Skipping shampoo in Singapore’s stifling clime seems like an incredibly icky, not to mention sticky, idea. But what’s a girl to do if it’s a toss-up between an extra hour of sleep and blearily blow-drying damp hair in the morning?

Enter dry shampoo, a hair hero of the so-called “no poo” revolution, a beauty brigade pushing the somewhat radical idea that shampooing your hair strips it of natural oils and leads to limp lifeless locks.

When used judiciously, however, dry shampoo can be a veritable life saver. How does it work? Simple: The silicas and starches in most formulas on the market sop up gunk and grease, allowing you to get by without washing your hair for longer.

The thing is, most newly inducted fans of the product (yours truly included) tend to tilt our heads forward, shake and sprinkle any which way, then hope for the best. But this isn’t necessarily the best way to get shiny, bouncy hair. Here’s what to do to maximise the mileage of your dry shampoo:

STEP 1. Remember, dry shampoo on dry hair. The starches in the product will “pill” and create unsightly dandruff-like clumps when doused on wet hair. Damp equals dank!

STEP 2. Prep your pouf by giving it a brisk comb-through with a wide-toothed comb. This de-tangles and doubles up as styling of sorts.

If you’re using a spray-type dispenser, keep the product quite literally at arm’s length; about 15cm from your scalp should do it so you get a fine snowy mist. Here’s a top tip courtesy of Adam Reed,celeb stylist and co-founder of cult London-based haircare brand Percy & Reed: “For increased control, spray [the dry shampoo] on to the brush and work through the hair from roots to ends.”

STEP 3. Using the same wide-toothed comb, rake it down the centre of your crown to create a horizontal part. For each section you make, flip the hair over and spritz in a zigzag motion, working your way down to the tips.

Whipping back and forth also has the entirely welcome benefit of boosting body and shine, an effect best amplified by using Toni&Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe’s no-nonsense Cleanse Dry Shampoo.

One of the most dependable dry shampoos to bag for your beauty buck, this is billed as a two-in-one styling and degreasing go-getter. Even more compelling? The brand claims this  powder product leaves nary a trace of the telltale white streaks that are a hallmark of clumsily applied dry shampoo.

STEP 4. Now you wait. Give the dry shampoo five minutes to sit and sponge up excess oils – as good a time as any to peruse herworldplus.com’s beauty pages! – then use clean fingers to tease out the leftover powder from your locks.

If you have particularly unruly bangs, use a brush to sieve out any residue. Some practical advice: All that powder might muck up your rug, so do this over your bathroom sink.

And you’re done! But wait, there’s more. Dry shampoo is also superb for adding “grip” and texture to your tresses, meaning your hair’s that much easier to braid and bun afterwards. A great hair hero to add to your arsenal for this exact purpose is Percy & Reed’s No Fuss Fabulousness Dry Shampoo, which comes with cuticle-comforting cleansing ingredients for comfortably clean, sumptuously soft strands.

Bonus tip: Finish by sprinkling a wee bit more on the roots for a modern matte finish that simulates the sea-salt spray crunchiness of Beyonce’s bodacious wob.

And voila, there you have it: Hair that will have you looking like you spent half a day at a salon … except you didn't even work up a lather!

Percy & Reed No Fuss Fabulousness Dry Shampoo, $13 for 50 ml, is available at all Sephora stores. For more information, visit www.percyandreed.com and www.sephora.com, and follow Sephora on Facebook.

Toni&Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe Cleanse Dry Shampoo, $10.90 for 75ml, is available at selected Watsons and Guardian stores. For more information, visit www.hairmeetwardrobe.com/sg and follow the brand on Facebook and Twitter.

Say “office lady makeup” and odds are you’ll think of taupe lids, the faintest of flush on the cheeks, maybe an apricot lippie if one’s feeling adventurous. Translation: Snoozefest.

Well, you’re not getting the same old, same old with Isao Ishii, international makeup artist for posh Japanese beauty brand Cosme Decorte. Ishii-san’s interpretation of an OL look is incredibly ingenious – it turns out purple eyeshadow is perfect for cubicle workers. Who knew?

Pro tip: Ishii-san says you should always, always slick on a lash-loving treatment before mascara – I know, investing in a dedicated eyelash serum may seem like overkill, but it’s not all that different from coughing up cash for conditioner to go with your shampoo.

