Diamonds in the Rough

Written by Lee Wei Fen & Loh Huilin

Page 2 of 2 Toughen Up, Girl!         The desire to look all Rough N Tough is no stranger to us girls when we are tired of that girl-next-door look - the latter is just too easy to achieve. If you think that looking all tough and edgy is simply about throwing on a boy's shirt and a pair of torn jeans, you are not quite there yet.         Of course, it would be difficult to look tough when your paper-pale skin is blowing your blanket off. The first essential step is to get a good even tan. For girls who want to do it the natural way, do slather on some sunscreen generously, unless you are trying to barbeque yourself.         What you may not know about natural suntanning is that when you decide which SPF value to choose from while buying sunscreen, you should not just take the intensity of the sun in consideration but also your skin type. Fairer and dry skin needs more protection compared to tanner and oilier skin.         Take note of two most important things - the minimum SPF value your sunscreen should have is SPF 15, and sunscreen absorbs harmful UV rays, while sunblock reflects them away from you (and makes you look like a white corpse). They essentially serve the same functions, but you may want to check their ingredients for chemicals you may be allergic to. Brands don't really matter much.         If you happen to have a deep pocket and you are in a lazy mood, you may want to head to your friendly tanning salon. Bronz Tanning is Singapore's first and biggest tanning salon. The advantages of indoor tanning are that you get an even tan and you do not get overexposed to UV rays. Rumour has it that indoor tanning exposes you to higher risk of cancer, but it's not substantially backed with scientific proof.         When achieving the Rough N Tough look, it's not always about looking like a rough guy. Having achieved your sun-kissed tan, you may want to show some skin in the edgy way, rather than hide them under grunge jeans. Yes, I am talking about shorts - the perfect piece in Singapore's lovely weather.         The common mistake is to match your little shorts with a tank top or t-shirt, with sneakers all the time. There actually are variations to the combinations you can make with those little ones. Sandals with shorts are, surprise surprise, the worst combination because they make you look shorter.         Heels do go better because they join forces with those shorts of yours to make your legs look longer. Yes, it is possible to look tough and glamorous at the same time.         If you are heading to the gym, it does not necessarily mean you have to wear whatever you exercise in, out of your house. A structured-looking jacket goes very well with shorts in achieving the tough woman look without compromising on style. Add on some shades for that glam factor.         Like adding icing to the cake, your hairdo is the finishing touch to the look. While Posh-esque and Rihanna-esque short bobs are all the rage, they are not necessarily the only hairstyles that make a girl look tougher.           Remember, it's not about looking more masculine. Long wavy tresses do behave very well as a womanly juxtaposition with the tough look, and high ponytails make the lady look sharper. Hair buns, on the other hand, make you look more elegant, rather than tough, and are more compatible with that little black dress.         Lesson learnt - looking Rough N Tough for a girl ought not to be looking like a man. It's not just about short hair and torn jeans. Femininity does go well with the tough look.                 If all of the abovementioned fades in your memory, just take a leaf out of Angelina Jolie's book! HOOKED   Photos courtesy of: http://www.style.com/ http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/ http://www.joystiq.com/ http://www.adiscountbeauty.com/ http://www.teenvogue.com/ http://www.elle.com/ Comments Write Comment Name: Guest Title: Comment: << Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>

 

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