Women are advised to wear what is appropriate for their age range. According to Urban, those in their 20s are to wear preppy designs, those in their 30s are to wear ladylike outfits and those in their 40s are to wear classic, clean lines.
I am in my 30s and this suggested trend appeals to me, since I love feminine clothes. However, I dread the time I reach 40 years old and above. The suggested trend seems too plain for my liking. Now I understand better the reason why a participant on How Do I Look protested against some of the clean lines her accomplices chose for her. If those outfits have feminine details, I will not mind it so much. Hence, I plucked up the courage to try on a tube dress for the first time. Though I am not used to wearing it, knowing that I have at least tried to wear it is satisfying. I used to find ruffles too girly, even for me. However, I just bought a feminine blouse with ruffles on the front and Georgian-like sleeves. :)
Also, my age range is one where I can look "naturally beautiful" with makeup, unlike the earlier range which has a fun makeup look and the coming range which shows one's lines more clearly. I love natural makeup, that which brings out my natural looks. Thus, I go for sparkly eyeshadow in pastel shades and pink itself.
I feel as if I am really in the best age range of my life, based on these revelations. :D My fashion tastes have certainly changed with the passing of time. They have become much more feminine and I love the evolution!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Singapore's unappreciated "tourist attractions"
Jamie Yeo's blog mentioned a few shopping malls in Singapore that she doesn't like. I don't really agree with most of the ones on that list of hers.
Lucky Plaza may not be good for shopping due to unscrupulous shopkeepers who cheat customers of their money, but it houses good Asian food. It is very well-known for Filipino food and also Indonesian food. Minang House, Resto Surabaya and President are three outlets which serve really good Indonesian dishes.
People's Park Complex has a huge shop which sells beauty and skin products that are uncommon. I was trying to look for a particular brand of soap and after looking all over the island, I finally found it at this shop.
Parkway Parade is one of my favourite malls. The huge Borders is the highlight for me and the service staff at Jack's Place are really friendly. As a regular customer, I am blessed to have them know exactly what I want to order each time I go there :) Jamie Yeo mentioned the parking problem in its carpark. For those who are not in the know, there are spaces in the areas of P5 and P6. They aren't too far off from the entrance to the mall. Yes, I like the Cold Storage outlet. There is a bakery in it that sells absolutely luscious Lemon Lust, a type of pastry with lemon curd. It is tangy in taste; sweet and sour at the same time. There are also outlets like Famous Amos and Auntie Anne's. Giant is also there. Some other favourite outlets of mine are Pastamania, Isetan, Four Leaves, Banquet foodcourt, Best Denki and Harvey Norman.
Lucky Plaza may not be good for shopping due to unscrupulous shopkeepers who cheat customers of their money, but it houses good Asian food. It is very well-known for Filipino food and also Indonesian food. Minang House, Resto Surabaya and President are three outlets which serve really good Indonesian dishes.
People's Park Complex has a huge shop which sells beauty and skin products that are uncommon. I was trying to look for a particular brand of soap and after looking all over the island, I finally found it at this shop.
Parkway Parade is one of my favourite malls. The huge Borders is the highlight for me and the service staff at Jack's Place are really friendly. As a regular customer, I am blessed to have them know exactly what I want to order each time I go there :) Jamie Yeo mentioned the parking problem in its carpark. For those who are not in the know, there are spaces in the areas of P5 and P6. They aren't too far off from the entrance to the mall. Yes, I like the Cold Storage outlet. There is a bakery in it that sells absolutely luscious Lemon Lust, a type of pastry with lemon curd. It is tangy in taste; sweet and sour at the same time. There are also outlets like Famous Amos and Auntie Anne's. Giant is also there. Some other favourite outlets of mine are Pastamania, Isetan, Four Leaves, Banquet foodcourt, Best Denki and Harvey Norman.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
The effects of Facebook
Facebook is not only popular with students but also with their parents. The reasons are varied. Some parents are truly curious about the fad and its attractions. Other parents are worried about their children and want to keep tabs on them via this website. I may not be a parent but I am a teacher. As such, I do see things from the latter's perspective.
