For the month of Oct, we captured what the party crowd – at the camping-meets-music festival Sunda Festival and the recent rave co-organised by up-and-coming collective Blench and industry fave, Strange Weather – wore when it comes to letting their hair down. We also swung by the Nanyang Technological University in the western part of the island to see what ‘collegiate style’ means for the new gen. Scroll on to see more.
Swing by our TikTok page to view our FEMALE People Cam street interviews
Name: Irdina Riduan
Age: 19
Occupation: Art business student
Spotted at: City Hall
Her fit: “My hijab is by a Malaysian brand called Ameera Zaini. I bought the top from Kuala Lumpur but I don’t remember its brand. My skirt is from Shopee. My Mary Janes are from Charles & Keith and come with pearl anklets. The bag is from Beyond The Vines.”
Her fashion influence: “I used to wear the same all-black outfits to polytechnic almost every single day. But during my internship, I had more opportunities to meet more people with different sense of style and I tried to pick up little influences. My friends are also a great source of fashion inspiration for me.”
Her uniform: “Nowadays, I tend to wear a lot of black skirts or jean skirts. The combination of a dress underneath a top also works great together.”
Her advice for aspiring arts professionals: “Use your time wisely to make connections and do more networking.”
Name: Tengku Raphael
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Spotted at: Bugis
His fit: “My shirt is from Dickies. I cut a pair of Calvin Klein jeans to create these shorts. My bag is from Gucci. I’m wearing a Rolex Daytona watch and a Cartier full-paved diamond bracelet. My boots are from Dr. Martens while my sunglasses are from Shopee.”
His favourite designer label: “I love Prada for its simplicity and chicness. You can never go wrong with black or Prada in my opinion.”
His obsession: “I love cars – mainly luxury sports cars.”
A surprising fact about himself: “I’m actually a picky eater.”
Name: They prefer to go by just “Stella”
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Spotted at: Bugis
Their fit: “The jacket and leg warmers are from a Japanese brand called ACDC Rag. The hair clip is from Japan too but I don’t remember its brand. The top and shorts are from Taobao.”
Their personal style: “I’m inspired a lot by Japanese street style but I try to adapt it to be more comfortable in Singapore’s weather as the style tends to feature a lot of layering.”
The most precious thing in their wardrobe: “My sock garters! They add flavour to any outfit and are just so versatile. I like how the sock garters can read as playful and boyish or sexy and mature or even edgy and cool depending on the outfit I’m wearing.”
An interesting fact about them: “I like dancing so much that I have a room in my house that’s been converted to a mini dance studio complete with a wall mirror!”
Name: They prefer to be known as “Milk”
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Spotted at: Bugis
Their fit: “The shirt is from a store in Queensway Shopping Centre while the inner top is from Taobao. I got the fishnet tights from Seoul and the cargo pants from Shopee.”
Favourite label: “Currently, it’s Chinese label 卿棠原创 QingTang YuanChang (QingTang Originals). I really enjoy incorporating more cultural aesthetics into modern dressing – something which the brand does really well. It also has nice prints that always look unique.”
Her fashion peeve: “People who follow trends blindly and regret their decisions. If you don’t know how to dress yourself, then you don’t know yourself as a person. And that’s why you’re following trends aimlessly. Trends can be nice when you know when they work for you.”
A surprising fact about them: “I do my hair by myself – from cutting to bleaching to dyeing. I love that I can delude myself into thinking I’m not paying money so I can spend it more on anime merch.”
Name: She goes by “Ave”
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Spotted at: Plaza Singapura
Her fit: “My jacket is a gift from a friend while the skirt is from an online shop but I don’t remember the brand. My mother gifted the shoes to me.”
Where she gets her hair done: “I change my hair colour all the time and dye it myself because getting it done outside is too expensive for me.”
Her personal style: “I think I’m still searching for it.”
A fashion designer she loves: “John Galliano.”
Name: Joanna Lim
Age: 29
Occupation: Fashion designer and founder of JoannaLSM
Spotted at: Singapore Design Week
Her fit: “I’m wearing a dress that I designed myself. The bag is from Alexander McQueen while the sunglasses are from Prada. The boots are from Charles & Keith. My rings are a mix of a thrift piece from South Korea, a Gucci design and a prototype I made that contains an NFC chip. The necklace is a prototype as well.”
Her favourite designer: “Alexander McQueen. He was renowned for his innovative and creative designs, constantly pushing the boundaries of fashion with his unique and often avant-garde creations. What truly captivated me were his theatrical and dramatic runway shows, where fashion transcends being mere clothing and becomes a form of art.”
The most precious item in her wardrobe:“Undoubtedly the competition leotards from my time competing in various gymnastic disciplines in school. My absolute favourite piece is a stunning gold and black Rhythmic gymnastic leotard. It is a work of art that is fully embellished with sequins and crystals and holds countless memories of my passion for the sport.”
A little-known fact about herself: “I almost pursued a career in military intelligence but decided to try my luck and apply to a fashion school a week before the application deadline.”
Name: Afiq Anwar
Age: 28
Occupation: Audio engineer and interior designer
Spotted at: Singapore Design Week
His fit: “I thrifted the Donna Karan pants from The Luggage Market. The coat is a vintage piece while the boots are thrift finds as well. The bag is from Kate Spade New York.”
Favourite fashion era: “The ’80s. I love watching shows like Dynasty and seeing their wardrobe of big shoulders and cinched-waisted silhouettes.”
Favourite designer: “Vivienne Westwood. The way she drew influences from punk culture resonates with me.”
Big bag or small bag: “A big bag for practical reasons.”
Name: Clarita Saslim
Age: 26
Occupation: Art director
Spotted at: Singapore Design Week
Her fit: “I got the top from a store in Funan. The corset is from an online shop but I don’t remember what the brand is. The skirt is from Taobao while the tote bag is from (multi-disciplinary creative studio) Kult where I work. The shoes are a pre-loved pair hat I bought from Carousell.”
Favourite fashion labels: “This is so hard to choose! But if I had to pick, it would be Indonesian labels Kain Menggah Agung and Manikan. I’ve recently rediscovered my love for traditional textiles and am obsessed with all the different types of kain; there are so many beautiful ways to style them.”
Favourite musician at the moment: “(Singapore folk-pop artiste) Lewloh. I recently saw him perform live and he was really good.”
A surprising fact about her: “I can list the 50 American states from, left to right in geographic order.”
Name: Glenn Lai
Age: 20
Occupation: Fashion intern
Spotted at: Singapore Design Week
His fit: “The hat is from Hong Kong. I stole the Cos sweater from my brother’s closet. My shirt is from Zara which I had cropped by myself. The pants are from Cos. The loafers are by G.H. Bass.”
A fashion trend he is done with: “Y2K.”
His favourite designer label: “Bottega Veneta. I really enjoy Matthieu Blazy’s ability to innovate and reimagine textiles using leather. I absolutely love his ability to play around with textures and form while maintaining an overall clean and refined look.”
An interesting fact about him: “I’m an aviation nerd and love planes!”
Name: Charmaine Tan
Age: 25
Occupation: Art director
Spotted at: Sunda Festival
Her fit: “I have no idea where my top is from – I just dug it out from the bottom of my closet. The knit vest is a thrifted from Japan and the jeans are from Kuose. My necklace is also from Japan while the shoes are from Dr. Martens. My bag is from Rauco House and I’m carrying a cooler that belongs to my friend Ashley.”
Her favourite fashion labels: “I love Korean labels Treemingbird and Raucohouse. I love wide and roomy pants but it is surprisingly hard to find ones that fit right, especially when you are a tall girl in Singapore. I always hit up these two labels when I’m looking for something a little more unique and wearable; I appreciate the fact their designs won’t cut off awkwardly at my ankles.”
Most precious item in her wardrobe: “A pair of Armani shades that belonged to my mom. She’s always wearing them in all of my childhood photos and now they have been passed down to me. I think it is really nice when you take care of things and they last through the generations.”
A surprising fact about her: “I love fishing.”
Name: Simran Kaur
Age: 25
Occupation: Graphic designer
Spotted at: Sunda Festival
Her fit: “The whole outfit is from Chatuchak Market in Bangkok. The bag is from Baggu and my sandals are from (sustainability-focused label) Hijack Sandals. My sunglasses are from @crapeyewear on Instagram.”
Her favourite fashion label: “My favourite fashion label is Story Mfg (the British nature-led label run by husband-and-wife duo Saeed and Katy Al-Rubeyi). I love the ethos behind the brand and its sustainability mission.
The most cherished item in her wardrobe: “A floral jacket that I thrifted years ago in London.”
A surprising fact about her: “I absolutely hate cinnamon.”
Name: Farah Sudiro
Age: 25
Occupation: Fashion designer
Spotted at: Strange Weather x Blench party
Her fit: “My top and tights are thrifted. The shorts belong to my dad. I found my Marithe et Francois Girbaud boots from Carousell. The bag is from Taobo while the furry hair clips are from Shopee.”
Her aesthetic: “I’m into mindless layering and styling. I like mixing things that don’t make sense together.”
Where she hangs out a lot at right now: “I’ve been going to the gym more nowadays – so I guess you can say that.”
Name: Lau Wan Ying
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Spotted at: Strange Weather x Blench party
Her fit: “The top is from Sweet Chilling. I got the skirt from a thrift store in Queensway Shopping Centre. The bag is a thrift find from Japan. I don’t remember the brand of the boots but I’ve had them for a long time. The starfish necklace is by En Route Jewelry.”
Her aesthetic: “Hippie-beach-boho-core.”
Her favourite designer label: “Mirror Palais (the sustainable New York label by Marcelo Gaia). I don’t own any of its designs yet but I hope to someday.”
A surprising fact about her: “I cook and sell chilli crab.”
Name: Ethan Lee
Age: 27
Occupation: Tennis coach and founder of fashion label Fassbender & Mellon Collie
Spotted at: Strange Weather x Blench party
Favourite label: “Kapital. I’ve always been a fan of its eccentric Japanese infusion into Americana clothing and paraphernalia.”
The most precious fashion item he owns: “A deconstructed blazer from TakahiromiyashitaTheSoloist that I wore when I got married.”
A fun fact about himself: “I don’t eat vegetables.”
Name: Nicole Wong
Age: 27
Occupation: Creative director
Spotted at: Strange Weather x Blench party
Her fit: “I thrifted the top and skirt from Kuala Lumpur. I got the jewellery belt from Malaysia as well. The boots are from Plop.”
A local store she loves: “I love Plop (at Haji Lane) because I love baggy jeans and they have the best selection of the style.”
Her favourite designer label: “Black Sign for its dark 1920s-1940s-inspired workwear with a Japanese twist.”
A little-known fact about her: “I played competitive tennis for almost my whole life.”
Name: Bi Qi
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Spotted at: Strange Weather x Blench party
Her fit: “What I’m wearing is actually calamitous. I thrifted the tank top in Greece while the skirt is something I got from my friend. The bag is from Charles & Keith and the boots are from Taobao.”
What influences her aesthetic: “Bella Hadid, anything vintage or thrift and Sandy Liang.”
The most precious item she owns: “It’s a tie between a Blumarine skirt that I thrifted for one euro and a vintage Mugler jacket that I bought five minutes before the store closed. Ironically, I’ve never worn them out because don’t want to get them dirty.”
Big bag or small bag: “I’d say a big backpack – because I’m in school.”
Name: She prefers to go by only “Chervin”
Age: 23
Occupation: She prefers not to disclose
Spotted at: Strange Weather x Blench party
Her fit: “My top is from a Chinese label called Commence which retails on Taobao. My skirt is also from Taobao. The boots are Dr. Martens and have been with me since 2015. The bag is my mum’s and the belt is thrifted.”
Favourite designer: “One designer who has really caught my attention lately is (Singapore-born New York-based designer) Grace Ling. Her designs are a mesmerising fusion of eccentricity, elegance and timelessness. What makes her stand out is her innovative use of 3D elements in fashion. I especially love the ‘butt bag’ and her latest Neverland collection.”
Most precious item in her wardrobe: “That would have to be my Ann Demeulemeester combat boots.”
Name: Christy Yeo
Age: 23
Occupation: Design student
Spotted at: Haji Lane
Her fit: “My top is from Carousell. My skort is from Primark and the belt and bag are thrift finds from a random shop in London. My boots are a recent buy from Asos.”
What she does in her free time: “I have been trying to crochet – though horribly.”
On her shopping habit: “I like to experiment with the pieces I get when I’m shopping and I also like to share clothes with my friends.”
Her fashion red flag: “If a person is not willing to try things. I think fashion should be fun and explorative. You should feel free to try anything new.”
Name: Jrome Dior
Age: 19
Occupation: Fashion designer of soon-to-be-launched independent label Kyoto1
Spotted at: Haji Lane
His fit: “Actually, all of the clothes I’m wearing today are not really mine – they’re my friends’. We like to share clothes and stuff. The top and sunglasses are from Balenciaga. The pants are from an op-shop. The bag is by Prada and the rings are by Chrome Hearts and The Great Frog. The shoes are Osiris D3.”
The aesthetic of his label: “Upcycled and deconstructed clothes, mix with a few futuristic vibes.”
On his shopping habit: “I used to. Right now, I’m just reusing old clothes and upcycling pieces.”
The most expensive item in his wardrobe: “A Jean Paul Gaultier jacket that I bought in Dover Street Market Singapore for around $5,000.”
Name: Amirul Sufyan
Age: 24
Occupation: Student
Spotted at: Nanyang Technological University
His fit: “I bought this shirt during a sale at Cotton On. The jorts are from Mustafa Centre. The shoes are from Dr. Martens while the messenger bag is from Shein. The watch is a gift I got during my National Service for my time serving the nation.”
On whether he follows fashion trends: “Not quite, but I do like to keep track of them now and then. I’m into cropped tops now and have already cut about five tops. I feel like the style elevates the proportion of my fits.”
The most precious item in his wardrobe: “My Dr. Martens’ Mary Janes which I’m wearing in this photo. I got them when I was a super broke polytechnic student. When I saw that they were one sale on Asos, I copped them real quick even though I knew my bank balance would be even lower. I think they’re pretty unique and I’ve been wearing them for more than five years now. I still find them to be the most valuable pair of shoes that I own.”
A surprising fact about himself: “I can’t swim because of trauma. I went through a kayaking course in secondary school and was left stranded alone while a storm was brewing. Everyone was already near the shore while I was circling around in the middle of the sea. Ever since then, I have been afraid of doing water-related activities.”
Name: Berenice Chao
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Spotted at: Nanyang Technological University
Her fit: “My shirt is an H&M piece that was gifted to me by my friend. The tank top is from Uniqlo while the shorts are from Pull & Bear. My baby head necklace is from @inntentions on Instagram while the frog ring is from a shop in Japan. I’m wearing Charles & Keith boots – because #SupportLocal.”
Favourite designer labels: “I love Iris van Herpen. I’m amazed by the complexity and intricacy of its craftsmanship and how it pushes the boundaries in fashion, like incorporating kinetics movement into its designs. I’m quite inspired by them in some of my own design processes as well. I also love (Kosovo-Albanian designer) Lirika Matoshi for its romantic yet playful designs. I started paying attention to its collections after its strawberry dress went viral during the pandemic. I feel the brand portrays femininity in a way that is both sophisticated and light-hearted – and alternative in a cute way, which is an aesthetic that I usually gravitate towards.”
The most precious item in her wardrobe: “A black faux leather jacket that I got from a shop in Tokyo’s (bohemian district of) Shimokitazawa. I spent a long time deciding if I should get it and I’m glad I did because I got it at a super affordable price for its quality. It’s super versatile and has a drop-shoulder design, which is hard to find. I feel like everyone needs one good jacket that people can remember you by.”
One surprising fact about her: “I usually prefer loud and heavier genres of music – although people usually don’t expect that because of my personality and my way of dressing most of the time.”
Name: Shreya Acharya
Age: 22
Occupation: Design student
Spotted at: Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
Her fit: “I thrifted my top from Lucky Plaza for around $5. If I’m not wrong, I also thrifted the skirt for the same price. I bought my boots in India and the bag from Shopee. My accessories are mainly thrifted fromt stores in Katong, Little India and India, and a few of them are from Daiso. The beaded bracelet and bag charms are from Jhukanbeaded and Goopsies – which are small businesses owned by a friend.”
Her uniform: “I’m usually in jeans and a cropped top, but since I’m selling butterfly embroidery pieces today (for the Rabbit Hole Bazaar by NTU’s School of Art, Design & Media Student Club), I thought, ‘Why not wear a butterfly-printed shirt?’.”
Why she loves making embroidery: “It’s quite therapeutic and has become a form of meditation for me. It makes me focus on the fact that I’m just threading again and again… and it helps me calm down.”
Name: Su Su Yanadar Htun
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Spotted at: Nanyang Technological University
Her fit: “The jacket is from Zara. Both the top and pants are from Shein. The sneakers are from Nike. I don’t remember the name of the local store where I got my necklace from.”
Her favourite luxury brand: “Van Cleef & Arpels because everything it does looks so luxurious. The first thing I’ll be buying when I get a full-time job is a piece of jewellery from it.”
The most precious item in her wardrobe: “I was on a sewing craze during the pandemic and handmade a bag for myself. It’s done very haphazardly but I treasure it because it’s the only thing I wear that wasn’t ‘bought’ and it makes me feel really good about myself. I would handmake my entire wardrobe if I could.”
A surprising fact about her: “I occasionally think about owning or living on a farm.”
Name: Muhammad Zahin Bin Mohd Ali
Age: 28
Occupation: Student
Spotted at: Nanyang Technological University
Their fit: “The shirt and necklace are from Shopee. The Giordano pants are thrifted. The glasses are from Owndays while the shoes are from Gucci. I’m wearing rings from various brands, including Gucci and Maison Margiela.”
Their favourite designer: “Alessandro Michele, mostly for his take on maximalist designs, especially how eccentric the runways would be during his time in Gucci.”
The music they listen to: “Post-hardcore has always been a thing for me. My playlist has always been made up of ‘angry music’. I’m not an angry person by nature but sometimes you just have to let it go – especially when you are on public transport just to quell any anger inside because people smell.”
Name: Natalie Ong
Age: 21
Occupation: Student and freelance artist
Spotted at: Nanyang Technological University
Her fit: “The jacket is from a store in Bugis Street. The T-shirt is a merch by a senior who majors in film. The pants are from Cotton On – I love everything about it, including the flare and the length. My boots are by Steve Madden. The ‘centrepiece’ of my outfit is the necklace made by @restylemon on TikTok.”
What she doesn’t mind splurging on: “Art supplies.”
Her dream job: “Me working from home in my loft in Orchard with two cats.”
An artist she loves: “I love talking about Singapore artists – and veteran artist Amanda Heng slays. She’s the standard for performance art. She takes mundane practices and turns them into something with a greater meaning. Her work called Let’s Chat features her sitting down at an entire table plucking beansprouts with others and having conversations. It’s a simple act but conveys a special message about community and this very special Asian experience.”
