Nasassistic

Pre-fall is here, and with it, come new trends to look out for.

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.

By NASA MARIA ENTABAN
alltherage@thestar.com.my

ONE of the highlights of Tan Yue Lyn’s career as a fashion merchandiser with Vincci+ came in the form of a compliment – from Harry Potter star Emma Watson.

Yue Lyn’s sister, television personality Megan Tan wore a pair of Vincci+ ballerina flats to the London premiere of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows and during her interview with Emma Watson aka Hermione Granger, the actress complimented the shoes she was wearing.

What made that moment so special for Yue Lyn, even though she wasn’t even there, was the fact that she had had a hand in the shoe’s design.

“She absolutely adored them,” said Yue Lyn, 27. “I get a sense of fulfillment when I see people wearing the shoes I’ve helped design.”

A large part of Yue Lyn’s job is improving and refining shoe designs based on market research and consumer needs.

“I’m not technically a designer but what I do is improve and enhance existing designs. It could be changing the shoe’s material to something more suitable or adding sequins, stones and other embellishments, or adding a platform or increasing the height of a heel for example,” she explains.

Most of the time, she spots shoes she has ‘refined’ in malls, but the real reward is seeing them at events.

Vincci + Fashion merchandiser Tan Yue Lyn develops and refines shoe designs based on market research and customer needs.

“It’s getting the brand recognised that gives me a sense of pride and joy,” she adds. “You see your products, your babies, whatever you’ve developed responding in the market, there’s a sense of pride in knowing that your products are selling.”

“Its like I somehow made a difference in a way, people are wearing the shoes we’ve put out there,” she says, noting that she spots Vincci+ shoes on people on the street and at events at least four times a week.

The fashionista, whose sense of style is edgy chic meets retro glam, has always had a passion for fashion.

She started out as an assistant buyer for shoe brand Bata, and over two years ago she landed a job at Vincci +.

A typical day for Yue Lyn involves studying sales reports to see which products are working in the market and which ones aren’t, dealing with suppliers, visiting stores and conducting market surveys.

“When I source for shoes and handbags, I take note of the trends that are out there, such as key colours, shapes, hardware details like materials, embellishments and so on,” explains Yue Lyn, who travels abroad for fashion exhibitions to source for ideas and trends.

“I stick to the key colours of the season, while also taking into account what fits into the Malaysian market. For example, trends that are in line with fall/winter may not always be suitable here,” she adds.

At the end of the day, Yue Lyn explains, it’s all about the customers’ needs and wants.

“What makes a good buyer or merchandiser is being able to study consumers behaviours and catering to their needs,” explains Yue Lyn, whose informal research includes talking to friends and friends of friends about trends they are interested in.

On the other end of the spectrum, she has to have a good relationship with her suppliers while keeping them in check when it comes to prices and delivering orders.

“Dealing with suppliers is the biggest challenge,” she says. “Negotiating prices with them can be pretty tough, I manage cost issues by ensuring they are clear about the current economic conditions.”

“Late deliveries are another issue, as this creates setbacks especially during peak season for example during the festive seasons,” she adds. “One of my responsibilities is always making sure my stores have enough stocks, and ensuring my suppliers follow my order dates strictly.”

Anyone interested in getting into fashion merchandising has to have a keen eye for fashion trends and the ability to study the retail market, according to Yue Lyn.

“Most importantly, they need to be able to understand consumer behaviour and to tailor products to their needs,” she says. “Passion is very important – when you love what you do, everything else like determination, dedication and dilligence will come naturally.”

FILM stars have had a few red carpet moments this year. Last weekend, our favourite music entertainers stepped out and showed us what they’ve got, fashion-wise.

Stars that walked the red carpet at the 54th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles did not disappoint. Although there weren’t too many “out-there” outfits (even Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj seemed a little mellow), there were several new and comeback trends to take note of.

Colours weren’t as vibrant as you’d expect, as most of the stars came in black, white or neutral tones, but check out some of the other trends that could make their way onto runways and into stores worldwide.

All black

Plenty of stars chose to walk the red carpet in “safe” black outfits, but it is not really a big surprise as black is a colour which complements all shapes, sizes and skin tones.

