Usually, I can’t sit myself down long enough to twist a French braid to save my life, but these video tutorials make daunting beauty routines so easy, especially with the little time I have when not writing endless lesson plans for my morning classes. And let’s face it, we’ve all dreamt of a red carpet moment at some point of our lives but should, by a frivolous twist of fate, an opportunity come along, are we prepared for it? From burlesque to classic 1960s, these great video tutorials will guide you towards claiming your million-dollar look without you having to spend a bomb and half.

The Stunning Bombshell

Artist impression by William Travilla

Inspired by the sex goddess of the 1950s, Marilyn Monroe, this look is versatile – great for anything from cocktail parties to a lovely picnic brunch with your girlfriends. Iris glams up her tutorials with music to put you in the mood, and in this one, even offers a discount coupon if you want to buy the dress she’s wearing, which I must say, is nothing short of sensational.

The Original Burlesque

Dita Von Teese in 2007

Okay, so maybe Dita Von Teese is not the original queen of burlesque – Bettie Page is. But Ms Von Teese, while having admitted to being inspired by Bettie Page, has claimed a signature look of her own, complete with a perfect crimson pout and the ever so enigmatic bouffant fringe. In the first video, Iris even gives us a little peek into her playlist, while Lady Leelu’s transformation in the make-up tutorial is enough to make me believe that truly, nothing is impossible.

Holly Golightly

Audrey Hepburn (Courtesy of Time.com)

If you haven’t watched Breakfast at Tiffany’s, go rent out the movie already! Audrey Hepburn plays Holly Golightly, whose style has been copied, reconstructed, applied and whatever-have-yous so many times, it’s become a grand classic. This also means that it’ll look good on just about anyone. ‘StrawberryKoiVintage’ is known for her vintage hairstyling tutorials, and she’s cute too! Do click on ‘More Info’ for details on whatyou need to get started. Check out her black sheath and pearls – this girl’s totally got it.

Smouldering Hot

Penelope Cruz (Courtesy of Interweb)

I have always, ALWAYS, wondered how Penelope Cruz (and every other person with the assistant-on-hand advantage) can look so good with smoky eye make-up when all I’ve ever been able to achieve are panda eyes which I suspect don’t go too well with all the red carpet frou frou. I like this tutorial for its simplicity and conciseness – products and demonstration are pictured in bright natural light, and Sarah Chaudhry is an old pal who’s making a name for herself in the local make-up industry, and none of her tutorials have disappoint, which is probably why she now has close to 2000 subscribers, after only very recently starting up her channel on YouTube. I’m also loving her giveaways and how she presses the red alert button each time there’s a private cosmetics sale going on.

1920s Flapper Chic

Drew Barrymore at Grey Gardens premier (Courtesy of Fashionising)

Drew Barrymore once graced the red carpet herself, wearing a sequinned flapper-style dress and a 1920s hairdo that looks painstakingly complicated. Oh but Iris, not only does she make it look like a breeze (and she looks better than South African Charlize too!), she does it with personality! I’ve watched this video five times already and I still can’t get over her retro-looking fillers and cute piano soundtrack!

Improvisation was a powerful tool to express one’s individuality in those times. There was no Diva or Accessorize then, so women made do with scraps of felt and other material to add flourish to their hair. Teen.com TV Craft Club has some great videos, and one of them teaches you how to make silk floral headbands.

Now all you need is a red carpet to walk down and preferably with flash bulbs going off from every direction. I mean come on, you’re not going to survive a first attempt at anything without a sore neck or a prick on your finger so after all that effort, I think we girls deserve a little bit of attention, no?

It is halfway into the year 2009.

9 years into the new millennium, my 6th year of existence in this little red dot with a presence you just can’t seem to ignore.

Yet I can’t seem to shirk off that icky feeling of being bogged down by the narrow idealism and superstitions that seem to make up the mental constitution of the people I deal with on a near-daily basis.

It’s rather wondrous how as we progress as a technology-savvy society, we are so eager to embrace further the multitude of theological rites unfairly dumped on us since birth, but are unable to discard our societal obsessions to conform. Thereby rendering us vulnerable to the manipulation and puppeteering of the slightly intellectually superior but infinitely more diligent at plotting.

