Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2024 i Her World Singapore

EDITOR’S NOTE When the team thought about how we wanted the cover to look like this month, we landed on the idea of a vast desert landscape, not because we think the future is bleak and barren, but because it was inspired by one of the maps found in the world of Valorant, a first-person tactical shooter game that our cover girl Spicyuuu plays. It’s not lost on me that the sandscape is reminiscent of Dune: Part Two, the second part of an epic sci-fi movie remake released in theatres recently. As a self-professed gamer girl, the world of Dune was introduced to me, not through Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel Dune, but actually through the computer game released in 1992. The younger me was fascinated by leading character Paul Atreides,…

I’m no Taylor Swift, so why would anyone create a deepfake pornographic video or photo of me? That is what most of us regular women would think when confronted with the topic of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology. It would be, like the title of Taylor’s famous hit, something that could only happen in our wildest dreams. Yet there has been a growing number of reported cases where women, especially younger women, find themselves the subject of such explicit content. In New Jersey, a 15-year-old girl discovered that there were nude images of herself created using an AI application, and distributed to others on social media. According to a lawsuit filed in February this year, the girl accepted an Instagram friend request from a male classmate, who then…

1. Acetate sunglasses with chain, $2,360, Chanel When two of fashion’s biggest luxury powerhouses – Chanel and Miu Miu – opened their shows with a pair of optical frames, I knew this was the time to fully embrace my spectacles and give my contact lens a well-deserved break. Both brands got me thinking about how glasses can be stylish: Miuccia Prada showed her elevated athletic looks with half-rim glasses at Miu Miu, while Chanel took on a trendier Fashion Week-approved route with its iconic chain sling as a design element on a pair of black oversized optical frames. 2. Embellished hair clip, Tory Burch The girlie girls fond of ribbons and bows have grown up, preferring something more glamorous this Spring season. Tory Burch encapsulates this look best, as models…

An oversized blazer will do the trick The extra large fit of the blazer or jacket will add a more masculine appeal to the femininity and sexiness of a sheer skirt. Make sure the length is long enough, so it’ll discreetly cover your rear end. A belted blazer (because it needs to be buttoned and belted up), as opposed to a classic blazer, is also a more conservative and flattering choice. Tuck an extra long shirt in Take advantage of the statement sheer skirt by tucking your button-down shirt inside, so you can see the hem. The overall effect may be slightly subversive, but it still looks incredibly polished. Consider trousers over skirts Perhaps because trousers are typically a men’s wardrobe staple, a pair of sheer trousers might be easier…

We are in a period of transition: The workplace has morphed tremendously, and we have to contend with the lingering effects of the pandemic, the surge of AI (read our story on the fear of becoming obsolete on pg 68), remote and hybrid work, and – of course – changing attitudes towards linear career paths. HR specialists and authors Dr David Oxley and Dr Helmut Schuster, who co-wrote A Career Carol, A Tale of Professional Nightmares and How To Navigate Them, tell Her World how to win in a democratised career world. Be opportunity-led and embrace ambiguity “Corporate work creates silo thinking, and is filled with mundane tasks. You can be far more successful by thinking of jobs like a portfolio… and not as a single destination. Don’t be dogmatic…

As the sun dipped below the vast, golden fields of Lampung, a remote corn belt in Sumatra, Indonesia, little did I know that my early career as a brand manager for an agribusiness would lead me to a profound intersection of purpose, profit and impact. The journey from corporate meeting rooms to the heart of impoverished villages reshaped not only my perspective, but also ignited a passion for social impact that would forever alter the trajectory of my life. This was in 2007, and I had been working at Bayer as a regional brand manager, where I would often travel to distant villages to study the livelihood of subsistence farmers who own less than one hectare of farmland, and whose families relied on incomes of less than $200 a month.…

Hollywood actor Jacob Elordi is a “babygirl”. I’m sure that even if you’re unfamiliar with the term, you’re probably nodding your head (perhaps reluctantly) in agreement. But what if we said: Timothee Chalamet is a “babygirl”, and so is actor Andrew Garfield. Confused yet? No, “babygirl” is not a lyric from your favourite Boyz II Men song, but rather, a term of endearment used on some of your favourite male celebrities. The term hit mainstream culture when Mean Girls’ Renee Rapp and comedian Bowen Yang called Saltburn’s Elordi “so babygirl” in a January 2024 SNL skit. But what exactly does it mean, and why is it being used to describe such a seemingly broad array of men today? Multiple sources describe “babygirl” differently, ranging from a man who is sexually…

