Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2024 i Her World Singapore

As a child, I was frequently praised by adults for being a “good, quiet girl”. I loved reading, so a book was never far from reach. To introverted me, the exciting worlds in storybooks were way more interesting than socialising anyway. Later on, when class participation became mandatory in school, I struggled with speaking up. It wasn’t that I didn’t have an answer or opinion, it was the idea that being a “good girl” meant being unassuming, while “naughty girls” were loud and brash, that was hard to shake off. Why do we as a society continue to teach our daughters that it’s better to be seen and not heard? Or that silence is a virtue, and that women are just better listeners? Of course, I’m not advocating for rude…

“I used to look down on the floor all the time when I was in primary school, because I was so ashamed of how I looked.” If you’ve seen Tiktok clips of Chiou Huey boldly serenading mega popstar Jackson Wang in front of a crowd, or photos of her looking glammed up at red carpet events, you may be surprised to learn that the Singapore comedian once thought she was too ugly to become a performer. “I used to look down on the floor all the time when I was in primary school, because I was so ashamed of how I looked,” says Chiou Huey. “When I was in secondary school, I prayed to God, saying, ‘Can you make me funny so that I will have friends?” One nickname still…

Sabato De Sarno's debut collection for Gucci was a refreshing departure from the eccentric glamour of his predecessor Alessandro Michele. De Sarno’s focus on sensibility over theatricality is indeed a welcome change for the Gucci consumer and its owner, French luxury group Kering, which was reported to be increasing its investments to revive its star label this year. On that clean slate, one of the key highlights in De Sarno’s Gucci is the mini hemline but this time, the focus is on the more wearable mini dress. The designer, whose resume included tenures at luxury powerhouses Valentino and Prada, opened the show with a series of minimalist mini dresses, such as a strapless white number followed by a leather monogram embossed version in black. He showcased dressier versions of the…

All work and no play makes watchmaking a very serious business. Instead, we’re lusting after these whimsical and playful timepieces now. FASHION STATEMENT Gabrielle Chanel’s impact on fashion cannot be understated. She played a key role in liberating women from their corsets, and made trousers a wardrobe staple. It’s thus no wonder that Chanel’s horlogerie department continues to pay tribute to her outsized contributions to society more than 50 years after her death. The Mademoiselle J12 La Pausa watch beautifully reimagines a 1930 moment at Coco Chanel’s La Pausa Villa. She is depicted wearing a striped mariniere top paired with black trousers – a look that remains stylish today. The timepiece creatively uses her arms as hour and minute hands, adding a playful touch. AN ICON, REIMAGINED What do the…

Hong Kong-born Stephanie Leung grew up in a family where dinner conversations would revolve around stocks and investments. Even as a student studying computer science at the University of Michigan and later pursuing her master’s degree at Stanford University, she found time to trade, particularly in tech stocks in the early 2000s. Upon returning to Asia to join management consultancy McKinsey in Hong Kong, the 44-year-old made the decision to sell all her tech stocks, a move she now regrets, as these same companies have since grown exponentially. Over the years, her journey from a computer science graduate to a consultant, trader, hedge fund founder, and now the chief investment officer of Stashaway, has changed her relationship with money. Today, Stephanie is a firm believer in long-term investing, and has…

After graduating from university, 25-year-old Daisy Anne Mitchell worked for two different companies before deciding to go freelance in January this year. Now, the performing arts and musical theatre graduate, who lives in Singapore, works for herself, as a content creator and freelance actor. Having been a full-time employee for just over three years – as a speech and drama teacher for two years, and a performer at a local theme park for 14 months – Daisy has a clearer idea of what she needs to thrive if she were to work for a company again. “For starters, employers should respect that their employees have a personal life, and not overwork them or make them work longer than what’s considered legal,” she explains. “Companies also need to do away with…

Recently, when I expressed gratitude to my colleague by giving her a cake for helping me with a task, she declined vehemently. I later learnt that she values words of affirmation, so an appreciative text or note would probably have been better received. How can identifying and understanding our colleagues’ love languages contribute to improving workplace interactions? In his 1992 book, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret To Love That Lasts, author Gary Chapman discovered that effective communication relied on the five fundamental types of love languages: words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service, and physical touch. Chapman’s insights extend beyond romantic love, applying to all types of relationships. The five languages of love can be used in our day-to-day communication, and in building better relationships with our…