Rihanna's daring black dress.

Most of the black dresses came with a relatively high necklines (well, except for Rihanna’s). It was not about showing a lot of skin or drawing attention but more about subtle style, elegance and detailing.

Take Corinne Bailey Rae’s Christian Siriano gown, for example. The delightful black piece with a voluminous, textured skirt was the perfect blend of elegance and youthfulness, a trend which is said to rule the runways this year.

It’s so easy for black to be boring but it is still a colour to look out for this season.

Corrine Bailey Rae in a delightful Christian Siriano gown.

Glittery getups

Whoever said “Not all that glitters is gold” was probably not talking about fashion. This year’s Grammys proved that sparkles and glitter are the way to go.

The celebrities who wore glittery gowns to the awards show have breathed new life into the trend, proving that to make an impact in fashion, you have to go big or go home.

Carrie Underwood, Katy Perry and Taylor Swift each donned brilliant, sparkly gowns. While they were long and elegant, they were anything but dull – each were injected with some glam flavour with shiny sequins and gemstones.

Carrie Underwood's Gomez-Garcia gown was a perfect blend of class and flash with a high neckline and glittery stones all over.

Most of the best gowns were long with sleeves and were not too “experimental”, cut-wise (devoid of slits, oddly-shaped sleeves etc) but what made them stand out were the carefully crafted jewels sewn onto the dresses.

We’re so happy designers, celebrities and stylists have found a way to merge class with flash and we can’t wait until some of these designs make their way into our stores here.

Full coverage

It would appear the celebrities are going with a more covered-up approach to trends this season.

Instead of going big on cleavage, most of the stars (again, except Rihanna) had demure necklines and few exposed much of their skin for the big night out.

Taylor Swift chose a gown with a mandarin collar.

Mandarin collars, boatnecks and round-necklines were aplenty while sweetheart necklines, with exposed cleavage, were hardly seen.

It’s actually very refreshing to see stars stepping out of the whole strapless gown trend and experimenting with different necklines.

Granny-wear

This isn’t a trend that is catching on fast, but it is definitely out there – Givenchy Fall/Winter couture collection last year included granny-panties (full coverage innerwear you probably wouldn’t be caught dead in), and the Kardashians have been spotted wearing them under sheer dresses and skirts.

We get that it would be totally unacceptable to wear thongs and even boxer-style panties under a sheer skirt, so, wearing full-coverage “granny panties” are a way of toning down the level of sexiness.

At the Grammys, Fergie attempted to make this trend work, but we are still unsure of her orange lace see-through Jean Paul Gaultier gown, paired with a black bra and black granny-panties.

Fergie wore a range lace dress, but forgot to put on a slip dress.

By NASA MARIA ENTABAN
alltherage@thestar.com.my

THERE never is a better time to be fashion-inspired than now. It’s already mid-January and stores are full of bright colours and spring/summer trends.
Chinese New Year is next week, and we’re pretty sure you can’t wait to hit the shops for some last-minute buys.

Malls may be overcrowded and frustrating to go to this week, but we promise it will be totally worth it when you see the new trends our favourite labels have to offer.

While we encourage everyone to embrace the latest styles and trends, do remember to be respectful to your hosts and guests, dress appropriately and save the red leather pants for a night out instead of your family’s reunion dinner!

Here are a few pieces you can pick up for that much-awaited reunion dinner, catch-up sessions with friends, or visiting relatives and friends this festive season.

Long, sheer skirt

Gossip Girl star Blake Lively and supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whitely both rocked this sheer long skirt look on the red carpet not too long ago.

It may be a trend that’s a little difficult to accept at first, after all, it looks like you’re having trouble deciding on whether to go with a long skirt or short, and just wear both.

Blake Lively in a sheer skirt

The sheer long skirt looks best in soft materials like chiffon, lace and even organza. You can wear them with shorts or a short skirt of the same colour, inside. If you’re superstitious, avoid wearing something black or white during Chinese New Year.

The rule which says you can’t wear high heels with a long skirt doesn’t apply here, as this is a chic and sophisticated look with a daring spin, so it actually requires you to wear elegant footwear.

