A camisole top matched with hipster jeans or mini skirt - that's the ubiquitous style that defines practically the entire female populace of Singapore.
And it's a bugbear of many local fashion stylists and designers who feel it's not only boring, it's also plain sloppy and lazy.
"Few make the effort to create a style of their own. They blindly follow what others wear. Nothing stands out," says fashion designer Teo Ying Hui of local label Demisemiquaver, which puts out street fashion with a quirky edge.
One common reason for the lack of sartorial style is the Singapore weather.
"It's 365 days of spring/summer," says Colin Koh, chief designer of popular local label M)phosis.
But using the climate as an excuse is unacceptable, says stylist Jeremy Tan.
"Japanese women aren't any less stylish during the hotter summer days," he says.
Up-and-coming fashion designer Tan Qiu Wen of iamwhoiam wishes that more women would layer their clothes to discover their own sense of style.
"They say it's too hot. But you don't have to be garbed in wool. There are always lighter fabric options like cotton or voile," she says.
M)phosis' Koh feels that while not everything seen on overseas runways is suitable for our tropical climate, it's really all about adaptation.
He says: "You can't wear fur or the heavier, thicker fabrics. But surely you can adopt other elements of the season, like the silhouettes or the colours, and work from there. So if heavy scarves are in, you can easily cop the look but with a lighter, thinner material instead."
Fashion designer Nicholas Wong of the label Nicholas says more women can be fashion-forward if they keep an open mind and are willing to get out of their comfort zones.
"It takes just a little more effort and exploration to not look sloppy," he says.
So can you still be fashionable in this heat without sacrificing comfort?
Absolutely. As six local designers show with these new designs, going tropical-chic can be easy breezy.
THE TAILORED SILHOUETTE
DRESS SEXY
STREET SMART
MODERN FORM
THE NEW WHITE SHIRT
PRACTICAL CHIC
THE TAILORED SILHOUETTE The label: Nicholas, by fashion designer Nicholas Wong, 34. It's been around since 2004, and is known for its clean-cut tailored silhouettes and subtle detailing.
The outfit: Sleeveless cotton shirt, $119, cotton single-breasted jacket, $249, and cotton-blend pants with elastic drawstring hem, $159, from Nicholas, 01-03 Stamford House.
The inspiration: "Polka dots are such a retro print which I love. This whole look is a play on the complexities of a modern woman - she's strong yet soft at the same time. The jacket, shirt and pants combi seems masculine, but it's tailored to show off the feminine silhouette. I had everything in the same material - cotton - to keep everything lightweight and clean. It's casual and chic at the same time."
DRESS SEXY The label: M)phosis, an 11-year-old home-grown label known for its slinky, figure-hugging separates in jersey and knit (think the local DKNY). Fashionable and trendy, it offers attractive prices (you can pick up a dress for $69) that make the brand a staple in any woman's wardrobe. The man behind it, head designer Colin Koh, who is in his mid-40s, works with a team of designers to come up with the sexy silhouettes that are evergreen favourites.
The outfit: Hooded dress with mesh insert dress, $69, from M)phosis.
The inspiration: "I wanted to create a two-piece effect, which is done with a mesh insert, but the whole outfit is actually a dress. The mesh allows you to bare skin without showing everything. It's sexy without being too tarty and it's daring but in a wearable way. And most importantly, it's not warm. I keep to knits because they are easy to wear and maintain. It's also versatile and you can wear it in many ways - as a hoodie top over jeans, or even as a halter dress."
STREET SMART The label: Demisemiquaver, by fashion designer Teo Ying Hui, 29. The year-old label, which is under the Studio Prive collective, is known for its quirky, casual streetwear. Think textured fabrics and playful forms and structure, like origami silhouettes.
The outfit: Polyester and cotton-knit origami top, $299, and oversized cotton tee, $139, from 2A Haji Lane (by appointment only, e-mail studioprive@woods-woods.com).
The inspiration: "A garment should never be an empty shell. It should express a thought or philosophy. This look, which is from my recent collection, is based on serenity and tranquillity. We've got so much noise surrounding us on a regular basis. I wanted it to be poignant and quiet, which is why the colour scheme is very muted. I worked with natural fabrics, too. It's a versatile look that can be worn in different ways - you can wear the sheer origami top on its own if you have a bolder personality and a figure to show off. Or throw it over a plain tee, like a pinafore. The oversized tee can be worn solo, too, with a belt or jeans."
MODERN FORM The label: Tian. The four-year-old label by interior-turned-fashion designer Ben Wu, 36, is known for its modern and architectural designs that flatter the
female form.
The outfit: Cotton dress, $99, from Tian, 02-34 Bugis Junction and B1-32 Raffles Xchange.
The inspiration: "I did this dress for this year's Singapore Fashion Festival in late March. Jeans and tee aside, a woman needs a dress that flatters her figure and is still wearable. It's important to show off the female form and I did this by manipulating tucks and darts, creating an origami pleat at the bustline, on the skirt and the sleeves."
THE NEW WHITE SHIRT The label: iamwhoiam, by fashion designer Tan Qiu Wen, 22. Her debut label is less than a year old and comes under Studio Prive.
The outfit: Cotton shirt, $389, cotton-silk blend vest, $129, and cotton shorts, $169. To view and order, call 9777-7210.
The inspiration: "I designed it without fixed ideals about gender. In fact, when I presented this at my show in May, the shirt was worn by a male model. I love layering and this is an example of how you can still do layering despite our hot weather. Here I used cotton because it's such a basic fabric, and it's light. I wanted to reinterpret the shirt because it's a wardrobe staple that everyone's familiar with. I changed the silhouette, fusing a cape design to a shirt to give it a twist. I stuck to a white palette because it's clean and modern."
PRACTICAL CHIC The label: GG<5. Another popular name found in most Singaporean women's wardrobe, this 10-year-old label is known for its practical and modern basics and after-five outfits that go from $39 for a top to $159 for a dress. According to Monique Seow, 35, designer for the label, the term GG<5 stands for "narrowing the generation gap". "The five is just a random number," she says.
The outfit: Silk dress, $159, from GG<5.
The inspiration: "It's an easy-to-wear dress. Even if you're fleshier, you can still wear it. For more conservative women, they can always wear a cami or tube inside. I made sure to localise it, so it's relaxed and so light that you won't feel hot. And I made it in cream because it flatters Asian skin tones, whether you're fair or dark."
Photographer: JUSTIN JONAH NG; Stylist: MARTIN WONG; Hair: MICHAEL CHEN, Urban Hair by Ginrich; Make-up: JASMINE WONG (9687-5220); Model: CHARMAINE HARN, Ave; Location: House, 8D Dempsey Road
