TANGS Top Ten: Going Green, D.I.Y. and Wayfarers

TANGS eclectic Top Ten List of trends, things and pop culture musings.

In a bid to weather off the gloomy economy, many of the once spendthrift sorts have opted for frugality, and tried their hand at D.I.Y. items instead. Short for Do It Yourself, innovative types have diligently done their trial-and-errors, as well as used the World Wide Web for tips on how to make tote bags out of old t-shirts, and distress their boyfriend-fit jeans to match this season’s grunge look. Sure it seems like a bit much effort, but we think it’s a brilliant idea anyhow. Go try!


2. F1 ROCKS

For those looking for an alternative roar come 25 to 27 September, look no further than F1 Rocks at Fort Canning. F1 Rocks is the official 2 day concert accompanying the grand prix, and boy have they got some headliners – Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas and No Doubt! If you’re looking for more alternatives, Hong Kong’s Heavenly King Jacky Cheung is on the bill too, along with ZZ Top (thumbs up to he or she who remembered and suggested them). Without a doubt, F1 Rocks will rock.


3. LANCÔME’S DECLARING INDIGO COLLECTION

Breaking out of the conventional mould of this season’s expected gloom and somber colour palette is Lancôme’s Fall ‘09 collection, Declaring Indigo. Created the Parisian brand’s Artistic Director Aaron De Mey, this collection is all for expressing versatility and freedom through bold and brazen colours. Our picks for this season’s most coveted glam-rock look includes Palette Liberté 02 (eye shadow), Ink Artliner in Black Carbon Ink (gel liner), Color Fever Gloss in Aaron’s Red (lip colour) and Virtuôse (mascara).


4. LACOSTE FALL/WINTER RED! COLLECTION

Building its empire around an assembly of fashionable tennis threads and accessories for more than 70 years, it’s apparent that French brand Lacoste has maintained an effable status by getting on with time. With that mentioned, a more youthful and casual diffusion line, Red!, was recently introduced to keet industry fiends buzzing with enthusiastic reviews. Launched merely one season ago, their latest Fall/Winter collection (designed by Christophe Lemaire) is one that exhibits a series of garbs in contrasting colours and prints on a sleek and well-tailored silhouette (as seen in our style book feature: Street Beats).

Print out this list, present it at the Customer Service Counter at TANGS Orchard, L2 to redeem a $20 Lacoste Voucher! While stocks last.


5. ECO-FRIENDLY AND ORGANIC PRODUCTS

Eco-friendly and organic goods can only mean one thing: a celebration for better living. A growing green initiative that’s becoming a phenomenon especially in Europe and the U.S. of A., you’ll be surprised by the extensive list of products tree huggers are busy churning out. Aside from dropping a few extra dollars in your local supermarket and boutiques’ organic food and clothing choices, we can now also decorate our abodes with a series of highly intricate Earth-friendly furniture and house wares.


6. THE ICONIC RAY-BAN WAYFARER

Possibly the most popular eye accessory ever designed, the Wayfarer is Ray-Ban’s ticket to its enviable international status. A vision of a true genius (Raymond Stegeman, to be exact) and a pure work of art, the iconic eyewear first made media frenzy when Audrey Hepburn wore it on Breakfast at Tiffany’s; and made its revival in the early ’80s when funny men Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi donned the slightly cat-eye sun shades in The Blue Brothers. With a design that has evidently stood the test of time, the Wayfarer continues to be coveted by the Andy Warhol, Kristen Dunst and Bob Dylan types, and today, comes in a brazen series of colours, sizes and finishes. Sweet!


7. NEW-AGE MODELS GALORE

Lucky for mere plebs like us, gone are the days where Adonis-liked looking models roamed the fashion circuit making us feel unworthy of their presence and designer outfits. With the turn of the 21st century, a new breed of models birthed; and unlike the typical blonde hair and dagger blue eyes type, they came packaged with a fist full of attitude and tattoos. Together with cigarettes in hand, these rockstar types have made apparent that, sometimes, beauty is truly skin deep. Here are some of our favourites: Feja Beha, Eliza Cummings, Jethro Caves, Josh Beech, Ash Stymest and Alice Dellal.


8. SNOW LEOPARD

One of the mysteries of the universe to us is why the Mac Operating System is not pre-installed on all computers - Mac and PCs alike. It’s beautiful to look at, fabulous to use and a god-send to today’s multi-media image-savvy generation. The latest installment Snow Leopard, takes one more step forward in usability and stability, and another huge step forward for digital-everything mankind.


9. VAMPIRES

Vampires are all the rave today, and will be more so very soon with the hotly anticipated sequel Twilight - New Moon. These once evil cousins of Dracula are the new heroes and idols of pop culture. Teens are drooling over Twilight’s fangy boy band, and big US TV hit True Blood have the not-so-teens hot under the collar.


10. ALL THAT GLITTERS

Taking cue from this season’s love and need for everything and anything excessive (colours, layers et cetera), it seems like designers everywhere have gone loco with the idea that it’s definitely fashionable to shine like an ‘80s disco ball. From expensive designer garbs to our most coveted high street labels, a collection of ostentatious looking sequin-filled outfits have been filling up the racks of fashion boutiques. But unless you carry Elizabeth Jagger’s swagger and finesse, we recommend you keep your hands away from them glitter things.