Style search
Enough with the bashing already. There are good dressers in Singapore. Urban hits the street to bring you 15 men and women with style.
Noelle Loh
Tue, Aug 19, 2008
Urban, The Straits Times
Forget the jibes that Singaporeans are a bunch of yokels when it comes to style. Not everyone does the slipper shuffle. There are some natural-born thrillers out there.
Urban is talking about everyday fashion heroes who save Singapore from being condemned as a tee-and-flip-flops nation.
The two models who grace Urban's first dual cover issue are shining examples of Style Singapore that can be found in the streets on any day of the week.
Cover girl Elyna Vijay, 19, and cover boy Kenji Fitzgerald, 21, are definitely the sorts anyone would say 'Hey, good-looking' to.
While they are successful models now, they were snazzy stunners way before the spotlight found them.
Vijay burst on the beauty scene four years ago when she was named first runner-up in The New Paper's New Face contest. She was promptly signed up by local modelling agency Upfront.
The Singapore Management University business undergraduate of Chinese-Indian parentage has also fronted ads for brands like SingTel and L'Oreal.
Australian-born Fitzgerald, meanwhile, is one accidental style star.
He first caught the attention of Urban at a Cortina watch party in 2006 with his slick shirt, blazer and jeans get-up and became the Hey Good-Looking male pin-up for the week. The actor-in-training was here looking for work.
That same year, he was spotted by Upfront's director Watson Tan and has since done campaigns for the likes of Nivea and Sony.
'I laughed and unglamorously snorted Diet Coke up my nose but I guess Watson forgave that,' he says of the life-changing incident.
It sounds like a fashion fairy tale but for most of Singapore's runway-worthy good- lookers who are quietly - and beautifully - going about their business, they don't need any sprinkling of stardust.
Fashion blogs like The Sartorialist by New Yorker Scott Schuman and the local-based Streetsnaps (community. livejournal.com/streetsnaps/) show that it is simply about personal style.
Fashion producer Daniel Boey, 42, points out, however, that these natural style stars are 'few and far between' here. Still, even this harsh fashion critic says it's something everyone can achieve.
'All it takes is a little effort, some attitude and knowing what to wear for the right place and occasion. It all boils down to taking pride in the way you look,' he says.
Sounds easy, but you either got it, baby, or you don't. After pounding the streets for four days in the past week, Urban brings you 15 guys and girls who top the style chart - with not a sloppy flip-flop in sight.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Lee Yuan Zheng, 23, design management student, spotted in Club Street
What are you wearing? My cap is from Dsquared2 and my scarf is from Acne. I got my tee at Forever 21 and my vest is from Penguin. My bermudas are from Habitual, while my bag and suede loafers are from Yves Saint Laurent. My watch is from Fossil. Describe your sense of style It's tailored without being body-conscious. I also dress for the occasion. Gotta have a cardigan or a jacket Fave shops I don't shop there but I love the Prada store in New York. It's very beautiful and I go there just to soak in the ambience. |
Angeline Chen, 18, fashion design student, spotted in Club Street
What are you wearing? I got my cherry earrings in Guangzhou. My bag's from Shanghai and was designed by a local design student. My dress is from Black Clover at Far East Plaza and my shoes are from Tiong Bahru Market. Describe your sense of style It's eclectic. Gotta have lip balm. Fave shops I shop everywhere, from the local markets to Club 21 stores. |
Dominic Cho, 26, marketing executive, spotted at Parco Bugis Junction
What are you wearing? My shirt is from Zara and my pants are from G2000. My belt is from Giordano and my shoes are from Aldo. Describe your sense of style Practical. I dress for the occasion. Gotta have my watch. Fave shops Zara, Aldo and Pedro. |
Cedric Ng, 39, creative consultant, spotted in Ann Siang Road
What are you wearing? My shirt and jeans are from G-Star while my loafers are from Shubar. My watch is a Philippe Starck. Describe your sense of style I try to dress up whenever there's an opportunity to. Comfort and being able to carry off a look are important. Gotta have my contact lenses. Fave shops G-Star, ck Calvin Klein and Gucci. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Alina Uchida, 33, herbalist, spotted at Capital Tower
