A Singapore label she discovered recently
“Max Tan. I like that even though he predominantly uses black (in his designs), he can create many bold looks (out of it) that are edgy and dramatic – all while being wearable at the same time.”
A local brand she thinks deserves more attention
“In Good Company. Their designs are incredibly wearable, and I would even compare them with (international brands) like Cos. If more people know about them, they have the potential to make it big on the international stage. I can even pick up some Plain Vanilla cupcakes (at the in-house cafe in its store at #B1-06 Ion Orchard) while shopping there.”
Favourite place to shop in Singapore
“Tangs. They have a great mix of both international and local designers, and a really good accessories department that many may not know about, such as Paris-based accessory label Yazbukey, which I’m fond of for its cool, quirky offerings.”
Go-to brands for work
“Beyond The Vines and Rye. They carry extremely wearable classics but with great details (like Rye’s geometric-patterned lines). They make great white shirts and shirt dresses that I can’t live without too.”
Favourite local brand for off-duty outfits
“For a girl’s night out, it’d definitely be Stolen (see why we’re excited for their show in SGFW) – their pieces are prim and proper in the front and party in the back.”
The person she turns to for styling advice
“My brother, Brandon Seah. He works for Thom Browne in New York and he has such a great eye for style and what works for me. He’s brutally honest, so he’d never let me wear something that doesn’t look good. He’s also able to rationalise with me on the things I should (or shouldn’t) splurge on.”
One styling trick for a night out
“Instead of wearing heavy eye makeup, I would try to find the brightest, boldest lipstick shades.”
Favourite OOTD spots
“Across our office, there’s an old engineering warehouse where the walls are painted in incredible shades of pink, green and yellow, which adds character to any outfit. Simply put, there’s no shortage of cool walls along the whole Jalan Besar area (near the office).”
How she thinks perceptions of Singapore fashion have changed
“Previously, people had the impression that Singapore labels weren’t something worth paying for (in terms of quality). But in recent years, we’ve seen how they have completely changed up the game and proven that our designers can certainly compete in a global stage. In short, it’s cool to wear local pieces now.”
Like this? See Female Collective member Charmaine Seah-Ong’s favourite designers, top 10 travel essentials, and her tips on beating stress.
