ISSUE 3O

april

CHARLI XCX BY NICK KNIGHT

Gucci Ancora, Spring Summer 2024
By David Sims
CONTENTS
038
InVOGUE
026 SHAZZA
The Singaporean musician sheds
light on honing her craft and the
fusion of fashion and music.

028 POP ART

From political statements to
larger-than-life expression, fashion
and music have always been
intertwined. For Vogue Singapore’s
‘Pop’ issue, one editor explores a
relationship as old as time.

032 SHORT CUT

This spring/summer 2024, it’s all
about keeping it sexy and short—
just take cues from Gucci, Marni
and Acne Studios.

034 TAKE A HINT

With summer upon us, explore
myriad ways to keep cool and
reveal skin.

036 NEW SCHOOL

Shorts are a must-have for an
equal parts stylish and practical
wardrobe. This season, try
knee-grazing silhouettes, ruffled
hemlines and snakeskin prints
for size.

038 FRINGE BENEFIT

Who can forget the fringed Prada
skirts that made their way down
Milan’s runway? Incorporate
the detail in striking and subtle 048 BUCKLE UP 060 LOVE LETTER
ways, from frilled heels to Givenchy’s cool-meets- H&M’s spring 2024 collection
tasseled dresses. sophisticated bag line gets celebrates contemporary
a sparkling update with the femininity and romance through a
040 GET LOW Voyou Chain. rebirth of wardrobe treasures.
The battle of the midriff has been
a longstanding one. While Loewe 050 MOVING PACES 062 LOOKING AHEAD
defined the season’s silhouette Capturing the ethereal essence The new Gucci Ancora campaign
with ultra-high-waisted trousers, of the spring/summer 2024 celebrates the individuality,
Burberry, Miu Miu and Duran season, Hollywood darling modernity and timeless
Lantink explored elongating the Tilda Swinton models Chanel’s allure of the spring/summer
torso in interesting ways. blooming offerings. 2024 collection.

042 SUBVERSIVE CLASSICS 058 GET READY-TO-LIVE 064 ROMANTIC GETAWAY

During an intimate preview in Love, Bonito celebrates the As part of its spring/summer 2024
Seoul, Vogue Singapore’s editor- transformative journey of show on the historical Avenue des
in-chief, Desmond Lim, speaks to womanhood with five brand Champs-Élysées, Louis Vuitton
fashion designer Rok Hwang about ambassadors, exciting design explored the many facets of travel.
his collaboration with H&M. launches and more.
072 THE EDIT
044 TRUE D-SIRE 059 THE FLIP SIDE Channel your inner pop star with
Referencing the iconic shape and Introducing the Fendi Flip: a sleek- pieces from the hottest young
silhouette of the Lady Dior, the meets-versatile clutch that made its Asian designers to know right now.
new Dior D-Sire bag reimagines debut on Milan’s spring/summer
traditional house codes and style. 2024 runways.

14
CONTENTS
099

BEAUTY
074 MAGIC POTIONS
Update your fragrance wardrobe
with these scents of the summer.

075 ELECTRIC FEEL

Make no mistake—this is one
colour palette that packs a punch.
Immerse your lids in washes of
colour that pay homage to the
’80s, from high-octane blues to
candy pink.

076 IN THE KNOW: YOUR BEAUTY

INSIDER REPORT
Get ahead of the curve. From all-
in-one face palettes to lymphatic
drainage massages, here’s the
scoop on what the biggest beauty
VITRINE design and solid horological cred,
Chanel’s watchmaking icon is all
movers and shakers consider 090 COLOUR VALUE grown up.
integral to their regimen this year. A kaleidoscopic garden
blooms again at Dior with 099 RING IT IN
080 COSMIC GIRLS the reintroduction of its Milly Boucheron’s Quatre collection is 20
A star is born. Or in Chanel’s case, Carnivora collection. years young—with a host of fresh
three, as it harnesses the magic novelties, the iconic collection
of a trio of directional make- 092 MAGIC NUMBER is more stylish and versatile
up artists now known as the Threes have power at Cartier. than ever.
Cometes Collective. From the brothers three who set
the brand on the path of global 102 NACRED DESIRE
082 BEAUTY DESK domination to its iconic three- Pearls, the eternal symbols of
It’s time to get your finger on the banded Trinity design which turns innocence, purity and elegance,
pulse. Vogue Singapore takes you 100 this year. are back with a vengeance thanks
through what’s buzzy, bold and to these modern designs.
bursting with untapped potential 096 NEW RULES
in the beauty sphere this month. When it comes to celebrities’ bling
and ice, tastes and styles have
084 POLISH UP evolved from flashy ostentation to
Professional looks are getting a in-the-know connoisseurship.
raise. Nothing tells the boardroom
you mean business like a touch 098 MATERIAL GIRL
of individual flair, from bold The J12 is a débutante no more.
manicures to a shimmery stare. With its pioneering ceramic

16
CONTENTS
120

LIFE
104 THE INGÉNUE
Fresh off her run as Karen in
the latest adaptation of Mean
Girls, Avantika Vandanapu
reveals why her rise to fame has
been inevitable.

108 TOP SHELF

They say reading is dead. Enter
BookTok, the online phenomenon
changing the book industry as we
know it.

109 NEW ROMANTICS

Achieve the coquette-core look in
POP
your home with a contemporary 120 CHARLI XCX
curation of romantic decor that In her highly anticipated sixth
embraces girlhood. album, music’s brattiest pop star
comes home to her club girl roots.
110 A NEW DAWN
Once an illustrious nightclub of the 132 COSMIC GALAXY
noughties, Jiak Kim House is now a Revel in the futuristic sensibilities
glorious beacon for modern Asian of spring/summer 2024’s most
cuisine in Singapore. otherworldly offerings at this shoot
lensed at the Wonderfruit festival
111 COMING OF AGE in Pattaya.
In an intimate letter, former fashion
executive and viral TikTok-er Gym 146 LAST PAGE
Tan shares why it’s worth living Our cover star rounds up a
life on your own timeline. personal playlist for a taste of what
a Charli XCX party sounds like—in
112 DEEP CUTS six tracks.
Three female DJs in Singapore
open up on the community
they’ve found within our nightlife
scene and their hopes for how it
will grow.

18
SHIRT
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S/S 2024
 EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief Desmond Lim
Deputy Editor Amelia Chia
Digital Editor Janice Sim
Watches & Jewellery Editor Gordon Ng
Chief Sub-Editor Jacqueline Danam
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Digital Writer Azrin Tan PUBLISHED BY CONDÉ NAST
Writer Jesslyn Lye
Editorial Interns Sophie Tan, Hayley Rikke Lee, Elizabeth Chee, Christina Yang Chief Executive Officer Roger Lynch
Global Chief Revenue Officer & President, U.S.Revenue &
FASHION
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Fashion Features Editor Maya Menon
Stylist Jasmine Ashvinkumar Global Chief Content Officer Anna Wintour
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Chief Communications Officer Danielle Carrig
BEAUTY Chief of Staff Samantha Morgan
Beauty Director Alli Sim Chief Product & Technology Officer Sanjay Bhakta
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ART
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Designer Jason Thien
Contributing Designer Venus Loh Jonathan Newhouse

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Editor’s LETTER

P
op is one topic that never goes privilege of chatting with the ever-buzzy
out of style. Case in point: our Korean-American fashion designer, Rok
April 2023 issue, themed ‘Pop’ Hwang, the founder of Rokh, on his highly
and with Indonesian singer- anticipated collaboration with H&M set
songwriter Niki Zefanya gracing to drop this month. During an intimate
the cover, sold out quickly. This year, preview in Seoul earlier this year, he
despite the pressure of having to reinvent, shared his specific aesthetic of influences
I decided to use the same theme because after having been in the fashion business
pop is the one dominant word that brought for more than a decade and what he hopes
us global attention. I’m referring, of to see within the realm of style in 2024
course, to Taylor Swift’s exclusive six- (page 42).
night extravaganza in Singapore for her And to me, when it comes to this
splashy Eras world tour. year’s accessory of desire, pearls rank
Coming from a city that thrives on high on the list thanks to designers like
the hottest and latest, it is a no-brainer that Simone Rocha and Pharrell Williams.
British-Indian singer-songwriter Charli Lifestyle writer Jesslyn Lye puts together
XCX leads the pack in producing some a glorious spread of romantic-meets-
of the catchiest beats of our generation. subversive offerings, set to go hand in
Charli exists at the epicentre of pop and, hand with the goth trend that is ruling the
coupled with some of the industry’s most runways right now (page 102).
sought-after collaborators, has brought Speaking of now, associate beauty
her music to a euphoric extreme. To date, editor Emily Heng provides an insider’s
she has worked with virtuosos such as look at some of the biggest movers and
DJ Tiësto, Korean boyband phenomenon shakers in the industry by getting the
BTS, Kim Petras and Troye Sivan, just to scoop on the best new beauty products,
name a few. services and technologies that are
Having her grace our cover brimming with cult potential. I, for one,
couldn’t be more timely as Charli prepares am big on grey-tone contouring, which I
to release her sixth album, Brat, where stumbled upon recently. After all, we need
she revisits her club girl roots. Geared to a bit of snatching to get through our day-
be a high-octane, aggressive offering that to-day (page 76).
serves as a voyeuristic commentary on And finally, to encapsulating the
pop culture, she confesses to associate spirit of music in its entirety, is a spread
lifestyle editor Chandreyee Ray that the by fashion stylist Nicholas See (page 132)
album is going to be confrontational. lensed at the ultra hipstery Wonderfruit
And because we’re no shrinking violets festival in Pattaya, Thailand. It reveals the
when it comes to collaborations either, we futuristic sensibilities of spring/summer
went for gold by enlisting the legendary 2024’s most otherworldly offerings while
photographer Nick Knight to capture this like a necessary trailing beat to finish off
jaw-dropping cover shoot (page 120). a great track, Charli shares her top six
On the home front, fashion favourite anthems to get you twerking on a
features writer Bryan Ho speaks to rising snap (page 146).
singer-songwriter Shazza on the melding Now go enjoy this ‘Boom Clap’ of
of fashion and music for the second an issue!
instalment of Vogue Introduces. “Being
a proud hijabi, modest fashion reflects
Charli XCX wears Bottega Veneta dress and heels
many of my personal values and roots.
And because fashion is limitless, it allows Photographer NICK KNIGHT
Stylist KONCA AYKAN
me to convey my beliefs while staying
creative and experimental with my music,” Desmond Lim Make-up LAUREN REYNOLDS/BRYANT ARTISTS
using SUQQU
Shazza shares (page 26). I also had the Editor-in-Chief, Vogue Singapore Hair SOICHI INAGAKI/ART PARTNER

22
25–73
Cecilie Bahnsen dress;
Noir Kei Ninomiya
bolero; Molly Goddard
skirt; all from Dover
Street Market Singapore;
earrings and rings,
Shazza’s own

Hair, Hazel Tan/Makeup

Entourage using Keune
Haircosmetics; make-up, Lydia
Thong/Makeup Entourage
using Make Up Forever;
photographer’s assistant,
Michelle Yap.
 VOGUE Introduces

SHAZZA
Following the release of her latest hit single ‘All You
Really Need (Is Love)’, the Singaporean musician sheds light
on honing her craft and melding fashion and music.
Photography ZANTZ HAN
Styling BRYAN HO and NICHOLAS SEE
Words BRYAN HO

“Songwriting is my way of storytelling, and it will always be my first and

forever love.” These are words that 23-year-old Shareefa Aminah lives by.
The trailblazing local musician goes by her stage moniker Shazza—or
Sha, as her friends call her—and has erupted onto the scene in the past
year with her eclectic sounds and stirring lyrics. She has amassed a
cult following of devoted fans, with her 2023 album titled Chapter One
garnering well over two million listens on Spotify.
Shares Shazza of her introduction to the music world: “I was
exposed to a diverse mix of genres from a young age, which taught me
that there are no limits to music. One of my favourite experiences as a
creator now is looking at my work and finding traces of the genres I grew
up listening to. It’s an irreplaceable feeling.”
A quick glance at Shazza’s Instagram and one might immediately
notice that the artist adopts a similar approach when it comes to her
dressing. Maximalist and dispersed in aesthetic, her outfits are not shy of
clashing prints and bold colours. “I like mixing masculine and feminine
silhouettes, and accessorising with unique jewellery,” she muses.
Layering is huge for her as well; think a long-sleeved, high-necked top
underneath a sleeveless knit sweater, topped off with a silk hijab, beaded
necklaces and her go-to gold hoops.
Regarding personal style and fashion, Shazza emphasises
that there’s a connection to the medium that extends beyond mere
appearance. “I am a proud hijabi and modest fashion reflects many of my
personal values and roots. Fashion is limitless. It means a lot to me as it
allows me to convey my beliefs while staying creative and experimental.”
She attributes much of her success today to women she looked up to
as an adolescent, citing Malaysian singer Yuna and American fashion
model Halima Aden as some of her role models. “Seeing her (Aden) on
the cover of Vogue Arabia made me feel seen, which has made chasing
my dreams feel that much more attainable. The power of representation
is something I hold close to my heart and I want to be able to do this for
other people, too.”

