Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2026 i Her World Singapore

When the team and I were planning for 2026, we had a collective vision of what we wanted Her World to be. Besides uplifting women and being a culture shaper, we also felt strongly that this is a platform to start conversations that matter, and that’s why you’ll see a question on each of our covers for the months ahead. Closing the chapter on 2025 – a huge milestone for Her World as we celebrated our 65th anniversary, and a year that has been challenging for me – feels like a big exhale of relief… But it is also mingled with a sense of gratitude and excitement for the things to come. As women, we carry more than what’s visible: the planning, the remembering, the anticipating. The mental load is…

I first met Farhanna Farid in 2019, while profiling young Singaporean women who were breaking new ground. She had made her powerlifting debut a year prior and announced her arrival in emphatic fashion. Right off the bat, she broke four national records and went on to set a record at the Asian Classic Powerlifting Championships with a 173kg deadlift – more than three times her body weight. Six years on, we meet again for another chat. Just two weeks earlier, she crushed her 13th world record – a 217.5kg deadlift at the 2025 Asian Powerlifting Championships in Istanbul. At under 52kg, the petite powerhouse is now lifting over four times her own weight. When I mention her earlier numbers, a wistful smile crosses her face. “Feels like a lifetime ago,”…

Fashion’s obsession with the future has quietly given way to an obsession with the past. Across luxury runways, resale platforms and viral Tiktok posts, the biggest winners of the moment are not new labels, but historic ones. Ralph Lauren, Vivienne Westwood and Gianni Versace, once thought to have culturally peaked in the mid 2000s, are now enjoying revivals driven by a generation that was not even born at their first peak. At the heart of the comeback lies a single, powerful impulse: Gen Z is dressing for stability in an unstable world. WHY OLD LABELS FEEL NEW AGAIN In the age of algorithm-driven micro-trends – “-cores” combust and fizzle out within weeks – there is a growing backlash against fashion’s own volatility. When everything is trending, nothing feels trendy. So…

Today’s workers are working in an environment where the old rules no longer apply. Expectations are shifting, and in this landscape, the skill that separates those who merely cope from those who truly thrive isn’t managerial authority or seniority – it’s the ability to lead yourself. Rather than being about independence or doing everything alone, self-leadership is the intentional practice of managing your energy, mindset, focus and decisions. It means acting from values instead of pressure, staying grounded through uncertainty and guiding your own growth even when external direction is limited. Samantha Ng, a career development practitioner and counsellor at Standout Academy with over 10 years of coaching experience, says the workplace has fundamentally changed. “Traditional employment relationships are shifting dramatically. In this new landscape, individuals can no longer rely…

Financial freedom often feels like a numbers game: Earn more, save more, invest more. Yet for many, it can start to feel like an endless chase with no real point of arrival. Increasingly, financial experts and psychologists say that the fulfilment we associate with abundance is rooted less in accumulation, and more in mindset. Giving sounds simple, but many people hesitate even when they are financially stable. In Singapore, where costs rise quickly and comparison is constant, it’s easy to fall into a subtle sense of “never enough”. Jaslyn Ng, financial services director at Prudential Assurance Singapore, sees this often in her work. “People who are doing comfortably well struggle to spend on themselves. I really think it has a lot to do with our Asian culture and values that…

Cold plunges have become the wellness trend of the moment – glossy studios, celebrity routines, and claims of faster recovery, sharper focus and even “anti-ageing” have turned ice baths into a perceived shortcut to better health. The immediate jolt of cold exposure can feel transformative, but for women, the science and the risks are more nuanced. WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY IN A COLD PLUNGE The moment you enter icy water, the cold-shock response activates. Skin receptors alert the brain to danger, triggering fight-or-flight: Blood vessels constrict, heart rate and blood pressure rise, and stress hormones surge. Some people find this energising once they settle their breathing, but it is still a significant physiological stressor – one that some women may feel more intensely. THE SCIENCE BEHIND WOMEN’S COLD TOLERANCE…

As we gallop into the Year of the Fire Horse, it’s time to embrace the vibrant energy, strength and innovation that this new year brings. While fengshui is commonly used to balance the home or workplace to establish harmony between you and your environment, these principles can also apply to your beauty routine. Chi, the vital life energy that flows through all living things and spaces, plays a key role in this balance. According to Grand Master David Goh of Imperial Harvest: “When your personal chi is aligned, your beauty products become more than skincare and makeup – they become instruments that amplify your confidence, radiance and magnetism.” The key is to use the five elements – Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water – to clear, balance and activate your…

Modern work culture prizes optimisation. Every hour is expected to be maximised; every moment of rest risks being interpreted as a lack of ambition. On the surface, this pursuit of productivity appears admirable. But according to a 2025 Sciencedirect study on Singapore’s work culture, the cost is mounting. Singaporeans work an average of 45 hours a week, with nearly 23 per cent regularly exceeding 48 hours. The same study reports that 73 per cent of employees feel unhappy, 62 per cent experience burnout, and 30 per cent suffer from sleep issues – almost double the rate of neighbouring countries. These findings echo broader global data. The paper also cites evidence showing that working beyond 39 hours a week harms mental health, and between 2000 and 2016, deaths linked to long…

