S'pore girls leave Lan aghast
By Gwendolyn Ng
My Paper
Monday, Apr 29, 2013
Click for Video Here
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TV host Pauline Lan (centre) was in town last Friday to promote the Singapore version of Lady First, a spin-off of her Taiwanese variety show. She will be joined by experts from Taiwan and Singapore, including Singapore’s Clarence Lee (left) and resident stylist Xiao Kai (right) from Taiwan
Three out of 10 - that's the score that veteran Taiwanese TV host Pauline Lan gave to Singaporean women, when asked to rate their fashion sense.
The uber-critical Lan, who was in town last Friday to promote the Singapore version of Lady First, a spin-off of the Taiwanese variety show with the same name, added that Singapore girls just can't seem to pull it all together.
"Their hair is okay, but when you look down, you are aghast at their clothes, or that they wear slippers," she told reporters during a press conference at Marina Bay Sands last Friday.
"If their clothes are okay, their hair may be oily," the 47-year-old lamented. And some women take the trouble to put on false eyelashes, but don't bother with anything else, like powder or foundation, she said.
So, why don't girls here make an effort to look pretty?
"It's all because Singaporean men don't give women the motivation to dress up," Lan said jokingly.
Lan then asked her team, which includes home-grown Mandopop singers Kelly Poon and Cheryl Wee, and radio deejay Angel Yeung, who will act as panellists on the show, about their opinions on the Singapore male.
Poon, 29, who will take to the streets to interview Singaporeans on beauty and skincare concerns, said: "They could be a bit more fashion-forward. T-shirts and jeans are too old-fashioned."
Lan will be bringing in Kevin Chou, Wu Yi Lin and Xiao Kai - resident stylists on Taiwan's Lady First - to give tips and help out with makeovers when the show premieres next month on E City.
Singapore professionals, such as make-up maestro Clarence Lee, one of Zhang Ziyi's personal make-up artists; and fashion designer Keith Png, who has worked with Lin Chi-ling and Kit Chan, will also dish out tips.
Poon perhaps has the most daunting task. She has to go out and speak to people. So far, she's managed to get Singaporeans to allow her to blot their faces on camera, and even sing in the middle of the street. It's a new role she found difficult at first.
"As a singer, I just have to look pretty and sing. But as a host...I really had to thicken my skin," said Poon, who, according to Lan, had to be more san ba (a Mandarin term that connotes being over-the-top and comedic) for the camera.
So far, what Poon is doing has won her praise from Lan.
Lan said: "Singaporeans tend to be a little shy. To rouse (those on the street), Kelly has to give it her all. I think she's really good."
By Gwendolyn Ng
My Paper
Monday, Apr 29, 2013
Click for Video Here
TV host Pauline Lan (centre) was in town last Friday to promote the Singapore version of Lady First, a spin-off of her Taiwanese variety show. She will be joined by experts from Taiwan and Singapore, including Singapore’s Clarence Lee (left) and resident stylist Xiao Kai (right) from Taiwan
Three out of 10 - that's the score that veteran Taiwanese TV host Pauline Lan gave to Singaporean women, when asked to rate their fashion sense.
The uber-critical Lan, who was in town last Friday to promote the Singapore version of Lady First, a spin-off of the Taiwanese variety show with the same name, added that Singapore girls just can't seem to pull it all together.
"Their hair is okay, but when you look down, you are aghast at their clothes, or that they wear slippers," she told reporters during a press conference at Marina Bay Sands last Friday.
"If their clothes are okay, their hair may be oily," the 47-year-old lamented. And some women take the trouble to put on false eyelashes, but don't bother with anything else, like powder or foundation, she said.
So, why don't girls here make an effort to look pretty?
"It's all because Singaporean men don't give women the motivation to dress up," Lan said jokingly.
Lan then asked her team, which includes home-grown Mandopop singers Kelly Poon and Cheryl Wee, and radio deejay Angel Yeung, who will act as panellists on the show, about their opinions on the Singapore male.
Poon, 29, who will take to the streets to interview Singaporeans on beauty and skincare concerns, said: "They could be a bit more fashion-forward. T-shirts and jeans are too old-fashioned."
Lan will be bringing in Kevin Chou, Wu Yi Lin and Xiao Kai - resident stylists on Taiwan's Lady First - to give tips and help out with makeovers when the show premieres next month on E City.
Singapore professionals, such as make-up maestro Clarence Lee, one of Zhang Ziyi's personal make-up artists; and fashion designer Keith Png, who has worked with Lin Chi-ling and Kit Chan, will also dish out tips.
Poon perhaps has the most daunting task. She has to go out and speak to people. So far, she's managed to get Singaporeans to allow her to blot their faces on camera, and even sing in the middle of the street. It's a new role she found difficult at first.
"As a singer, I just have to look pretty and sing. But as a host...I really had to thicken my skin," said Poon, who, according to Lan, had to be more san ba (a Mandarin term that connotes being over-the-top and comedic) for the camera.
So far, what Poon is doing has won her praise from Lan.
Lan said: "Singaporeans tend to be a little shy. To rouse (those on the street), Kelly has to give it her all. I think she's really good."