Miley Cyrus wants to be known for more than "shaking her ass".

The 21-year-old popstar shocked fans who had previously known her as Disney's Hannah Montana when she cut off her long blonde hair in 2012. Since then she's become synonymous with the twerking dance move and wearing tiny costumes on stage.

Thanks to her drastic image overhaul, she's the cover star of V Magazine's Rebel Issue. On the front of the publication she wears a furry blue cut-out swimsuit.

While she loves to make a fashion statement, Miley doesn't want to be solely remembered as the girl who shows off her derriere in skimpy clothing.

“I know that I’m not a pop pop dumb dumb,” she told the magazine. “I know that I’m not. I’m a lot more than someone who just goes and shakes her ass onstage.

“I think it’s kind of funny to mess with people and rile them up because I’m actually the most chill person and it’s just funny to watch the world get out of their minds over things that are so irrelevant and don’t matter.”

Inside the issue, Miley can be seen bra-less with a long fur coat partially covering her breasts. To finish the look off she wears thigh-high laced boots and tiny white hotpants.

Another image shows the singer dressed just in a long, pink roll-neck sweater. She holds a clutch bag in the shape of a mouth between her legs, complete with a flap of red fabric that looks like a tongue.

The shoot is a collaboration between Miley, designer Karl Lagerfeld and stylist Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele.

© Cover Media 

Don't give up! There's a perfect pair of jeans waiting for you! © Mango Productions/Corbis

Who doesn’t own a pair of jeans? Even the most girlie girl who’s most loyal to her dresses is sure to own a pair. Although I have to admit, shopping for jeans can be stressful and downright demoralising. I’ve lost count of the number of times I failed to pull a pair up my full thighs and hips and raged war against the ever popular skinny jeans.

But before anyone loses faith, designers have heard our grumbles and have re-introduced classic cuts like the bootleg and along with new styles – I personally love a good pair of boyfriend jeans. So keep your head up girls, there is a perfect pair of jeans for you. To prove the point, I’ve cherry picked eight great options from the lot for every different body type.

Sculpt and Lift bootleg cut jeans from Marks & Spencer, from $109.90 to $119.90; Revel Demi Curve straight cut jeans in Dusk from Levi’s, $169.90

PEAR SHAPE
Fellow pear-shaped girls, I hate to burst your bubble but even if you manage to squeeze into skinny jeans, they won’t do anything for your figure. Why not balance out and streamline your hips with a bootleg cut like the Marks & Spencer pair that flare out from under the knees? Another problem I’ve encountered is a gap at the waist when I wear jeans because of my smaller waist compared to my hips. These Levi’s Revel Demi Curve straight cut jeans are fitted in such a way to eliminate that gap and still emphasise your slender waist.

Curvy cut jeans from Gap, $80; Boyfriend jeans in Blue Tempo from Levi’s, $139.90

STRAIGHT
On the other hand if you are lacking curves, the task at hand for your jeans is to create some. The sexy Gap curvy cut jeans will add meat to where it matters – this pair has a serious ’70s Charlie Angels vibe that I’m in love with. Another alternative is a good pair of boyfriend jeans like these from Levi’s that suggest the existence of imaginary curves. Both jeans have a whiskered effect to give the illusion of width.

High rise skinnies in Acid Summit from Levi’s, $139.90; Real Straight cut jeans from Gap, $100

APPLE SHAPE
For ladies who are wider in the tummy but have sleek pins waiting to be shown off, always go for a high rise – one that starts mid-waist. The high rise will actually conceal less-than-slender stomachs. An example is the high waisted pair from Levi’s with tapered legs to play up your slim legs. If you are conscious of your legs too, you can always opt for a straight cut pair – try the Gap ones - the style balances out your heavier top half perfectly.

Revel Slight Curve Skinnies in Mountain Lake, $169.90; Legging jeans from Gap, $80

PETITE
The ones who can pull off skinny jeans are the petite girls but that doesn’t mean every pair is perfect for them. The white wash details of both the Levi’s Revel Slight Curve Skinnies and Gap legging jeans will accentuate curves without adding bulk.

Stockists:
Find a list of locations for Gap at international.gapinc.com/gap/sg/en/store-locator
Find a list of locations for Levi’s at levi.com.sg/sg/storelocator
Find a list of locations for Marks and Spencer at global.marksandspencer.com/sg/store-locator/

In the age where skincare has gone from a simple cleansing routine to one that includes a multitude of steps, it seems almost ridiculous to throw in a new step into the mix. So when Sulwhasoo introduced the Luminature Essential Finisher, it seemed like a marketing disaster from the get-go.

You see, the product is meant to be used as the last step to any skincare regimen. So unlike your serums and moisturisers which can be switched around based on texture, the Luminature Essential Finisher is to be used strictly at the very end. Why? The finisher maximises the effect of your other skin care products while building a protective barrier over your skin. Yes, you read that right.

Created on the basis of Mi-an, a traditional Korean standard of beauty, the Luminature Essential Finisher’s primary focus is giving your face a luminous finish, sort of like a highlighting makeup base. But the product doesn’t just do that. Sulwhasoo’s finisher works to strengthen your skin’s metabolism, while building its luminosity and hydration over time. Giving you bright dewy skin, naturally.

How? The product uses a blend of Korean herbs, the key of which is Locsamhyo, a trademarked recipe founded after years of research by Sulwhasoo. The brand claims that this proprietary blend of Korean ginseng and green tea enhances the skin’s clarity, glow and hydration over time. So the glow that you experience after using the product, isn’t exactly temporary.

It all sounds too good to be true, which is why the brand told me to put its product to the test - which I did. Stay tuned for my next article to see if this product made the cut.

Sulwhasoo Luminature Essential Finisher, $112, is available at Sulwhasoo counters. For more information, visit www.sulwhasoo.com.sg and follow the brand on Facebook.

Australian labels flooded the retail scene in the 1990s and early 2000s, but since then, it has been a drought.

One of Australia's most recognisable brands, Country Road, bowed out of Singapore in 2007, after 13 years.

Another popular brand, Sportsgirl, closed its seven stores here in 2000 after six years.

Twenty years ago, Tangs had 22 labels - but none today. Word is, sales did not live up to expectations.

Multi-label store Trixilini, which opened in 2003 as a purveyor of Australian labels, does not carry any Aussie labels currently. In its early years, it was one of the biggest buyers of Australian brands, stocking cult womenswear labels such as Lover and Vixen.

Other Aussie brands previously available here include Bettina Liano, Simona, Nicola Finetti, Alannah Hill and Lisa Ho. Some of these labels have merely exited Singapore while others have wound up altogether.

But retailers say Aussie brands are trickling back and they are counting on Singaporeans who have lived Down Under as well as Australians here to keep them afloat.

You will find Aussie designer labels such as Sass and Bide, Dion Lee, Josh Goot, Alice McCall, Romance Was Born and Karla Spetic at multi-label stores Inhabit at Mandarin Gallery and Lula Rock at Palais Renaissance.
Robinsons Orchard stocks casualwear brand Mink Pink and will soon be bringing in innerwear brand Bonds and denim brand NEUW.

Dion Lee. -- PHOTO: DION LEE

Multi-label boutique Eclecticism will carry high-street brand The Fifth Label in October.

