Here’s an update on some that I’ve caught in the month of December:

• Ninja Assasin

- Yay for rain’s abs, nay for rain’s hair. a better than expected storyline for an action movie. Though some girls may not be prepared for the amount of blood shed, or people getting sliced to pieces.

• New Moon

- I wasn’t much of a fan of twilight. the bad patchy white vampire look does not go well with me. however, with a new director, the action scenes have gotten better. Though i can’t say much has improved with regards to the main leads’ acting skills. Question: if they are so in love, why can’t Edward look Bella in the eyes when he speaks to her?

• Planet 51

- There’s only so much you can do with an alien movie. the references to ’star wars’ and other well known sci-fi movies are stark. Most of the funny parts were seen in the trailer though. Also, I’ve come to realise animations+cartoons aren’t made to cater to an audience of kids. Thumbs up for Justin Long, the mannerisms of the ‘alien’ he plays are just so Justin Long.

And what I’m looking forward to:

1. Sherlock Holmes – Hot actors. Pretty actress. Decent director.
2. The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus – Heath Ledger.
3. New York I Love You – Wasn’t a fan of 2006’s “Paris Je T’aime,” but hey, we all love a tad of americanization right?

Tattler is going to see Lenka in concert at Zirca this Thursday, and we’re so excited! The bridge from Trouble Is A Friend is totally stuck in my head. The only solution is to watch her live, so we can all sing along and get the song unstuck.

Will you be there too?

(Buy your tickets here now!)

Under a wooden rip-curl at Henderson Waves

It shares the stage with other recipients of the award, including Designers of the Year like Koichiro Ikebuchi of Atelier Ikebuchi, and Chris Lee of Asylum. They were in attendance among other designers being honoured at the opening ceremony of the Singapore Design Festival 2009, held at Ion Orchard this afternoon. We meet President SR Nathan and Adran Pang after the jump!

Designers, guests and press mingle at Ion Orchard

It was a very ‘international’ event, with people from all over the world, hobnobbing and mingling, talking design and art. I heard Japanese, snatches of Korean, Australian and American accents, and there was even a man with an awesome bushy mustache that curled at the ends like you see in cartoons. Waiters moved around, handing out  glasses of pink drink and canapes that were basically local bites like chicken rice balls and chwee kway made to look pretty.

The President of Singapore was at the event to declare the opening of the Design Festival, and went around the exhibitions, mingling with designers and press.

President SR Nathan and guests at the Singapore Design Festival opening

Of course, fangirls that we Tattlers are (watch Kerrie and Laea gush over Zoe Tay and Tay Ping Hui at the Raoul opening.), we could not resist a photo opportunity with Adrian Pang, who was hosting the event. “I saw you in Blue Mansion,” said Kerrie, right after the photo was taken. “And Polo Boys,” I blurt. He laughed and turned crimson, “Yea well, thanks for all your support; I’m grateful for whatever support I can get.”

At Tattler, we hunt celebs and shoot them. With cameras lah.

The Singapore Design Festival 2009 is themed “Design2050: Possiblities for Tomorrow”, and will be held from 20 to 30 November with a wide range of design events and activities. We at Tattler scoped out the list and here are some highlights we found interesting:

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

By MOJOKO (www.mojoko.net)
Exhibition 25 Nov – 1 Dec, 11am – 8pm, Free Admission
The Substation, 45 Armenian Street
A showcase of 2D and 3D artwork inspired by the cult movie Bladerunner by Singapore’s new wave of underground and emerging artists and designers.
Click here for more info!

Strangelet’s Own

By Strangelets (www.strangelets.org)
Exhibition 20 – 30 Nov, 12pm – 7.30pm, Mondays to Saturdays, Free admission
Strangelets, 87 Amoy Street
An eclectic collection of furnishings and accessories from studios all over the world, offering new approaches to old problems. The new Strangelets collection will also be launched then.
Click here for more info!

THE_ISSUE  Magazine launch

By HJGHER (www.theissuemagazine.com)
Magazine Launch Party 26 Nov 2009, 9pm onwards, Free admission
Velvet Underground, 17 Jiak Kim Street
A bi-annual thematic magazine based in quality of life issues. We’re intrigued.
Click here for more info!

A Void Experience

By Pixel Pastry (www.pixel-pastry .com)
Exhibition 20 Nov – 5 Dec, 11am – 11pm, Free admission
Various HDB void decks (go to www.avoidexperience.com for more information)
As one who lives in a HDB, I’m all too familiar with the asocial behaviour of neighbours who pass each other by without acknowledgement. This exhibition uses void decks as showcasing platforms to open up this social issue.
Click here for more info!

