Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2022 i Her World Singapore

EDITOR’S NOTE Christmas is my absolute favourite time of the year. Between the festive feasting, gift giving and catching up with family and friends, I always look forward to a joyous month. But here’s one petty confession I have to make: My birthday is also in December, which means any celebrations are a by-the-way at festive get-togethers, and any presents (if any!) are often a two-in-one deal. Growing up, I always felt sad about this, and have commiserated with other December babies who feel exactly the same way. Ironically, as an adult with a seemingly never-ending to-do list, these combined celebrations just make sense. I’ve also come to appreciate the fact that friends always remember when my birthday is since it’s so close to Christmas. That’s gotta count, right? Well,…

It is 8pm and Chen Yixin has just finished a 12-hour day of filming for the second season of Titoudao, an English language period series. Dressed in a simple white tank top and looking surprisingly refreshed, she takes our video call in the back seat of the car as her mother, Singapore actor Xiang Yun, drives her home. There are no complaints about how hard the day had been, even though Yixin plays a physically scarred character whose makeup has been causing outbreaks on her sensitive skin. She breaks into a smile as we chat, and there’s a note of positivity in her voice. When I thank her for making time despite her packed schedule, she starts off brightly: “It’s been a long day, but we ended off on a…

One of the highlights of the festive season has to be the range of holiday beauty products in store. Besides being gorgeous and fun to use, they come in soiree-worthy cases that don’t require gift wrap, so it’s one less thing for you to check off your list. M.A.C A Taste of Matte Lipsticks, Destined for Stardom, $99 M.A.C welcomes the festive season with brand-new sparkling shades and glitzy products. This holiday-exclusive lip kit contains full-sized Matte Lipstick and Retro Matte Lipstick in five limited edition shades and a best-selling shade “wave”. They come in a keepsake box that doubles as a party-ready clutch. Available at M.A.C stores, and online at Lazada, Sephora, Tangs and Metro Dior Rouge Dior Minaudiere, $350 Dior’s holiday collection transports us to the Chateau de…

There are no rules when it comes to applying your favourite lip colour, but different application techniques and applicators can make a difference in the colour pay-off you get. According to makeup artist Larry Yeo, the real reason for the way your applicator is shaped – bullet, rounded tip, doe-foot or crayon – is dependent on the formula of the lipstick, gloss or tint. The more emollient the product is (think balms and glosses), the more encased it needs to be. This explains why you tend to get liquid lippies, tints and glosses in barrel cases or tubes. To help you navigate the ways of applying your favourite type of lip product, we asked Larry for expert tips on how to get the best colour payoff, and what you should…

BEAUTY & THE BEAST Rather than using stark charcoal grey and black eyeshadows, opt for softer colours like an orange-brown and copper to create this Belle-inspired, subtle smoky eye look. Rimming your lower lash line with a shimmery gold shadow helps to create that bright-eyed look. We love it – especially when paired with a barely there salmon pink lip. Teaming this look with a sparkly yellow party dress isn’t compulsory, but it’s definitely encouraged. SNOW WHITE A punchy red lip is usually the star of the show, and many advise against sporting bold blush with a bright lip, but as the “fairest of them all”, Snow White has long subverted this rule. Recreate her look by applying a blue-based red lipstick with a lip brush, followed by a generous…

It all begins innocuously enough. Malini* was at a party when an older family friend learnt that she was in graduate school studying poetry, and was interested in writing about the postcolonial experience and immigration. Says the writer and editor: “He started to lecture me about postcolonial poetry, even though I was well-versed in the topic. I entertained it patiently, but sort of started second guessing what I knew. “Nice guy, well-intentioned, but like most men, so sure of their expertise in everything.” Sabrina*, a bird-watching enthusiast in her early 30s, would empathise. She was on one of her solo birding trips at the Singapore Botanic Gardens when she was accosted by an “uncle” in his fifties, who decided she needed some unsolicited advice. “Here I am, waiting for a…

