Image is courtesy of madaboutbags.org

Louis Vuitton. When you hear this name, what pops into your mind? This legendary designer has come up with many gorgeous and different designs that just simply blow your mind away. Of course, you could never forget the signature LV monograms, be it on bags, wallets and trunks. Celebrities can be seen carrying their bags all over the place.

Of course, the KL-ites can get some goodies from their concept store at Bintang Walk, provided that you have a healthy paycheck or hefty allowances. Some of their pieces are a marvel to look at, and it will definitely fetch enough attention from passer-bys and impress your friends!

The much awaited LV tribute Patchwork bags are out now and can be seen at their spring 2007 runway. The tote sized bag seems to be made from uncountable bags used as patchwork. As you can see, many bags are spoiled to make this collection piece, so the price tag of $42,000 shouldn’t come as shocking. The bag has golden chain and leather strap, and is a combination of all kinds of bags that are in denim, leather, fur and a lot more.

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Do you know the average girl lifts weight  about 9kg on her shoulder and depending on how much she is on the road, we could multiply that to about 9kg over 3 hours of usability and that means by the end of a workday, she would have carried on just one shoulder a total of 27kg, maybe I exaggerate a little bit and my math ain’t so good, but I hope you get the drift. Hey, no more need to go to gym for weight training unless you don’t mind lopsided shoulders.

(Picture courtesy of http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com)

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Fashion trends come and go like a flash every season. How would you know what to, and what not to invest in? And would that particular trend flatter you that season? Gorgeous women such as (the legendary) Marilyn Monroe and Catherine Zeta Jones has always portrayed an elegant hourglass figure. Now it’s a sure bet to bring those classic looks back with a wide belt no matter how you’re shaped.

Even Hollywood hotshots such as Paris Hilton is wearing these belts to accentuate her (barely there) curves.

(Picture courtesy of http://www. newsdaydottypepad.com)

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“When in doubt wear red.”–Bill Blass

Our theme at Emmagem this fortnight is prosperity, luck and fortune!  And what color would be most suitable for that? Red of course! Unlike other colors, red brings out the fire and passion in you, brighten your outfit, and spice up your look!
         No, I’m not talking about light red, pastel pink or anything, but bright hot red. Its time to celebrate this color and the fun of dressing up that comes with it! This coming Lunar New Year, you don’t have to wear all red for luck, you can put on a hint of red here and there. Of course, you can still don on your red lingerie (winks), but it doesn’t mean you have to wear a bright red top or anything (not everyone likes the colour red!).

To make things simple, there are many different ways of wearing red:

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We are heading into a brand new year, how better to celebrate it then by glamorizing my wardrobe I thought but then again, prudence at spending should be the order of the day. Now, I don’t want to be a party pooper or anything like that, sure by all means shop your heart out, but I figure for me personally, I hate the idea of looking good on the outside and feeling broke all the time on the inside. So, I figure a little creativity can go a long way…

Ever heard of the term beg, borrow or steal… well, whilst we shouldn’t take it too literally, we can however exercise discretion. I believe, one of the best ways to look good without using a sen of your own, is to form a group consisting of like minded fashionistas. Why? Well, first of all, they will understand that looking good costs money, and if y we can exchange clothing among ourselves it will certainly solve some money issues and yet impressing friends and family the extent of your wardrobe, not to mention good taste. Do I have such a group of friends, no, not an official group… but I do have a sister-in-law and two friends whom I share and exchange with regularly.

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Tis the Christmas round the corner again with lots of tartans, tinsels and gold all over town. Here, emmagem would like to share how one can be dressed in glorious traditional Xmas colors and yet not blend into the furniture but instead look utterly glorious as you become the centerpiece of the room, each movement from you setting off the color in the background.

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Metallics are still all the rage this year end season. Anything with shimmer and glitter once upon a time, seen as tacky except worn as evening wear can mix match them today into a very mod and in fashion outfit. Gold of all shades and tones seem to be the favorite over silver at least for the last couple of seasons when talking about metallic.

So how should one wear all that shimmers and is gold?

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With the recent comeback of the infamous 80’s leggings, mini has become an IN word again. The fashion icons have proclaimed that we can all now wear minis as safely as it covers our modesty, no more worrying about what people will see as you ride up the elevator. We can also safely wear minis as leggings, at least the expensive one “hold everything in”, so no more hanging lumpy cellulite ridden thighs and knees. Oversize tops have now become the new mini dresses as seen in Gucci, YSL and brands like Zara, MNG and Gucci and all, respectably worn over tights, very comfortable and stylish at the same time.

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I was privileged to be invited to attend two shows at the recent Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week and I must say, it is with great pride that we share with you coverage of some of Malaysia’s best talents. Although 48 designers showed their creative designs and talents in this recent show, we will only be highlighting some of emmagem’s favorites.

On the 11th November 2006, we saw the likes of Amanda Brown whose speciality is in denim, Calvin Thoo in evening and cocktail, Maya Silk by Carven Ong in their silk collection and Dominique Chan’s grand bordering on grandiose bridal wear accompanied by some really rocking runway music.