Unnatural Beauty

By Trine Design Associates (www.trine.com.sg)
Exhibition 20 Nov – 4 Dec, 11am – 8pm, Free admission
The Arts House Ground Level, 1 Old Parliament Lane
A visual installation of intricate chandeliers and art pieces constructed from biodegradable cornstarch cutlery. Beautiful AND eco-friendly. We like.
Click here for more info!

Local fashion is just becoming more accessible – stores and labels are popping up everywhere!

Debby and I were at Parco’s next NEXT fashion contest that featured a whopping 25 local designers, and we really loved some of the designs showcased on the runway. Best part is, they’ll all be available when Parco opens its new store at Millenia Walk next April. Yes, there is still a good six months to go, but no harm marking it on your calendars first, is there? Hopefully the price tags will be within a happy range, and I’ll be one of the first to peruse the racks!

Plus – exclusive news: local online label Modish Wardrobe will be featuring a select collection at Isetan for a limited time period of 19 Nov to 2 Dec. For shoppers who prefer to try stuff on before purchasing them (like me) – this will be good news.

Click on for more visuals of the runway show, and of Modish Wardrobe’s collection at Isetan!

Parco ‘Fashion Takes Flight’

Who's the party animal? (Sundays)

Favourite designer of the night

Coupe-cousu

ForInSaneHuman

l'ile aux ashby - tribal-inspired accessories

l'ile aux ashby

max tan

mae pang

Modish Wardrobe

I will be the first to confess that most mornings it takes me an average of two outfit changes before I finally settle on what to wear. I totally hate the feeling of not knowing what to wear, even though my closet is stuffed to the brim with clothes. I think guys have it lucky. They probably just close their eyes, stick a hand into their cupboards and grab the first t-shirt they feel to wear with the jeans they wore yesterday.

So there you are standing in front of your chock-full closet, ripping your hair out over what to wear. The clock is ticking, the morning train waits for no one. Your hair is not done, and neither is your make-up. And you can’t find a damn thing to wear. Before the day has started, you’re already a stressed out train wreck.

A messy closet is a one-way street to morning meltdowns

Well, here’s a couple of tried-and-tested tricks to help you dress without the stress.

#1 Out with the Old

I find that the more clothes I have, the harder it is to dress everyday. If you find that your cupboards are bursting at the hinges, then maybe its time for a little spring cleaning.

A handy guideline: it’s okay to chuck any item you haven’t worn in the past six months. Chances are, you probably won’t in the next six months. And do you really need 5 pairs of jeans in the same cut and wash? I love cleaning out my closet. Not only does it make room for new clothes (yay shopping!), I sometimes discover gems that I’d totally forgotten that I owned, or an item that is back in trend.

#2 Get organized!

The next step after clearing out is sorting out. First, sort your clothing by type. I hang up all my dresses and jackets. I keep all sweaters and cardigans in one drawer, shorts in another, jeans in one stack, pants next to them. Now when it comes to tops, and I have a lot of those, I’ve personally like to sort them out by colour. Sorting my tops out by colour worked really well for me. I could find a particular top much more easily by zooming straight into that colour stack. And for uninspirational days, I could fall back on black or white. I can separate keep my clothes easily after they’ve been laundered, and it makes my closet look so much neater and organized.

Sorting by colour looks good and makes it easier to find a particular item

#3 Emergency Outfit

You’ve worn something that made you feel like a princess the entire day. Great! Now keep it for an emergency. It’s always useful to prepare an emergency outfit for days that you need to look good but have no time to conjure up an outfit. I keep a simple cotton black dress for emergency days. It’s not rocket science, and it sure as hell won’t get me on a magazine cover, but I know I look good in it. Throw on some accessories and nice shoes and I’m good to go. With an emergency outfit, I can avoid morning meltdowns on the rare occasion that I’ve overslept or feel just plain uninspired.

(and the photographic evidence after the jump!)

So Tattler procured an invite to Raoul’s flagship store opening at Paragon. Not that the 7-year-old, homegrown (yay! go local!) Raoul didn’t have a store in the high-end mall in the first place, but after its face-lift, a party was in order to unveil the newly crowned outlet, where the chi-chi crowd, a constellation of Mediacorp stars, and gregarious air-kissers were in full attendance to join in the soirée.

Some stars we spotted off the top of my head: radio’s Flying Dutchman, Sylvia Toh (hey, she’s as famous as a journalist in Singapore can get okay), Daniel Ong, Jaime Teo. For entertainment, a model-esque DJ (Miss Sangeeta) spun some house music, and to quench thirsts and provide some convivial distraction, yummy Swedish bartenders were serving up equally yummy cocktails.