For taller and slimmer girls, pleats add some shape to their frame, while curvier ladies should just go with a plain skirt.

Brogues

Whether you’re into pretty dresses, miniskirts or trousers, these are a type of footwear you can pretty much pair with anything for a casual and comfortable visiting session.

As is customary in Malaysia, you’ll be removing your shoes a whole lot when it comes to going to open houses, so rather than struggle with tedious straps, slip on a pair of brogues.

The Oxford brogue

They come off easily and since you’ll probably have a lot of ground to cover with driving and walking, they’ll be a more comfortable option compared to heels.

You can go with a preppy look by combining cotton trousers in a light colour with a tomboy shirt and finishing off with a pair of brogues in a contrasting colour. Otherwise, choose a knee-length floral print dress with neutral-coloured brogues.

Shift dresses

The weather is usually quite unforgiving during Chinese New Year – it can get pretty hot sometimes, so piling on thick clothes may ruin your day. If you’re use to wearing a pair of jeans and a top, why not surprise everyone by wearing a dress?  We can’t get over how the shift dress is already appearing in every fashion magazine, website and blog you can think of, and the short, loose style is perfect for this festive season.

The popular shift dress

Go out and get one in a bright colour – candy, coral, orange and turquoise are everywhere right now, and pair it with chunky accessories and neutral-coloured pumps or flats.

q Check out some of the trends celebrities wore to Monday morning’s 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards at rage.com.my/nasassistic.

JUST about every fashion column in the world will be writing about the same thing this week, so I thought I’d give our roundup of fashion trends a youthful spin.

Youth culture is forever changing. In fact, youths are so diverse it’s impossible to zero in on just one trend young people are “into” right now.

So, we’ve decided to list out a few fashion trends (and one fashion moment!) that grabbed young people’s attention all through 2011, and those that have stuck through the years and only gotten stronger this year.

Hipsters

Your most painful childhood fashion is now cool.

It’s definitely not a new trend, but its popularity seemed to have grown at an alarming rate this year. In the 1940s, “hipster” was defined as “characters who like hot jazz”. Today, the meaning has become slightly blurred – while it refers to people with unconventional taste in music, these days you don’t have to even like music, or subscribe to the norms of hipster subculture (living sustainably, rejecting consumerism and eating organicly-grown produce) to dress like a hipster.

Grandma’s sweater, a T-shirt with a big print of Che Guevara on the chest, ugly shoes … hipsters wear what they like, and they don’t care what you think.

Anything you can think of that was uncool, geeky or nerdy – retro glasses, old T-shirts (or T-shirts made to look old), skinny jeans – is cool under the hipster label.

Perhaps Matt Granfield, author of the book HipsterMattic put it best: “The way to be cool wasn’t too look like a television star: it was to look like as though you’d never seen television.”

Demure fashion

Yuna rocks the demure fashion trend flawlessly

I truly admire individuals that can rock an outfit without showing a teeny bit of skin. For every girl who throws on a plunging top as a fashion statement there are a growing number of fashion enthusiasts that go the direct opposite and end up looking a million times better.

We’re talking about the fashion trend that has swept Indonesia, Malaysia and women all over the world who realise that you don’t have to dress sexy to look like a million bucks.

From different ways to don a hijab, to creative pairings of full-coverage tops with baggy slacks and ballerina flats, these women are truly amazing when it comes to mixing and matching.

Kate’s gown

The most talked about dress of the year.

Who cares about stuffy British royalty and their nuptials? The answer? Everyone. Or the at least two billion people who watched the live broadcast of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding in April.

What were they all waiting for? The balcony kiss? To see whether they got each others names right? Or was it the dress… yup, definitely the dress.

There were more speculations as to who the Duchess of Cambridge chose as her designer, what the dress would look like and what she would wear in her hair than there are spots on a leopard!

In the end she chose a demure and tasteful satin and lace number designed by British designer Sarah Burton, of Alexander McQueen’s fashion house.

Flats

Flats scaled new heights this year

It may not be that noticeable a trend right now, but flats have definitely begun making waves. Perhaps women the world over are finally feeling the discomfort of being in heels all the time, and fashion houses, sites, magazines and TV shows are slowly warming to the trend.