Want to achieve a good hair day, every day? Let the annual Her World Hair Awards 2024 winners point you in the right direction. From transformative colours and cuts to scalp and hair treatments for healthy and strong hair, your crowning glory will be a thing of envy. COLOUR Something for everyone, from subtle to over-the-top hues. BEST OMBRE TREND – SOMBRE Where Chez Vous: Private SpaceService Teardrop Highlights, from $385 “I loved the results… They served drinks and even a high tea set while I did my hair too.” – Elizabeth Lee, Her World editor-in-chief BEST SOFT COLOURED BALAYAGE Where Hube SalonService Aurora Balayage/Sunlight Highlight Bundle, $348 (inclusive of haircut, 2 colours, 1 round of bleaching and Milbon basic premium treatment) BEST BALAYAGE Where Prep LuxeService Weaving Balayage, from…

With a domed watch glass inspired by a camera lens, and minimalist indices and hands, Leica’s range of understated watches appeals to those who prize function over fuss. The German camera manufacturer recently launched its latest watch model, the ZM 11. Designed with Das Wesentliche in mind, which means to focus only on the essential, it features a patented “red-dot” push-crown modelled after the shutter release button – developed to offer a convenient way to set the time. The Easy Change strap system is also a technical replica of Leica’s camera lens change system, to allow for easy switching of straps. Prices start from $11,350 with a stainless steel bracelet. leica-store.sg…

“The one thing I’m saying ‘No’ to is going with the flow and letting other people’s priorities become mine. I want to be intentional about how I want my day, week and life to turn out, clear about which relationships I want to prioritise, and how I want to spend my time, so I can look back and have no regrets.” – Jaime Lee, co-founder and creative director of The Paper Bunny “I’m taking a stand against the pressure to conform solely to masculine energy in our professional lives. I believe in the profound beauty and strength of our feminine energy – its nurturing warmth, intuitive wisdom, and natural ability to connect and empathise. These qualities are not just ‘nice-to-haves’ – they are the very essence of our power and…

“Oh gosh, am I a nepo baby?” quips Farah Lola, when I ask if having a famous stand-up comedian brother has helped her career. With six years of comedy under her belt, the 31-year-old is unfazed by criticism or haters. In a world dominated by Instagram and Tiktok, her motto when it comes to girding herself against social media mockery is to “make fun of yourself before people make fun of you”. “I have a self-deprecating sense of humour, but it’s not out of like, hating myself. It’s like… I’m gonna put it out there first [so] you can’t hurt me,” she shares. For the record, although her older brother Fakkah Fuzz is a successful stand-up comedian with his own special on Netflix, Farah’s comedy work occupies a whole other…

1. Viscose knit asymmetric dress with hoop skirt, tinted wraparound sunglasses, and sterling silver geometric earrings, Tory Burch One of the highlights of New York Fashion Week last September was catching the Tory Burch Spring/Summer 2024 show. I wasn’t always such a stan, but the new Tory Burch circa 2020 exudes a sense of coolness and approval from “It girls”, epitomised by Hailey Bieber donning a fresh-off-the-runway pink dress just a week after the brand’s Spring/Summer 2024 show at Paris Fashion Week. The latest collection has caught my eye, particularly with directional pieces like the asymmetrical dresses with hoop skirts, chic embellished hair barrettes, and cute coloured jelly purses. I admire Tory’s aspiration for her pieces to be viewed as wardrobe staples rather than collectibles – such as the famous…

Say yes to a bold buckle Whether it’s a vintage Western-inspired buckle or sculptural hardware, this season’s focus is on creative, oversized buckles. It instantly adds character to any outfit, whether it’s a classic pantsuit or an everyday jeans-and-tee combo. Go for the chain A chain belt can transform a masculine outfit – like a denim-on-denim combo – into a dressier and more feminine look. It also gives your favourite dresses an updated spin, especially if you wear them regularly. Keep it low-slung News flash: The oversized low-slung belt, spotted on the Spring/Summer 2024 runways, is back. Take your cue from sleek bodycon dresses adorned with gold-accented belts at Tom Ford, or the long, flowing skirts styled with hip-hugging belts at Louis Vuitton. A skinny belt is always chic The…

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Dior’s iconic Chiffre Rouge watch is reimagined as a new collection comprising eight designs, featuring some of the storied couture house’s most cherished brand codes. Its current zeitgeist references archival designs. Both of Dior’s creative directors, Kim Jones (menswear) and Maria Grazia Chiuri (womenswear), avidly mine vintage Dior looks for their collections. In the same way, the Chiffre Rouge timepiece, first created by Hedi Slimane in 2004 when he was creative director of Dior Homme, has made a timely comeback. Chiffre Rouge was a groundbreaking product for Dior at the time: It was the first automatic watch the brand had ever made, and was powered by a special version of Zenith’s El Primero mechanical calibre. Sleek and black, with a sporty crown and Christian Dior’s…