If Facebook is merely used to play game applications and chat with existing friends, the harm is not so great, though the exception is when violent games like Mafia Wars become part of the students' realities. The danger lies where there is acceptance of friend requests from strangers, despite the fact that the strangers may be friends of the students' friends, or where their privacy settings are not edited such that malicious strangers are privy to their profiles. This is especially rampant in America and a movie was made on it. This girl went to a chat channel out of curiosity and almost fell prey to a paedophile, if not for her mother's intervention.
Another type of danger is where they click on third-party applications which may unknowingly contain computer viruses that can either wreck their computer systems, or capture their personal information without their permission and cause their accounts to be hacked into. These third-party applications may also conceal pornographic or unhealthy links.
Of course, I understand why there is irritation in some students when their posts or comments are misinterpreted. They are done out of fun but as a conservative person, I frown upon them. Ever since a friend of mine talked to me about it, I have not been so rigid about it.
The writer of a letter on this topic mentioned how his parents insult his friends. I really hope it was not done on Facebook itself. That would be a big taboo. At the same time, parents would rather keep tabs on their children online because there is a possibility that the children would lie should they be asked. Also, parents are worried about the friends their children make because they don't want their children to get hurt from having made the wrong ones. It is out of love that they show anxiety. As a teenager, I was irritated when my mother kept telling me that my best friend was not a good person. I felt she did not understand my best friend. However, her instincts were correct. I fell out with my best friend and it got so bad that the principal was called into the picture. Through it all, my mother was with me and she was kind enough not to say, "I told you so."
Still, I concur with his view that parents should educate their children about the dangers of the Internet prior to allowing them to use it. Perhaps it would be a good idea if the computer were to be placed in the living room where the parents can subtly supervise their children's Internet habits.
If Facebook is merely used to play game applications and chat with existing friends, the harm is not so great, though the exception is when violent games like Mafia Wars become part of the students' realities. The danger lies where there is acceptance of friend requests from strangers, despite the fact that the strangers may be friends of the students' friends, or where their privacy settings are not edited such that malicious strangers are privy to their profiles. This is especially rampant in America and a movie was made on it. This girl went to a chat channel out of curiosity and almost fell prey to a paedophile, if not for her mother's intervention.
Another type of danger is where they click on third-party applications which may unknowingly contain computer viruses that can either wreck their computer systems, or capture their personal information without their permission and cause their accounts to be hacked into. These third-party applications may also conceal pornographic or unhealthy links.
Of course, I understand why there is irritation in some students when their posts or comments are misinterpreted. They are done out of fun but as a conservative person, I frown upon them. Ever since a friend of mine talked to me about it, I have not been so rigid about it.
The writer of a letter on this topic mentioned how his parents insult his friends. I really hope it was not done on Facebook itself. That would be a big taboo. At the same time, parents would rather keep tabs on their children online because there is a possibility that the children would lie should they be asked. Also, parents are worried about the friends their children make because they don't want their children to get hurt from having made the wrong ones. It is out of love that they show anxiety. As a teenager, I was irritated when my mother kept telling me that my best friend was not a good person. I felt she did not understand my best friend. However, her instincts were correct. I fell out with my best friend and it got so bad that the principal was called into the picture. Through it all, my mother was with me and she was kind enough not to say, "I told you so."
Still, I concur with his view that parents should educate their children about the dangers of the Internet prior to allowing them to use it. Perhaps it would be a good idea if the computer were to be placed in the living room where the parents can subtly supervise their children's Internet habits.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Singapore's first casino
A report on how Singaporeans as well as foreigners have been affected by this new attraction, was featured. There were initial problems on its first day but these are in the process of being resolved. For example, signs warning patrons about a long waiting time have been put up to counter the unexpected waiting period of 2 hours on the first day. Also, the food outlets are now open at all times as opposed to those who could not provide enough food then.
The negative effects are the way some Singaporeans exhibit such extreme xenophobia and the addiction some foreign visitors show towards gambling in the casino, to the extent that they leave their children outside the casino for a long period of time while they indulge.
The views of some locals towards the presence of foreign workers in the casino repulses me to no end. The possibility that they lose their hard-earned money is not the business of the locals. In the first place, do they truly care about that or is that just an excuse conjured to oppose the presence of the workers?
