Do clothes make the man?

We are all sensorial beings belonging to a highly visual society where clothes have become the author of our story to the world. 

Are hipsters making the tailored suit cool again?

These guys are like art installations on the move. They instigate retro revival and resurrect mundane by taking a whole lot of effort, just to make it look effortless. They throw on a plain (but well-fitted) suit, replace brogues with converse, defy all colour rules with perfectly synchronised colour clashes and go sockless - making this look like a 10-minute job which is what drives us crazy. This is what I call sartorial pride.

What do you think is the average lifespan for a shirt before it goes out of style?

Once you’ve done a #OOTD. The truth is, a well-cut shirt should never go out of fashion. In any case, we should never be hung up about fashion trends—it is about being in style and how the individual wears it.

Bespoke or ready-to-wear?

Fashion is subjective. Be it bespoke or pret-a-porter, ultimately it is about the brand appeal and sustainability of the business model.

Is the weather cramping our style?

Being stylish is all about being creative. Creativity thrives under constraints—I love the concept of layering in winter dressing but there is so much we could do with accessories, shoes and fabrics. Weather is but an excuse.

Describe Singapore’s fashion landscape.

I would say it is still pliable and we are hungrily sponging in ideas and exuding inspirations. It’s nothing too outré or edgy at the moment, but the fact that we are and have done multi-cultural so well in this society proves that we have great potential in amalgamating and developing a landscape that is unique to us.

Odds are you only look at flight timings and price when booking your weekends away. But when two airlines come out even, how are you going to choose between them? Since this is Singapore, what better way than by picking your flight based on who has the best on-board grub? We sampled the food available on the Singapore-Bangkok route of four low-cost carriers, to see who came out on top.

AirAsia

Best for: Value-for-money meals

Typical menu items
Destination-specific—in this case, a good mix of local Singaporean fare like chicken rice ($5.90) and classic Thai dishes like basil fried chicken with rice ($5.80).

Specials
Expect seasonal items for festive periods like Hari Raya as well as locally-relevant products like made-in-Thailand banana chips ($2.30). 

What we tried

• Thai green curry chicken with rice (only available pre-booked, $5)
• Basil fried chicken with rice ($5.80)
• Mango sticky rice ($4.60)

Presentation
Standard aluminium cases—solid, but unremarkable.

What we liked
Much cheaper than the rest; generous portions; and a decent level of spice.

What we didn’t
Nothing, really.

Overall
It’s hard to argue with prices like that.

Rating
√√√√√

Tigerair

Best for: Great-tasting SEA dishes

Typical menu items
Singaporean and Southeast Asian signatures like mutton biryani ($12) and oriental chicken stew ($12). Plus a solitary Thai red vegetable curry ($12).

Specials
Only occasionally do they offer specials. The last one they had was during Christmas—a roast turkey with cranberry sauce. 

What we tried

• Hainanese chicken rice ($12)
• Nyonya chicken rice ($12)
• Nasi lemak ($12)
• Smoky chicken sandwich ($12)

Presentation
Comes in a plastic-sealed black container. It’s neatly arranged, at least.

What we liked
Umami-heavy, tender chicken in the nasi lemak; juicy meat in the chicken rice.

What we didn’t
Mushy rice; tough sandwich bread; spice overload with the Nyonya chicken rice.

Overall
They don’t scrimp on flavors; but you’re best sticking to the signature dishes.

Rating
√√√√

Jetstar

Best for: Damn good Indian creations

Typical menu items
A mix of local Singaporean choices, international options and Thai dishes. Don’t expect a wide range to choose from.

Specials
Festive season-dependent. During Songkran, there’ll be a pad thai dish on offer.

What we tried

• Chicken rice ($12)
• Udon noodles with shrimp ($12)
• Thai green vegetable curry ($12)
• Chicken tikka masala ($12)

Presentation
Neat, tidy and efficiently organized. Kind of like Singapore.

What we liked
The green vegetable curry and chicken rice were good; the chicken tikka masala even better.

What we didn’t
It was a hearty portion, but the udon noodles with shrimp lacked in flavor compared to the rest. 

Overall
Limiting their options does at least mean more attention to the ones they have. Go for Indian if you’re at all in the mood.

