Michelle Varinata
As seen in:
Galore,
E! News,
VICE,
PAPER Magazine,
Her Campus,
Flaunt,
The 405,
Harper's Bazaar Singapore,
Her World,
The Los Angeles Loyolan,
ELLE Singapore
and
Covers:
Fashion, art, pop culture, music, movies, photography, health, beauty, celebrities
Doesn't Cover:
Education, politics, science, crime, sexual health, book reviews, religion, global news
SHE-O of soengsignature.com
and Jill of all trades.
Articles by Michelle Varinata
How TikTok made Diesel cool again
Racks and rows of jeans in every wash and style stood in front of me as I walked in at Diesel’s flagship store in Milan. It was nearly closing time, but I decided to pop in anyway. My blood sugar rose as I felt the adrenaline flowing through my veins as I sauntered over to the rack.
Read this if you're a virgin using a vibrator for the first time
After two years of Zoom-based dates and app-swiping, it feels just right to go out and meet people again. While going out for hot hook ups and in-person dates screamed stranger danger at the height of the pandemic, staying at home was the safest option. Rather than risk our health, having some alone time with a vibrating tool in hand became de rigeur. Case in point, sex toy sales jumped during Phase 2 Heightened Alert in November 2021.
These Are The Most Iconic Celebrity Birkin Moments Ever
A Birkin is not just another leather bag made byHermès. It is the world’s most popular accessory with a ridiculously long waiting list and high price tag. It’s often referenced and quoted in many TV shows and movies (e.g. Sex and the City; Gilmore Girls). No matter where you buy it (whether it be the Hermès store or an auction), you need to get prepared to max out your credit card (that’s if you can even get one at retail in the first place).
The Best Jennie and Lily-Rose Depp Outfits From The Idol And Where To Buy Them
Let’s be real: we are watching The Idol for our favourite Chanel muses Jennie Kim and Lily-Rose Depp. The debut acting gigs of the Blackpink singer and its creator The Weeknd, The Idol made headlines for its super NSFW scenes and dark creative direction (thanks to Euphoria creator Sam Levinson, who co-created it with the Canadian crooner).
How To Explore Barcelona Like A Local
The hometown of Spain’s newest singing sensation Rosalía (a fellow local who was born and raised in the city’s suburbs), Barcelona is known for many things. An artsy seaside enclave in the south of Spain, Barcelona has attracted an eclectic mix of creatives from its legendary architect Antoni Gaudí to Shakira, who moved there to settle down with ex-boyfriend Gerard Piqué.
Planning to resell your vintage designer bags? Here's how much they're really worth
F / Fashion In the final installment of our forgotten 2000s “It” bags series, Nejla Finn of The Fifth Collection and Sabrina Joseph of Hunt Street talk to us about the resale value of popular bags on their platfo by / What makes a bag so special we christen it with iconic “It” bag status?
Is Dressing Down The New Dressing Up At Music Festivals?
Nine years ago, a riot of colour, glitter, space buns, rainbow hair, kaleidoscopic prints, flower crowns and loud accessories burst on the patchy grass desert of Empire Polo Field in Indio, California, where it has hosted Coachella for the past two decades. It was also the era where cultural appropriation was the norm in the misguided spirit of trying to be “boho” (think bindis and/or feathered headdresses worn on non-Indian and non-Native American celebrities/influencers).
Are the Chloe Paddington, Balenciaga First and Marc Jacobs Stam still relevant?
F / Fashion In this second instalment of our forgotten 2000s “It” bags series, Nejla Finn of The Fifth Collection and Sabrina Joseph of Hunt Street talk to us about the relevancy of these bags. by / What makes a bag so special we christen it with iconic “It” bag status?
Forgotten "It" bags of the 2000s: Worth it, or just nostalgic hype?
F / Fashion The Y2K comeback is just starting, but can the revival outlast the hype? by / What makes a bag so special we christen it with iconic “It” bag status? In this four-part series where we deep dive into the “It” bags of the ‘2000s, We speak to Nejla Finn of The Fifth Collection and Sabrina Joseph of Hunt Street, who both founded their own luxury resale platforms in Singapore, to get the real scoop on whether these bags are worth relooking into.
The Cast of Perfect Match Spills The Tea on Netflix’s Wildest Dating Show
In the Netflix Cinematic Universe, reality TV stars from the streaming giant’s top dating and competition shows are holed up in a villa in Panama. While the stars from Love Is Blind, Too Hot To Handle and other shows are on the lookout for love, they are asked to either match up or go home. Like a friend trying to set you up with their friend, couples at the house set up hot young singles at the boardroom, where matches are made in heaven or hell.
