BUILDING A WARDROBE, WHITE SHIRT.

A friend of mine who is coming out of his ascetic shell and is about to embrace some consumerism has decided that he needs to first build his wardrobe. He asks me what should he invest in. And I thought, wow, the grandeur of that question. Don’t wardrobes just appear into existence? I was flipping out over this fashion conundrum but I thought GIRD YOUR LOINS, not so dramatic now.

The issue of building a wardrobe is very real. The most basic approach to this is to highlight the sartorial needs and tailor the wardrobe to meet those needs. Sounds easy enough. But everyone has different needs, perhaps with the exception of the intrinsic requirement of having to be clothed at all (even some may find this contentious though!)

So I conducted a mini-experiment. I went to my wardrobe and tried to narrow down to one single most crucial piece of garment that I cannot do without. The kitschy trinkets, lapel pins and the wristbands were the first to go. Trendy pieces including acid wash denim and rabbit cashmere cardigans didn’t last the race either. After eliminating one item after another, I was left with two things: A white shirt and underwear.

Nevermind the underwear. But the white shirt, I feel, is essential. So many looks rest on the classic white shirt. And designers are always finding ways to reinvent it – be in for men or women. Notably, Vogue-endorsed Thai designer Thakoon did a collaboration with GAP on his signature white shirt. Upon this wonderful discovery, I shared with my friend a few options to choose from when deciding on that staple white shirt.

Top choices for white shirts include those from Emporio Armani, Kris Van Assche and Filippa K. The fabrics are also usually a mix of synthetic fabric weaved into the cotton to give it that special touch. Subtle details are also introduced such as evening out the edges of the collar (as seen in Givenchy) to add a novelty without undermining the integrity of ‘the white shirt’.

Ultimately for me, two things come to mind time and time again when choosing staples: fabric and fit. The right fabric will determine how the shirt rests on your form and the right amount of sheen will give the shirt the luxe factor that makes it distinguished from the common pile.

And quite honestly, with that right white shirt, your wardrobe will feel complete without having to stock up with too many pieces.

Images via carolinesmode.

Nabil.

Read more...

BEHIND THE SCENES, HARPER'S BAZAAR SHOOT.

Who wouldn’t be curious to peek into the behind-the-scenes of a Harper’s Bazaar shoot? Especially one that gathers that many kooky, l’enfant terribles of our very own fashion industry; mismatched socks, Prada pigtails, ethnic exoticism – any prevalent trend, you name it. Cast no doubt, this ought to be interesting from the get-go.

The shoot took place at a cozy studio space at Mount Sophia. The OSN team, dressed to the nines (in monochromatic tones of course), scampered around this old Methodist Girl’s School campus, first musing about where to find the inconspicuously located gents and later in distress looking for that particular Block 3C.

Alas, we were the earliest to arrive. But of course, this was a shoot for a fashion magazine so the rule about being fashionably late stands. Who were we kidding! But all was well. We settled down and soaked up the atmosphere of our inaugural feature in Bazaar. Slowly, people started coming in dribs and drabs.

We were very heartened by how professional the shoot was handled. We had our little ‘green room’ space to prep ourselves and there were many Bazaar staff who were more than happy to aid us. Our clothes were steamed and hung nicely on the racks (you may be surprised that this is not a given sometimes). Kim Reyes, the ever sprightly fashion editor gave a warm welcome and later engaged with each and every one of us while the test shoot was on going. Everyone felt very much at home.

Do also note the esteemed company that we had for that day. James Bent of Outre, Laila from RockTheTrend, Bobo from BoboBaroque and designer Mae Pang were amongst the numerous individuals that were present. Some are old friends while many of the acquaintances became BFFs by the end of the shoot. Case in point: Mae Pang and I later discovered that we salute the same Alma Mater and have a lot more in common.

The actual shoot was colourful, spotting bouts of laughter every few seconds. The crew behind the photographer tried very hard to hold back their chuckle while the rest of us ‘trial test’ our signature pose. Do we give a Sasha pout? How about thrusting our heads back with smoky eyes, hand extended from the mini ladder? Right…very vogue indeed. Thankfully, there was Windy, Bazaar’s stylist, to pull all of us back to Earth to get an earnest, honest shoot.

