Nasassistic

By NASA MARIA ENTABAN
Pictures by SHAARI CHEMAT
alltherage@thestar.com.my

IF you were born after the year 1928, you probably grew up with Mickey Mouse, the lovable cartoon character created by Walt Disney.

It’s been 83 years and Mickey and friends are still popular among many people.

At last week’s Malaysia International Fashion Week (MIFW) in Kuala Lumpur, nine young designers were tasked with incorporating Mickey and other Disney characters into their designs at the “Mickey and Friends” show, held one Saturday morning in the city.

Sitting there watching models walk by on the runway definitely brought back memories for most people in the audience – from Mickey and Minnie-inpired designs to outfits that look like they came straight out of Disney movies like The Lion King, there were designs everyone could relate to on some level.

The nine designers that presented their creations were Andy Yap, Aisya Hanem, Jason Yek, Jimmy Lim, Satheswaran, Michelle Shia, Marcus June, Alex Yap and Lucas Blim – all familiar names that have graced fashion events in the past.

Jason Yek

When the models walked out onto the runway in floor-sweeping princess gowns I could hardly breathe. The full-skirted gowns were feminine with intricate detailing and just looked like the sort of thing Beauty and Cinderella would wear to the ball in the movies.

Jason Yek

The massive sleeves, long trains and floral applique added to the fairytale feel of the show, and tiaras on the models’ heads completed the look.

Marcus June

Even without the African jungle soundtrack playing as the models walked the runway, it was obvious where this designer got his inspiration from – The Lion King.

Faux fur and serrated hemlines were a dead giveaway, as were the drawings of Simba, Nala and other characters from the movie on each outfit.

Marcus June

The extreme temperature where the film is set, Africa, is symbolised in each piece through the colours like yellow, orange, brown and dull green.

Aisya Hanem

One of last year’s breakout stars at MIFW, Aisya used Ariel from The Little Mermaid as her inspiration.

Aisya Hanem

The designer is a big fan of the red-haired, fun-loving mermaid and this showed in her designs, without being too obvious – there were no sea shells or fins to be seen on any of the creations.

Some layers were crafted to look like scales while dark green skirts hung loosely to mirror ocean vegetation, all this was achieved without losing the glamour, but still retaining the fun element of Ariel.

Andy Yap

The whimsical collection inspired by Mickey and Minnie was complete with Mickey Mouse ears and hands, and the designer really went all out to make the models look like they walked right out of the cartoon and onto the runway.

Andy Yap

Using “Mickey colours” (black, white, red and yellow), as well as black dots on white backgrounds, Andy’s collection was casual but chic at the same time. It looked like something any one of us could throw on and walk out into the street in, with the exception of the thick maroon faux fur coat.

Lucas Blim

This fashion design lecturer worked with the idea that Mickey and his friends are real, and that he lives among us, and that was the theme for his creations.

Lucas Blim

Using mainly dull greys, browns and greens, each piece was brought to life with bursts of bright colours and ripped hemlines – sort of like what a punk, or edgy fashionista Mickey would wear if he were real.

Hey everyone this week’s Style It is here, so go ahead and give us your cleverest, wittiest and funniest comments on these stars’ outfits!

Anna Faris at the 16th annual GQ "Men of the Year" party in Los Angeles.

Demi Lovato at the 12th Annual Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas.

Rosanna Arquette at the MOCA Annual Gala in Los Angeles

Dita Von Teese at the MOCA Annual Gala in Los Angeles

By NASA MARIA ENTABAN
alltherage@thestar.com.my

THERE are heaps of misconceptions our brothers, fathers, guy friends and essentially just about every male in our lives have when it comes to women and their lifestyles.

It’s true, we pay a lot of attention to beauty, health and fashion, but they don’t rule our lives and aren’t personality-altering evils we need to be exorcised of.
So this week, we’re going to address some of the more common misconceptions our straight male friends have about fashion, health and beauty, because there seem to be a lot of them floating around.

We put ourselves at great risk for fashion

Remember that scene in The Wedding Planner when Jennifer Lopez gets her heel stuck in a manhole cover in the middle of the street, panics but successfully removes her foot from the shoe before running off to safety, only to dart right back onto the path of a runaway dumpster.

No woman in her right mind would put herself at such great risk. Also, we don’t drive in our five-inch heels.

Driving + stilettos = disaster

Most gals have ‘driving shoes’ – they are hidden under our car seat, in a paper bag in the backseat, or in the trunk. We don’t drive in the five-inch heels you see us in – that’s really dangerous and we are well aware of that.

The next time you get into a woman’s car, look around a little (discreetly!) and you’ll probably see a pair of ballerina flats tucked away in a corner. Be smooth and don’t ask her what they’re for. And if she doesn’t take off her sky high heels to drive, maybe you’ll want to figure out a way to give her a little safety tip (in a nice way of course).