KU GEOK BOONCEO, SG ENABLEHer mission: To impact individuals with disabilities Prior to assuming the role of founding CEO at SG Enable in 2013, Ku Geok Boon spent nearly two decades working in the education sector. Her belief in maximising the potential of every individual has been a driving force throughout her career. At SG Enable, she spearheads initiatives aimed at fostering inclusion and dismantling barriers for individuals with disabilities in Singapore. Her efforts encompass diverse areas such as inclusive employment, technology adoption, and community integration. Notably, she played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Enabling Village in 2015, Singapore’s first inclusive community space that is also home to the country’s inaugural inclusive gym, the first inclusive preschool, and the first outreach clinic tailored for persons with disabilities.…

Can you imagine shelling out hundreds of dollars for a water bottle? The limited edition pink Stanley x Starbucks bottles, launched this January, have been spotted selling for US$200 (or $269; the original price was US$45) on resale websites, underscoring the prevailing cultural obsession with the Stanley water bottle. From celebrity endorsements by the likes of Shay Mitchell and Adele to a miraculous tale of surviving a car fire in November 2023, Stanley water bottles have undeniably reached peak social status. It’s no surprise, then, that the century-old company’s revenue skyrocketed from US$74 million in 2019 to US$750 million in 2023, as reported by CNBC. Established in 1913 in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Stanley sold bottles designed to keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold, and were mostly targeted towards…

Recently, women have taken to their Tiktok accounts to share the secret behind their luscious-looking lashes. Turns out, the trick is to use not one, but multiple mascaras. While this lash-beautifying method (also known as “mascara cocktailing”) has gained popularity on social media, it isn’t a new technique. Beauty educator Larry Yeo explains that makeup artists like himself have been layering different types of mascaras together for many years. Fellow makeup artist Lasalle Lee recommends mascara cocktailing for Asians, especially since our lashes tend to be short and often point downwards. For starters, Larry suggests looking at how you want your lashes to look, their natural curling state and your budget. If your lashes already have a natural curl, simply use two coats of a volumising mascara, followed by a…

A few years ago, I declared myself a “masochist” to a panel of interviewers during a job interview for a communications role at a local school in Singapore. It was in response to a question about my career trajectory in the media industry, and why I wanted to make the switch from a more dynamic, creative environment, to a decidedly more bureaucratic one. Unsurprisingly, I did not get the job. “Real smart decision-making there,” remarked my colleague. She could barely hold back an eye roll when I recounted my gaffe. I can’t explain why I said what I said: It might have been an attempt to defuse a stressful situation with an extremely dry sense of humour. But it certainly boils down to the fact that I’m rather fond of…

A new viral dance. A whole lot of drama. A host of fresh faces with inside jokes that everyone could join in. 2020 was the year that Tiktok – as the Gen Zs would put it – “ate” the Internet. When the world found itself doom scrolling, Nicole Liel took to the social media app to transform mundane moments into comedic gold. “Going on Tiktok was more like: Let me just talk c*ck during Circuit Breaker and see how it goes,” she says. One upload of a fun take on Nicole’s daily routine, and Tiktok’s For You algorithm thrust her into the limelight, amassing thousands of followers overnight. “I was like ‘Wow, 10K people care about what I say. Slay!’” Fast-forward to 2024, and the 25-year-old boasts over 190,000 followers…

WHAM, GLAM, THANK YOU MA’AM! Metallics, sequins and embellished pieces take centre stage this season. Designers showcase their creativity with these glitzy materials, envisioning pieces that are equally fitting for a resort island getaway or a fancy cocktail event. Standout pieces include a luxurious gold dress from Miu Miu and a sequinned cropped top from Rabanne. FASHION SCHOOL There’s currently a fascination with all things collegiate and preppy, and this season, stripes are a main focus. Classic polo and rugby shirts emerged as sartorial must-haves, styled with everything from tailored separates to tiny shorts and metallic coats. BUSINESS, NOT AS USUAL Look like a boss with a blazer paired with bermuda-length shorts, as seen at Chanel and Dries van Noten. Pencil skirts, tailored suits and shirts make notable appearances at…