Or that could just be my paranoia talking.

The point being – all of us who are happily, stably, and potentially permanently attached should have sex. Like bunnies in a romp, like my best friend’s deprived, hump-happy pug, like it was the best thing that ever happened to man. And woman. And most living creatures.

However, let me just attempt to shield myself from potential lawsuits and controversy by first saying that, the sex you have (or are about to have) should be safe and responsible (ie. use a condom, preventive measures against unwanted pregnancy, against very undesirable, and unsexy, diseases, and the like). Mind you, when I say safe and responsible, I mean not only for yourself, but for society at large. Which includes that cute guy or hot chick whose pants/skirt/dress you’re about to get into. Cute and hot being only two out of a million possible criteria for someone who is about to get laid.

If you’re under the age of 16 – please keep not only your pants on, but your top on too. I would advise against bending over and kneeling unnecessarily. If it so happens that you were forced at knife point (or much less likely, at gun point), please google the following words: help, helpline, underage, sexual abuse, rape, -insert name of country of choice-. Oh and please close this page right away or click on a different link within the site. STOP reading this article immediately. I can’t stress enough how important it is to be over the legal age for having sex because if you’re not, you reading this article would be totally pointless and would only serve to fuel or ignite what could be a ravenous hunger in your loins that burns and aches with every passing second. Plus attempting to have sex then would make you a criminal. And nobody wants to be a criminal right?

That said, if you (and your partner) are over the legal age, congratulations. Even better if you’re of the child-bearing and having anxious, overbearing parents breathe-down your-neck-for-grandchildren age. You can, and should, have sex. Or make love to your partner as often as practically possible.

Dang, I have to stop qualifying each and every statement I make.

Sex is good. Certain studies have shown that sex is the most comprehensive, wholesome workout one can get as a couple making love exercises the most muscles through the simple, and very pleasurable act of intercourse. As two people engage in the repetitive movements that have become the stereotype of intercourse, the body releases hormones like endorphin and serotonin that is supposedly responsible for elevating one’s mood. In a country like Singapore where low birth rates are a problem, making love more often helps your country eradicate a social issue and pushes it towards its goal of hitting a 6 million population.

Rocking, innit? This is patriotism on a personal level, at its best.

We are mostly too closeted in this sense to admit that great sex, is great for the mind and body. In my admittedly rather insignificant daily life as an undergraduate, most of us are only too happy to criticise and judge that girl who is suspiciously, intimately happy with her boyfriend while secretly harbouring the desire to get some action for ourselves. That sort of stigma is truly a gargantuan obstacle to our progress as individuals because not only is it sexism at its worse, it is double standards, and a shameful act of conforming all rolled into one.

I recently spoke to a friend of mine who elaborated to me, much to my shock and amusement, his sexcapades in recent times – the cinema, the beach, public buses, toilets (hmm watch the hygiene, people).

I am not going to launch into a tirade against self-righteous, condescending know-it-alls because my point here is simple – make love! And share the love. Close girlfriends should exchange tips on how to improve their love lives (but please do not kiss and tell. That is just bad manners) while us guys can refrain from boasting about our ‘conquests’ and just stick to talking about that brilliant match that Man-U lost. Or maybe not.

Be adventurous too, vary your positions (sometimes be on top, sometimes she’s on top, side by side, front to back, dominant or submissive, CREATIVITY is the word), locations (watch the law though. No signs exist to tell you where it’s acceptable to have sex) and communicate. I recently spoke to a friend of mine who elaborated to me, much to my shock and amusement, his sexcapades in recent times – the cinema, the beach, public buses, toilets (hmm watch the hygiene, people). You name it. So this goes out to all the newbies and conservative types who may already be getting in the sack often enough but perhaps could do with a little more excitement. For starters, explore the various parts of your body on your own, at your own leisure, and then share whatever insights you glean from such endeavours with your partner. I say explore on your own because you yourself know best what stimulates you and what simply turns you off. Thereafter, should you feel adventurous enough, you and your partner could both try exploring in a geographical sense.

