EVERY week for almost three years, I’ve had my little corner in R.AGE to write about fashion and beauty events, personalities, shows and trends, and also to run giveaways and get your feedback on what’s hot in the world of fashion.

In the six years that I’ve worked here, I’ve woken up every day and pieced my outfit for the day together, asking myself questions like ‘How do I want to feel today?’, ‘What do I want people to notice about me (Or what do I not want people to notice about me)?’, ‘Am I going to an event after work?’ and ‘Do I need to run around a lot and be comfortable?’ before I decide on a look.

Six years and many outfits later, it’s come to this – my very last week at R.AGE, and also my last ever Nasassistic column, as I’ll be moving on to Clove (which comes out every Sunday) to continue writing about fashion and beauty events, personalities, shows and trends.

So as a tribute to all the thought I’ve put into my daily work outfits all these years, and all the wonderful work outfits I’ve seen on other people, this week’s article will be about just that – work clothes!

Here’s a few ideas that have worked for me in the past, and are still very current today.

The bright stuff

Loud prints, florals and bright colours may seem like the thing to wear on weekends or during vacation but with the right mixing and matching you can make this look work for the office.

The only thing you might want to avoid is wearing a full floral maxi dress to work, except if its to a casual work event.

Florals and print can be worn to work.

Pair floral dresses and blouses with neutral-coloured blazers, pants and vests – darker colours can also help balance out the ‘girliness’ of colourful prints.

A punch of colour here and there is a great way to brighten up an outfit, and yes, neon is acceptable so long as its limited to an accessory or a pair of shoes, perhaps.

One piece wonders

There are so many things you can do with chic, one-coloured form-fitting work dresses, that you should stock up on more of these.

Any plain black, white or grey dress – with creative use of accessories, outerwear and shoes – you can transform any simple dress into a fabulous (but work-friendly) ensemble.

Form-flattering work dresses are a great investment.

To economise, look out for classic pieces that are form-fitting, flattering and well-made. As long as your size doesn’t change too much, you can wear them for years to come.

Dressing down

Not everyone has the luxury of wearing jeans to work, but there are many ways to dress down and still abide by the rules.

One great look that works for offices is pairing a cardigan over pants and a t-shirt or a casual blouse with flats or wedges, and I’ve always loved the oversized shirt, belt and tights combo.

A combo like this is office-friendly.

Pairing a plaid shirt and khakis is another chic casual look, topped off with a pair of ballerina flats.

alltherage@thestar.com.my

ONCE again the seasons have changed in trend-setting countries, and with Fall/Winter comes some brand new trends.

Many old trends have been given new and creative twists, and designers are introducing plenty of fresh looks that local fashion lovers will be thrilled to try out.

Let’s take a look at some of the key trends of the season:

In-style shades

Katy Perry in a metallic silver gown by Dolce & Gabbana.

The Fall/Winter season always brings about darker hues, but this doesn’t mean you should abandon brights altogether. Punches of bright colours to liven up an outfit are encouraged, as well as colour blocking.

Key colours of the season are scarlet red, indigo, uniform grey and military green, but one trend you simply have to adopt is metallic. Whether its gold, silver or bronze, try it out on tops, skirts, bags, shoes or even an entire dress like what Katy Perry wore to the Katy Perry: Part of Me premier in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil recently.

Blend your metallics with other colours, and if you’re not a big fan of the hue, get it in belts, accessories and shoes.

Light outerwear

Blazers like the one Maggie Grace is wearing are still a hot trend.

Fashionistas in colder climates will be piling on the layers this season, and we can do the same, just with lighter fabrics like soft leather, cotton and silk.

Outerwear like cardigans, capes, blazers, jackets and scarves are a hot trend right now, especially the more “masculine” variety.

Military and uniform-inspired pieces, as well as bomber and biker jackets, military trench coats and boyish blazers are the way to go this season.

Look East

Taylor Swift at the 54th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California.

When it comes to dressing up for an event or a dinner party this season, look no further than our own back yards. Experts have predicted that Eastern-inspired blouses and dresses will be a massive trend this Fall/Winter, and so far we’ve seen quite a few pieces on runways worldwide.

