Black - The Queen of All Colours

Attended a lecture hold by National Museum of Singapore at The Salon –Level 1 of National Museum- on May 18^th 2011. The lecture was held in conjunction with Beauty in Black exhibition (Please refer to Beauty in Black Part ) and Part 2 for more information) that will be held up until June 13^th 2011.

The speaker for the lecture was Anthony Tan. He is a Senior Lecturer of Department of Fashion Studies of Nanyang Academy of fine Arts. The curator for Beauty in Black exhibition was also present at the lecture and assisted Anthony in answering the questions from the audience during the Q & A session at the end of the lecture.

Anthony shared his knowledge of the evolution of the colour black and why black continues to be staple affection and obsession by so many around the world and across cultures.

Anthony started the presentation by explaining about the history of modern black dress and how Coco Channel started the “black dress” trend.

Coco Chanel and her famous black dress

Black colour is always being associated with “funeral” and “death” especially in Asian culture. However, how amazing it is that every where thou go, thou shall see that lots of people are actually wearing black colour nowadays. The trend and people’s perceptions had changed.

One of Anthony’s statement does real for Mel. He mentioned that one could express himself by wearing black colour. In contrary, those colorful clothes actually drew people’s attention to the clothing rather than one who wear the particular clothing.

Personally, Mel thinks that it does true. Black is simple and elegant plus it’s easy to mix and match with other accessories and clothing. Let say with one plain black short skirt for instance, thou could create different kind of looks -sporty, casual, formal, etc-. Thou could express those feelings and mood easily without drawing the attention away from thou as the wearer.

Anthony also mentioned about how the changing of trend of Black colour. Black, which once was considered as luxury items due to its pricing and exclusivity, is no longer treated conservatively. The design are varied and become more sophisticated in the recent years especially with more young designers with more creative and rebellions side come into the scene.

REi KAwakubo’s –founder of Comme des Garçons- twisted padded jacket.

Note: Anthony mentioned that REi KAwakubo stated in one of her interview that she always work with three shades of black.

Victor & Rolf with their A/W 2001 collection, with the theme of “Black Hole”, went extreme by painted the model’s body with black paint even themselves.

Gareth Pugh, young fashion designer from the UK, whose collection is beyond wow. Gareth Pugh collections are real crazy and weird but yet there are amazing and totally different.

Gareth Pugh's A/W 2009

After showing some of those amazing collection, the lecturer was closed with Q&A session with discussion about black colour and its recent development.

Jurlique Tea Party

Jurlique is having a tea party at Jurlique counter at TANGS VivoCity, Level 1.

During the event, Jurlique conducted presentation on home facial experience with its new product range, Purely White Collection.

Mel had the honor to be demonstrated with the 1-to-1 demonstration on the products as she missed the presentation. The lady explained step-by-step in using the whole range of collection and the benefits of each product. It was pretty impressive especially when the lady told her that the toner is not only a toner but also facial mist and can be used anytime. Basically, just spray the mist to the face and leave it to dry. It is not only hydrate and refresh the skin but also keep the makeup longer. She also added that the Jurlique products are made from natural ingredients so it can be used by any skin types.

Mel loves the product so much that she purchased the Rosewater Balancing Mist for combination skin.

As the first 80 TANGS cardmembers who made RSVP for the event, Mel received two vouchers (SGD 10 each) and door gifts worth SGD 100.

For the door gift, Mel received Calendula Cream, Herbal Recovery Night Mist and Daily Exfoliating Cream.

Various nibbles and drinks are also served during the event.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

The first time Disney Studio released Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Mel was not interested to watch it at all. The reason being mainly coz Mel thought that the movie is kinda creepy, judging from the cover.

One day, Mel’s housemate bought Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’s VCD. After much persuasion, Mel finally agreed to watch it together with her. From covering her face (with pillow) and scream like mad woman to laugh like mad, Mel pretty much love the movie. Apparently, it’s not as scary as she tough.

That was Mel's first experience with the Pirates of the Caribbean. It was then continued to next second one, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, and the third one, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.

The third installment was kinda heartbreaking, could accept the fact that Elizabeth (and the boy) have to be separated from Will and they can only see each other like once in every ten years. Well, they could each other still at least and Mel was so happy that they both have a boy together.

Elizabeth and Will (and the Dead Man's Chest containing his beating heart)

Elizabeth Turner and William Turner III

After waiting for almost four years, finally Disney Studio will release the next installment. Sad and excited at the same time. Sad as there will be no more Will and Elizabeth and excited as Penelope Cruz will act in the movie.

Following is the Synopsis of the movie (taken from http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1298650/).

Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) crosses paths with a woman from his past (Cruz), and he's not sure if it's love -- or if she's a ruthless con artist who's using him to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. When she forces him aboard the Queen Anne's Revenge, the ship of the formidable pirate Blackbeard (McShane), Jack finds himself on an unexpected adventure in which he doesn't know who to fear more: Blackbeard or the woman from his past.