What's more, in the past year, at least three multi-label shops focusing on Australian brands have opened: Et-i-kit, The WYLD Shop and Wattletree.asia.

Both Et-i-kit and The WYLD Shop stock Australian high-street brands, while online boutique Wattletree.asia sells only Australian resortwear brands, such as Zimmerman and Camilla.

Ms June Huang, who owns Et-i-kit at Kandahar Street, says: "When I came back to Singapore in 2010 after studying in Australia, I couldn't find many of the Australian brands that I was used to buying and I realised there were many Singaporeans like me.

"So when the opportunity to start a multi-label store came along, what else would I have wanted more to stock?"

The four Australian labels in her store, Finders Keepers, Keepsake, Cameo and Shona Joy, account for about 60 per cent of her stock.

She says business has been good and next month she will add another two labels - Camilla and Marc and May - to the Aussie line-up.

Sass and Bide. -- PHOTO: SASS & BIDE

The WYLD Shop, which sells only Australian labels and stocks womenswear brands Mink Pink, Evil Twin, Staple the Label and Indikah, has also found early success.

It began as an online business last year, but has done well enough to become a brick-and-mortar store at Clifford Centre.

Ms Kara Bensley- Austin, who founded The WYLD Shop, says: "Australian brands aren't that well-known but we hope to change that.

"Singaporeans can be loyal to established brands, so providing them with a physical space where they can try our products is very important to us."

A Robinsons spokesman says the appeal of Australian fashion is its "cool, easy and modern" aesthetic.

"There is a certain free spirit that is very appealing to the Asian customer. Australians truly understand how to achieve a great work-life balance," he adds.

Retailers say this aesthetic translates into clothes made of light fabrics, with playful silhouettes and that are effortlessly sexy.

This season, many Australian high-street labels have come out with mini-dresses with bold prints, cut-out dresses, lace rompers and racerback front dresses.

Ms Maxie Chan, owner of multi-label boutique Lula Rock, says: "What the Australian designers do really well is this sexy, effortless look, which appeals to the local customer, who wants to show some skin, but not too much."

Sydney-born Ms Renee Lodens, who has lived in Singapore for the last four years, says clothes from Australian labels are well-suited to Singapore's climate.

"Summer pieces are breezy and easy to wear. The winter ranges are never too heavy, I can wear them whenever I'm in an air-conditioned room," says Ms Lodens, 39, managing director of Travelshopa, an online shopping guide for Singapore.

Student Goh Sipei, 22, who has clothes from Finders Keepers and Cameo, says she likes Australian brands for their wearable designs.

Finders Keepers. -- PHOTO: FINDERS KEEPERS; Cameo. -- PHOTO: CAMEO

"If the print is loud, it's balanced by being printed on something simple like a T-shirt dress," she says.
"When everyone is shopping at Topshop and Zara, sometimes you just want to look elsewhere."
With price points that go from about $100 to $1,500 for more upmarket brands, Aussie brands will not burn a hole in the pocket.

For instance, items from Sass and Bide, one of Australia's most established designer brands which is carried by Inhabit, start at $359 for a shirt and go up to $1,119.

However, the high-street brands are higher-priced than their European counterparts, possibly because of the strong Australian dollar.

Dresses from Finders Keepers range from $180 to $300, as opposed to comparable Zara dresses, which range from about $80 to $170.

But while things seem to be picking up for Aussie labels here, retailers do not expect it to take the retail scene by storm.

Ms Chan says: "In Singapore, the big name brands are the ones that people go crazy over. Australian brands are niche but they have a decent following."

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Sass and Bide

Established in 1999 by Sarah-Jane Clarke & Heidi Middleton, Sass and Bide has become one of the most recognised fashion brands to come out of Australia.

Currently stocked in more than 20 countries, it is known for its free-spirited aesthetic, as seen in its embellished cocktail dresses, figure-flattering jeans and chic jackets.

Fans of the brand include Rihanna, Kate Moss, Beyonce and Sarah Jessica Parker.

The duo recently left the brand, which is now owned by upscale Australian department store Myer. Its new design director, Anthony Cuthbertson, was previously the creative director of Australian womenswear label David Lawrence.

Available at Inhabit (02-16 Mandarin Gallery) and www.net-a-porter.com.

Embellished textured-crepe mini dress, from www.net-a-porter.com, US$836.50; Embellished cotton T-shirt, from www.net-a-porter.com, US$359.08

Embellished metallic knitted shorts, from www.net-a-porter.com, US$386.29 (S$483)

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Dion Lee

The words “structured” and “architectural” best describe the womenswear designs of Sydney-born Dion Lee.

The 27-year-old Lee launched his eponymous label in 2008 and now also runs a diffusion line called Dion Lee II. Turn to the brand for wardrobe classics with a twist.

Available at Inhabit (#02-16 Mandarin Gallery) and www.net-a-porter.com.

Croc stripe layered top, from Inhabit, $819; Line II asymmetrical mini skirt, from Inhabit, $529

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Finders Keepers

The high street brand was founded by husband-and-wife duo Dean & Melanie Flintoft, under their company, Australian Fashion Labels, in 2007.

Its flattering fit and bold prints with a youthful edge have won a following among celebrities such as Miley Cyrus,Carly Rae Jepsen and Kendall Jenner. Fashion bloggers, such as Chiara Ferragni and Aimee Song, have also been spotted in Finders Keepers.

Available at What Women Want (#02-28 Mandarin Gallery); Et-i-kit (34 Kandahar Street); and Eclecticism (B1-06 Wheelock Place).

Rose print jumper, from What Women Want, $199; Floral print playsuit, from What Women Want, $279

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Alice McCall

London-born Australian fashion designer Alice McCall has English model Kate Moss to thank for her career as a fashion designer.

While working as a stylist in London, McCall dabbled in fashion design, creating and selling one-off silk tops and dresses in London stores, some of which were snapped up by Moss.

McCall went on to design for streetwear brand Buddhist Punk and had a short stint at Sass and Bide before launching her eponymous label in 2004.

Those who love bold floral prints will be drawn to the brand. Available at Lula Rock (02-07 Palais Renaissance).

Cotton embroidered top with matching shorts, from Lula Rock, $328 for the top, $338 for the shorts; Cotton embroidered panel top, from Lula Rock, $365

____________________________________________________________________________________________

StyleStalker

Founded by Sydney duo Sue-Ann San and Rachel Zelic in 2008, the high-street label has an edgy yet feminine vibe.

Think cut-out dresses, racerback dresses, slouchy floral pants and slogan T-shirts.

Available at What Women Want (02-28 Mandarin Gallery) and Eclecticism (B1-06 Wheelock Place).

High neck tank, from What Women Want, $189; Tank with sheer mesh overlay, from What Women Want, $229

Chiffon shorts, from What Women Want, $269

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Keepsake

Compared to its sister brands, Finders Keepers and Cameo, Keepsake is more muted aesthetically.

Mini dresses, bustier tops and jumpsuits feature heavily in its collections.

Available at Eclecticism (B1-06 Wheelock Place).

Lace playsuit, from Eclecticism, $225; Mini dress, from Eclecticism, $255

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Cameo

This is another brand under the Australian Fashion Labels company (see Finders Keepers).