Other bits and bobs you may find instructive: You should always use vertical brush strokes when highlighting your nose bridge, then switch to a horizontal window-wiping motion when blurring out creases under the eye. (Don’t worry, he’ll break it down for you in the video.)

Oh yeah, the good man of the hour also lets you in on his DIY nose-and-cheek toning mask: The secret, it seems, to the beguilingly bare dewiness so coveted in today’s K-Obsessed world.

The kicker? The verdict from our trusty, tough-as-nails videographer: “Yeah, this would look pretty great on most women, I think.” When a manly man’s man sheepishly admits to appreciating makeup, you know we’re on to something special!

Enough teasing. Click “play” on the video below, and and try it for yourself, pronto. You can thank me later!

The products used in this video tutorial are available at all Cosme Decorte counters. For more information, visit www.kose.com.sg/cosmedecorte and follow Cosme Decorte Singapore on Facebook.

Recipe by Sharryl Ng, co-founder and executive pastry chef from The Audacious Cakery

Makes 750g
1 Cook 160g glucose syrup* and 210g caster sugar in a pot over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture turns dark amber.

2 Remove from heat and add 30g salted butter and 350g whipping cream.

3 Return to a low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until fully incorporated.

*Available at Phoon Huat, 171 Bencoolen Street, tel: 6338-1143.

This article was originally published in Simply Her October 2014.

IMAGE: G Point Studio

Patients who listen to jazz after undergoing surgery could lower their heart rates and consequently experience less anxiety, according to a study presented at the Anesthesiology 2014 annual meeting, which wraps up this week in New Orleans.

For post-operative pain management, researchers say noise cancellation headphones can help.

"The thought of having a surgical procedure -- in addition to the fears associated with anesthesia -- creates emotional stress and anxiety for many patients," says lead study author Dr. Flower Austin, D.O., anesthesiology resident at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. "Physician anesthesiologists provide patients with pain relief medication right after surgery. But some of these medications can cause significant side effects."

Dr. Austin and his team worked with 56 patients undergoing elective hysterectomies and assigned half of them (28 patients) to listen to jazz upon recovery and the other half to wear noise cancellation headphones post-op.

Heart rate, blood pressure, pain and anxiety levels were surveyed for 30 minutes with the first readings after surgery being used as a baseline measurement.

Both groups' heart rates decreased significantly, although the jazz group's heart rate was lower after 20 minutes than that of the noise cancellation group. The latter felt less pain than the former after 10 minutes, however.

"The goal is to find out how we can incorporate this into our care," says Dr. Austin. "We need to determine what kind of music works best, when we should play it and when silence is best. But it's clear that music as well as silence are cost effective, non-invasive and may increase patient satisfaction."

AFP RELAXNEWS

The Chocoolate x Doraemon collab is like no other cute comic character collaboration

Are you tired of one cat (or girl) hogging the collaboration spotlight? Move over Hello Kitty because Doraemon is in the house!

We don't think you will have any problem convincing your man to wear Doraemon

The comic robot cat who hails from the future has jumped on the fashion collaboration craze too and boy are we glad he did! Doraemon joins forces with Hong Kong-based street wear label Chocoolate and before you think the result is some cutesy collaboration, we urge you take a good look at the somewhat different collection.

Cute + cool = Chocoolate x Doraemon

Cute and cool can co-exist. Monotonic printed tees, sweaters and hoodies form the Chocoolate x Doraemon collection 2014 and are actually a normcore enthusiast’s dream come true. Doraemon’s likeness appears on the black, white and grey pieces – check out the embossed snapback - and are actually dare we say, cool. These almost-nondescript looks fit in with the “I’m too cool to care that I’m wearing sweater with shower slides or sneakers” normcore attitude.

No hardcore Doraemon can resist these - at least we can't!

Although we urge true fans of Doraemon to make a beeline for the black and white Doraemon plush toy and dorayaki coin bag because these accessories from the collab are seriously cute.

The Chocoolate x Doraemon collection 2014 retails from $19.90 to $99.90 and will be available at #02-11 i.t Bugis Junction and #01-18 i.t Orchardgateway #01-18 from the first week of November 2014.

Details of the Karl Lagerfeld x Shu Uemura holiday collection are out. Based on the designer's adorable Siamese cat Choupette, the 20-piece Shupette collection includes eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks and false lashes, as well as make-up brushes. It will be available at Shu Uemura at Ion Orchard from Oct 24. Prices start from $29 for a bottle of nail enamel to $500 for a compact make-up trunk.