Take a cue from the cheongsam and wear your slits high, and keep an eye out for Mandarin collars on tops and dresses.

Kimono-inspired dresses and tops too, are slowly working their way into our stores, and loose kaftans, while already pretty established in the local fashion scene, are making a comeback.

Prints

Step out in nature-inspired prints like Kerry Washington.

Nature is a running theme this season, so look out for animal prints, feather motifs, floral patterns and leaves of every kind, appearing on skirts, tops and bottoms.

There are plenty of other prints to choose from if nature is not your style, so check out geometric patterns, aztec designs and your usual plaid, stripes and checks for the more androgynous dresser.

Other key print trends are 60s graphics, optic contrasts and tapestry. There’s plenty to choose from so take your pick!

SHOPPING and trend-watching may sound like a dream career to many fashion lovers, and fashion buyers Olivia Ong Su-Kheng, 25 and Jessie Sin Mei-ye, 26 will tell you that it is every bit as exciting as it sounds.

Ong, 25, and Sin, 26, are two out of the 30 fashion buyers that handle 600 brands under the Zalora Malaysia umbrella.

Popular online fashion shopping mall Zalora has everything you can find in a mall – all thanks to buyers like Ong and Sin.

Sin, who handles private labels, is responsible for sourcing out brands that she can develop and supply to customers in Malaysia.

“I source for brands and stores that are really interesting in other countries in Asia, and once I get to know the brand and its direction, we can then tailor it to current trends and local customer’s needs,” says Sin.

“I think the most interesting part of being a buyer is that you get to shop while you work,” she adds.

Ong, a fashion marketing and management graduate, handles 30 brands and spends her days mostly dealing with suppliers of these products.

“One of the main aspects of the job is regularly meeting suppliers, negotiating terms of contract, maintaining relationships with existing suppliers and sourcing for new products,” explains Ong.

“I have to liase with the suppliers to ensure that the products and the collection supply meets the demand, and if something goes out of stock we have to call the suppliers and get them to replenish. We keep track of what’s most sellable for each brand and get suppliers to bring in more,” she adds.

On top of negotiating and sourcing, Ong and Sin also have to keep track of their products and to make sure they are on top of everything, including trends.

“When I travel, I see what’s in trend and what they’re producing and draw inspiration from there. Thailand, Japan and China are the main countries that set trends in this region,” explains Sin.

Many brands are still reluctant to break away from traditional shopping, and a big part of Sin and Ong’s jobs is persuading brands with an ‘old-school’ shopping mentality that putting their products online is the way to go.

“We make the call, walk them through the website, answer any questions they might have and try to convince them that this is the future of shopping,” says Ong. “I find that after some persuasion brands are happy to give it a try, it’s also great exposure for them as we’re also doing free marketing for them.”

“It’s important for them to know that this is how people are shopping nowadays, and that they will have a wider reach to towns or cities where their brands are not available,” adds Sin.

They spend hours on the phone each day, negotiating with suppliers who each have different needs and demands and also do data entry – but these girls love their jobs.

“It’s not an easy job, you have to like challenges and fashion of course, and you must have great communication skills,” says Ong. “When there are queries or problems the suppliers will come to you, and it’s your job to keep them happy while also making sure you make a profit.”

Zalora fashion buyers Sin (left) and Ong.

Negotiating is a challenge, and according to Ong, getting good at it requires training and experience, but most importantly, a passion for the job.

“We talk to our suppliers more than we talk to the other Zalora buyers,” she says, laughing. “You have to be friendly, alert to what’s going on and always on the lookout for new brands and products to add to the site.”

What keeps Sin going is seeing the private labels she develops sell well on the site, and knowing that people like the products.

“When you work really hard on a brand that you’ve sourced yourself it’s like your own baby, it’s an achievement when people are saying good things about it,” she says.

We’re giving away Zalora vouchers on Twitter and Facebook at 2pm today – follow @thestar_rage to find out more!

With all the family and friends get-togethers and events that come along with the festivities, you’ll want to show up in style, and we’ve got a few pointers for you from local fashion designers.

