Author: Iqmall Hayat

You’re lying in bed, scrolling through the ‘gram for your fashion inspo and you come across all these sick outfits that you just know would be perfect for that colder climate. Then the heat of the night comes in, a little drip of sweat runs down your forehead and you get back to your senses. You’re not on THAT side of the world where you can pull these fits off. Wool? Velvet? Plush? Forget about it. The sheer humidity of our everyday lives in Singapore requires us to prioritise comfort over style. But don’t worry, we have some sick stuff…

Remember the huge K-Pop boom that happened a few years back? And all the aftermath that came with it? The year was 2008 and the first ever K-Pop (as we know it) concert was announced in Singapore. Crowds came in droves and its huge success was the first drop of the domino in the domino effect that ensued. Now, on any given day, something remotely related to K-Pop is probably happening around you. During that period when everything was still met with the utmost excitement, Alpha Entertainment held auditions for aspiring K-Pop hopefuls on our tiny little red dot, dreaming of…

Gone are the days of small hobby shops nestled in our humble neighbourhoods that were once exploding with popularity with the younger kids; the go-to hangout spot after the final school bell rings. The new generation of Singaporeans are not too keen on card or board games in general, swapping them for their mobile or console counterparts instead. This is where Battle Bunker steps in. Just like its name suggests, they’re striving to provide protection from the harsh and mundane reality of everyday life with escapism through games. They’ve opened their newest outlet in West Coast, so Westies, rejoice! They are…

Singaporeans and their puns are like two peas in a pod. With this in mind, Kult has created a capsule collection of tees and tote bags featuring the combination of names of our local neighbourhoods and cult classic films. And I have to say, some of them can only be described with one word: genius. My favourites are the punny reworks of some of my favourite childhood cartoon TV series. “Teenage Mutant Newton Turtle” rolls off the tongue so effortlessly whilst “Mighty Morphin Punggol Rangers” is so cleverly disguised in the design that you’d need a few double takes to see the…

What was Singapore like fifty years ago? What was life like for Singaporeans before World War II? Ever wanted to school the young’uns on what a pager looks like? This exhibition, titled Frozen In Time: Time Capsules In Singapore, produced by the National Heritage Board will start its island-wide tour of the exhibition from now till November 2018. Did you know, since the 19th century, there have been over 50 time capsules created and buried under our feet? Some have been uncovered, some displayed, and some till this day remain buried for future generations. While some items in these capsules are not commonly thought…

The newly-vacated space that a certain Cherry motif-ed disco once called home, now has a new owner. Peaches Club Singapore is the new kid on the block, and it’s bringing the fabulous side of Top 40’s music and classic anthems where you can sing your heart out to. You will definitely be seeing the gigantic neon peach sign that clads the feature wall taking over the ‘gram, as the new spot will probably be hosting one of many countdown parties. Aspiring to be the hotbed of inclusivity, it’s the best place to come just as you are. Leave your prejudices…

The annual gathering of weaboos and otakus, C3 AFA Singapore, is back and it’s all going down this 24 – 26 November 2017. Anime related merchandise stands and three days of chart-topping musical acts from Japan are stealing the headlines, but the only real reason to come is this unique opportunity for all of the anime-loving community to get together at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre Hall 406. Cosplayers will roam the hall premises in expertly-crafted outfits, often DIY-ed, serving as a great photo opportunity for fans of the characters they are representing. There was even a dedicated Sword Art…

Early weekend mornings, oily fingers and that sweet sound of the engine running — TAMIYA racing was a huge past time in Singapore roughly fifteen years ago. Folks from all walks of life enjoyed the racing and building aspect of each toy car, along with friendly competition among peers and family. Where did all that disappear to? I went on a quest to find out if there were still any TAMIYA car enthusiasts left and where they were racing at. A quick Google search led me to start my journey at Stargek in the industrial area of Paya Lebar. If it…

Have you stared into a wardrobe full of clothes, piled up to the seams and yet still struggled to piece an outfit together? Maybe it’s time for a fashion intervention. In this article, I’ll be giving my colleague a Korean-inspired makeover with the gracious help of one of our local labels, The Authority I’ve always considered myself a style guy, not purely for the aesthetic but I do understand the social implications and overall improvement in your life that you get from feeling comfortable in your own skin. Contrary to popular belief, you do get treated differently when you’ve visibly…

Repurposing is the new wave; breathing life into something normally forgotten and giving them a renewed purpose. IMI Festival 2017 is going to do just that by bringing a new spin to music festivals at the defunct Old Kallang Airport, a stone’s throw away from the National Stadium. Happening from 18 to 19 November 2017, it’ll feature art installations, talks and technology, alongside music from all over the world. Embark on a journey of innovation in the East and South Block, with interactive installations and masterclasses from the brilliant-minded thought leaders of our time. Conversations will range from overcoming human…

It has been a long time since phones were used just for making phone calls. The needs of the people have changed drastically over the last decade and phones have smartened up with time. Now, we need good cameras, a cracking audio system and plenty of storage space to keep our ungodly amount of selfies. You’re in luck as this 15 November 2017, Google will be releasing the Pixel 2XL to the public. The flagship phone is loaded with countless cool features and these eight functions are perfect for any millennial. 1. #nowplaying Feature Now you can always know what song…

Oh, IKEA. Not only does it have the best meatballs, cheap Scandinavian furniture, quirky accessories and a purposefully confusing store layout, but it can always guarantee hours of good fun, even if it’s just window shopping. Now imagine that experience, upsized! IKEA is opening its largest store in South East Asia this 16 November 2017 in Tebrau, Johor Bahru. Strategically located, the prime spot is a nucleus for as many as 1.8 million people living a mere sixty-minute drive from the store. The 46,713 square meter store will boast over 8,000 furnishing products, 54 Swedish-inspired showrooms specially catered to local…

Inspiration can come from anything and in this case, it’s living in another country for months on end. Chloë Manasseh is a Londoner who moved to Singapore six months ago. Her solo exhibition, PALM UMBRELLAS, is the culmination of her time here. Happening at NPE Gallery (Level 2), the exhibition will go on from 10 November 2017 through 31 December 2017. Chloë’s works evoke a sense of exotic escapism whilst commenting on our inherent compulsion to bring nature indoors. Playing with spaces and visual identity, the paintings will sit between experiences and imagination. Consider yourself invited to this gallery nestled in the…

Who else misses the good old days? When snacks at your local mama shop cost you less than a dollar or two, playing in actual sandy playgrounds and finishing your homework in a jotter book. wheniwasfour can give you a blast from the past through lifestyle products ranging from quirky notebooks and eccentric accessories to quintessentially Singaporean cushion covers. Nestled humbly on the second floor of Waterloo Centre, I had trouble finding the store at first but when I was greeted with a very vintage yet visibly modern exterior I knew I was at the right place. Entering the store, I…

What happens when you combine arguably the biggest growing brand in the past year with the iconic swoosh? One. Hot. Collab. Reaching iconic levels, the hype around these kicks are reaching ridiculous heights and they’re finally dropping on our shores (soon). Singapore has always been extremely unlucky with the allocation of any sneakers though, and this one is no different; how are you gonna get your hands on THE collab of the year? One word – Raffles. For equality’s sake, any hype will be fairly distributed through a raffle. On the bright side… no overnight queues, right? There are two…