It’s time to usher in the bright, bold and beautiful.
Who ever said being loud is a bad thing?

Basic black. Leather, brown and plain. Gone are the days where women have to settle for these styles of handbags. Colours are suddenly popping up everywhere. Countless trends of all-sizes, shapes and patterns are seen hanging off the arms of the young and
old alike. Can this be considered a rather ‘rude’ awakening, or is it just another example of the fashion evolution?

Dating back to the 14th century, bags were originally attached to girdles that were fastened onto the waist. The embroidery and jewels adorning these articles were used to reflect the status of a person. In the 18th century, when women were no longer required to wear as much underclothing as before, these bags became hand-held instead so as not to ruin the look of their neo-classical clothing style.

As a girl-on-the-go’s best friend, handbags are often chosen for their
appearance rather than functionality. Some may even opt for the tiniest of bags that can barely hold a lipstick or two. These articles of fashion are an indispensable accessory that actually adds character and definition to a lady’s personality, no matter how impractical they may be in the long run. And have you noticed that the race is on to add the most unusual and imaginative designs to an existing and ever-growing collection of bags?

Fashion Finally Meets Function

A new breed of bags has taken the local fashion scene by storm. Not only vying to make a bold fashion statement, these bags also come with a tag for practicality. Just take a look at Jacqueline Ng’s designs from her label Gin & Jacqie, which goes all out to introduce a blend of functionality and style into our everyday carrier.

Ng recalls that she used to yearn for a laptop bag that she could carry from day to night without looking out of style. Hence, this became her inspiration in creating fun and trendy bags that could do more than just look pretty on display. “Every woman should own a bag that not only looks great but works great too,” said Ng, 31.

As both the founder and designer of Gin & Jacqie, Ng can be considered as being thoroughly in-tune with the needs of the modern woman. To ensure that her bags are readily accessible to all, she has priced them affordably between RM25 to RM189.90. Customers can find her label online as well as in Isetan at Suria KLCC, Lot 10 and st recently at The Gardens, Mid Valley.

Timeless Trends?

More often than not, women’s fashion changes faster than the colours of the weather. It is rather a challenge then, for Ng to create bags with a design appeal that lasts. “Well, my bags are quite different. I strive to add that timeless appeal to each and every one of them by ensuring that they are not only functional but also wardrobe-friendly and low on maintenance,” Ng said.

LEE MEI LI DISCOVERS A WAY TO CURB YOUR FEAR OF DANCING IN PUBLIC!

Dancing is sometimes considered a skill. At other times, it is a natural talent that some are fortunate enough to be born with. Those
who are self-conscious will rarely make that first move to step onto the dance floor and groove to the music. But in actual fact, anyone can dance. Most just need some form of encouragement to build their
confidence, before they are ready to dance within the proximity of countless others.

This is what The Dance Space intends to do. As one of the fifth dance school to open in Sri Hartamas over five years ago, it has since garnered recognition by producing talented students who have gone on to participate in numerous festivals and competitions.

Lavinie Thiruchelvam and Peter Ong, the founders and executive directors of the company, are all set to make dancing an eye-catching sport to be enjoyed by all. “You need zero prior knowledge on dancing to join our classes. They are tailored purely for beginners,” said Lavinie, 31, who heads the Latin dance class.

Moving to your own rhythm.
Interested in just a particular style of dance? Experienced local and foreign instructors will give you a heads up on salsa, belly dancing, ballroom and jazz sessions. The younger crowd will definitely be attracted to hip hop and breakdancing, while other new age styles include capoeira, yogilates and pilates.

“Some of our students are working ladies who drop in for salsa or belly dancing. There’s definitely something for everyone here,” said Lavinie. “We’ve had people calling up to tell us that they can’t seem to dance at all; that they have two left feet. What I do is just tell them to try one class. You’ll never know what you can do if you don’t try!”

Many may not realise it, but dancing is also a great way to exercise, besides being fun and pleasing to the eye of the audience. Classes at The Dance Space range from RM80 to RM140 for four lessons per month. A beginners’ session with basic skills will usually take approximately two months to complete. Even if you don’t have a friend to come with you, there’ll be opportunities to meet new people to improve your social circle.

“I do believe that anyone can dance. It’s just that for talent, you have to go far,” said Lavinie, who has over 15 years of ballet training under her belt. “Dancing is like a natural attraction to the rhythm. You
will in your own way move to the music. It’s just a matter of finding the right style for you.” Furthermore, there are no actual rules in dancing. “The rules only apply in competitions,” she added.

A good dancer is not only defined by the skills he or she possesses. As Lavinie puts it, the passion has to come from within you. It is a longing to dance, to express yourself in your own way. “Sometimes you can tell when a dance couple has just been in a fight. They are just dancing but they are no longer dancing with each other,” said Lavinie.