A fashion fad of the early noughties, cargo trousers lost its appeal (and street cred) for about two decades – until now. Thanks to popular e-commerce platforms like Depop, and pop culture’s ongoing obsession with Y2K trends, this functional pair of work trousers – originally designed for the British army in 1938 to hold necessities in large utility pockets – has emerged again from the annexes of history. The appeal of cargo trousers in the ’90s and 2000s could be attributed to the rise of female R&B and pop groups such as TLC and the Spice Girls, who stood out with their unique personalities – these icons were often seen in cargo trousers and tank tops. Not only did it signal a strong shift into unisex fashion, it was also…

STYLE TIP: Give jean pairings a feminine and eclectic spin with a classic cotton shirt rendered in crafty broderie anglaise. STYLE TIP: A metallic handbag gives athleisure-inspired separates a posh upgrade. STYLE TIP: An oversized silhouette looks more elegant when paired with Coco Chanel’s favourite style of hat -the boater. STYLE TIP: Go ahead and clash colourful patterns, but keep to at least two or three consistent colours. STYLE TIP: When in doubt, a monotone two-piece tailored ensemble (with khaki as the colour of choice) is always a winner. STYLE TIP: Nothing says effortless and expensive like a simple slip dress decorated with pops of sleek gold jewellery. STYLE TIP: Swop your party LBD for a utilitarian lace jumpsuit. STYLE TIP: Leatherdressing the Gen-Z way is all about working your…

1. Stephen Knoll Madison Ave & 58th Multi Stick Balm, $19.90 Great for taming stray strands without weighing down hair. Glide the stick directly over your tresses to keep floating hairs in check, or apply it on a brush before combing through your locks. For textured strands, rub it between your palms to warm it up before working it into your hair. 2. Paula’s Choice C5 Super Boost Eye Cream, $59 Look well-rested and bright-eyed with the newest addition to Paula’s Choice’s popular vitamin C-infused C5 Super Boost range. It’s powered with vitamin C, antioxidant-rich ginger extract (zerumbone) and peptides to refresh puffy peepers. This lightweight formula also benefits from a shot of hyaluronic acid to deeply moisturise the skin. 3. Anastasia Beverly Hills Mini Glam To Go Palette, $51…

With inflation and a possible recession on the horizon, it looks like things are not getting any less expensive soon. So, scoring a great deal online for your cosmetics seems like a smart thing to do, right? Well, it may seem like the best deal (at the time), but really, if it’s too good to be true, it most probably is. Broken, an investigative Netflix series, showcases how consumerism has caused deceitful practices in the marketplace. The show starts with how counterfeit makeup thrives – even if its ingredients can cause great harm. WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR Seasoned shoppers who are familiar with the brand will find it easier to spot a fake product. But when you’re shopping online or making a group buy purchase, how does one tell?…

for most of her adult life, Rachel Ong has dedicated herself to helping the less fortunate and people from disadvantaged groups who need guidance and support. So, it’s not surprising to learn that she started a youth development initiative called Trybe in her late 20s, and in 2007, a learning and consulting company called Rohei. Two years ago, she was elected Member of Parliament (MP), representing the Telok Blangah ward of West Coast GRC. In 2021, she started the Telok Blangah Mentoring Club, for 10-to-17-year-olds in her ward. Empathy and kindness are at the centre of everything that Rachel does. And the 50-year-old believes that we are all capable of making a positive difference in our community, and that you don’t need to serve in government or start a charity…

Michelle Coulson has been working remotely from Bali, Indonesia, for the last couple of years. Prior to the pandemic, the in-house recruiter was based in London, but Michelle decided that she wanted the freedom and flexibility to explore the world. At the time, she already had a four-day remote-work arrangement with her company, but she felt it wasn’t enough. In 2020, the 36-year-old journeyed through Spain and Portugal in her motorhome before making her way to Bali, where she intended to stay for just two months. Her company soon called her back to London, but by that point, Michelle had already built a life for herself in Bali, and enjoyed how working remotely had allowed her to forge many new connections in co-working spaces, cafes and guest-houses. And so she…

