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Fashion tips for women: 5 wardrobe essentials Zalora’s Head of Social swears by

When was the last time you dressed up and felt good about it? With the ongoing pandemic, it seems like more of us are dressed in loungewear these days. It also made us rethink fashion essentials that we could put on without the fear of going out of style.

If that is you, look out for these wardrobe essentials that Illya Nadira, Zalora’s Head of Social, swears by.

#1: Jeans

“Every woman needs a pair of jeans, be it skinnies, flare or even straight-cut because they don’t go out of style, ever! I’m currently obsessed with these baggy oversized jeans with torn hems from Zara – they’re super comfortable while giving off a cool vibe.”

Consider getting: Dorothy Perkins Regular Midwash Eden Jeans

Sale Price: S$29.90

#2: White vest/tank top

“This is everything to me! I must have a white vest/tank with me, even when I travel. It’s the easiest, most versatile piece to pair with everything else. I usually head to Uniqlo to get mine.”

Consider getting: Mango Embroidered Cotton Top

Sale Price: S$29.90

#3: Earrings

“You will never catch me out of the house without earrings or studs. I feel naked when I miss out that important step of accessorising because it really completes the whole look.”

Consider getting: ALDO Jerilinna Pierced Earring

Sale Price: S$22.90

#4: Oversized white shirt

“You can wear a white shirt anywhere and everywhere – to the office, lunch dates with your girlfriends, as outerwear at the beach, and even to bed! Though I’ve never bought one before because I can find tons in my late dad’s wardrobe.”

Consider getting: French Connection Aoko Rhodes Popover Shirt

Sale Price: S$53.90

#5: A set of co-ords

“I love a good set of co-ords. My friend Cheryl Teo designed (a) geometric-print set for her final-year project at Lasalle College of the Arts and she sewed one for me as I couldn’t stop raving about it. She eventually started her own line called Aryl Ctto for a while. The best part is I can wear either the top or the pants on separate occasions.”

Consider getting: TOPSHOP Dogstooth Jumpsuit

Sale Price: S$66.90

Fashion inspiration

If you’re looking for fashion inspiration, take it from the 30-year-old: “I usually go on Instagram and Pinterest, but I get inspired by everyday people too. When I see someone on the train wearing something super cool and chic, I’ll try to recreate it in my own way.”

Also, here’s a bonus fashion tip before you go: blazers.

“You can easily look professional with a blazer on, regardless of what you’re wearing underneath,” says Nadira.

Travel update: Visitors from Brunei and New Zealand entering Singapore will not need to serve stay-home notice from Sep 1

Since Jun 18, travellers from Australia (excluding Victoria State), Brunei Darussalam, Macao, Mainland China, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam can serve their 14-day stay-home notice at their own place of residence upon entering Singapore.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) updated today (Aug 21) that travellers coming to Singapore from Brunei and New Zealand from Sep 1 will not be required to serve a stay-home notice but will take a COVID-19 test upon arrival instead.

“Amongst these low-risk countries, we will start by lifting our current border restrictions to allow the entry of visitors from Brunei Darussalam and New Zealand into Singapore,” said MOH.

How it works

Visitors from the two countries will need to apply for an Air Travel Pass between seven and 30 days before their intended date of entry. For example, if they are travelling from Sep 8, an application for the pass must be done on Sep 1.

But before they can go about their activities in Singapore, they must test negative for the virus.

“They will be responsible for their medical bills should they require medical treatment for COVID-19 while in Singapore,” MOH said.

Not a reciprocal arrangement

According to Lawrence Wong, co-chair of the COVID-19 multi-ministry task force, the travel arrangements with Brunei and New Zealand are not reciprocal. However, Singapore is currently in discussion for reciprocal green lane arrangements with the two countries.

“When we are ready with the reciprocal green lane arrangements with these two countries, we will announce the details,” he said.

“Specific to these two countries, we are making a move based on the evidence, based on our assessment of risk,” he added.

General travel to Brunei and New Zealand will be allowed

Onboard Singapore Airlines during COVID-19

Image Credits: The Straits Times

The current travel advisory to defer all travel abroad will also be updated to allow general travel to Brunei and New Zealand. People visiting these two countries must check the entry requirements and take the necessary precautions.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said, “Don’t just hop on the plane and go. Please check what are the requirements of the destination countries, make sure that you comply with the requirements before you fly over.”

“At the same time when you’re there, continue to exercise vigilance, continue to exercise safe distancing, and also observe the safe distancing rules in those countries, so that you protect yourself and protect others,” he added.