In other words, fun!

So Laea and I were there, slightly out of place amidst the luxe furs, Givenchys, Chanels and pearls – but we did enjoy ourselves sneaking not-so-surreptitious glances at the celebs, fingering the minks and fox furs on the racks (that I must report, a little sadly, are 100% real), munching on canapés and after a couple of drinks, unabashedly people-watching. Professionally, of course.

Plus: photo opportunities! How about Tay Ping Hui? Weaned on a Hollywood diet – most of you probably won’t be too excited at a local celebrity encounter. (After all Rachel has seen freakin’ Johnny Depp and other Public Enemies stars up-close and shared it with you here at Tattler before.) But still, it doesn’t change the fact that this strapping actor still stands out in a crowd:

He is Tall. And Nice.

I’m almost ashamed to admit we are both just starstruck fangirls at heart. When will I ever learn to keep my cool? (Re: Utt encounter.)

She looks really great up close. (Laea: "OMG she touched me!")

Other than the clothes, a focal point of the night was the new Nokia N97 Mini Raoul – a phone borne of the collaboration between the two brands, with only 1000 sets available in Singapore and another 1000 across the causeway. Here’s your chance at exclusivity!

Psst: Pre-order before Oct 29 and get a $50 Raoul Voucher, and another $50 for Nokia!

And a note about the bartenders: I hadn’t had a single drink yet and the Swede thought I was propositioning him. (Me: “So – you only do events?” Him, mishearing: “What – do you want to go to bed?” Me: “???” Him: “I didn’t know Singaporean girls were so forward.” Me, pretending blush was due to yet-to-be-consumed-alcohol: “Well. I’m a rare one.” ..Sigh. I did clear up the confusion in the end.)

All in all – a great time. Who can resist green tea cocktails (laced with plenty of Smirnoff), star-gazing, people-watching and great company?

We can’t wait for the next one!

xo,

Post-Dancetitude 2009 (which was a blast btw, for those of you who didn’t attend), I am trying my bestest to ditch hiphop, trash pop and re-embrace the soul-soothing tunes of indie music.

Now, since here in good ol’ little red dot there are only about 4 radio stations I know that play contemporary music, I consider all songs that make it to their playlists – mainstream. So then, how does one go about pretending to know about and listen to all things indie?

Step 1: Google is your best friend. Googling randomly in your free time does help uncover the rare gem or two, like how Kerrie introduced a very useful site to us some time back. From here on I would tell you to then search for the artist or song title on iTunes but what is about to follow below will directly contradict this sentence.

Step 2: Software like Ares and Limewire are your second tier best friends. This I say because the use of this type of software infringes on copyright laws one way or another so lest I be accused of encouraging illegal music downloading, let me discourage everyone from using the said softwares. However, in case you happen to be the incorrigible pirate, go ahead and type random phrases you think might pass off as a band name. You never know, seeing how “Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start” IS an actual band whose debut album is “Worst Band Name Ever”. To top it all off, their music is actually somewhat decent though I think they’d be hard-pressed to find fame with such a mouthful for a band name.

Step 3: Make friends with Communications students (or anyone in that field). I try very hard not to stereotype or buy into them, but thus far people from this field tend to have the most interesting and tasteful musical preferences. I also know a couple of engineers and pharmacists whose choice of music I absolutely adore, but for the most part, please avoid business students. (And here comes the hate mail. :))

Step 2: Be cheap and browse Kinokuniya or HMV for overpriced specialty magazines to flip through. A few good examples would be Q Magazine, Rolling Stone, Blender, etc. More often than not, magazines give you a more focused insight on certain aspects of music, allowing you to delve deeper into what floats your boat and filter the trash. Plus you’re paying for it so the information you get is bound to come attached with some semblance of credibility.

Step 1: Take a cue from Garfield. When in doubt, act stupid. Most indie bands are indie bands because of the fact that nobody knows them to start with. Therefore, in my humble opinion, it’s perfectly acceptable to say “I’ve never heard of this band before!” and take up the other party’s invitation to give you a sampling. After all, nobody likes a pretentious know-it-all and this could be the chance you’ve been waiting for to spend a few geek moments with that crush of yours with amazing taste in music.

Turn off the radio for once, take out the Black Eyed Peas record in your player and go surfing around. And for those of you who share a network with like a million other people, did I mention iTunes has the library sharing function for a reason? :D

Seeing how I have been a boring, stay-in-school-studios-and-dance-all-day person for the past 3 months, (and of course, taking the advice of my editor) I am listing out the top 5 things I want to do in this month. Bearing in mind, wanting to do does not equate to actually doing it in my case. What with the existing constraints on my schedule.