Dating lessons I wished I'd learned in my twenties
L / Life Twenty, flirty and thriving? One writer shares all of her dating lessons she’s learned in the nine years of her 20s by / Michelle Varinata is the founder behind vintage fashion boutique Soeng Signature and a freelance writer. A voracious vintage fashion obsessee, wanderluster and hopeless romantic, she refuses to live by conventions. Her love column is called Lovin’ La Vari Na-Dah, where she chronicles the flop era of her dating life.
Can you get a v-shape face naturally with face cupping?
Almost every night since my 28th birthday, I have been relying on my FOREO Bear. Though it performed well, I was tired of charging it and needed to find a tech-free alternative that I could bring with me on my frequent travels. I had been seeing people share their reviews on face cupping on social media and had been curious about trying it for myself. Before I went to check out, I dove into the TikTok rabbit hole to see how the girls cupped their faces.
Newly single? Here's a refresher on the most popular dating apps to use
L / Life It’s love at first swipe! Here’s a run down on all the apps your friends are talking about by / Michelle Varinata is the founder of vintage fashion boutique Soeng Signature and a freelance writer. A voracious vintage fashion obsessee, wanderluster and hopeless romantic, she refuses to live by conventions. Her love column is called Lovin’ La Vari Na-Dah, where she chronicles the flop era of her dating life. Grab a Kleenex and a glass of wine as you laugh and cry.
Reverse culture shock - the dark side of living abroad
L / Life Two Singaporeans Share What it’s like to find their footing again at home by / You were living that Emily in Paris life that all your friends back home dreamed of. However, instead of being abroad permanently, you are stuck on a temporary visa whether it be for work or school. As much as you had a great life abroad, your family has been begging you to come back after spending an X amount of years out of the country. And so you finally pack your bags and decide to come home.
The 10 best things to do in LA, as shared by a former LA local
You know that Lana del Rey song “13 Beaches”? Well, Lana definitely knew what was she singing about because there’s more to LA than just Santa Monica and Venice Beach. If heading to the beach is on your list, the best ones are situated slightly further. If you want to go close to Venice, there’s Charlie Beach. Tucked away in Marina del Rey, Charlie Beach is popular among mums due to its clean environment and family-friendly crowd.
I tried the viral "bleached brows" look and I loved it
B / Beauty The unexpected trend bleached brows I ended up falling in love with by / Seven years ago, I opened a pack of bleach cream after making a beauty run next to my apartment. Pasty white clumps sat on my eyebrows while I typed out my essay for art history class. I snapped a selfie and sent it to a colleague. “What the f*ck?” flashed across the screen of my iPhone 4. A decision I made while sober then, it will be the same thing to do it again.
Meet the Singaporean fashion stylist whose clients include Carina Lau & Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung
Hong Kong-based multi-hyphenate Alvin Goh is living the dream now, but the road to becoming every celebrity’s go-to fashion stylist/makeup artist is no overnight journey. Born and raised in Singapore, Goh started out as a fashion stylist and makeup artist when he was 19. While most celebrities prefer to stick to their image, Goh aims to “bring out the hidden beauty” of his clients via his artistic, yet shapeshifting makeovers whether it’s on the red carpet or at magazine shoots.
9 Men's Jewellery Gift Ideas For Every Budget
2 Aequa & Co. Pearl Diente Necklace - US$660 (Approx. S$897.14) Look no further than MGK for style inspo for your man. Though the rocker’s look teeters towards high fashion, pearls are an elegant look that soften a masculine vibe. Match it with a suit on date nights or dress it down with a simple white tee, shorts, bucket hat and sneakers. You can also pair it with a corded pendant necklace to layer underneath. SHOP NOW
Single this holiday season? Here's a guide on how to slide into the DMs
L / Life Is Instagram the next hot spot for singles? Here’s why this writer is advocating for finding love in the DMs by / Michelle Varinata is the founder behind vintage fashion boutique Soeng Signature and a freelance writer. A voracious vintage fashion obsessee, wanderluster and hopeless romantic, she refuses to live by conventions. Her love column is called Lovin’ La Vari Na-Dah, where she chronicles the flop era of her dating life. Grab a Kleenex and a glass of wine as you laugh and cry.
