this or that job, and we would grow old in that career. That was what I thought when I became a magazine journalist at 20. Then I turned 30, and started a floristry side hustle while juggling my full-time job as a fashion news editor for a year and a half, before taking the leap to focus solely on my business. I was scared. Writing for magazines was all I knew. Even though my business was consistent enough to assure a lucrative income, it was still scary – simply because being a florist and entrepreneur at the same time was new and foreign. Looking back, there was not a single moment when I regretted taking…

Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth – these five phases represent the fundamental elements of the universe, according to ancient Chinese philosophy, and striking a balance between them is key. Taiwanese designer Peng Tai is a firm believer, and he has structured his eponymous label based on this. “Once the elements run evenly, the world will operate in the right direction,” he says. The core of Peng Tai lies in the balance between nature and humans. “In ancient China, our ancestors had this idea too – it is all about balance. We put the idea into the process of making garments,” says Peng, who graduated from the London College of Fashion with a master’s degree in menswear in 2017. “Metal is for sewing, water is for washing, and fire is…

On being inspired by Panerai’s brand philosophy I’m curious, and Panerai is known for being a pioneering brand that’s always exploring new territories. Being a female leader at a traditionally masculine brand Sometimes it can be hard, but it’s important to be strict and straight in order to mark the territory. On the other hand, it’s crucial to show empathy and transparency with everyone, which are the most important aspects if you want to create a positive environment. On leadership You make the difference if you have a clear vision, and you make decisions. It’s all about attitude and approach. On Panerai’s first women’s timepiece Panerai will continue to stick to its DNA, which is linked to the masculine universe, but we know that women like Panerai, both in terms…

Whether it’s dark circles or fine lines, your eyes can be the windows to your soul – or a dead giveaway of too many late nights. Clarins comes to the rescue with the launch of its Double Serum Eye. A spin-off of its Double Serum, it is everything the global bestseller is, but for the eyes. It all started when the brand heard that women were using the Double Serum on their eyes to get similar lifting and firming results. Researchers then set out to work on a formula more suitable for the eye area – and the Double Serum Eye was born. The eye serum works like its bigger sibling: It’s housed in a bottle that holds both vials of serums, encased in two separate chambers to preserve the…

WOMEN STILL WANT TO WEAR LIPSTICK “I asked myself, ‘What do women expect from makeup now that they have to wear masks?’ We could add more skincare benefits, but I know there are women who still like to have colour on their lips and the feel of a lipstick. The pandemic forced us to think differently and use our expertise to develop products that will fulfil the desires of women who love beauty.” THERE WILL BE MORE FOCUS ON CARE ELEMENTS “At Dior, we were already infusing more care elements into our makeup. This gave us a big base of research on skincare ingredients to draw on. We had already been working on the Rouge Dior Natural Balms – the pandemic just turned it into a priority.” TINTED LIP BALMS…

Philosophy Nature In A Jar Skin Reset Serum with Bakuchiol (30ml), $82 The serum is packed with AHAs, antioxidants, olive leaf extract and bakuchiol to reset skin to its natural state, tackling dullness, fine lines and other signs of ageing. Available at Sephora and Philosophy Ania Prickly Retinol Serum (30ml), $149 This gentle serum contains Moroccan prickly pear seed oil that provides intense hydration, plus bakuchiol and PHAs to stimulate collagen production and improve skin texture and tone. Smooth it over cleansed and toned skin before moisturiser. Available at Aniaskincare.com Bybi Beauty Bakuchiol Booster (15ml), $23 The booster is a natural oil blend aimed at softening and smoothing wrinkles. Bakuchiol stimulates collagen production, while olive squalane keeps skin hydrated. It augments your current skincare too – just add a few…

LYN NG, 29 FROM MARKETING TO WOODWORKING Muyu.co SOON AFTER GRADUATING FROM UNIVERSITY, LYN FOUND A JOB IN MARKETING. SHE REALISED SHE NEEDED HELP WHEN SHE WORKED FROM 9AM TO 3AM FOR TWO WEEKS STRAIGHT. “I talked to my manager, who simply said, ‘If you have the passion for something, you will make sacrifices for it.’ It dawned on me then that I didn’t want a desk-bound job,” she recalls. To prepare for her next career move, Lyn made a list of what she’d wanted to try. Two things stood out – take a gap year and live overseas, and pick up a new hobby from scratch. “It was around then that I wanted to make a wooden headboard for my bed, but realised I didn’t know how to, so…

