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 :)
Friday, January 29, 2010
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.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Hot Pants: trendy or indecent?
Most wearers of such a fashion item are young girls and reading what one of them said appalled me."I know they encourage us not to wear...but you don't have to listen." It smacks of wilfulness on her part. I hope that she is the exception.
Seeing young pre-teenagers wearing it is still acceptable in my eyes, as I am giving them the benefit of the doubt in assuming that they have no intent to use it to flaunt their sexuality. However, knowing that a 34-year-old woman wears it to work is simply flabbergasting. She is a retail assistant and that is somewhat of a professional job. How can she be so nonchalant when she is asked about it?! It is one thing to see it as practical but it is another thing to wear it to work. It certainly degrades her professionalism and casts an adverse effect on her retail outlet. She is not a part-time worker at this age, I reckon.
Another equally shocking knowledge is the fact that VCH and the Esplanade are rather lenient with dress codes. I have performed in VCH a few times and I would not want any member of the audience to wear such an outrageously unsuitable item to my performance! As a member of the audience at Esplanade, I make sure I wear something decently presentable like pants or a dress as a form of respect to the performers. The theatrical operators may not seem to mind but this is merely proper theatrical etiquette to me.
I know that it is a vastly different situation in London because watching musicals is a common activity among Londoners. A man was wearing a singlet to the performance of Sister Act and he was not stopped at the entrance. It is not a common activity but a form of luxury for we Singaporeans though.
I am heartened to note that Les Amis does not approve of such dressing. Kudos to their discreet yet effective measure of providing appropriate outfits to counter this.
It is strange how some wearers are aware of the unwanted attention they get on their bodies when they wear hot pants, but they still do not opt out of wearing it. Though not every guy gives them lecherous looks when they wear it, the looks do make them feel uneasy. What harm is there then in wearing a more decent fashion item? Should they continue to wear it, the lechers may mistakenly think that they really are sexually easy to prey on. When that happens, it would be too late to harbour any regrets.
Seeing young pre-teenagers wearing it is still acceptable in my eyes, as I am giving them the benefit of the doubt in assuming that they have no intent to use it to flaunt their sexuality. However, knowing that a 34-year-old woman wears it to work is simply flabbergasting. She is a retail assistant and that is somewhat of a professional job. How can she be so nonchalant when she is asked about it?! It is one thing to see it as practical but it is another thing to wear it to work. It certainly degrades her professionalism and casts an adverse effect on her retail outlet. She is not a part-time worker at this age, I reckon.
Another equally shocking knowledge is the fact that VCH and the Esplanade are rather lenient with dress codes. I have performed in VCH a few times and I would not want any member of the audience to wear such an outrageously unsuitable item to my performance! As a member of the audience at Esplanade, I make sure I wear something decently presentable like pants or a dress as a form of respect to the performers. The theatrical operators may not seem to mind but this is merely proper theatrical etiquette to me.
I know that it is a vastly different situation in London because watching musicals is a common activity among Londoners. A man was wearing a singlet to the performance of Sister Act and he was not stopped at the entrance. It is not a common activity but a form of luxury for we Singaporeans though.
I am heartened to note that Les Amis does not approve of such dressing. Kudos to their discreet yet effective measure of providing appropriate outfits to counter this.
It is strange how some wearers are aware of the unwanted attention they get on their bodies when they wear hot pants, but they still do not opt out of wearing it. Though not every guy gives them lecherous looks when they wear it, the looks do make them feel uneasy. What harm is there then in wearing a more decent fashion item? Should they continue to wear it, the lechers may mistakenly think that they really are sexually easy to prey on. When that happens, it would be too late to harbour any regrets.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Double standards towards fashion etiquette
A viewer showed his verbal disapproval towards a newscaster's choice of dressing on Deepavali. Her silver-gray dress was unfortunately intensified in tonal colour on television such that it appeared as black. It is ironic how no one else filed a similar complaint. Even the president of a Hindu temple acknowledged that different settings give allowance to different codes of dressing, and the practical setting of a news bulletin complemented the colour of the dress. The viewer seems to have overlooked this.
