Beauty Asia:

10 Insights into Asian aesthetics

Asia 5Bringing you a flavour of businesstrends in Asia...in just 5 minutes

A Futures Coaching initiativewww.futurescoaching.com

beauty mattersFor women across much of Asia, education and employment is taking over from marriage as a means to upward mobility

However, women's social position is often still judged on outward appearances: beauty, the colour of their skin and being dressed richly

A lighter skin colouring is perceived to be correlated with intelligence and a light-skinned, attractive person will often receive advancement before his or her colleagues

defining beautyPhilippine National Artist, Fernando Amorsolo rejects western ideals of

beauty. He describes Filipina beauty:

“a rounded face (not oval), the eyes should be exceptionally lively (not

dreamy), the nose should be of the blunt form but firm and strongly marked. The

ideal beauty should not necessarily be white complexioned, but of the clear skin

or fresh colored type which we often witness when we met a blushing girl."

nip and tuck

After America and Brazil, China performs the most cosmetic surgery in the World

About 1.3million licensed procedures undertaken in 2010Most popular: double eyelid surgery, liposuction & nose jobs

Most patients are in their 20s

more than skin deepDr Georgia Lee is a skin doctor for the well heeled. Asked about beauty, of course she says it's about 'glowing skin and good physique' but she also defines it as:

“being happy, [and having] charisma and class...the individual uniqueness”

pretty boysA traditional – but growing East Asian aesthetic - is the androgenous male. Called 'bishōnen' in Japan and kkot-mi-nam in South Korea, these boys/men are typically slender, with clear skin, stylish hair, and distinctly feminine facial features (such as high cheekbones)

bikini facialsMany Asian women are wanting to wear the skimpiest swimsuits

To avoid any self-consciousness, 'bikini facials' are recommended!

Cleansing is followed byexfoliation, moisturizing– and, of course, skin lighteningproducts

(Incidentally, foot whiteningproducts are also available)

hard workBeing beautiful is hard work. Actress

Ayu Pratiwi won the title Putri Indonesia Pariwisata in a beauty

pageant contest in 2009

For her, maintaining beauty is all about frequent massages, hair

treatments, dance workouts, eating nutitional foods, vitamin supplements,

and getting enough sleep.

And, of course, frequent shopping trips to Singapore & Hong Kong for

'must have' fashion

Indonesia's economy is strongly influenced by the government

Over 164 enterprises are run by the Stateand the prices of many basic products such as rice, electricity and fuelare administered by the government

beacon bloggers There is something pioneering about Asian aesthetics – as if it's all to be discovered and defined

Not true, of course. Modernity blends with tradition. But you have to admire the optimism and energy of a wave of bogging fashionistas

Bryanboy gets 1 million hits per month

freedomThe West, often talks about 'fashion victims'

and the tyranny of the catwalk

The modern Asian aesthetic is almost the opposite.It's about making a statement about ones autonomy;

a gesture of personal defiance in the face of domestic obligations

“Kleting displayed her latest work at Jakarta Fashion Week,

showcasing a complete dynamic and sporty look, using vibrant color schemes like fuchsia, orange, lime

green and shocking pink. 

The latest KLÉ pieces definitely showcased the spirit of fun yet

fearless women”.

snap it up

Facebook's purchase of Instagram makes all the headlines

But one of the big stories is how Instagram is increasingly a 'style catalogue' for many young Asians. What's the newest 'cut away' hairstyle? Skinny trousers tucked into socks or not? What brand of lipstick do you use?

This is fast fashion, social media style

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What is Futures Coaching up to during June 2012?

Preparing to present a Key Note for NGO Fundraisers in GenevaPitching to build an international development strategy for a major European agencyDelivering insights around 'community' and what it will mean in the future for a British bankDeveloping proposals to lead two major studies in AsiaPitching book ideas to PearsonScripting my first videoblog

Website: www.futurescoaching.comBlog: http://futurescoaching.typepad.com

Email: chris@futurescoaching.com

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