If there’s one thing to take away from this year’s Singapore Art Week 2022, it’s that art is boundless. Art lies in the flawed crevices of Bad Imitation (co-curated by the emerging curator Berny Tan); it sits in the hollow contemplation of joy in the immersive Happy House show by underground music impresario Eileen Chan; it demands discourse, just as For The House, Against The House at Gillman Barracks did.
Fashion is no different. Style is personal. And with the isolation of the waves of the pandemic, came the rise of anti-fashion: a diverse range of style aesthetics that challenge mainstream trend-chasers. From cottagecore to dark academia, more are settling into self-expression through styles they take comfort in, whether they’re in trend or not.
We scoured through exhibitions and galleries in search of personal style at Singapore Art Week, and here are the gems we found.
What are you wearing?
“My top is from Uniqlo’s collaboration with JW Anderson and my bottoms are JW Anderson. My shoes are from a Japanese designer, I believe named Hana, which I got a while ago. My bag is from Dior and my necklace is from Chanel.”
What is your sense of style like?
“I’m adventurous. I like to try out new things. I can be wearing a dress today and be androgynous on another. I’m also versatile; I don’t like to restrict myself when it comes to styling.”
Do you think you look fashionable? And does this matter to you?
“It does. It’s also about respect and manners. I guess it came from my mom. She’d say things like, ‘You’re not leaving the house like that. You’re going to someone’s house, please dress up,’ and that stayed with me.”
What are you wearing?
“I got my top and skirt as a set from Carousell, it was from a Japanese brand — I think it’s deadstock online, so I was really glad to get it. My bag is from Chanel and my boots were gifted to me.”
What were you thinking about when you got dressed today?
“I wanted to go for a very grungy fairy type of vibe.”
Tell us something interesting about you.
“I have a jewellery business on Instagram called @soapybearz; my aesthetic there is very pastel and cute, which contrasts pretty strongly against my own aesthetic. People usually find that pretty shocking.”
What are you wearing?
“I’m going for an academic look today. My jacket is from Muji, I got it last year. It’s made of recycled polyester and it’s pulling threads everywhere so it’s kind of messed up. My pants are Vans and my shoes are Converse, I got them as a gift. My bag is from Cos.”
What were you thinking about when you got dressed today?
“I’m doing my final year project. I have a consultation today so I thought I have to look smart, I have to look put together, I have to look like I read books.”
Tell us something interesting about you.
“I like older men.”
What are you wearing?
“The men’s pants are from Marks & Spencer and my top is from an artist who does animal and plant-inspired pieces on an online store called Morningwitch. My bag is from Naiise and I’ve also got some very old Dr. Martens.”
What were you thinking about when you got dressed today?
“I like colours. I sometimes joke that I’ve to be wearing at least two species of plants or animals on me. I think especially after not getting dressed and being at home so much in the pandemic, now whenever I go out I want to put a lot more thought into it.”
Tell us something interesting about you.
“I’m a poet. I’ve got a book published called Roadkill For Beginners.”
What are you wearing?
“I got my vest from a secondhand store in Greece. It has these two flops in the front and back, it’s really comfy and was really cheap. The bag’s from Cos and was a gift. I made my trousers myself with organza and cotton.”
What were you thinking about when you got dressed today?
“When I go to art events, I usually try to dress up slightly more to feel more engaged with the art. I’m an artist myself and I’m studying curating as well, I think it’s slightly more sincere to do that.”
Tell us something interesting about you.
“Most of the people I know didn’t expect me to study art here. I’m actually from Hong Kong and studied in London. I focused on Southeast Asia in my thesis and wanted to take it further.”
What are you wearing?
“I’m wearing Balenciaga runner sneakers paired with Noid dress trousers, a Christian Dior Saddle bag from the last collection and a Chinese style martial arts shirt.”
What is your sense of style like?
“I like wearing feminine clothing. I don’t like gender-bound clothing, so I tend to wear things that most people would view as a little more feminine.”
Do you think you look fashionable? And does this matter to you?
“I spend far too much money on clothes not to be.”
What are you wearing?
“I got my whole outfit from Taobao.”
What were you thinking about when you got dressed today?
“I wanted to suit the vibe of the art gallery. I didn’t want to look under or overdressed. I wanted to be just nice.”
Do you think you look fashionable? And does this matter to you?
“It does matter to me. I wouldn’t say I’m fashionable, but I do like to dress up. It gives me confidence.”
What are you wearing?
“I’m wearing Prada boots, a Givenchy accordion skirt and a Prada bralette.”
What is your sense of style like?
“I like to wear clothes that old people would hate me for.”
Tell us something interesting about you.
“I have a really deep voice. Everyone who calls me thinks it’s my dad, or my brother, my uncle or my cousin picking up the phone when it’s really me.”
What are you wearing?
“My outfit is a mix of Zara, Muji, and Taobao.”
What were you thinking about when you got dressed today?
“It’s more of draping and having multiple layers on top of what I’m wearing. It creates a striking contrast between each element, which is what I like.”
Tell us something interesting about you.
“I’m into gardening; I love greenery.”
What are you wearing?
“My top and skirt are from Zara, socks are from Uniqlo and I’m wearing Doc Martens. My bag is from Coach.”
What is your sense of style like?
“Comfort. When I eat, as long as my outfit hides my tummy, it’s all good.”
Do you think you look fashionable? And does that matter to you?
“I don’t think I’m fashionable. My boyfriend actually helps me with my outfits.”
What are you wearing?
“My dress is from Zuri Kenya. All their materials are ethically sourced, and their dresses are all of the same silhouettes. My espadrilles are from Manebi, and my bag was a gift.”
What is your sense of style like?
“I’m more eclectic. I’m attracted to textiles and deconstruction, I like what has a story.”
Do you think you look fashionable? And does that matter to you?
“Style is more important to me than fashion. Comfort is key, too.”
What are you wearing?
“My top was a birthday present from Muji, my bottoms are from Uniqlo, and my collar shirt is from H&M. My shoes are from Bata.”
What were you thinking about when you got dressed today?
“I wanted a business casual kind of look, somewhere between going to a meeting and hanging out with friends.”
What is your sense of style like?
“My sense of style mostly involves jackets and hoodies, something to wear over. It’s uncomfortable most of the time because it’s hot and I sweat easily, but I like to cover up.”