The UrbanWire

Angels, ghouls, Darth Vader and vampires dragging along their brides. We’ve seen them all at Halloween parties, and gotten so used to them we’d hardly jump if Frankenstein were to pop up in front of us with a club in hand. Now what would be really scary though, is if you turn up for a Halloween party not as Freddy from A Nightmare on Elm Street, but instead, looking like a million bucks.

The folks at French Connection, who know people who’d rather be dead than caught looking unfashionable, launched the Halloween Fashion Runway show at its Raffles City outlet on Oct 23, with black being the predominant colour, naturally. Comprising of pieces from the Autumn/Winter ‘08 Collection, the runway show was a scream, bringing out models with gory, dark makeup and prosthetic vampire teeth.

Connecting with FCUK

Started in 1972 by Stephen Marks, FCUK set out to conquer the high-street fashion scene, while offering quality and affordable prices. With a slogan like “Fashion Is Our Business”, there is no doubt FCUK takes design and style very seriously, always trying to bring every collection up a notch.

FCUK down the Runway

Titled “Mixing It Up”, the Autumn/Winter Collection ‘08 is true to its name, with a delicious throw-in of both casual and formal wear. This collection sees French Connection sticking to its collaboration with French art director, Fabien Baron, expanding on the themes that were established last season.

With mostly fitting tops, dresses and jeans, the Autumn/Winter Collection ‘08 banked on trends prevalent in the world of fashion, that of bows, high-waisted skirts, and plaids.

Although black dominated, it wasn’t the only colour in all the pieces showcased. There were a large variety of hues, with each containing an underlying hint of black, creating a peek-a-boo effect.

The women’s line consisted of simple pieces jazzed up with details such as bows and pleats. UrbanWire particularly liked the way luxe fabrics such as satin and velvet were incorporated into the outfits, giving them an edgy look due to the metallic sheen. This season’s hottest trend of high-waisted everything manifested itself in the form of skirts and pants.

Show off your penchant for bows, a la English singer/songwriter Lily Allen, by throwing them into your outfits. This UrbanWire reporter spotted at least 4 bows appearing in this collection, on clutches, dresses, halter tops and even on high-waisted skirts.

The men’s line churned out a large variety of looks. Punk-rock, preppy chic, laidback cool and smart businessman. This collection had them all. To create the first look, French Connection threw heavy leather jackets over teeshirts screaming out FCUK messages. Preppy chic was interpreted in the form of pageboy caps, shirts and a tie layered under a cardigan, as well as long scarves, both of which are too warm for our weather.

The best way to create a laidback cool look is to don hats, all kinds of hats. If you know nothing about them, look to rocker Pete Doherty (yes, he used to be with with supermodel Kate Moss) for inspiration. He dons hats, all sorts of them, from top hats to straw ones, with pizazz.

Front-row Session with FCUK

The French Connection runway show also saw Fashion Director of CLEO, Sally Teo making an appearance. She had earlier been featured during the front-row session with La Senza where she dished out advice on lingerie selection to CLEO readers. This time round, she shared with 100 CLEO readers the importance of knowing one’s body proportions and the cutting of clothes. Sally then demonstrated using mannequins how different looks can be created with pieces from French Connection’s Autumn/Winter ‘08 Collection.

FCUK Fashion

The French Connection’s Autumn/Winter ‘08 Collection definitely has pieces worthy of your purchase. So whaddya know, if you’re totally stumped as to what to wear to that Halloween party, you won’t have to look much further for your outfit.

If you can’t join them, scare them. With style, of course.

Accessories splayed out on tables. Shoes piled up in a stack. Hangars thrown everywhere. Clothes spilling out of suitcases. You would think this scene was taken from a runaway bride’s room. Well, that’s where you’re wrong. Flea markets look like that too. Especially a flea market of Flea.Fly.Flo.Fun’s aptitude.

The Singapore Conference Hall saw a throng of people on Oct 25. Of course, we’re not saying people don’t usually head there. People do, for orchestra performances. This time round though, the crowd was made out of largely youths who were dressed to the nines. Fashionistas and trend-setters were aplenty.

And they had all one goal: To hunt down the best bargains and buys one can find in Flea.Fly.Flo.Fun.

Although the scene was chaotic, with everyone rummaging through piles and stacks of clothes in search of nifty pieces, this UrbanWire reporter managed to squeeze her way through (as well as squeeze some time out from her intention to shop), and speak to a few people who garnered awesome buys at dirt-cheap prices.

