Penny's Daybook | www.pennysdaybook.com » Men

The Studio

Penny — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 00:52:58 +0000

Article by Penny V

The Studio is unlike any other makeover studio that I have been to. It inspires women and men, of all ages to be a Model for a Day, it definitely lived up to its vision. While most makeover studios give you generic poses and bland make-up choices, The Studio dares you to go glam and focuses on fashion-oriented shoots; so this is your chance to amp it up and channel your inner model or even Lady Gaga, as one local customer wanted.

Created and run by husband-and-wife team Justin Beckett and Sauman Ng, who by the way are under the age of 26, The Studio is Sweden’s first and largest makeover company and its boutique at Amoy Street is its first Asian stop. Their three-level shophouse already inspires you to pull your shoulders back and practice your pout and the company even produces a range of highly-pigmented make-up that goes easy on the wallet.

Already making waves in the local scene after only 5 months with its glamorous photographs and happy customers, Penny K and I ventured down to have a go. We were not disappointed, the photos looked like they were straight out of a magazine.

Made-up, primped and photographed by The Studio’s friendly professionals, over 60 photographs were taken with a choice of three changes of clothing. Don’t worry, you won’t have to study Tyra beforehand as the photographer will lead you through a series of poses that’ll help you get into model mode. They even had a fan for that sexy windblown effect.

Once you’ve selected your photographs according to your package, you can choose to keep them on a CD as A4 print-outs or printed out on photobooks and canvases of various sizes that are specially produced and printed in Germany.

So if you’re looking for something more fabulous than frumpy, go all out at The Studio. Take a look at some of the gorgeous makeovers they’ve done. The proof is in the pudding so we’ve added our photos to the bunch!

The Studio

22 Amoy Street
Tel: +65 6411 9797
www.thestudio.sg

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Melbourne – At First Glance

Penny — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:03:44 +0000

By Isaac Bosque
Contributor for Penny’s Daybook

Isaac Bosque is a student in International Relations at the Australian National University in Canberra. Strategically located between Australia’s two great cities, he has travelled extensively to both Sydney and Melbourne, and knows the streets like the back of his hand. If your GPS stops working the next time you’re in either city, give him a call.

Ask anybody what they think of Melbourne and you’re likely to get a comment on the weather. But heat waves and flash floods aside, Melbourne is well known as a city of the arts, having even been named as a UNESCO City of Literature.

It is also Australia’s sporting capital, hosting three world-class annual sporting events in the Australian Open, the Australian Grand Prix, and the Melbourne Cup, as well as having the distinction of having hosted the first Summer Olympics to be held in Australia in 1956. And with everything from freshly made gelato to piping hot dim sum to be found on its streets, Melbourne is nothing short of foodie paradise.

A good place to start off the Melbourne experience is under the clock tower at Melbourne Central shopping centre. As the meeting place for many a casual appointment, standing beneath the giant clock is a sure sign of having arrived. Resist the urge to try the delightful cupcakes in the window of the Cupcake Bakery and pop out to Elizabeth St for some fresh air.

Heading off to the right, the famous Queen Victoria Market is a ten-minute walk away. Open all week save for Monday and Wednesday, the market is home to rows and rows of stalls selling everything under the sun ranging from fresh produce to oil paintings. Notably, it is not just another tourist attraction; the locals flock there for grocery shopping as well!

Travellers tip #1: in summer, the QVM runs a night market on Wednesday nights serving up a smorgasbord of cuisines from all over the world – even as far as Mauritius – in addition to great displays of live music. Great fun!

Save your feet a bit of hurt and hop onto a tram – not being lazy here, the tram is a Melbourne icon – heading towards Flinders St. You can’t miss Flinders St Station; it’s the big yellow building at the end of the road. People seem to walk more quickly around here – understandably though, the historic building is one of the city’s major train interchanges.