27
InVOGUE Viewpoint

POP ART
From political statements to larger-than-life expression, fashion
and music have always been intertwined. For Vogue Singapore’s ‘Pop’ issue,
one editor explores a relationship as old as time.
Words MAYA MENON

he relationship between music, fashion and style and performers (musicians and dancers, for example) being
expression has long been magnified. In March, one of the strongest and most apparent indicators of this wave.
Taylor Swift’s reign descended upon Singapore, The ’20s featured the commercialisation of jazz music, cementing
resulting in a record-breaking six-day streak that the genre’s links to civil rights and feminism. As a result,
drew fans from Southeast Asia and the world. The shorter hemlines were the go-to, alongside forgoing restrictive
superstar’s 14 albums and gut-piercing lyrics haven’t undergarments and opting for baggier silhouettes. Speeding
just inspired a loyal legion of music lovers; among the flurry of past the explosion of teen pop was the cementing of Mod culture
excitement, there was a manifestation of outfits paying homage to as purveyed by British youth during the ’50s. During this time, a
the various eras of Swift’s career—resulting in a strong showing modernised iteration of jazz was dominating airwaves and was
of sparkles, denim, fringe and friendship bracelets. Though championed by a group called the Mods, who were characterised
currently the biggest pop culture showing of the worlds of music by their sharp tailored suits and, for women, angular shift dresses.
and fashion melding, the relationship between the two mediums Then came ’90s grunge, spearheaded by the likes of Nirvana’s
has been intertwined for as long as we can remember. But where Kurt Cobain and Pearl Jam. Encapsulated by the antithesis of the
did the intersection begin? American dream and suburban life, this wave was signified by
The answer is as multifaceted as it is hard to singularly ripped denim, old T-shirts and plaid shirts. These cornerstones
define. The beginnings of the relationship might be traced back would go on to be at the forefront of a history-defining moment
to the 18th century. The 1820s ushered in romanticism, which in fashion—inspiring Marc Jacobs’ spring/summer 1993 show
was a pendulum swing from the rigidity and logic of the age of for American fashion brand Perry Ellis; a move so divisive that it
Enlightenment. This saw a newfound appreciation for music, art resulted in Jacobs being fired from his role.
and design. Esteemed fashion historian Jane Ashelford explains Today, the tango between the two portals has intensified.
this phenomenon in The Art of Dress: Clothes and Society, 1500- As the late fashion designer Virgil Abloh is fondly quoted as
1914: “The Romantic movement stressed the creative power of the saying: “Fashion is one of the greatest vehicles to merge music,
‘shaping spirit of imagination’ and was motivated by a desire to art, architecture, design, typography—it’s a wide enough canvas,
escape from the chilly neoclassicalism of the turn of the century or a big enough sandbox, to touch all the different things that I’m
and the harsh realities of the Industrial Revolution. It manifested into.” Today, the influence of Y2K on some of the industry’s biggest
itself in dress by an enthusiasm for extrovert personal display and brands, almost a quarter of a century later, is undeniable. Apart
theatrical fashions which, in the 1820s and early 1830s, led to men from its obvious signifiers, from butterfly tops and chunky belts
wearing their clothes with a swaggering bravado and panache.” to colour-mania and defiant drapery, the trend also brings with
This creative power and extrovert personal display bled into it a homage to the icons of the new millennium such as Britney
the realm of music, too. A century later, the bridging of all creative Spears, Sarah Jessica Parker and Gwen Stefani. With brands
forms became even more apparent—with the kinship between such as Blumarine, Diesel, Balenciaga and Loewe interpreting

28
 InVOGUE Viewpoint

“Fashion is one of the

greatest vehicles to merge
music, art, architecture,
design, typography—it’s a
wide enough canvas, or
a big enough sandbox, to
touch all the different things
that I’m into.”

the era in their own ways, pop figureheads seemed to be the go-to
reference points.
However, on the runways, the past year has witnessed a
resurgence of the art form in a manner more nuanced than what
we are accustomed to. Rather than focusing on eras or icons, the
collections sought to evoke a feeling, akin to the experience one
has when listening to a beloved song, feeling it resonate with every
fibre of their being. The most pivotal example of this was Chanel’s
2023/2024 Métiers d’art collection, which was inspired by and
presented in Manchester, England. While music-led collections
have always been intrinsic to the brand, the basis of this line-up
was rooted in creation. “For me, Manchester is the city of music,”
shared creative director Virginie Viard in press notes. “It incites
creation.” This brimming pool of sensitivity and vibrancy echoed
through the pieces in an injection of colour. Suits, bags and shoes
were sent down the runway in what the brand touted as a “poetry
of emotions with the dash of the ’60s”, in a host of pinks, oranges,
greens, yellows, blues and reds. While jackets and wraparound
skirts spoke to Viard’s classic vision, denim, leather knit staples
and babydoll head turners painted a version of the true eccentric,
BICYCLE ARCHIVE

cloaked in all the offbeat glory that Manchester’s underground

music scene is known for. Completely turning things on its head
was Pharrell Williams for Louis Vuitton Men’s. Williams, who is a
ROUSTEAU/TRUNK

stalwart of the entertainment industry, produced and was featured

on a track called ‘Good People’ with American band Mumford &
OF RUNAWAY

Sons which debuted at his Western-themed autumn/winter 2024

showing. Featuring a Native American choir, the move was an
unprecedented one, bringing together two universes, and their
BY PAUL

equally all-encompassing and moving powers effortlessly.

IMAGES COURTESY

As we flip the pages of this issue, starting with a cover of

PHOTOGRAPHY

Charli XCX lensed by Nick Knight—who has crafted the music

videos of Lady Gaga, Kanye West and Björk—the fusion only
further solidifies. At the axis of fashion and music is the one thing
that brings it altogether: the innate desire to feel.

31
 Short
CUT
This spring/summer 2024,
it’s all about keeping it sexy and
short—just take cues from Gucci,
Marni and Acne Studios. Amp
up sensuality in the form of
standout mini dresses with playful
details such as fluted hems and
voluminous silhouettes.
Photography STEFAN KHOO
Styling JASMINE ASHVINKUMAR

Tory Burch dress,

price upon request
 InVOGUE Trends

1.

7.

8.
2.

3.
9.
5.

6.

4.

1. Jacquemus dress, €1,290 2. We11done dress, US$1,996 3. Marni dress, US$2,600 from Bergdorf Goodman 4. Gucci 5. Tom Ford
6. Acne Studios 7. Courrèges dress, US$1,960 from Moda Operandi 8. Miu Miu dress, $5,200 9. Louis Vuitton dress, $11,900

33
InVOGUE Trends
1.
2.

3.

4.

6. 5.
7.

1. JW Anderson dress, $1,740 from Farfetch 2. Versace dress, US$2,650 3. Hermès 4. Alexander McQueen jacket, $8,370
5. Courrèges pants, €1,490 6. Stella McCartney jeans, $6,730 7. Peter Do

34
Loewe top, price upon
request; Valentino jeans,
$27,800; Ferragamo
heels, price upon request

Take A HINT
With summer upon us, explore myriad ways to keep cool and reveal skin.
Vogue Singapore’s tip? Opt for refinement with strategically placed cutouts.
The peek-a-boo effect offers an alternative to slinkier silhouettes—and
with many iterations gracing the runways, the choices are endless.

35
 New
SCHOOL
Shorts are a must-have for an equal parts
stylish and practical wardrobe. Switch
things up from the popular micro-length
and try knee-grazing silhouettes, ruffled
hemlines and snakeskin prints for size.

Valentino top, $3,280;

Loewe shorts, $2,400;
Saint Laurent by
Anthony Vaccarello
cap, price upon request;
Prada shoes, $1,850;
tights, stylist’s own
 InVOGUE Trends

1. 5. 9.

2.

10.

6.

7. 11.

12.

8.

3.

4.

1. Chanel 2. The Row 3. JW Anderson 4. Valentino 5. JW Anderson shorts, US$1,050 from Moda Operandi
6. Max Mara shorts, price upon request 7. Miu Miu shorts, $2,370 8. Dries Van Noten shorts, US$325 9. Area shorts, US$1,200
10. Prada shorts, $2,100 11. Stella McCartney shorts, price upon request 12. Coperni shorts, US$1,190

37
InVOGUE Trends

1. 4.

3.

2.

5.

6.

9.

7.
8.

1. Christopher Esber top, US$700 2. Burberry dress, $12,500 from Farfetch 3. Prada dress, $25,500 4. Jil Sander dress, US$11,990 from
Moda Operandi 5. Prada 6. Bottega Veneta bag, $24,100 7. Alexander McQueen 8. Dries Van Noten heels, $1,212 from Farfetch 9. Rabanne

38
 Prada jacket, $4,400,
skirt, $7,700, shorts,
$1,930, and belt, $955

FRINGE
Benefit
Who can forget the fringed
Prada skirts that made their way
down Milan’s runway? A standout
piece of the season, this trend was
also seen at McQueen and Rabanne.
Incorporate the detail in striking
and subtle ways, from frilled heels
to tasseled dresses.
 GET Low
The battle of the midriff has been a
longstanding one. While Loewe defined
the season’s silhouette with ultra-high-
waisted trousers, Burberry, Miu Miu
and Duran Lantink explored elongating
the torso in interesting ways. Play with
proportion through strategically placed
belting, hip-grazing skirts and
layered undergarments.

Burberry coat, $4,490,

and belt (worn around
neck), $820

Hair, Yuhi Kim using Dungüd

from Woorailoora and
Dyson Hair Pro; make-up,
Clarence Lee using Lancôme;
photographer’s assistant,
Chong Ng; stylist’s assistant,
Elizabeth Chee; model, Piper/
Ave Management.
 InVOGUE Trends

3.
1. 4.
2.

8. 7.
6. 5.
9.

1. Acne Studios 2. JW Anderson coat, $1,950 3. Aya Muse dress, US$890 from Moda Operandi 4. Proenza Schouler dress, $7,135
5. Duran Lantink 6. Alexander McQueen 7. KNWLS pants, $729 from Mytheresa 8. Courrèges pants, €5,550 9. Miu Miu

41
InVOGUE Designer Spotlight

Subversive CLASSICS

IMAGES COURTESY OF H&M

During an intimate preview in Seoul this January, Vogue Singapore’s editor-in-chief, Desmond Lim,
speaks to fashion designer Rok Hwang about his upcoming collaboration with H&M.
Words NICHOLAS SEE Additional reporting DESMOND LIM

42
C
hicness and subversiveness often find themselves
at conflicting ends of the fashion spectrum. It takes
a designer with focus and clarity to balance both—
and through that, the desirability of the garment
flourishes. South Korea-born, Texas-raised fashion
designer Rok Hwang is one such creative.
Hwang grew up in Austin, but moved to London in 2004 to
attend Central Saint Martins, where he earned a BA in menswear
and an MA in womenswear. During this time, he trained under the
late Professor Louise Wilson, who had mentored fashion greats
such as Alexander McQueen, Jonathan Saunders and Christopher
Kane. Hwang was a star student, winning the first prize for Central
Saint Martins’ graduate collections in 2009.
Following his time at Central Saint Martins, Hwang
joined Céline in Paris, where he worked under Phoebe Philo as a
ready-to-wear designer for her landmark debut collection, before
embarking on freelance work at Chloé and Louis Vuitton. Being
part of Philo’s team created a solid foundation for his work. Hwang
adopted the same modern sensibility that Philo is known for, albeit THIS PAGE
with an injection of play. This design ethos became the unique South Korea-born,
perspective of his label, Rokh, which he established in 2016. Texas-raised Rok Hwang
His pieces are an invitation to touch, feel and explore. started his label Rokh
in 2016 with a clear
From buttons that can be attached in various ways to reversible
focus on subverting
items, Hwang’s twist on otherwise serious silhouettes sets him classics while keeping
apart from other designers. Instead of relying on glitzy prints and them wearable.
voluminous silhouettes, he focuses on the intimate relationship
between the wearer and the garment. Rokh’s designs exhibit FACING PAGE
refinement; while they possess quirkiness, there is also a sense Rokh’s collaborative
of control. capsule with H&M puts
modularity and play at
It seems that everyone should own a piece of Rokh and its crux.
H&M is making it a reality by launching a collaborative capsule on
18 April. Spanning menswear, womenswear and accessories, the
collection features some of Rokh’s signatures, from double-layer How did you feel about joining esteemed designers like Margiela
trench coats to detachable-hem dresses. and Lanvin for the H&M and Rokh collaboration?
Here, editor-in-chief Desmond Lim speaks to Hwang about I felt deeply honoured to be a part of it. Additionally, I was
his design ethos, his collaboration with H&M and what he would grateful and thrilled to have the opportunity to share my core
like to see more of in the sartorial space in 2024. DNA with a wider global audience.

How would you describe yourself in two words? Describe how your aesthetic influences the newness and
Radically classic. I like to play in a way where I follow the rules desirability of this collection.
but at the same time break them. I think that translates to the We focused on constructing a timeless and beautiful wardrobe.
core of what Rokh is as well. Simultaneously, however, you will find a playful way of
designing. For example, you will find two layers of trench coats
How did growing up in Austin influence your perspective amalgamated together and also buttons in the ‘wrong’ places
on design? on an otherwise clean silhouette. It becomes a detail that’s
At that time, Austin was still quite green in terms of its arts intimate to the wearer. You can take off one sleeve and button
scene; it was more of a suburban area with beautiful nature. it up however you like. Suddenly, that becomes a new style that
It never crossed my mind that I would be involved in design or is unique to you. That element is key to my designs, especially
fashion. When I first experienced arts and culture away from for this collection.
home, it was a big shock. I absorbed everything like a sponge
and fell in love with music, fashion and visual arts. This feeling What is a must-have from the collection?
intensified when I first stepped foot in London and I believe it We put in a lot of our time and dedication to make sure that the
was crucial for my growth as a designer. trench coat reflects our iconic brand DNA. If you want a true
Rokh garment, that’s the piece you need to get.
Having worked at houses like Céline, Chloé and Louis
Vuitton, what’s the most valuable experience you’ve gained as What are your hopes for style and fashion this year?
a designer? I dream about the energy from the ’90s and early noughties,
That everybody who worked in the industry, especially in the when designers focused on their unique languages and
luxury sector, was focused on delivering a visually artistic building their characteristics. I want to see more of each
direction while ensuring clarity and coherence. Most of it is designer’s independent voice in their designs. That’s what I
driven by our passion. hope to embody as well.

43
InVOGUE Style

THIS PAGE: IMAGE COURTESY OF ANDREA CENETIEMPO;

FACING PAGE: IMAGE COURTESY OF SASHA MARRO

True D-SIRE
Referencing the iconic shape and silhouette of the Lady Dior,
the new D-Sire bag reimagines traditional house codes and style.
Words BRYAN HO

44
A successor to the
Lady Dior bag, the
D-Sire bag boasts a
refreshed silhouette
and updated materials.
Each bag is constructed
from scratch by master
artisans, an ode to the
maison’s craftsmanship.
 InVOGUE Style

There is no occasion unfit for the

D-Sire bag, a timeless investment that will hold
its own for generations to come.

hen one thinks of the realm of designer finish, while the spirited Book Tote saw a recurring floral motif
handbags, the house of Dior certainly that was also noticeable on several of the pleated skirts.
springs to mind. Since its inception There were also new additions to the family, led by the Lady
nearly a century ago by founder Christian D-Sire bag. Deemed the updated and contemporary version of the
Dior, the French house has long been at iconic Lady Dior, its squarish shape and macro Cannage detailing
the forefront of luxury fashion, having are reminiscent of its predecessor. Also designed as a top handle,
amassed an impressive portfolio of It bags. These bags symbolise the compact nature of the body makes it easy to carry.
more than mere status as they inject a sense of sophistication and Offered in two stunning variations—crinkled calfskin or
appreciation for fine leather goods. grained Taurillon leather—it is supple to the touch, its sleek and
The spring/summer 2024 season saw creative director elegant silhouette adding a level of refinement to any ensemble.
Maria Grazia Chiuri redefine the Dior woman through a curation Each component of the D-Sire is constructed from scratch,
of reimagined house classics that injected vibrancy into timeless meticulously hand-stitched and put together by master artisans
wardrobe staples. Outerwear was given a modern update, with at the atelier. Playful block letter charms, similar to those seen
its structured silhouette exaggerated further by svelte waistlines on the Lady Dior, spell the name of the house in shimmering gold.
to provide the wearer with a trigonal shape. Also imbued through And finally, the distinguishing factor of the D-Sire bag is perhaps
IMAGE COURTESY OF ANDREA CENETIEMPO

the collection were celestial imagery and embroidery on many of in its wearability, boasting foldable handles and an additional
the dresses, their softness juxtaposed by chunky and utilitarian adjustable shoulder strap providing the wearer with a myriad
combat boots. In typical Chiuri fashion, the topic of femininity and ways to carry it.
female empowerment was omnipresent, with the set design for the The bag is available in black, dark brandy and powder
show being a bold graphic installation that saw feminist slogans beige, and in four different sizes. For those looking at an elegant
such as ‘Your body is poetic/Your body is political’ plastered across date night accessory, the smallest size is portable while still being
the screens. able to house all of one’s essentials. The large iteration, meanwhile,
On the accessories front, it seems the idea of rejuvenation is perfect for seamlessly transitioning from day to night. There is
has trickled over to the bags. This season saw the return of many no occasion unfit for the D-Sire bag, a timeless investment that
favourites, albeit offered in new materials and textures. The will continue to serve its purpose and hold its own for generations
emblematic Toujours bags were offered in a shimmery quilted to come.

