Two decades ago, we started this to seek out everyday folks with star power. Then, we shook things up last year by turning it into an IG-led search for Singapore’s next fashion stars. This month, it’s back (20th anniversary guys!) and the only thing that’s changed are the 10 men and 10 women.
There is a Comme des Garcons fanatic, a designer whose effortless basics have earned her a mini cult following, even a fashion industry insider whose monochromatic dressing is nothing if not edgy. Sounds like a riot?
Style Icon: Rei Kawakubo. She’s always pushing the limits with her mostly all-black collection (I am not a fan of colour). And I love how stylish she is, even at 73!
Three words that describe your style: Androgynous, edgy, classic.
Three must-haves: Leather jackets, brogues and basic tees.
Watch Parveen’s video interview and follow her on Instagram.
Three words that describe your style: Ambiguous, sharp and conventional.
Favourite designers and/or brands: Raf Simons and Yohji Yamamoto for their extreme versatility. Simons switches effortlessly between designing for haute couture (Dior) and more mainstream labels like Adidas, while Yamamoto produces avant-garde pieces for his own label, even as he creates trends under the Adidas Y-3 collaboration.
Style tip: Having a versatile hairstyle allows you to create different looks. But on bad hair days, throw on a hat.
What you love about fashion: There are no strict rules to follow, and it’s ever-changing. A fashion faux pas a decade ago could be trending today and vice versa.
Watch Mervyn’s video interview and follow him on Instagram.
Three must haves: All my black essentials: leather boots, oversized wool capes and loose-fitting midi dresses.
One wardrobe item you can wear with anything: My worn-to-death black boots. I wear them with everything from white ankle-length culottes to wide-legged pants and girlie midi dresses.
Style tip: Lipstick. I’m never without my dark lippie – it adds instant drama and intensity, elevating my look so I can go from the office to an evening do easily.
Favourite designers and/or brands: Maison Margiela, Celine and Cos. I love minimalist clothes with intricate, expert construction – the subtlety and attention to detail draw me in.
Watch Isabella’s video interviewand follow her on Instagram.
Signature look: I wear a clash of different styles, but I particularly love adding bohemian elements to my daily outfits.
Style tip: Change your footwear. I switch from casual shoes like sneakers to heeled black booties when I need to look pulled together.
Favourite designers and/or brands: Na-kd for its perfect blend of edgy and girlie.
Watch Denise’s video interview and follow her on Instagram.
Tips on acing an OOTD: A statement piece coupled with self-confidence. The setting plays a big role too – I avoid busy streets and prefer to shoot in quiet alleys.
What you love about fashion: It allows me to play different characters.
Favourite designers and/or brands: Oscar de la Renta, Elie Saab and Prabal Gurung for their innate understanding of a woman’s body. Their beautiful fabrics and design perfectly complement our shape. My go-to labels for a casual, on-trend look are Asos, Zara, J.Crew and Reformation.
Watch Soma’s video interview and follow her on Instagram.
Three words that describe your style: Understated, relaxed, classic.
Style icon: James Dean. His style was simple, effortless and understated yet elegant. The way he wore casual outfits made them look like a million bucks.
Favourite designers and/or brands: Korean menswear designer Juun.J. His streetwear-meets-avant-garde aesthetics intrigue me. I’m drawn to silhouettes that are masculine and feminine, fragmented yet assembled.
Watch Daniel’s video interview and follow him on Instagram.
What “best-dressed” means to you: It’s more a reflection of your attitude and personality, not so much what you wear.
Style icon: George Clooney, for the ease with which he pulls off red-carpet-ready looks with panache every time.
One wardrobe item you can wear with anything: My newsboy cap, which is versatile and timeless, and lends a mysterious air to my look.
Watch Zaccheuss’ video interview and follow him on Instagram.
Style icon: Key from K-pop boy group Shinee. I also get a lot of new ideas and inspiration from social media stars like Yoyo Cao and Charles Lam (@char1es).
One wardrobe item you can wear with anything: A tailored coat. It lends structure to any outfit, and makes me look pulled together with minimal effort.
Style tip: Mix and match varying textures and fabrics like wool and silk, which can go with denim or structured pants for a casual yet stylish vibe.
Watch Kar Wai’s video interview and follow him on Instagram.
Style icon: No one in particular, although I’m constantly trawling through stylish streetwear feeds on Instagram like @hypebae (the female version of Hypebeast) and @stylesightworldwide for inspiration.
Three must-haves: Distressed denim shorts, basic white tees and bomber jackets.
One wardrobe item you can wear with anything: A well-cut white tee that can be layered to create different looks. The styling options are endless, really.
Style tip: I’m more into street style, so to tone things down, I’ll always undo a button or zipper on my jacket, or roll up my jacket or shirt sleeves.
Watch Cinddie’s video interview and follow her on Instagram.
Three words that describe your style: Classic, preppy, idiosyncratic.
One wardrobe item you can wear with anything: A white Oxford shirt. It works whether I’m going for a business casual look with a tailored jacket, or more of a street vibe with jeans, a baseball cap and sneakers. You can even pair it with floral shorts – just fold up the sleeves neatly.
