Style Crush: Jacqueline Pak

As a scout for all things fashion, I always love to look at Instagram to see hot stylish chicks express themselves. Even though I adore the app for being a great platform to express individuality, the sad truth is that there are many trend chasers who copy whatever Rihanna, the Kardash-Jenners and other models/singers/celebrities are wearing. Although I, myself, adore celebrity style, I can tear a page out of their book, draw inspiration from it and not literally copy it from head to toe. No matter how influential a celebrity’s style is, it’s a sad epidemic when influencers dress like twins to the point where it’s harder to tell apart Mary-Kate or Ashley.

With my inner Andy Warhol in sight, my radar’s been on the pulse for Jacuqeline Pak. As Lulu’s Director of Footwear and Accessories, her chameleonic style feels radically fresh without being extremely in-your-face. As a fellow Gemini, it’s rather an adaptable trait we have in our astrological DNA. But most importantly, she’s mastered that art from her previous stint at Nasty Gal, where she graduated from CEO’s assistant to buyer.

We chat about why footwear feels so underrated, the biggest lesson she’s learned from Sophia Amoruso, what we should anticipate if we wanna work in retail, how we can try out many trends without being too basic and the one (or two) thing(s) that LA girls don’t wear.

A Girl’s Guide To Self-Tanning: How to Fake That Glow Like A Pro

Growing up in Asia, the idea of tanned skin is not widely appreciated nor desired. Instead, lily white complexions are always in vogue. Wherever I visit beauty counters, there are so many shades of beige, but rarely do I ever see moisturizers, body lotions and/or face masks that target tanning.

Even though I was born a lighter shade of beige, I was perpetually tanned throughout my childhood due to countless swimming lessons. It wasn’t until I had to study for college that I became slightly fairer and looked pastier than a bottle of Elmer’s Glue. In need to fake that tanned complexion, what else can I turn to than a bottle of self tanner?

Before I go any further, I’ve had a long history with self tanners since high school. When I was in 9th grade, I used to ask my sister (who studied in the States) to get me a bottle of Sevin Nyne at her local Sephora. Upon my first try with Sevin Nyne, each spritz was able to evenly cover my skin without any issues. (Who knew that Lindsay Lohan was able to develop SUCH an amazing self tanner?!) Flash forward to 2012, I snagged a bottle of St. Tropez’s self tanning mousse for my body and cream for my face. Compared to Sevin Nyne, it honestly didn’t give me much of the much desired golden tan I craved for and it also made my face erupt with pimples like pepperoni on top of pizza. After years of swearing off self tanners, I guess that it was time to go back to sunless tanning as I realized that not all areas of my body are evenly tan! (Hence why my face tends to be paler than my arms due to sunscreen and abs are whiter than my back due to my preference for low back one pieces – eew!)

In need of a touch up, MineTan sent me their trusty Nano Mist , which comes with a rosewater spritz to help my newfound fake tan last. Since this is the first time I’m trying out a spray tan after five years, can Nano Mist really live up to its hype for a bronzed glow?

Rippling the Roots with Ripple Root’s Estella Ng and Liquan Liew

Growing up in Singapore, I’ve always walked past by museums, shopping malls and local landmarks of statues that highlight the history of the country. Frankly, I didn’t really think that the +65 would have anything to offer apart from touristy souvenirs and postcard-friendly landscapes until I stumbled upon large colorful murals at Keong Saik Road two summers ago during a photoshoot with Audrey Kwok.

Filled with every shade of the rainbow, these murals lit a spark inside my body. While I was trying to search for the artist’s name, “RIPPLE ROOT” was written in big, yet thin bold capital letters. From there, it woke up a newfound hobby to find local artists around the island.

Flash forward to August 8th, 2019, I finally met the team behind Ripple Root – Estella Ng and Liquan Liew – at the opening of their new exhibit “Raffles, Pineapples and the Swamp” at Hilton Hotel’s Yang Gallery. In collaboration with Club 21, Liew and Ng displayed their artwork alongside designer togs to paint a visual story of the evolution of Singapore from a Third World kampong to a First World nation.

We catch up over e-mail to talk about what motivates them to make these iconic murals, the concept behind their newest exhibit, being inspired by Singapore’s history and having creative freedom in the +65.

#HERSSENTIALS: Statement Eyewear You Can’t Live Without

Growing up, I always loved collecting sunglasses. As a firm believer in eyewear, I never forgot seeing images of Paris Hilton in her oversized Dior Glossies, Nicole Richie in her round Eley Kishimotos and last but not least, Mary-Kate Olsen’s half lensed Chanel frames. Since then, I’ve collected everything from vintage ’70s butterfly peach Linda Farrow sunglasses, rimless Gucci shield wraparound frames and my Takesh Eyewear heart shaped Lolita-inspired frames. Truth be told, a pair of sunglasses are like a disguise: you can either hide your Friday night hangover, wear a dark pair to avoid running into an ex or use a pair of statement frames to make heads turn.

If you never found a pair of signature shades to try out, here are some pairs that you should try out: