DAYS after Tan Yoong and Thomas Wee showed their respective collections at the Singapore Fashion Festival, I am still dizzy from the one-two punch of dazzling local talent.

Tan Yoong showed his collection last Monday, while Thomas Wee presented his last Tuesday.

For me, this year's Singapore Fashion Festival will always be remembered for the much-needed return of these two stalwarts.

The annual festival, which started on 28 Mar, ended yesterday with ck Calvin Klein closing the show at the official event venue: The marquee built at Ngee Ann City.

Oh, I cooed to a fashion insider, how I wished either one of the two veteran designers had opened or closed the event.

This year, Matthew Williamson opened and ck Calvin Klein closed.

If that had happened, I would even forgive the dismal selection of foreign models (one looked like comedian Kumar, while another walked with her right arm plastered to her side).

This fashion insider - years and years in the scene, with ears in high places - said that would be impossible because the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) would want only international names for those two important slots.

I was appalled. Isn't that just a tad narrow-minded?

But STB assured me that is not the case.

Mr Andrew Phua, its director of cluster development, tourism shopping and dining, said: 'We'll not rule out the possibility of having a local name open or close the festival.'

Mr Phua cannot say exactly when this might happen, but added: 'We should be proud of our designers and use this (the festival) to groom them to international standards.'

So, in celebration of the big splash that Singaporean talents made this year, here are five highlights of this year's Singapore Fashion Festival, not in order of merit:

• TAN YOONG

The most sought-after tickets, pre-festival, was for the Tan Yoong/Lee Hwa show.

After all, this show marked Tan Yoong's return to the catwalk scene after 17 years.

His signature style of subdued drama is still going strong - his pieces are stunning and perfect for the night out. It'll be hard not to feel like a movie star or royalty in his gowns.

• THOMAS WEE

When I saw those glorious Thomas Wee jackets, I was enchanted.

They were gorgeously constructed and impeccable.

I was in rapture and wished I could wear his coats down Orchard Road.

The collection reaffirms his status as Singapore's titan of fashion.

And I can picture the cast of the upcoming Sex & The City movie wearing the clothes out for cocktails.

• NIC WONG

I think Nicholas Wong is very underrated.

His style is modern and simple, and he seems to understand what the working girl will want in her wardrobe.

• SVEN TAN

Some call alldressedup designer Sven Tan the Thomas Wee of his generation, and that is the biggest compliment there is.

With the support of The Link, Sven seems likeliest to be Singapore's next big international talent.

• ALFIE LEONG

Aflie Leong's label Mu (wood, in Mandarin) has, pardon the pun, taken root.

His collection, shown during the Singapore Fashion Rules! show, was clearly an extension of what he knows best - interesting hems and necklines, voluminous shapes and edgy designs without losing commercial viability.