The four-year-old high-street brand is known for its directional prints and feminine silhouettes. It made its Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia debut in April this year.

Available at Et-i-kit (34 Kandahar Street) and Eclecticism (B1-06 Wheelock Place).

Lace dress,from Eclecticism, $299; Dress shirt with mesh panels, from Eclecticism, $179

Multi-coloured tank, from Eclecticism, $99

This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on August 29, 2014. For similar stories, go to sph.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore. You will not be able to access the Premium section of The Straits Times website unless you are already a subscriber. 

Good thing about single-shade pots of shadow? Low-risk, high-impact experimentation. The bad? A night of joyous jiggling on the dancefloor is often all it takes to pulverise them into sorry shards in the pan. Feeling me yet?

Planning to toss said containers of crumbly colours into the trash? DIY the dewy lidded look and try this cool trick instead. Stir in a generous dollop of your go-to lip balm into otherwise unusable pot of powder and stash the mixture in a clean empty tin.

The result is a custom cream concoction that’s perfect for prettifying your peepers with. It’s multi-purpose, too: A judicious dab on your cheeks and nose bridge will do very nicely as a “wet” blush or facial highlighter, depending on the hue of the shadow used. (Obviously, chestnuts and coppers work best for this purpose.)             

Raring to go? A couple of things to note if you’re game. First, sieve through the ingredients label of your lip balm for irritants like cinnamon or capsicum derivatives; avoid those as we want beestung lips, not lids.

Product recommendation-wise, let's kick off with my monthly repurchase list, which often includes Ettusais’ excellent Lip Essence. This luscious little tube’s stuffed with moisture magnets hyaluronic acid and jojoba oil, both of which will comfort chapped puckers and peepers at the same time, if you so wish.

Lacquered lids also tend to work best if they’re sexily smudged, so don’t be too precious about keeping the shine within your socket.

Take a gilded leaf from Chinese supermodel Liu Wen and run with a beautifully burnished bronze; I like playing around with RMK’s incredibly pigmented Ingenious Eyeshadow N in 08 Pink Beige, which is subtly shimmery worn “dry” and intriguingly incandescent when incorporated into a lip balm.  

Now, high-shine eye glosses (custom created or otherwise) may seem like quite the intimidating high-fashion accessory, but they’re a cinch to pull off if you do a matchy-matchy. Pair a wet eye with an equally wet lip and gun for a lippie in a low-key nude, which doesn’t fight for attention with your lids. I’m such a sucker for VDL’s smacker-licious Expert Color Lip Cube in Caramel Sand, with its squared edge making it perfect for precision application.

Oh yeah, and in the spirit of the DIY slant of this story, said Lip Cube doubles up like a dream as a terrific cheek tint. In fact, go right ahead and play around with all three products in any number of configurations, Transformers-style. Have fun!

Ettusais Lip Essence, $31, is available at all Ettusais stores. For more information, visit www.ettusais.com.sg and follow the brand on Facebook.

RMK Ingenious Eyeshadows N in 08 Pink Beige, $36, is available from all RMK counters.  For more information, visit www.rmkrmk.com/global and follow RMK Singapore on Facebook.

VDL Expert Color Lip Cube in Caramel Sand, $35, is available from all VDL stores. For more information, visit www.vdlcosmetics.com and follow VDL Cosmetics Singapore on Facebook.

It’s not every day when an entire department store is closed just for you, but come September 10, 2014, that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Robinsons dedicates its flagship store at The Heeren to us women for one night. No men (except gorgeous topless male models) allowed!

Gather your girlfriends for a couple of hours of retail therapy, giveaways, workshops and even cooking demonstrations – there’s something for every girl!

Fashionistas will be able to preview and shop the latest Autumn Winter 2014 collections, modelled by roaming models decked out in looks from Equipment, Greyhound and more. With any purchase you make in the night, you will be able to play Cinderella in a shoe giveaway. Pick one of 70 shoe boxes and if the pair of shoes inside fit, you bring it home! There are shoes from Aerosoles, Ecco, Rad Russel, Melissa and more brands to be won.

Our own fashion editors from Her World and herworldPLUS will be conducting a special styling workshop, sharing tips on how to style this season’s trends. To score style tips and a special goodie bag that includes an exclusive designer pouch, sign up for the workshop now.

Beauty babes won’t be left out! More than 10 brands including Sulwhasoo, Shiseido and Lancome will be offering discounts and complimentary beauty services. Plus, there will be an Opi express manicure station set up for any shopper that makes a purchase during the event.

Singing chef, Irene Jansen will perform a unique culinary musical performance right in Robinsons Orchard. Domestic goddesses will be spellbound by the live cooking and singing show in which Jansen will amazingly whip up three dishes.

Plus, each shopper will receive a goodie bag when you walk through the door. The first 300 customers of the night will also score a limited edition Ladies Night Out notebook and pen worth $80. And did we mention, topless male models will be mingling and surprising shoppers with gifts?

Robinsons Ladies Night Out
When: 7 to 10pm; Wednesday, September 10, 2014,
Where: Robinsons The Heeren
Entry is free

For more information, go to www.robinsons.com.sg and follow the store on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RobinsonsSingapore.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the cosmetics brand NARS has unveiled a new lipstick available in an impressive 40 shades.

Two decades ago, NARS made its debut at Barneys New York with a collection of 12 lipsticks. Now, more successful than ever, the brand is celebrating its anniversary by honoring the product that started it all.

Named the Audacious Lipstick Collection, the new line includes an impressive 40 new shades, including 10 to be launched exclusively at Barneys. The colors are named for women who have inspired the brand's founder François Nars throughout his career, and actress Charlotte Rampling was chosen as the face of the collection.

Formulated with nourishing ingredients such as tamanu oil and mushroom extract, the new lipstick has a matte finish and is rich in pigments, promising total coverage in just one stroke.

NARS Audacious Lipstick, $43, is available at all NARS counters from September 19. For more information, visit www.narscosmetics.com and follow the brand on Facebook and Twitter.

Need a new look but on a budget? We’re on hand to help. Zalora has been our trusted source for looks from River Island to baju kurungs. Now the online shopping website has expanded its inventory with the introduction of its in-house label!

Zalora’s debut collection has something for all aspects of your life. Its sleek and modern looks take you from day to night. Fortunately for shopaholics, Zalora’s catwalk-inspired items do not come with a catwalk-sized price tag!

Need an outfit for a particular occasion? We’ve got you covered! We’ve put together five looks, including bags and shoes, that guarantee your credit card won’t be maxed out.

(Clockwise) Lace blouse, ruffle skirt, nylon tote, kitten heel pumps 

Total cost: $104.60

For the office

Ditch your white starched shirts and spruce up your office look with this collared lace blouse and an off-white ruffle skirt to match. Nude heels help create the illusion of longer legs - Zalora’s kitten heel pump does the trick whilst keeping it practical for the office! To top off your look, carry this nylon trapeze tote that is bound to fit all your work essentials for the office.