Late last year Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz put his models in flats, mainly so that they wouldn’t stumble on the runway like drunks, and maybe, just maybe, this signalled a shift in the heels-wearing culture.

Young people are beginning to realise the serious health risks of wearing heels all the time, and these days more designs for pretty flats are hitting stores.

I KNOW very few women who don’t own even a pair of high heels. This popular type of footwear has become (almost) every woman’s must-own..

and over the years the stilettos and platforms are just getting higher and higher.

On Sunday, I wore a pair of 15.2cm (that’s six inches) heels to a friend’s wedding.

Walking was challenging, and thankfully there were no accidents navigating staircases at the venue (thanks in part to my “minder” who generously extended his arm for support). The thing is, despite the discomfort, I was confident the shoes did wonders to enhance my already-fantastic outfit.

A woman's best friend...

There were several “almost-accidents” but I’m proud to report I made it out of there in one piece. However, this isn’t always the case; many times, I’ve scraped a knee or two teetering in my heels.

This got me thinking about whether there is a “safe” height and shape for stilettos, and whether all those things our mothers tell us are true (you’re going to damage your back, you’ll get bunions etc).

Research shows that the accepted height for high heels is 7.6cm (or three inches), but a study conducted by physicists at Britain’s University of Surrey said that 12.7cm (five inches) is about the height at which an experienced high heel wearer could remain stable.

They figured this out through the formula h=Q x (12+3s/8), which I totally get (it’s a long story though, so go look it up). But essentially, Professor Paul Stevenson, who came up with the formula, says that you can wear as high a heel as you want, but the broader it is, the more stable the wearer will feel.

Designer Manolo Blahnik says he was “hounded for years” about how bad heels are for the posture, but claims his mother wore them until she was 87 years old, with no ill consequences.

Manolo with one of his creations

He believes, however, that the limit is 11.4cm (four and a half inches), because when you can’t walk comfortably, it is no longer elegant.

Here’s what I’ve come up with, after some research:

The good news

Who doesn’t love the shape of our calves when we wear high heels? Looking great boosts your confidence, and in order to walk properly in heels, you have to fix your posture – you straighten your back, push your shoulders back and engage your abdomen muscles.

Nice calves...

Having good posture allows for optimal muscle and organ function, allowing for high energy, and toning of the core muscles. And yes, they work your calf muscles.

Being able to walk gracefully in high heels is a huge confidence boost, and nothing beats the compliments that come your way when you know you’re awesome.

The bad news

Yes, your mother was right about everything – wearing the wrong kind of heels can cause back and knee problems.

Calluses, corns and blisters aren’t a pretty sight either. Also, falling flat on your face in public, even if you don’t sprain anything, can hurt your self esteem.

Do, or don’t?

We are only here to deliver information, the choice of whether to wear heels is entirely up to you. You can go with the common 7.6cm-is-enough rule, Blahnik’s rule or the good professor’s advice, but all we can offer are the following tips:

• Practice and home and start small, then slowly build up height.

• Go with a thicker platform and thicker heel, they provide more stability.

• Don’t be cheap. There’s a reason why good brands are expensive – a lot of research is poured into making their shoes fashionable and comfortable.

• Don’t wear them all the time, be practical when choosing which heels to wear.

Not made for walking

• Lady Gaga may be your fashion idol, but bear in mind she has fallen over in her heels too, so when channeling your inner mama monster, choose wisely. Those Alexander McQueen armadillo shoes are really not made for real life.

• Have fun in your heels! Don’t wear them because everyone else is doing it, but because you love looking fabulous.

• Don’t run in them.

SOME of our favourite entertainers hit the green carpet at the recent BET Awards, held in Los Angeles, California. (more…)

TWO weeks ago, I wrote about Do-It-Yourself fashion, where instead of merely designing pieces for yourself, you can also provide for an audience at the same time.

(more…)

The People’s Choice Awards saw many stars come out in their finest gear. (more…)

THERE’S something about China’s fashion scene that is so interesting. It is not quite as edgy as Japanese fashion, though certainly as thriving. That said, Chinese fashion is not exactly what one would consider “conservative” either. (more…)