Zanab Jaffrey Claps Back On The Haters
Zanab Jaffrey is unfiltered and unapologetic. (Not to forget, she is not “bipolar”!). A statuesque beauty with a fiery personality, the Dallas-based realtor and flight attendant became one of the breakout stars of Love Is Blind’s third season. Formerly engaged to Cole Barnett, a fellow realtor, Jaffrey and her ex-fiancée’s relationship was constantly tested by the lack of physical attraction to being unable to meet Barnett’s family.
What it's like to run your own small fashion business
W / Women As good as it looks on Netflix, being your own boss isn’t really a dream: it’s a lot of hard work by / I love being my own boss. Aside from having an unlimited amount of creative freedom, autonomy and the power to make decisions, being my own boss feels like a privilege and a blessing. In fact, it runs in my blood as my maternal grandmother was running her seamstress business in Jakarta and my paternal grandfather founded his own timber company in East Java.
The Hottest Neon Bags That Will Brighten Up Any Outfit
Atypical for Pumpkin Spice Latte weather, neon hues are more associated with sunnier days and hotter temps. However, this year is an exception as we long for playful silhouettes and colours to lift our mood up after two years of collective angst. Though neon is a major style risk, it is surprisingly easy to wear with just about anything from a skirt suit to a t-shirt and jeans. Shop our top 10 picks below.
We watched Bling Empire season 3 so you don't have to
L / Life Here’s what you missed about LA’s crazy rich Asians by / The bling is back and flashier than ever. Within five minutes of screen time, we’ve already seen couture gowns, a stuffed animal bomber jacket and giant fuzzy sunglasses appear. And let’s not forget the celebrity cameos that made the final cut (looking at you, Jean Paul Gaultier and Mila Kunis!) — who knew Christine Chiu was so well-connected?
Dating as a Christian: How growing up religious affected the way I viewed relationships
When I started university in Los Angeles, I went to a church that mainly consisted of Indonesian students. This was perfect as I was looking forward to meeting people who shared my cultural background, and at the same time, build my relationship with God through a community. Because I grew up in an international and non-religious school, I felt that it would be nice to try to connect with a guy of a similar background and faith.
Belted skirt
F / Fashion This retro trend is your new everyday staple you must add in your cart now by / Straight out of Y2K, the belted skirt is one of the most wearable trends out of the noughties resurgence. While most of us are familiar with the low rise micro minis, the belt detail still carries itself over in other iterations whether it be a midi skirt or a yassified micro mini.
Can wearing high heels cause permanent damage to your feet?
F / Fashion According to a podiatrist, the answer is yes. But you don’t have to give them up just yet! Here are some of her best recommendation by / I love high heels. I know, they’re a vice and are bad for my feet, but I enjoy the extra height whenever I slip on a pair of three inch stilettos. A footwear obsession since my teens, high heels were and still are an instant confidence booster I swear by today.
Your festival survival guide and checklist
L / Life Tips from a seasoned music festival pro by / After three years of masking up, cancelling flights and no live music, festival season is back with a bang. As more artists are booking their tour slots to Singapore, festivals are ready for a revival. Though Zoukout is still months away, nothing is more important than gearing up for festival season. If this is your first time, don’t worry. This guide will answer all your burning desires before you enter festival grounds.
Oops I Did It Again: Red flags you didn't know you committed
L / Life Social media is abuzz on how to spot dating red flags in potential partners, but what about your own? It’s time to reflect and figure out what’s yours by / Michelle Varinata is an entrepreneur of Soeng Signature and a freelance writer. A voracious vintage fashion obsessee, wanderluster and hopeless romantic, she refuses to live by conventions. Upside inside out, she’s #livinlavarinadah. Her love column is called Lovin’ La Vari Na-Dah, where she chronicles the flop era of her dating life.
SAAY Rings the Alarm for Her Sophomore Album
SAAY, otherwise known as Kwon Sohee, is marching to the beat of her own drum. With an upcoming second album on the way, she released two singles “Summer In Love” and “ALARM”. Building her canvas with R&B beats, you can feel every word as if you’re reading pages from your diary. A voice as smooth as a vintage glass of red wine, it’s earned her praise among fans on YouTube, who say that she “secures their spot as their favourite singer”.
I love that skinny brows are back, and I don't care what people say
Time to pick up your tweezers. The biggest nightmare of your teen years is not done haunting you yet. Once favored by our mums and your elderly millennial cousins, the slender arches that grace above your eyes are officially making a comeback. Although I am a millennial who grew up in Y2K, this trend felt like a full circle moment that deserved to come back from the beauty time capsule. Beauty discoveries A hereditary trait from mum and my maternal grandfather, I inherited their sparse brows.