Watching her mother struggle with perimenopausal symptoms in her early 40s – due to the removal of her womb – inspired our classmate Priyanka to kick-start the conversation about the idea of a perimenopause awareness campaign. Priyanka shared that she had felt extremely helpless watching her mother in pain from her countless hospital visits, as she had no idea what was happening to her body. As young women in our 20s, we were ourselves shocked to only find out about the existence of perimenopause when we heard Priyanka’s story. With 1.1 billion women set to be postmenopausal by 2025, the quietness around menopause and its precursor, perimenopause, remains surprisingly loud. This silence leaves countless women unprepared for a natural, yet pivotal, life transition, surrounded by a culture of silence and…

1. Bio-essence Bio-Gold 24K Black Gold Water, $47.30 This gold-infused serum is truly worth its weight in gold. Besides elevating your shelfie, it deeply hydrates and tackles signs of ageing with skin-loving ingredients such as peptides and caviar. The result? Moisturised skin with a healthy glow. 2. Dior Beauty Miss Dior Mini Miss Eau De Parfum, $104 At just 3.2g, this sleek lipstick-shaped solid perfume houses one of maison’s most timeless scents, Miss Dior. A fruity floral concoction of zesty blood orange, mandarin, delicate lily of the valley, and woody patchouli, this fragrance is perfect for the tropics. 3. Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift Firming Night Cream, $90 Powered by resveratrol, a gentle retinol alternative that encourages cellular turnover sans irritation, this formula works overtime to plump, firm and hydrate skin. It’s also…

From the introduction of multipurpose products and “complicated” treatments you can now do at home, to how goods are marketed these days, the beauty industry is one that constantly thrives on innovation. It is also growing massively. In Singapore, the beauty and personal care market is projected to generate a revenue of US$1,244 million ($1,639 million) this year. Within this industry, there has been a surge in demand for organic and sustainable products. As with any major industry, it is ripe for disruption too. It’s not surprising to see that technology is playing a big part in the way we consume beauty products. The experts we spoke to are excited about these changes – and you should be too. Here’s a rundown of seven beauty trends we'll see in the…

“The [metaverse] hype may have subsided, however the core ideas of immersive experiences are very much alive, and are continuing to evolve every day. Digital ownership is still gaining traction. The intersection of the metaverse with Web3 technologies like NFT and crypto further highlights its potential, specifically around fostering ownership and economic opportunities. Cryptocurrencies are still relevant, and will continue to drive the future of decentralised financial ecosystem.” – Grace Clapham, founder of Untam3d, and co-founder and director of The Change School “The digital world moves at lightning speed, and what seems like a fad today could be the blueprint for tomorrow. Take AI for example – it’s evolving so fast that it’s already hard to keep up. Think about the kids who are the future, currently playing Roblox or…

Spicyuuu once played Valorant for 30 hours in an attempt to end her losing streak. “I felt so ill the next day. I’ll never do that ever again,” she laughs. The 20something-year-old describes herself as being “so bad” at the first-person shooter video game, and professes that she could never play at a competitive level. “You have to play on stage – that’s not something I can do. I’m not good at Valorant, but it [still] makes me feel I want to play it more,” she says. While most of her peers are experiencing first-job woes, Spicyuuu has enviably turned her passion into an occupation. Valorant is the game that supported her rise to fame. She considers herself very fortunate for someone who essentially “just wanted to stay home and…

KELLY HSU 28, FASHION STYLIST@kllyhsu Born in Taiwan and raised in Singapore, Kelly Hsu started her decade-long career as a freelance fashion stylist while she was studying for her diploma at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). She later pursued her BA in Fashion Media at Lasalle College of the Arts. Her expertise and focus was styling for commercial jobs, which was a different route to embark on, as stylists typically start as styling assistants. Kelly considers herself fortunate to have crossed paths with influential individuals who have played a significant role in shaping her career trajectory. Eugene Siow, a commercial photographer she met when she was still in NAFA, offered Kelly her very first freelance styling opportunity. Then, at Lasalle College of the Arts, her lecturer, veteran stylist…