Celeste, 21, (on the right) found herself a great bargain with the purchase of 2 dresses for only 50 bucks. She is long accustomed to the squeeze that happens at every Flea.Fly.Flo.Fun as she pops by in search of apparel every now and then.

For Yean Ni, 25, it’s her first time at Flea.Fly.Flo.Fun and already, the more-than-reasonable prices have impressed her. So much so, she made a purchase of 3 tops; 2 kimono tops, and one knitted tunic.

Ivy Lam, 23, was busy hawking her wares even as she was approached for an interview. She volunteered the fact that more than often, she makes a profit whenever she runs a stall at a Flea.Fly.Flo.Fun event. She had only one word to describe her feelings at the second anniversary of Flea.Fly.Flo.Fun: “Yay!”

And the faces behind Flea.Fly.Flo.Fun: Terence Lau and Christy Chow. You can read more about how they started up Flea.Fly.Flo.Fun in our previous interview with them.

Of course, with the abundance of affordable yet stylish pieces screaming out at this UrbanWire reporter, she had no choice but to give in to temptation and purchase them to add on to her already-bursting wardrobe.

A white dress with lovely stitching details for only $10, and a quirky high-waisted skirt for the same price too! That black bag you see contains another red skirt which was bought at a steal: 5 bucks.

And no, that wide grin you see on this UrbanWire reporter’s face isn’t for show. She really is delirious.

Now whoever said comely buys only come in the form of branded goods?

When we ladies want to make a fashion statement, we usually think “clothes”. Well, how about playing with something that’s closer to our hearts? Yes, lingerie’s what I’m talking about. Now, with La Senza launching a multitude of stylish yet comfortable bras, playing lingerie-dressing up has never been easier. (Read more)

It’s not easy getting dolled up for the Red Carpet. Sure, you could make a few calls to round up your “army” of make-up artists, hair stylists and yoga masters to whip you into shape – but that’s not enough. It takes more than just proving that you’re not anorexic. It’s knowing enough about about yourself and what’s in this season to avoid the fiery darts of the critics and fashion police wannabes out there.

Unfortunately, some celebs seemed to have not been paying attention in Fashion 101 at the MTV Asia Awards. UrbanWire rates how they fared on the Red Carpet.

(Read more)

edc launched their winter collection 2008 in a fashion party in KL.

Ever wondered how the stars of the style department would fare in the health department? Dorcas Ng counts the cost of beauty.

SKIMPY UNDERWEAR

Though we don’t wear granny underwear, most undies can be seen under skintight fabric. In escaping the curse of the visible panty line, thongs and g-strings have emerged as the popular choice. Similarly for men, briefs complement fitted pants.

Warning Label:
Dr Tey Hong Liang, a dermatologist with the National Skin Centre, held that as a general rule, underwear should be absorbent in order to cope with prolonged sweatiness, which can cause fungus infections. Friction from the outerwear may also result in skin rash and inflammation of the sensitive areas. As for males, the issue of decreasing fertility with tight underwear is still not proven scientifically.

Customer Advisory:
Switch back to the traditional, looser alternative whenever possible and consider your purchases more carefully.

OVERSIZED BAGS

For an industry obsessed with all things small and thin, bags seem to live in an alternate universe, illustrating how big is beautiful. Since an empty bag is forever begging to be fi lled, the danger of over packing a heavyload is proportionate to the carrier’s dimensions.

Warning Label:
“One tends to bend over to the other side to balance the weight of the oversized bag, either bending sideways or leaning forward. This places stress on the neck, shoulder and back muscles and ligaments,” says Dr Sabrina Wong, a family physician at the National Health Group Polyclinics.

Customer Advisory:
It’s commonsense actually – keep the bag light, opt for short, wide straps and alternate shoulders diligently. If it’s too heavy, try splitting its contents into two bags and balance each other out on both shoulders.

TIGHT CLOTHING

It’s hard to avoid the “skintight” trend with virtually every retailer hawking lycra and spandex season after season. And chances are you would have to be of mannequinbuild to prevent these stretchy materials from squeezing your fats at one unsightly spot while gently skimming the skin at another. Skinny jeans are a prime example of this skinclinging obsession.