Star pick: the Shupette Has-It-All Eye & Lip Palette (photo 1, $128). The palette - encased in a cute furry pouch done in the likeness of Choupette - comes with eight eyeshadow colours and six lip colours.

From now till Dec 12, take a picture of your cat-eye make-up or pet cat and upload it onto Instagram to win a make-up trunk autographed by Lagerfeld. Follow the @shuuemura_ww Instagram account and hashtag your picture entry with #shucats.

Urban Decay has launched a make-up collection inspired by the Quentin Tarantino 1994 black comedy classic, Pulp Fiction. With this three-piece line - a five-shade smoky palette (photo 2, $52, from Sephora stores), a deep, dark red lip pencil ($32) and lipstick ($33) - you can now get secret agent Mia Wallace's edgy look. Available at Sephora stores.

Anna Sui's whimsical autumn 2014 lipsticks are modelled after starry nights. Instead of the usual bullet shape, the lipsticks (photo 3, $37 each) are moulded to look like shooting stars. There are 13 shades to choose from.

This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on October 10, 2014. For similar stories, go tosph.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.

IMAGE: Aveda's Full Spectrum Deep Hair Dye for Deep Autumn/Winter 2014

Colouring your hair is a milestone of sorts. You’re either trying to cover up white strands of ageing, or you’re stepping out with a new look that is in season. Which is why when our copper hair starts looking like rust, or our green ombre starts to look like algae: Our hearts sink to a new low. To prevent my hair from becoming an ugly mess of shades, I often follow these rules to ensure that my hair is protected from losing its colour.

RULE ONE: NEVER WASH FOR 24 HOURS
The number one rule in keeping your hair colour straight from the salon is not to wash it for at least 24 hours. If your stylist hasn’t already told you, washing your hair immediately when you get home will cause the colour to run badly. This same rule applies to DIY home dyes too: After the initial wash, wait for at least a day before washing your hair again.

This is because despite the fact that your hair colour is already “permanently” applied, waiting for at least 24 hours will ensure that you give it time to set. Giving the colour more time to be “locked” in.

If you feel grossed out by the idea of not washing your hair for a day, I often choose to dye my hair in the evenings. This will mean that my next wash is when I come home the day after.

RULE TWO: ALWAYS COLOUR PROTECT
When my friends complain that their hair dye is starting to run, I always ask if they’re using colour protect shampoo. And more often than not, they aren’t. Even if you’ve kept to the rule of not washing your hair for 24 hours, you should always use products that will protect the colour.

Opt for products that don't contain alcohol in its first five ingredients, as the stringent antisecptic causes colour to wash out even faster. Toni & Guy's Sea Salt Texturising spray is one such colour-friendly product which is pretty affordable, too!

As a general rule of thumb, you don’t actually need to use colour protect products forever, just for a minimum of two weeks after the initial dye. The only exception is if you’ve dyed your hair a hue that is vastly different from your original hair colour. So if you have naturally black hair and you dyed your hair brown, you’re safe. If you’re coloured your hair orange or green: Opt for a colour protecting product for as long as you can.

RULE THREE: DRY IF YOU CAN
If you haven’t already discovered the wonderful invention of dry shampoo, a dye job will give you an excuse to. It is without a doubt that delaying your hair wash will help extend the life of its colour, since the minerals in water often dry our hair and wash it out.

Percy & Reed's mini dry shampoo is a great option for women on the go

Dry shampoos work by absorbing excess oil and moisture in your hair, which is why the after-effect of its “stiffness” often makes it a substitute to hair spray. If you aren’t sure how to use this great invention, this guide will help.

RULE FOUR: AVOID HEAT (AND MINERALS)
The final rule to making your colour last is to protect it against heat and mineral products. Opt for warm water when you wash your hair, and wear a swimming cap (or use one of these sun sprays) if you’re going for a dip in the pool. Heat often makes chemicals wash out faster, and UV damage is horrendous on coloured hair.
 

Toni & Guy Sea Salt texturising spray, $24.90, is available at all leading pharmacies, supermarkets and hypermarkets. For more information, visit www.hairmeetwardrobe.com and follow Toni & Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe on Facebook and Instagram.

Percy & Reed No Fuss Fabulousness Dry Shampoo, $13 for 50 ml, is available at all Sephora stores. For more information, visit www.percyandreed.com and www.sephora.com, and follow Sephora on Facebook.