What you love about fashion: It’s like music; there are new hits being released weekly, yet the classics always have their place. And putting on the right outfit is like listening to your favourite tune – it sets your mood for the day.
Watch Jonathan’s video interview and follow him on Instagram.
Style icon: Rihanna. She’s bold, courageous, and effortlessly pulls off any look with attitude and flair. Her style emulates her personality, and that’s unique in itself.
Three must-haves: Vintage dresses, lots of denim and outerwear.
What you love about fashion: What’s not to love? Colours, textures, embellishments; all things that awaken the senses and liven the mood. Sure, it can be frivolous, but I think there’s enough seriousness in the world.
Watch Chahat’s video interview and follow her on Instagram.
Three must-haves: Hats, rings, leather bags.
Style tip: When getting dressed, I always start with footwear. It’s much easier to work backwards – find a matching bottom followed by a top.
Favourite designers and/or brands: Takahiro Miyashita for his attention to detail and designs that reflect a mix of cultures, and Maurizio Amadei for his unique understanding and experimentation with fabric and leather in his clothing and accessories.
Watch Darren’s video interview and why we’re into Omitir Concepts’ latest collection.
What “best-dressed” means to you: Not overdressing. You have to wear the right outfit for the right occasion and not overdo it. Of course, it’s also about being confident and comfortable in your look.
Tips on acing an OOTD: Be candid, keep things natural and move around. So my OOTDs are usually shot walking or in mid-action. SIGNATURE LOOK My Stan Smith sneakers work with everything.
Style tip: Wear glasses. Not only does it add an element of sophistication (and perceived intelligence!), it can even hide certain imperfections.
Follow him on Instagram.
Three words that describe your style: Quirky, street, experimental.
One wardrobe item you can wear with anything: A sleeveless A-line dress, like the ones you see in boudoir dressing. Wear it alone, layer it over a T-shirt, or under one for a skirt look.
Signature look: Sneakers with mid-ankle socks, boyfriend jeans rolled up at the hem, and a basic tee.
Favourite designers and/or brands: Comme des Garcons, House of Holland and Lazy Oaf for their quirkiness.
Watch Grace’s video interview and follow her on Instagram.
Style icon: Johnny Depp, for how he looks just the right amount of put together, seems comfortable in whatever he wears, and always maintains his unique personal style.
One wardrobe item you can wear with anything: A casual linen jacket. It goes with everything, from shorts and sandals to a shirt and dress pants.
Style tip: I don’t like looking too polished, so I’ll untuck my shirt and roll the hems of my pants unequally.
Watch Jasper’s video interview and follow him on Instagram.
Signature look: I like simple, well-finished, tailored pieces, but I’ll add an interesting twist by colourblocking my separates from the same colour range, like blush on rose or camel on tan.
Three must-haves: Slip dresses, slides and simple accessories.
Style tip: Layer your outfits – it makes you look like you put a little more thought into them. Just make sure you don’t add bulk or end up being too hot for our climate.
Watch Monica’s video interview and follow her on Instagram.
Three words that describe your style: Polished, modern, clean.
Tips on acing an OOTD: Know your style and what suits your body type – not all trends look good on everyone. When all else fails, throw on a vest or blazer for an instant outfit upgrade.
Three must-haves: White shirts, wide-legged pants and vests.
Watch Laveena’s video interview and follow her on Instagram.
Signature look: I’m into big hats like wide-brimmed fedoras – I like how they resemble a halo. And I always wear my shirts tucked in as it elongates the body and makes legs appear longer.
One wardrobe item you can wear with anything: A turtleneck. Channel the ’60s (think The Beatles and mod) or layer it under a blazer and pair with well-tailored pants for night. My go-to look: a dark turtleneck tucked into belted trousers, and classic Derby shoes or loafers.
Favourite designers and/or brands: In terms of design, the late Alexander McQueen. I respect how his creations had the power to challenge and alter society’s notions of beauty. I also like Versace, Kenzo, Lanvin, Juun.J, Dolce & Gabbana and Givenchy – they’ve perfected the balance between high-fashion and street, fantasy and reality.
Watch Anzahari’s video interview and follow him on Instagram.
Three words that describe your style: Street, moody, monochrome.
Signature look: A Comme des Garcons jacket, black or white tee, black three-quarter pants, sneakers and cap.
Style icon: A$AP Rocky – for the way he mixes streetwear and high fashion.
Watch Kelvin’s video interview and follow him on Instagram.
Signature look: You’ll usually find me in oversized clothing.
Style tip: Chokers. They complete my look, especially when I’m wearing something low cut.
Favourite designers and/or brand: Vetements, Raf Simons, Yohji Yamamoto, Comme des Garcons, Rick Owens… I could go on. Apart from the designs, I love their philosophies. I recently watched the Yohji Yamamoto film Dressmaker, and his mantra resonated with me: If you’re going to do things half-heartedly and you don’t love what you do, then stop doing it.
Watch Julian’s video interview and follow her on Instagram.
This story first appeared in Female‘s November 2016 issue.
Like this? Vote for your favourite Female GP 2016 finalist, check out the stylish Singaporeans we spotted at Michael Kors’ flagship store opening party and the Singapore fashion brand Instagram accounts you need to follow.