(Clockwise) Cross-back midi dress, oversized clutch, strappy heel sandals

Total cost: $72.70

For a girls’ night out

Electrify on the dance floor in this blue dress. Hugging your curves in all the right places, it’s sure to draw all the right attention. While the dress may be understated in the front, when you turn around the dart out details that dip at the back show off a moderate amount of skin. As for dancing shoes, these strappy silver heels are the perfect booster for some extra height. Grab this sleek metallic clutch that should fit some lipgloss, cash and your phone - everything you need for the night. You’re now all geared up and ready to hit the town with your girlfriends!

(From left to right) Layered luxe dress, metal bow clutch, high heel sandals

Total cost: $104.70

For date night

Chances are you don’t want any wardrobe malfunctions to befall you in the middle of a date, but still want to dress to impress. Effortlessly chic, this layered luxe dress should be a relatively safe option without having to sacrifice style. Complement your outfit with this metallic bow clutch and a pair of silver strappy heels to glam it up.

(From left to right) Co-ordinate set, mini crossbody, slip on loafer

Total cost: $97.70

For a day of shopping

Tip: stick to practical fashion when shopping. For starters, slipping in and out of your attire with ease to try on potential purchases is key – this pastel coordinate set should see you in and out of the fitting room in a flash! With an embellished neckline, no further accessorising is needed. Eschew sky-high heels on a shopping spree – this pair of loafers should ensure maximum comfort when trudging up and down Orchard Rd. Opt for a mini bag like this cross-body bag and be on your way for a fuss-free shopping experience!

(Clockwise) Flutter sleeve cami, wrap skirt, lady satchel, wedge sneakers

Total Cost: $112.60

For a picnic

Singapore’s all year round summer makes for the ideal picnic setting. Bask in the sun with this flirty coral cami with sleeveless cut-outs and wrap-around striped skirt that is so on trend with its nautical vibe. Nail the sports luxe trend with a pair of wedge sneakers. A handbag makes for the perfect accessory - accessorise with this pastel pink lady satchel that is giving us a sweet tooth with its cotton candy shade!

To shop Zalora’s debut collection go tohttp://www.zalora.sg/. For more information on Zalora, follow it on Facebook athttps://www.facebook.com/ZaloraSingapore and twitter athttps://twitter.com/ZaloraSingapore.

To the left, please. Nothing to see over here.

Hollywood, we have a problem. A very big problem, given the staggering scope (100 celebs and counting) and the fact that some of the stars involved (Jennifer Lawrence, Ariana Grande, Rihanna) are bona fide A-listers with a capital A.  

Far from being titillating, Tinseltown’s, shall we say, Edison Chen situation makes me sad. Sad, and angry, too. All 100 celebs, not to mention the key “player” in this kerfuffle –  that’ll be Jennifer Lawrence, natch – have been rudely divested of the most basic tenets of dignity.

And because most all of the victims are women, this privacy scandal has frothed over into something of a feminist fuss, too (which I completely understand, by the way.)

Sidebar: The fact that a bunch of hackers have been able to “penetrate” the tech walls erected around the electronic devices of said celebs makes this case of sexual violation more than a little unnerving. I mean, if this could happen to J-Law, what more E-Quek?

Several (admittedly sanctimonious) think-pieces have been penned urging us not to give these stolen snapshots any more eyeballs.

A fair point, and more power to them, given that a couple of truly sickening sleazeballs on the Interweb have been canvassing for Paypal cash in return for clips of my beloved beleaguered J-Law allegedly doing the nasty. To which the only appropriate response, really, is this gem of a Bey reaction:

You want pictures? We’ve got pictures. In the spirit of the (pun alert) graphic nature of this developing story, here’s what I propose we do. Instead of gawking guiltily at the nudies making their rounds, let’s revel in the singular ray of silver-screen sunshine that is Jennifer Lawrence.

From an achingly cool crop to her penchant for pulling the funniest faces, here’s an entirely legal, entirely ethical sampling of the best J-Law has to offer.

Because say what you will of her, this girl gives good GIF. Enjoy!

Oh yeah, let’s throw in a trio of the most witty wisecracks from the Twitterati for good measure. Your boss will understand if he or she catches you smirking at your computer screen!

@RLW_Mole is 1 of 100 celebrities who've been hacked. This nude pic just posted online in the US #jenniferlawrencepic.twitter.com/1mPQy8bjyw

— NRL Trends (@NRLData) September 1, 2014

In support of Jennifer Lawrence I am also posting nudes. #JenniferLawrence#JenniferLawrenceWeSupportYoupic.twitter.com/TdxL8Grh55

— Grady Eldridge (@gradyistacos) August 31, 2014

Current attitude of Jennifer Lawrence's publicist pic.twitter.com/cwes1E1XXH

— LaurenTenner (@LaurenTenner) September 1, 2014

IMAGE: Easy Production/cultura/Corbis

Singapore isn’t the most calming city. Our hectic lifestyles and packed island make it terrible for our skin. Accumulated pollutants get stuck in our pores, plus dust and grime can cause the skin to look dull. For regular maintenance or an occasional pick-me-up, facials work wonders in restoring radiance.

The one gripe I have about facials, though - is how certain spas “hard-sell” their services to a point that you just wish you didn’t go in the first place. From packages to “free” treatments and products, you feel forced to sign up for a thousand dollar package even when you don’t need it. if that isn’t bad enough, certain therapists may just not be skilled, making it a terrible experience.

To make our lives easier, I review some of the top facial outfits in Singapore.

DrGL loves DrSpa

Accompanying her DrGL line of products, DrSpa by Dr Georgia Lee is a relaxing haven of simplicity. Located in a quiet corner of Holland Village, the spa offers different treatments for hair, face, and body - with a dedicated room tailored for each treatment.

I went for Cleanse, a hydrating facial which involved machine-assisted exfoliation. The first thing I notice is that unlike most facial outfits which are tiny, DrSpa’s facial room is extremely spacious and minimalist. When performing the facial for me, the therapist was also very discreet, only speaking to explain each procedure before it was done. There were no questions about my life or whether or not I wanted to pay extra for certain facial masks. I could simply relax and be pampered for what I came here to do.

A small makeup corner (albeit a bit exposed) was also available for customers.

RECOMMENDED FOR: A quiet escape from the city. The relaxing atmosphere, therapist’s skill (extractions were not painful), and lack of hardsell makes this facial very decent.

STRIP

Famous for its hair removal treatments, Strip is now taking advantage of its IPL machines. If you didn’t already know, the IPL machines at Strip are custom-made for the brand. Tapping on the exclusivity, the brand replaced the applicator heads and readjusted its IPL settings: Creating the GG2 facial.

But, what exactly can an IPL machine do for your face? Strip says that the machine transmits light to the deeper layers of your skin: Brightening your complexion, lifting up your visage, while also boosting your skin’s collagen levels. In under 30 minutes, you can expect to see near-instantaneous results.

RECOMMENDED FOR: Fast and immediate results, with no pompous frills.. The GG2 facial is complete in under 30 minutes, making it one of the fastest facials ever. An instant pick-me-up? Definitely.

Skin Inc

Synonymous with bespoke, Skin Inc has a pretty neat facial bar. Located in the heart of Ion Orchard, Skin Inc uses technology to give you a cutting edge facial. The brand’s facials are unique in the sense that they advocate a different form of extraction: Using a unique jet applicator that “washes” impurities away. I have a low threshold for pain, so my heart leapt for joy when I heard no squeezing would be involved.