That said, the best sex is achieved when both parties are comfortable while pushing the edge a little bit at naughtiness and adventure. Plus there should always be an equal amount of give and take when it comes to matters of lust. So don’t be selfish – reciprocate. If you enjoy receiving oral favours, return them promptly, or in due time. Don’t be lazy while you are at it either, make full use of every available body part, or limb, for best results. I don’t know if it is politically correct to say so but kudos to magazines like Men’s Health or CLEO for their frequent, specific tips on this thing I am calling a sport. On special occasions, you could even indulge your partner (or each other) by partaking in each other’s fantasies. Assuming you’re comfortable enough to share such personal information and have communicated them across accurately. Be daring, take the leap, for all you know your fantasies are mutual and all it takes is a little nudge in the right direction.

So go ahead, make love, make babies, make happiness!

P/S: I would love to give tips on how to actually go about getting laid, but seeing how inexperienced I am, this is where I encourage reader participation. Unload your tips here, please! ;) Oh and don’t get caught getting it on in places you’re not supposed to be.

A week ago, a couple of my friends were talking about accommodation for our trip to Vienna, when one suggested couch surfing.

Couch surfing?

Basically, you log on to this website and scroll through a list of people who are willing to host you in their apartment for the period of your stay, for free.

Even kitty loves to couch surf

I’m proud to say I’ve tried it!

We were really lucky to have found a really nice host and his room-mates were amazing too! They cooked for us, made beds for us, offered us towels and also let us sample just about the best liqueur have ever tried in my life; Barenjager, which is a German Honey Liqueur.

Tip: Choose your host wisely( good looking guys are not always the best host :) ) , pimp up your profile page (if people know you better they are more likely to pick you to stay over.)

There’s always some risk involved, but let’s have some faith in the trust system, shall we?

Granted it may be the German capital, but Berlin should really also be the Vintage capital of the world.

If you’re familiar with vintage shops in Singapore, it’s hard to ignore the differences between the shops here and the ones in Berlin.

It lacks two of the ‘qualities’ I’ve always attached to the vintage shopping experience in Singapore. Despite my love for vintage, I’ve never been able to stay in any shop for long, given the smell (food goes bad faster in a tropical country; the same goes for vintage). In Berlin, that unmistakable smell of vintage is thankfully not as pungent. Secondly (and happily!), the exorbitant price tag is nowhere to be found.

It would be impossible to visit all the vintage shops scattered all around Berlin; the only neighbourhood you really need to visit to get your Vintage fix is the borough of Prenzlauer Berg, which is a little ways away from the city centre.

You will need to make two trips (I recommend one weekday and one Sunday) in order to cover all the vintage shops this neighbourhood has to offer. It’s not an exaggeration.

In Germany, almost all the shops are closed on Sunday, but every Sunday in Prenzlauer Berg you’ll find Mauerpark flea market, the largest flea market in all of Berlin.

Mauerpark Flea Market

Although you may have to rummage through piles and piles of clothes to actually find a piece of vintage, there is no lack of vintage accessories and shoes. Granted that some of the clothing may not be vintage pieces, for example a Mod H & M dress I spied amidst the pile, but if you’re lucky you might just find something like a colourful high-waisted skirt.

“How much is this?” I asked a girl, not older than 15.

“Five €,” she said.

Not willing to buy anything without exercising my right to haggle in a flea market, I said: “I’ll give you three, since I’ll have to fix the zipper.”

She was dumbfounded and perturbed by my offer but just then, her grandmother – proud owner of the skirt – came over.

“No, this is my skirt! From the 60’s! Ok! Ok! 3,50.”

I bought it, but overlooked the fact that only someone with a waistline of 18 inches would fit into it. That’s how you know it’s real vintage.

Boots to suit every desire

Alternatively, if you don’t feel brave enough to navigate your way out of the city centre given that the transport network can be very confusing, staying within the central borough of Mitte will do just fine.

It’s amazing how American Apparel pieces (although fantastic) at California Select can be so overpriced, but vintage items there can be so affordable. It is almost as if they jacked up the prices of basics so that they don’t make as much of a loss selling one-of-a-kind, expertly selected pieces at prices lower than what it is worth.

Cocktail dresses range from 40-60 € and shoes (1970s heels for 30 €).

Here's what I snapped up at California Select, pity it will be a little too warm for Singapore's climate.