IMAGE: ANDRESR/SHUTTERSTOCK

Weight-loss guidelines have long counselled dieters that kilos shed too quickly are likelier to creep back than those lost at a slower pace.

But an Australian study, published on Wednesday, says this is wrong.

Over the long term, fast-track and slow-track dieters are equally likely to regain most of the weight they lost, according to a paper published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.

Research led by Joseph Proietto of the University of Melbourne divided 204 obese men and women into two groups.

One group entered a weight-loss programme of 12 weeks, the other a more gradual 36 weeks.

The 12-week group were restricted to a diet of 450-800 calories per day, while the other group had their energy intake reduced by about 500 calories per day.

Those who lost 12.5 percent or more of their bodyweight from both groups were then placed on a three-year maintenance diet.

By the end of the trial, individuals in both groups had regained some 71 percent on average of the kilos they had shed.

"By contrast with the widely-held belief that weight lost rapidly is more quickly regained, our findings show that regain is similar after gradual or rapid weight loss," the team said.

"Our data should guide committees that develop clinical guidelines for the management of obesity to change their advice," they added.

Dieters are generally told that a weight loss tempo of no more than 500 grammes (1.1 pounds) per week is best.

The researchers noted some interesting short-term differences in how the two groups responded.

Among the fast-dieting group, more achieved their weight loss target -- 81 percent compared to half of the other group -- and fewer left the programme.

These initial successes may be partly explained by a process called ketosis which kicks in with low-calorie intake -- the body burns fat to produce breakdown products called ketones, which are known to suppress hunger.

"Losing weight quickly may also motivate participants to persist with their diet and achieve better results," said the authors.

But this made no difference in the longer term, with the weight piling up again over time.

"For weight loss, a slow and steady approach does not win the race," Corby Martin and Kishore Gadde of the US-based Pennington Biomedical Research Center said in a comment.

"The myth that rapid weight loss is associated with rapid weight regain is no more true than one of Aesop's fables."

In comments distributed by the London-based Science Media Centre, nutritionists said the study reiterated that sustained weight loss remained a challenge, however it is achieved.

"While weight loss is hard, weight loss maintenance is even harder," said Nick Finer, an endocrinologist from University College London Hospitals.

AFP RELAXNEWS

IMAGE: SHUTTERSTOCK

A new study says boys benefit just as much as girls from having a brother or sister, a finding that surprised family scholars who previously thought girls benefited more than boys from having a sibling.

"In our study, most relationships were not as important for boys as they were for girls," says study co-author Laura Padilla-Walker. "But the sibling relationship was different -- they seemed to report relying on sibling affection just as much as girls do. It's an area where parents and therapists could really help boys."

Having a sibling instills sympathy, but a quality relationship between siblings promotes altruism, concluded Dr. Padilla-Walker and co-author Jim Harper of Brigham Young University.

They followed 308 randomly selected pairs of teenage siblings for three years during which they tracked their relationships with friends and family.

On the contrary, boys who had hostile relationships with their siblings were more likely to have behavioral problems and depression. Researchers say it's up to parents to encourage strong bonds.

"The absence of conflict does not mean the presence of affection," says Dr. Padilla-Walker. "It's okay if siblings fight but help them get through that and have other positive interactions."

The study was published in the Journal of Research on Adolescence.

AFP RELAXNEWS

Are you sick of having to comb your hair with water every now and then? A dye job gone wrong or too many chemical treatments may cause your hair to rebel. Apart from conditioning your hair daily, these are three easy ways you can beat the frizz.

MINIMISE HEAT
Hair starts to become frizzy when it loses moisture, which is why it “shrivels” up to a straw-like strand. When you’re battling the frizz, avoid subjecting your hair to all forms of heat, whether it’s a curling iron or a normal blow dry.

Toni & Guy's Heat Protection Mist now comes in a very cute travel-friendly size. 

And if you really must use a heat applicator, be sure to protect your hair with a heat protector such as Toni & Guy’s Heat Protection Mist. The product is said to create a shield over your strands, preventing heat from causing further damage to your mane.

GIVE IT A BOOSTING SERUM
Your hair, like skin, needs tender loving care. When I start to look like a lion in the morning, I often rely on a anti-frizz serum to help tame my locks. The trick is to use the serum right after a wash (once your hair is dry), so that the serum can be absorbed with maximum efficacy.

Applying a serum in the middle of the day won’t be as effective, since your hair will already be coated with natural oils, making it difficult for the product to work its magic.