A vintage fashion boutique owner's guide to travelling in Italy
T / Travel Tried and true travel hacks I literally swear by by / Pandemic might not be over, but with travel back in action and some semblance of normalcy returning, it’s about time we can eat, ‘gram, shop like it’s 2019. One of my favourite countries to visit since I was a teen, Italy has a ton of great destinations to visit over and over again. From Milan to Capri, the boot shaped nation has a lot to offer with its diverse food, shopping, culture and landscape.
Confessions of a third culture kid — what it's like growing up in a country you weren't born in
L / Life A journey of accepting the kaleidoscope of cultures by / It was a sweltering day in the middle of August and I couldn’t wait to get inside the cab, which I hailed from 0.5 meters away. I gave the driver my drop off location. He turned around to me and asked, “Where are you from?” I replied, “Singapore.” Amused by my answer, he quipped, “You don’t look like you’re from here.
How to make your own beaded phone strap
F / Fashion A simple DIY to revive your broken bracelets into the decade’s hottest accessory by / Remember the phone charms that used to hang off your Nokias? Enlarged into a phone strap, the beaded phone charm is now a strap that hugs your wrist. A pandemic accessory that blew up our IG algorithms and feeds, it graced the wrists of K-pop idols, models, singers and fashion girls. An “It” accessory of the decade, it’s certain that beaded phone straps are going to take over mini bags.
I tried Y2K beauty looks IRL — here's how I fared
B / Beauty You’re never too old to relive your childhood fantasies by / Born in the ‘90s, but raised in the ‘00s, Y2K was the era of my formative years. Poring through pages of teen magazines and tabloids, I sought style inspo from celebrities at red carpets, clubs and coffee runs. Tuning in to Disney Channel was where I felt inspired to copy Lizzie McGuire’s quirky look from head to toe. Mean Girls was the bread and butter.
What is Barbiecore? The viral trend that promises to bring back pink to its former glory
F / Fashion You’re never too old to dress like Barbie by / We haven’t seen all pink since Elle Woods and her pink suit in 2004. We officially blame Margot Robbie for kickstarting the Barbiecore trend thanks to her new role as the iconic blonde doll. Following suit were Lizzo, Aimee Song, Florence Pugh and Anne Hathaway, who wore shades of electric pink at Valentino’s show.
I tried making the viral Miu Miu mirco mini
F / Fashion Miu Miu’s ultra-cropped, low-rise, pleated skirt has taken the fashion world by storm and this writer decided to DIY her own version instead of shelling out thousands by / Ushering in a new era of the Y2K revival, Miu Miu was single-handedly responsible for reviving one of the decade’s trends: the micro mini. Instead of the usual distressed denim that dominated the ‘00s, Miuccia Prada swapped it for clean cotton twill.
Chunky skate shoes are the next Y2K trend Gen Z is trying to revive
F / Fashion Borrowing from the boys has never looked this cool by / You blasted Avril Lavigne’s Let Go non-stop on your Walkman until your CD got scratched to death. You hung out with your crush at the skate park before *SCAPE opened. No matter how much you wanted to skirt the rules at school, you wanted a cute white sneaker to jazz up your uniform that still met dress code requirements. Borrowing from the boys this season, we blame Euphoria for bringing back this trend: skate shoes.
Love On The Spectrum: A journey to finding love as a neurodivergent
L / Life A woman’s tale on coming to terms with her condition while navigating a neurotypical dating world by / Michelle Varinata is the founder behind vintage fashion boutique Soeng Signature and a freelance writer. A voracious vintage fashion obsessee, wanderluster and hopeless romantic, she refuses to live by conventions. Her love column is called Lovin’ La Vari Na-Dah, where she chronicles the flop era of her dating life. Grab a Kleenex and a glass of wine as you laugh and cry.
I went to a celeb detox centre in Austria and it was life-changing
W / Wellness This is not another celebrity endorsed “diet” by / Cool alpine breeze flowed through my nostrils as I walked around the lake. Clear blue skies, tall mountains and orange autumn leaves framed the scenery around me. A far cry from the glittering night lights of Marina Bay Sands, Altausee was like a storybook town in a battered copy of your fairy tale book. It wasn’t an ideal destination spot to vacation, yet being there was a reset I needed in October 2021.
