A supposed expert on fashion and etiquette, Professor Proper does not think he is Mr Know-It-All. He knows that he knows, and has the answer to life’s toughest question, be it in matching the right scarf with your dress or (the ever perplexing) what to have for lunch. In this new column, expect Professor Proper to say anything but “I don’t know”.

Professor Proper is ready to take your questions. Ask him anything!

The big question

My girlfriend and I have been dating for four years now; and I feel the time is right for marriage. Should I pop the question to her by secretly planning a grand marriage proposal or should I be a polite Asian man and meet her parents first? I really want to surprise her but her big-mouthed mother will definitely spill the beans.

Hmm, the way I look at it, you have two options, in which you can achieve both being 'a polite Asian man' and making the proposal a surprise. Option 1: You meet the parents, without your soon to be fiance around (of course) and hire some goons, with a van preferably. Then break the news to the parents, and lure them out. At this point, those hired goons, will come from behind and place a sack over their heads and kidnap them. The bonus point of this plan is that you could work the proposal/ring presentation in with the 'rescuing' of the parents - though make sure she doesn't call the police immediately.

Option 2: Plan the informing of the parents, right before the surprise. Say you have the proposal planned at 6pm, go over to the parents at 5:30pm. That way, hopefully the mother would be busy informing all the other relatives first, before accidentally blurting it out to her daughter. Well, either those two, or just pick one of your options, because it all won't matter if she says 'no.' Also, when she says 'yes' you'd be over the moon and not minding it either. If you need more ideas on proposals by the way, you could also check out Malaysia Tatler Weddings magazine or the website! (I was not paid to say that.)

In the pink

I think my room needs a major makeover. It’s in bright pink, my favourite colour until I was 11 and now that I’m back from boarding school and am ready for university, I think I need a cool place to come home to. How do I start this transition?

Woah. What is more cool than an entirely pink room!? Besides me, of course. Since it is your favourite colour, why don't you just leave it be? Unless your colour preference has changed - then paint it in that shade. If not, keep the colour, just add in more 'cool' items. You could redecorate the space. Add chic furniture pieces and things that you like or do. Play the guitar, put it in your room; love fishes, get an aquarium; an avid reader, get a bigger bookshelf!

For more ideas, please also refer to Malaysia Tatler Homes for more design ideas, and tips and tricks for home and interior decorating - alright, guess it's pretty obvious I'm being paid to say these things.

What's all the fuss?

So, what is this Pokemon Go thing I’ve been hearing a lot about lately?

Judging from your question, I'm guessing you're one of our slightly-tech-savvy-not-so-much dinosaurs out there. Thank you for choosing Malaysia Tatler.com, and also for making me feel a whole lot younger. Essentially, it is an alien technology to make zombies out of the human race. I haven't played it myself, but whenever you see a mindless person swiping up on their phone screen (I'd rather swipe on Tinder to find me other types of monsters) more often than not, you have a PokemonGo player at hand. Tread carefully, and they may not bump into you.

Apart from catching the Pokemon, you can also feed them 'candy,' visit Poke stops, to collect more balls, incubate your eggs (I'm not trying to sound like a pervert, these are really terms used within the game) and battle them in a 'gym'. So, if someone from the younger generation ever tells you they're going to the gym, it might not be to work out. Just what are these Pokemon, do I hear you say? (Well of course I can't really hear you - but i'm also guessing you're that old) Well, short for Pocket Monsters, they are tiny animal like creatures with powers that can be viewed via the app on the phone.

I obviously don't get the fad, but the kids these days, and some of the older folk too, are going extremely crazy over it. Don't download the app; I definitely didn't get paid to say that.

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Do you have any etiquette or fashion questions for Professor Proper? Send them to editor@my.asiatatler.com and yes, the professor also takes any tough questions you may have about life in general.

(Illustrations: Harvard Low)

In his last column, Professor Proper shares some tips to becoming a social butterfly.