Several weeks ago, we got a taste of what fresh trends are out there this Raya, as three young designers showcased their latest collections at the Lebaran Fashion Vanguard 2012 Aidilfitri show at Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.

Up-and-coming designers Afiq M., Zakwan Anuar and Fiziwoo put on a great show for the crowd, showcasing their creative interpretations of Aidilfitri fashion.

Classic kurung were given a contemporary twist while retaining their demure and delicate qualities, while traditional blouses took on modern cuts that make them ideal to be worn to events, family gatherings and visiting relatives.

Each designer showcased their distinctive styles, and here’s a breakdown of what each one had to offer:

Afiq M.

Inspired by 60s retro, Afiq’s focus was on the details – collars and cuffs. Incorporating Peter Pan collars and cuffs for loose sleeves on baju kurung gave the outfits a modern vibe without being too experimental.

Colours were monotone grey, mustard and burnt orange which are very fall/winter and a great choice for dresses and kurungs.

Afiq, (who has a bridal label Afiq M. Sposa with Reni Diana Sulaiman), also included lace and mesh into several designs to give them a feminine feel and look.

Zakwan Anuar

Traditional and edgy at the same time, Zakwan’s muse for this collection was actress Rooney Mara. Inspired by her dark beauty and the sharp silhouetted dresses she is often seen wearing, this law student-turned-fashion designer made sure his creations were sleek, sharp and showed-off the model’s figures.

Zakwan’s creative use of modern cuts in structured pieces gave otherwise feminine dresses, kurung and kebaya a futuristic edge. Sophisticated and elegant, his Aidilfitri collection is a great mix of traditional Muslimwear and modern chic.

Fiziwoo

Fiziwoo closed the show with a collection of soft, feminine Raya-wear for the girly-girl in all of us.

The duo behind the label – Fizi Woo and Izree Kai Haffiz, chose pastels to go with punches of bright colours on long skirts, structured tops and tight-fitting kurung.

High-waisted skirts and demure kurung all shared something in common – a defined waist, several outfits cinched with a cute belt.

The standout piece of the collection was definitely the off-white Mandarin-collared, short-sleeved long-skirted number, the tight bodice ending at the hips, then transforming into a floor-grazing, flowy skirt.

For more information on the designers, check out their Facebook pages here:

https://www.facebook.com/AfiqMOfficial

https://www.facebook.com/officialfiziwoo

https://www.facebook.com/ZakwanAnuarOfficial

Copy editor Lorraine Kwek

Established in 1997 by Helen Read, the brand, which caters to women who wear sizes 12 through 24, has casual, career, eveningwear and every day clothes for women who are on the curvier end of the spectrum.

Want to be one of the five winners? All you have to do is answer the following in the comments box below, and include your name and age, and you might take home an RM50 voucher!

1) What are the Ms Read website and facebook URLs?

2) What sizes does Ms Read cater to?

3) When was the brand established and by whom?

4) Complete the following in no more than 20 words: “Dressing up makes me happy because ________________________”

Submit your entries before July 26 at 5pm, all the best!

alltherage@thestar.com.my

EVERY woman, at some point in her life, experiences body image issues.

Whether it’s obsessing over our weight, height, skin or the way our hair looks, let’s face it – we all have our hang-ups, and sometimes they last for ages.

It took Lorraine Kwek years to feel comfortable with her body, and many more years to dress up and feel confident about herself.

The 30-year-old copy editor has always been plus-sized, but only recently began feeling comfortable with her body.

“Choices (of clothes) were so limited when I was a teenager. It was difficult to find clothes for plus-sized girls, and most of the brands catered to older women,” says Kwek from Klang, Selangor.

“It was always disappointing that there was nothing in my size because I’ve always liked to dress up.”

Back then, Kwek had to have a lot of her clothes tailor-made.

Lorraine Kwek

“If there was a dress that I liked, I’d sketch it out and ask my mum to take me to the tailor but it never really came out exactly the way I wanted it.

“I actually bought my first classic dress from Ms Read, it was the only store that really catered for plus-sized ladies,” says Kwek. “The cut is perfect for anyone (that wears) size 12 and over, and there’s quite a bit of variety. Apart from dresses, there are jumpsuits, work clothes, and body hugging dresses I never thought I would be able to wear at my size.”

As she went through college and started working, Kwek thought about her looks less and less, and one day while surfing the Ms Read website, she made a brave decision.

“I wrote to them and asked if I could model for them,” she explains. “They called me in for casting and even though I was really nervous and shy they took me on, and in the past year I’ve done three shoots for Ms Read campaigns.”

Becoming a model for her favourite store has definitely given Kwek a huge boost of confidence, which was really all she ever needed to feel beautiful in her own skin.

That kind of confidence is something which brand executive Manpreet Rai, can relate to.

Rai, 23, has been skinny all her life, and has had her own set of issues to deal with.

“I used to get teased in school with names like coconut tree, penyapu lidi, and many more,” says Rai.

Manpreet Rai

“People also like to say things like you will ‘fly away’ when it’s windy. It made me feel there was something wrong with me, and I had very low self confidence when I had to be in front of people or do any presentations because of the way I looked.”

For years, Rai struggled with her lack of self confidence, and although it was never difficult for her to dress up or find clothes in her size, she would always stick to jeans and t-shirts, avoiding clothes that showed too much skin.

“I didn’t want to show skin because people always commented on how skinny my arms and legs were. I felt people commented less if I showed less skin.

“It was more on lack of self confidence, I felt judged for the way I looked. Fact remains I didn’t choose to be thin. I’m not anorexic or anything. I’m just thin,” says Rai.

It was only when she was in university and started hanging out with a group of supportive friends who said positive things about her looks and personality that she began getting over her hang-ups.

“They would marvel over how I could pretty much buy anything without having to try them on beforehand, at flea markets and so on,” says Rai. “I became more confident then.”

“My mum always taught me to dress for yourself and not for others, and I’ve learned not to care about what other people think. Being thin is fine as long as you’re healthy, and we need to learn to love ourselves the way we are,” she adds.

The worst is over for Rai and Kwek, and they hope young girls everywhere realise that as long as they’re confident and focused on their good features, the body image issues will diminish and go away.

“Young women need to realise that being confident and comfortable in your own skin is more important than anything else,” says Kwek. “I finally stopped being judgemental about myself, or wishing I was smaller, and now I love my curves.”

By NASA MARIA ENTABAN
alltherage@thestar.com.my

WE may not have chilly windy days that bring autumn leaves tumbling from trees to collect in yellow piles at our feet to signify the coming of fall, but that’s no reason to ignore pre-fall fashion.

In countries in the Northern Hemisphere, people are stocking up on warm clothing like trenches, coats, hats, boots and sweaters in preparation for fall, but in our tropical climate, we too can adopt some of these trends with a few tweaks here and there.

Spring/summer is fading out, and with it, the bright and bold colours that defined that happy-go-lucky style of the first few months of the year.

That doesn’t mean we should stop wearing colours completely, only that we should take it down a notch – there are plenty of brand new colours and keytrends to adopt in the latest pre-fall collections to hit runways. Here’s a few things you should check out:

The hue to have

If you were sporting tangerine and bright pink earlier in the year, it is now timeto move on to darker, moodier colours to be in theme with the season.

Shades of red are in this pre-fall season

Burgundy, wine, geranium red, blood red and many other hues will be everywhere in stores, on every piece of clothing imaginable. Just because it’s pre-fall, you don’t have to restrict yourself to solids – wear your reds in polka dots, floral, geometric and nature-inspired prints.

Silhouette shape

Inspired by fashion of the 1950s, designers are bringing back the best of the female shape yet again. Attire which shows off a defined waist are the way to go this season – be it with flared dresses, neat jackets or high-waisted pants.

Pre-fall is full of 50s-inspired styles.

Belts help enhance the mid-section, but what is really taking the fashion world by storm is the tuxedo cummerbunds as an alternative to belts.

Boyish vibe

It is a great time to search your man’s wardrobe for stuff you can wear, as menswear is being used to toughen up overtly feminine outfits.

The boyfriend blazer is popular yet again, but has been given an update – look for them in beige leather and checks, which is really huge right now.