For days when I’m really lazy, I slather on Marc Anthony’s Perfect Blow Dry Smoothing Cream. The brand claims that its pre-blow dry cream helps to soothe stubborn locks for up to three days, so I don’t have to continuously apply every morning.

Otherwise, John Frieda’s famous Frizz Ease range has a very decent Nourishing Oil Elixir that targets frizzy hair. Containing argan oil, the oil-based serum tames my Einstein hair and gives it a glossy finish.

SWITCH TO ANTI-FRIZZ
Are you still using shampoo for normal or damaged hair? It's time to switch. Unlike split ends which are “one-off”, frizzy hair is unfortunately a recurring issue. Which is why brands like L’Oreal and John Frieda have dedicated an entire range of anti-frizz products for your mane.

Unlike normal shampoo that just aims to strip off dirt and grime, anti-frizz shampoos work to repair the damage in your hair while smoothing it out at the same time. L’Oreal’s new Ketain Smooth range [please double check if it's Keratin] for example, targets frizzy hair from the outside by repairing the surface of uneven hair.

Instead of only working to moisturise, the brand says that its Keratin Smooth range uses Micro-Keratin technology to fill in any uneven hair surface, which it believes is the cause for einstein hair.

John Frieda’s Frizz Ease on the other hand, works to moisturise your strands from deep within. The products target split ends and unmanageable tresses by fuelling your locks with moisture. And unlike most brands that cater to straight hair only, the brand’s famous anti-frizz range has two separate products targeted made specifically for curly, or straight hair. So you wouldn’t have to worry that your anti-frizz product is straightening your curls.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Collection, is available at selected Watsons, Guardian and Cold Storage stores. For more information, visit www.johnfrieda.com.sg and follow the brand on Facebook.

John Frieda Frizz Ease Nourishing Oil Elixir with Argan Oil, $16.90, is available at selected Watsons, Guardian and Cold Storage stores. For more information, visit www.johnfrieda.com.sg and follow the brand on Facebook.

L’Oreal Ketain Smooth range, $9.90 - $16.90, is available at all leading pharmacies, supermarkets and hypermarkets. For more information, visit www.loreal-paris.com.sg and follow the brand on Facebook.

Marc Anthony Oil of Morocco Argan Oil 3-Day Smooth Perfect Blow Dry Cream, $18.90, is available at selected Watsons stores. For more information, visit www.marcanthony.com and follow the brand on Facebook.

Toni & Guy Mini Prep Heat Protection Mist, $11.90, is available at all leading pharmacies, supermarkets and hypermarkets. For more information, visit www.hairmeetwardrobe.com and follow Toni & Guy Hair Meet Wardrobe on Facebook and Instagram.

Before we introduce you to your new role model, here’s what you should know about the judging benchmarks and prizes proper.

Speaking at a press conference on October 17, Ms Jennie Chua, chairperson of the judging committee, says the panel appraises the shortlisted candidates on qualities which are “universal and timeless, just to use two rather cliched words”.

When all is said and done, the Her World Young Woman Achiever award is accorded to women who are go-getters and ahead of the game; whose achievements in their working and public lives have made a mark on society; who are basically stewards of Singapore – challenging criteria, to say the least!

So yes, raise a glass to – drumroll, please – Sim Chi Yin, Her World Young Woman Achiever 2014:

SIM CHI YIN, HER WORLD YOUNG WOMAN ACHIEVER 2014: PHOTOJOURNALIST, PURSUER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

From corporate pantsuits to the camera lens of a passionate photojournalist, meet Her World Young Woman Achiever 2014 recipient Sim Chi Yin. The 35 year old’s narrative will surely resonate with anyone who’s had to choose between conviction and a cushy career.

For one, Chi Yin’s CV reads like any employer’s consummate candidate: Brilliant academic credentials courtesy of a Masters in History of International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science; a promising start as a roving journalist at The Straits Times in 2001; before assuming the paper’s post as its Beijing-based China correspondent in 2007.

Then, in 2011, she decided to throw it all away. Speaking at the October 17 press conference on what must have been a gut-wrenching decision, Chi Yin says the move was a calculated choice of the riskiest order: “I thought long and hard before I handed in my resignation letter at The Straits Times, where I had a challenging but secure job as a foreign correspondent. But in the end, I went with heart over head, quitting a perfectly good job to become a freelance photographer, learning to embrace uncertainty in its many forms.”