Head on down the bridge along St. Kilda Rd, which offers magnificent photo opportunities of the Yarra River and the occasional high school rowing team out for a practice session. A minute further down is Melbourne’s version of the adult video store for art lovers: the National Gallery of Victoria. Entry to the permanent exhibitions is free, so feel free to leave your bags at the cloakroom and take a look inside. The gift shop stocks some delightfully quirky (and cool) items.

When you’ve had your fill, head across the road to Federation Square. Sit yourself down on the steps in the courtyard and help yourself to a little bit of nice warm sunshine (which might actually kill you, so don’t forget sunscreen). Another popular meeting spot, Federation Square is also host to impromptu events such as Michael Jackson’s candlelight vigil and the offsite screening of the Australian Open.

Afterwards head up Swanston St, which runs parallel to Elizabeth. If you haven’t realized by now, the Melbourne CBD runs on a grid. As with all major cities, driving around by car can be a first-timer’s worst nightmare, but Melbourne has one more scare up its sleeve. The hook turn. Implemented to avoid traffic bottlenecks in the city, the hook turn can be a major fright fest for the uninitiated. You’ll have to experience it in person to find out for yourself!

Feel free to branch off from Swanston into Flinders Lane and the intersecting alleyways between Elizabeth and Swanston. These lanes are lined with dozens of incredible shops stocking fashion one-of-a-kinds, vintage clothing, and even patisserie chocolate.

For the cosmopolitan bookworm, the Foreign Language Bookshop on Collins St stocks dictionaries, learning aids, and novels published in all the major languages of the world. Established in 1938, it is a must-visit for the language aficionado. Make your way through the labyrinth of stores and emerge onto Bourke St Mall, where the road is closed to motorized vehicles. Retail giants Myer and David Jones sit side by side, so take your pick.

Traveller’s tip #2: in December, the Myer Christmas window display is an institution it its own right, and the queues tend to spill over to rival David Jones’ entrance. Just remember, school will be out, so get there early to avoid (with much luck, hopefully) the crowds.

On the other side of Swanston on Little Bourke St is Melbourne’s Chinatown. You won’t miss it; the arch is a dead giveaway. In any case, take a walk down the street – avoid the souvenir shops hawking abalone in the window, you’re likely to get ripped off – and stop at one of the many yum cha restaurants for tea.

When you’re done exploring, head back towards Swanston, but this time along Lonsdale St. The keen-eyed will notice more than a couple of Greek restaurants in succession, so feel free to grab a baklava or two. Once back on Swanston, head up towards the State Library of Victoria. The third of Melbourne’s hotspots, the lawn outside the library is a favourite with students, lovers, and young executives kicking back after a day’s work.

Traveller’s tip #3: for the thought-inclined, the library has a chess room where you can sit yourself down at a table and engage in a battle of minds with someone else – or yourself, if it rocks your boat. And who knows, you could meet your future spouse.

All in all, comparisons with Sydney, as many an Australian are inclined to do, are absolutely pointless. Both cities have something unique to offer, and what is so special about Melbourne is its innate charm and avant-garde personality. Melbourne is a coffee joint, an art gallery, and a banker’s swivel chair altogether at once.

Home to large Greek, Italian, and Vietnamese populations, Melbourne is equally welcoming to the aesthete, the tourist, and the business traveller. If you have a few days to spend in Melbourne, make the most of it!

Poptart T-Shirts

Penny — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:45:16 +0000

We told you how cool The Corner Shop is with a fashion spread. Now together with Praise and Singapore’s longest running alternative rock night, Poptart have collaborated to launch a T-shirt series.

The series has 3 designs, which feature the Poptart party tagline, ‘Never Lose That Feeling’. Not just stopping there, the creative trifecta have remixed two iconic rock album covers – Joy Division’s Unknown Pleasures and Sonic Youth’s Goo.

Fun, spirited and embodying the essential Poptart vibes the t-shirts complement the tongue-in-cheek nature of Butter Factory’s favourite party.

The T-shirts retail at $49, and a free limited tote bag will be given to those who buy three or more pieces.