Now that it has been proven that it was due to the camera that the dress appeared darker, it would be good if he extends an apology to the newscaster. Contradictions are noted in his comment to the media when he said that he "had moved with the times" and didn't care about the dressing on Vesak Day. If he truly has, then why is he complaining about the newscaster's dressing? He seems to be implying that he is thinking of the interests of other viewers by writing in but they did not express any negative opinions towards her dressing. Strange, is it not?
Now that it has been proven that it was due to the camera that the dress appeared darker, it would be good if he extends an apology to the newscaster. Contradictions are noted in his comment to the media when he said that he "had moved with the times" and didn't care about the dressing on Vesak Day. If he truly has, then why is he complaining about the newscaster's dressing? He seems to be implying that he is thinking of the interests of other viewers by writing in but they did not express any negative opinions towards her dressing. Strange, is it not?
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Lindsay Lohan's attempt at fashion design
Her collection for Ungaro was met with harsh criticism and I can see why. She designed dresses which were very short and tight. They make me think that wearing them is equal to not wearing anything at all. Also, there were blazers worn as blouses, unfastened over tight strapless bras. These are extremely fantastical.
Let me go to the graphic prints now. They were made of mostly hearts and glitter. It surely does reflect her own tastes but she had forgot that the brand she was designing for counters them, specifically the hearts. They seem more suitable for little girls' fashion, besides her pink dresses.
Let me go to the graphic prints now. They were made of mostly hearts and glitter. It surely does reflect her own tastes but she had forgot that the brand she was designing for counters them, specifically the hearts. They seem more suitable for little girls' fashion, besides her pink dresses.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Reading from books versus from the Internet and audio
Tradition has maintained that reading means doing so from books, whether paperbacks or hardcovers. I've never strayed from this physical entity.
Though audio books are available in the market, they cost more than real books. Their attraction is the bringing to life of the writer/ narrator's thoughts which had been done so in word form. Reading becomes a whole new experience. At the same time, Siva Choy brought up a very valid point. The spelling of students will suffer due to the fact that they are unable to read the words and see them on pages. Listening to the words being read aloud will improve merely their oral pronunciation of words.
With the advent of Internet technology, e-books have been created. Words appear on a screen instead of on a page. This effects the probability of causing one's eyesight to deteriorate, as he strains his eyes to read the e-book. Moreover, it requires more effort to use, as the reader has to scroll down to the bottom of the screen in order to read a page. In addition, it is in greater danger of being stolen due to its high monetary value. Lastly, an e-book disallows literature students from making notes next to, or highlighting certain parts of, the text for simultaneous reference and study purposes.
Both audio books and e-books present the opportunity to read on the go but in my personal opinion, they dilute the traditional and real experience of reading from books in the physical sense.
Though audio books are available in the market, they cost more than real books. Their attraction is the bringing to life of the writer/ narrator's thoughts which had been done so in word form. Reading becomes a whole new experience. At the same time, Siva Choy brought up a very valid point. The spelling of students will suffer due to the fact that they are unable to read the words and see them on pages. Listening to the words being read aloud will improve merely their oral pronunciation of words.
With the advent of Internet technology, e-books have been created. Words appear on a screen instead of on a page. This effects the probability of causing one's eyesight to deteriorate, as he strains his eyes to read the e-book. Moreover, it requires more effort to use, as the reader has to scroll down to the bottom of the screen in order to read a page. In addition, it is in greater danger of being stolen due to its high monetary value. Lastly, an e-book disallows literature students from making notes next to, or highlighting certain parts of, the text for simultaneous reference and study purposes.
Both audio books and e-books present the opportunity to read on the go but in my personal opinion, they dilute the traditional and real experience of reading from books in the physical sense.
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