Rubénerd!

Normally I wouldn't blog about such stuff, but with the sudden reversal of Sydney's weather, it seems inventions like this might be a great idea for those with more fashion taste than common sense.

That's no heels

While sneezing my arse off from an impending flu this morning, I was reading The Guardian. For those not in the know, while also being the technical term for a legal caregiver, as well as a chain of highly successful Singaporean pharmacies (erroneously referred ton as Chemists in Australia), The Guardian is also a British newspaper that has an excellently designed site. Not that I'd usually know, for I read their RSS feeds, or Atom feeds, or whatever feeds they have.

Isn't it funny we still call them newspapers even when they're online? I suppose one could print them to keep the term from becoming archaic. But I digress

What should appear on the sidebar than an offer for Mighty Ice Grips:

Mighty Ice Grips for high-heels provide truly effective traction on ice and packed snow. Made of strong rubber, Mighty Ice Grips for high heels simple stretch over the toe of your shoe. Small non-slip studs for great grip. One size fits all. Don't let the fear of slipping keep you indoors this winter.

Certainly, the thought that most preoccupies me is being stuck inside given I can't wear my high heels in snow. But what would they most be useful for?

Ideal for emergencies, walking to work in snow or ice, or shopping.

But of course! Nothing says stylish practicality and emergency preparedness like high heels in snow.

And short skirts, allegedly

Ah Yuki, as a computerised entity I would have thought you'd have more common sense than to wear such garb in those conditions. Even Haruhi and Mikuru realised sometimes you need longer socks. But I digress.

My head hurts. Not from the content of this post, but from this flu. Perhaps it's time to make like a pair of ice shoes and skate. Hah, get it? I thought it was funny.

While searching for CSS this evening, I stumbled across a Twitter account for Singaporean fans of Supernova, the Korean boy band I'm sure SBS PopAsia have played extensively. Looking at their profiles, they're my age!

I have to say, their poses, expressions, hair styles and suits are rather fetching. They're giving me ideas.

Regular Rubénerd.com commenter and all around awesome person Nurie sent me a link to a fantastic Starbucks themed shirt on Nordstrom.com!

The iconic Starbucks logo is reimagined by designer and 2008 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner Alexander Wang on a soft knit tee. The exclusive style was designed to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the iconic coffee company.

The only catch: it's AU$91. I suppose its true what they say, Starbucks coffee is good, though a little overpriced ;). Still, a brilliant design, and I'd also feel less conspicuous if I spilled coffee on it in public.

TiPb is reporting that Apple has hired MobileNotifier developer Peter Hajas. A well known figure in the jailbreaking community who has long shown Apple how notifications should be done, presumably he's been hired by Apple to... show them how notifications should be done. This has always been a serious weakness in the iOS UI, and I'm hoping he'll get them on the right track.

Meantime, the most critical and underreported aspect of this story was... his vest and jacket combination. And how I want them both. Actually, I could go for his glasses, shirt, tie, the whole ensemble. I want to look like that. Anybody want to lend me a hand?

Personally, I find the act of clothes shopping to be in the same league as furniture shopping, doctor's appointments and certain university classes: they're unbearable but necessary. IKEA is the one exception for furniture in my book, and now Uniqlo is the exception for clothes!

Uniqlo is a Japanese chain of casual clothing stores that just started opening around Singapore that has made one sharp founder a very rich guy. According to their site they also have stores in Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, the United Kingdom, France and the United States.

Despite what some may say about The Gap, Uniqlo is the Apple store of clothing. The stores are light, airy and there's plenty of space to move around; well that is when it's not full with Singaporeans who gravitate to anything Japanese like a bee to honey! They have a ton of stuff, but it's all dead easy to find. Like Apple stores, Uniqlo stores seems simple but it's clear a lot of thought went into it to make them that way, unlike certain Microsoft shops which are just unabashed knockoffs ;).

I know nothing about fashion but I know what I like and their range is interesting and affordable without being intimidating, if that makes sense. By that I mean I usually feel awkward clothes shopping, but I felt right at home there. Must be a nerd thing.

Lunch is one letter off Launch

Japan's Number One casual wear brand sets yet another milestone by launching their 3rd Store in Singapore at 313@somerset, the largest in Southeast Asia on Thursday, 3 December 2009. The new store will cover up to 17,000 square feet of floor space across a single level. With an interior design reflecting an edgy, cosmopolitan feel, the new Somerset store is set to make waves in our local fashion scene by bringing you exclusive designer collaborations, such as the "+J" Collection and limited edition range of products that will not be available at their other stores.

Daddy long legs spiders

My biggest problem when I shop for clothes back in Australia is my legs are too long in proportion to my weight, by the time I get a pair of jeans that are long enough the waist is so wide I need to wear a huge belt to keep them in place! As a result, they tend to ride down and get caught in my shoes which gradually shreds them. You've see the look.

Perhaps it's more normal for Japanese people to be tall and skinny, because I was able to buy a pair of 34 size jeans and they fitted like a glove! Yes, I found pants that are long enough, and they fit on my waist! Can I get a hallelujah? :D

And because it was on special, I picked up a white New York City bagel shirt with cute smiling confectionery. Only in a Japanese clothing store ;).

The first, the last, the everything

That's probably the first time you've read me talking about fashion, and it's probably the last time you'll read me talking about fashion. I hope it was eye opening for you.