The Poptart tees will be on sale at the following outlets:

The Corner Shop
14 Scotts Road Far East Plaza #03-16 Singapore 228213

praise Cineleisure
8 Grange Road, #02-04, Orchard Cineleisure Singapore 239695

praise Bugis
200 Victoria Street, #03-22A, Bugis Junction, Singapore 188021

I AIN’T NEVER GOING ANYWHERE
THE POPTART T-SHIRT LAUNCH PARTY
SAT 24 July 2010
FASH, The Butter Factory
with DJs WEELIKEME, JAH & JINMART

Doll up in your awesomest looking tees and stand a chance to snag some t-shirts, stickers, and lots of other goodies from The Butter Factory and partners Praise & The Corner Shop.

Residents weelikeme, Jah & Jinmart, will bring to you indie, alternative rock, punk, grunge, power pop, electro & some supersweet-lovin’ remixes!

The Butter Factory is located at:

One Fullerton
1 Fullerton Road,
#02-02/03/04
Singapore 049213

ENTRY TO FASH:
riot grrls – $21 , rocker boys – $26 (includes 2 standard drinks)

The World Cup is For Everyone

Hana — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 02:30:15 +0000

by Hisham Omar
Contributor for Penny’s Daybook

Hisham is an undergrad student in NUS whose current aim in life is to figure out why of all the awesome vehicles out there, Optimus Prime chose to become a truck.

The FIFA World Cup 2010 is merely days away and football fans across the globe can hardly wait.

And yet, some just refuse to jump on the bandwagon.

Some such are the bitter fans whose country did not qualify for the tournament. Others are those who still don’t (and probably never will) get the offside rule. Not forgetting the World Cup widows who dread the month-long stretch when their husbands or boyfriends go AWOL, or worse, exist in a constant state of PMS (Pre/Post-Match Stress).

If you fall in one of the three categories, here are reasons why you should stop being a wet blanket and enjoy the World Cup with the rest of us this year.

“My country is not in the World Cup and I don’t want to be a sellout” – The Patriot

So your country is not in the World Cup and you refuse to be among those who shamelessly become Brazilian, Spanish, English or any of the other favourites. You question their sanity as they adopt their second nationality with a loyalty that would make Kim Jong Il jealous. Because you don’t want to be a sellout, you boycott the World Cup altogether. Well, with the participation of North Korea this year, you can enjoy the World Cup by supporting the North Korean team without having to trample on your principles. Here’s why: for want of a better way to put it, there’s just no way North Korea is going to win. So, don the North Korean flag in the name of sportsmanship and cheer away for the team that will not be winning! You don’t lose your national pride and still get to be part of the football fun!

“I’m a rugby fan. Football is for wimps.” – The Anything-But-Football Fan

Not always this victorious

You prefer your sport to be a cross between professional wrestling and gorillas on steroids. You get excited thinking of bone-crunching takedowns and the spilling of blood and sweat. A goal to you is the ball going above the crossbar instead of under it and you cannot comprehend a forward pass. To you, a ball shouldn’t be round. You’re a rugby fan.

This World Cup, all rugby fans outside of New Zealand should turn into football fans. Why on earth, you ask? Well, because New Zealand is playing. And no, New Zealand’s soccer team isn’t anything like the awe-inspiring, haka-dancing All Blacks. They are their painfully average football-playing counterparts, the ‘All Whites’. And if you don’t already know, victories against New Zealand are not as rare in football as they are in rugby. So if you’re tired of watching the All Blacks easily thrash the England or Azzuri rugby team, why not watch the Kiwis struggle against an impeccable English side with the likes of Steven Gerrard or an Azzuri side marshaled by Daniele De Rossi?

“Why is he so worked up? It’s only a game!” – The Football Widow

This is Kaka, by the way.

The love of your life is perfect in every way. He dotes on you and listens to everything you have to say. The two of you spend every waking moment together and see no wrong in matching outfits. But you never understand why he is the way he is during football matches. And because you become invisible during a football game, you refuse to embrace the sport. Not even for the World Cup.