Warning Label:
Dr Sabrina Wong reveals that having clothes wrap around your skin will undoubtedly attract a whole barrage of dermatologic problems. Apart from blisters and hives caused by friction, one also becomes susceptible to the threat of fungus infections. Tight-fitting clothes from the waist down are also known to cause heartburn and worsen varicose veins in the legs. A more serious condition borne exclusively from hiphugging bottoms is meralgia paraesthetica, where the sufferer experiences a burning sensation on the thighs. This is because of a prolonged pinching of a sensory nerve under the hipbone.

Customer Advisory:
Well, there’s no band-aid solution for this particular menace but at least you’ll be a smarter shopper from now on, and buy looser and more comfortable clothings.

“FASHION” SUNGLASSES

We often forget that shades serve a greater purpose beyond that of a fashion statement, that is, to shield our eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet(UV) rays. Be it a $20 pair from Forever 21 or a $200 pair from Christian Dior, neither price nor brand is indicative of the amount of protection offered. And no, the darkest lenses do not provide the most protection. The surest way to know whether a pair of sunglasses offers complete UV ray protection is if it is labeled so or verified by an optician.

Warning Label:
The main concern about UV rays is how they can cause cataracts,” says Mr David Chong, an optician from Mei Teck Optical House. Rarer consequences include photokeratitis – the sunburn of the eye and retina damage.

Customer Advisory:
If the shades do not provide sufficient UV protection, wearing them will only damage your eyes. The dark environment created by the lens causes pupil dilation, which allows more light to enter the eye, and this light may still contain UV rays depending on the lens’ ability to filter them. So prescribe or buy a pair that guarantees complete UV protection. According to Mr Chong, grey, green or brown coloured lenses offer better protection outdoors.

INAPPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR

When it comes to shoes, we are besotted with two extremes: the towering high-heel and the flat flip-fl ops. With documentation of the former’s ill effects, you probably thought that Singapore’s national footwear is the healthier choice.

Warning Label:
Apart from an increased chance of sprains, high-heels can cause soft tissue injuries as well. For example, walking on flat surfaces will be painful on the heels after a prolonged period. Meanwhile, muscles and ligaments work overtime to control the unsupported foot in flat shoes, thus causing unnecessary pains in the back. Dr Matthew Herd, a podiatrist from the Osteopathic & Podiatry Centre, defined unsupported as allowing the heel and forefoot to move about freely and the arch to collapse excessively. The effort to keep the flip-fl ops on also adds pressure on the toes. This causes deformities such as hammertoes and claw toes.

Customer Advisory:
Minimise the time spent on high heels by wearing them only on special occasions and adopting the practice of switching to sports shoes whenever transiting about settings that call for dress shoes. If you have to wear them, opt for heels lower than 2.5cm. Meanwhile, save your flip-flops for the beach.

FROM THE STREETS

hype polled 300 readers, aged 18 – 25, to find out how much of a fashion martyr they were.

35%
I would never wear the same thing twice if it gave me trouble before.
29%
I try not to, but I usually end up in the darkside.
21%
Sore backs, blisters, and bloodied toes. That’s my regular sacrifice.
15%
No pain, no gain. At least I’ll die looking good!

HYPE’S ADVISORY PANEL

DR SABRINA WONG
Family Physician, National Health Group Polyclinics

DR TEY HONG LIANG
Dermatologist, National Skin Centre

DR MATTHEW HERD
Podiatrist, Osteopathic & Podiatry Centre

MR DAVID CHONG
Optician, Mei Teck Optical House

Illustrations by Goh Wei Choon

Every once in a while, the rumour mill churns out something that actually materialises. This is the case with the talk that prominent Japanese cult-clothing store, UNIQLO, is opening a store in Singapore.
The announcement made on Apr 10 means that locals can now get their fix of the popular street wear brand that specialises in basic outfits that can be worn by everyone without travelling to outlets in Hong Kong, South Korea, China, America and Japan.
(Read more)

Nothing short of full blast glamour – that was exactly what anyone present at Francis Cheong’s spring collection would bring home from his show. With an extensive showcase of Cheong’s signature gown designs by models and even his friends, it was definitely a night not to be missed.

Cheong’s showcase at this year’s Singapore Fashion Festival on Apr 4 at the Tent@Orchard was a collaboration with coffee brand CappaRoma.