Breathing new life into its iconic Rose de Vents motif, Dior has unveiled its latest iteration: La D de Dior Etoile des Vents. The new La D de Dior timepiece features eight-pointed pink gold stars adorned with diamonds, serving as a symbolic tribute to the late Christian Dior, the house’s eponymous founder. The Etoile des Vents (wind star) is based on the “rhumb,” a term denoting a quarter-wind on a compass rose, a symbol found on a compass, map, nautical chart, or monument that indicates the orientation of the cardinal directions and their intermediate points. The French fashion designer first encountered it growing up in Granville, Normandy – it was perhaps a calling written in the coastal winds, as he later chanced upon a similar metal star in 1946, on…

To be honest, when I received the brief from Her World’s editors to pen a piece about Budget 2024, I was tempted to turn down the job. Reason: While the Budget hordes headlines in the local media every year, I’ve never been one to follow the coverage. Then, a girlfriend excitedly messaged me about the $4,000 Skillsfuture Credit (Mid-Career) Top-Up, and I had to dig a little deeper and ask myself, why the apathy? There are many Singaporeans who keenly follow the Budget Statement. The initiatives run the gamut. From addressing concerns around cost of living for the everyday person to making Singapore more attractive to overseas businesses and investors, our government stays close to the central theme of building a more resilient nation. In my younger days, I had…

I first started dating actively in the wake of the pandemic. After months of being cooped up, it was time to do the exact opposite with the dating equivalent of revenge travelling. I spent most of my free time on dating apps, curiously swiping right on anyone I found remotely interesting. Following a match, the steps were simple. First, determine that we have common topics; second, make sure they’re not creepy; finally, arrange a date. Rise and repeat for the next person till someone sticks around. A couple years later, and this cycle runs itself on autopilot. Valerie Tang, a 29-year-old engineer, does the same. “When I’m bored, I start swiping mindlessly, then I end up juggling too many [dates] at one go. The most I’ve been on was five…

ASK THE EXPERT I have been experiencing symptoms of menopause, including hot flushes, body aches and mood changes like low mood or irritability. A friend suggested that I might have menopause – but I still have my period. What am I suffering from? Menopause occurs after a woman has her final menstrual period (defined as 12 months of no periods in a woman who is not pregnant or has other causes for loss of periods), and typically occurs in the late 40s or early 50s. Perimenopause is the transition period before a woman’s last period. The average age of menopause in Singapore women is 49, so most women should expect perimenopause symptoms a few years prior. Getting evaluated is ideal, to determine if it is indeed perimenopause, and exclude other…

The go-to name for music and design aficionados, Danish consumer electronics brand Bang & Olufsen is known for its quality sound systems and sleek design. While its sound systems can cost upwards of $60,000, the latest Beosound A5 Spaced Aluminium ($2,099) could be an entry-level option for budding audiophiles. Crafted and finished by hand, it is made from a single sheet of aluminium. The anodised effect gives the illusion of over 3,500 floating discs in front of the speakers. According to vice-president of Product Marketing, Michael Henriksson, this optical illusion has a unique purpose. The circular shape typically serves as the aperture for sound to pass through a speaker grille – but with the Beosound A5 Spaced Aluminium, the concept has been flipped on its head. Here, the circular shape…

“She looks 10 years older than her age.” “But locals don’t want her right?” “I’m not liking the current trend of muscle chicks with big behinds and thunder thighs.” Online forums have long been recognised as breeding grounds for cyberbullying, but I never truly understood its insidious nature until I became a target. I was the subject of cyberbullying when an article featuring my fitness journey became the subject of an online forum. Expecting positive feedback, I was blindsided by the cruelty and negativity. I had witnessed friends, acquaintances, and even strangers recount their experiences with cyberbullying. I sympathised with their pain, offered support, and advocated for awareness and prevention measures. However, I remained somewhat detached, shielded by the naive belief that it couldn’t happen to me. The hurtful comments…

