28Black - The New Source Of Energy

Thinking about the upcoming F1 weekend is an exhausting thought. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that I will be catching up with friends over 3 nights of F1-related parties and events. But, I seriously don't remember the last time I did 3 nights of back-to-back partying.

I need some energy boost this weekend and the good marketing peeps at 28Black sent me a carton of their new energy drink to sample. If you haven't heard of it yet, it is because the official launch will be on 30 September.

What's 28 Black?

28BLACK is the first natural energy drinks made with açaí berry (the berry that is all the rage with health enthusiasts like me).

How do you drink it?

It has to be served chilled. Either on its own or with ice.

As a mocktail...

...or as a mixer to your favourite white spirits.

The Highs

With açaí berry as the principal ingredient, 28BLACK does not have the synthetic sugary taste but a nice natural fruity taste. Kinda similar to sparkling Ribena, but it gives you the energy boost. It is also a more natural choice compared to other energy drinks on the market, as it does not contain taurine, artificial flavors, artificial colors, and preservatives.

The caffeine used in 28Black is derived from the Guarana plant. Unlike regular caffeine, it is deployed slowly, thus lasting significantly longer. It is also believed that the plant has detoxifying effects and aids in weight loss.

Sugar is the source of energy and 28Black uses isomaltulose. It is a natural sugar that is slowly broken down into glucose and fructose by the body, which helps to keep the level of sugar in the blood constant. This is exactly what I need as I tend to faint due to low blood sugar level. I don't get drunk and pass out when I drink, but I do faint due to low blood sugar level... which sadly gets mistaken as a sign of being drunk.

The Lows

Drink it in moderation. It is not a hydration substitute for water. Each can of 28Black (250ml) contains 145 calories and contains 35.5g of sugar. For comparison, a can of coke (335ml) contains 39g of sugar. The difference between 28Black and a soft drink is the energy boost effect.

28Black is priced at S$5 for 2 cans as an introductory promotion price in conjunction with Market Place and Cold Storage’s Mega Anniversary starting 30 September. After their anniversary celebration, the regular price is S$2.95 per can.

For more information, please visit www.28black.com

G.H.Mumm & The Art Of Sabrage At F1

Champagne is no ordinary drink as every bubble sparkles with centuries of heritage and tradition, and a unique savoir-faire in turning terroir into magic. As I always say, all champagnes are sparkling wines, but not all sparkling wines are champagnes. It can only be called champagne if the sparkling wine is produced in strict accordance within the Champagne region of France, from which it takes its name.

From my 4 years of experience handling public relations for various champagne brands, I personally think that there's no such thing as a bad champagne, since the production of the champagne is highly controlled. However, it is your individual palate that determines what's "bad" or "good" to your liking. Hence, it is subjective. Just because I don't like a certain brand doesn't make it a bad brand. Also, most people now choose champagne based on the branding and packaging. On a superficial level, it is a battle of the marketing efforts more than the skills of the winemakers.

The special G.H.Mumm Cordon Rouge Jeroboam for F1

With F1 round the corner, friends are asking me what G.H.Mumm is doing for this highly anticipated weekend. Since 2000, G.H.Mumm has been the official partner of the Formula 1™ Grand Prix, celebrating the achievements of drivers all around the world for over a decade. The quest for excellence and pursuit of perfection are the values that the House of G.H.Mumm shares with the winners, with a jeroboam of G.H.Mumm Cordon Rouge awaiting each winner on the podium at every Formula 1™ Grand Prix.



Spraying the champagne on the victory podium is a part of tradition. Champagne is never wasted when it is to celebrate victory and achievements. In L'Oreal's famous tagline, "Because I am worth it"... unless you deem yourself unworthy which will then make the champagne a waste.

There is always a cause for celebration whenever a bottle of champagne is opened, and G.H.Mumm invites all to take pleasure in making every moment extraordinary by launching The Art Of Sabrage. Legend has it that sabering was made popular during the reign of Napoleon, as a French symbol of celebration after a victory.

Today, G.H.Mumm is the first champagne house to promote the noble art of sabrage as the ultimate celebration technique. The art of sabrage will be the main highlight at The Podium Lounge and guests will be given the opportunity to learn this traditional ritual. As a souvenir of their bravado, those who sabered a bottle got to bring home the sabered champagne cork in a special G.H.Mumm pouch.

My attempt on sabrage a month ago at G.H.Mumm's launch of "The Pleasure of New Formality" at Tanjong Beach Club.

Success! It ain't as difficult as it seems to be. I strongly encourage you to give it a try if you are going to The Podium Lounge this weekend!

A souvenir of my bravery... the sabered bottle neck with cork intact... and a red G.H.Mumm pouch.

For ticketing details to The Podium Lounge, please visit www.apesnap.com/event/podiumlounge

Satorial Inspiration For LV Party

It has been a while since this town is buzzing with excitement. Finally, there's a big party tonight that is getting everyone excited. Nope, it ain't Avalon... it ain't Pangea either. It is the formidable LV!

So, what shall I wear to this highly anticipated party of the year? It would be too easy if I would to just purchase an entire outfit from LV (which I did for the ION opening and ended up in the same dress as two other guests). This time round, the devil is in the details as I look to its Fall/Winter 2011 runway looks for some sartorial inspiration...

Think fashion meets fetish. This collection is about Marc Jacobs in arch provocateur mode, exploring and exploding the meaning of fetishes.

Leather bondage belt in true dominatrix style

Latex-inspired leather. Love the colour palette of black/grey/red

I have a fetish for gloves. I love these gloves. The colour, the texture, the fit. Orgasmic!

Sexy matron. Proves that you don't need to bare flesh to evoke sensuality.

I love a sleek ponytail. That's how I am wearing my hair tonight.