You might wonder why these 2 seemingly unrelated companies were working together to put up a fashion show. Well actually, both parties have the same view, according to the official press release, when it comes to maintaining weight, staying in good shape and keeping up with fashion. And the goodie bags had packets of instant CappaRoma coffee that come in different sugar levels, very apt indeed!

(Read more)

Spring and summer are often about florals and pastels. However, London-based Singaporean fashion designer, Ashley Isham, has re-defined 2008’s spring and summer for the ladies with a lot of draping and usage of unique materials, like how he has always been known for.

Ashley Isham’s latest Spring/Summer 2008 collection wowed the crowd at this year’s Singapore Fashion Festival (SFF), held at Tent@Orchard at Ngee Ann City. What kick-started the showcase was a series of dresses with prints that resemble pixels. These monochromatic dresses were tailored so brilliantly that they looked as if the models were born in them. The clever usage of belts and seamless tucking of fabrics put great and flattering emphasis on the models’ waistlines.

Long and flowing dresses are definitely a must for when the sun shines and flowers blossom, which fortunately is true of Singapore almost all-year. Likewise, Ashley has spiced up these dresses with a tinge of his personal touch. His signature stunning draping of fabrics to create a simple yet dramatic look is distinctive. The touch of skinny patent belts on the dress completed the ensemble.

(Read more)

The sensational catwalk theatre of the Singapore Fashion Festival (SFF) 2008 at

the Tent@Orchard promised a fabulous display of beauty on its 60-feet-long, elevated and glistening white runway, whose narrowness left this UrbanWire editor wondering.

“Are you sure we won’t be treated, instead, to an entertaining spectacle of tumbling models?” He asked colleague and hype editor Chong Li Bing. Fortunately, there were no scenes of falling models.

The parade of absolutely entrancing apparel, draped on very beautiful people, put UrbanWire in a delightful reverie. Fascinating choreography only served to heighten his senses, sensitising his eyes to tiny details on the Ashley Isham dress and the texture of CK shorts against the background of runway music.

(Read more)

“I don’t believe in people who think that clothes are not important,” Miuccia Prada, arguably the grand dame of fashion, once said.

In this fashion edition, UrbanWire talks about the perspectives, works and lives of people, who definitely think that clothes are very important, from Singapore and in the region.

It’s no secret that the fashion industry is extremely elitist, only admitting a select few as members and banishing the others with the derogatory label of “wannabe”. By strict definition, haute couture can only be applied to custom-made fashion labels that meet demanding pre-requisites. Carine Roitfeld, editor-in-chief of Paris Vogue, world’s longest-running (Vogue started in 1902) and most influential fashion magazine, also said, “Vogue is elitist. We cannot have millions of readers. We would become another title.”

Here at the UrbanWire, we hold no such notion. Instead, with this fashion edition, we attempt to bring local and regional fashion to a coherent and comprehensible level, and find sanity in the chaos of this society that regards itself as the beau monde.

While you can expect a large part of this edition to comprise opinion pieces about the recently ended Singapore Fashion Festival (SFF), there will also be interviews with renowned fashion designers and self-proclaimed fashionistas, among others, in our endeavour to reveal a rarely seen perspective in this industry.

After all, fashion is neither just the SFF nor even the Vogue magazine. The late Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel, the most prominent figure in the history of 20th-century fashion, said, “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”

If you’d been at the runway show for Blueprint 2008 at the Singapore Fashion Festival, no one would frown at

you if you were to exclaim, “That dress the model is wearing looks like a lampshade!”

That model is probably wearing a lampshade.

(Read more)

With warm hues of orange, yellow and purple and the staple colours of black and white, local fashion label Raoul launched its Fall/Winter 08 collection at the Tent@Orchard on Apr 2 during the Singapore Fashion Festival.

(Read more)

Jordan sneaker fans gathered from the region on February 23 for an exclusive Jordan launch at Queensway Shopping Centre in the Limited Edition outlet, where one could hear the fans from various countries whispering excitedly in their native tongue. Any Jordan fan would know that 23 is a significant number for the player.

Last Saturday saw 23 people walking away with Jordan lucky draw prizes while 10 happy winners of the Jordan All Star Edition ballot received their share of the only 10 sneakers in Singapore and other sneaker collectors rushed to buy the Nike Air Jordan XX3, a must-have sneaker in their Air Jordan collection. (Read more)

A pair of white Nike shorts received an unusual slew of media attention and coverage. But what incited all the frenzy was who it was on and where it appeared. (Read more)