From The Straits Times    |

Olivia Ong Style Tips Main

In celebration of World Voice Day 2014, Strepsils has launched a singing competition, The Right Note, which Olivia Ong (above) is one of the ambassadors of. 

It goes without saying that a healthy voice is essential for a singer, especially an Asia-wide singing sensation like sweet songbird, Olivia Ong. It makes perfect sense then that Strepsils is launching a nationwide singing competition, The Right Note, as part of the brand’s campaign to promote the importance of keeping your voice healthy, with Olivia as one of its ambassadors.  

Even more than her soulful vocals, we adore Olivia’s immaculate fashion sense and ever-changing hairstyles (as seen in the gallery below). Whether dressed down or red-carpet ready, the home-grown popstar always manages to impress. We’re no Olivia Ong, but with these four valuable style tips she shared with us, we can always try to steal her style.

1. LOVE WHAT YOU WEAR
Ever wondered how to look as confident as Olivia, no matter how you’re dressed? The secret, she shared, is to be comfortable with what you’re wearing. If you feel like dressing punk today, go ahead and rock it. As long as you look good and feel good in it, that’s the outfit for you, she said. It’s a simple but valuable piece of advice.

Likewise, an outfit Olivia feels best represents her personality would be a classic two piece suit, which can be both fun and professional but most importantly still comfortable. What she likes best about this ensemble is that “you can wear whatever you want under the blazer” and still get away with it. If you feel adventurous, you can always pair it with loud printed shirt or if you feel like dressing down, a plain v-necked shirt would do.  

2. EMBRACE CHANGE
From a fun orange short bob to a sweet Japanese shoulder length style with bangs, the bossa-nova-turned-Mandopop singer has gone through more hairstyles than we can keep track of. In fact, her daring hair makeovers begun way back in secondary school, when the plucky fashionista got away with outrageous corkscrew curls. Lucky for her, her teachers were really nice about it. (If only mine had been as forgiving.)

Still, we completely understand her constant style switching. “Doing makeovers make me happy,” she said and we agree. A new hairstyle can really inject some excitement into your life and going back to tip numero uno, feeling good is the key to looking good. So, even if you’re not as adventurous as Olivia, you should always try changing it up once in a while.

3. GO ALL OUT, HEAD-TO-TOE
No, we don’t mean piercing your tongue or shearing off your hair à la Miley Cyrus. What Olivia suggests is that when you’re going for a particular look, like her favourite ‘70s style, you need to commit yourself entirely to it, from hairstyle to makeup and fashion. This golden nugget, you’ll be surprised to learn, came from a fashion faux pas to do with a dragon-printed red jumpsuit. “I really was excited about it,” the vintage lover sheepishly admitted. In retrospect, she realised that she didn’t quite score with the jumpsuit because her hair and makeup didn’t match the vintage look she was aiming for. Consider us schooled; we’ll definitely be thorough the next time we try to steal a look off the runways.

4. SOMETIMES, LESS IS MORE
Fashion is not always about loud, jewel tones or embellishments. Sometimes, clean lines and muted colour palettes can be refreshing, especially on a lazy day, which Olivia is no stranger to. Even though she does enjoy dressing up, her go-to outfit on a day off is a simple pair of jeans and a textured shirt, like her style icon French actress-singer Jane Birkin. Indeed, there is a sophisticated beauty in this fuss-free style that we can all enjoy.  

To participate in The Right Note contest, record and upload your entry to the competition’s official website, http://www.strepsils.com.sg/therightnote from now to May 16, 2014. Top five finalists will get a chance to perform alongside Olivia Ong and score tips from her while the winner will get to record an original single composed and produced by Lee Wei Song, the other campaign ambassador, and his team.