Looking forward

“We have monitored the situation and assessed that there are several countries/regions where the virus situation is well under control and the risk of importation is low. We will therefore update our border measures accordingly,” explained MOH.

Those who abide by the travel advisories will be eligible for government subsidies and coverage for their COVID-19 treatment should they have symptoms within 14 days of returning to Singapore and require hospital admission for suspected infection.

E-scooter rider fined S$500 and jailed for six weeks for riding against traffic and colliding into a woman who fell and fractured her skull

This is not the first time we’re hearing of such a rash act. Earlier this month on 3 August, the news reported 10 people being arrested for dangerous riding on personal mobility devices (PMD) and power-assisted bicycles (PAB) along Sheares Avenue. The police said the suspects were arrested between Jul 17 and Jul 20.

If you haven’t been keeping up with the law, e-scooters have been barred from footpaths since last November and all motorised PMDs are not allowed on footpaths since Apr 1.

What happened?

Image Credits: todayonline.com

Last Oct 23, Chen Yue, 61, rode his unregistered e-scooter from Kinta Road towards Dhoby Ghaut MRT to meet a potential buyer who wanted to purchase the device. He rode the e-scooter on the footpath along Selegie Road until he reached Selegie Court.

As there were many pedestrians on the footpath, he decided to take his device onto the road. In fact, he rode against the flow of traffic at about 15kmh. Failing to spot the 24-year-old woman standing in front of Wilkie Edge mall who stepped off the footpath onto the road, Chen collided into her. The incident was captured on CCTV.

The victim fell lying face down on the road, bleeding from her mouth and face. She was taken to the hospital with injuries including a fractured skull, deep cut on her lips, and a blood clot between her skull and her brain. She was given physiotherapy and occupational therapy and discharged a few days later with 31 days’ hospitalization leave.

Prolonged impact

But the victim continues to experience occasional dizziness and has a scar above her lips from the incident. Her teeth have also grown loose because of the impact. While her medical fees were fully covered by insurance, Chen made voluntary compensation of S$8,000 to her in May this year.

“The fact that she continues to experience occasional dizziness and intends to seek further treatment after COVID-19 speaks to lingering consequences of the collision on her life,” said Deputy Public Prosecutor Grace Teo.

The verdict

Image Credits: WIC News

Chen demonstrated a high level of rashness by riding his e-scooter against traffic when there were moderate traffic flow and pedestrians on the footpath, Ms Teo added. However, Chen’s lack of previous convictions and his voluntary compensation to the victim was considered. There was also no evidence that he had been speeding on the footpath.

Today (Aug 21), Chen was fined S$500 and jailed for six weeks for causing grievous hurt by a rash act and riding an unregistered PMD, a sentence much lighter than he could have gotten.

This is because for a rash act causing grievous hurt, Chen could have been jailed for up to four years, fined up to S$10,000, or both. For riding an unregistered PMD on a footpath, he could also have been jailed for up to three months, fined up to S$2,000, or both.

You can now do wet-market shopping online at Tekka and Tiong Bahru markets via ride-hailing app, TADA

Wet-marketing online? That will be a whole new experience since people are used to seeing and touching the produce at wet markets. Also, the interaction with stallholders will be greatly missed. But considering the pandemic situation, this could actually be a fantastic initiative.

TADA, a ride-hailing app, is the brainchild behind this wet market delivery service idea. TADA, which means “let’s ride” in Korean, was launched by Singapore-based company Mass Vehicle Ledger (MVL) Foundation in July 2018.

TADA Fresh Market

TADA Fresh Market is currently an online wet market shopping platform delivering fresh vegetables, fruits, seafood, meat, and poultry from 36 stalls at Tekka and Tiong Bahru markets. Yes, it’s very similar to the online grocery shopping experience on RedMart or FairPrice.

Minimum order amount

To place an order, you will need to shop at least S$30 worth of groceries. Free deliveries are available for orders above S$50.

A lifeline for TADA’s private-hire drivers and wet market stallholders

In May 2020, then-Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan announced that taxi and private-hire drivers would be able to continue delivering food and groceries to homes until the end of September. This was part of efforts to supplement the income of these drivers. At the same time, to meet the high demand for home deliveries.

According to Mr Jonathan Chua, general manager of TADA, the company explored different ways to support its drivers during the pandemic.

“It’s not possible to bring them back to the days where they can do 20 jobs (a day), just by the nature of the pandemic,” he said. However, this new delivery platform can act as an additional source of income for TADA’s private-hire drivers, whose livelihoods have been greatly affected by COVID-19.

Such a delivery service also provides an additional revenue stream for stallholders during the ongoing pandemic, added Mr Chua.

