Fabulista Anticipates: Evian by Jean Paul Gaultier

Extracted from FOODBEV.com - Less than two weeks after the Christian Lacroix Evian bottle won the Best bottle in glass category in the 2008 water innovation awards, Evian launched its latest designer bottle – this time from Jean Paul Gaultier.

Evian has once again partnered with an internationally acclaimed French designer to produce two unique and exclusive creations for 2009, the Evian Pret-a-Porter Bottle and the Evian Haute Couture Bottle by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Both bottled made their global debut in Paris, France, during one of the world's most glamorous events – Paris Fashion Week. Hosted by Jean Paul Gaultier himself, the extravagant aquatic fashion fete took place on 4 October at the historical Piscine Pontoise in the Latin Quarter.

The Evian Pret-a-Porter, or ready-to-wear, Bottle by Jean Paul Gaultier possesses a style that is: “classic, yet modern all at once”. Adorned with a pattern of interlocking snowflakes, the bottle recalls the crisp, icy mountain tops of the French Alps from which Evian Natural Spring Water is derived. Magnified by a unique colour so much known to Gaultier, the majestic blue of the oversized logo and the understated print of the designer's name offers a subtle reminder of a stylish mariner, a mariner that could so easily be found on the shores of Lake Geneva, which the town of Evian borders.

In addition to the Evian Pret-a-Porter Bottle, Gaultier introduced the Evian Haute Couture Bottle, made from Baccarat crystals. Only seven of these bottles will be released worldwide, with these few exclusive carafes travelling around the globe to be exhibited at select locations.

"Jean Paul Gaultier has consistently pushed the boundaries of fashion. He is revolutionary in his craft, yet always maintains an air of elegance and class in his designs," said Jeff Caswell, Vice President of Marketing for Evian North America. "In this regard, Gaultier was the perfect fit for Evian. Gaultier has transcended the runways of France to become a household name worldwide, much in the same way that Evian has expanded its presence throughout the globe, ascending from a natural spring water in the French Alps enjoyed by the locals to being one of most favoured drinking waters on earth."

Fabulista Considers: Stupid People…

I am not talking about people with special needs – they are the ones whom society needs to really consider, especially when it come to catering to their needs.

I am talking about people who have all their mental and physical capacities working in proper order, but simply refuse to use the brain for proper thinking and processing purposes. This lot of sad excuses of the human species should not breathe – they are a perfect waste of oxygen. And now with the global warming issue at hand, it is even more atrocious that they should be hanging around.

They are the REAL STUPID PEOPLE! This bunch of sick and sad sods should not breathe! They are the real scum of the earth who are simply wasting our precious and quickly depleting resources.

Quite simply put…

“STEW-PEED PEA-PEARL SHOOT NUT BREEZE!”

Fabulista Awaits: Arrival of Tadao in Damier Graphite

Nope. I am not talking about some VIP guest coming to my party in some fancy custom made vehicle with some fancy name. I am talking about my latest sac d’courier from one of my favourite in-laws, Louis Vuitton.

Welcome Tadao! You are about to discover how intensely one can love one’s in-law…

Fabulista Knows: It is not the same everywhere.

You hear the chant of concern ad nauseam – “it’s the same everywhere”.

They make the person saying it sound sagely and wise; the truth is, it doesn’t and it isn’t. Things are not the same everywhere and human dynamics are just that – it is dynamic; they are not the same everywhere.

I have been working for the past 10 years of my life and have seen enough to know that they can be offices that run like heaven on earth and others a scene out of Dante’s apocalyptic vision.

Those people who tell you “it’s the same everywhere” are not giving you advice. They are convincing themselves of their belief that the status quo cannot be changed and consoling themselves of their decision to settle for the second (third? fourth? fifth?) best was not a mistake or error of judgment on their part.

They are not speaking to you or for your sake; they are reminding and convincing themselves. For you, believe in yourself – no one can live your life for you; only you can. You only have one life to live – make it the best one and never settle for the second best.

Fabulista Learns: Life Goes On.

IT KEEPS MOVING, this strange phenomenon called ‘life’. Even when you are celebrating your birthday, it continues to beat with the steady rhythmic hum of the heart. It takes the most mundane of tasks to remind you of that.

Woke up this morning after a night of drinking and came to the realization while doing laundry. How humbling…

Am assessing the model trainees after their six-year training. Some of their standards are appalling – in ability to fulfill the simplest of requirements of being on the catwalk is simply not acceptable. Being a klutz is NOT an option.

What is more exasperating is the incredible demand of the chief assessor, insisting that all shall continue from 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening to rush through the assessment of the model-candidates. This is simply crazy - on a Friday night, one has better things to do. Even if its watching paint dry (which of course, it isn't) one would rather that than work.

Madness. How would assessment be fair when one is frustrated and exhausted? Of course, being the ultimate Queen Bitch, one made legal enquiries into the incident and the chief had no choice but to retain authoritative rights and play the legalistic game of ceasing all activities only at 5.

Slut… no match for The Bitch.

Anyway, no time for trivial entertainment… The Fabulista needs to churn out an assignment paper.

Fabulista Finds: No Reason to Sigh

Wanted to analyse reason for sudden attack of grief and reluctance on previous occasion after receiving news of transfer. Could find none. Was just a ridiculous phase.

Faith and determination to leave renewed. Conviction to return recovered. There is no reason to stay in a godforsaken place with no apparent prospects. Might as well leave and leave for good.

“No regrets, don’t look back”, she said. I nodded, smiled and… flew.

Fabulista Finally: Coming Home

The letter, voiceless, screaming, “it’s real!”