47
 Buckle UP
For spring/summer 2024, Givenchy’s cool-meets-sophisticated
bag line gets a sparkling update with the Voyou Chain.
Words MAYA MENON
 InVOGUE Style

Introduced on the
spring/summer 2023
runways at Jardin des
Plantes, the updated
Voyou bag embodies
class and edge.

pring/summer 2024 marked a season of newness, catching V shape that is constructed from a soft and malleable
especially in the bag department. In September grained calfskin. Channelling what Givenchy dubs Left Bank
last year, Givenchy’s creative director Matthew sophistication, the bag boasts some key features: turned edges,
M Williams’s final show for the French luxury a natural secure fold and a zippered compartment for smaller
fashion house, hosted at L’École Militaire, was essentials. An etched buckle, sliders and a signature D-ring give it
a sensual display of eveningwear that paid a finish that is equal parts nonchalant as it is dressy.
homage to its 72-year history. With a set designed by structural Though its hobo style is charming, the Voyou is adaptable
engineer and architect Gabriel Calatrava, the stage was prepped depending on aesthetic and mood. For one, its adjustable and
for a contrastingly classical collection. The line-up featured embossed strap allows it to be transformed into a hand-carry or
quintessential Givenchy cornerstones, notably referencing its crossbody bag. It doesn’t end there, however. For spring/summer
most enduring muse: Audrey Hepburn. Amid the little black 2024, the Voyou sees an update in the form of the Voyou Chain.
dresses, tailored coats and injections of satin were accessories Brought to life as an elevated everyday essential, the bag boasts a
that remained true to Williams’s origins. Beyond that, it painted few differences. For one, its gradient-link chain strap, made from
a picture of some of the house’s most iconic bags, such as the jewel-like metal links that go up in size, makes an elegant accent.
IMAGES COURTESY OF GIVENCHY

Antigona and Pandora. Complete with a semi-structured and slightly slimmer make, the
The star of the show, however? Givenchy’s new Voyou bag. bag is easy to wear and fuss-free. It also has V-line corner straps
Introduced on the spring/summer 2023 runways at Jardin des that allow it to be adjusted while carried. Unlike its predecessor,
Plantes, the Voyou has effortlessly embodied the house’s crossover the updated Voyou Chain only comes in a medium size, but is
of contemporary cool. The name, which is French for ‘bad boy’, accented by an assortment of finishes, from tumble leather and
is a melding of French and American codes, infusing Hubert de soft suede to laminated leather and denim. If you’re in the market
Givenchy’s sensibilities with an edge that many have come to love for a bag that is equal parts a conversation starter as it will be an
Williams for. Created with an everyday-meets-biker sensibility enduring (yet playful) wardrobe classic, the Givenchy Voyou Chain
in mind, the Voyou, which is in essence a hobo bag, has an eye- might be one to consider.

49
InVOGUE Style

All clothing and

accessories Chanel
 Moving PACES
The realms of art and fashion have danced in unison for ages,
intertwining as each inspires the other. Here, Hollywood luminary Tilda Swinton
and director Apichatpong Weerasethakul draw from each other’s
perspectives to captivate us with a cinematic panorama of Chanel.
Photography HARIT SRIKHAO Styling JERRY STAFFORD
RING OF FIRE
Tautened by a scooped
waist, soft pink stripes
swirl around its wearer
with a ruffled collared cape
adding a touch of modesty.
InVOGUE Style

IMPOSSIBLE IMMUNITY
A sophisticated pairing
of a plaid jacket and
trousers features a waist-
cinching detail, adding a
special touch.
InVOGUE Style

REFLECTING SOULS
Dramatic and debonair, this jacket’s bold shoulders and high neckline is softened by its silk-printed motifs and crystals.

54
 SPIRITED AWAY
Adventure and luxury unite as belt hoops take the place of a necklace on a denim-detailed shirt. Paired effortlessly with jeans, it’s the perfect ensemble.

55
 CHERUB COMETS
Hues of blue dust this
dress, its carefree
silhouette paired with
velvet slippers.
Make-up, Alongkorn
Soontornpot; hair,
Agkarachai Deedphin; hair
colourist, Josh Wood.
InVOGUE Style
InVOGUE Style
Love, Bonito’s
revamp amplifies its
Ready-to-live ethos,
which focuses on
designing pieces for
real women and their
everyday lives.

Get READY-TO-LIVE
was Signatures, which features 30 designs as well as functional
Love, Bonito celebrates the transformative elements incorporated for work, weekends and beyond. The
journey of womanhood with five brand designs also amplify ready-to-live features such as bloat-friendly,
ambassadors, exciting design launches crease-ease, padded busts and instant length.
and more. Fronting this launch are five women who have purposeful
stories of their own that amplify Love, Bonito’s core message
Words MAYA MENON of authenticity, strength and versatility. For Korean-American
actress and entrepreneur Arden Cho, it involves advocating for an

I
f you’re a fashion aficionado, chances are you have heard equitable entertainment industry for Asian-American women. For
of the Singaporean brand, Love, Bonito. Established in Malaysian singer-songwriter and artist Yuna, it means prioritising
2010, it has centred its ethos around championing Asian authenticity and remaining true to oneself. For Singaporean-
women with of-the-moment designs, combining form and American mother-daughter content creator duo Gym Tan and
function with exceptional ease. Today, it is the largest direct-to- Mya Rose Miller, it’s about promoting the idea that style, grace
consumer womenswear brand in Southeast Asia. It’s no wonder and beauty are not bound by age. And for American author Chanel
then that it has undergone a revamp to celebrate and encapsulate Miller, it’s about unwavering strength no matter the circumstance.
a revolutionary journey, from its dedication to becoming a port-of- Spotlighting key pieces such as the Ling belted tailored
call for Asian women to abolishing outdated archetypes. waistcoat, Arden tweed jacket, Rachel ruched-ready blazer,
Launching this change are a few pivotal transformations. Ivy satin button-down shirt, Simone pleated padded twist back
Fans can expect a heart-shaped ‘LB’ logo and an updated colour jumpsuit and Dez pleated boat neck crop top, expect a line-up that
palette, from its recognisable peach hue to a rich brown, vibrant will cater to just about every occasion. As Rachel Lim, co-founder of
IMAGE COURTESY OF LOVE, BONITO

pink and bold red. With this, comes the coining of the term ‘ready- Love, Bonito, puts it: “This milestone represents a heartfelt tribute
to-live’, a play on ‘ready-to-wear’, which embodies Love, Bonito’s to our Asian women community. Through our rebrand, we honour
essence of designing pieces for real women. our rich Asian heritage and challenge stereotypes surrounding
Comprising flattering designs, complementary tones Asian women. This evolution extends to our apparel design, where
and failproof fits, the brand has pulled from its own expertise to we prioritise not only perfecting the Asian fit but also ensuring that
come up with three anchor lines: Signatures (contemporary and each piece is meticulously crafted for functionality, confidence
accessible looks that span feminine silhouettes to power suiting), and versatility. From school drop-offs to the boardroom and date
Staples (tried-and-tested and reliable wardrobe must-haves) nights, our designs empower women to embrace every aspect of
and capsule collections. The most recent launch as at March their lives with style and grace.”

58
 Style

The FLIP SIDE

Introducing the Fendi Flip: a sleek-meets-versatile clutch that
made its debut on Milan’s spring/summer 2024 runways.
Words MAYA MENON

D
ebates about bag styles may
continue season after season,
but a timeless accessory
is one that delivers all its
contradictions. Imagined
by creative director Kim Jones, Fendi’s
spring/summer 2024 show was indicative
of all that the Italian luxury fashion house
has become beloved for. Boasting an
out-of-this-world set, life-sized accessory
icons loomed over attendees in brilliant
white, and their real-life counterparts
such as the First, Peekaboo, Baguette and
Origami bags made their way down the
runway in a careful curation of colour-
blocked neutrals and sparkling accents.
Clothes-wise, the models were
decked out in knitwear separates with
bold cutouts, silk dresses as well as
sumptuous leather pieces in a colour-
blocked palette of browns, oranges, blues
and greys. Effortlessly introduced as part
of the mix was the Fendi Flip, an equally
colour-blocked clutch that made its
debut—styled in 12 different ways—at the
show on Via Solari 35 in Milan. With an
iconic ‘F’ embossed logo, which doubles
up as a flap that reveals different colours
on each side, the Fendi Flip combines
house hallmarks with contemporary
versatility. As for the season’s hottest
colour combinations? A delectable brown,
fiery red and dusty blue, coupled with an
alternative selection of yellow, beige and
light blue.
The bag offers its versatility in
both its make and array of sizes. For one,
it is available in three different iterations:
a large and medium carry-all as well as a
nano version. While the first two can be
worn over the shoulder or under the arm
as a clutch, the nano offers the option to be
worn as a cross-body chain, or better yet, a
bag charm.
IMAGE COURTESY OF FENDI

The latest addition to The sizes aren’t limiting, though.

Fendi’s bag rotation, Fashioned out of soft, supple leather, the
the Fendi Flip is a Fendi Flip, though compact at first glance,
colour-blocked clutch unveils a surprisingly roomy interior. Add
that boasts a variety this brand new Fendi family favourite to
of colourways and
your collection for a seamless option that
styling options.
will take you from day to night with ease.

59
InVOGUE Style

Love LETTER
H&M’s spring 2024 collection celebrates contemporary femininity and romance
through a rebirth of wardrobe treasures.
Words BRYAN HO

I “This season, we were

n today’s fashion landscape, few brands have reached
the level of global success that Swedish giant Hennes
& Mauritz—better known as H&M—has achieved.
Founded in 1947, the brand has quickly emerged as a really inspired by the idea
household name with its commitment to versatile quality
clothing that embraces diversity and inclusivity.
For its spring 2024 collection, H&M has reinvented the
of rebirth, like the first
wheel through a refreshed update of traditional wardrobe staples.
Shares its head of design and concept Eliana Masgalos on the
flowersblooming.”
genesis of the collection: “This season, we were really inspired
by the idea of rebirth, like the first flowers blooming.” And bloom the scorching summer. There was also an emphasis on intricate
it did, with sculptural blouses, dresses and skirts filled with detailing through embellishments and cutouts, an ode to the
vigour, their volume and shape brought to life through pintucks brand’s continued pursuit of championing craftsmanship.
and flounces. As for the tailoring, traditional shirting and suiting The menswear followed a similar playbook, experimenting
were reconstructed, their silhouettes relaxed and softened while with common themes of minimalism and utility. A chore jacket
maintaining clean lines. Workwear-inspired pieces in the form in warm tan boasts dual chest pockets for functionality, while
of bomber jackets and denim co-ords took on retro shapes and structured overshirts lend an edge of formality to otherwise
IMAGE COURTESY OF H&M

designs, with an evident nod to power dressing from the ’90s. casual ensembles. Textures in the form of delicate fabrics and
On the accessories front, svelte slingback kitten heels and embroidery found their place within the collection too, providing
ballerina flats provided a much-needed contrast in silhouette, a modern twist on these sartorial classics.
juxtaposing the boxier shapes of many of the garments. Chunky With an ever-expanding network of stores and a robust
earrings and necklaces were offered in brushed silver, the perfect online presence, H&M continues to elevate its status within the
finishing touches to complete any outfit. The colour palette was market. An industry trailblazer, this spring 2024 collection will
muted and minimal; silver, white, ecru and pastel blues ideal for help to solidify its status as one of the biggest labels in the world.

60
Boasting relaxed
outerwear, voluminous
tops and textural
details, H&M’s spring
2024 collection
looks to modernise
everyday staples.
Gucci’s new collection
looked to revamp the
maison’s long-standing
house codes, injecting
a subdued freshness
that hinted at
’90s minimalism.
 InVOGUE Style

Looking
AHEAD
The new Gucci Ancora campaign celebrates the individuality,
modernity and timeless allure of the spring/summer 2024 collection.
Words BRYAN HO

head of the debut collection by newly appointed creative director Sabato

De Sarno at the house of Gucci, there was fervent anticipation—and
excitement—to say the least. Perhaps the most anticipated show of the
spring/summer 2024 season, this collection would officially mark the end
of Alessandro Michele’s tenure, hereby ushering in a new chapter for the
house.
De Sarno’s debut showing was one that melded sensuality and wearability
seamlessly. Certainly pared back in comparison to Michele’s fantastical, maximalist
designs, the collection looked back at the house’s archives, giving several classics
a refreshed update for the modern day. Svelte wool coats with peaked lapels, A-line
skirts with an exaggerated slit and slinky tops with plunging necklines all provided
a sharpness that was clean yet classic. The drama and pizzazz one expects from Gucci
makes its appearance in understated ways, from the intricate embroidery to sparkling
embellishment on several jacket collars and pockets.
The accessories this season followed suit, subdued in shape and muted in colour.
Slingback pumps boasted the Gucci logo on the heel strap, gracing the feet of many models,
while the iconic horsebit loafers were offered in croc-embossed platform iterations that
were set to be a design staple of De Sarno’s for seasons to come. As for the bags, the Jackie
shoulder bag saw an array of new shades, topped by a 900-crystal embellished option
that proved to be the statement of the evening.
Following this collection came the unveiling of the Gucci Ancora campaign, one
that aimed to blur the lines of personal expression and spirit through the timeless designs.
Lensed by British fashion photographer David Sims, it painted a picture of an entourage
of strong and individualistic women, empowered through a wardrobe both opulent and
elegant. The five models gracing the campaign—Ana Ross, Fadia Ghaab, Jiahui Zhang,
IMAGE COURTESY OF GUCCI

Nyajuok Gatdet and Violet Hume—are draped in statement pieces from the collection,
each individualistic in their differences but cohesive in energy and attitude.
Even in a collection that was seemingly deemed commercial and ‘safe’, De Sarno’s
vision was crystal clear: to wipe the slate clean and reinvent the wheels at Gucci, one
free of irreverent glamour and provocation. The result was a no-frills approach that paid
homage to the history of Gucci, filled with unparalleled craft and technique while charting
a new course for the future.