TADA works directly with wet market stall owners

It’s good to hear that TADA does not charge merchants a commission for orders. But there is a small markup on the products which are clearly visible to customers on the website.

Orders gathered late at night each day are sent to the wet market merchants via WhatsApp messages so they can make necessary preparations. Thereafter, TADA drivers are dispatched to fulfil the deliveries.

Future expansion plans

As mentioned earlier, TADA Fresh Market is currently working only with stall owners from Tekka and Tiong Bahru markets. But there are plans to include several merchants from the wet market at Block 216 Bedok North Street 1 by early September.

They are also aiming to bring in more wet markets in the Bedok area by the end of the year. There will also be a focus on the lesser well-known markets outside of central Singapore.

“If we can present the benefits of the products of the market conveniently to the users, I believe that a proposition (of buying groceries from the wet market) will be a long-term one,” said Mr Chua.

Shop TADA Fresh Market here.

Two Ninja Van delivery drivers sentenced to jail for misappropriating items worth S$12,000, pocketing S$18,000 in cash, and mobile phones worth S$3,850

If you’re an avid fan of online shopping, chances are that you’ve come across using Ninja Van as a delivery provider. When that happens, you could either be grateful or full of complaints. Well, grateful when you receive your parcels on time and possibly full of grudges when things go wrong.

I’ve had my fair share of problems dealing with Ninja Van. I’m sure the public has lots to say about the company as well – with recent news about a woman being scammed out of S$40 by a cash-on-delivery she didn’t order and frustrations about continued delays in delivery by Ninja Van.

#1: Case 1

Image Credits: Vulcan Post

The first case was reported in the news on Aug 11, 2020.

Adrian Chong Yuan Kit, 38, was sentenced to seven months’ jail on Tuesday (Aug 11) for criminal breach of trust by dishonest misappropriation.

In short, over a span of three months, Chong would deliberately not scan parcels with items he wanted to keep for himself. In total, he has set aside 147 items including a massage machine, a gaming monitor, a TV set-top box, hand sanitiser, mobile phones, and soap worth up to S$12,104 for his personal gain.

The police raided Chong’s home and recovered all the items, though nothing was said regarding the customers who were affected by his crime.

How the act was discovered

End of April this year, Ninja Van conducted an internal audit to check on lost parcels in an attempt to better streamline the system. During the audit, they noticed a spike in the number of missing items under Chong’s charge since Feb 2020.

As a follow-up, a manager at Ninja Van planted a parcel containing a bottle of Dettol soap and a Huawei mobile phone meant for delivery outside Chong’s assigned route on Chong’s assigned pallet on May 21.

Based on Ninja Van’s system, Chong was supposed to receive an error message and return it to his supervisor since the parcel was not meant for him to deliver. However, even after Chong finished loading all the parcels from his assigned pallet into his van, he did not receive any error messages.

He was immediately confronted by the manager in which he then admitted to taking it dishonestly. A police report was filed the same day.

#2: Case 2

Image Credits: The Business Times

The second case was reported in the news on Aug 19, 2020, a week after the first case.

Derrick Tan Jian Sheng, 35, was sentenced on Wednesday (Aug 19) to eight months’ jail for pocketing more than S$18,000 in cash as well as mobile phones worth S$3,850 from Ninja Van customers.

According to the court, Tan started committing the offences within a month of joining the company in April 2018. To be exact, between May 22 and Jun 11, Tan made 72 deliveries involving cash-on-delivery items and trade-in mobile phones.

The cash of S$18,555 he collected from customers and 16 mobile phones worth a total of S$3,850 was partly used to pay off his personal debts to the Land Transport Authority and loan sharks. Tan sold the phones on Carousell.

How the act was discovered

On Jun 8, 2018, Ninja Van’s finance department told Tan’s manager that there had been multiple inconsistencies from deliveries Tan made. Although the relevant deliveries had been completed, the money and mobile phones that Tan collected were not returned to the company.

Tan’s manager arranged to meet him but he did not show up. A police report was then filed. Tan was traced to M Hotel using the GPS in the company van assigned to him, where he admitted that he had taken the items and cash.

Food for thought

In response to the matter, a Ninja Van spokesperson said that there was “no impact to end customers as the restitution was between us and our clients in question”.

But we can’t help but wonder, how were the customers with lost parcels compensated? Based on the company’s FAQ section, it is stated that “Ninja Van will be subject to a certain amount of liability per parcel in cases of loss or damage.”

If it’s only a “certain amount of liability”, then how is this “no impact to end customers”? What are your thoughts?