I experienced the brand’s signature Oxy Miracle Infusion treatment; A two-step facial that uses oxygen to unclog pores, then filling it with Skin Inc’s signature serums and Japanese thermal water. In an hour, my pores were cleaned and infused with oxygenating goodness.

RECOMMENDED FOR: People who do not like painful extractions. Although I doubt that every single blackhead was removed, my skin was cleaner and more radiant after the facial.

Dermalogica

The brand is so famous that neighbourhood salons have started adopting its philosophy and products. From simple products that work to its luxuriously long facials, Dermalogica has developed quite a cult following. Unlike normal facials that address a specific skin problem, the brand uses a Face Mapping system to divide your face into 14 different sections, addressing skin concerns by individual areas. I underwent the Dermalogica facial in Beauty Esthetic, a salon located in the heartlands.

After giving me a lowdown on the brand’s products and my skin type, the therapist was very candid in telling me what was wrong with my skin, and how I should go about treating it. When I told her that I’m not fond of extractions, she was surprised as that is what most of her customers look forward to. The facial was very relaxing and lasted a really long time, giving me ample time to recharge and rest.

RECOMMENDED FOR: If you like thorough extractions, this salon delivers. The therapist spent a long time making sure my pores were clean, before showering my skin in Dermalogica goodness.
 

Dermalogica facials are available at AsterSpring Centres and Dermalogica-authorized skin treatment Centres. To make an appointment, call the respective salons or 6271 4733. For more information, visit www.dermalogica.com.sg and follow the brand on Facebook.

DrGL loves DrSpa is located at 27 Lorong Liput Singapore 277738. To make an appointment, call 6465 8880. For more information, visit www.drspa.com.

Skin Inc Supplement Bars are located at Ion Orchard and Marina Bay Link Mall. To make an appointment, call 6222 7428 (Ion) or 6536 6789 (Marina Bay Link Mall). For more information, visit www.iloveskininc.com and follow the brand on Facebook.

STRIP facials are available at all STRIP outlets. To make an appointment, call respective STRIP salons. For more information, visit www.strip.com.sg and follow the brand on Facebook.

Who says its all work and no play? The folks at Art Bar beg to differ with their new lunch break party.

Ring in the weekend early this (TGI)Friday, September 5, 2014, from 12pm (that’s noon, not midnight). Drop all your work and dash over to Butter Factory’s Art Bar for the two hour only party, tailored to fit your lunch hour so you can still beat the boss to the desk after “lunch”.

Widely known amongst seasoned party goers as the go-to spot for letting loose, Art Bar guarantees a good time – leave all your work-related woes behind and revv up on the dance floor! With bagged lunches provided by Art Bar to whet your appetite, escape from the lunchtime chaos and snaking queues.

Lunch break has never sounded this fun. So ditch your polished work boots and slip on a pair of dancing shoes for your party fix during lunch hour!

Caution: Just be sure to avoid bumping into your boss whilst on the dance floor!

Reyka Lunch Break Party @ Art Bar
Date: September 5, 2014
Time: 12pm-2pm
Venue: Art Bar, The Butter Factory
Entry: By guestlist only (limited).
RSVP tokyla@thebutterfactory.comby September 3, 2014

Eating can be a very social activity - heading out for lunch with friends or enjoying a big family dinner is one of the most popular ways to celebrate a big occasion. But more often than not, you can find yourself having a hurried meal alone. From lunch at your desk to a microwave meal in the evening - solo dining has its pitfalls. According to time.com, there are certain things you need to watch out for when eating alone.

Eating alone can cause *gasp* weight gain! © Cover Media

Portion size
Often jars of sauce are meant for four people - which means the nutrition information will be given per quarter of the jar. If you're making a dinner for one, it's tempting just to throw half of the sauce in without thinking - but this means you're already taking in double the recommended amount. Similarly, other things like pasta and rice can be hard to measure out, so consider doing things by cup size.

If you do make a large amount in one go, have some Tupperware to hand and dish things into freeze-able portions - this also means you won't end up eating the same thing for days on end or wasting anything.

Quick-fix food
If you're making food for yourself, it's unlikely you put in as much effort as when you cook for family or friends. But that doesn't mean you have to rely on convenience food like takeaways or microwave dishes. Metabolising whole food uses about 50 percent more calories than processed, plus eating fresh is often tastier and will leave you fuller and with more energy. You don't have to make a gourmet organic feast - just consider whipping up a curry from scratch with plenty of fresh vegetables rather than relying on a ready meal.

Distractions
Eating alone isn't as entertaining, so you'll probably find yourself doing other things at the same time, such as watching TV, checking social media or catching up on work. This means you might not be as on top of what you're actually consuming - which could lead to overeating.

When having a full meal, take this as important time to yourself. You might feel silly at first, but sit down at the table and just focus on enjoying your food. It will also make you appreciate the flavours a lot more than normal. If it's just a quick snack eaten on the sofa while distracted, don't take the whole bag/box/tub - dish it out into a manageable portion and put the rest away.

Speedy eating
Similarly to eating while distracted, you're also more likely to consume everything at lightning speed. When you dine with others you take more time to savour the moment, but solo snacking is a different matter. If you just keep going without thinking, you're less likely to be aware of when you're actually full up. Take time over your meals and stop seeing them as just a necessity - food is there to be enjoyed. © Cover Media

IMAGE: Dusan Zidar/Shutterstock

A new study reveals that drinking tea could reduce non-cardiovascular mortality by 24 percent, possibly thanks to a combination of tea's antioxidant content and the other healthy lifestyle habits that tea drinkers often maintain.

"If you have to choose between tea or coffee it's probably better to drink tea," says Professor Nicholas Danchin of the cardiology unit at the Georges Pompidou Hospital in Paris, who presented the study at the European Society of Cardiology Congress.

The study's 131,401 participants ranged in age from 18 to 95 years old and data was retrieved from their health check-ups at the Paris IPC Preventive Medicine Center between January 2001 and December 2008.

Consumption of coffee or tea was self-reported and participants fell into three groups: One group consumed no coffee or tea, the next consumed between one and four cups and the third group reported drinking more than four cups per day.

Data revealed that coffee drinkers were at greater risk for CV, especially if they smoked. Curiously, the percentage of smokers increased with amount of coffee consumption.

Of the coffee abstainers, only 17 percent smoked; of those who drank between one and four cups, 31 percent were smokers; the group who drank more than four cups smoked at a rate of 57 percent.

Coffee abstainers were also more physically active: 45 percent of them engaged in exercise compared with 41 percent of heavy coffee drinkers. Although it may seem like a small difference, Professor Danchin points out that four percent accounts for many people given the size of the study.

The profile of tea drinkers was the reverse of that of coffee drinkers. One third, or 34 percent, of tea abstainers were smokers compared to only 24 percent of tea drinkers who drank one to four cups and 29 percent of those who drank more than four cups.

Tea drinkers were more active relative to how much tea they consumed, with 43 percent of moderate tea drinkers being active compared to 46 percent of the heavy tea drinkers.