As diplomats, we embrace change as a constant, and find beauty in the rhythm of change. When posted overseas, we might experience a range of emotions – everything from excitement to the feeling of being overwhelmed. But it is the year-end season when homesickness often hits the hardest. What I miss most is the warmth and company of loved ones during Christmas dinner, and savouring my mother’s exquisite fruit cake. Missing home is part of the terrain we navigate. However, nothing prepared us for the intensity of homesickness when border control measures were enforced during the pandemic in 2020. I was based in New York then, and I vividly recall the anxiety I felt as flights were suspended, and we faced diminishing connectivity with Singapore. At work, we were going…

HEART LEATHER CROSS-BODY BAG, $595, COACH “This fun heart-shaped purse is the ultimate eye-catcher. It makes a statement while fitting all of your essentials, minus the bulk of a bigger bag. Love.” – LETTY SEAH, ASSOCIATE BEAUTY EDITOR DIORODEO LARGE BRIM STRAW HAT WITH GROSGRAIN RIBBON, $1,650, DIOR “I’m manifesting a leisurely summer holiday along the French Riviera in 2023 with this chic hat.” – ELIZABETH LEE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF GOLD VERMEIL JADE RING, $466, LOREN STEWART AT FARFETCH.COM “What (the other) Cheryl said.” – CHERYL CHAN, DIGITAL EDITOR NARS STARGAZE EYESHADOW PALETTE, $90 “This limited edition eyeshadow palette has been on my wife’s wish list since its release. Guess what I’ll be surprising her with this Christmas?” – RAY TICSAY, SENIOR ART DIRECTOR CRYSTAL STUDDED IPHONE 12/12 PRO CASE, PRADA “What’s…

As my style is so minimalist, a simple addition, such as a gold bangle or sunglasses, makes a big difference to my outfit. Less is always more.” There’s a certain presence that ballerinas command on and off the stage, and 34-year-old Alison Carroll embodies it perfectly. From the way she dresses to how she carries herself with elegance, the former dancer radiates poise and confidence. But this presence was not something that came instinctively to her. Alison, who has been dancing since the age of four, honed her grace through years of rigorous training. Born in Gibraltar, Alison – who is British-Chinese – moved to Singapore at the age of seven, and eventually secured herself a scholarship from the National Arts Council. She then pursued professional ballet training at the…

DAYTIME DRAMA All you need to transform a simple outfit is a timepiece with a mother-of-pearl watch face. FEELING EXTRA For a truly unconventional choice, opt for a tonneau (barrel-shaped) watch, which is designed to contour the wrist. NIGHT WATCH The moonphase complication, which displays the current phase of the moon, adds a sophisticated touch to an evening timepiece.…

TO KNOW When the trend resurfaced in the ’20s and ’30s, it was skinny but dramatically arched- Cheryl Ow, makeup artist Not going to lie. When I heard that skinny brows were back in style, I raised my full, HD microbladed brows in terror, and wondered how they would fit in. I had witnessed the peak of the trend during the Nineties and Noughties. And let’s just say it took rounds of grooming sessions at eyebrow specialist Browhaus – and years of patience – to have my brows look the way they do now. But just as I thought I had put skinny brows to bed, they have now wriggled their way back into my life. Today, we are seeing the look on Gen Z celebrities like rapper Doja Cat,…

Hosting a year-end bash, but not sure where to start? Event planner Lamya Bhatri Ebrahim, founder of House of Happy, tells us how to make it a party to remember. How can I make my Christmas party a memorable celebration? It is easier and more visually impactful to decorate a smaller area of your living space, rather than have bits and bobs all over the place. Find a nook or corner and focus on that area. Keep the dining table as the focal point as this means you won’t block off precious floor space. A well-set table will elevate your party by several notches, and it is honestly not hard to execute. Pick a colour palette that works with your home, and add complementary Christmas themed accessories to match. Everything…