You don’t have to understand you probably never will. His dedication to his favourite football team is as irrational to you as your need for insanely expensive designer shoes. Even so, you both can still enjoy the World Cup together. While he worries about the score-line, you can feast your eyes on a certain Fernando Torres or Ricardo Kaka. If the Spanish or Brazilian isn’t your type, try the Portuguese with Cristiano Ronaldo. Forget about understanding the offside rule; the World Cup is your live 90-minute Playgirl magazine in HD.

So you see, there’s no reason to miss the World Cup, is there?

The Corner Shop

Penny — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:29:37 +0000

Zha Huo Dian, otherwise known as The Corner Shop offers a quirky rabbit hole to fall into at Far East Plaza. Situated in a corner on the 3rd floor of the forever-favourite teenage hangout since the early 90′s, it doesn’t need a fancy gimmick out on the storefront to attract customers, because word-of-mouth is all it takes.

By Penny C and Penny V

And that’s exactly how we found it. A friend decided to spill the beans on where he obtained his fashion-friendly finds by bringing us to the store. Of course, we each left with a purchase, or two.

As we entered, we were greeted with a Flight of the Conchords DVD playing on a large screen TV. A couple more steps into this cosy space and we were surprised by the spectrum of colours that filled our vision. You can’t blame us for ooh-ing and ahh-ing at the variety of stuff this place has. Childhood games and treats plus an array of fascinating trinkets – where do they find these things? We definitely ogled.

Believe us when we say that it’s difficult to step in there and not want to buy something. Sourced from Japan and Korea, the store mostly stocks male-centric outfits that comes in a limited number. Don’t worry girls, there are some fantastic gems for you as well that range from hats and bags to leggings and jackets.

The Corner Shop will turn two in August and the owners firmly believe that spontaneity keeps things fresh and young. You can then understand the vibe you get when you see pink and green gnomes, old-school confectionery and eclectic accessories juxtaposed against their stylish finds.

Take a gander at some of the looks we pulled together that will have you reaching into your wallet. Don’t wait too long to make your purchases though. At the time of our feature, some items have sold-out completely but fret not, they’re always bringing in things that you’ll want to get your hands on.

The Corner Shop is located at 14 Scotts Road, Far East Plaza, #03-16, Singapore 228213. Contact them at (65) 6235 7614.

Street Slick: Rock Those Shorts!

Adine — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 02:22:56 +0000

When the weather’s too warm for a pair of jeans and leaving the house leads up to us having a minor heat stroke, we can always turn to the alternative!

Imagine this – on one sunny morning, we prance around the room rejoicing that all is well because sitting there, nicely folded in the wardrobe, is a pair of comfy shorts! Ok, maybe not all of us are inclined to prancing but you get the drift.

Time to rock those shorts!

Christopher H., 22 year old Photography/ graphic design student from Savannah, GA

Ádám S., 23 year old guy from Szeged

Emma S., 16 year old Student from France

Ira G., 18 year old vampire ghost machine from Manila

Hye J., 17 year old fashion enthusiast and student from Everland

Street Slick: Umbrellas

Adine — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 02:11:29 +0000

The most understated fashion accessory has to be the Umbrella. We once thought we were too cool to carry one around but now we know otherwise.

Stop running in the rain, people! Stay dry and cool with a fabulous umbrella on a horrid, wet day and be free from bacteria and germs ( ugh, too much of those Dettol commercials). If Mary Poppins could rock a chic umbrella and still get her job done, we can too.

Maedchen A., 21 year old student from Germany

Elin J., 19 year old blogger and day dreamer from Skåne

Pascal G., 50 year old Photographer / Blogger from Zurich

Fayna P., 24 year old Industrial Design student from Gran Canaria

Ben M., 28 year old Musician/Record Label Owner from Bristol

Eleonore B., 28 year old Designer from Paris

Street Slick: Zap Those Caps

Adine — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:25:56 +0000

Truckers caps were the treasures of truckers, farmers and baseball players but over the years, everyone either wants to own one or wear it once just for the camera. Worn well with complimenting colours and accessories instead of having it sit high on your head with a huge, useless gap (see picture ), trucker caps can look mighty fine on anyone of any age.