When researchers adjusted the data for age, it was revealed that heavy drinkers had a 4-5 mmHg decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and a 3 mmHg decrease in diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

"Overall we tend to have a higher risk profile for coffee drinkers and a lower risk profile for tea drinkers," says Professor Danchin. "We also found big differences with gender. Men tend to drink coffee much more than women, while women tend to drink more tea than men."

A mean 3.5 year follow up indicated there had been 95 deaths from CV and 632 deaths from other causes.

Coffee consumption appeared to significantly increase non-CV mortality although when the data was adjusted for smoking, the increased risk disappeared.

"The trend for higher mortality in coffee drinkers is probably largely explained by the fact that there are more smokers in the group who drink a lot of coffee," says Professor Danchin.

As with coffee, when tea drinkers were assessed for risk of CV mortality, the reduction effect lost its significance when the data was adjusted for age, gender and smoking. Tea, however, significantly lowered the risk of non-CV death, for the hazard ratio was 0.76 percent compared with tea abstainers.

The European Society of Cardiology Congress is being held in Barcelona from August 30 to September 3.

AFPRELAXNEWS

The British models have fronted the launch of the new My Burberry fragrance campaign, which includes an exciting personalization service for the perfume bottles and even the ads themselves. 

Shot together for the first time, Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne are the stars of the latest campaign for Burberry and were captured on film and in stills by Mario Testino. 

The new women's fragrance, which rolls out this month, is being launched with a unique, bespoke campaign that allows fans of the brand to make their My Burberry bottle their own.

After recent monogramming successes including customizable ponchos, customers can now personalize their fragrance bottle with up to three initials. The service will be available online and in select Burberry stores and stockists.  

You will also be able to interact with the campaign using your smartphone, with digital billboards set up to project giant My Burberry bottles with your customized initials, and a live map feature directing you to the nearest store to buy the fragrance. The bespoke bottles can also be shared across social media platforms.

And it doesn't stop there. In the UK, TV viewers can create their own version of the ad campaign, which you can watch on Channel 4's on demand service, 4OD. The commercial features the two models and is soundtracked by a version of the soul classic "I Put A Spell On You" performed by British musicians Jeff Beck and Joss Stone. 

AFPRELAXNEWS

Fishball, boing boing, round ball, fat cheeks - these are a few of the names that I’m known by. I’m naturally slim by nature, but my face is so round that passport photos make me appear overweight. No, really, they really really do. 

Case in point. Didn’t I tell you my face was round?

To counter my naturally round face, I often resort to weird photo angles and techniques (such as hiding behind a person larger than I am). Although this works most of the time, there are days when they don’t.

My giant head next to Aimee from www.songofstyle.com

I know that unless I undergo invasive surgery (or lose a hell lot of weight), my face isn’t going to automatically shrink over time. However, there are plenty of products on the market that are said to give a temporary V-shape visage - which comes in handy from time to time!

Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Wrap

The botanical brand has a pretty decent following for its V-shaped products. The Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Wrap uses ingredients such as chinese barley and organic ginkgo biloba to relieve facial puffiness caused by stress or lack of sleep. In just 10 minutes, the brand says that you can expect firmer and brighter skin.

Klarity Lasertox V-Line Shape Up
A new brand in Singapore, Klarity has developed a range of products catered to slimming down your face. Called the V-Line Series, it includes the Lasertox V-line Shape Up, an intensive treatment that uses a silicone mask to “lift” saggy skin and redefine your jaw line. Simply apply the sheet and wrap the silicone mask around your head. The use of this treatment over a week will supposedly tone your facial contours significantly. 

VDL Skin Expert Serum
A serum that lifts and refines your jaw line? VDL says its Skin Expert Serum uses plant-derived caffeine that helps to reduce swelling and water retention. Excess water is removed from your face, while three different types of hyaluronic acid moisturise and protect your skin from environmental aggressors.

As with all non-invasive procedures, nothing is ever permanent. But a lift here and massage there does help to downsize my fishball face temporarily.

Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Wrap, $75, is available at all Clarins Skin Spas located at Wheelock Place, #05-05/06/07; Robinsons JEM, Level 1; Robinsons Raffles City, #01-01; and Robinsons Orchard, Level 1. For more information, go to www.clarins.com.sg and follow Clarins Singapore on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ClarinsSingapore.

Klarity Lasertox V-Line Shape Up, $59, is available at www.luxola.com and selected SaSa and BHG stores. For more information, visit www.klarity.sg and follow the brand on Facebook.

VDL Skin Expert Serum, $65, is available at all VDL stores. For more information, visit www.vdlcosmetics.com and follow the brand on Facebook.

Rihanna calls designer Lynn Ban (above) her fairy godmother and Ban says the pop singer is her muse. -- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Unknown to many here, the jeweller of choice for some of the biggest names in pop music today, including Rihanna, Beyonce and Katy Perry, is Singaporean designer Lynn Ban.

Her namesake label Lynn Ban Jewelry, started three years ago, is an upstart of a brand. But A-listers from the music and fashion scenes have taken a shine to its bold and edgy designs, inspired by pop culture and featuring mainly black rhodium and diamonds.

Her jewellery has been featured on magazine covers including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, W Magazine and Interview, as well as in the music videos by Rihanna, Beyonce, Perry, Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj.
The 42-year-old says: "The woman I design for is empowered and confident and, in terms of fashion, she's here to make an impression."

Celebrities wearing Lynn Ban’s jewellery include singers Rihanna, Ellie Goulding and Beyonce (above), and model Cara Delevingne. -- PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

With her smokey eyes and short, slicked-back hair, Ban looks like the embodiment of her rock star clientele, both fierce and glamorous. But during the interview with Life! , she is quick to smile and laugh over coffee, revealing a more gentle side.

Based in New York, the married mother of one is in town for her annual visit to see family and friends, and to take part in a trunk show of her jewellery at multi-label retailer Club 21, which has been stocking her pieces since 2012.

Her jewellery is priced from about US$300 (S$374) for a silver ring to about US$200,000 for a black rhodium and diamond cuff. From three countries in 2011, the label is now stocked in 17 countries, including Monaco and Abu Dhabi.

Memorable pieces include the Armour ring, a sculptural silver ring from her first collection that looks like armour when stacked; and the Gash cuff, a large black rhodium cuff that opens up to resemble a jagged wound embedded with diamonds. Other designs, such as a smoking lips lariat necklace inspired by Tom Wesselmann, take their cue from pop art.

Celebrities wearing Lynn Ban’s jewellery include singers Rihanna, Ellie Goulding (above) and Beyonce, and model Cara Delevingne. -- PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

Ban and her family lived in Katong before moving to New York when her father, a bank executive, was posted there to work for the then Chase Manhattan Bank. She was four then.

The family spent three years in New York before moving to Hong Kong in 1979. They returned to New York in 1982 and spent five more years there, after which they returned to Singapore.

Those years away were exciting, Ban recalls, as she often explored the cities with her parents. The elder of two siblings - her sister is younger by 19 years, she shares a close bond with her parents.

"We did everything together and there was a sense of curiosity and adventure," she says.