A trend that both fashion girls and non-fashion girls can pull off is the utilitarian piece that anchors a look, whether it’s joggers, a hoodie sweatshirt, trainers or – case in point for Resort 2026 – the oversized, gorpcore-adjacent windbreaker. This nylon, technical, drawstring-styled outerwear has been having a moment since last spring, but Resort is always the season where designers style looks meant to resonate with a broader audience, and not just trend-driven influencers. Even so, the results feel fresh and unexpected, often styled in ways that’ll make you do a double take. At Saint Laurent, Anthony Vaccarello – approaching his 10th year as creative director – continues to define the house’s identity through contrast, balancing masculine and feminine elements, sharp structure and fluidity, and understatement against indulgence. He…

The endurance of Louis Vuitton’s monogram is no accident. Originally conceived by Georges Vuitton in 1896 as a practical antidote to counterfeiting, the interlocking “L” and “V” plus kamon motif (inspired by ancient Japanese crests) quickly transcended function to become a visual shorthand for artisanal excellence and French savoir faire. Successive creative directors have conserved the monogram by continual reinterpretation, which has kept it relevant across a century of shifting tastes. What makes the monogram iconic is that it is instantly recognisable, while being a versatile design template on which to express creativity. As a repeated pattern, it reads equally well on hard travel trunks, supple leather goods and runway looks; as a signature, it signals provenance in a market where authenticity is currency. Projects that invited artistic visionaries –…

Before you drop your bonus on a big ticket splurge – pause. Not because you shouldn’t enjoy beautiful things, but because the world you’re working in is shifting more quickly than you think. Singapore’s latest economic outlook says as much. The Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) projects our growth will slow from 2.6 per cent in 2025 to 2 per cent in 2026, noting that weaker global demand and US trade measures “could weigh on the economy”. In short: Though things are steady, nothing is for certain. When it comes to employment, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) reports unemployment at a healthy 2 per cent, yet resident job growth is softening in sectors such as information and communications, professional services and wholesale trade. MOM has already signalled that these industries…

“Many people are really embracing AI and bringing it into the workplace without necessarily understanding all the risks involved.” – SIMON KEMP, FOUNDER OF KEPIOS Colleagues, get ready – “workslop” has entered the chat. The term, coined by researchers from Harvard Business Review, refers to low-quality, AI-generated work that looks and sounds fine at first glance but, upon closer inspection, doesn’t actually mean anything. “Many people are really embracing [AI] and bringing it into the workplace without necessarily understanding all the risks involved,” says Simon Kemp, founder of Kepios, a Singapore-based advisory company that analyses what people really do online. As a result, workslop (and AI in general) is showing up in all sorts of ways, from presentations to e-mails, which Simon finds particularly aggravating. “You have people…

Before the rise of e-commerce giants, and the boom of heartland malls and mass retailers in the noughties, many millennials might have braved the maze of strata malls like Far East Plaza and Lucky Plaza in search of a unique find, or hung out at Cineleisure or The Heeren along Orchard Road. Today, that same shopping belt is in constant flux – driven by high rental costs, competition from online retailers, and a prevailing perception among local shoppers that it’s, well, boring. One Reddit thread even poses the question: “Do you find Orchard Road boring nowadays?” In response to this sentiment, the Singapore Tourism Board announced plans in 2023 to rejuvenate Orchard Road and reposition it as a vibrant lifestyle destination. The initiative includes pedestrianisation, improved connectivity, more event spaces,…

The street style spotted outside the SS ’26 fashion shows offered a first glimpse at the trends set to shape the year ahead. Beauty was just as forward-looking: from statement-making smoked-out eyes to timeless favourites like glossy lips. Ahead, we round up the hair and makeup moments that are poised to define 2026. MILAN The Italian fashion capital embraced moody, dramatic hues this season. Think smouldering, smoked-out eyes with inky lashes paired with deep, overlined lips in shades of burgundy and maroon – a bold, cinematic statement that perfectly complements Milanese glamour. COPENHAGEN Oversized hair accessories stole the spotlight at Copenhagen Fashion Week, proving they’re the ultimate finishing touch to any outfit. Scandi style girls revived ’90s staples – from scrunchies to bandanas – styling them on braids, buns, and…

L:A BRUKET 323 PLUMPING ICE CUBE, $91 (10 PODS) Facial icing just got an upgrade, leaving traditional spoons and ice cubes behind. Freeze these single-use pods, infused with peptides and wild berries, before gliding them over clean skin for an instant cooling effect that depuffs and refreshes your complexion. Keep a few in your freezer to calm skin after laser and other non-invasive treatments, prep for makeup, or soothe redness. Pro tip: They’re perfect for reducing the swelling of an angry zit. EST.LAB DAILY SKIN BOOST, $160 (60 CAPSULES) “Healthy, radiant skin is the natural result of abundant qi and blood, and harmonious internal organs, rather than something achieved merely by covering imperfections,” says Dr Jiao Sumin, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) physician, Yong Kang TCM Clinic. This supplement from home-grown skincare…

