In Talks With Yvan Rodic, Facehunter in Singapore

The first fashion event I attended was during the booksigning session of Yvan Rodic's first book, Facehunter, at A Curious Teepee. I still remember vividly that I was really shy due to the fear of rejection that people will just dismiss me as yet another girl trying to start a fashion blog and gain a foothold in the industry. However, thanks to the wonderful people that I met at the event (designer Mae Pang, host Sara Ann K, fellow blogger Viona Wang and lady boss of A Curious Teepee Tracy Philips) that gave me the confidence to go forth and start my own blog. Now three years has just flew past me, and looking back at my first blog post, I can't help but cringe those poorly aligned and edited photos, the amateur style of reporting, the colloquialism and ubiquitous use of fluffy words like "love", "cool", "nice", "stylish"...I can go on and on. But that post stays as a marker and constant reminder of how I was when I first started out and how far I have grown since.

It came full circle for me when I interviewed Yvan Rodic when he was in town at H&M to promote his newest book, A Year in the Life of Facehunter.

Naked Glory: Are there any differences in your work this time round, compared to your first book (titled: Facehunter) three years ago? 
Yvan Rodic: For this book, I've injected more personal stories and broader inspiration. It's not just streetstyle - it's architecture, culture, design and that makes it more unique. Because there's so many streetstyle books around, when I came up with the second book, I wanted to add a narrative to it and make it tell a story. So this one is more of a travel/inspiration diary captured in 30 different cities with an emphasis on style and people.

NG: Comparing the different countries that you've been to, which country do you like shooting in? Is it Japan?
YR: Well it's OK, Japan is good, but I also like Stockholm, Copenhagen, LA, London, Jakarta, Sydney...

NG: So Singapore is not one of them? 
YR: I think it's nice, but people on average don't really dress up because it's too hot. Would you spend the whole day dressed like that? (referring to my look of a knit sweater and digital baroque floral print skirt). Maybe you would, maybe not..?

NG: Today it was raining so it was OK for me. I dress according to the weather and to my mood.
 But I don't think the weather should stop people from dressing up, that's no excuse. You can still layer with chiffon and breathable lightweight cotton fabrics. 
YR: I know, but sometimes it makes it too troublesome, I guess. I mean I wouldn't wear my blazer outside, I'll just die, you know. *laughs*

NG: Any future plans with regards to your work?
YR: Yeah, now I'm working on a web TV show project. It's still in development, and we're still in talks, but hopefully it's going to be out soon. The show will be about me traveling the world, unveiling new cultures and interviewing new creatives such as artists, designers and musicians. 

I can't wait to see his newest TV show, because I feel like he has a very good eye in spotting out underground culture, and an infectious energy that makes his subjects feel at ease being shot. But in the meantime, Singapore would need to buck up in terms of dressing! Hot weather does not give us an excuse to dress sloppily or in too casual a manner. Style is about individualism and self-expression, or knowing what looks good on you and being able to pair things up to complete a look that reflects yourself. So even in hot weather, you can always mix prints, textures (knit and chiffon), layer with lightweight fabrics and adorn yourself with accessories.

Sunsilk - How smooth can you get?

 Are there days during which you wake up and then your hair just won't behave? It's sticking out in all the wrong places and making your head look like some vegetation. And you don't feel like leaving the house for the rest of the day. Trust me, I've been through that when I had long, wavy hair. It wasn't  pretty and sometimes I'll just tie everything up and hide it under a cap.

I find that using hair oil on damp hair after you shower keep the ends from drizzling and the hair really healthy and shiny. But pure grade hair oil such as Morroccan oil, Argan oil and Jojoba oil, which are known for their great moisturizing and strengthening properties, don't come cheap. So I suggest everyone to try out Sunsilk's newest two ranges of hair products instead - Nourishing Soft & Smooth (sunny yellow packaging) and Smooth & Manageable (hot pink packaging).

Both haircare ranges are made from blends of the oils mentioned above, and also with coconut oil to nourish dry and frizzy hair, and olive oil, for superior smoothness. All this goodness for your hair, at only a fraction of the price.

 

I'm giving 3 lucky readers the chance to walk away with a $100 worth hamper full of Sunsilk goodies, plus a chance to win a VIP session styled by Sunsilk's expert hair stylists and receive customized hair care tips at Sunsilk's Popup Hair Salon! 

Here's how:

1. Simply take a photo of a half-do hairstyle on yourself. It can be anything, a half ponytail, crown braid, waterfall braid... These are just some ideas for you to explore. If you want to get more creative, check out Half-do Hair videos on YouTube! 