Hosiery. Patent leather. What more can a man ask for?

A fashionable exhibitionist

Leather, leather, leather...

Bondage, the LV way...

Hats On Or Hats Off?

Yesterday, I went to a private charity tea event at an ambassador's home. I decided to put on my spanking new lilac Gucci fedora with feathers and channel Bianca Jagger's '70s glamor chic.

All the guest were seated and the fashion show commenced. Halfway through the fashion show, a lady arrived late. I offered her the empty seat next to me (so she won't disrupt the show). We introduced ourselves and then...

Lady: In European culture, it is considered rude for you to wear your hat in the house.

Me: Really? I was not aware about this. Thanks for telling me this. (I lived in London for 4 years and I was mortified by my "ignorance" according to her statement)

Lady: Yes, it is rude. Perhaps you should discreetly take it off now. (no way will it be discreet for me to remove my my hat, as it was like a fashion beacon)

Me: Erm, no. My hair would be messy. I don't think it is appropriate to remove it now. Thank you for telling me, but I will make a mental note for the next event.

It got me thinking and I decided to research on hat etiquette. Here's what I found out...

1. Women do not wear hats in their own homes or at a friend’s home. However, this is not a hard and fast rule. (YES! 1 point for me)

2. Women are typically permitted to wear hats that are part of the outfit indoors. (YES! YES! My hat is an extension of my outfit. 2 points for me)

3. Women’s hats are fashion accessories and are part of their ensembles. Therefore, ladies are not required to remove their hats when going indoors. (YES! YES! YES! 3 points for me)

4. However, any woman with good breeding will know that it would be a horrible breach of manners to point out another woman’s faux pas or ridicule a woman (or young lady) about a slight of etiquette. (I didn't say this. I lifted this statement from one of the sources below)

To celebrate the fact that hats can be worn by women at indoors events, I would like to share with you my favourite hat of the season. The Gucci fedora embellished with feathers, in various colours.

For more tips on hat etiquette, check out my sources:

http://www.villagehatshop.com/hat_etiquette.html

http://christina-gregoire.suite101.com/how-to-wear-a-hat---womens-hat-etiquette-at-restaurants-parties-a230451

http://www.manyhattyreturns.com/2010/08/16/hatequette-for-women/

Loving Gucci's '70s Glam

The '70s is a decade that I love sartorially. I was too young to experience the fashion first hand (since I was born at the tail end of the era), but I love what I saw on the silver screen and in the pages of fashion books.

When I think about the '70s, I think about glamorous women such as Bianca Jagger, Anjelica Huston and Michelle Pffeifer (in Scarface). We got a thing or two to learn from these women!

Bianca Jagger immortalised the YSL suit. She was the visionary of her times, wearing a white YSL suit and a hat for her wedding day. The outfit is still relevant today, and I would still consider it a bold statement for any bride who dares to pull it off.

Anjelica Huston was an unlikely supermodel (reason being tall & blond was all the rage but she's a brunette) in the late '60s and early '70s, who went on to be a Hollywood star. Look the effortless glam air about her.

Michelle Pffeifer as Elvira Hancock in Scarface... what a vision! Slinky dresses and super blings... achingly glam!

Knowing how much I love the '70s glam, you can imagine my excitement when I attended the Gucci Fall/Winter show two weeks ago. The '70s influence is evident in the collection and I can boldly declare that the '70s fashion is making its glamorous comeback! I ended up buying the feathered lilac fedora and a black velvet tuxedo.

The fedora on the runway...

The fedora as I wore it today...

The Gucci velvet tux that I wore to the Prestige Ball last week. I guess if Bianca Jagger could do it for her wedding in the '70s, I should have the audacity to pull it off at an event filled with beautiful gowns. I am rebel, I do not conform to the mundane.

The looks I love from Gucci Fall/Winter collection will serve as the mood board for the next few months. Love the rich colour palette and menswear-inspired tailoring. I wish people today will dress up like how they did in those days. Well, I will try.

SENNA - The Film

Since 2000, G.H.Mumm has been the official partner of the Formula 1 Grand Prix, celebrating the achievements of drivers all around the world for over a decade. Prior to handling the public relations for G.H.Mumm since last year, I knew nothing about F1. All I thought about F1 then were the cars, hot girls and parties... and of course, the spraying of the champagne on the victory podiums.


Thanks to G.H.Mumm, I had the privilege of having my first foray into F1 at The Paddock Club last year. I did my pit tour and all, but I still didn't have much understanding of the motorsport till today... till I watched the film"SENNA".



Once again, thanks to G.H.Mumm, I had the privilege to attend the Asia premiere of the film "SENNA" today. Directed by Asif Kapadia and written by Manish Pandey, this film will forever change the way a F1 novice like me look at motor-racing. I believe it will even move the hearts of those who know nothing about racing.



"SENNA" is a documentary-style film based on the true story of legendary Brazilian motor-racing champion, Ayrton Senna. The film showed Senna's decade-long motor racing career from 1984 to his untimely death a decade later. It explores the life and work of this triple world champion, his achievements on the track, his quest for perfection and the mythical status he has since attained.



The film offers heart-pounding racing scenes and heartbreaking emotional moments, and I found myself rooting for Senna. Even till today, he is revered as the greatest motor racing driver of all time. In Brazil, he is regarded as a saint for his achievements and the charity work that is still being carried on by the namesake foundation set up by his sister.

Ayrton Senna taught the world that success awaits those with passion, determination, and faith. I find myself having new found respect for all F1 drivers and the teams. It is truly a sport that pushes the limits and breaks the boundaries, all in the quest for excellence and the pursuit of perfection.

I would highly recommend this film, which has been chosen to be the closing film at this year's Singapore International Film Festival.