We regularly go on crazy shopping sprees

Most women are quite clever when it comes to shopping – we know how to prioritise, and to recognise good deals. So while we talk and talk about designer and luxury brands, the majority of women probably only own a few good pieces.

I adore Karen Millen but that doesn’t mean I have 50 Karen Millen dresses in my wardrobe, and though I own heaps of Aldo heels I’ve bought most of them on sale.

There are many ways of getting around labels without having to pay through your nose – overrun and slightly damaged designer wear prices are often sold at up to 70% off in select stores.

We know how and when to get our sale on

We don’t walk into luxury stores and buy everything in sight – most women I know will either a) wait for the item to go on sale b) pick the item up online for a discount c) wait til they travel overseas where there are major warehouse sales or d) look for a replica.

We have to dress sexy to look fashionable

Short and tight does not always translate to stylish and fashionable.
Have you heard of the new “sopan” wave of fashion that has hit blogs, boutiques and essentially anyone who wants to look stylish without showing too much skin?

Long skirts, long sleeves, loose-fitting tops and covered shoes have found a way to co-exist in the same ensemble and look fantastic at that.

We’re indecisive about our clothes

Yes, we spend more time getting ready than you do – but it’s not because we haven’t made up our minds or we are scatterbrains. Imagine having to pair shoes to outfit, outfit to accessories, accessories to bags, the whole ensemble to makeup, and making sure all the proper undergarments are washed and ready to wear.

That’s a whole lot of coordinating to do – it’s an event in itself!

To get the combo just right, we need time to try stuff on and look in the mirror from all angles.

We’re not all on a crazy diet

If I had a ringgit for every time a guy has said “diet ah?” whenever I order a small serving of food I’d be rich – one friend even began “chirping” every time we sat down for a meal (chirping because I used to eat like a bird, geddit?).

I’m not saying we don’t watch what we eat, but that not all of us eat only egg whites for dinner and reward ourselves with a single grape for dessert. (probably none of us – that stuff only happens in the movies)

We like our food

Years of being conditioned to be polite, pleasant and lady-like at all times has affected everything we do, right down to eating habits. Ordering a large plate of food and chowing down like there’s no tomorrow just seems unacceptable, so most a time we hold back when we’re dining with the opposite sex.

When we’re dining together, my friends and I order starters to share, main dishes and sometimes even dessert ! (*gasp* NO!) We like food, we just don’t show it. That’s what Facebook, Twitpic, and food blogs are for!

This week’s Style It is out, and we’d love for you to tell us what you think of what these stars are wearing.

Remember, be witty and funny! Have fun

Jessica Alba at the Glamour Magazine Women of the Year awards in New York

LeAnn Rimes at the CMA awards recently

Selena Gomez at the MTV European Music Awards

Lena poses on the red carpet at the MTV European Music Awards (EMA)

By NASA MARIA ENTABAN
alltherage@thestar.com.my

THE latest film to portray tragic 50s film star Marilyn Monroe, My Week With Marilyn hits theatres worldwide soon. And like many before her, Michelle Williams does her best to look, walk, and act like Marilyn.

In print and on film, numerous celebrities have done ‘Marilyn’-type projects, and while wigs and make up can work wonders in making them look like her, getting her style right is crucial.

Like many great movie icons, Marilyn was known not just as an actress but also for her sense of style, and for over 50 years celebrities have been trying to copy her look.

From William Travilla’s white crepe halter neck dress (the iconic ‘subway dress’ from The Seven Year Itch) to her casual wear of slim pants and round-neck sweaters, a lot of what the 50s star wore then still looks good today.

We all acknowledge there will never be another Marilyn Monroe, but ladies everywhere can pay homage to her by stepping into her clothes.

Let’s take a look at some iconic pieces we can all have in our wardrobes.

Skin-tight

Marilyn knew how to do casual, but looking glamorous was her forte – there are heaps of pictures of the screen goddess looking fabulous in gowns.

The key to rocking the Marilyn look is to go with something really tight, but make sure you’re comfortable with your figure to do this – you have to carry a tight-fitting dress with confidence.

Scarlett Johansson has the figure and confidence for a skin-tight outfit.

Megan Fox (who has a tattoo of Marilyn on her) adopts this look often. But it is women will full-er figures like Scarlett Johansson who can truly carry off Marilyn’s look. With an hourglass figure and tons of confidence, she looks super fine in figure-hugging dresses.

Go gold

There’s no better way to grab the limelight at a party or event than to go all out in an elegant gold dress, like the one Carrie Underwood wore to the Country Music Awards recently. Mum-to-be Beyonce has rocked this look at awards shows as well.

This gold dress worn by Carrie Underwood is a perfect example of an elegant Marilyn-style gown

While length can make an outfit more ‘formal’, the glitter and shine will give your dress the glam it needs – just be careful about piling on flashy accessories. Go with small, simple pieces if you’re going with an all-gold look.

