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MYNIPPON:
Have you seen any major influence of Japan on life in Singapore
recently, for instance on fashion, romance, etc.?
Loletta: Fashion, yes.
You know how each culture/society has its own sort of punks.
In Singapore, a multi racial society, we have the rebels called
the bengs and lians. If one were to dress like a Japanese aka J-pop star, he or
she will be first branded as Lian.
Somehow the masses spoil the market.
At one time, J-pop, Japanese babes and singers - practically
anything Japanese - was seen as cool and beautiful.
Beng is the male version of a young reckless punk/hooligan
and Lian is the female version.
It's what we locals name young, reckless, troublemaking youths
who sprout nothing but tasteless dialects all day - young people who
dress in expensive designer clothes flamboyantly.
They are something like the ganguro in Japan.
MYNIPPON:
Would you or your boyfriend be considered as belonging to this
group?
Loletta: Ironically no youth in
Singapore would want to be seen or called a Beng or a Lian
even though their dressing style, actions and speech betrays them -
again a reflection of the society that does not accept any rebels.
MYNIPPON:
What about hair
color? In
Japan right now all women including middle-aged obasans are
coloring their hair - women no longer have simple dark hair - it is
either brown or blonde or something in between.
We have been told that in South Korea, even young kids are
coloring their hair since it is not cool to have dark hair.
Loletta: Well,
I do like this trend. I
myself have golden brown hair - it
complements my look.
In fact I think that colored hair looks good on any woman. I
noticed something - if you are tanned - Namie Amuro style rich golden
sun kissed tan - whether you are a guy or a girl, blond or brownish
golden hair looks good on you. On
the other hand, fair skinned people, especially girls, would look better
in jet-black typical Asian hair with their rosy pink cheeks.
I know it would be unusual but I am convinced that the contrast
would be terrific.
Since I'm not born powder fair -
just the normal in-between color - I thought it'd be better for me to go
tanning often and achieve the Namie Amuro look than to spend tons of
dollars on skin
whitening products just to look like Snow
White.
MYNIPPON:
Are there any special clothes that go with this look in Asia? In Japan, this look goes with a bolder style of dressing.
Loletta:
It’s all about how your dress.
I notice too the downward trend nowadays in dresses.
Halter tops and
hot pants look tarty and very
social
escort-like in
Asia even though they might be popular in Japan.
I don't see any style and taste in that kind of dressing.
There does not seem to be much in-thing to wear these days.
Just exactly a year ago, dark blue denim and red skirts were the
rage but I can’t think of an overriding trend now.
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trend
in Japan is religiously followed in other parts of Asia.