It was gratifying to watch Amanda’s collection as it was simple in cut and design but yet shows the versatility of denim, from funky jackets with tassels worn over tights to short, extremely short shorts worn over tights and boots right down to a slinky evening dress with a Hispanic twist with mermaid hemline and a big crochet flower.

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What’s the latest buzz in Kuala Lumpur… fashion… fashion week, in our endeavours to be a fashion capital, Kuala Lumpur has yet again succeeded in holding an excellent Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week. It started with fashion shows on the 11th November at Times Square followed by a gala fashion show entitled The Red Gala, where 48 designers showcased their collections with some of the designs worn by local celebrities like singer Fauziah Latiff for Kapas, singer Nurul for Calvin Thoo, international model Mary Lourdes for her husband Bernard Chandran to name a few. The fashion week culminated in the The Heineken Show on 14th November 2006 and then the closing show on 15th November 2006.
Daytime activities besides shows were talks by Mr Peter Lum on “How To dress For a Career Woman”… and a Fashion Forum hosted by Xandria Ooi.

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emmagem recently spoke to the distributor of an Indonesian batik brand called Parang Kenchana, Cik Salina Shamsuddin at Prestige Floor (4th Floor) Lot 10 and explored the versatility of batik for formal wear for men and women.

Parang Kenchana is a leading brand of hand painted batik from Indonesia, established since 1988. It is widely distributed in leading departmental stores in Jakarta and other major cities of Indonesia. This brand has been in Malaysia since 2004, and was previously tucked away in a cosy corner of Jalan Bukit Bintang. The materials that are usually used for this hand painted and hand stamped batik is hand weaved silk.

emmagem caught up with this vibrant entrepreneur and asked her for some tips on how to best wear batik especially for men. These days a lot of formal invites comes with dress codes that says formal wear or batik for both men and women. Batik usually made into traditional costumes although these days many a designers are using batik for more contemporary silhouettes. Batiks are a real breeze to wear as they are usually designed with a casual flair making them big and roomy and if you should wear a piece made of silk, it is almost like wearing nothing, uh huh! Just imagine the touch of soft silk like baby’s skin but vibrant in colours.

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Malaysia is abuzz with preparations for Hari Raya and Deepavali that happen to fall next month, within days of each other. Bazaars are being set up all over, selling food, traditional outfits and accessories for the festivals. This is the perfect time to indulge in some ethnic fashion. Every year, designers will incorporate some form of ethnic touch to their collection. Why don’t you do the same? Here are some ways to work the ethnic trends.

Deepavali Bazaars: Things to look out for

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Last issue, emmagem, wrote how a man can impress a girl or employer (current ad future) with the way he dresses. This issue, we promised to delve a little into suits and its suitability to the Malaysia.  I believe that in Malaysia, more and more men are investing in one good suit if no other reason then for their wedding at least. But what if you aren’t getting married just yet and you get invited to a function that says tuxedo or formal wear. What should you do, in Malaysia, formal wear has often been substituted with a batik shirt but let’s say you have finally decided to invest in a suit , how should you go about it? And where should you go about it? Why do we call it an investment? Well, a really good suit can set you back as much as one thousand ringgit but if it’s for your wedding day and if it’s to attend the interview for the job of your dreams, it can be well worth it.And the thing about suits, they can actually be very versatile. I take for example a simple black suit of light weight wool material, gorgeously made, surprisingly great deal bought during a sale. You can wear it for your first job interview, match with a serious shirt and tie; clinch the job and its your first company dinner and all the head honchos will be around, wear it with a nice color shirt and nice tie or without, for the office party; big pow wows to clinch even bigger deal, dress the same suit with more serious ties and shirts and maybe just for a touch of savoir faire put on a vest; your first date with the girl of your dreams, pair it casually with dark blue shirt and some cool cufflinks to show your style and your respect; then  THE Day! Your wedding…time to invest in another suit!

As an ex-buyer for men’s ready to wear in a departmental store, I must say there are no shortages of tailors to tailor make your perfect suit. This will be mostly made to measure tailoring shops that are located in Sungei Wang for instance. But more and more brands are coming up with ready to wear Italian cut suits from the Italian brand Canali to Hugo Boss to Ermenegildo Zegna and London brand Marks and Spencer, and they serve a pretty good selection at affordable prices. And, for fine made to measure suits you can go to Sparks Manshop, a local brand that has been around for a while and made a name for its fine cutting. Though slightly higher in price, wearing a suit cut from any of these fine brands will definitely set you apart from the madding crowd.

What had been observed as a general faux pas in suit wearing by most Malaysian gentlemen is that they tend to misunderstand “good fit” as for the wallet rather then the shoulder frame. These days, one can buy suits from any retailer and they come pretty affordable at two hundred to three hundred ringgit a suit, retailers tend to stock up ready to wear imported from China due to the pricing and also the niche that Chinese mainland suit makers have made for themselves, very affordable ready to wear jackets or suits. However, you should be cautioned that if buying an off the peg suit, do find one that absolutely fits you to a tee or have it altered to fit.