‘‘EATING GRASS’ IN CHINA’

A calculated choice, and a choice that paid off almost immediately. The very same year she quit, Chi Yin was tapped to be part of the august American VII Photo Agency’s Mentor Program, where she was put through the ropes by renowned British photojournalist Marcus Bleasdale. Fast forward to 2014 and life’s come full circle, with Chi Yin being inducted into the VII, making her the first Asian photographer to be represented by the agency.

Along the way, Chi Yin has amassed an almost bewilderingly diverse body of accolades. To wit, and deep breath, now: The Discernment Award and the Eternal Discovery Award at the ICON de Martell Cordon Bleu Awards 2013, Singapore’s preeminent photography awards; a spot on award-winning photography magazine Photo District News’ list of 30 emerging photographers for 2013; and the British Journal of Photography’s list of 30 ‘Ones to Watch’ for 2014. Her work can now be found in prestige titles the likes of The New York Times, The New Yorker, TIME and Le Monde.

The parade of plaudits came with its own baggage, of course, chief of which was a very Singaporean sense of parental worry: “My parents, rather horrified when I quit my secure job as a foreign correspondent for The Straits Times almost four years ago, have come around to being very supportive of the sometimes slightly crazy life I live – not least making sure I have enough cash flow for rent, and that I’m not, in my mother’s words, ‘eating grass’ in China.”

Chi Yin’s strength appears to stem from a soul-searing sense of social justice; it’s no coincidence that her most notable photo essays revolve around the shackled and subjugated, the deprived and disenfranchised. She’s documented the lives of everyone from migrant workers living in the squalid underbelly of Beijing to the very real fears and hopes of Indonesian women on the cusp of leaving their lives to become domestic workers in Singapore.    

The riveted audience at the press conference announcing Chi Yin's win

‘A MORE MEANINGFUL WAY TO LIVE’

At the same press conference, Chi Yin told of the intimate impetus behind her search for, as she puts it, a “meaningful way to live”. Her family story, in her own words: “From my mother, I got my streak of independence and the spirit of just giving things a try. My father, who ran the library of the secondary school he taught at, brought home books and magazines like National Geographic, Time and Newsweek, which I devoured.”

“They were my first window to our vast and varied world, and extended my view well beyond our HDB flat and Singapore. They were also my introduction to journalism.”

What Chi Yin has done with this fascination with the world has been extraordinary, a transmogrification that’s perhaps the ultimate distillation of photography as art: “Today, I am still often awed and excited by what taking a picture really is: capturing that magical instant where time, light and human life intersect.”

Chi Yin is at the vanguard of the next gen of successful Singaporean women, fearless and unafraid to do what they feel needs to be done. Indeed, the photojournalist herself recognises and appreciates her very unique place in history: “In Singapore, for some years now, we’ve talked about different definitions of success and of happiness. Coming out of the bread-and-butter stage of development, some of my peers have  been fortunate enough to be able to choose between different paths in life.”

Sim Chi Yin: Well worthy of being this year’s Her World Young Woman Achiever. Brava!

Find out who's the deserving champ of the Her World Woman of the Year 2014, and be sure to pick up the November issue of Her World Magazine for the full story.

The woman you’re about to be acquainted with is an incredible individual, and the award she’s won is a huge deal. Ready for a bracing dose of inspiration?

Speaking at a press conference announcing the winner on October 17, Ms Jennie Chua, chairperson of the judging committee, says the panel appraises the shortlisted candidates on qualities which are “universal and timeless, just to use two rather cliched words”.

When all is said and done, the Her World Woman of the Year award is accorded to a woman who is a go-getter and ahead of the game; whose achievements in her work and public lives have made a mark on society; who’s basically a steward of Singapore – challenging criteria, to say the least!

So yes, raise a glass to – drumroll, please – Rachel Eng, Her World Woman of the Year 2014:  

RACHEL ENG, HER WORLD WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2014: MANAGING PARTNER, MOTHER, MULTI-TASKER

Rachel Eng’s a trailblazer in the truest, most triumphant sense of the word. In 2010, at just 42, she became the first woman to assume the helm of one of the so-called Big Four, the term being parlance in local legal circles for the four largest law firms in Singapore.

The following year, Rachel also became the first woman to be named Managing Partner of the Year at the closely watched Asian Legal Business South East Asia Law Awards 2011. Clinching the award again in 2013 means she’ll also go down in the books for being the first person ever to have won the title twice. Pretty impressive stuff.

