Wedding Guide Asia

Think bridal gown and it seems the mind immediately leaps onto Vera Wang and her fantastic designs. I did a wee bit of research and discovered that already renowned Monique Lhuillier (famous for designing countless gowns for the who’s who of Hollywood) is a pretty amazing wedding gown creator herself.

Lhuillier describes her collection as “Inspired by the use of lightweight fabrics, this spring is soft and ethereal. Layers of delicate silk organza and tulle have been used to create romantic silhouettes…my favorite part of the collection is the light quality to it. It makes you feel as if you’re walking on a cloud.”

So without further adieu:

This traditional strapless gown has a feminine sweetheart neckline with a a full skirt (excellent for swishing about while dancing the night away!)

This dress is for the daring and fashion-forward bride who’s willing to try something different. With intricate detail and a ruffled skirt, there’s absolutely no chance you’ll be outshined.

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If you’re in the fashion industry, you would of definitely heard of Sheng Saw. Be it the glamorous covers of Marie Claire or Glam, working long hours on TV commercials – or waking in the early morn to prepare a brides make-up… Sheng is all about creativity and ensuring his clients look their best. Having worked in London and now back in his homeland Malaysia, one can be sure that Sheng would of picked up many tricks and tips here and there! Since he is a TWG wedding vendor, I spared no time in asking him what the latest trends and looks were!

Courtesy of 96 magazine

I LOVE these photos that you did. How would you describe this type of make-up?

Here we are going for an ethnic look that is more towards the ‘nonya’ feel. When you look at ethnic make-up, it’s not very heavy on the eyes and the emphasis is on the lipstick and eyebrows. Most important is to have flawless skin. Personally, I feel using thick foundation is a no-no. You can appear older looking and cakey if you do.

Instead, get a light foundation and then use a good concealer on problem areas. This will give you more a natural look. If you have a bit of money to spend – try Cle de pau or Chanel’s foundation. If not, Mac and Bobbi Brown are great (esp for darker skin as they have a better range). For mascara, I used Kose & Chanel. When you’re doing a light eye make-up, focus on your lashes to make the eyes standout. Also, I recommend Cle de pau’s concealer ☺

Do you think a bride should go natural on her wedding day? Would red lips be too much?

Normally on the wedding day, I feel the bride is a princess and so should look her most beautiful. My advice is don’t do too heavy a make-up for the day… go natural and then add more to the eyes for the evening. Red lips can be nice but make sure you tone down your eyes etc if you go for this style. Princesses always look quite natural so bear that in mind!

Courtesy of 96 magazine

This is probably the type of make-up I would do! I love my browns and the natural feel. Any pointers? Does it suit everyone?

Instead of using an eyeliner, I use eyeshadow instead as this is more natural and has a softer effect. Actually Steph, I’m not using ‘brown’ – the colour is a mix of ‘mauve & brown’. I love using this shade because it actually appears in a brown tone after application. I do this because mauve has a better contrast under the sunlight and in normal lighting. Sometimes, if you use all brown shades it can actually appear quite harsh instead of soft. I tend to go towards a more ‘mauve grey’ or ‘mauve purple’. If you look at the big Hollywood movies, the stars are using this colour as well for their natural look. I use Bobbi Brown’s mauve shades. (more…)

Your TV show Kahit Isang Saglit was a huge hit in Malaysia but especially in the Philippines and with Pinoys around the world. What’s the latest in the world of Miss Soo?

As mentioned earlier, I’ve known you for years – and you still look the same! Beauty secrets please!

Any special tips?

Well, nothing out of this world but I don’t smoke or do drugs and just drink occasionally.  When I sleep, am careful about not creasing my face with my pillow. I think that if you crease your pillow case, it will crease your face. Try to stay happy, laugh, and surround yourself with good people… then you can maintain a positive energy around you.

With Daphne Iking and Hannah Tan on the set of My Spy (out Dec 09')

You’ve worked with some of the best make-up artists in Malaysia and Asia. Picked up any pointers?

Being a bride is often more stressful than one may think. So many things to do, arrange – in order to make that dream wedding a smooth one. A few of my girlfriends tend to breakout before the big day… which is something you definitely want to avoid! If this happens, you probably don’t want to go for a facial (best 2 weeks before). Here’s my tip – a month or so ago, I had a little trip up to Shanghai for some work & fun as I caught up with my friend Patricia Lim. After a few nights of going out like this:

Plus the pollution and funny water that is evidently part of Shanghai…

I suddenly had a bad complexion! Pat introduced me to her SK-II Facial Treatment masks which I have to say I’ve never given a go before. They were actually really good… and the next time I hit duty free, I picked myself up a box. This may sound like an advertorial but it’s not (I would tell you if it was)! I think these are a great quick fix and its left my skin feeling soft without overdosing the moisturiser… which can again lead to a breakout.

So here are my two cents: pop the mask on a few days before and on the morning of your wedding (this will help the make-up artist apply foundation as your skin will be moist). I actually use one mask twice – because I find each one has a lot of liquid and can last two applications… just put it in the fridge and use it a second time round!;)