A few locals find it unfair that they are charged $100 as an entrance fee while the workers are exempted from it. This fee is really for our own good. It is our government's way of looking out for us. It deters us from getting addicted to the vice. Perhaps they are getting addicted and hence complain about it? A comment that bigger players a.k.a those who fork out a lot of money gambling, should be catered more to, confirms my previous statement.
They are also unhappy about the workers taking too many drinks. The drinks are free and so any patron has the right to take as many as he wants. The casino has clarified this point. I think the locals are just being prejudiced towards the foreign workers. I do not hear them complaining about the foreign tourists. Besides, there are locals who exhibit bad behaviour as well. Some local gamblers verbally express themselves in such a way as to cause more civilized patrons to cringe. The complainers really know how to choose their battles.
Thank goodness there are also mature locals who feel differently. The casino is for anyone who meets the requirements imposed on its guests, regardless of nationality. The foreign workers work very hard for their families and need to find ways to take breaks from their tiring jobs, so as to reenergise themselves. Why make it difficult for them by such complaints? The spokesman from the casino said something which summarises things best. He implied that foreign workers are the foundation stones beneath our buildings, specifically the IRs. In this case, there is no reason for us to be so biased towards them.
Some foreign patrons regard gambling as more important than their own flesh and blood. It can be that this vice has a very strong grip on its addicts but I prefer to believe that their self-discipline is sorely lacking. The worse thing is that some children have no adult to look after them. If anything should happen to them, it is the parents' fault. It is heartbreaking to read about them feeling bored and only coming alive whenever performances are held. In order to pass time, some played with the plants nearby. Can anyone blame them? They are forced to wait till night in some cases. Thankfully, RWS has included a kids' club to cater to such cases. :)
The negative effects are the way some Singaporeans exhibit such extreme xenophobia and the addiction some foreign visitors show towards gambling in the casino, to the extent that they leave their children outside the casino for a long period of time while they indulge.
The views of some locals towards the presence of foreign workers in the casino repulses me to no end. The possibility that they lose their hard-earned money is not the business of the locals. In the first place, do they truly care about that or is that just an excuse conjured to oppose the presence of the workers?
A few locals find it unfair that they are charged $100 as an entrance fee while the workers are exempted from it. This fee is really for our own good. It is our government's way of looking out for us. It deters us from getting addicted to the vice. Perhaps they are getting addicted and hence complain about it? A comment that bigger players a.k.a those who fork out a lot of money gambling, should be catered more to, confirms my previous statement.
They are also unhappy about the workers taking too many drinks. The drinks are free and so any patron has the right to take as many as he wants. The casino has clarified this point. I think the locals are just being prejudiced towards the foreign workers. I do not hear them complaining about the foreign tourists. Besides, there are locals who exhibit bad behaviour as well. Some local gamblers verbally express themselves in such a way as to cause more civilized patrons to cringe. The complainers really know how to choose their battles.
Thank goodness there are also mature locals who feel differently. The casino is for anyone who meets the requirements imposed on its guests, regardless of nationality. The foreign workers work very hard for their families and need to find ways to take breaks from their tiring jobs, so as to reenergise themselves. Why make it difficult for them by such complaints? The spokesman from the casino said something which summarises things best. He implied that foreign workers are the foundation stones beneath our buildings, specifically the IRs. In this case, there is no reason for us to be so biased towards them.
Some foreign patrons regard gambling as more important than their own flesh and blood. It can be that this vice has a very strong grip on its addicts but I prefer to believe that their self-discipline is sorely lacking. The worse thing is that some children have no adult to look after them. If anything should happen to them, it is the parents' fault. It is heartbreaking to read about them feeling bored and only coming alive whenever performances are held. In order to pass time, some played with the plants nearby. Can anyone blame them? They are forced to wait till night in some cases. Thankfully, RWS has included a kids' club to cater to such cases. :)
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Shopping malls
Rohit Brijnath wrote an article on how he prefers the old way of shopping ie. wet markets and small shops. It strikes a poignant note with me, as I am a nostalgic person as well. He mentions shops which sell bales of fabric amongst others. Toa Payoh is the place I always think of with regards to these shops. They have been there from the time I was a toddler.