But that’s just the suited up, business side of things. Rachel’s also incredibly involved in backing family-friendly practices in a profession that’s notorious for its dismal work-life balance: Flexi-work options, for instance, which allow working Mums and Dads in her firm to juggle career and family commitments.

Appearing visibly moved, Rachel, who’s a mother of three herself, related an anecdote at the press conference that’s simultaneously revealing of her humility and honest-to-goodness devotion to her family: “When I first received the call from one of the judges, I was slightly hesitant in accepting this personal award. In my mind, what I have achieved in my firm was all through teamwork, and not something I could have done alone. I shared my thoughts with my daughter, Rae, who is 10 and she said, ‘Mummy, you should take it and then tell everyone how great WongPartnership and your colleagues are!’” Cue laughter from the floor.

Then there’s how Rachel’s a mentor at the Young Women’s Leadership Connection and one of the key drivers of Board Agender, a non-profit organisation that champions gender balance in the boardroom. To give you an idea of just what that means in practice, the ratio of female to male partners at WongPartnership is 55:43 – and this in an industry that’s still lamentably male-dominated.

“TORN BY GUILT”

At this point, you’ll be forgiven for throwing up your hands and pegging Rachel as a superhuman outlier. Not so. Rachel concedes to feeling flashes of very human, very relatable guilt: “On a day-to-day basis, women, whether single or married, are often torn by guilt; that we don't spend enough time with our parents, husband, children, colleagues, friends, or clients.”

“All I can say is that it is normal to feel guilty; you are not the only one. Over time, it should get better.” Cheers to that, and cheers to Rachel’s nuanced, thoughtful take on the myth of the woman who “has it all” – there is no such thing.

Here’s Rachel’s very Instagram-friendly #QOTD on the punitive pressures placed on working women today: “Debate has been rife about whether women can have it all. As a career woman in a demanding profession, I know that it would not be possible for me to also aim to be a perfect wife, a perfect mum, a perfect cook, and a perfect home tutor all at the same time. I accept that I will need to bear with some trade-offs on the home front.”

“After reflecting, I think that there is ultimately no one definition of what ‘having it all’ means. I believe that each woman can decide what that means to her and, for me, quoting from a song by John Legend, I have learnt to love the perfect imperfections.”

“WOMEN UNDERSELL THEMSELVES”

For someone who has pulled off so much in so little time – Rachel’s just 46! – it was fitting that she rounded off her speech with a rallying cry for office ladies riven by self-doubt: “Women generally undersell themselves. To be honest, at various stages of my career when a promotion was being contemplated, I’ve told my seniors that I have young children; I can't entertain every night like the guys; I can't play golf on weekends like the guys.”

‘And what [my seniors] told me was, ‘But we are ambitious for you.’ I was lucky to have had the support of my senior colleagues; I would encourage everyone to seize any opportunity when it lands on you.” So yes, the carpe diem thing does work, guys and girls!

Find out who's the deserving champ of the Her World Young Woman Achiever 2014, and be sure to pick up the November issue of Her World Magazine for the full story. 

On October 17, the Shangri-La Singapore ballroom was business as usual: A constellation of couture-clad society ladies and penguin suited gents. But over and above the fabulous frocks and champagne clinking, the evening was shot through with real heart, as Her World magazine toasted its new Woman of the Year and Young Woman Achiever for 2014.

Indeed, for all the pomp and pageantry, the night was far from stuffy. Instead, what stood out was a sense of all-abiding love for society and family, starting from the gala dinner’s Guest of Honour, Ms Sim Ann, Minister of State, Ministry of Education and Communications and Information.

Ms Sim Ann’s opening speech, for one, closed with a particularly poignant anecdote about her son: “One day, I received a handwritten letter mailed to my home. I almost never receive such letters anymore, so it really was quite a surprise. It turns out to have been from my 10-year-old son.”

“His Chinese teacher had given his class an assignment to write a letter to their parents and mail it home. And this is what he wrote to me: ‘Mama, I know that you are always very busy but I hope that you can rest more and take care of your health, so that you can help more people’. I thought I would share this little message to the women here today. We all work hard and are very busy; we’re passionate about doing our best work, and also we want to take the best possible care of our loved ones. I think we should all remember to take care of ourselves, too, because only that way can we continue to make a difference to others.” Really sweet, yes.