Lucite platforms

Actress and ‘rock star’ Taylor Momsen is a fan of these see-through platform ‘stripper’ heels, and so is Nicki Minaj. Marilyn Monroe slipped on a pair of these for an outdoor photo shoot or even clad in swimwear, but this kind of footwear is really most suitable for going out to parties and events. (Just make sure they are worn to the right kind of events, not awards shows, gala dinners or weddings!)

They are perfectly fine for casual events and even for weekend workdays, and believe it or not, some celebrities have been spotted wearing them to fun, non-formal events.

Before you go ‘eww’, take a good, long look at them, and you’ll realise they’d actually be a hot addition to your shoe closet.

Check out the heels Marilyn wore on this site: http://msheel.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-dont-know-who-invented-high-heels-but.html

Casual wear

Perfect for a casual day out, lecture halls and even some offices, the slim white capri pants worn in several of Marilyn’s films go with just about anything.

Pair them with a sweater like she did, or just about any top – loose, tight-fitting or formal – these pants are a great staple to own.

Capri pants like this one shown during Russia Fashion Week are so in.

Forget about the rules about these pants cutting your legs in half and making you look shorter. Just as long as you feel good in what you’re wearing and wear it confidently, you’ll look fab in these pants, no matter what your height.

Hi everyone, this week’s Style It is out, and they’ve been more ‘interesting’ outfits than usual (yay!) so have fun with these:

Delta Goodrem at the Avon Foundation Awards Gala

Laura Bell Bundy at the CMA Awards in Nashville yesterday.

Katy Perry at the EMA awards

Jessie J at the EMAs

By NASA MARIA ENTABAN

alltherage@thestar.com.my

TWO talented young artists walked away with RM10,000 and a Rado watch each at the second annual Rado Star Prize design competition.

Lim Hong Ann, 23, and Haris Abadi, 29, both came up with very different creations for the competition, and were ecstatic about their win at last week’s finale, held in Kuala Lumpur.

Hong Ann’s sculpture was called Go Unlimited and was made from recycled can rings, glue and hardboard. It was meant to depict “the spontaneity of the free motive movement”.

“I used glue to fix the recycled can rings together and paste them on the hardboard in order to create a pattern that symbolises the unlimited moment of essence that penetrates the mind, and can be shared with others,” said Hong Ann, a landscape architecture student.

It took him two weeks to build the sculpture; though he had collected the can rings way before the competition.

“I did it according to the theme ‘unlimited spirit’, and even though it is a static thing the can rings are meant to move in a never-ending pattern,” explained Hong Ann.

Lim Hong Ann with his creation 'Go Unlimited', which won him the top prize of RM10,000 at the Rado Star Prize 2011 design competition.

Meanwhile, Haris went digital with his creation Your Axismudi?, using video mapping.

“This is a video from the actual 3D mapping, projected on a sculptural installation,” said Haris, who is doing his Masters in fine arts and technology. “The whole idea of my creation is about how much of our lives revolve around the Internet and technology.

“It is meant to question us if we really live in the real world.”

Haris’s design used logos and symbols anyone who has a computer will recognise – we see them every day as we surf the Internet and check our e-mail.

“What is really the centre of the world now?” asked Haris. “It’s just a question I’d like to pose to people today.”

Haris Abadi with his digital creation 'Your Axismundi?' which won him the top prize of RM10,000 at the Rado Star Prize 2011 design competition.

The Rado Star Prize Malaysia 2011 competition aims at providing a platform for art and design enthusiasts to share their works and passion across the world, through Radostar.com.

The event saw many industry experts and arts enthusiasts come together to support and appreciate the amazing works of the top five finalists.

It was judged by renowned Malaysian fashion designer Khoon Hooi, award-winning interior designer Benson Saw and Zanita Anuar, curator and director of Museum Innovations at The Malaysia Museums Department.

Because there were two first prize winners this year, the second prize was voided. However, the third prize went to Pavell Tan whose artwork Emotions won her a cash prize of RM3,000 and a Rado timepiece.

Prior to the announcement, guests were treated to a fashion show featuring Rado’s latest collections, Rado True Thinline and Rado D-Star, followed by an artistic performance by the START Society, led by artist Phillip Wong.

Phillip teaches underprivileged children to heal and rebuild their self-esteem through arts and performance.

The Favourite Designer award was presented to Leong Shang Chin for her design called Hold Your Future, which garnered the highest online votes (via www.radostarprize.my)

Hi friends   its that time of the week again – time to comment on stars and their outfits !

Here are this week’s picks, you can be cheeky, a little mean or you can even shower the stars’ outfit choice with praise,  just as long as you’re witty and humorous

Bai Ling at the AOL Huffington Post Game Changers Awards in New York.

Kim Kardashian poses backstage at the AOL Huffington Post Game Changers Awards in New York

Uma Thurman attends the 2011 Golden Heart Awards in New York

Director of 'W.E.', Madonna arrives for the BFI London Film Festival gala screening of 'W.E.' at a central London cinema

Paris Hilton at the premiere of the musical "Dirty Dancing" in Oberhausen, Germany.