I’m coming home after wandering a score and one year.

Fell asleep to the voice of James – he carries me home.

A pillow wet with tears

(Of joy? Of sorrow? Or both?).

If things were different, I’d be happier.

If things were different, I wouldn’t have to go.

She said, "don't look back..."

But sadness is the lot of my life – with a fistful’s thrust upon my face, I picked the shortest strand.

Happiness is not my forte.

As strong as you were; tender you go

I'm watching you breathe here for the last time

A song for your heart, but when it is quiet I know what it means… I'll carry you home

Perhaps Joy would not elude me now.

Fabulista Senses: The Loss

SINGAPORE, Oct 5, 2008 (AFP) - The death of revered opposition figure J.B. Jeyaretnam has deprived Singapore's struggling pro-democracy groups of a leader in their lopsided battle against the ruling party, analysts say.

With no other politician on the horizon having Jeyaretnam's stature and charisma, Singapore's divided opposition parties are unlikely to make major inroads on the People's Action Party (PAP)'s uninterrupted dominance, they said.

Jeyaretnam, fondly known by his initials "JBJ", died of a heart attack last Tuesday at the age of 82.

The grand old man of the opposition, Jeyaretnam was one of the rare few to speak out against the PAP and he suffered for it, facing jail and libel suits.

He made political history in 1981 when he became the first opposition politician elected to parliament, which has been dominated by the PAP since 1959. He was declared bankrupt in 2001 after failing to pay libel damages to PAP members.

The British-educated lawyer this year formed his Reform Party after clearing the bankruptcy status that had prevented him from running for political office.

"JBJ would have made a difference as a potential rallying point for the opposition if he had remained alive," said Seah Chiang Nee, who operates the popular political website www.littlespeck.com.

But Seah and other analysts said that even a unified opposition could do little to challenge the PAP, which has all but two of the 84 elected seats in parliament.

This is because "the politics of the day is such that the ruling party is in overwhelming control and I doubt that any one man can make a difference," Seah said.

"The system is weighed heavily in the government's favour."

He added that election results in Singapore depended more on whether voters were happy with the PAP than on what the opposition did.

Alan Chong, assistant professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, agreed that the political opposition had lost a charismatic leader with Jeyaretnam's death.

He said, however, that economic issues had traditionally defined election results in Southeast Asia's wealthiest economy, and the opposition is unlikely to make major gains because Singaporeans are generally satisfied with the government.

"The fortunes of the opposition in Singapore are often directly correlated to the level of economic dissatisfaction with the ruling PAP," Chong said.

"Singaporeans are very pragmatic people. They want opposition only when their wallets are hit very hard," he said, noting that the government has been managing the economy well.

"Human rights issues will matter up to a point, and no more," he added, referring to issues often raised by Jeyaretnam and other opposition figures.

"So I think the future of the opposition after JBJ will remain more or less the same."

Ho Khai Leong, a political scientist at the Nanyang Technological University, said that while Jeyaretnam was a "legend" in the political opposition, his demise would not be a severe blow.

The impact of his death would have been greater if it had happened at the height of his popularity in the 1980s, Ho said.

"We will miss him. He made history. He made his mark on Singapore's democratisation process but I don't think it is a terrible blow to the political opposition," Ho said.

A massive outpouring of support during his wake and on the Internet led some observers to suggest Jeyaretnam's long battle against the government could help raise awareness of his causes -- human rights, a free press and freedom of assembly.

Jeyaretnam had also recently spoken of "a widening gulf between the rich and poor" in Singapore.

While praised for its open economy, tough approach against crime, efficient civil service and corruption-free bureaucracy, Singapore has been criticised for its lack of tolerance toward dissent.

"I'm sure his memory will continue to inspire Singaporeans to leave their fear behind. So in that respect, I think his death will not be a loss," Seah said.

In an online tribute to Jeyaretnam, one writer, Tan Ah Kow, said: "My greatest shame is not having even a minuscule amount of JBJ's courage and conviction."

Fabulista Might: Miss the Kwala2 nights.

After a day of sashaying, strutting and posing – and that’s only the trainees’ lessons, Fabulista was spent. There’s nothing else to do but pack up, make like a tree and leave. For the day, that is.

Went for dinner with the Kwala-ists and numbed myself with a couple of shots and a jug of Margaritas. It’s amazing how alcohol is such a catalyst for happiness and joy – ha ha. However, one might not want to head out to Café Iguana for such happiness shots – the prices there are exhorbitant!

I left, sufficiently boozed up and joyous, as the sky opened up in a roaring downpour. As the hems of my trousers got drenched by the heavy showers, I took a good look at the place and its patrons. I left the place roaring into the night and drowning in shots of happiness, surrounded by friends. The place was alive with the sound of alcohol induced buzz!

In contrast, I wonder what I’d feel on the last day at Wannabe Training School. I wonder what I’d feel as I throw it a last glance and feel the distance forever growing wider, forever losing its demonic clutches on the Fabulista and fabulousness.

Oh, what the heck! I am so not going to miss it. Just make like a hockey and get the puck out of there! Good luck to the nepotists!

Fabulista Registers: For the tickets to come home.

I went to confirm the tickets home the other day. It’s still pending the airline’s approval to issue the ticket. At the travel agent’s office though, before putting the signature on the papers, there was a pause from the agent, I responded with a curious stare…

“No second thoughts…?” came the question.

“Oh… no…” was the sure and firm reply, “I’m already back” was the next line echoing in my head.

“Okay then…” and the ink was put on paper.

Now it’s just the airline to issue the tickets. I should be getting it in a few weeks’ time.

Fingers crossed.