Then there’s the almost unbearably heartbreaking catalyst behind Her World Young Woman Achiever Sim Chi Yin’s pursuit of, as she puts it, a “meaningful way to live”. Speaking at the gala dinner, Chi Yin spoke of her incredibly moving family history: “Subconsciously perhaps, and in retrospect, another person influenced me from afar: My paternal grandfather.Living most of his life in Malaya, he stood up and spoke for his community during the Japanese Occupation and ended up being arrested and tortured by the Japanese.”

“He was later arrested by the British, chose deportation back to our ancestral village in east Guangdong and joined the Chinese Communist guerilla army up the hills, fighting for what must have been his ideal: A fairer society. In July 1949, he was unlucky to run into some rival Nationalist KMT soldiers and was later killed in a mass execution. He left a heartbroken wife and five young children behind in Malaya, his death a pivot in the family’s life.”

The rest – Chi Yin’s quest to document the disenfranchised in society through the compassionate filter of her camera lens – is history, as they say, and the reason why she’s Her World’s Young Woman Achiever for 2014.

As for Her World Woman of the Year, Rachel Eng– advocate for gender diversity in the workplace, managing partner of a leading legal firm and smasher of what was once considered an impenetrable glass ceiling –  she says her hubby is her constant cheerleader: “Dennis encourages me to push myself to the fullest. He supports me when I am offered a promotion, he allows me to continue travelling during pregnancy, and he doesn’t stop me when I travel to any remote country for work. Whenever I am called away for urgent work, he and my children will try to work their schedule around mine.”

You know what they say: Behind every successful woman ...

At the end of the evening, I was left with a good sense of just who Rachel Eng and Sim Chi Yin were: Singaporean sisters bound by a soul-stirring sense of commitment to doing what they know to be right. Incredible individuals in their own right, and well deserving of their newly minted status.

Congrats, both! We’ll sign off with this video retrospective of the awards ceremony – with a little extra by way of our champs revealing their pick for personal woman of the year thrown in for good measure!

Read our exclusive profiles of Rachel Eng and Sim Chi Yin, and be sure to pick up the November issue of Her World Magazine for the full story.

Oh, and have fun clicking through our continually updated gallery below to see if your mug was captured by our roving photogs. Until next year!

The one huge collaboration that sees H&M teaming up with a big designer has become an annual event on the fashion calendar. There’s always a great unveil; followed by a blow out party – this year’s shebang transformed the Armory on the Hudson in New York city into an indoor track and field stadium and stars like Dakota Fanning were in attendance; and finally long queues of shoppers waiting to grab their favourite designer pieces at a steal.

The latest highly anticipated Alexander Wang x H&M collaboration is no difference. Not only will fans of the designer be able to own a piece of his signature sporty chic style for less, the designer wants them to get great mileage out of the versatile collection by sporting them on the street, for workouts and when out clubbing.

In fact, the H&M collab sees Wang’s debut performance wear pieces that incorporate performance details like quick-dry materials and compression technology for too-cool-for-school gym outfits. Apparently, there are pieces with a hidden message that only shows up when you sweat in them.

Among the 38 piece ready-to-wear women pieces, we spot sports bras with Alexander Wang logo on the elastic bands (move over Calvin Klein); a sexy curve-hugging scuba dress; patchworked panelled leggings that will replace our trusty leather skinnies and a scuba cropped sweatshirt with “Wang” emblazoned across the chest. 

We round up the Alexander Wang x H&M pieces we will be queuing up for on November 6, 2014 – if our editor will approve our leave.

The Alexander Wang X H&M collection will launch on November 6, 2014, at 8am at H&M Orchard Building and H&M ION Orchard. For more information, go to www.hm.com/sg/ and wangxhmlive.hm.com/.

Nars has popped the lid off its Spring 2015 campaign, starring British actress Tilda Swinton. 

Scottish star Tilda Swinton was photographed by François Nars himself (alongside his work as creative director, he's a keen snapper), who took four portraits of the 53-year-old.

"As a photographer, working with an actress like Tilda is very enjoyable," said Nars. "She is a living legend. I love her bold style and really admire her work. As an actress, she brings such strong personality to the camera. And as a woman, she lives the experience of transformation and expression. She was the perfect choice for NARS."

Swinton replaces fellow British actress Charlotte Rampling, who starred in the company's 20th anniversary campaign for Fall 2014. 

Nars recently collaborated with fashion designer Phillip Lim on a cosmetics capsule and has announced a collection with Christopher Kane set to arrive in the spring. 

AFP RELAXNEWS