Footwear ideas

It may be too hot to walk around in thigh-high boots or even the ones that fall just below the knee, so it’s a good thing brands are offering up a few great solutions for footwear lovers in humid climates.

Experiment with footwear this pre-fall

Among them, platform booties which are chic and practical, and most importantly, comfortable.

LATER this year, Spice Girls fans will get to relive the prime years of the 90s pop group when the musical Viva Forever takes the stage.

Thinking about the British pop group that took the charts by storm years ago brings back memories of not just their catchy pop tunes, but the fashion trends that came along with them.

As with many things, pop stars have proven to be a great influence on fashion and image – there’s no denying they always have a hand in what’s popular.

Many have taken it a step further by collaborating with fashion designers on a clothing line named after them.

Just like Baby, Posh, Sporty, Scary and Ginger gave every young girl back then an idea about which ‘Spice’ they were and an image to call their own, so have many other pop stars before and after.

Let’s take a look at some prominent pop acts who shifted the face of fashion, even if it was just for a short while.

Punk rock princess

Sporting a necktie never really became a thing before Avril Lavigne burst out onto the scene, back in 2002. Eyes heavily rimmed with eyeliner? You have to admit that Lavigne boosted the popularity of this trend as well.

Baggy jeans, sneakers, studs, leather and anything slightly associated with punk-rock became hot property the moment Lavigne burst out into the music scene.

Avril Lavigne made ties cool

After goody-goody, clean-cut starlets like Britney Spears (before she went crazy, of course), Lavigne was just what little girls around the world needed at the time. She was different, representing a sort of rebellion that went beyond the make-up, neckties and spiked embellishments.

The entire Lavigne package fed a generation of girls who wanted to be more ‘I said see ya l8r boi’ than ‘I was born to make you happy’.

Queen of pop

At 53, Madonna has been going at it for over three decades and shows no signs of slowing down. Apart from constantly reinventing her sound, she’s never far behind in the fashion department.

In the early 80s, she almost single-handedly revolutionised women’s fashion with the ‘messy chic’ look which included lacy fingerless gloves, dirty bleach blonde hair and a jacket over layers of shirts.

'Messy chic' was a Madonna thing.

The oversized sweatshirts and shirts with cut-off sleeves over a bra or cropped top are a lasting image of the 80s, which Madonna helped solidify all those years ago.

All these trends are now trickling back onto runways and into stores, and although their revival is partly due to designers, fashion experts and current starlets, we have the Queen of Pop to thank for making them big in the first place.

The posh one

Even back in her Spice Girls days, Victoria Beckham’s (then Adams) style was the most practical, and (at least to me), the most appealing. With chic, almost corporate cuts and not over-the-top outfits (unlike the other girls), it seemed like an image built to last.

And lasted it has. Today, many look to the fashion powerhouse for inspiration and her designs are at the top of many a celebrity’s shopping list.

Victoria Beckham was, and still is, the posh one.

Everything about her image is chic, posh and not too difficult to achieve. Simple cuts and minimal embellishments are the way to go for young women who want to make a good impression, but still look stylish while doing it.

FASHION is always at an all-time high at the beginning of the year, when awards season comes around.

While the major awards events have all ended, there are still plenty of movie premieres, posh fund-raisers and less-publicised awards shows where our favourite stars can strut their style on the red carpet.

Spring/Summer fashion is still hot but there are heaps of Pre-Fall looks already making their way onto runways and red carpets everywhere.

Many are toning down their bright and bold hues and shifting into a cooler colour scheme but there are plenty of stars who are still out there rocking summer shades.

Let’s take a look at some red carpet trends that we can’t wait to see in our stores:

Turn on the flash

It’s never too early in the year to come out in a shiny ensemble like the one Ashley Rickards (above) wore at the 2nd Critics Choice Television Awards, especially if it’s for an awards show or swanky event.

Ashley Rickards

When going full metallic, gold or silver, be mindful of your make-up, accessories and shoes. Minimal accessories like a chunky ring or a simple cuff will complete the look, and throw on a pair of nude heels. Make-up should be subtle and avoid shimmery eyeshadow and lipstick because the overall combination of flashy make-up and a shiny dress will end up a bit too over-the-top.