She looked up to her mother Patricia Ban, now 69, a former secretary with a savvy fashion sense. Mrs Ban studied at the Traphagen School of Fashion Design in New York - whose graduates include designers Anne Klein and Geoffrey Beene - and got her gemologist certificate during the family's two sojourns in the city.
A self-described quiet child who enjoyed reading and subjects such as history and literature, Ban attended the bilingual English and French private elementary school The Fleming School in New York.

Providing a hint of what was to come, her daily path to school was peppered with fashion influences. "My mother would walk me to and from school and we'd take a short cut though Blooming- dale's," she says fondly of the famous fashion emporium. She recalls shopping there with her mother, as well as the store's windows and visual displays.

She studied art history and literature at Cornell and New York University after graduating from the Singapore American School in 1989. She also studied art history for two years at Paris-Sorbonne University.
She met her husband Jett Kain, now 46, as a college student. Then a reporter and TV producer at entertainment channel MTV, he was covering a New Year's Eve party in Miami in 1994 thrown by Donatella Versace. Ban was there as her hairstylist's plus-one.

Kain was drawn to her instantly and asked for her telephone number.

He recalls with a big grin: "At first, she wouldn't even speak to me. She even gave me a wrong number."
The two reconnected a few months later at a dinner thrown by mutual friends and married in 1999. They have a six-year-old son, Sebastian, and live in an apartment in the upscale Tribeca neighbourhood in New York.
Kain now works full-time doing press and marketing at Lynn Ban Jewelry and is his wife's biggest cheerleader. On the day of the photo shoot for this report, Ban looks to her husband for reassurance as she strikes poses for the photographer.

The couple have a strong rapport. After Ban graduated in 1996, they took the Genki Sushi franchise - which Ban's father owned and launched here and in Hong Kong - to the United States.

Mr David Ban, now 70, says she has always shown a steely core, adding: "Lynn was always determined to do well, whether it was in school or at work. She grew up talking shop with me, so when she showed an entrepreneurial streak, I was more than happy to have her try something different."

Launching the restaurant in Manhattan was a crash course in running a business for her. She says: "I learnt a lot about managing the business as well as people."

The business did "okay" and a second branch opened at the World Financial Centre, near the ill-fated World Trade Centre. But the aftermath of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks led to its closure and the New York franchise was later sold in 2002. During her days at Genki, she grew serious about collecting vintage fashion. She found the hobby, which she started in her teenage years with her mother, fun and exciting. "I once found a black sequined Courreges gown in the Upper East Side Goodwill store for US$10," she says of a vintage find she later saw documented in a book.

In her 20s, she began picking up pieces from fashion houses such as Chanel, Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent from the 1950s to 1970s.

Her love of vintage paid off. A cousin introduced her to famed fashion designer Donna Karan in 2002 and she worked on a project sourcing vintage lifestyle, fashion and jewellery items as inspiration for the American designer.

That same year, Ban parlayed her experience with vintage fashion into a business, where she collected vintage clothing and jewellery that was stocked in luxury department stores Harvey Nichols in London and Barneys in New York.

She scoured flea markets and auctions in London and Paris, amassing a network of private contacts for her vintage collection, which hung next to brands such as Prada at the retailers.

Her vintage gems made their way to the pages of fashion glossies too. Through Kain's connections in the fashion world, stylists learnt of Ban's extensive archives and began borrowing vintage costume jewellery for fashion spreads, such as for a Vogue Italia shoot by well-known photographer Steven Meisel.

Celebrities wearing Lynn Ban’s jewellery include singers Rihanna, Ellie Goulding and Beyonce, and model Cara Delevingne (above). -- PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

These stylists asked Ban to create something herself. She says of her start in 2011: "The years of studying and researching the past cultivated a desire to create something in the present too."

Her first creation was an eight-piece collection, which included the Armour rings. Her dramatic, sculptural quality was evident from the start.

Heeding her mother's advice - "If you do not want to wear it, nobody will" - she designs for her own tastes, which veer towards a streamlined urban warrior style with a fondness for Rick Owens and Azzedine Alaia, who are known for their edgy designs. She closed the vintage business when she started designing jewellery.
She may lack formal design training, but she is au fait with the creative process and the New York jewellery district, where her pieces are now produced.

She comes up with a concept and design, then works with sketch artists who create technical drawings. It takes about eight to 10 weeks for each of the biannual collections to be completed. She has three full-time employees in her office in New York.

She says her lack of formal training both helped and hindered. While her creativity was unfettered, she did not know which designs were viable. "In the beginning, the jewellers were a bit taken aback by the hard edge and unconventional designs but over time, they really embraced my aesthetic."

Asked about the challenges in her life, she says: "I don't feel that my setbacks define me at all. I choose to learn from them and move on. It's not a mistake unless you regret it and I have no regrets."
One of her big breaks came from her first celebrity client, pop star Rihanna, who wore a Lynn Ban cuff during a performance on American Idol in May 2012. Her American stylist Mel Ottenberg says on the telephone from New York: "The reason I was drawn to Lynn's jewellery was that it was cool and didn't look like everything else. They were these incredible diamond pieces but not precious."

Rihanna has been one of Ban's biggest champions, wearing the pieces during performances such as her Monster Tour last month and when she is off-duty. On Instagram, she has even called Ban her "fairy godmother", to which Ban says: "If I'm that to her, then she's my muse."

Celebrities wearing Lynn Ban’s jewellery include singers Rihanna, Ellie Goulding and Beyonce, and model Cara Delevingne (above). -- PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

Rihanna has been a literal source of inspiration too, with the flexible coil rings in Ban's collection born out of a need for jewellery that would not impede the grip of a mic.

Swedish stylist B. Akerlund, who has worked with Beyonce, Madonna and Britney Spears, has adorned her star clients with Ban's pieces because "her designs feel modern yet timeless... a shoot without Lynn's jewellery would not be complete", she says in an e-mail reply to Life!.

Despite her high-powered clientele, Ban remains grounded and proud of her Singaporean roots. She says: "It's important for me to be known and recognised in Singapore because this is my home."

She declines to reveal sale figures except to say that sales have quadrupled since the label was launched. And not "a single penny" of the money has been spent on advertising, she adds proudly.

She credits her quick ascent to a combination of hard work and the ability to take risks and say no. She chooses her stockists carefully and turns down any place where she would not shop herself.

"What keeps me going is the challenge to top myself and appeal to such stylish women," says Ban of her clientele, both celebrity and civilians. "What I'd consider success is to be relevant even in 100 years."

This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on September 1, 2014. For similar stories, go to sph.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore. You will not be able to access the Premium section of The Straits Times website unless you are already a subscriber.

Designer Ralph Lauren’s personal efforts in the fight against cancer started more than 20 years ago, inspiring him to start the Pink Pony campaign as part of his eponymous label.

In 2000, Ralph Lauren redesigned the classic Polo Pony icon especially for the Pink Pony campaign and sent a bevy of models clad in Pink Pony shirts down the runway. Representing the brand’s global initiative in the fight against breast cancer, the Pink Pony fund has supported programs for cancer screening, early diagnosis, treatment, research and patient navigation for all types of cancer, including breast cancer, since the launch of the Pink Pony Campaign.