Tony S., 26 year old nerd from Paris

Vasya N., 24 year old Photographer from Chernigov

Paolo S., 20 year old Multimedia Arts student from The land of rubber shoes & dirty ice cream

Jaylin K., 19 year old Student from Providence

Street Slick: Outerwear

Adine — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:51:15 +0000

Don’t let the sun bring your style down. Layering with cardigans, blazers, jackets and tee over tees can be cool. The key is to be fashionably realistic, don’t wrap yourself up and pretend that the weather’s something it’s not.

Curtis Y., 24 year old guy from Taipei

Ployy B., 26 year old trendy creature/label owner/blogger/stylist from maison 47

Cindy A., 24 year old rebel from Singapore

Nancy Z., 24 year old illustrator concept art designer from Tianjin

Ian L., 30 year old Graphic designer Web planner from seoul

LoveBytes: Picky or Not Settling?

Penny — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:29:48 +0000

If anything ties us together, it’s love. All of us have experienced one form of it or another, but what drives us crazy and unto our respective planets of Mars and Venus is definitely not the platonic kind. We take a look at issues that get to us. Are we being particularly picky or are we being smart and not settling for less than we deserve?

Jenny*, is a friend of mine that I got to know early last year. According to her, she has been dating for about the last ten years and has yet to find Mr. Right. Obviously, it means that she has probably met numerous prospects that displayed one or two of the qualities that she has in mind. While she agrees a good time was had by all, it never ended well. Call it nit-picking, home improvement or what have you, she tried to help each one along somehow or another, much to its inevitable destruction as she was never happy with the lack of an entire package.

Jenny’s qualites were what I called materialistic, but she called them practical. Surely though that being practical would mean that she would have to deal with the fact that you can never have or dare to expect everything from your potential life partner – that’s why we have other relationships in our lives. While songs espouse that two become one, and that love stories make us believe that our other halves are a perfect match, the cynic in me believes that can never or rarely does ever happen.

Jenny is adamant though to not settle for anything else, even if desperation overwhelms her as the thought of turning 30 in less than 2 years looms over her head.

He still needs to be tall, honest, drive a car, match her social status and family background, be ambitious but not domineering, be able to give into her once in a while, like art and gives her all his attention. It’s a pretty tall order but she believes she’ll find him eventually while weeding out her prince amongst a whole barrel of frogs.

While I think she’s utterly batty for thinking she can expect everything from one guy, I find myself defending her every now and then to others.

She’s admirable for not settling into a relationship she knows she won’t be happy in – that could explain escalating divorce rates: people settling into something and realising that it just wasn’t worth it. Single women above a certain age would say that’s stupid, but I’m guessing that comes with years of dating around and finally realising that it’s now or spinsterhood for life. That’ll make sure you’re able to swallow more than fight back.

At the end of the day it’s a mixed sense of admiration, futility, happiness and sometimes pure aggravation that I feel for Jenny as she shares with me her various dates towards finding The One. For myself? Well I’m happy with whom I have in my life even if he isn’t the perfect combo. I don’t believe I’m settling for anything less than I deserve, but I’m picking my battles and I’m accepting my prince, warts and all.

Penny's Daybook | www.pennysdaybook.com » Men

The Studio

Related Posts

Melbourne – At First Glance

Related Posts

Poptart T-Shirts

Related Posts

The World Cup is For Everyone

Related Posts

The Corner Shop

Beaded Top, $109.90, Leggings, $39.90 (Sold Out!)

Related Posts

Street Slick: Rock Those Shorts!

Related Posts

Street Slick: Umbrellas

Related Posts

Street Slick: Zap Those Caps

Related Posts

Street Slick: Outerwear

Related Posts

LoveBytes: Picky or Not Settling?

Related Posts