To know the key wardrobe pieces for this season, look no further than Loewe, where creative director Jonathan Anderson made a statement with the main trouser silhouette for Spring/Summer 2024, featuring styles that were exaggeratedly high-waisted. At Alaia, high-waisted trousers took on a sculptural shape, yet looked relaxed and sophisticated. The safari theme reigned supreme at Saint Laurent: Cargo trousers were given a polished look with a belted and slim silhouette. This approach is evident with other major fashion houses like Dior and Chanel as well. With Dior, high-waisted trousers were tailored in luxurious fabrics such as silk and linen, while Chanel’s Virginie Viard updated the house’s classic aesthetic with high-waisted trousers that recalled Gabrielle Chanel’s penchant for 1930s sailor pants. The enduring appeal of high-waisted trousers pervades fashion history,…

HOLD ME TIGHT What are some of the most desirable bags this season? Anything that can be tucked under your arm, whether it’s a roomy everyday bag (preferably an overstuffed Miu Miu), a sleek or oversized clutch, or even a slouchy tote. Take your cue from Tod’s and Dries Van Noten on how to make an accessory feel like the star of the show, best styled with sharp tailoring, leather jackets and casual denims. PRACTICAL MAGIC Pockets and compartments are aplenty on the handbags at Fendi, Ferragamo and Max Mara. What makes these utilitarian-styled bags unique are statement-making details, like the pretty ribbon pockets at Acne or the striking colours on the multi-pocketed Fendi Baguette. “For me, the most enduring pieces are those that blend style and pragmatism. The Colby…

Hester Spiegel-van den Steenhoven wants women to know that being an angel investor isn’t as complicated as it might seem. With the right knowledge and a little confidence, she believes that anyone can claim a financial stake in emerging businesses. The 46-year-old got her first taste of angel investing in 2019, when she was working at Deutsche Bank in Germany. A friend recommended that she invest in early-stage start-ups; her first investment was in decentralised infrastructure for the real-world economy. She loved the experience so much that she left her corporate job at the bank to become an angel investor. In August 2020, the Netherlands native moved to Singapore for her husband’s job. By chance, she found out that an ex-colleague was living in Singapore too, so the pair made…

If the early 2000s were marked by FOMO (fear of missing out), then the 2020s will be defined by its much more worrying counterpart, FOBO, or the fear of becoming obsolete. FOBO first emerged in 2023, when global education and technology company Cengage coined the term to describe one’s anxiety of AI and technological advancements making their skills obsolete. A 2023 Gallup survey, which polled 1,000 workers in the US, revealed that 22 per cent are worried about AI’s impact on their job security, highlighting a growing apprehension about technology’s influence on employment. FOBO is not exactly a new phenomenon, but its prevalence has grown tremendously over the period between 2021 and 2023 – interestingly, coinciding with the mainstream adoption of generative AI, with the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in…

I’m standing on the 100th floor of a building in the central business district. Up here, I can hear the wind whistling, with the muted sounds of traffic below. My high vantage point means that I can see the rooftops of neighbouring skyscrapers. If I tip my legs over the edge, the fall will most likely be fatal. If I had a fear of heights, this location would trigger my anxiety. But despite the sensations, I’m actually safe. Physically, I’m not on a precarious ledge. I’m sitting in an office chair at Olive Branch Psychology & Therapy Clinic in Singapore, immersed in a therapy session wearing a virtual reality (VR) headset. The session is facilitated by centre director and psychologist Sam Roberts. While using VR for entertainment isn’t out of…

Say goodbye to subdued and “clean”, and hello to bold and loud. Mob wife makeup is making its mark in 2024 – and in a very dramatic way. If you’ve seen new looks from the likes of Hailey Bieber and Dua Lipa, you’ll know what we’re talking about. Makeup artist Larry Yeo describes this trend as an escape from the overworked and over-worn “clean girl” aesthetic, with a shift towards the ultra-excessive, “pretend-TV” look. “It’s all about the presumed 1970s/80s ‘Italian-American look’,” he says. A throwback to the glamorous women from movies such as Scarface (1983) or Casino (1995), the look is flashy with bright lips, heavily lined eyes, and just oozing sophistication and confidence. Forget barely there makeup and take things up a few notches by going heavy on…