2. Send that photo to nakedglory.contest@gmail.com by 29 May. 

3. I will select 10 photos out from all entries to be posted on my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Naked-Glory/236492613031959) 

4. Vote for your favorite entries by LIKING my Facebook page and LIKING your photo and the top 3 photos will be selected based on the number of likes you get. 

5. The winners will be announced on my blog on 4 June and I will be posting the winning photos on my blog.

Photos will be judged on the aesthetic appearance of the hairstyle, and also the way that it is shot! You don't need a DSLR to take a good photo; you just need to have a good eye to know how the light should fall and obtain a good composition! 

So exercise your creative juices and start styling and snapping away! 

Magnum Mini Flavors - Blind Test

I must say this is one of the most interesting projects I've taken on.

The Task: Take a blind test of 6 Magnum Mini flavors, make a guess, and then come up with an outfit for each flavor that I've tasted!

It was really fun trying to guess each of the flavors and then using my creative juices to come up with an outfit based on the interpretation of what I have tasted. The whole series was shot in my hall room, on campus in NUS. (I'm sorry, school is literally tying me up, I don't even have time to go location scouting for shoots off-campus!)

 
 
Almond
The first flavour I tried was almond, which was the easiest to guess due to its distinctive crunchy almond flakes rolled in Belgian milk chocolate coating. I very much enjoyed the texture of the crunchy almonds paired with the smooth vanilla ice-cream core, and the almonds lent a delicious nutty smell to the ice-cream. Its petite size makes it the perfect after-work mini indulgence! I wanted to convey a luxe look for an equally luxurious flavour and I've paired an American Apparel bustier leotard with a gold pleat skirt and contrast lapel blazer.

Pistachio
This is my favourite amongst all the other flavours because it has a very natural earthy, organic taste to it and is not too over-poweringly sweet. The pistachio ice cream is perfectly balanced with a Belgian dark chocolate layer that encrusts the ice-cream, making it the ultimate double indulgence. When you bite into the dark chocolate coating, the savouriness of the pistachio goes really well with the dark chocolate and it just reminds me of a beautiful day out on the beach. Hopefully in the Maldives. In an ode to Pistachio, I have decided to wear a more casual and resort themed outfit with hawaii prints.


Classic
At the end of the day, I am still a firm believer in originals. The classic is the first flavour released by Magnum - just a simple coating of dark Belgian chocolate with silky vanilla bean ice-cream. This was the flavour that sparked off all the others - and therefore a legacy and an icon amongst all chocolate coated ice-cream sticks. The vanilla bean ice-cream was really creamy and smooth - you can really see specks of vanilla bean inside, and is definitely a better choice compared to conventional "vanilla essence flavoured" ice-cream. And as an ode to the classic, I wore a black and white monochrome outfit with a slight retro reference. I am especially in love with this vintage high-collared blouse that drapes down the body in froths of chiffon - I call it the tissue blouse. Paired with a sequin wrap skirt and retro circular shades.

 
White
Ahhhh white chocolate. This can be compared to as the comparable girlfriend to the Classic, with its sweet Belgian white chocolate coating wrapping the silky vanilla bean ice-cream core. The White has a very harmonious flavour, as the white chocolate perfectly blends with the smooth vanilla ice-cream as it slow melts inside your mouth. I decided that a ladylike, elegant look was best for the White and have paired my lace cardigan with a pair of cream colored pleated skorts. The White would be my perfect indulgence on a hot summer day!

Gianduia
Gianduia is yet another new flavour released by Magnum. It tastes really smooth with a coating of nougat milk chocolate sauce and vanilla ice-cream laced with generous swirls of hazelnut. I especially enjoyed the nougat chocolate coating, which gives you the fragrance of hazelnuts on first bite. The hazelnut swirls are blended perfectly with the vanilla ice-cream, adding a tinge of sweet, nutty taste to the plain vanilla.
For this creative burst of flavour, I have decided that a colorful look was the best in this case, paired with mismatched bracelets and assorted rings. Worn here with my favourite mint green Zara knit sweater, layered over a chiffon collared blouse and a Zara hot pink pleat skirt.