Rating
√√√

Scoot

Best for: Variety + healthy options

Typical menu items
Unless you’re pre-ordering your food (you have more local and international choices then), the focus is on Western favorites, although there’s also a Thai red curry with mixed brown rice ($12).

Specials
Not so much; though they did have turkey on offer at Christmas.

What we tried

• Beef bourguignon pasta stew ($12)
• Beef kway teow (only available pre-booked as a combo meal, $17)
• Tom yam fried rice (only available pre-booked as a combo meal, $21.99)
• Roast beef with caramelized onions wrap ($9)

Presentation
If they’re not covered with aluminium foil, they’re sealed with peel-off plastic. We struggled with the latter.

What we liked
The “healthier option” labelling is a nice touch; the beef bourguignon was ambitious but impressive.

What we didn’t
It’s pretty pricey (relatively speaking); and the noodles and rice were a bit limp.

Overall
Hard to fault the variety—especially if you pre-order—but we say pick their Western options over other items.

Rating
√√√

If life gives you lemons… it’s time for shots!

You haven’t lived until… you have attempted to follow at least one of your dreams.

People could do with more… common sense.

If you like it then you should… put it in your mouth, or put a ring on it.

Biggest and baddest habit is… excessively drinking alcohol—obviously.

I wouldn’t name my kid… Mike Hunt.

If I woke up as President… I'd create more public holidays.

The AOS Collective performs at AOS Anthems: Magnum Nights by Chivas on Apr 26, 11pm at The Butter Factory. $25-30 at the door.

How do you explain Twofold?
We help users share skills they are proficient in and earn some money. In the process, they meet new people, educate them and learn more about themselves too. The ease with which people can access a plethora of information on the web right now is frankly quite amazing.

Where did the idea come from?
While in university, both of us attended multiple training gigs but realized the majority of what was taught was quite useless. We were on a beach in Bali when we decided to give it a shot. The plan was to create a user-friendly platform that could allow anyone with advanced knowledge or experience to step up and share it with the world.

What are some of the more unexpected career-hobby combinations you’ve dealt with?
We’ve have a regional sales manager who DJs, a teacher who does 1-on-1 pole dancing lessons and banking folks who teach cosplay costume creation.

Any words you live by?
Keep on sailing. Men of the sea are used to unstable turf—they can adjust the winds and seas. Men on land should be the same.

When you put a Singaporean and a Parisian in the same room, what conversation would you get?
It would probably revolve around shopping, the best places to eat and the best bargains!

Can Singaporeans pull off Parisian fashion?
Paris is known as the center of fashion, and rightly deserves its reputation, being the birthplace for many stylish trends and groundbreaking ideas. Anyone, regardless of where they come from, can carry off these styles with the right sensibility and carriage. Singaporeans today are exposed to so many different influences and have a certain sense of boldness in putting their clothes together, and I have seen many who have embraced these trends, but have added their own touch to it to create their own unique look.

What were some of the unorthodox methods you used in sourcing costumes for this musical?
I delved deep into the backgrounds of the characters, and came up with signature silhouettes for each actor, drawing up a list of imagined places in which they shopped and their favorite designers. I cross-referenced these looks with the signature styles of certain Asian and Singapore designers, and enlisted their help in putting the wardrobe together. My team and I worked to source for contemporary pieces inspired by classic French looks, inspired by the likes of early-day Sonia Rykiel, Christian Lacroix, Yves Saint Laurent, Thierry Mugler and Claude Montana for the show. Whatever we couldn't find, we created from scratch. I also dug deep into my own fashion archive for vintage pieces from iconic French labels like junior Gaultier and Agnes B, to dress certain members of the cast.

What about wardrobe malfunctions on stage? Any contingency plans for that?
Wardrobe malfunctions happen all the time, both on and off-stage. I am lucky to be working with an extremely experienced cast, who would take each malfunction, if and when it happens and react naturally in character without disrupting the flow of the show. That's pure acting skill at its finest.

If you were tasked to design a uniquely Singaporean costume, what would it look like?
A country's national costume is something that's organic, evolving from its culture and lifestyle. It cannot be manufactured, or dictated. To me, one of the many things that are unique to us is the Peranakan culture, which is only found in Singapore, Malacca and Penang. If I was forced at gunpoint to design a national costume, it would probably be an attempt to juxtapose elements of the Peranakan roots into a contemporary setting. Think voluminous robes worn over a sexy figure hugging sarong kebaya-inspired top and a sleek sarong, dripping in jewelry, topped with a dramatic headdress and ending off with an amazing pair of bespoke beaded heels!