Nourishing soup is a primal memory for many, including Bella Koh, #HerWorldTribe member and the wellness practitioner behind Slowhouse (theslowhouse.co). She recently started selling fresh-cooked soups (prices start from $25 for a bowl of fish maw soup), with recipes inspired by those her grandmother made for the family. “She would cook a Peranakan-style fish maw and pork intestines soup that we savoured every festive season,” Bella recalls. “In Hong Kong, for instance, Cantonese soup is a daily ritual, but it isn’t so here. Nothing much comes to mind when you talk about iconic soups in Singapore.” Bella’s version is tweaked for a healthier lifestyle. Based on a clear-style dashi instead of pork, it includes plenty of fish maw, tofu and vegetables. Its popularity took her by surprise, with fans clamouring…

My boyfriend and I have been dating for a decade. We’re approaching our 30s and he still hasn’t proposed. Should I start dropping hints? Don’t lie; you’ve started dropping hints. If you haven’t, then yes, it is time to drop some mega hints. How about a cake that says, “Why aren’t we married?” or “In Victorian England, we’d be dead by now and we’re not even hitched!”? If sugarcoating isn’t your style, talk to him. You’ve been together long enough, so you need to know where this is going. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t want marriage. Did you know that male lions sometimes sit in the shade and won’t even kill a gazelle right in front of them? He’s probably happy in the relationship, but needs a little nudge to…

It’s the start of the FW ’21 season, so why not go all out with the glitz and glam of glittery accessories? It makes a great addition to a simple monochromatic look or girly pastel dress, injecting a bit of contrast to an otherwise plain ensemble. Besides, a jolt of something shiny is definitely much needed after months of casual loungewear. Yes, it’s time to have fun with fashion.…

Growing up, Hanya Seah was inspired by WWF American pro wrestler Lita. “She wasn’t just another pretty face or a trophy valet. She had a distinctive Y2K, punk, loud, masculine tomboy style that went against the stereotypical WWF vision for women wrestlers. She wasn’t afraid to stand up to the guys,” she says. “Her attitude and style really resonated with me as a kid, and it definitely played a huge part in shaping who I am today,” shares Hanya, who is the co-founder of jewellery brand Chez G (www. instagram.com/ chezgrillz) and a content curator (@hanyaseah). Her Instagram feed reflects that carefree and rebellious spirit – think 2000s-inspired outfits with lots of cute colours and a play on textures. Still, she acknowledges that her style is constantly evolving and influenced…

Reportedly the fifth sample of scent that Gabrielle Chanel received from perfumer Ernest Beaux, the Chanel No. 5 perfume celebrates its centennial anniversary with a bold new jewellery collection. Inspired by the beloved scent, the No. 5 fine jewellery range includes designs such as a single drop of perfume and the outline of the signature bottle in a classic combination of diamonds and white gold. The French maison also pays tribute to Mademoiselle Chanel’s favourite number: five. Her star sign Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, and she famously believed that the number brought her luck. Here, the numeral is paved with diamonds and designed like a ribbon with seductive curves. One glance at the detailed craftsmanship and dazzling rocks, and you can almost smell the familiar intoxicating…

1. MT Metatron MT Prominent Essence, $167.90 The star product of the Japanese brand’s whitening line, this essence contains a vitamin C derivative that is rich in antioxidants, and has high stability and permeability. This variant penetrates our skin 10 times faster than other vitamin C derivatives, and helps to moisturise, balance sebum secretion and fight inflammation. Despite its thicker consistency, it absorbs quickly. After three weeks of use, my skin looks more translucent than usual. Available at Isetan 2. Guerlain Abeille Royal Advanced Youth Watery Oil, $145 I’ve always found facial oils to be too cloying, and dislike that “greasy pan” feeling – but this is a game changer. This silky formula absorbs quickly sans greasiness, and keeps skin hydrated through the night. My other favourite part is the…

It seems that we’re all gravitating towards a more natural beauty look with more time spent at home. After all, “skinmalism” (going back to basics with a more streamlined approach to skincare and makeup) did emerge as the beauty trend of 2021. We still want to look like ourselves, but just on a really, really good day. Already, we’ve seen a preference for lightweight face tints over heavy foundations. Since we’re cutting back on foundation, it makes sense that we want to do the same for the rest of our makeup routine. This explains why soft sculpting – a more subtle, light-handed take on traditional contouring – is taking off. Don’t get us wrong. We still want our cheekbones to look snatched; we just don’t want the streaks, smudges and…