For this year’s Pink Pony Campaign, Polo Ralph Lauren has released its Pink Pony 2014 collection to support the fight against breast cancer. The assortment of clothing in the collection include the brand’s iconic polo mesh, long sleeve and short sleeve t-shirts, sweatpants and hoodies, all of which are emblazoned with the Pink Polo Pony icon.

The brand’s signature bag (toted by many a celeb) – a Soft Ricky 27 – will also feature in the collection as a limited Pink Pony edition, available for purchase in selected Ralph Lauren boutiques worldwide. According to the brand, 25 percent and 50 percent of proceeds from the sale of Pink Pony apparel and the Pink Pony Soft Ricky 27 respectively will be donated to the Breast Cancer Foundation in Singapore.

Join Ralph Lauren in its efforts to fight cancer! What better excuse to shop than for an important cause such as this?

Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony Collection is available at Ralph Lauren Marina Bay Sands, #B1-72, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018972 (Tel. +65 66887161). For more information about Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony Campaign 2014, go towww.ralphlauren.com/PinkPony.

Follow the brand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RalphLauren, Twitter @RalphLauren and Instagram @RalphLauren

Quick, word association game: J’adore, go! Me? Lush, limpid, lovely (the last being my favourite adjective; just so you know, fangirls!)

The latest iteration of Dior’s fabulous fragrance is all of that – that and Charlize Theron. Any beauty buff worth her bathing salts will surely recall seeing the siren slinking past spectral simulations of silver screen icons the likes of Marilyn and Marlene, in what must rank as one of the most celebrated campaigns of the early Noughties ...

Flashforward to 2014. Charlize is at it again – and it’s a right old doozy. The new short film, shot by fantastic fashion photog Jean-Baptiste Mondino, plays out as a sequel of sorts.

How to describe it without giving away too much of the plot? Let’s see. It’s still set in Versailles’ heady Hall of Mirrors, so that’s all well and good.

Charlize steps into the frame, bespoke bejewelled train of her gown trailing like fragrance made fabric. The camera pans up to her face (cue collective gasp from fanboys the world over), there’s a deliciously tense beat or two in which it appears as if she’s about to tear off her threads … then magic happens.

Intrigued yet? Hold your horses, because we’re pleased as punch to have first dibs on a video interview with the woman of the hour herself. Skip straight to 1:04 for Charlize's take on the new J’adore ad, although the full three minutes is well worth watching in its entirety, if only to luxuriate in the honeyed huskiness of her narration ...

Oh yeah, one more thing: Hat tip to the Dior face painters responsible for this living work of art; her makeup is on fire here, I tell you.

Now, the J’adore juice is much the same (if it ain’t broke …) which means you can expect bracing top notes of Mandarin orange and neroli seguing into a pillowy heart of plump petals plucked from Turkish roses, Indian jasmine and titillating tuberose. All of these resolutely feminine accords lie in repose in a gently simmering base of warm woods and velvety vanilla.

Flirty fragrance fact worth memorising for future use as a party conversation starter? Tuberose is a pink-petalled perennial so startlingly sensual, it’s earned the infamous distinction of being referred to by preeminent perfumer Roja Dove as the “harlot of perfumery”. Who knew?

The bottle itself boasts the sensuous silhouette J’adore is justifiably famous for, with a judicious tweak or two for 2014. The “pearl” suspended in the stopper harkens at Dior’s haute joaillerie heritage, for one, and the bangles begirding the waist of the voluptuous vessel have been given an asymmetric twist. Beyond beautiful.

In any case, that’s enough fragrance foreplay for now. Click “play” on the exclusive vids below, and try not to raise the eyebrows of your neighbours with your oohing and aahing. Enjoy!

J'adore Eau De Parfum Natural Spray, $108 for 30ml, $160 for 50ml and $230 for 100ml, is available at all Dior counters. For more information, visit www.jadore.com and follow the brand on Facebook.

Occupational hazard: Sheepish relatives sidling up to me mid-meal, requesting “a quick word” on this or that skin affliction. And I’m like dude, I’m not a grooming Greek god, you know.

Look, it’s not that I don’t want to lift a finger to help – my hands are usually tied, so to speak – but there are certain happy exceptions to the hands-off rule. Take today, for instance. My sister texted to ask if I had any pro tips for whitening yellowed nails … and what do you know, I most certainly do!

Here’s the “dark” side to pitch-black polish. Granted, your goth greens and midnight blues may look bangin’ on a weekend out and about, but they’re also staining your nails a sickly shade of yellow the morning after. Not a good look.

Now, the whys and wherefores of nail darkening probably involve some hardcore sciency stuff, but I like to think of the effect of excessive manicures as being somewhat similar to how downing coffee, tea and other blackish brews can cause tooth discolouration.

By the same token, the trick to restoring your nails to their pristine pink state is the exact same as that for your pearly whites: Hydrogen peroxide by way of teeth whitening strips. Genius, yes? Told you I had “talon” for this sort of sorcery.  

What I do is use a pair of scissors to snip my strips into nifty, nail-sized segments; this is pretty eye-watering work, so I prep them in batches and stash the rest into a jar for future use.

The rest is incredibly intuitive: Simply stick the strips onto naked nails; kick up your kitten heels for 15 minutes or so, scrape off and rinse with warm water. Do this daily for a week and with any luck, your tainted talons should lighten up considerably.

Now, I know that teeth whitening strips are pretty pricey. If this treatment seems like too much of an indulgence to swallow, try this instead. Head to your nearest pharmacy and ask for over-the-counter hydrogen peroxide; most brands hover around the three percent mark. (Scrutinise the label to make sure it doesn’t exceed the three percent threshold; any higher and there’s no guarantee you won’t get your fingers burnt.)

In any case, mix one tablespoon of said three percent bleaching agent with about two tablespoons of baking soda. This creates a paste that you can plaster like polish over your nails; wait a couple of minutes and wash off.

Still unwilling to dirty your hands? Fine, do it your way and pamper yourself with Dior’s Nail Glow, which rates as one of my favourite luxe lacquers ever. This translucent treatment boasts near-magical transformative powers: Just one swipe and the pink of your nail appears pinker and the whites, whiter. An instant French manicure of sorts that’s incredibly subtle, too – your best guy friend (read: me) wouldn’t have any problems pulling this off.

Also getting a thumbs up this season is Cosme Decorte with its absolutely divine Nail Enamel duo in Engagement and Eternalness – both hues being every bit as blissful and bridal as their amusingly virginal monikers. The Japanese prestige brand says the polish uses an oxygen-permeable pigment that’s culled from contact lens know-how. Translation? Your nails can quite literally breathe with this polish on.

Key takeaways? I’ve given you three options here. You can either spruce up your yellowing nails with teeth whitening strips; create your custom curative with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide; or opt for cuticle-comforting concoctions off the counter. Oh, and lay off the darker hues for a bit.  Crossing my fingers that this works for you!

Cosme Decorte AW MW Nail Enamel in Engagement and Eternalness, $31 each, are available at at all Kose counters. For more information, visit www.kose.com.sg and follow Kose Singapore on Facebook.

Dior Nail Glow, $37, is available at the Dior Backstage Studio at B2-44/46 ION Orchard and at all Dior counters. For more information, visit www.dior.com/beauty and follow the brand on Facebook.