5. Watch Dancetitude ‘09, the biennial dance concert put up by NTU’s premier hip hop dance club – Modern Jazz. Or more affectionately known as MJ Dance. Here I am, very unabashedly, promoting the very concert I’ll be performing in because I have full confidence that it is going to be a most enthralling show. MJ has been around for at least 20 years already but despite that, this year’s concert looks set to set itself apart from all its predecessors because it boasts MJ’s newly expanded repertoire in a multitude of styles and dance genres. Apart from the usual (but no less exciting) hip hop items, there are going to be different dance genres comprising breakdance-lyrical jazz fusion, contemporary, reggae, waacking, popping, you name it, MJ’s gonna show you how it’s done.

4. Go shop at Sexy Diamond (SD) in The Heeren. With its history dating only as far back as 2000, Sexy Diamond is a Taiwanese brand made good on its own in a considerably short period of time. Though I have tried my best to dismiss SD as an over-priced, overly ostentatious clothing brand, I believe most people would find it hard to resist the loud, colourful charm that probably makes SD the success it is today. In the short span of just slightly over 9 years, the parent company of SD now has multiple other brands under its wing. Now who says chinks like us can’t do street fashion?

3. Watch a movie. I’m saying this because we are already more than halfway through the month, and yet there are a couple of movies I am dying to watch. Apart from the already very well-received UP! and G.I. Joe, there’s Coco Before Chanel, starring the subtly brilliant and extremely charming Audrey Tatou, and Shorts. I realise that this may sound a tad unconvincing, but I love how the bully in Shorts is a girl, who happens to bear a slight but disturbing resemblance to the antagonist in the movie Orphan. And speaking of Orphan, if mindless horror flicks are your cup of tea, The Final Destination is opening on the 27th and while I am loathe to admit it, I will most probably catch it despite it being one of the trashier franchises I’ve known to date. Sacha Baron Cohen also returns with his latest offering Bruno, promising to be another Borat-fest in the making – perfect for those who appreciate a bit of crass humour every now and then. Lastly, being the sucker for romantic comedies I am, The Proposal will be opening in 2 days time, featuring a sizzling Ryan Reynolds (did I mention he appears in the buff? OMG!) and the still very gorgeous Sandra Bullock. In the meantime, while we wait for these movies to start screening, have a go at what I think is the most inspiring video I’ve seen this week.

2. Take a weekend trip up to Kuala Lumpur. After you’ve made bookings for Jogoya’s supper buffet

extravaganza of course. Recently I was in Kuala Lumpur for a couple of days and one of my food connoisseur friends dragged the load of us to Jogoya @ Starhill Gallery right next to Marriott KL. For their supper buffet, Jogoya offers an amazing spread of over 300 dishes to tickle your taste buds. The moment I stepped through the door my mouth started watering. Alright, not glam, I know but I believe that only  brings home the point of how mind-blowing my experience there was. I have to admit though, I was so busy eating I forgot to take photos.

Which reminds me of the only 2 downsides I could think of my trip there – you are given only 2 hours (from 2140 – 2340) to eat and be jolly with your pals, and bookings have to be made way in advance and even then, you’d end up waiting a bit before you’re allowed inside. Nonetheless, go to Starhill today!

1. Leave out offerings to the ‘good brothers’. I hardly mean that literally, it’s just that with the 7th month of the lunar calendar next up, I thought it would be prudent to watch your mouth and watch your step as you walk around for the coming month. Not that I’m trying to encourage superstition either but the 7th month is a significant period for the Singaporean Chinese. Most, if not all, Chinese businesses leave out offerings outside their shops while heartland dwellers hold interesting auctions at their night markets and burn offerings for the ‘good brothers’. The environmentalist in me shakes his head and points a wagging finger at them for being so irresponsible but you can’t stop people from respecting the dead, and the display of Chinese culture during the 7th month is second only to Chinese New Year. That said, ditch Orchard Road, Dempsey Hill and Holland Village for your nearest HDB flat!

Channing Tatum steps up from dance school into the world of ball-busting action

Channing Tatum as an All-American G.I Joe, that’s what.

So a girlfriend calls me up on Sunday saying she’s organizing a movie outing and it’s all boys except for her. “Go leh, I don’t wanna be the only girl,” she begs. And there I am thinking that she’s the kind of girl who normally enjoys chick flicks and the occasional comedy, why would she be keen on G.I Joe??