Dubbed the next best alternative to Botox, microneedling patches have been said to work on fine lines, wrinkles, stubborn acne and even pigmentation spots. The inspiration? The microneedling treatments you get at the doctor’s office. According to Dr Coni Liu, dermatologist at DS Skin & Wellness Clinic, microneedling involves using very fine short needles to penetrate skin, to enhance the absorption of skincare products and stimulate collagen production. HOW DO THEY WORK? “The skin is a barrier that keeps external elements out to protect itself against irritation. This also means when a skincare product is applied, only a percentage of that product is actually absorbed,” says Dr Yannis Alexandrides, founder of skincare brand 111Skin. And that’s exactly what makes microneedling patches so ingenious. Similar to the microneedling treatments you get…

For a divorce to be granted in Singapore, you have to prove that the marriage has irretrievably broken down. Options include adultery, unreasonable behaviour, and desertion, as well as separation (three years with consent, and four years without consent). Usually, one party initiates the proceedings as plaintiff, and the other becomes the defendant. So despite having essentially agreed on the divorce, they inevitably get set up as opponents, with one perceived as the perpetrator, and the other as victim. Jasmine* filed for divorce after catching her husband in bed with his colleague one evening – she’d wanted to surprise him during his business trip to Kuala Lumpur. While he acknowledged the affair, he wanted custody of their three kids and the matrimonial home. Disappointed and outraged, the 45-year-old real estate…

We find out from Ma Chea Yee, a dietitian from Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Collagen is a popular ingredient in soups and has been touted for its health benefits. What exactly is collagen? Collagen is a type of protein that is most abundant in the body. It acts as a connective tissue to hold various structures together, such as skin, joints, ligaments, heart, muscles and bones. There are different types of collagen. Type I provides structure to skin and bones; Type II is found in cartilage for healthy joints; and Type III provides structure to muscles and organs. Does our body produce less collagen as we age? Collagen depletion is unavoidable as part of the ageing process. But we can help slow it down by getting adequate ultraviolet (UV) protection,…

Blast fat with cold temperatures Sometimes, diet and exercise aren’t enough to get rid of fat in certain areas of our bodies. These are known as “stubborn fat”, where the underlying fat cells are super resilient to your efforts at reducing them. At Mode Aesthetics, you can get a little help with fat freezing treatments ($68 for one session, $128 for two sessions), which are non-surgical and noninvasive alternatives to remove excess fat. Using cooling plates, specific areas of the body are cooled to a temperature that encourages cryolipolysis (a process where fat cells gradually die and are eliminated from your body by your immune system) for about an hour. According to the clinic, results are visible two months after the treatment, and will continue to improve for up to…

Throughout fashion history, runway trends have always reacted to the times. So what does it say when the FW 2021 collections offer a big dose of opposites and fashion paradoxes? We see designers introducing extreme silhouettes and layering multitudes of textures. Then there’s the utter devotion to nude tonal play, or a particular colour scheme. Virginie Viard at Chanel and Anthony Vaccarello at Saint Laurent opted to tell the story through the hedonistic side of fashion, while Nicolas Ghesquiere at Louis Vuitton took inspiration from the everyday. At Gucci, Alessandro Michele made a splash by collaborating with Demna Gvasalia of Balenciaga for its 100th anniversary. This season, in their constant endeavour to explore and reinvent fashion, designers ended up showcasing a wide variety of choices for us to pick from.…

1. STORE UNDA (WWW. STOREUNDA.COM) “Feminine sophistication with a touch of edgy detailing. Designer Valerie Wang’s designs are unique and different from what our other local e-commerce labels offer.” 2. PLAYHOOD (WWW. PLAYHOOD.NET) “Playhood stands out boldly for its playful grunge and Y2K aesthetic. Designer Sarah Lai illustrates and executes her floral designs on satin Hawaiian shirts, board shorts, bucket hats, T-shirts and more, including a full range of knitwear recently. She’s also doing a range of baguette bags with her illustrations. I don’t think there’s another local brand that’s as experimental in pushing illustration design boundaries.” 3. BUTTER.SG (WWW. BUTTER.SG) “My favourite local activewear/athleisure brand for its functional and stylish sets. It knows exactly how active millennials and Gen Zs want to look when working out.”…

