Meet your new fashion powerhouses – a daring breed of style darlings shaping the way Singaporean women look, feel and dress.
Meet your new fashion powerhouses – a daring breed of style darlings shaping the way Singaporean women look, feel and dress.
The Tastemaker
Nellie Lim, 27, Social Content Creator
Influencer, street style star, strategist. Call her what you will but Nellie lim is a force to be reckoned with on and off the internet. In the realm of social media where you can be on top one day and an outcast the other, this savvy tastemaker has held court amongst Singapore’s top bloggers with an emphasis on highly personalised curation.
Sense of style: “My style strikes a balance between the colourful and feminine, with a touch of edginess. You could call it casual chic but I also pride myself in dressing to stand out from the crowd.”
Body conscious: “I would say I developed my personal style through understanding what style reflects my personality and my body type. It’s one thing for an item to look good on a rack but if it doesn’t suit my body type, it won’t look good on me.”
Go-to look: “I don’t think women actually look up to me when it comes to fashion, that’s an honour that’s reserved for the likes of Victoria Beckham and Diane von Furstenberg! I would think many women appreciate my take on fashion because I don’t dress to be an everyday girl.”
Popular vote: “My followers appreciate me working an item that they won’t even think about buying, and styling it to show that there are many different ways to make an item work with your existing wardrobe.”
The Power Player
Velda Tan, 29, Founder of COLLATE The Label
When thinking of the creative process, inspiration and influence of individuals who are defining the style zeitgeist of our times, one name comes to mind: Velda Tan. Perhaps better known in the business of fashion as an entrepreneurial savant (she co-founded juggernaut e-tailer love, Bonito when she was just 18 after all), Velda has moved on to bigger and better things with her own label.
Fashion mantra: “I’ve always enjoyed expressing myself through fashion, and if I can inspire someone else along the way, then I must be doing something right.”
Everyday digs: “In three words, I’d describe my style as tailored, feminine and modern. It’s definitely evolved from my biker-chic days to a more effortless and comfortable way of dressing. Over the years of experimenting with fashion, I’ve come to accept what fits my body type and personality most, and I think that’s how you develop your own style.”
Favourite designers: “Phoebe Philo, Stella McCartney, Victoria Beckham. I like that they’re all female designers, and on a more serious note, their collections speak to the same strong, independent woman that we at COLLATE design for.”
Women first: “Women inspire me greatly. We are such multi-taskers and multi-hyphenates and to me, the best thing to give them is the gift of time. If I can help these modern time-starved women save time in terms of putting together an outfit, I think my work is worthwhile.”
The Sartorialist
Pek Lay Peng, 32, Founder of SocietyA
Sometimes we tend to forget that fashion can be fun… and then you meet Pek Lay Peng. Her eclectic multi-label platform, societya, houses a collection of sartorial threads that is full of quirky prints, electric colours and coveted items that one could only dream of. One of our favourite newbies to the asian retail scene, it’s Lay Peng’s innate sense of what women want that helps her bring fashion to life.
Style maven: “I would say I am very open to all styles because i appreciate the thought that goes into a design. So, I don’t restrict myself to a certain look. Style is something you come to own, like a journey of self-discovery. It’s an outward expression of an individual.”
The big picture: “I will say that the Singaporean woman is increasingly getting savvier at developing her own voice through her personal style, and fashion choices as well. I see a growing trend of customers who appreciate ‘looks’ more than just ‘pieces’; it’s the whole package where design can be consumed in its entirety with an eye on clothes that help them stand out or convey their individuality.”
Eye for business: “SocietyA is here to do just that for them. What started off as an idea has now become the go-to multi-label platform for asian designers. We are increasingly gaining global traction and attention too, and it’s heartening to see emerging talent knocking on our doors for collaboration opportunities.”
Photos: Alexander Ow
Art Direction: Christina Lim
Hair: Kimmage Salon
Makeup: Ginger Lynette Using Shiseido Cosmetics/Gigi Sng Using Urban Decay
Locations: Loloku/Sprmrkt/Noshery At Nosh