What are you wearing? My tank top is from Naf Naf and my skirt is from a boutique in the Katong area. My necklace and slippers were both gifts. My bag is from Tangs. Describe your sense of style I don't follow trends. Gotta have Molecule 01, a body fragrance from Apothecary+Co. Fave shops I like independent boutiques at Raffles City and in Orchard Road. |
Muhammad Hamdan, 20, soon-to-be national serviceman, spotted in Haji Lane
What are you wearing? My fedora is from a shop in Peninsula Plaza. My shirt is from British label PPQ while the vest is from Zara. My belt is from Ben Sherman and my skinnies are from a shop in Far East Plaza. My wallaby boots are from Clarks. Describe your sense of style Individualistic. Gotta have my hat. Fave shops I shop a lot on eBay. |
Harshan Halim, 17, student, spotted in Haji Lane
What are you wearing? My hat is from Collage and my shirt is from Topman. My skinnies are from Queen's Couture and my sneakers are from Leftfoot. I got my pullover on a trip to Indonesia. My glasses are from Queensway Shopping Centre. Describe your sense of style It's a mash-up of various styles ranging from grunge to street. Gotta have a hat. Fave shops I shop mostly in Orchard Road. |
Sara Cheong, 22, design student, spotted outside Liat Towers
What are you wearing? My shirt is from H&M. My jumper and shoes are from a shop in Germany. My tote bag is from last year's Singapore Design Festival and my accessories are from Bits & Pieces. Describe your sense of style Trashy and bohemian. Gotta have my necklace. I wear only one and it must be in silver. Fave shops I love going to Bugis Village. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Jayantilal C., 81, retiree, spotted at his fabric shop, Anil Brothers, in Haji Lane
What are you wearing? My custom-made suit is from the defunct Taai Hing Tailor which used to be in North Bridge Road. My shoes are from a store in Parkway Parade. Describe your sense of style Smart. To me, this is a casual outfit. Gotta have my suits. Fave shops Parkway Parade since it's close to my home. |
Michael Loh, 31, designer, spotted at Old School
What are you wearing? My top is from Belgian designer Raf Simons and my pants are from Comme des Garcons. My shades are from Helmut Lang and my sneakers are by Japanese designer Mihara Yasuhiro. Describe your sense of style It depends on my mood and also on whether I have enough time to put something together. Gotta have a comfortable T-shirt. Fave shops Any second-hand thrift store. |
Sharin Lei, 21, sales retailer, spotted outside Tangs Orchard
What are you wearing? My scarf is from a kiosk at The Centrepoint and my dress and belt are from Far East Plaza. My heels are from Charles & Keith and my bag is from Gucci. Describe your sense of style Flirty and a bit girly. Gotta have blusher. Fave shops None in particular. If something catches my eye, I'll go for it. |
Koh Qianwei, 18, fashion design student, spotted in Ann Siang Road
What are you wearing? My top is from Black Clover and my ring is from Addict. Both shops are in Far East Plaza. My shoes are from there too, but I can't remember the shop's name. I got my skirt from a makeshift store in school while the bag is by Indonesian-based label Nikicio. I got my watch from a shop in Burlington Square. Describe your sense of style Eccentric and psychedelic. I love colour and I'm dressed like this only because I was in school before this. Gotta have concealer. Fave shops They're mostly in Far East Plaza. |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Carolyn Tan, 38, equity sales director, spotted at Capital Tower
What are you wearing? My dress is from Missoni while my shoes are from Sergio Rossi. My necklace and bag are from Chanel. My watch is a Franck Muller. Describe your sense of style Sexy yet elegant. Gotta have SK-II's facial treatment essence. Fave shops Diane von Furstenberg, Missoni, Chloe, Alberta Ferretti. I also shop at The Link a lot. |
Charmaine Seah, 25, producer, spotted at Old School
What are you wearing? My blouse is from Chloe and my shorts are from Cotton On. My necklace is from Marni and my shoes are from Topshop. Describe your sense of style Anything goes. I love matching cheap clothes with expensive ones. Gotta have my rings. Fave shops The shops in Far East Plaza and the second-hand store in my church, Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, in Siglap. |
Muhamed Fariz, 17, student, spotted at Burger King in Liat Towers
What are you wearing? My T-shirt is from Bangkok and my skinnies are from River Island. My shoes are from Diesel and my bag is from Nike. The chain is from Agnes b. while the wristband is from Fila. My shades are from Cotton On. Describe your sense of style Simple with a twist. Gotta have my Nike bag. I carry almost everything in it. Fave shops I'm not into brands. As long as it looks good on me, I'm happy. |
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Aug 15, 2008.