Well, now I know. Girls, as much as G.I Joe is a testosterone-filled, macho show, there’s something in it for you as well. His name is Channing ‘I can dance and fight’ Tatum. Or if you’re into funny, but still smoking, ‘chocolate men’ (cue tinkly piano intro from Vanessa Carlton’s ‘A Thousand Miles’), there’s Marlon Wayans of White Chicks fame.

I didn’t expect to like the show, especially after the other testosterone-filled summer blockbuster that was Transformers 2. There was just waaay too much metal smashing into one another in that one.

Sure, the plot has more holes and is more cheesy than swiss cheese, but what did you expect, A Beautiful Mind? It’s a movie based on plastic figurines, for crying out loud. The action sequences are fantasmic, as they should be. Awesome futuristic technology, machines and weapons make things blow up everywhere, and because all things Asian are so cool now, insert invincible Ninja warriors complete with flying shurikens with the accuracy of snipers.

And oh, all the beautiful people in the show! Even Dennis Quaid at 55 still looks pretty darn good as General Hawk, leader of the Joes. There’s the blonde Sienna Miller who plays Duke’s (Channing Tatum) love interest/ex-fiancée now turned brunette bad guy. And then there’s the redhead bombshell aptly named Scarlett (Rachel Nichols) whose sole responsibility is to look really hot in a brown leather jacket and make me wish I had flaming red hair.

The hot lead, the fatherly mentor, the tech geek, the buxom bombshell and the comic relief

Some people complain that all the back stories and flashbacks slow down the pace of the movie, but I actually enjoyed them very much. It set G.I Joe apart from the likes of the Transformers franchise and made me feel a little more emotionally involved in the action sequences.

The ending of the movie just begs for a sequel and yea, I’m looking forward to it. Director Steven Sommers, I forgive you for making my beloved Hugh Jackman act in that lame-o show Van Helsing.

Modish Wardrobe (MW) and the lovely people behind its media trade event invited Tattler for a sneak (okay maybe not so sneaky) preview of its 2009 collection in the lush, serene surroundings of Oosh, a quaint alfresco dining restaurant and bar set in the midst of nature’s greenery and some rather nifty water landscapes.

23rd July was the day after my old man’s birthday. It was also one of the sunnier days since I can’t remember when. Yet as our photographer, Kevin, and I sat in the shade of the Media area’s tent while being served delectable finger food, iced water and any drink we cared to order, I could scarcely feel the scorching heat just inches away from me. Granted, it was hardly a snowstorm but it was surely cool enough for my high standards. I blame it on the ingenious water landscaping.

As the founders of MW – who are also sisters – answered my queries most patiently and obligingly along the runway set right next to a generous pool space, I found them both to be impossibly charming and approachable. If up to this point of the article you have yet to click on the MW link, good for you! Keep reading because I am about to introduce MW proper. In the founders’ own words, Modish Wardrobe is, in a nutshell, a wardrobe concierge. My take on that is, MW takes care of, and assists you in all your wardrobe needs. The following pictures will speak the gazillion words for the online women’s clothing site on my behalf:

While the satiny material really isn’t for everyone or anyone without a perfect figure, some timeless styles are both gorgeous and flattering. The jewel tones go well with our Asian colouring and will be perfect for a dressy evening out. Here at Tattler we pick the top looks for you:

more photos, and an exclusive reader discount after the jump!

As a bonus to belt-tightening fashionistas, their price range is actually pretty affordable and quite frankly speaking, more worth your while (and hard-earned money) compared to the mass-produced merchandise of the typical boutique in Singapore. While their main target market segment is the “busy, modern, sophisticated working woman”, all of us could do with the chic and elegance MW has to offer.

For those of you who aren’t all that chummy with the internet shopping experience (though now is really the time to start), you can now drop by Public @ Loft 16A Haji Lane between 1300 – 2000 Sundays to Thursdays and 1300 – 2100 Fridays & Saturdays thanks to a booming online business. Be warned however, Public @ Loft only stocks a limited selection of MW’s fantabulous collection so be sure to check out their website to keep up to speed with not only their clothes selection, but also other upcoming fashion events or even radical additions to their wardrobe such as (dare you think it?) menswear!

Lastly, the gracious folk at MW are giving a storewide discount to all customers who enter the following coupon code in the promotional discount box that appears when you click on “Show Cart”, before you checkout.

coupon code: TattlerMag10

This discount will be valid from now till end of August 2009 so hurry! Mod-ify your wardrobe with the wardrobe concierge now!

Me and the 2 founders of MW!

*Tattlermag would like to convey its most heartfelt gratitude to MW for the kind invitation and Kevin Lee for his photography.*