It’s seen everywhere – on necklaces, rings, belt buckles, and even watches. Indeed, the camellia is truly the flower of CHANEL. The late Karl Lagerfeld even created a wedding dress that was adorned with 2,500 handmade white camellias as the finale for the brand’s FW ’05/’06 collection. A favourite of founder Gabrielle Chanel, it was said to be the first flower that her lover and muse Arthur “Boy” Capel gave her. She was often seen with it on her button lapel, as the scentless flower did not clash with her signature N° 5 perfume. So, it was only natural that CHANEL’s Research team turned to the camellia for inspiration. Uncovering The Secrets Of The Bloom In 1998, CHANEL started a project with international camellia expert Jean Thoby to research the…

Retinol may have cemented its status as the gold standard for improving skin, but if you have reactive and sensitive skin, it’s likely to cause stinging, redness and further irritation. This is where bakuchiol, a botanical extract from the babchi plant, which is native to India, comes in. Used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese healing methods, bakuchiol (say bahkoo-chee-ol), is known to calm and soothe skin with its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. On its own, bakuchiol has been found to show similar results to retinol in reducing hyperpigmentation and wrinkles. In fact, the British Association of Dermatologists conducted a 12-week double-blind study in 2018, where participants applied either bakuchiol or retinol at 0.5 per cent strength. Neither the participants nor researchers knew which ingredient the former received. While both groups…

For Bebe, Cru is about putting together a community, so she makes it a point to interview all prospective trainers herself. “We have an open, warm environment where people generally feel comfortable talking to the person next to them,” she says. “I want to know that they will fit into our culture.” DETERMINE THE CHEMISTRY “I can't imagine someone being a part of my team if we’re of different frequencies. If the conversation between us flows easily, she’ll probably also get along with my siblings and the rest of the instructors – now that is important.” FIND OUT HIS OTHER INTERESTS “We encourage mastering different things. I became a better spinning instructor after becoming certified to teach boxing, and a better boxing instructor after becoming certified to teach yoga. The…

6,959 number of divorces or annulments in 2020, which marked the LOWEST number of marital dissolutions since 2006. WOMEN initiated most divorces in 2020 63.1% (civil) and 72.2% (Muslim) 39.5 median age at divorce for women 43.2 median age at divorce for men 10.4 years median duration of marriage among divorces At 29.4%, marriages of between five and nine years made up the largest proportion of divorces. The most common ground was UNREASONABLE BEHAVIOUR, which accounted for 2,693 civil divorces SOURCE: SINGAPORE DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS, STATISTICS ON MARRIAGES AND DIVORCES, 2020…

1 Take frequent visual breaks Every 20 minutes, look at something 6m away for 20 seconds or more. This helps to relax the focusing muscles in our eyes and prevent onset of eye strain. 2 Moisturise with lubricant Lubricating your eyes with natural tears can help rejuvenate them and replenish tears, making them less fatigued. 3 Make a conscious effort to blink fully and frequently It has been shown that blinking decreases significantly with computer use. Blinking is important as it helps spread the tear film and moisten the surface of our eyes. Not blinking enough or completely will cause increased tear evaporation and lead to dry eye symptoms. 4 Maintain your screen level 20 degrees below eye level It should also be at least an arm’s length away from…

By the age of 28, most women in Singapore would have gotten hitched, according to Statistics on Marriages and Divorces, 2020 by the Department of Statistics. So, if she’s not married (or planning to marry) by then, a woman is very often made to feel like she’s “left on the shelf”. As someone who got married at 32, I find this really disturbing and disappointing: Why should a woman’s self-worth be tied to her marital status? I think it’s more important to find out why a woman wants to be married. Does it reflect one’s attractiveness, desirability and value (and the implied lack thereof, if single)? Does it express a wish to conform, especially in a world where most are coupled up and the thought of being alone can be…

Making its debut at artistic director Kim Jones’ first ready-to-wear show for the Italian fashion label earlier this year, the aptly named Fendi First is an instant classic that seems destined to garner a cult following, joining the ranks of the brand’s signature Peekaboo and Sunshine Shopper. Paying homage to the legacy of the house, the minimalist tone-on-tone bag features a graphic tilted F-shaped snap clasp that makes it instantly recognisable, with an internal compartment lined in the iconic FF motif. It’s versatile too: Carry it by hand as a clutch, or wear it on the shoulder with the foldable hooks and detachable shoulder strap. And the fun doesn’t end there. The bag is available in multiple variations – flannel, leather, wool, python and mink – and in timeless shades…