Working with the World Bank opened Denica Riadini-Flesch’s eyes to the struggles of local communities in her native country, Indonesia. She realised that what rural workers needed was not aid, but fair and commensurate wages. Having moved to Rotterdam to study and work, she made a conscious decision to return to her homeland with a mission: to change the textile industry in a way that would benefit everyone. In 2016, she founded Sukkhacitta, a farm-to-closet enterprise. Despite the fact that Indonesia is one of the world’s largest clothing manufacturers, less than 2 per cent of its garment and textile workers, the majority of whom are women, earn a living daily wage. Determined to change the narrative, Denica built an e-commerce platform dedicated to selling high-quality, traditionally crafted clothing handmade by…

If you’re reading this, you probably have a work bestie whom you grab lunch with, gossip with, turn to for advice, and miss while they’re away on vacation. My work bestie, Rica*, and I bonded over tough times. We also motivated each other to attend 7am gym classes, and trusted each other with the ups and downs of our love and family life. We’d often joke about being colleagues-turned-“real” friends. When Rica suggested that we travel together, I thought: What could go wrong? We ended up being so busy that we didn’t have time to discuss the trip in detail, but I was confident we’d figure it out along the way. Turns out, things weren’t that simple. The one-way trip down south For starters, Rica nestled her head on my…

Samantha Tan was retrenched from her tech job last November. An IT project manager there for two years, she is worried about how long her savings can last, especially with inflation and an increase in GST driving up the cost of living in Singapore. “Seeing all the news of retrenchments, I can’t say that I’m not worried about my job prospects. There’s lots of competition and because of inflation, everyday items such as groceries have now become so expensive! I’ve definitely had to cut down my discretionary spending,” she says. The 38-year-old says she has started cooking her own meals at home and opting for cheaper options when dining out, or just having a coffee instead of brunch when out with friends. She also hasn’t renewed her Virgin Active gym…

How much should you share online? One 26-year-old writer learnt the hard way that oversharing on social media could potentially lead to legal repercussions. Maya’s* nightmare began three years ago, during a routine play session with her three-year-old daughter, Lily*. Maya was planning a weekend outing with the family, and had asked her little girl if she preferred the zoo or the aquarium. Lily chose neither, asking for ice cream instead. When Maya refused her request, Lily threw a tantrum and cried, saying that Papa and Ms June*, her preschool teacher, always bought her ice cream. While Maya was thrown off by this revelation, that her husband and Ms June seemed to be in regular contact without her knowledge, she shrugged it off, choosing to console her child instead. About…

1. Gucci The Alchemist’s Garden Where My Heart Beats Eau De Parfum, $570 Using alcohol from 100 per cent recycled carbon emissions, the formula reflects the Italian house’s eco-conscious ethos. It contrasts fresh, green violet leaf and white peony notes with a warm, sensual white musk base, resulting in a universally pleasant floral fragrance. 2. The History of Whoo Royal Regina Energetic Repair Serum, from $86 This hard-working serum is expertly formulated with fermented polysaccharides to offer the benefits of four different serums in one. It increases hydration levels, protects against oxidation, fortifies the skin barrier, and lifts skin. 3. Laneige Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Intensive Cream, $63 Designed for sensitive skin, this hydrator is packed with the K-beauty brand’s proprietary blue hyaluronic acid (derived from deep sea algae) to…

When Mary L, a 30-year-old civil servant, experienced her manicurist cutting her fingernails too deeply during an appointment, she asked her to be more careful and kept a watchful eye on the situation. Rather than making a scene or lodging a complaint with the nail salon, she simply chose not to return to that establishment. “When I’m not satisfied with a beauty service, I will just keep quiet until the end and make a mental note not to return,” she reveals. “I try to avoid confrontation because I am worried that the situation might deteriorate [they might provide worse service] for the remaining duration.” It’s something that other women in Singapore have experienced. Melissa L, 31, says she gives feedback for things that can be rectified immediately, such as if…

“While elaborate packaging may look luxurious, it can add a surprising amount to the cost without necessarily improving the formula,” she explains. There are exceptions, however, such as protective packaging like airless pumps that “increase the cost of a product”, she adds. HERE ARE OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER ABOUT PRICEY SKINCARE: Ingredients matter “Proprietary ingredients can drive up the cost of a skincare product,” says Prof Dobos. “For example, argan oil, sourced only from Morocco, is labour-intensive to prepare, leading to higher costs.” To gauge efficacy, look for products with claims backed by independent testing or clinical trials. Concentration and potency While prestige products may boast higher levels of active ingredients, Prof Dobos advises that more isn’t always better: “For example, retinol can be effective at levels as low as…