Three years ago, I splurged $3,600 on four months of personal training at a swanky private gym in the CBD, hoping it would finally transform my physical health. If money could change anything, surely it could give me a post-Covid revenge bod… right? What I didn’t expect was how much I would end up hating the regimented environment, and the feeling of constantly being told what to do. From weekly weigh-ins and diet checks to soul-destroying deadlifts and never-ending lunges, I felt hemmed in and micromanaged. By the end of the four months, all I had gained was a new-found hatred for chicken fillet, and the sense that I still wasn’t enough. BELIEVE IN THE CHANGE YOU WANT The lack of results was entirely on me: I was unmotivated and…

1. Assorted scarf-printed apparel, Moschino Scarves are having a moment this resort season, especially at Moschino, where mismatched scarves were creatively pieced together into shirts, trousers and dresses, turning something nostalgic into something playful and fresh. Under Adrian Appiolaza, the brand is clearly embracing freedom – part irony, part eccentricity – but with an eye on the now. Styled casually with clogs and socks-and-sandals, the looks feel effortless, modern and deliberately unpolished. 2. La Blouse Chale open-back tie-detailed wool-blend crepe blouse, $845, Jacquemus at Net-a-porter.com Backless is back – and it’s better than ever. Designers from Gabriela Hearst to Victoria Beckham are proving that the back deserves just as much attention as the front, with details like low-cut silhouettes and delicate buttoned finishes. This Jacquemus top nails it: polished and…

1. ADD A SCARF TO YOUR T-SHIRT A well-styled printed scarf can elevate even the simplest T-shirt. Rihanna proved it by pairing two scarves in a single outfit. 2. LAYER WITH LEATHER Take a white sundress or shirtdress from casual to chic by topping it with a textured layer – leather is ideal for an immediate, quietly luxe vibe. 3. SEQUINS? YES, PLEASE Make a T-shirt feel glam by adding an embellished layer and balancing it with classic pieces, like a great pair of jeans or a streamlined turtleneck. 4. A PEEK OF WHITE Offset a sharp white shirt – a la the white-on-white turtleneck styling at Celine – with a tailored pantsuit, then tuck your baggy trousers into your boots for a bold, structured silhouette. Do you have a…

Stefanie Yuen Thio is a warrior. Over the years, the joint managing partner of TSMP Law Corporation – which she co-founded with her husband, Thio Shen Yi, in 1998 – has built a reputation for being someone who doesn’t suffer fools gladly, calling out injustice the moment she sees it. Still, even she never imagined that she would one day be deepfaked. In a recent op-ed for The Business Times, she recounts the experience: “Photographs and videos fabricated by AI – deepfakes purporting to be me in suggestive poses – appeared on Tiktok and showed up on the feed of a colleague, who alerted me immediately.” Sitting on a couch in her office, Stefanie shakes her head. “It was kind of a crazy situation, because you wouldn’t expect that at…

From a young age, Valerie Kok had to learn how to be prudent with money. Raised by a single mum, she and her older sister saw how their mother worked tirelessly to support them, while also inculcating in them habits that could help to future-proof their finances. The 38-year-old recalls: “Mum taught us the value of saving early. With no formal financial education and limited time to learn about complex products, she encouraged putting money into simple, safe instruments that earned a bit of interest, such as fixed deposits and endowment plans – a practical and cautious approach.” No matter how little they had, her mum also insisted on giving back. She would take them to charity organisations such as nursing homes and halfway houses to volunteer, and these remain…

1. Laura Mercier Translucent Hydrating Setting Spray Ultra-Blur, $59 Powered by a micro-fine continuous mist, this setting spray delivers a calming, hydrating blend of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and ectoin evenly across skin – no droplets, no patchiness. It sets within seconds to create a blurred, soft-focus finish that feels completely weightless. There’s no sticky residue, just a seamless veil that pulls your entire look together. 2. Glow Recipe Glass Balm, $34 Inspired by bingsoo (Korean shaved ice), these high-shine balms are as fuss-free as they are flattering. Ideal for no-makeup makeup days, they drench the lips in moisture with hyaluronic microspheres and fruit actives, while delivering a glass-like sheen and a soft wash of colour. Choose from four shades: Ice Bingsoo (clear), Watermelon Bingsoo (sheer pink), Strawberry Bingsoo (sheer red-pink),…

Oestrogen is important for producing collagen and elastin. During menopause, falling oestrogen slows collagen production and accelerates its breakdown. Collagen supports bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and keratin formation for healthy hair and nails. A sudden collagen deficit can lead to: • Thinner, drier, less elastic skin, causing sagging and wrinkles • Reduced bone density and higher risk of osteoporosis and fractures • Stiffer joints due to weakened cartilage • Hair that thins or sheds more easily • Nails that become brittle or develop ridges • Weakened gums and oral tissues, contributing to gum recession and dental instability Collagen also maintains the structural integrity of fascia, so reduced levels weaken organ support and may contribute to pelvic floor issues like prolapse or urinary incontinence. Muscles rely on collagen for attachment and…