Drop it like it’s hot

The easiest way to spruce up a simple outfit is to throw on some eye-catching accessories, and what’s better than a pair of fabulous earrings?

We all love our hoops and studs, but when it comes to a red carpet event or an important dinner, bring on the drop earrings.

Natalie Zea

Whether they’re an arrangement of stones or an unusual pair like the ones Natalie Zea wore at the Critics Choice Television Awards, these earrings are the way to go as they give your neck an elongated look. You can wear your hair any way you like, but an up-do is best to complement the earrings. After all, you don’t want them to get tangled in your hair.

Leg-out

Angelina Jolie sort of set this trend in motion earlier this year by stepping out on the 84th Annual Academy Awards red carpet in a thigh-high slit that showed off her gorgeous right leg.

Skin is always in, but it depends a lot on how you choose to flaunt your legs, and right now the way to go is slits.

Carly Rae Jepsen

The slit (or slits) is the perfect way to show some skin without looking too trashy. Carly Rae Jepsen’s black gown at the recent MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto, Canada, would have been pretty boring if not for the carefully crafted slits down the front. And thanks to the clever cut, it not only looks elegant but adds just the right amount of sex appeal to make the outfit work.

EVERYONE has that one make-up trick we’d love to try out but just haven’t yet because we’re not sure if we can pull it off.

It’s not just carrying the look that’s the challenge. For many, the application of it can also be a problem.

Common make-up issues like smudged lipstick, uneven eyeliner and “mascara goops” can be embarrassing, and it all boils down to proper application and careful upkeep throughout the day.

There are so many hot looks out there that are worth trying out and most of them are classics that are worth learning as they’ll be around for decades to come.

We’ve narrowed it down to a few must-try looks and here they are:

Bright red lips

This is a tricky one, as the slightest smudge can ruin the look, and it’s not a one-step process.

While it’s true that anyone can work this look, first of all you have to find a red that matches your skin tone. This involves a lot of trial and error, unfortunately, and plenty of research to determine which brand and shade are just right for your skin tone.

Before application, you must first exfoliate (mix a spoonful of water and sugar and rub on your lips in a circular motion) and then slab on some lip balm for hydration.

Achieving red lips like Rihanna will take some practice.

Apply a lip liner that matches your red lipstick and you’re set. To make sure none of the lipstick gets on your teeth use the “finger” trick – put your index finger into your mouth and pull it out to remove any lipstick on your inner lip.

This look is high maintenance, so you have no choice but to keep checking and re-applying your lipstick every few hours.

Black eyeliner

I went through more than 10 different eyeliner brands in various forms – pencil, liquid and gel before I found the perfect one.

This is an absolute must-try look and it’s so easy to achieve with enough practice. Heaps of celebrities like singer Beth Ditto adore this look and wear it often.

Beth Ditto loves her black eyeliner

Pencil eyeliner can be the easiest to apply but sometimes the colour doesn’t come out as dark as it should. Practice liquid eyeliner on bare eyelids and rest your elbows on a counter top for steadier hands.

It may help to line in sections (inner eye, mid-lid and outer lid) and to connect these sections after. The good thing about eyeliner is if you screw up, you can always cover up the mistake by adding on a layer.

Full lashes

Not everyone is fortunate enough to be born with luscious Elizabeth Taylor-type lashes, so most of us have to make do with mascara and eyelash curlers.

These are the easier ways out to achieve longer lashes but another hot trend right now is wearing fake lashes.

False lashes are a hot trend right now.

Of course, it’s not practical to struggle with “falsies” every single day (although I actually do know some women who do!) so it’s okay to save them for special occasions.

The first thing you need to do is measure the lash strip against your eyelid and cut it if it’s too long.

Before sticking your falsies on, curl your real lashes with an eyelash curler, and then apply lash glue to the lash strip before pressing them on as close to your lash roots as possible (the strip goes above your real lashes). Use a cotton swab to apply extra glue where needed, and remember to apply mascara only after you’ve put your falsies on, as this will then merge your real lashes with the fake ones.