63
A sharp blazer and a
boxy bag make for an
interesting play on
structure and shapes.
 InVOGUE Style

Romantic
GETAWAY
As part of its spring/summer 2024 show on the
historical Avenue des Champs-Élysées, Louis Vuitton
explored the many facets of travel.
Words BRYAN HO

65
InVOGUE Style

icolas Ghesquière is a maestro when it comes to the

unconventional. Throughout his tenure as creative
director at Louis Vuitton, the trailblazing designer
has shown in some of the most interesting (and
fantastical) venues around the world, from the
Niterói Art Museum in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in
2016 to the terraced gardens of Isola Bella in Italy last year.
The spring/summer 2024 collection saw no exception to
this, with the show being set on the storied streets of Champs-
Élysées. Known to be one of the world’s most famous commercial
streets, the avenue brims with life and exuberance, an energy
befitting the pre-show anticipation. Greeting the show attendees
was a 19th-century brick building that used to house international
visitors who came for the momentous world fairs, its imposing
architecture standing the test of time. As with previous seasons,
there was a star-studded guest list filled with notable A-listers
and Hollywood’s young stars, such as Zendaya, Hyein and
Cate Blanchett.
Inside, the sprawling all-orange interior of the venue was
a striking visual, one reminiscent of a hot-air balloon. Designed
by renowned American production designer James Chinlund, the
set was perhaps a nod to the French luxury fashion house’s long
affinity with voyage and travel—given Louis Vuitton’s history as
a brand that started out making luxury trunks and suitcases for
the wealthiest.
As for the garments, their stripes and prints were
whimsical and nostalgic, seemingly filled with references to
Ghesquière’s greatest hits through the years. Mobility and function
has always been a point of contention for the French designer,
exhibited this time around through a seamless balance of flowy,
summer separates as well as durable leather and PVC outerwear.
Draping and pleating along the collars and sleeves were present,
and ostentatious belts in supersized proportions that slung low on
models’ hips proved to be the statement of the evening.
The beauty, however, was in the craftsmanship and
fabrication of the pieces. The long flowing skirts that were made
from layers of mousseline and charmeuse, the corseted tops made
at Louis Vuitton’s bespoke atelier, and the fully beaded jumpsuit
reminiscent of a slip dress. The collection closed with an array of
jackets that at first glance looked to be constructed from a tweed
boucle, but were actually laser-cut and refined to produce the
ruffled texture, proving that the devil was in the details.
Looking at the accessories, it seems there was common
consensus on the theme of going back in time. Clutches in the
shape of traditional Polaroid cameras played to one’s childhood
memories, along with retro-futuristic sunglasses that could
pass off as reimagined aviator goggles in the ’90s. This season
reinforced Ghesquière’s vision of what the Louis Vuitton woman
was—a strong and confident individual who possesses a certain
allure, one that is effortless yet elegant.

66
Pair a flowy shirt dress
with a pencil skirt for
an outing in high-
low dressing.
THIS PAGE
For a fashion-forward
ensemble, opt for a
statement top and
voluminous bottom.

FACING PAGE
Switch things up by
playing around with
how you wear and
layer monochromatic
pieces.
InVOGUE Style

69
70
InVOGUE Style

IMAGES COURTESY OF LOUIS VUITTON

THIS PAGE
Co-ord sets that can
be dressed up or down
make a versatile outfit
for any occasion.

FACING PAGE
Mix clashing stripes
and prints for a unique
textural affair.
InVOGUE Trends

TheEDIT
Channel your inner pop star with pieces from the hottest young Asian designers to know right now.
Edit NICHOLAS SEE

1. 2.

3.

6.
5.
4.

8.

9.

7.

72
 11. 12.
10.

14.

13.

15.

16.
18.

17.

1. Didu dress, £905 2. Yueqi Qi flats, US$410 3. Pabe Pabe bag, $840 4. I Wanna Bangkok heels, US$139 5. Ssdslsns skirt, US$357 from Apoc Store
6. Rokh blazer, $2,498 from Farfetch 7. Grace Ling skirt, $1,759 8. Lalune pants, $210 9. Ojos boots, US$332 10. Miao Atelier choker, $244
11. Susan Fang top, $719 from Mytheresa 12. Dauphinette earring, $110 13. Ponder.er dress, $600 from Yours 14. Bad Binch Tongtong sweater, US$355
15. Motoguo hoodie, US$905 16. Sho Konishi bag, US$600 17. Chet Lo skirt, £445 18. Windowsen cap, US$766

73
BEAUTY Director’s Cut

Magic
POTIONS
Update your fragrance wardrobe with
1.

these scents of the summer.

Words ALLI SIM

1. Hermès Hermessence Oud Alezan

$522 for 100ml eau de parfum
Years ago, in a bid to overcome her fear of horses, Hermès perfumer
Christine Nagel visited the stables at the Saut Hermès show- 2.
jumping event. The tender encounter gave rise to Oud Alezan, the
sensorial marriage of animalic oud with the emotion of rose. Here,
the primal majesty of oud is perfectly complemented by rose oxide
notes, making it a perfect gender neutral scent statement.

2. Amaffi Maracoca For Women

$9,700 for 90ml eau de parfum
Created by master perfumer Bertrand Duchaufour, Maracoca
For Women captivates with a sensual white flower accord
(think jasmine, sweet white gardenia, intoxicating frangipani)
while mouthwatering notes of creamy tonka beans, sharp
passionfruit and yuzu add lightness to the scent. “The luminosity
and effervescence of the perfume is achieved through a delicate
balance of exotic fruit notes, with mango and neroli oil melding
seamlessly together to create an enticing olfactory symphony,”
shares Duchaufour.

3. Chloé Eau de Parfum Lumineuse 3.

$205 for 50ml eau de parfum
The classic Chloé rose, reinterpreted. “The idea was to create a
wonderfully warm, delicate rose, and to bring out a more sensual
facet of Chloé femininity without compromising on elegance,”
muses perfumer Ane Ayo. The result? A solar rose composition
with velvety sambac jasmine, a vanilla heart and ambery base
notes rounding off this addictive new scent.

4. Analisa The Perfumers’ Album La Promesse 4.

$219 for 100ml eau de parfum
French label Analisa’s debut in Asia couldn’t be any more poetic
than with its collection of symphonies or scent stories composed
by all-star perfume legends. La Promesse, created by nose Sonia
Constant, is an intimate glimpse into a childhood filled with
poetry inspired by fragrance. It opens with a juicy grapefruit top
note and teases with green notes of eucalyptus, fresh pine and
fir balsam with roasted vetiver and leathery notes anchoring the
base, leaving a sensual second skin appeal.

5. Kenzo Nuage Ceriser

$75 for 75ml eau de parfum
Nuage Ceriser is the ninth addition to Kenzo’s Memori collection,
which pays tribute to founder Kenzo Takada’s recollections 5.
of the family’s tea house. Capturing the otherworldly beauty
of cherry blossoms, the fragrance crafted by Suzy Le Halley
evokes springtime in bloom with citrus notes and a woody
floral signature.

74
 Swatched

1. Huda Beauty Creamy Obsessions

2. Eyeshadow Palette in No.3,
US$32 from Huda Beauty
2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina
Pro Pigment Vol 6 in B1, $120
from Sephora
3. Dasique Eyeshadow Palette 20
1. Blueberry Sorbet in Macaron
Gelato, $42 from KSisters
4. Clio Pro Eye Palette 02 Rose
Connect in Rose Affair, $49.90
from Watsons
5. Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina
Pro Pigment Vol 6 in C4, $120
from Sephora
6. Dasique Eyeshadow Palette 20
Blueberry Sorbet in Crunchy Pop,
$42 from KSisters
7. Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina
Pro Pigment Vol 6 in C2, $120
from Sephora

3.

4.

5.

6.

Electric 7.

FEEL
Make no mistake—this is one colour palette that
packs a punch. Immerse your lids in washes of
colour that pay homage to the ’80s, from high-
octane blues to candy pink.
Photography and styling STUDIO OOOZE
Words EMILY HENG

75
 IN THE KNOW:
Your Beauty Insider Report

IMAGE COURTESY OF JULIAN STOLLER AT OPUS BEAUTY

Get ahead of the curve. From all-in-one face palettes to

lymphatic drainage massages, here’s the scoop on what the biggest beauty
movers and shakers consider integral to their regimen this year.
Words EMILY HENG

o keep pace with the beauty realm is to be attuned the same can hardly be said for individuals who have just entered
to its ever-evolving lexicon. In 2023, make-up the fray—or are perhaps still figuring out how to optimise their
techniques were rebranded as our favourite foods, #BeautyTok algorithm to its fullest potential. Should you be one
from strawberry girl blush to glazed donut skin. of the latter, Vogue Singapore is here to help. How so? By going
Then there was the previous year, when individuals straight to the source and speaking to the most prolific beauty
were fixated on wellness practices that included tastemakers; the ones responsible for transforming micro-trends
mewing and skin-slugging. And while it’s fair to assume that into full-blown movements as well as amplifying new skincare
such terms are comprehensible to veterans within the industry, and make-up practices.

76
 BEAUTY Trends

Haku
Mikan
Cosplayer And Make-Up Artist
“An underrated beauty secret that I believe Taylor Wang Fashion Designer and
more people should know about is my two- TikTok Star YouTube Personality
step lip application. It’s one of the initial “A grey-toned contouring shade is so “Not enough people use colour-correcting
steps in my make-up routine. I apply a lip underrated, especially for individuals products. Before using my regular
tint that serves as a subtle base. While I with fair skin tones. I’ve done a bit of concealer, I apply a salmon-coloured
complete the rest of my make-up, I allow the colour theory make-up research based concealer under my eyes to mask the dark
HAKU’S IMAGE COURTESY OF MUZE EZUM

tint to set. As a final step, I wipe it off before on painting and drawing techniques, circles, and I swear it instantly erases them
applying another lipstick. This ensures and grey emerged as the ideal shade for with just a dab. You end up needing much
that even if I eat or drink throughout the creating the shadows that are needed in less product overall, which helps prevent
day, there remains a wash of colour on contouring. Many Western brands base things such as separation and creasing,
my lips. their contouring products on bronzy tones plus it’s so quick and easy.
“The initial lip tint prevents my lips that contain too much orange and warmth. “On days when I don’t feel like
from appearing completely bare when I am This isn’t the most suitable colour for fair wearing much make-up, I dab on a little
out for a whole day or eating. It’s a simple skin tones. If you have fair skin, consider bit of salmon concealer on my dark circles
yet effective technique that maintains a using a light-medium taupe or grey and go on with my day. I use the Integrate
polished and vibrant lip look, proving to be shade for your contouring. You can thank Melty Fit Concealer palette, $37, which I
a game changer in my beauty routine.” me later.” really like.”

77
BEAUTY Trends

Jenny Park
Model
“I would consider these
products from Urban Decay
NAZ’S IMAGE COURTESY OF BASTRISYIA REDHUAN

to be my make-up essentials:
the Hydromaniac Dewy Liquid Julian Stoller Naz
Blush, US$22, and All Nighter Celebrity Make-Up Artist Beauty Influencer

Jen Atkin Setting Spray, US$36. They help

me achieve the ‘point blush’
“I don’t think enough people
use the MAC Cosmetics Pro
“I’m a big believer in mixing
sunscreens, because I find
Founder of Ouai look that I adore. Skincare- Longwear Paint Pots, $49. that your complexion is always
“I can’t live without the Salt & wise, I’m all for the Mediheal They’re really gorgeous. changing. I’m currently using
Stone Santal & Vetiver Natural Madecassoside Blemish Pad, They have a pleasant cream several K-Beauty sunscreens
Deodorant, $33, right now. $25.17. And not forgetting the texture, wear beautifully and interchangeably, but I’ve been
The scent and packaging are Eco Styler Olive Oil Styling Gel, last for ages. I usually define reaching out a lot to Goodal
so beautiful. Not only does it $7.50, of course—I use it when the eye with a deeper shade Calming Moisture Sun Cream,
smell good, it looks great in my I do my Pucca-style ponytail in the crease before applying $20.93, just because it feels
bathroom cabinet, too.” and braids.” powder eyeshadow.” super lightweight.”

78
 Anda
Beauty Influencer Grape
“It’s crucial for everyone to TikTok Star
know that your skin needs
to rest. I’m a firm believer in
“The Medicube Age-R Booster
Pro, $650, is a life-changer. Zak Heath
the fact that you need to have I only recently started using TikTok Star
skincare rest days. Don’t apply
Daniel Chan it but it helps to reduce facial “I’m a huge advocate of the
GRAPE’S IMAGE COURTESY OF NAE JAY

anything to your skin on days bloating, especially in the Makeup Forever HD Skin All-In-
where you can help it—just opt Beauty Influencer morning, and makes my One Face Palette, $137, because
for a thin layer of your favourite “A good, intensely hydrating skin glow. It pairs great with you can easily create a full
soothing sleeping mask. My sheet mask is the best make-up lymphatic drainage massages, face with its range of shades.
favourite is the Fresh Beauty primer you can get. My go-to is which I find are underrated. The ease of every shade
Lotus Youth Preserve Rescue the Kosé Cosmeport Clear Turn The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, being in one portable palette
Mask Seaweed Radiance Facial, 8Eauty Sheet Mask, $8.50. It’s $15, is a must-have too. I’ve makes doing my make-up less
$45, which makes my skin look great when you need your skin been using it for the past four time consuming. Concealer?
super soft and luminous the to look its best and firmly grab years and have forgotten what Done. Foundation? Done.
next day.” onto make-up beautifully.” it’s like to have dry lips.” Bronzer? Done.”

79
BEAUTY Make-up
Ammy Drammeh,
Valentina Li and Cécile
Paravina were It make-
up artists in their own
right. Now thanks to
Chanel, they’re the
Cometes Collective.

FACING PAGE
Chanel’s spring 2024
collection created by
the Cometes Collective
explores the power and
singularity of colour.