Witness all of Daniel Boey’s costumes come to life in A Singaporean In Paris. Mar 11-23, 8pm at The School of the Arts Drama Centre. Tickets at $40-50 from Sistic.

Many Singaporeans are clueless about West Coast culture and the underground. How did you guys start out?
Well there are many facets to West Coast underground. If you're asking about how we started in that scene we would have to credit The Good Life (TGL) and Rat Race for our growth. The majority of the group met at TGL which was an open mic night at a herbal vitamin business. Many great MCs were birthed from TGL. Stones Throw Records has done a good job closing in on truthful underground hip-hop artists as well.

How difficult was it starting out back in 1993? Who were some of your musical influences?
Very difficult—we were selling our music to a variety of labels with no luck. Before the Internet, it was imperative to have superb timing.  We caught that timing when a small labeled called Blunt TVT records signed us in an indie deal. We later released The Jurassic 5 EP which catapulted the group onto a larger underground audience and that resulted in our signing to Interscope records.

From your first single “Unified Rebelution” and the breakup to the 2013 reunification and now the global tour. You’ve been through a lot as a group. What keeps you guys grounded?
Being mindful that we have more to learn, experience and prove to the world—that would be my answer. I'm sure every member would have something different to say. For me, I always feel like the music rug is going to be pulled from under my feet so I have to stay rooted in my craft as a true DJ /Producer.

How has the seven years in between the break up and reunion served you guys?
The years served us very well. It was much needed. At the time we thought we needed to break up but it turns out we just needed a long break. We're able to enjoy our solo efforts and the group that shaped our careers simultaneously.

At the group’s peak in the early to mid-2000s, how crazy was it?
Not as crazy as it is now (laughs). Our reunion is living proof that people want what they can't have. The mid-2000's was very exciting because we were creating music from our hearts with the audience acceptance and no radio play. We proved to our label and the industry that you don't need a hit record to have a cult following. We'd tour for three to four months at a time until we felt like a difference was being made.

If there is one thing that Jurassic 5 should have done differently, what would it be?
For me, nothing. We're meant to experience what we went through—lived and learned.

What’s the focus for the group, moving forward in 2014? Are you guys looking at doing collaborations with other artists anytime?
There's a new song and video coming out soon that was previously unreleased. There are also talks of a DVD behind the scenes video that might come out. We're taking studio, collaborations and shows one step at a time. We're being selective in the process this time around.

What can Singaporeans fans expect from Jurassic 5 in March?
To show up and boogie with us. Come with an open mind and heart and enjoy the show.

In the larger scheme of things, what’s the meaning of life?
Loving, utilizing your talents, pushing yourself, helping when you can and treating yourself like a king.

Wise words for upcoming MCs in the scene?
Pick beats that suit your rhyme flow not what's popular. Follow your heart and remember that timing is everything.

How do you unwind after a long day?
I meditate and follow it with playing with my pit bull, King.

Jurassic 5 performs at Zouk on Mar 11, 8pm. Tickets at $85 from eventclique.

How did the two of you get together to come up with this?
The idea to start TINKR was back in November 2012. As two individuals with a great passion and interest in art, design and technology, and avid readers of WIRED magazine, we were intrigued by the rise of the maker culture in the western part of the world. We knew that we had to spread the maker’s gospel and kickstart it in Singapore. This gradually led to the launch of TINKR in July 2013.

How are the 3D printing regulations in Singapore?
The government has been pretty liberal so far. With the government’s continued support in this sector, we believe there will be laws specifically for governing 3D printing in the near future. These laws will largely revolve around Intellectual Property rights as well as copyright issues.  

If you had the ability to print anything at all, what would it be?
We would love to print a real livable Peranakan shophouse. And have every possible furnishing and architectural detail too.

What beckons for 2014?
2014 will be pretty exciting for 3D printing especially with patent rights expiring. We believe new materials will become more accessible to regular desktop 3D printers and that would also mean that the technology will start to make its way into the homes of regular consumers.