At the same time, he injects humour and original descriptions into his article. He is a riot to read :) I agree with his rant over the lack of seats in malls. Sometimes, visual and physical fatigue takes over after a long time of browsing. That is when we really long to rest our legs. Just as he knows men who like malls, my god-brother likes to shop in them too :)
I feel poignant whenever I walk past the wet market in my estate too. My mum used to take me to the wet market whenever she needed to prepare for the day's meals. I remember covering my nostrils whenever we walked past the fish stall. I could never stand the smell of uncooked fish and still cannot. I remember anticipating the end of her purchases as that would indicate her walk to the barbecued pork food stall to buy barbecued spare ribs for me. That was my favourite snack. I have not eaten it ever since I was a child. Perhaps it is a subconscious way of retaining the sweet memories associated with it, albeit in an different way. It is as if I don't want to touch their precious fragility and want to encase them in a glass dome forever, afraid that they will disappear if I approach them again. It is like wanting time to stand still.
He yearns for real interaction and friendship between customer and salesperson in the said industry. Yes, it is a rarity being able to gain such a genuineness, since most salespeople merely do their job of selling the product to the consumers. I am blessed to have had got this in a shop at Centrepoint. I entered the shop to look at the clothes but ended up falling into easy conversation with the salesperson. That was the start of a special friendship despite our different races. I would drop in each time I went to the mall, since she was the only one there. We are still friends to this day :)
At the same time, he injects humour and original descriptions into his article. He is a riot to read :) I agree with his rant over the lack of seats in malls. Sometimes, visual and physical fatigue takes over after a long time of browsing. That is when we really long to rest our legs. Just as he knows men who like malls, my god-brother likes to shop in them too :)
I feel poignant whenever I walk past the wet market in my estate too. My mum used to take me to the wet market whenever she needed to prepare for the day's meals. I remember covering my nostrils whenever we walked past the fish stall. I could never stand the smell of uncooked fish and still cannot. I remember anticipating the end of her purchases as that would indicate her walk to the barbecued pork food stall to buy barbecued spare ribs for me. That was my favourite snack. I have not eaten it ever since I was a child. Perhaps it is a subconscious way of retaining the sweet memories associated with it, albeit in an different way. It is as if I don't want to touch their precious fragility and want to encase them in a glass dome forever, afraid that they will disappear if I approach them again. It is like wanting time to stand still.
He yearns for real interaction and friendship between customer and salesperson in the said industry. Yes, it is a rarity being able to gain such a genuineness, since most salespeople merely do their job of selling the product to the consumers. I am blessed to have had got this in a shop at Centrepoint. I entered the shop to look at the clothes but ended up falling into easy conversation with the salesperson. That was the start of a special friendship despite our different races. I would drop in each time I went to the mall, since she was the only one there. We are still friends to this day :)
Friday, January 29, 2010
Branded bags
Jill Alphonso bought a Charles and Keith handbag because it was light to carry around and yet could hold an abundance of things. However, she was initially conscious of carrying it around. She was afraid that the sight of its logo brand would cause people to have a low impression of her. Upon reading it, I was annoyed. This materialistic product cannot be brought with us into the afterlife. Whether it is Louis Vuitton or Charles and Keith, it must stay in this world. What is the point then of possessing such expensive bags? Nonetheless, I am glad that she finally realised that a cheaper brand is just as good. :)
"Personal style refers to someone who has confidence even if they wear a paper bag." I am not saying that we should wear only paper bags when we go out. I mean that confidence is an essentiality that complements our clothes. She seems to be hinting too that branded goods are merely bought for the purpose of showing others that one can afford to possess them. Strangely, they instill confidence in their users. Confidence should not be obtained via a material good but should be nurtured through life's experiences.
At the same time, I find myself developing a liking for tote bags. I am becoming more of a woman :) I like them because of their roomy depth which allows me to put many things in. This is definitely one of the things on my list of Christmas presents :)
"Personal style refers to someone who has confidence even if they wear a paper bag." I am not saying that we should wear only paper bags when we go out. I mean that confidence is an essentiality that complements our clothes. She seems to be hinting too that branded goods are merely bought for the purpose of showing others that one can afford to possess them. Strangely, they instill confidence in their users. Confidence should not be obtained via a material good but should be nurtured through life's experiences.