Cosmic GIRLS
A star is born. Or in Chanel’s case, three, as it harnesses the magic of a trio of
directional make-up artists now known as the Cometes Collective.
Words ALLI SIM

A
mmy Drammeh. Valentina Li. Cécile Paravina. To lovers Drammeh: They both go hand in hand. I like to create things
of beauty and those in the know, these make-up artists I would use on my own and simultaneously, products that I
need no introduction. Yet since joining the house of would love to have in my kit so I could use them on other people.
Chanel as the Cometes Collective, these creatives are I keep things simple, so I like products that are versatile and
poised for stellar levels of global fame. that I can bring with me everywhere. Even if I go for something
Li, a Guangxi native, was informed by her agent while bold I need it to be quick and fuss-free. This translates into
on a shoot one fateful day, and described the top secret news what’s in my mind when I think about innovation.
like “fireworks blooming” in her body, while Barcelona-born
Drammeh recounts the call from Chanel as an “incredible, pinch Valentina, if money were no object and technology were no
me moment”. As the surreal experience of their collaboration with boundary, what dream product would you create?
the storied French house has subsided, the work itself has come to Li: Make-up should be playful and experimental. A lot of the
the fore. I sat down with the three luminaries to learn about their time, the colours you wear represent who you are and your
diverse perspectives on beauty, their vision for Chanel beauty emotion. I love the idea that you can create multiple looks or
and all the products they’re creating under the umbrella of the endless looks by using a few products. I would love to create
Cometes Collective. smart, multi-use products; one that can do it all, one that can
change colour and texture according to the person who wears
Describe your personal beauty style versus the considerations it. For example, a lipstick that changes colour according to
you have in mind when creating for the Cometes Collective. your body and your mood. Or an eyeshadow that changes in

80
 texture and colour according to the environment that you are honour heritage by drawing inspiration from iconic styles, then
in. In fact, lots of plants and deep-sea creatures already have infusing them with contemporary innovation. We reinterpret
this function. We are moving forward to achieve that, I believe. classic beauty concepts to captivate modern audiences. Our
approach blends tradition with cutting-edge vision to create
What were the most astonishing things that you learnt about make-up that is both timeless and trendsetting.
Chanel Beauty when you joined?
Paravina: I was shocked to discover how long the entire How can we have fun, and be bold and audacious, when creating
process takes to release a make-up collection (more than beauty looks of our own?
two years!). This time is necessary to ensure that all tests are Li: First, you need to have an open mind, the attitude of trying
conducted and guarantee a high-quality product. I immediately and experiencing colours that you’ve never tried before.
understood that it is one of the reasons why we don’t design Second, you need to know who you really are, what you really
based on temporary and ephemeral trends at Chanel Beauty, like. Pay less attention to the trends all over the internet, think
but rather based on things we believe are going to be relevant more about what is really for you. Be careful not to fall in a trap
for a long time. and lose your own identity in the end. But don’t worry if you
haven’t found yourself yet. Keep an open mind and play with
Cécile, how does a self-described free spirit like yourself honour the colours and make-up. Just enjoy and have fun. You will find
your instincts while also respecting the codes of a house as your own relationship with colours and make-up eventually. I
storied as Chanel? found my blue, so will you!
Paravina: The codes of Chanel resonate greatly with us. The
way that Gabrielle Chanel would design was first and foremost
an egotistical act. She created clothes and accessories for
herself, for her own needs and the lifestyle she wanted to
CURRENT BEAUTY OBSESSIONS
pursue because she couldn’t find a wardrobe for herself in
what was available at the time. This uncompromising way to
design gave birth to the timeless pieces we know from Chanel.
Ammy, Valentina and I appreciate that very much and try to
Paravina:
emulate the ethos of Gabrielle Chanel and adapt it to today.
Rouge Duo Ultra Tenue. I love how incredibly longwearing it is. I wear
In this way, I think that being ‘free-spirited’ isn’t opposed to it often and also love it for shoots when the model needs to have
navigating Chanel’s large repertoire of references. impeccable lips for hours. Right now, I’m obsessed with the shade
Soft Candy. It’s a soft pink that feels feminine and easy to wear, yet is a
Valentina, where did your obsession with the colour blue first bit eccentric.
stem from and how do you connect with it spiritually?
Li: My special passion with blueness is my statement to our
planet. Mother Earth is covered with 71 percent of blue; when
you look up, the sky is blue. Blue for me is essential. The first
day I swam in the ocean, I felt at home being surrounded by
IMAGES COURTESY OF CHANEL

water, with the blue. I feel calm and free and inspired and
Drammeh:
also grateful. My favourite skincare product at the moment is Hydra Beauty Micro
Crème. I have oily, acne-prone skin and I definitely enjoy light textures
One of your missions is ‘to make what is old new again’. How do more. I like that my skin feels super hydrated, like it drank a tall glass
you achieve this newness and innovation while creating in the of water after I use it and it is perfect as a base for your make-up. I have
context of Chanel? been using Les Beige in BD61 for nearly four years now. This foundation
Li: ‘To make what is old new again’ is really a question about has a radiant finish, buildable coverage and it lasts all day.
how to play with classic elements and modern twists. We

81
BeautyDESK
It’s time to get your finger on the pulse. Vogue Singapore takes you through what’s
buzzy, bold and bursting with untapped potential in the beauty sphere this month.
Words EMILY HENG

Amp up the volume

It’s a good time as any to attempt
defying gravity—or for your
tresses to, at least. This season,
take a cue from the likes of Miley
Cyrus, Lana Del Rey and Blake
Lively with towering hairdos that
exude glamour and daring in equal
measure; a revamped take on
classic styles such as the bouffant
and the beehive. The spring/
summer 2024 presentations also
served as a wealth of inspiration,
with Marc Jacobs sending models
down the runway sporting fluffy,
exaggerated strands that were
whipped into cloud-like shapes,
while Ronald van der Kamp opted
for a tousled variation.

Mane attraction
It’s safe to say that rapid advancements in technology have caused us to revise our stance
on revered beauty commandments. The latest decree to undergo intense scrutiny? Never
style drenched strands with heat tools—a notion that has now come under question
with the launch of the Dyson Airstrait, $799. This wet-to-dry straightening tool is devoid
of conventional hot plates or heat technology that causes damage to strands. Instead,
GETTY IMAGES

a focused airflow is used to do the job, where each high-pressure blade of air is forced
downwards and into tresses to simultaneously dry and straighten. Equipped with two
modes that allow users to utilise it on both wet and dry hair, it also harbours customisable
airflow and cool shot settings to ensure seamless and versatile styling.

82
 BEAUTY Trends

The hydration edit

Achieving your optimal skin state is only half the battle
won, especially in light of what comes next: maintaining
and protecting your newfound radiance. To aid in your
pursuit, look to nourishing formulas designed to cocoon your
countenance in a veil of hydration and antioxidants. Our ideal
line-up: the Guerlain Abeille Royale Double Clarify & Repair
Essence, $185, a skin-soothing elixir that employs dynamic
black bee repair technology to amplify your complexion’s
self-repair mechanisms; Then I Met You Renewing Rich Beauty
Cream, $97, a decadent concoction brimming with fortifying
ingredients such as baobab and squalene; and the Supergoop!
Protec(tint) Daily SPF Tint SPF 50, $67, which shields your mien
from oxidative stress while boosting moisture levels thanks to
the inclusion of hyaluronic acid-infused clay.

Paint the town red

No frills or fuss, just a bold punch of
colour. Make a formidable statement
with carmine-painted talons that were
a mainstay of the spring/summer 2024
presentations as seen at Viktor&Rolf,
Moschino and Antonio Marras.

New haven
Heal your mind, body and soul with a visit to Singapore’s
latest home-grown beauty sanctuary, Neau. It boasts a
comprehensive menu of customisable facial and body
services—think cutting-edge microcurrent therapy and
medical-grade radiofrequency tech—that is designed to
leave guests feeling refreshed and invigorated. A standout:
the Neau Signature 14-Step Reneauwal Proionic Facial,
$428, which amalgamates nourishing elixirs and devices
to grant users a toned and radiant complexion. For a full
top-to-toe pampering session, try the new Suchehwa by Ted
Korean Nourishing Head Spa, $350; a seven-step detoxifying
and hydrating treatment suitable for anyone looking to
improve their scalp health.

Far left: Suchehwa by Ted, 9 Penang Road, #02-01,

Singapore 238459. Tel: 8831 9798
Left: Neau, 313 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427564.
Tel: 8070 7770

83
BEAUTY

POLISH Up
Professional looks are getting a raise. Nothing tells the boardroom you mean
business like a touch of individual flair, from bold man-icures to a shimmery stare.
Photography NARANG CHOI Editor GAHYE SONG

GRAPHIC GAZE
After-hours beauty calls for drama. Forget your basic black eyeliner. Try this underrated yet
graphic alternative—a swipe of silver across your waterline for dimension and impact.

Portrait Report ear cuff; Tom Wood jewel-embellished ear cuff

84
BEAUTY

GLOSSY VS MATTE
We’re talking skin. Opt for hydrating products such as Aesop’s vitamin-rich Immaculate Facial Tonic to achieve that dewy freshness,
or prime your face with Tom Ford Beauty’s Traceless Soft Matte Primer for a crease-free matte finish.

Arsnova blazer

86
 GET POLISHED
It’s all in the details that invite us to break loose and embrace divergent interpretations of beauty.
Paint a playground on your nails: clean and classic, experimental or daring—the choice is all yours.

Arsnova blazer, shirt and tie

87
BEAUTY

STYLIST, KUKSEON HYUN; MANICURE, MISUNG LIM; MODELS, YUGO AND YOUNGSOL OH.
WORDS, ELIZABETH CHEE; HAIR, HYEJIN LEE; MAKE-UP, SEONGSEOK OH;

AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
Work that daily handcare routine by massaging therapeutic-grade oils from L’Occitane’s Shea Nourishing Nail and Cuticle Oil on your cuticles,
or moisturise them with Burt’s Bees’ Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream. The result? Stronger, healthier nails and longer-lasting manicures.

Arsnova blazer and shirt; Maison Margiela Derby shoes

88
89
The electric hues of
Dior’s Milly Carnivora
jewellery are achieved
through coloured
lacquer and detailed
with diamonds.
 VITRINE Spotlight

Colour VALUE
A kaleidoscopic garden blooms again at Dior
with the reintroduction of a new jewellery collection.
Words GORDON NG

Flowers play an outsized role in the story of the house of Dior. The
couturier was an avid gardener, as was his sister Catherine who
was the inspiration behind the floral Miss Dior fragrance. The
designer described his feminine couture silhouettes as ‘flower
women’. He had a favourite flower, lily of the valley, which he
embroidered on his creations. There are even books published on
the subject of Dior’s affinity for flowers.
This month, the French house is tilling the soil of its
mythos and introducing a new collection of floral fine jewellery.
Do not, however, assume that these are delicate hothouse blooms.
Named Milly Carnivora, these designs by Victoire de Castellane
IMAGE COURTESY OF DIOR

imagine a wilder, more unrestrained specimen. De Castellane may

have taken inspiration from Dior’s elegant garden in Milly-la-Forêt,
but her blooms are teetering with life in electric technicolour. A
necklace, ring and earrings simulate this vision of nature, with
petals and stems rendered in vivid coloured lacquer, mounted in
yellow gold and decorated with diamonds. Shrinking violets these
are certainly not.

91
VITRINE Jewellery

Magic
NUMBER
There’s an old proverb that good things come in threes.
Cartier would certainly agree as its enduring Trinity collection
turns 100 this year. The Parisian jeweller took an entourage
of guests on a whirlwind trip to mark the occasion, touring its
historic temples of beauty in New York, London and Paris.
Words GORDON NG Additional reporting DESMOND LIM

Cartier Fifth Avenue Mansion

The third generation of Cartier, led by the brothers Louis, Jacques and Pierre,
divided and conquered. Flagships were set up in New York City and London
in the early 1900s to establish the jeweller beyond Paris. The Fifth Avenue
mansion, replete with mid-century decor, has been the brand’s home base in the
Americas since 1912.

A legendary trade
Cartier acquired its gilded-age mansion home in New York through a
monumental exchange. The American socialite Maisie Plant had fallen head
over heels for a massive double-strand pearl necklace by the jeweller. So in 1917,
the property was traded for the necklace—the latter valued at US$1 million at the
time—plus a token US$100.

Art in the air

Some of the art pieces in the Cartier mansion were chosen with a mind to add
French twists to the otherwise mid-century American interiors. Famed French
architect and interior designer Laura Gonzalez, nicknamed the queen of new
maximalism, chose and commissioned art that references the brand’s heritage.
There’s a lacquered piece by Atelier Midavaine that depicts three panthers with
several interpretations: three brothers, cities or temples?

Deep in the archives

The cushion-shaped 45.52-carat Hope diamond is one of the most storied
gemstones in the world. A fancy blue Golconda diamond, the Parisian house
bought the stone and mounted it in 1910 as a necklace—a form it has stayed
in even now while it’s in the Smithsonian Institution Archives. The story goes
that the diamond went from being a cursed stone to the prized possession of
American heiress Evalyn Walsh McLean, who was even said to have gotten the
stone blessed at a church to rid it of its bad luck.

92
 Cartier New Bond Street
We are being hosted at La Résidence, the private lounge area of
Cartier’s New Bond Street flagship in London. A rare moment
when this luxurious space, on the second level of the boutique,
is opened to the public. This room was formerly a workshop that
produced some of the most extraordinary creations with the
interest of capturing the hearts of a local clientele.

The importance of pearls

Prices of pearls used to be published in the daily newspapers on a
regular basis, and pearls were seen as an entry point to the society
set. This precious material was particularly important for the
house given its connections to aristocrats, royalty and important
members of high society. Remember, too, that round, lustrous
natural pearls were wildly rare and valued before cultivated
pearls were invented—which explains how Cartier could trade a
mansion for these jewels.

Maharajas
Cartier has an illustrious history with India. Jacques
Cartier built the bridges when he travelled there in
1911, making clients of maharajas and royalty. But he
made a mistake showing women’s jewellery to these
royals without realising that, in the Indian royal set,
THIS PAGE
the men are the ones who wear the most jewellery.
The Maharajah
That realisation opened the doors to exotic, exquisite necklace is one of
and one-of-a-kind designs. The house also minted Cartier’s modern
the idea of circularity before it was a thing. Every masterpieces, set
piece of jewellery created was recorded from start to with a bevy of carved
finish, right down to who the eventual buyers are. It’s emeralds, rubies and
sapphires in the Tutti
coming back full circle now as Cartier is reacquiring
Frutti style; the Cartier
many of these prized possessions for its archives. Trinity ring in its latest
cushion-shaped form.
A moment in time
Cartier’s London branch was adept at seizing the FACING PAGE,
moment. In the 1920s, the house launched a revival CLOCKWISE FROM
of Egyptian designs following the discovery of ABOVE FAR LEFT
American heiress
Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. In the same
Evalyn Walsh McLean
decade, it also minted the Tutti Frutti style of carved photographed with
gemstones thanks to Jacques Cartier’s closeness to the Hope diamond;
Indian royalty. socialite Maisie Plant.

93
VITRINE Jewellery

Cartier rue de la Paix

After a two-hour train ride from London, we are in Paris for
Cartier’s Trinity 100 pop-up. This is the final ‘temple’ of the brand,
its flagship and home in Paris at 13 rue de la Paix. The brand’s
historic home was unveiled in December 2022 after two years of
extensive refurbishments and renovations to its five storeys.