The day concluded with a post-shoot discussion on the future of Singapore’s Fashion. It felt for once the voices of the emerging leaders of our local fashion industry are chorusing in unison about their woes and prides, leaving everyone feeling very nuanced about how they see Singapore’s Fashion.

The full day spent for the shoot was not in vain and it was clear that this feature came out of a genuine concern to amplify the sentiments of our young fashion custodians. ONESIXTYNOTEPAD is honored to have been invited. Thank you Harper’s Bazaar!

Images By Ridhwan Sesapar.
More Images on ONESIXTYNOTEPAD Facebook Fanpage.

Nabil.

Read more...

HE SAYS, HAIR STYLING.

I always get so pumped up when it comes to hair. As far as I can remember, I began styling my hair religiously since 1994 when I got inspired by Jim Carry in Ace Ventura. On hindsight, I’m sure my kindergarten teachers must have been peeved by my outlandish hairstyle - but never mind the history.

Hair.

A good place to start when it comes to hair care is a good haircut. A good haircut - one that is not necessarily exorbitant - makes styling much easier. To put things into perspective, it is going to take you twice as long to comb an Armani if your haircut is a Faux Hawk. Likewise for women, it’s going to take a miracle to turn a choppy concave bob into a precision cut.

So let’s assume that our haircut is all swanky. What I do next (or at least try to) is to blow dry it out and then start creating some texture with wax or clay. The common knowledge is to buy those that are not too greasy. Otherwise it adds weight to the hair making it flop and look unnatural. The wrong hair product not only makes your hair look dry but also affects the health of your complexion when you perspire. Trust me, I’ve had my share of bad hair moments.

After you have your general shape it is best that you secure it with some hairspray. Hurrah! (Tempting as it may be, the word ‘some’ is key here, not ‘hairspray’! So apply sparingly) It is handy to note that you can spray some onto your fingertips when styling the ends of your hair for greater definition. As a rule of thumb, never, NEVER, twirl a lock of hair till it forms some semblance of a spike (this is the common tactic when your hair doesn’t stand naturally). Such crafty science projects often result in a bunch of Churros on the head, and it ain’t pretty. If you find yourself in that precarious situation, you’re probably using too much hair product or you didn’t blow-dry enough.

Well, this is certainly no rocket science and I’m sure most of you have already put these tips into good practice. If not, why not get started; it takes time to master this art.

*This is not a product review or an advertorial.

Images By Dinie Rahman.

Nabil.

Read more...

HE SAYS, FACIAL CARE.

So I present you with a mind-boggling conundrum: which facial care products do you buy off the shelf when you’re spoilt for choice?

Deciding on a facial care product is a major deal, like choosing an ‘It’ bag that defines you or buying that signature fragrance; it has to be a perfect fit. And I’m sure like most of you have discovered, when you chance upon that one and only, it feels like a life-changing moment and you feel a great sense of comfort.

There are many things to watch out for when buying facial products but I’d like to focus on just one that I feel applies universally. From my personal experience, I like to choose a product that provides balance. Finding the toughest cleaning agent is easy but it might leave your skin excessively dry making the skin susceptible to other conditions. On the other hand, there are plenty of ‘water treatment’ facial products in the market that honestly work just like plain water. Hence finding the right product isn’t going to be so easy after all. Most people go by trial and error.

The product I'm using meets all my needs and comes in a sleek cylindrical dispenser. It purifies the skin with cleansing pearls and the oxygen revitalizes it, giving your skin a warm natural glow. It is water-based so it is mild yet effective. It is so wholesome that it is the only facial cleanser I bring with me to the Army. I have been using this for four years, ever since I found out Madonna goes for regular Oxygen Skin treatment to keep her youth. I’m glad I found a substitute for less than $10!

But like I have said, a product may be one’s antidote but another’s poison. So press on in your quest if you haven’t already found one. Though, if the problem is severe you ought to consult a doctor who will be able to tailor the treatment to the condition of your skin. At the end of the day, you know a product is good, if it pulls you through army - or anything as equally traumatic for the skin – unscathed and glowing.

This post is part of a collaborative effort between OSN and L'Oreal for the L'Oreal Brainstorm competition.

Images By Ridhwan Sesapar.

Nabil.

Read more...