How TikTok made Diesel cool again
T / Trends & Tips The Big D energy is back, bigger and badder than ever by / Racks and rows of jeans in every wash and style stood in front of me as I walked in at Diesel’s flagship store in Milan. It was nearly closing time, but I decided to pop in anyway. My blood sugar rose as I felt the adrenaline flowing through my veins as I sauntered over to the rack.
The fun statement earrings to add to your jewellery box
F / Fashion Get an earful with these OOOTD making earrings by / Strutting around town in a stuffy skirt suit and kitten heels is boss-approved, but certainly a torture when you have to sacrifice your style for the system. Whether you’re on a Zoom call or at the cubicles, dazzle up your office OOTD with these statement earrings.
How you can rock the naked look with mesh clothing pieces
S / Shopping How to wear the naked look without looking too ‘naked’ by / A ‘90s staple, mesh has always been the go-to fabric for the summer with its thin fabric and contouring effect on the body. A base for mixing and matching, you can either wear it on its own or layer it with other garments. A throwback staple that you can wear today, you can channel the ‘90s in these cool, yet classic mesh basics.
Bralettes that will support well-endowed girls just right
F / Fashion Say hello to this supporting character by / Genetically blessed by DNA, my 34Cs/32Ds are an asset to have. Despite countless lingerie campaigns boosting the perks of bigger boobs, having them in real life didn’t guarantee the eye-popping boosting effects that bras gave me. Though my bust is ideal for regular bras with underwire, finding the right bralette is a torture for me as they are either too small, not supportive or made my chest look flatter.
10 "brightliners" that will convince you to try the coloured eyeliner trend
M / Makeup Rainbow is the new black by / We love our black eyeliner, but sometimes, it’s boring when you stick to the basics for too long. As the season of wearing less and going out more, summer is also the ideal moment to experiment with colorful eyeliner. We found 10 humidity-friendly eyeliners that will turn up the heat for your selfies this summer.
Read this if you're a virgin using a vibrator for the first time
S / Sex & Love It’s never too late to have your first time by / After two years of Zoom-based dates and app-swiping, it feels just right to go out and meet people again. While going out for hot hook ups and in-person dates screamed stranger danger at the height of the pandemic, staying at home was the safest option. Rather than risk our health, having some alone time with a vibrating tool in hand became de rigeur.
Call Her Daddy's Alexandra Cooper is The Voice of a Podcast Generation
All hail Alexandra Cooper, the Founding Father behind Spotify’s smash hit podcast Call Her Daddy. A Father Figure to her listeners (a.k.a. “Daddy Gang”), she has a voice that makes you feel like you’re talking to your sister. Dressed in her power sweats and Nikes, Cooper’s relaxed exterior belies a tell-it-like-it-is attitude and charismatic presence that blazes through the room.
5 love lessons I've learnt from dating reality tv shows
L / Life When one man’s trash is a gem full of lessons by / It was love at first lockdown. Dressed in a baggy tee and Juicy Couture terry cloth shorts, I waited for my date. Sitting opposite me was a blonde woman holding a wine cup. My screen alternated to a brunette male talking about sports. Split between a barrier, the couple could neither see each other as the camera panned to both of them back to back.
The vegan leather looks you can try (yes, even in Singapore!)
F / Fashion Vegan leather isn’t that bad after all… by / Being hot has never looked this good, but being hotter than hell isn’t cute when you’re sweating buckets. Not the best weather for leather, the leather look is everywhere for spring/summer. More lightweight than cow hide and easier to clean, vegan leather is a practical alternative to anyone who wants to experiment with the leather look. From work to dinner, this versatile material can elevate an outfit no matter where you’re at.
How to know which red hair hue to go for this summer
S / Shopping Cool for the summer, this fiery hue is set to make your selfies flaming hot by / Kendall Jenner, Sydney Sweeney, Anya Taylor Joy, Jennie and Megan Thee Stallion lit up the moodboards with various iterations of red. Whether for work or play, they made red hair haute (pun intended).
Why we will always love low rise jeans
F / Fashion It took a pandemic to bring this trend back from the dead by / I’m sorry. But, no. I’m actually not sorry that I stan your worst nightmare: low rise jeans. Hip-hugging and booty popping, low rise jeans have been heavily maligned as tacky, cheap and trashy due to its revealing style. First seen in the ‘60s to ‘70s, low rise jeans represented a spirit of freedom as seen on rockstars and hippies.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Michelle
Contact Michelle, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack