Stephanie (left) in Faith Connexion tweed shirt, Surrender, and leather belt, Gucci. Carol (far right) in polyester dress, Pleats Please Issey Miyake. All other items, their own

The look

Anti-kawaii, slow life-inspired Japanese fashion that gives one the appearance of an artist/carpenter/someone who leads a bucolic life. Also, only neutral colours, please.

Fashion heroes

Rei Kawakubo (duh) and Hiroki Nakamura, founder of Visvim

The demographic

Defined not so much by age or occupation, but the belief that everything cool hails from the Land of The Rising Sun. Here we have (from left) gallery manager Stephanie Hsueh, IT specialist George Lee, senior sales engineer Chan Chee Young, and HR adviser Carol Minyt.

Most likely to be seen at

Muji, Aesop, lifestyle boutiques Atomi and Supplies & Company, and hair salon Kizuki+Lim 

Fashion must-haves

Anti-maximalist staples with thoughtful details from the likes of Comme des Garcons and Y’s. Engineered Garments, Beams Plus, Kapital and Orslow are their go-to labels for casual wear.

Text & Styling Imran Jalal Photography Vee Chin Styling Assistant Christabel Teo Hair Miho Kimura/Itto+Lim Salon & Christvian Goh, using Kevin Murphy Makeup Benedict Choo, using Urban Decay & Priscelia Wong Ying Cui, using Motives Cosmetics

This story first appeared in Female’s June 2018 print issue.