Angelina Jolie… EAT your heart out! Now everyone can be the face that launched a thousand fund raising campaigns, just by patronizing brands who donate a percentage or all profits from the sale of specific products. Just late last year, Miz Jolie’s nanny Brad Pitt partnered with luxury beauty brand Kiehl’s to produce the Aloe Vera Biodegradable Liquid Body Cleanser, all proceeds of which go to the eco-foundation, JPF Eco-systems a beneficiary of which is Pitt’s Make It Right foundation which rebuilds eco-friendly “green houses” for Katrina victims. The product is also as good as the cause it benefits, packed with all skin and earth friendly ingredients such as nourishing coconut oil and aloe vera, sans artificial dyes and parabens of course.

Another celebrity jumping on the socially-responsible skincare bandwagon is tennis superstar (bodybuilder) Serena Williams, who co founded Mission Skincare, a line of beauty products made especially for athletic men and women. The line boasts of a wide range of products, most of which are fortified with sweat-proof sunscreen, from lip balm to moisturizers and an interesting product called “High-Performance Anti Friction Cream”- which begs the question “Are porn stars athletes too?” We kid! We kid! Mission Skincare also helps a great number of charities, most of which are pet projects or namesake foundations of the companies athletic co-founders such as soccer legend Mia Hamm and pro-basketball player Carmelo Anthony, among a long list of other revered sportsmen and women.

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Streetwear gone haute. We’re well excited about this…

Dope video of adidas SLVR’s FW09/10 campaign with top notch direction and editing. Gorgeous music too.  www.adidas.com/slvr

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Director: Theo Stanley / Mountain View

Editor: Zak Tucker

Music: Sam Wagster

Creative Direction: Pietsch Lim

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Hint: We’re well excited about this.

When Paulus of Issue One came into the store, I said ‘Hello’ and began a heartfelt conversation with his bum bag (or Fanny pack, if you so insist.) Paulus is a great conversationalist and shared lots of insights from his observations of the local fashion/retail scene as well as any young designer’s struggles from London to Singapore…what could be done and how to keep up optimism… but his bum bag was ammaazing. He relieved my distraction with a label and a name. KMRii designed by Lui Onozaki, a Japanese accessories designer.

Accessories in buttery leather, treated, distressed and aged - slightly industrial, slightly goth, slightly punk - but all round covetable. Hit me.

Inferno bag

Paulus came into the store last week as a force of fashion. Stylist, Furqan Saini was bringing him about town to suss out the local retail scene and there he was, all lovely smiles and witicisms (proper english, ain’t he?!), in an all black ensemble - bringing a touch of Hoxton to Ann Siang. Paulus helms Issue One, the glossiest of magazines filled with the most decadent fashion and beauty imagery. Hate the expression, but these are fierce. Issue One is so decadent it gives its photographers uninterrupted 14 page spreads, giving leeway to creative ideas and colour stories aplenty.

Quiet Storm (Phenomenon)

Quiet Storm (Phenomenon Issue)

Midnight Never Came (Kinky Issue) Photographer: Vincent Alvarez

Moalienated (Kinky Issue) Photographer: Ali Mahdavi. Art Director: Antoine Kruk. Fashion Editor: Paulus

Almost Ready (Phenomenon Issue)

Sins of the Father (Furious Issue) Photographed by John Rusnak. Styled by Treemayne Taylor

Issue One is available at the brilliant Basheer bookstore.

Jonthan of Woods & Woods says the Man at Basheer is a legend. He’s a walking directory on all important, avant-garde, up&coming, underground (and even forgotten) books, mags, publishers, and designers. He knows who’s helming which, who’s publishing what, and the who’s who of the creative, mag and rag trade. He knows.

Why hasn’t anyone interviewed him?

First off, let me just say that I am not a makeup kind of girl. If I ever need to slap on some colour on my fair face, it’s usually just eyeliner, a dab of blush, and — my only weakness — lipstick. No foundation, no finishing powder, natch. I don’t like the cake-y look, nor do I like looking like a Geisha-apprentice as I used to in my earlier youth, when I failed to find the right foundation.