When choosing a suit:

1.) Go for subtle colored suits

• Neutral colors like grey, navy blue , dark brown and of course black seldom go wrong. Pinstripe although usually associated with staid bankers and  lawyers have made a fashion statement for themselves. They give a certain depth to a suit that would otherwise have been ordinary.
• Pairing the shirt or accessorizing the suit would depend on the occasion at hand. Usually if wearing neutral colors, you can match the shirts to any soft shades like light blue, light yellow, or even light pink. Since wearing a suit means pairing of a jacket and pants from the same material and color and is purchased together whether it is tailored or off the rack, which (pause to catch breathe) means pairing any available black jacket with a matching black pants doesn’t qualify the attire to a tuxedo. It would be a serious fashion error if they were made of different material and the blacks don’t match as they are wont to do.

2) It’s all about the FIT

• The shoulders should fit perfectly and is not stretch too tightly across the back or worse crumples in the middle due to excess material. The length of the sleeve falls just below the wrist and you should still see about half and inch of the shirts sleeve’s cuffs. The length of the jacket should cover the backside.
• A well fitted suit looks like the jacket is just resting on your shoulder frame when worn.

3) Choice of material

• Try to get lightweight wool material when choosing a suit. They tend to fall better. Don’t be afraid that it would be too warm for our weather as real wool is a breathable material that tends to adjust to your body heat.  Though a lot of syntentic fabric is now being used, always choose one that is mixed with wool if possible for best results.

4) Sports Jackets

• These are jackets that are worn over jeans, casual slacks of different material. They are usually meant for casual outings like lunches or casual dinners. They can be worn with a button down shirt or a polo tee shirt. Ties are an option.
• The material and design of material can be a little bit more adventurous. Experimenting with tweed jackets, checked design materials and even denim and velvet can bring about surprising results, in a good way. Same rules in terms of fit of the jacket as with a  formal suit.

5) Caring for your suit

• Buy a suit hanger which is slightly curved and padded to hang your jacket so that the ends of the hanger don’t stop in the middle of the shoulder pads and ruin the padding , the shoulder definition is very, very important in a suit. A proper hanger can keep your suit’s jacket in shape for quite a long while.
• In fact if you buy a suit, you should always subject them to the same wash, so that any discoloration from the wash will be the same. In other words, try to wear them as a suit always and not wear either the pants or the jacket or one of  the pieces  more often than the other. Buy a separate sports jacket if you find that it suits you better to occasionally wear jackets without suiting up.
• Only dry clean for your suits and hopefully with a trusted dry cleaner who will and knows how to take care of the material and shape of the suit.
• When carrying jacket over arm, always ensure that you fold the jacket in half at the back and line both shoulder pads together then flip the  inside of one front panel over the other. Then carry the jacket inside out with both lining and label on the outside as this method prevents the shoulder padding from being distorted.  Always use a suit hanger when traveling with your favorite suit.

6) Suit the occasion

• If your invitation says a casual smart attire, what should you wear? Well, generally a very nice sports coat with a pair of smart pants and a tie (or without) may suffice if for instance an art gallery opening or Malaysian theatre. Otherwise, go for a neutral colored suit like khaki color or light brown and wear with a matching tie and shirt or go without the tie and accessories with cufflinks instead. Slate grey suit would go well with a dark blue shirt and dark tie for a fashionable look or wear with white shirt and dark blue tie to set off the colors. And you will look pretty dandy in any fashionable or formal function.
• For invitations stated as formal wear , color of suit is optional, but a full suit would be expected with the exception of batik shirt or national costume as  a substitute. Also, color of suits should veer towards darker rather than light colors to err on the side of caution.
• If your invite reads - “black tie optional” or “black tie invited” or “black tie preferred” means it will be the choice of the guest to attend in tuxedoes.
• If however it reads, “Black tie”, tuxedoes would be the order of the day! It should mean a full black suit with white shirt or wing tips and bow tie. Suspenders are now a fashion option, I believe. But choose either a cummerbund or suspenders or vest but not all three or any two at the same time, oh, and of course, cufflinks.
• A rare invite in our country would be “white tie” which means attending the event in evening tails.

So, suit up and let the world sit up and take notice! of YOU!Ready to wear, Bespoke and made to measure suits

Shops are currently carrying the Autumn/Winter lines. Don’t fret. True fashionistas will try to incorporate the latest trends into our perpetually summer wardrobe.

Here are some of the current looks that you can work with in sunny Malaysia.

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Have you been carrying the same bag with every outfit? Update your looks and even look slimmer (yes, it’s possible) with the right bag.

The classic handbagGet it in black and beige to match any day outfit. Choose a versatile one that will take you from the office to the mall. The strap should reach about 2 inches from your underarm. Avoid longer straps as they can look very 80s as well as be an easy target for snatch thieves. The bag itself should be of medium size as one too small makes it formal and one too big is unprofessional.

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