A century-long journey
The Trinity journey pop-up traces the iconic three-coloured metal
bands, which were deemed daring and ahead of their time in 1924.
With no gemstones in sight, the designs were well ahead of any
minimalist movement and focused on mastering the simple shape
and form of three looped rings.

All about Jean Cocteau

The French artist Jean Cocteau was a friend of Louis Cartier’s, and
a man about town who mingled closely with the artistic milieu of
Paris in the early 20th century. There’s even a historic salon in
Cartier’s flagship on rue de la Paix named after him. And legend has
it that Cocteau might have been partly responsible for the Trinity
design. It’s said that the artist had a dream involving the rings of
Saturn, and went to Louis asking for a design inspired by that.
When Cartier unveiled the interlocking Trinity bands, Cocteau
adopted the style and famously wore two on his pinkie finger.

The artist Jean Cocteau is a part of Cartier lore. He famously wore

two Trinity rings on his pinkie, as pictured above, and even has a salon,
pictured left, named after him at the jeweller’s Paris flagship boutique.
 Grace Kelly of
Monaco was one of
the Trinity’s many
illustrious wearers.

Trinity today
Now, introducing the latest Trinity designs. The key
new pieces have been reimagined as a rounded, squared
cushion cut, giving a literal edge to the three circular bands.
These are offered in plain solid gold or with pavé diamonds.
There are also XL versions imagined as bracelets, and a
modular version of the ring where the three bands can be
collapsed into one unified whole.
IMAGES COURTESY OF CARTIER

A party for a hundredth

To fête the centenary of the Trinity, Cartier staged a party
with a host of its famous friends and ambassadors in
attendance. Celebrities such as Jisoo, Paul Mescal and Yara
Shahidi—who also front the collection’s latest campaign—
were among the many stars present. Entertainment for the
night was headlined by Sia, Labrinth and Diplo, as well as
the French dance collective La Horde.

95
VITRINE Watches

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Jay-Z wears openworked Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Flying Tourbillon; Rihanna wears Jacob & Co. Brilliant Flying Tourbillon;
Pharrell Williams wears Richard Mille RM UP-01 Ferrari; Taylor Swift wears Lorraine Schwartz jewellery.

96
 NEW Rules
When it comes to celebrities’ bling and ice, tastes and styles have evolved.
Words GORDON NG

W
hat is the look of success? The going trend may
be the understatement of quiet luxury, but for
the last few decades hip-hop artists have had
the boldest, most compelling answer. Outsized,
ostentatious overstatement was the name of
the game. The bigger a gold watch, a curb chain or a ring was, the
quicker, louder and clearer it said ‘success’.
But now that a whole generation of entertainers have
established themselves as pop culture icons, genre-defining
artists and business moguls, so too have their tastes evolved. It’s
most apparent in the field of watches, which for a long time has
been the only form of jewellery for men. A reigning undercurrent
now is a taste for connoisseurship instead of outright flamboyance.

Complicating things
Dubbed the greatest rapper of all time by Billboard, Jay-Z is
no stranger to fancy timepieces. The brand he’s most closely
associated with is also one that he helped raise the profile of.
The super skinny
It’s said that Audemars Piguet and its former CEO François-
Richard Mille
Henry Bennahmias introduced the rapper to the world of high RM UP-01 Ferrari was
watchmaking. Consider that seed fruitfully sowed. In 2006, the produced as a limited
Swiss brand broke new ground by releasing a limited-edition edition of 150 pieces.
Royal Oak Offshore with Jay-Z to celebrate his 10th year in music.
Now, Jay-Z’s taste in timepieces appears to skew towards The highest recorded in the sport are around 6.5 Gs; Richard Mille
the highly complicated. One of the most notable watches he’s has designed its skinny slab of horology to take on over 5,000.
been seen wearing is the Patek Philippe Ref. 6300, nicknamed
Grandmaster Chime, the august house’s most complicated Everywhere but the wrist
wristwatch ever made. It has a grand total of 20 complications Watches may have been the domain of men, but that looks set to
spread across two dials on a swivelling double-sided case. change. In the last year, women celebrities have been rocking up
As for contemporary Audemars Piguets that Jay-Z wears to red carpets and public appearances wearing watches in fresh,
these days? Try Royal Oak QPs (quantième perpetual), which are novel ways.
mechanical complications that tell the day, date and phase of the The star who kicked this off is almost certainly Rihanna. In
moon in addition to time. June last year, at Williams’s debut runway show for Louis Vuitton,
the beauty mogul and singer wore a fully gem-set, tourbillon-
IMAGES OF JAY-Z, TAYLOR SWIFT AND PHARRELL/GETTY; IMAGE OF RIHANNA
COURTESY OF LOUIS VUITTON. INSET IMAGE COURTESY OF RICHARD MILLE

Maverick style equipped custom watch by Jacob & Co around her neck as a choker.
Another hip-hop artist who has transcended entertainment to Later in November, she was seen at the Las Vegas F1 Grand Prix
become a far larger figure in pop culture and business is Pharrell wearing another Jacob & Co diamond-set timepiece as an anklet.
Williams. You likely think of him for his music, but today Williams An aside: Rihanna’s choice of jeweller and watchmaker
occupies one of the most powerful seats in the fashion industry as is serendipitous. Jacob Arabo, the founder of Jacob & Co, built
the creative director of menswear at Louis Vuitton. his name in the ’90s and 2000s as the go-to guy for artists and
The artist’s eclectic, insouciant sense of style carries over entertainers seeking one-of-a-kind, larger-than-life bling. The
to his choice of watches. One high-end brand that he’s an ardent rapper Notorious BIG gave him the nickname of ‘Jacob the jeweller’,
fan of is the maverick Richard Mille, which makes watches that and his legend is cemented in the lyrics of the rappers who shop at
are nicknamed the ‘billionaire’s handshake’. The brand’s design Jacob & Co.
aesthetic can be polarising, but the siren song of Richard Mille that’s Shortly after Rihanna came Emma Chamberlain, who
heard by connoisseurs is one of the brand’s technical wizardry. attended a Miu Miu fashion show wearing a Cartier Baignoire
The model that Williams has been seen wearing a lot around her neck at precisely the moment when interest in the
recently is an astounding technological coup. The RM UP-01 oval model was surging. And at the Grammy Awards this year,
Ferrari, a co-branded design with the Formula 1 racing team, takes the movement got an endorsement by a superstar who, until
a simple idea to the extreme: how thin can you make a watch? then, had nearly no reputation for an interest in watches. Taylor
The answer is an astounding 1.75 millimetres. For reference: the Swift, dressed in glamorous Schiaparelli, wore ropes of Lorraine
international standard thickness for a toothpick is 2 millimetres. Schwartz diamond necklaces. The crowning jewel: a triple-strand
The watch is designed, despite its absurdly lithe profile, to choker of black diamonds with an octagonal vintage watch as
withstand the extreme G-forces and accelerations of Formula 1. its centrepiece.

97
VITRINE Watches

Material GIRL
The J12, Chanel’s ceramic icon of watchmaking, is all grown up.
Words GORDON NG

W
hen it launched in 2000, Chanel’s J12 was
something of an upstart debutante in the world
of watches. It had the octagonal Première
with its leather-laced chain bracelet. But
that was a quartz cocktail watch fashioned
almost as a piece of jewellery or an accessory for the wrist. The
J12, by contrast, was a dip into the wider world of horology: in
aesthetics, by remixing and reimagining the codes of sport (dive,
specifically) watches, and in watchmaking, with an automatic
self-winding movement.
But the thing about the J12 that shook the ground most
was its materiality. Instead of a precious metal such as gold
or the industry standard of stainless steel, the house’s former
artistic director Jacques Helleu chose to craft this watch out
of high-tech ceramic. Lighter and more scratch-resistant
than either steel or gold, the J12 became almost overnight a
poster child for crafting fine watches in ceramic. It’s easy to
overlook its impact: look around at watches being produced
today and ceramic seems a perfectly ordinary choice.
The glossy material also has a colour advantage. The first
J12 came cloaked, from its case to its dial and bracelet, in distinct
all black. Later and current editions are offered in white or a mix
of both—the stark, two-tone palette being a signature of Chanel.
At the spry age of 24, what was once the new kid on the
block can be said to have really come of age now. The brand has
been rolling out an important horological update since 2019:
equipping the core line-up of 33mm and 38mm models with in-
house automatic movements. These, dubbed the Calibre 12.2 and
and 12.1 respectively for each size, are developed by the high-
end Swiss manufacturer Kenissi, which Chanel has an invested
IMAGES COURTESY OF CHANEL

stake in. As watches go, mechanical credibility of this sort is the

difference between a seat at the kids’ or grown-ups’ table.
It’s an appreciable bit of maturity for fine watchmaking
at Chanel. The house had a design hit when the J12 was birthed,
and while it has grown and developed in myriad ways—adding
high complications and jewellery details, for example—it has also
stayed, at its core, recognisably the same. It’s what’s on the inside
that’s all grown-up now.

98
Boucheron Quatre
Classique single clip
earring, Quatre Blue
Edition tie necklace
with Hyceram and
Quatre Classique
bracelet in yellow,
white and pink gold
with diamonds,
and Quatre Radiant
Edition high jewellery
bracelet in pink gold
with diamonds; Saint
Laurent by Anthony
Vaccarello dress

RING it in
Boucheron’s four-banded Quatre turns 20 this year.
With countless variations on its form, the collection is the house’s
modern icon of craftsmanship, imagination and stylish versatility.
Photography ZANTZ HAN Styling NICHOLAS SEE Words GORDON NG
Boucheron Quatre
White Edition tie
necklace, pendant
necklace and rings in
yellow, white and pink
gold with diamonds
and Hyceram, Quatre
Classique ring and
bracelet in yellow,
white and pink gold
with diamonds, and
2-Code bracelets
in rose gold; Ralph
Lauren Collection
dress and tie

Model, An Ning/Mannequin;
hair, Christvian Wu;
make-up, Victoria Hwang/
The Suburbs Studio; nails,
Ann Lim; photographer’s
assistant, Dennis Er;
stylist’s assistant,
Lance Aeron Pielago.
 VITRINE Style

ow do you combine over a century and a half’s

worth of history and heritage into a design
that captures both the moment and the future?
That’s a question you could well pose to the
Parisian high jewellery house Boucheron, which
did exactly that in 2004 when it introduced its
Quatre collection.
Quatre, simply French for ‘four’, is a sublimation of house
codes pieced together in an ingenious way. The design is made up
of four distinct bands of gold, weighing no less than 13.88 grams
total, each crafted and finished differently. One end is framed by
a fluted grosgrain pattern that evokes the ribbed texture of silk
ribbons. Couture-inspired details and designs are a rich part of
Boucheron’s archives thanks to its founder’s legacy as the son of
a draper.
Next to the grosgrain, a band of diamonds that speaks to
Boucheron’s innovation. The house invented a host of gem-setting
techniques, and the one deployed in the Quatre is the mirror setting
in which the gold base and prongs which affix the diamonds are
mirror-polished to reflect light aplenty. Beside the diamonds, a
line of faceted square motifs known as Clou de Paris that evokes
the cobblestones of the City of Lights. First introduced in 1911, this
sculptural treatment of gold is PVD-coated to add a lustrous burst
of colour.
Lastly, Quatre designs are capped by a double godron of two
rings seamlessly joined together. The technique was introduced at
Boucheron in the 1860s and is meant to symbolise binding love
and union.
The four distinct parts of the Quatre are joined with an
extraordinary level of savoir-faire. There is no soldering or glueing
involved. Instead, the bands are pressed together until a soft ‘click’
indicates that a new whole has been made.
While it began with a ring, the Quatre collection has grown
over 20 years to become an icon of stylistic freedom at Boucheron.
The collection today is made up of seven ‘editions’. There are lines
which swap the brown PVD-coated gold on the Clou de Paris band
with vivid, lustrous Hyceram (a high-tech ceramic material) in
colours such as red, white and blue. The Quatre design has also
been translated into pendant and tie necklaces, hoop earrings and
ear cuffs and even hair jewellery.
The house has also introduced a dazzling slate of novelties
to mark the collection’s 20th anniversary this year. Key among
them is a new range of bracelets that expand the Classique ring so
that it can now sit on the wrist. These bracelets come in two sizes,
with the option of either the full four-band design or a simplified
version dubbed the 2-Code with just the Clou de Paris and double
godron bands. There’s also a wire-style version, with two mini
Quatre motifs on its ends, crafted with a blend of titanium and
gold for comfort and flexibility. It’s a new form, but distinctly and
surely Quatre—a testament to this collection’s place as a modern
jewellery icon.

101
VITRINE Trends

1. Nacred 2.

DESIRE Edit JESSLYN LYE

3.

4.

5.

1. Shaun Leane Hooked ring, £275 2. Simone Rocha Bow Ribbon Double Drip earrings, £395
3. Pacharee necklace, $640 from Net-a-Porter 4. Alaïa bracelet, $779 from Mytheresa
5. Completedworks Flower earrings, $545 from Net-a-Porter 6. Bibi van der Velden Crashing Waves necklace, €75,000
7. Sophie Bille Brahe Peggy Rosette necklace, €5,600 8. Claire English Magpie Loot ring, $916 from Farfetch

102
6.

7.

8.

Pearls are synonymous with innocence, purity and timeless elegance. Queen Elizabeth
I was almost always painted festooned in the rare jewels to project her image as the
Virgin Queen. Holly Golightly, the cinematic picture of an ingénue, famously wore a multi-
strand choker in Breakfast at Tiffany’s; and even Princess Diana completed her famous
revenge look with a pearl and sapphire necklace. As they’ve enjoyed a recent resurgence
in popularity, contemporary designs are now painting these dainty jewels in a new light.
From embracing the beauty of irregularity in baroque pearls to embodying femininity
through ribbons and florals à la coquette-core, these are pearls for modern times that have
escaped the formality of the past.