The most interesting part is that the plot for the fourth installment was inspired by Tim Powers’ 1988 novel On Stranger Tides. Tim Powers is an American science fiction and fantasy author who won the World Fantasy Award twice for his critically acclaimed novels, Last Call and Declare.

Are thou as excited as I am? You do surely. Therefore,

“Catch Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides movie starting from 19^th May 2011 and join the official Disney Studios Singapore Facebook & Twitter page!”

Ashley Isham Charity Tee

Finally, Mel managed to visit Ochard Centre’s corciage Level 1 to collect the limited edition tee by Ashley Isham exactly three days after receiving the order confirmation email ^_^

So, here’s the tee …

The size chart of the tee is as follows.

Ashley Isham is a London-based Singaporean designer who hitted the headlines after he designed Zara Phillips’ outfit for the Royal Ascot in 2002, and that followed with a much raved-about showing in 2003 at the London Fashion Week.

(Source pic: http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/f23/royal-ascot-1-all-years-to-2007-a-143.html)

Frankly, the limited edition tee is just a standard white tee. The thing that make it unique is the “Dahlia Necklace” along the front side of the tee as Ashley Isham was inspired by the dignity and elegance of the beautiful dahlia flower in designing the tee. The limited edition tee was released in conjunction with the opening of Ashley Isham’s new boutique, AI by Ashley Isham.

The tee sold for SGD 30, which is considerably cheaper that Ashley Isham’s AI line T-shirts with starting price of SGD 75.

All the sales proceeds will go to Very Special Arts (Singapore), a non-profit organization providing individual with disability opportunities to access the Arts for purposes of rehabilitation and social integration.

Thou could purchase the limited edition tee through Orchard Central website!

Vogue Japan June 2011

Went to Kinokuniya Ngee Ann City one evening and look what Mel found, Vogue Japan July 2011.

There were only two magazines left and Mel bought one of them YAY!

The freebie for this copy is Moschino bracelet.

Well, it supposed to be a bracelet but looks kinda weid to be one so, Mel wears it as a necklace instead.

It’s so pretty, isn’t so?

Beauty in Black (Part II)

Beauty in Black is not only displaying amazing dresses from world-renowned designers but also some vintage (donated) cheongsams back from 1950s-1980s. Here’s Mel’s favourite’s cheongsam among all, back from the 1960s.

On the four walls of the exhibition space, thou could find detailed information about the history of black dresses in Singapore dated from 1950s.

Not to forget some information about the modern black dresses.

That information is not only available in terms of written information but also visual information. Ones could see the changes of black dresses’ trend in Singapore over the years though the photographs on the walls.

Not to forget two black dresses designed by two Singaporean-born designers namely Benny Ong and Thomas Wee.

*Thomas Wee*

*Benny Ong*

Love the cut of the dresses especially the cheongsam. It’s simple but the patterned beads turned it into lovely dress. Started from the top right and dragged all the way down until bottom right. Basically, it highlighted the body shape of the person who wear it.

Benny Ong’s dress is little dull. Simple and minimalist but it’s quite boring, it just like any other dress. On the other hand, Thomas Wee’s dress comes as a “surprise”. Although the front part is real simple, but take a peek at the part in the back. V cutting with ribbon and plaids in the back is real smart design. It’s classy yet elegant.The shape and shade of the dress will make it easier to find accessories to match with it.

The exhibition is run from March 16^th up until June 13^th 2011 at 10:00am-08:00pm daily at The Balcony (Level 2), Nasional Museum of Singapore. This is a free admission exhibition so don’t miss it!

Beauty in Black (Part I)

Fashion exhibition is not always being held at the shopping centre, emporium and exhibition but also in a museum.

Mel went to National Museum of Singapore to check out Beauty in Black exhibition at over the weekend.

Eighteen dresses from 1950s to 2000s were exhibited at Beauty in Black. Those dresses were designed by Azzedine Alaïa, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Dries van Noten, Hubert de Givenchy, Jules Francois Crahay, Hardy Amies (who was known as royal dressmaker for England’s Queen Elizabeth II since 1950), Karl Lagerfeld, Olivier Theyskens, Pierre Cardin, Rei Kawakubo and also some Singaporean-born designers namely Benny Ong and Thomas Wee.

Here’s some snapshots of Mel’s favourite’s dresses.

Karl Lagerfeld for Chloe

Pierre Cardin

Cristóbal Balenciaga

The dresses are absolutely fabulous … The design is simple but the cut and pattern make it looks elegant and classy … Lagerfeld’s dress stands up because of the guitar motif at the back, Pierre Cardin’s dress is simple but the pleats were designed in such ways that made it looks like waves, Balenciaga’s dress and matador cape are so glittery that make them even more special …

Wearing a LBD is as simple as slipping it on but, thou shall wear it with “attitude” or else it will be just like any other dresses and as Coco Chanel said below …

The exhibition is run from March 16^th up until June 13^th 2011 at 10:00am-08:00pm daily at The Balcony (Level 2), Nasional Museum of Singapore. This is a free admission exhibition so don’t miss it!