 
Double Caramel
The moment you bite into the crunchy double chocolate coating, caramel sauce just oozes out and is mixed with the rich vanilla ice-cream. This ice-cream is one of those things that I wouldn't want to share with anyone - I would sink myself onto soft sofa cushions and slowly savour the ice-cream by myself undisturbed. Such pleasure. For me, this flavour is the perfect after-school pick me up, which is why I conjured up a schoolgirl inspired look for this flavour. Meow~ please feed this kitty more delicious creamy Magnums!

I really love Magnum's new range of Magnum Minis. At just 180 calories per stick, Magnum Minis will allow me to indulge in sweet treats guilt-free. At the end of a tiring day of work, or even as a midday stress relieve treat, Magnum really brings me pleasure and makes me feel better. There must be some magic in those crunchy Belgian chocolate and rich vanilla bean ice-cream! These Magnum Minis are now my favourite go-to treat to reward myself and indulge - they're so good I almost feel like I am stealing a moment with my intimate self each time I bite into the Belgian chocolate coating and allows the chocolate to slow melt with the creamy vanilla interior inside my mouth.

Like Magnum on their Facebook page here to discover your own secret pleasure.

Beauty Emporium - Talking Beauty & Blogging with Poppy D, WIWT

I was invited to join Poppy Dinsey, founder of website wiwt.com, at the Spa Esprit VIP Event two weeks ago and I must say it was one of my best days ever spent. Poppy D is the lady boss behind the movement #wiwt, or rather, What I Wore Today, and I find it pretty inspiring how she has turned her fashion blog into a business. Poppy was extremely warm and down-to-earth despite being accomplished in her own right.

I enjoyed the interiors of Spa Esprit's Beauty Emporium immensely the moment I stepped in. I was first greeted by their beauty bar, decorated like an ice-cream parlour, with its front giant glass chiller full of delicious-smelling organic beauty products (because they were sans-preservatives!). There was a mini florist station full of exotic fresh flowers to the left and then I came across their tea area, where Poppy and her friend Katie, and some of the other bloggers were already seated. We were treated to dainty teacakes, courtesy of House - I especially enjoyed the strawberry chocolate sponge cake - it was really moist and carried just the right amount of sweetness!

I had the privilege of doing a full Brazilian waxing. It wasn't my first time waxing everything off, but I have to say there is a huge difference between what my Spa Esprit therapist did compared to my waxing experiences at other places! Of course it had still hurt a little, but my therapist was very quick and firm and greatly minimized the pain. The best thing was, she gently plucked out some of the more stubborn hairs and ingrown hairs after she waxed my labial area - so the result was really baby-smooth skin!

I then had my first experience with aromatherapy, where I learnt about the different properties of essential oils and how to create my very own custom scented shower gel! It wasn't easy smelling more than 20 different essential oils and trying to determine which three I would like best - but I managed to pick Orange for its fresh citrus scent, Geranium for its gentle sweetness and Melaleuca (extract of Tea Tree) to help my back-acne! Did you know - smelling coffee beans help keep the strong smells of the essential oils from getting to your head!

There's something beautiful about creating beauty products with your own two hands. It is a craft in its own right as I carefully dropped my selected essential oils into a beaker, taking care to bring out the top and base notes through different concentrations, then swirled them together to create my own scent. I should definitely learn more about aromatherapy in the future.


We were then brought to House's tea party buffet for some really heavenly but ultimately sinful desserts! Yes, they had savoury stuff too such as mini skinny truffles pizza, mini hamburgers and hotdog buns, spring rolls, deviled eggs, smoked duck skinny pizza...but I obviously focused on the desserts.

I tried everything. Yes, literally all of the dainty goodies on display, and had seconds and even thirds of some. I would greatly recommend the passionfruit panna cotta, strawberry chocolate sponge cake, lemon pistachio cake, chai chocolate cake, matcha grapefruit custard tart and macarons. 


And here's my proud end-product - Naked Glory's SMELL GOOD NAKED shower gel!

If you need a midweek getaway or just a day full of pampering, I would really recommend you to bring your girlfriends to Beauty Emporium for head-to-toe body treatments - facials, massages, mani/pedi, waxing, tweezing...you name it they have it. They also allow you to customize your own shower gel as well at just $35. I can't think of a more thoughtful and personal gift for a loved one!
What I really appreciate is their adherence to quality of services and also well thought out attention to details in their interior decor. Stepping into Beauty Emporium felt like stepping into a holiday home - the floorlength glass windows threw light into the House, the space was both contemporary with its wood paneled walls and countertops, as well as slightly retro with vintage armchairs. I am definitely looking forward to my next visit.

Note: All photos here are completely shot and edited on iPhone.