103
 The Ingénue
Fresh off her run as Karen in the latest
adaptation of cult-classic film Mean Girls,
Avantika Vandanapu reveals why
her rise to fame has been inevitable.
Words CHANDREYEE RAY

vantika’s face card literally never declines.” I am

reminded of something I had recently seen a fan
say about the 19-year-old actor on X (the platform
previously known as Twitter) as she pops up on
my Zoom screen late one afternoon. Avantika
Vandanapu is dressed casually in a soft grey
graphic T-shirt, her long curls cascading over her shoulders.
A few face-framing strands are pinned back to reveal her
arresting features.
That Vandanapu is a classic beauty is evident even through
the pixelated Zoom video transmission. Impossibly long lashes
fringe her large doe eyes, which crinkle adorably each time she
laughs. Her naturally full lips and heart-shaped face give her
an almost cherubic aura. I think to myself that she looks like an
Instagram face filter come to life.
“I actually just took a temporary leave of absence from
university,” she shares, when I ask what’s new. Giggling, she adds:
“I hired this guy off Craigslist—he was so nice—to come move all
my stuff out of my dorm room at 6 o’clock in the morning. I am now
living with my friend’s grandmother—random I know—in New
York and I love it.”
As an undergrad at Columbia University, Vandanapu is
serious about getting an education. “I definitely want to go back
to Columbia next semester. In the meantime, I’m about to enrol in
community college since it has an educational system that’s more
flexible and that fits with my present schedule.”
Vandanapu entered the film industry at the age of 10.
Given how many entertainers who start their careers young end
up deprioritising and eventually missing out on further education,
her outlook is refreshing. She attributes it partly to the way her
parents, whom she affectionately describes as semi-liberal—“I

104
LIFE Profile
 LIFE Profile

“If I were to reprise a character that had been done so well

before, I needed to commit to it fully and not cut any corners.”

had a crazy curfew growing up, but they also understood that to it fully and not cut any corners. And they understood that telling
societal standards of what it means to be a teenager now are very your kid to be ambitious, but only within certain bounds, is not a
different from what they were used to”—have raised her. realistic expectation to have.”
“My mum’s philosophy was: you can do anything you want Vandanapu articulates her thoughts with startling clarity
in the world as long as you commit to it fully and are the best at it,” and speaks with a wisdom far beyond her years. Her parents have
Vandanapu laughs. When she told her parents that she wanted to been extraordinarily supportive throughout her career—she tells
be an actor, her mother decided to leave her career in the US behind me a hilarious story about her mother fearlessly knocking down a
and move to India with Vandanapu to help her get a start. “She also powerful producer’s door at three o’clock in the morning to ensure
ensured that my academics were not compromised along the way. Vandanapu would not get short-changed in her contract—but it is
Most immigrant parents would not have been open to the idea of her own laser focus on her craft, her killer work ethic and a rare,
their child entering this industry, but mine were determined to find undefinable X factor that has gotten her this far.
a happy medium.” As at March, she has a number of exciting projects in the
Vandanapu estimates that she acted in around 10 Indian pipeline. Big Girls Don’t Cry, a Hindi-language coming-of-age
movies between the ages of 10 and 14 before she found a reason to boarding school drama on Prime Video, and horror movie Tarot
return to Los Angeles. “We saw a post in a Facebook group that a will be the first to release, showcasing different facets of her
new Disney movie was looking for an Indian lead. That was a wild gifts as an actor. The breadth of work and diversity of roles she
idea for me at the time.” is racking up in her portfolio makes it difficult to pigeonhole or
One successful cold call and audition tape later—“They typecast her, and Vandanapu revels in this fact.
were like, we need to work on this girl, but she has something for “You know the phrase ‘jack-of-all-trades, master of none’?
sure,”—Vandanapu had booked the lead role of Rhea Kumar in the I learnt recently that the full saying is ‘A jack-of-all-trades is a
Disney Channel Original Movie Spin, marking the start of a new master of none, but oftentimes is better than a master of one’. It
chapter of her career in Hollywood. sums up the path I’m on. I’ve done Disney, I’ve done a musical, I’ve
Did she expect that her move would eventually see her done horror. I’m excited to see the industry’s response to me as an
stepping into the role of an iconic character from one of the most actor who is able to do multiple genres,” she says.
popular original films in modern cinema? Her eyes widen and she Keen to also try her hand at producing and writing,
shakes her head vehemently. “I was so sure that I wasn’t going to Vandanapu shares that she has added honing those two skills to
PHOTOGRAPHY, ANNA KOBLISH; MAKE-UP, ROBERT BRYANT;

get to play Karen. When I found out that I got the part, I didn’t cry. I her expanding list of things to do in 2024. “Clearly, I believe there’s
HAIR, DAVEY MATTHEWS; DRESS, CUCCULLELI SHAHEEN.

wasn’t happy. I just had no emotion because it didn’t feel real.” room for it all,” she says with a cheeky grin. “And succeeding in
As a fresh take on Karen in the 2024 film adaptation of the one gives me hope that I might succeed in another.”
Broadway musical based on the 2004 film Mean Girls (yes, there For now, she is spending two blissful weeks in Hyderabad,
are layers here), Vandanapu delivers a standout performance, where her extended family lives. “Pre-pandemic, I used to visit my
earning her praise from every critic who reviewed the film family every year and spend my summer vacation in Hyderabad.
and rendering her a bona fide breakout star. But sitting among Since I’ve started working more, it’s not realistic to set that time
thousands of enraptured viewers were two astounded parents who aside consistently. But whenever I’m in India for a shoot or a film, I
had to grapple with their daughter’s burgeoning young adulthood, try my best to see my family.”
splashed up on the silver screen for everyone to see. She apologises for the background noise outside her
“Mean Girls was definitely a hump in our family dynamic window—“You know what the traffic here can be like, right?”—as
because I’m shown in a little bit of an older light in the film,” we talk about the restorative joys of being back in the homeland.
Vandanapu contemplates. “It’s a shock for any brown parent to “I never do anything productive in Hyderabad and that’s the best
watch their kid on screen doing a number like ‘Sexy’. We had many part. I eat mangoes, nap a lot with the fan on and just chill out.”
conversations and I explained to them that if I were to reprise a It’s a hard-earned break before the starlet dives back into work; I
character that had been done so well before, I needed to commit couldn’t wish her anything better myself.

107
LIFE Books

Top SHELF
They say reading is dead. Enter BookTok, the online phenomenon
changing the book industry as we know it.
Words JESSLYN LYE

F
or the uninitiated, BookTok often to relax than I did before. But
refers to the corner of TikTok frequently, it heightens my enjoyment.
dedicated to all things literary, I see it like running a never-ending
from book recommendations book club—I always have somebody
based on popular tropes to to talk to about how I feel about a book
guides on how to best annotate your I am enjoying. For a hobby that is so
favourite reads. Its influence is seen individual, it is a treat to be able to
not just in the massive increase in share it with so many people.
book sales of viral titles, but also in the
revival of brick-and-mortar bookstores. What are some misconceptions people
Some readers may bemoan BookTok’s have about BookTok?
leanings toward the romance and fantasy That it is a monolith. Someone might
genres, but there’s no denying that the see a BookTok table at a bookstore
phenomenon has inspired many young and think that every creator on the
people to start reading again. platform likes and recommends
Who better to delve into the the same books. This is not the
intricacies and impact of the community case. There are so many small
than a BookToker? Having amassed and mid-sized creators who have
over 566,000 followers on TikTok, given me fantastic, off-the-beaten-
Alexis Anunson—or @newlynova on trail recommendations for literary
TikTok—has cemented her place through fiction, memoirs, science fiction
diverse recommendations, incisive book and many other genres. Even within
reviews and a wicked sense of humour. the stereotypical genres, there are
Here, the literary influencer opens up many accounts dedicated to uplifting
about how BookTok has enriched her diversity: Black romance, queer
Seven Days in June
reading journey. coming-of-age stories, fantasy books
by Tia Williams
inspired by East Asian mythologies.
“This is my all-time
What inspired you to start a
favourite romance
BookTok account? How do you think BookTok has novel. It’s sassy,
I started my account a couple of weeks transformed the reading culture sexy and serious in
after getting into a car accident in of today? equal measure.”
2021. It was the same summer that I I am thrilled to live in a time where
was getting back into reading as an people, in particular women, feel
adult and I spent a lot of my recovery comfortable talking about enjoying
Beartown
reading and scrolling through TikTok. romance novels and other genres that
by Fredrik Backman
At the time, a lot of the long-form book have long been seen as intellectually
“A book about a
reviews on TikTok were slow-paced. inferior to highbrow literature. There
small-town hockey
As someone with both an extremely are brilliant, layered and worthy team that will break
short attention span—I have ADHD— stories in every genre. But even if you in half and put you
and a decent amount of amateur video somebody loves a book that is a back together again.”
editing experience, I thought it might little bit goofy, that is okay too. In
be cool to make the kind of videos that almost every other form of media,
I wished I was seeing. it is acceptable to enjoy things that
Babel
are not of pristine quality. There is a
by RF Huang
How has your relationship with reading tremendous amount of love for bad
“One of the most
evolved since you became a part of the action movies and so-bad-it’s-good
heart-wrenching
BookTok community? TV shows. I think the best thing books I have ever read
Everything I read now goes into my that BookTok has done is make and a masterclass in
wrap-ups on TikTok and YouTube, people more comfortable talking dark academia.”
which forces me to think critically and connecting with others about
about what I am reading. Sometimes the things that they like without
this can feel pressurising; I read less fearing judgement.

108
 Design

3.
1.
2.

4.

New Romantics
Achieve the coquette-core look in your home with a contemporary
5.

curation of romantic decor that embraces girlhood.

Edit JESSLYN LYE

7.

1. Louis Poulsen PH 2/2

Question Mark Pale
Rose table lamp
9. 2. Cabana x Ginori 1735
floral dinner plate,
from Farfetch
3. Saint Laurent heart
pintray in brass
4. This Humid House
6. Micro-Fresh
5. Seletti x Marcantonio
Raimondi Malerba
Kintsuji small vase,
from Farfetch
8. 6. Polspotten Lilly
candle holder
7. Gucci wood chair with
GG bees and stars
8. Ferm Living Milu snack
set in rose
9. Bordallo Pinheiro Cloudy
Butterflies cake-stand,
from Farfetch

109
LIFE Food
“We wanted a streak of heritage
and old-world charm. On top of it all, we

A New DAWN
wanted it to be bold. It’s a story about
Singapore—of how we’ve come from
backwater to today—from past and
present,” says Tan Wee Tuck, managing
director of The Brewerkz Group.
Tan emphasises the importance
of Jiak Kim House being reflective of
Singapore and the region. It’s easy to spot
cultural nuances peppered everywhere,
from coconut husk walls to an eclectic
playlist of remastered golden hits such as
local folksong ‘Chan Mali Chan’.
Naturally, the food leads a similar
charge, with chef-partner Seow Tzi Qin at
the helm. Seow, who has worked in both
Les Amis and Tung Lok Group, navigates
the bridge between fine-dining and fast
casual, with innovative creations that
draw from local and regional influences.
Fondly remembered classics
are weaved into the starters. Tingkat of
Memories presents delectable vignettes
such as chilli crab kueh pie tee and otak
otak stuffed with fresh fish paste and
prawn chunks. Seow’s mushroom soup
carries the signature heat of bak kut
teh. Like a latte, he serves this piquant
peppery consommé layered with a
peppercorn-infused foam in a coffee
cup, as mini dough fritters make perfect
accompaniments on the side.
While each main imparts its
own medley of flavours, all of them
convey Seow’s profound understanding
and appreciation of local and regional
produce. The mangosteen salsa
immediately springs to mind. It might be
a side to the huge sambal grouper fillet,
but the tropical fruit is deseeded with
laborious effort, cutting through the heat
from the fish with a tangy reprieve.
Once an illustrious nightclub of the noughties, Jiak Kim House In the rendang dish, a triptych is
is now a glorious beacon for modern Asian cuisine in Singapore. served—short rib, ox tongue and oxtail
Words JANICE SIM that have been thoroughly stewed in
spices and rendered fork tender. Crispy

T
he year was 2004. Throngs of together to conjure a space that feels like pavé potatoes, smoked shishito peppers
sweaty bodies moved to the someone’s home. It’s a transformation that and a fresh rojak salad complete the dish.
rapid beats of Timberland and would have you digging deeper in your On the dessert front, another local fruit,
Skrillex at Singapore’s hottest memories to be able to reconcile as the old pineapple, is spotlighted in a sorbet that
nightclub, Zouk. Today, the Velvet Underground. is infused with Moutai and covered by a
historic address is worlds apart from its The rich history of the place silky shield of coconut jelly.
rambunctious past with the arrival of Jiak undoubtedly had a major hand in Given the F&B group’s portfolio—
IMAGE COURTESY OF JIAK KIM HOUSE

Kim House, a modern Asian restaurant by influencing the interiors of Jiak Kim with a fine wine merchant under its belt—
The Brewerkz Group. House. It had to be old yet new, colonial one will be spoilt for choice when it comes
Past the doors of this 1920s yet modern. Semblances of these are seen to vino at Jiak Kim House. The restaurant’s
conservation house lies a majestic vision. within vintage louvred wall panels as wine cellar is stocked with over 200 labels
The edifice of the building is enhanced they lie against plush built-in banquette with a focus on French wine. Cold cuts,
with a towering pediment, drawing the seating. Apart from the main dining room, artisanal cheeses and steaks on the grill
eye to its high ceiling. Rich terracotta the restaurant also boasts a private dining are also at the ready should you wish to
hues warmly envelop the 120-seat room as well as an in-house floral atelier enjoy a precise pairing. If there was a
restaurant, as ambient light fixtures and where customised arrangements can place to renew your treasured memories of
custom-made rattan furnishing work be procured. yesteryear, Jiak Kim House would be it.

110
 Viewpoint

COMING of AGE
At 63, former high-powered fashion executive and viral TikTok-er Gym Tan
has never felt younger. In an intimate letter, the Los Angeles-based Singaporean shares
why it’s worth doing things on your own timeline.
As told to CHANDREYEE RAY

D
on’t be nervous about starting late. I had my daughter
at 39 and my son at 44. Being an older parent, all the
new mums I hung out with were 10 to 15 years younger
than me. But I didn’t feel older—I felt just like them! My
kids had given me a new lease on life and helped me
embrace my inner child again. Imagine realising at 45 that there
was so much more to life. So much more to learn and so much more
fun to be had.
I met my husband much later in life too. I’d always been a
career-first kind of person, but I opened up to the idea of kids when
I realised what an amazing father he was going to be. We are a
modern couple and we intuitively knew that we were going to be
equal partners. Some years, I am the breadwinner and he takes a
backseat. He’d say: “Go kill it, honey. I will take a smaller job so I
can spend more time with the kids.” That’s the beauty of meeting
your partner when you’re older. You don’t have that pressure of
continuously needing to prove yourself.
I celebrated turning 50. It was only in my mid-50s when I
began to feel a little anxiety about getting older. I would think back
on the great, healthy, useful life I’d had and wondered how things
would change when I hit the next decade. My background is in
fashion; I’ve had a long career in the industry. I used to run brands
as the head of product or head of design. At a certain point, I got
the feeling that I was no longer the customer. In fact, the customer
might have been 25 years younger than I was. But I’ve always been
an open person, and I believe in hiring young talent and being
prepared to listen to their ideas. I love to learn from them and it
keeps me current.
I had some trepidation about starting social media in my
60s, but I now love the fact that I have this platform where I can
talk about being my age. It allows me to show people that they don’t
need to be afraid of getting older. In fact, I think part of my success Youthfulness has nothing to do
is the fact that I’m not a 20-something. I mean, to be on the Sephora
Squad at 63! As we speak, I’m on Sephora’s billboard in Times with your age or your looks.
Square for Women’s History Month.
Being healthy has been a game changer for me. In that vein, is what being in your 60s looks like now. I want to continue doing
I’ve started to think about how I can affect my followers in a more things like this to make a difference with my platform.
positive way. Talking about healthy living has become a big part of If I could tell you just one thing, it would be that youthfulness
my content. I share my exercise routines—the things I do for good has nothing to do with your age. Neither does it have anything to
IMAGE COURTESY OF GYM TAN

balance, weight-bearing exercises to preserve bone density. do with your looks. For me, youthfulness means energy. Someone
I’m going to partner with the California Department of who is and looks very young could feel very old because they don’t
Health to talk about Alzheimer’s. My mother passed away from have vibrancy or a zest for life. And someone up there in age could
dementia and my father-in-law suffered from the disease, so have the most youthful energy in the world.
this has definitely touched my life. I want to spread awareness Now, I look at women who are older than me for inspiration.
about what this looks like and what actions people can take. I’m There are runners accomplishing things who are in their 70s. I look
also going to be speaking on a panel hosted by a pharmaceutical at them and tell myself this: when the time comes, I’m still going to
company about vibrant living, to show health executives that this be out there living my life.

