In an age when more people seem to want to be social media influencers than they do a lawyer/banker/journalist/insert-traditional-respectable-occupation-here, Yoyo Cao has worked hard to prove that she’s much more than just her 192K Instagram followers (at least that was the number at press time).
Peruse her account and it’s clear that she’s no longer simply a street style star. Her deft hand in layering and breaking down runway looks to make them her own are what still gets her the most attention (including a recent feature on Vogue.com – props, girl), but her flawless sartorial track record really means she’s just One Of The Best Dressed Women Around.
Beyond being a fashion plate, she’s added photographer, stylist and host to her resume. Meanwhile, the fact that she’s managed to build a life that sees her globetrotting for weeks on end to work with brands ranging from SK-II to Louis Vuitton makes it clear that she’s a sharp, savvy, professional businesswoman.
Then of course, there’s her fashion line Exhibit, which has evolved from being a multi-label, cash-and-carry retail store at Far East Plaza to a brand in its own right, worn by industry insiders and coveted by legions of young women who aspire to be like Cao.
Revealed at Singapore Fashion Week at the National Gallery last Friday evening, everything about her Fall Winter 2016 collection – showcased in partnership with footwear giant Charles & Keith (another indication of her business smarts) – only further drove across the point that Cao has ascended the social media influencer tag to be a true millennial fashion creative. Here’s what went through my head as the looks hit the runway.