But a little fairy dropped a pot of Elizabeth Arden Pure Finish Mineral Makeup Foundation SPF20 into my hands some time ago and I’ve been using it religiously, causing my colleagues to ask when I became so vain. Am not!

Well, there are a few good reasons why I am so pleased with this product.

1. It’s hygienic. I am one of those who regularly throw out makeup products (sometimes only half-used :\) because I think they are too dirty. And why would I put dirty stuff on my face, right? Not to worry with this because, the ingenious people behind EA included a metal place above press powder! Which means I can get just a teeny weeny bit of powder if I gently run my brush over the surface, or, I could twist the compact slightly and the plate scrapes up more powder for me!  This means that the powder I get is always fresh and uncontaminated! Amazing.
2. It saves me money! Cause I only need to grind out whatever I need, which is usually very little, so I can use this for a very long time! My wallet says thanks!
3. It’s light. I barely feel like I’m wearing anything. Really. It’s like wearing seamless, well-fitting underwear. It totally blends into my skin but makes it look even better. I take it as a compliment when my aforementioned colleagues go, “I thought you were putting on foundation? How come I can’t see anything on you?” I love it.
4. It lasts. Awesome. Cause I find touch-ups in public toilets really a waste of my time since I’m always late/rushing/running.
5. Minerals. I love mineral makeup cause it’s less gunk-y, and more natural/organic and I’m such a sucker for those. Also contains vitamins A, C and E, to protect against the evils in our environment, like you know, the incessant construction in Orchard Road.
6. SPF20. Because sometimes I am so lazy to apply sunscreen.
7. The Kabuki brush. It is so easy to use, and so soft on the skin. It also comes in a mini foldable version to — ta-dah! — fit in your compact, so you can bring it out with you! Talk about convenience. The compact doesn’t come with the brush (it comes with a powder puff), but this is definitely a worthwhile investment at $41. And here’s a tip for you: Wash the brush with warm water as you usually would every week (if you suffer from slight OCD like me), and then wash it again with your normal hair conditioner! Keeps the bristles soft and just-like-new

Worth a shot, especially if you’re really into mineral foundation. Comes in 8 shades, at $56 each, at all Elizabeth Arden counters.

Men’s Folio, July 2009- Dr. Martens available at Front Row

Men’s Folio, July 2009- Dr.Martens available at Front Row

Nuyou, July 2009- Heels with Hearts by Vivienne Westwood X Melissa, available at Front Row

Juice, July 2009- Bow Belt by FlyNow available at Front Row

August, July 2009- Gladiator Sandals by Raf Simons for Dr. Martens, available at Front Row

One of the most difficult things to get a man to do (aside from committing to a relationship) is to get him to take better care of himself. I’ve seen such behavior in my father, my uncles, cousins and guy friends. For some strange reason they think maintaining their caveman-like beer belly, ill-fitting clothes and excessive amount of facial fur makes them manlier. Don’t even get me started on the whole body hair issue. Fortunately, all those marketing geniuses in the big beauty corporations have been working overtime to overhaul the image of managing man mangy.

photos courtesy of Kiehls.com

Though the very first male make-up line from Jean Paul Gaultier wasn’t all that successful in its campaign to get guys primping instead of pimping (not everyone can pull off guy-liner), I think Kiehl’s , one of my most favorite skincare brands, has come up with an essentials kit with actual sensible must-haves that could convince even the most soap-averse dude to make the effort to keep himself looking and feeling  fresh & flea-free . (more…)

Backstage @ Jean Paul Gaultier Fall '09 by Luca Cannonieri of gorunway.com

A beauty icon from the 80’s is slowly easing back into the limelight. No I don’t mean Dionne Warwick Whitney Houston; I’m talking about curls, waves and hair with kink. For almost two decades, pin-straight hair has been the hairstyle de rigueur but now along with the revival of 80’s fashion came the return of textured hair. Curls are now looser and more romantic but nonetheless edgy and whether your curls or waves are God-given or done by a salon maven, key to pulling off “The New Wave” are the right tools and products. (more…)