Dressing vintage is quintessentially Berlin, and Made in Berlin attests to that fact. Located right in one of the busiest shopping district, this establishment boast two floors of Vintage, Vintage and more Vintage. Skirts and blouses from the late 1980s to early 1990s at anything between 15-40 €, retro leather starting at 60 €. In the basement, you’ll find items that that date back to the 1960s as well as something for a boy who shares the same passion for vintage as you do.

Vintage is addictive, so enjoy the shopping experience, and bring wads of cash because you’ll always find a reason to get yourself another pair of oversized bug-eyed sunglasses.

Addresses

Mauerpark

California Select Berlin

Made In Berlin

Face it, clothes make us girls go weak in our knees; and having a closet full of clothes for every occasion is every girl’s dream. So we say, why stop dreaming? Clothes allow us to escape into a realm of fantasy, unbothered by the realities of the gruelling world. Fashion blogs are my antidote to a tough day at school or just simply candy for the eye. Yes, I am jealous at the amount of clothes these fashion bloggers have, and what’s more, most of the clothes are sent to them free-of-charge! But jealousy aside, these websites are great ways to pick up a tip or two on the season’s latest trend! Here, I will give you a break down on just 3 of my favourite fashion blogs and hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I do.

Rumi, fashion blogger (picture from fashiontoast.blogspot.com)

Rumi, www.fashiontoast.blogspot.com, is influenced by people such as Alexander Wang and Erin Wasson, namely the purveyors of the homeless-chic style. Of which, she does to perfection. The dress and boots combo always works and even with a simple cropped tee and ripped acid-wash jeans, Rumi manages to look in style. I am awfully jealous of her vast collection of shoes, Chlóes, Steve Maddens, Dr. Martens, you name it, she’s got it.

Lisa is chic-er than when I was 14 (picture from www.lisaplace.devote.se)

Lisa, www.lisaplace.devote.se, is one of Sweden’s top bloggers. She is the epitome of casual-chic and the first fashion blogger I followed religiously. Being just 14, she has impeccable style. At that age, while I was still donning Hello Kitty shirts and wearing slippers everywhere, Lisa is already mixing items from high-street brands and creating a look that is entirely her own. Her blog is also more than just about fashion; she takes some pretty amazing photos and inspires you to be creative.

Karla (picture from www.karlascloset.com)

Karla, www.karlascloset.com, was introduced to me by a friend. Her style is more eclectic, ranging from sneakers to

stripper heels, jodhpurs to vintage dresses. However, one thing is for sure, she never fails to surprise and amaze her readers with her ever-changing style. She always manages to score fantastic vintage pieces from thrift shops and must have some of the most mind-blowing blazers. Also, I don’t think I’ve seen her repeating her outfits, so one can only imagine the amount of clothes she has.

Fashion blogs are not only good for picking up a tip or two on what works, they are interesting reads because of their combined formula of awesome photography, snippets of their life and the occasional sharing of their great finds, like a treasure thrift shop located somewhere one would have never expected or a D.I.Y method to shredding shirts.

These fashion bloggers are turning into celebrities of their own kind by being featured in magazines, being asked to model apparels and lastly, signing on to a modelling agency (a la Rumi). It seems like this new wave of blogs are set to create a new phenomenon in the fashion industry. So, if you haven’t already heard about them, head down to their sites now and kick-start your new addiction. And, don’t hesitate to click on the different links they have at their sidebar; that was how I uncovered so many other amazing reads.

Having been a foreigner here for almost 5 years, and for the better part of my youth’s prime, I have to say that Singapore is — different.

Thus far I’ve been through 3 distinct phases of my life here and hence I shall describe in detail (like it or not!) why I’ve felt the urge to cut and run at various points.

One of the first culture shocks dealt to me was after my first ever test, or quiz, in junior college (JC). Going through 5 years of secondary education in Malaysia put me under the impression that you never had to work really hard to show that you had some semblance of competence. Singapore gave me my first fail grade ever. I thought I’d never get through junior college. But somehow, that didn’t motivate me and make me all raring to go squash some test paper’s rear end. In fact, I sort of resigned to what I thought was my fate to try and fail in Singapore. Thereafter, I found my amusement in everybody else’s perpetual state of anxiety and (what I deemed to be) an excessive drive to do well.