At the same time, I find myself developing a liking for tote bags. I am becoming more of a woman :) I like them because of their roomy depth which allows me to put many things in. This is definitely one of the things on my list of Christmas presents :)
The effect of developing technology
Brad Stone wrote an article on this, which brought out the frightening results of such a phenomenon on the future generations. His toddler daughter had labelled his e-reader as a book. They are worlds apart. The former is merely a visual book and the latter is a real, physical book. His niece too, had received a robot hamster and perceived it as a real pet hamster. Technology is now so dominant that such inaccuracies come about.
Such children will not learn to value personal contact between two people, the smiles seen on people's faces and the times spent physically together. All they will know is the images and voices of their loved ones on the video or web camera. It is the same for the type of games they play. Computer games have replaced classic board or physical games like Monopoly, Cluedo, Five Stones, Zero Point, Skipping rhyme games or Eagle Catching Chickens. It is such a sad thing to behold.
The frightening thing is that even though I was born in the 70s, I have iGeneration tendencies. I pay less attention to television. I used to watch so many more programmes.
He cited a psychology professor as saying that there will be a demand for instant reception from their surroundings. They practically overlook the fact that we are humans and not robots. As such, we will lapse in such instantaneous output. If we are instant in our responses, we will not think before we do or speak anything, and this impulsive nature in us will cause hurt on ourselves and others. Is that what we want to see our future hurling towards? Who else can we blame if that really happens?
We must do something right now to prevent this. We must ensure the younger generations are exposed to the simpler and classic ways of living while growing up, which are usually the truly valuable. Parents and teachers, do your part!
Such children will not learn to value personal contact between two people, the smiles seen on people's faces and the times spent physically together. All they will know is the images and voices of their loved ones on the video or web camera. It is the same for the type of games they play. Computer games have replaced classic board or physical games like Monopoly, Cluedo, Five Stones, Zero Point, Skipping rhyme games or Eagle Catching Chickens. It is such a sad thing to behold.
The frightening thing is that even though I was born in the 70s, I have iGeneration tendencies. I pay less attention to television. I used to watch so many more programmes.
He cited a psychology professor as saying that there will be a demand for instant reception from their surroundings. They practically overlook the fact that we are humans and not robots. As such, we will lapse in such instantaneous output. If we are instant in our responses, we will not think before we do or speak anything, and this impulsive nature in us will cause hurt on ourselves and others. Is that what we want to see our future hurling towards? Who else can we blame if that really happens?
We must do something right now to prevent this. We must ensure the younger generations are exposed to the simpler and classic ways of living while growing up, which are usually the truly valuable. Parents and teachers, do your part!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Dress for your age
A 52-year-old boutique owner was featured on the back page of Urban last month. One would expect her to dress sensibly but she was dressed in a sparkly bodice and a short skirt. The outfit may have been chosen according to her preferences and worn with a blazer to give it a professional look, but it certainly does not suit someone of her age.
It does not make her look young, if that was her intention, but it makes her look foolish and slutty. I apologise for using such a harsh term but that is truly what the outfit seems to make her look. She may be divorced but that is no excuse for dressing like that. Seriously, the blazer barely helps the outfit to look professional and her face still betrays her actual age, which cannot complement the outfit.
It gives the impression that she cannot accept her true age and thus she has insecurity issues. Age is only a number, and it is really the youth you have within that truly brings it out. I should know. I am 34 but people think I am much younger. It is not because of the way I dress but because of the inner childlikeness(and sometimes childishness) that I possess.
It does not make her look young, if that was her intention, but it makes her look foolish and slutty. I apologise for using such a harsh term but that is truly what the outfit seems to make her look. She may be divorced but that is no excuse for dressing like that. Seriously, the blazer barely helps the outfit to look professional and her face still betrays her actual age, which cannot complement the outfit.
It gives the impression that she cannot accept her true age and thus she has insecurity issues. Age is only a number, and it is really the youth you have within that truly brings it out. I should know. I am 34 but people think I am much younger. It is not because of the way I dress but because of the inner childlikeness(and sometimes childishness) that I possess.
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