Everyone studied endlessly and they didn’t just stop there. They had tonnes of activities like soccer, dance, Malay Cultural Society, choir, guitar ensemble and THEN they studied endlessly. There was always something to rush for after their extra-curricular commitments were over for the day and nobody went to the hawker centre just across the road for some supper or drinks. I genuinely didn’t understand that because I always had my “ice kacang” or “cendol” after my basketball games or Red Crescent activities.

So, culture shock.

Post-JC there was the phase where I only wanted to rot, rot and rot to reward myself for a job well done for ‘A’ levels. And rot I did, but I only gotten more insecure the more I rotted because, while everyone had seemingly more meaningful jobs, I took up a brainless job that entailed executing the menial chores of an office boy in the good ol’ Central Business District. It paid me S$10/hour, which was more than someone who failed his prelims could ask for at that point in time.

It also meant I experienced that mad office crowd rush from 7-9am daily for a month or two. Then there was the after-office rush that proved to be even more hardcore than that in the morning. And every single person on every bus or train I took then, was grumpy, grouchy, and somewhat angry. Which reminds me of, and puts into stark contrast, this Bangladeshi man who happened to be singing on his way back to Boon Lay on the last train one of those nights I had been dancing till late. I swear, on that night, though he sort of resembled a sore thumb sticking out in the train carriage (everyone was captivated by him, in that typical Singaporean pretend not to notice but ACTUALLY TOTALLY SPYING), I could just imagine him singing on a Mediterranean beach while I sip on my mojito underneath a summer sun.

Back home, taking the bus (I’m sorry to be reminded that Johor Bahru has yet to develop mass transportation systems other than public buses) meant there would always be a bunch of noisy youths sitting all the way behind talking and laughing to themselves. Random ah lians would be trading gossip and complaints while they talk excitedly about their plans for the night. And most of the time, they just want some fun. Like blondes! Unlike a lot (maybe majority, maybe not) of the people here, who go out at night with huge-ass agenda programmed into their every limb, action and word. Maybe Singapore should have a National Blonde Week where everyone goes blonde and just has some fun while throwing dignity and decorum to the wind. Regardless of the form fun comes in.

Maybe Singapore should have a National Blonde Week where everyone goes blonde and just has some fun while throwing dignity and decorum to the wind.

As I entered NTU, I made a handful of life-changing, pivotal decisions and took some significant steps in coming to terms with who I was and who I was about to become. For example, not making my own decisions as an independent (soon-to-be) adult, and thereby choosing the wrong course. Now I’m very tempted to insert “LOL” here simply because I find it that amusing. I knew for sure that I wanted to do something like communications but Daddy said engineering FTW! So like the good son I’ve been for the prior 19 years of my life, I took up chemical engineering.

At this point in time I had decided to stop discriminating against everyone other than my ex-hostel mates and start behaving like someone who didn’t have the world at his feet and everything in his head. Which opened me up to the beautiful convergence of my JC and rotting phase experience. As I made more friends hailing from 3K-land, it dawned on me that people here are not only severely misinformed about a great deal of things (such as the misconception that Malaysians can’t speak English and we don’t have malls), they are also scared of so much more.

“I can’t eat alone, it’s so embarrassing!”

“Are you sure you want to eat this? It looks kind of gross.”

“Will I get diarrhoea?”

“Oh my god I can’t go there. I will be a sitting duck for robbers and snatch thieves.”

“Since you are Malaysian, aren’t you supposed to be Malay?”

It was like the prelude for S Factor. Only this time it had male contestants too. All in all, it’s funny how the average Singaporean survives so much in this country but can’t seem to get out of their shell and just let loose once in a while. I understand you have dreams to pursue and immeasurable success to achieve, but diarrhoea’s scarcely enough to stop you, a snatch thief can’t steal that away from you, and you’re going to die when you’re going to die.

So let go of your hang-ups, people! Let the next person win an argument with you. Give someone the benefit of doubt. Tell yourself: I don’t need to worry or whine about this, it will work out.

I can afford to give way to somebody when I’m driving on the road and not have to honk the nuts off my horn.