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LIFE Culture

DEEP Cuts
In an industry dominated by men, three female DJs in Singapore open up on the
community they’ve found within our nightlife scene and their hopes for how it will grow.
Photography ZANTZ HAN
Styling JASMINE ASHVINKUMAR and NICHOLAS SEE
Words JESSLYN LYE

Aya
“When I’m at the booth, I’m fully myself exchange between me and them. I receive
and I can embrace all my strengths and and absorb their energy, and send it back
vulnerabilities,” begins Ayano Ueno. through the music, and vice versa.”
By day, the Yokohama native is a flight One of her most memorable
attendant. By night, she takes her place performances, she shares, was her first
behind the decks as DJ Aya—spinning gig for Manifest, where she extended
for local label Midnight Shift and her set in the midst of rain and thunder.
events collective Thugshop. “DJing is “The vibe was surreal,” she reflects.
like an anchor that guides me back to “It’s a privilege to have such electrifying
myself when I feel lost. I can confront experiences. These moments when we
and overcome challenges without fear create something special make my day
of failing and I’m constantly driven and motivate me to keep on going.”
by my curiosity and ambition to learn To Ueno, the community she has
and improve as an artist as well as an found in the nightlife scene is where she
individual. It brings excitement and can be her most authentic self. “Music has
optimism into my life and it’s where I can been a huge part of my life and meeting
evolve and grow as a person.” people in the nightlife scene—from
Having first discovered her love promoters to DJs to party-goers—has
for electronic dance music at raves while made me feel at home when I’m at the
living in San Diego, Ueno began learning clubs. We have conversations about music
to DJ through bedroom sessions with of all sorts, and I love jamming and having
friends after moving to Singapore for music production sessions with friends.
work. “It was a moment of finding my I’m grateful to have such a warm and
passion. I got decks and jammed by myself loving place where everyone looks out for
for hours every day.” each other,” she shares. “I hope our local
Since then, she’s played everything nightlife scene continues growing and
from the Alex Blake Charlie Sessions our community stays strong. Hopefully
in Singapore to DJ streaming platform more people will feel that it’s a special
An Aya party, in 5 tracks
Hör Berlin. The magic of DJing, Ueno place to hold in their heart where they can
muses, stems from the connection she be themselves.” 1. ‘Lamella’ by Zoë Mc Pherson
shares with party-goers on the dance As for what’s next, Ueno shares 2. ‘Maneater (Pantile Bootleg)’ by Pantile
floor through music. “The energy from with a smile: “I would love to be really 3. ‘U Make Me Feel’ by Baron Von Trax
the crowd has a huge impact on the good at playing vinyls. Maybe you’ll see a 4. ‘Transformations’ by X-Coast
journey of my set—we create the vibe vinyl-only set by me in the future. Practice 5. ‘Little Fluffy Clouds’ by The Orb
of the room together. It’s like an energy makes perfect.”

112
Ueno wears Rick Owens
top and skirt from Dover
Street Market Singapore
 Hautemulle wears
Johanna Parv dress from
Dover Street Market
Singapore; shoes,
stylist’s own

114
 LIFE Culture

Miss Lil
To Lilian Hautemulle, DJing, at its heart, events, which means that when I emerged
is a method of sharing music, which has as a baby COVID DJ, there were a lot of
been an integral part of her life long before familiar faces ready to support me on
she stepped behind the deck. “I’m a major my journey.
music enthusiast and I’ve been fortunate And just as the local nightlife
to architect my life around it,” she muses. community has embraced her,
Not only is she a DJ, she is also the co- Hautemulle’s goal is to give back by
founder of music collective Sivilian Affairs creating spaces and opportunities
which she runs with her partner Sivanesh for aspiring DJs to hone their craft.
Pillai, as well as a streaming and radio Together with Wild Pearl, a dance music
manager at independent electronic music community and space in Pearl Hill, she
label Monstercat. is putting together a DJ crash course for
“Whether you’re playing from a non-male, non-EP holders. “We will cover
DJ app on your phone or on turntables foundational information like cords,
and a custom mixer, the beauty of DJing equipment and mixing with the intention
is getting to spread a sound that you find of creating a safe space for attendees to
rewarding to listen to.” play around and see if this is a passion
The idea of DJing came to her 12 they would like to continue pursuing. We
years ago when she was living in Tucson, are still ironing out the details, but it’s
Arizona. “I started sending tracks to my DJ looking like a June launch of the pilot,”
friends who kept encouraging me to get on she shares.
the decks. I’ve had a couple of people give As opportunities like these open up
me tutorials over those 12 years, but it was within the nightlife industry, Hautemulle
really a matter of timing,” she explains. hopes that a more vibrant music scene can
“Prior to COVID-19, I had a job that had grow in Singapore and Southeast Asia.
me travelling everywhere and I loved “There’s a hunger for new spaces where
it—it was a great way to see the clubs in we can listen to music. There’s a shortage
so many cities with such different scenes of dance music venues and getting
and sounds. When the pandemic hit, I was licences for pop-up parties is complex.”
finally home long enough to give it a go. she reflects. “Beyond just the nightlife
It was nice too because I had a bunch of space, I would love to see more activations
A Miss Lil party, in 5 tracks
friends, particularly girlfriends, who were across our city which include local artists.
getting into DJing at the same time, so we We have so many beautiful parks and 1. ‘2 Tha Dance Floor’ by Liquid Earth
found camaraderie practising together in community spaces that are great for 2. ‘Cutie - Edit’ by Shanti Celeste
small at-home jams.” daytime dance parties. Normalising music 3. ‘Sparkly and Bouncy is For Me?’ By Didi Han
The reception she has received events outside and encouraging dancing 4. ‘Divine Time’ by Aldonna
from the nightlife community since then could be a wonderful shift for local arts, 5. ‘Going On (Dub Mix)’ by Saint Guel
has been entirely warm. “I frequent a lot of culture and well-being.”

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LIFE Culture

Tashasan
Natasha Hassan wears many hats. She makes DJing special to me is its inherent
is a freelance designer and illustrator, political nature. Within every sound
before which she spent many years played lies a piece of history waiting
working in the corporate music world. to be rediscovered and amplified,” she
She is also the co-founder of music and explains. “For instance, genres like dub
party collective North East Social Club, music, which I enjoy playing, originate
which hosts regular DJ shows with the from reggae roots and are imbued with
aim of introducing underrated sounds cultural and political significance, often
such as garage and UK funky to Southeast serving as a form of protest music. DJing,
Asia. Her foray into DJing, then, feels in essence, allows me to contribute to this
completely natural. cultural and political dialogue, making it
“There’s a meme about an integral part of my life and identity.”
experiencing a millennial mid-life crisis And identity—in a field still
where you either learn how to DJ, join an dominated by men—becomes an
intensive sport or completely change your inescapable part of the equation,
career path. I ended up doing two of those especially for minority women. “We’re
things,” she laughs. “DJing started off as witnessing the rise of queer- and women-
a joke, with the idea of opening for one of led collectives, signalling a promising
my parties. Over time, I realised that my move towards inclusivity. Individuals are
song selections were becoming more than actively creating opportunities rather
just for amusement. That’s when it hit me than waiting for them,” muses Hassan.
that this is serious.” “As a woman and a person of colour in
The affinity she found with the this space, I find myself energised by
craft is unsurprising, given how deeply this transformation. It’s not just about
Hassan has always been entrenched breaking barriers; it’s about reshaping the
in creative fields. “One of the reasons narrative and creating a more inclusive
I find DJing so fulfilling is because it nightlife community.”
resonates deeply with my work as a As the nightlife scene in Singapore
designer. The processes involved in both continues to evolve, Hassan hopes that
fields are strikingly similar,” she shares. acceptance and understanding will be at
To illustrate, she draws comparisons the forefront of growth. She concludes:
between the meticulous layering required “Contrary to misconceptions, nightlife
A Tashasan party, in 5 tracks
in graphic design and beat matching in DJ is not something to be feared but rather
work, as well as the similarities between celebrated as a vital cultural hub. 1. ‘Rebound X’ by Rhythm N Gash
editing animations and mixing tracks. Parties, at their core, are about fostering 2. ‘Shurooq’ by Toumba
“It’s all about creating a cohesive and connections and building communities—a 3. ‘Darabukka’ by TSVI
engaging experience.” concept that holds immense significance 4. ‘Midnight Request Line’ by Skream
Beyond that, Hassan shares that for me. We need more spaces and support 5. ‘Weh Dem A Do (Coki - Digital Mystikz &
DJing serves as a reminder of the role that to nurture creativity and innovation Underground Ice Remix)’ by Mavado
music plays in history and culture. “What within our community.”

116
Scan to listen to
the full playlists.

Hassan wears Noir Kei

Ninomiya harness and
Chopova Lowena skirt
from Dover Street Market
Singapore; top and
necklace, her own

Hair, Hazel Tan/Makeup

Entourage using Keune
Haircosmetics; make-up, Lydia
Thong/Makeup Entourage
using Make Up For Ever;
photographer’s assistant,
Michelle Yap.
 Lif t Your
B e s t S e l f : L DŽ

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lifting and tightening treatment with real-time visualisation.1-4 With over 2 million
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References:
1. Ulthera Instruction for use 2. Ulthera release: Ultherapy® décolletage treatment now FDA-cleared. BioSpace website. https://www.biospace.com/
3. Article/releases/ulthera-release-ultherapy-and-0174-d%C3%A9colletage-treatment-now-fda-cleared-/. Accessed January 21, 2020. 4. Fabi SG, Joseph
J, Sevi J, Green JB, Peterson JD. Optimizing patient outcomes by customizing treatment with microfocused ultrasound with visualization: gold standard
consensus guidelines from an expert panel. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(5):426-432 5. Raleigh, N. (2022, April 15). Announcing 2 Million Ultherapy
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Laxity and Tightening in the Lower Face, Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 34, Issue 7, September 2014, Pages 1099–1110. Ultherapy® provider near you.
–
 Photography NICK KNIGHT
Styling KONCA AYKAN Words CHANDREYEE RAY

In her highly anticipated sixth album,

music’s brattiest pop star comes home to her club girl roots.
Bottega Veneta jacket,
shirt, pants and heels
Mugler dress
and bodysuit
 read somewhere recently (and by ‘read’ I mean ‘watched’ Being deeply enmeshed in the communities her music
and by ‘somewhere’ I mean ‘TikTok’) that pop music most appeals to is what gives Charli the superpower so many
has lost all artistry. A hyperbolic statement, sure, but pop stars of today don’t have. Her sheer authenticity—whether
one not entirely untrue. Some may argue that by its very that manifests as rebellious advocacy at awards shows or casual
definition, popular music necessarily has to be vanilla indifference to winning those same awards—is what makes her
and mass-market—devoid of any real personality or so undeniably cool.
spunk. Others call it the most uninspiring of genres, From shouting ‘gay rights!’ in viral Twitter videos to calling
paling in comparison to the anarchy of punk, the for a ban on conversion therapy to dedicating a single in her new
existentialism of indie or the catharsis of techno. album to her friend and late trans producer Sophie, Charli has
Thankfully for the sake of pop, Charli XCX exists. found ways to use her voice in ways that matter not only to her, but
In her latest album, glibly titled Brat, Charli makes a wild to the people that predominantly make up her fanbase.
proposition: it is possible to make the kind of music that “I truly feel like I wouldn’t have a career without the LGBTQ+
provokes thought and starts conversations, while also community,” she says. “They have made so much possible for me
being so plainly good, it can’t not be pop. and supported me when everyone else had given up. It feels right
If the heart-pumping, synth-heavy first single, ‘Von Dutch’, for me to try my best to amplify that community wherever possible.
is any indication, this album will see Charli making a swerve It feels very natural to me.”
(as the sportscar-obsessed singer is wont to do) towards her In the music video for ‘Von Dutch’, Charli is seen racing
underground club girl roots. “I came from the clubs,” Charli says through the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, throwing hands at
wistfully, during our Zoom chat. “When I first started making a shaking camera—“The camera was the antagonist of that video.
music, I was playing at illegal warehouse raves in Hackney in I was lashing out at it,”—before ending up in the sky, on the wing
London. That’s home to me.” of a jumbo jet. As the wind whips through her hair, she revels in
She describes the pure electricity in discovering the dangerous freedom of being on top of the world, gyrating and
underground club culture in her youth, when she found fascination writhing to the music even as she’s seconds away from free fall,
in everything from the brash music to the thriftiness of club that pesky camera never leaving her side. Suddenly, she leaps
kid fashion. off the wing and lands on a baggage cart, bruised and battered.
“I was never somebody who went to traditional clubs where Personality and spunk? Check. Anarchy, existentialism and
you’d have to put your name on the list and there would be a line-up catharsis? Check, check and check.
of DJs playing. I always found myself at warehouse parties—those Beyond the gritty veneer of the video, I tell Charli that the
really underground, last-minute, secret-location kind of events,” song reads to me like a soul-baring account of the dark side of
she reminisces. being in the public eye, the perverse convolutions of fan culture,
Something like her rager of a Boiler Room set in Brooklyn and the violating ways in which we poke and prod famous women.
earlier this year, which broke the record for the most RSVPs to A fresh take on the pop star mental breakdown, if you will.
date, then? “That’s an interesting interpretation,” she twinkles. “It’s
“Post-pandemic, I actually think these kinds of scenes are cool that you saw it as the commodification of women within the
thriving even more,” Charli says bashfully, clearly uninterested in music industry and also the fan narrative—this idea of ownership
the idea of breaking a statistical record. “I’ve always gravitated of artists by their fanbases—because, yeah, this could be me
towards those spaces because I prefer the music that’s played addressing all of that.”
there than in a super club. Also, they are usually started from the She adds: “I was thinking about the feeling we have when
ground up, often by members of the queer community.” we’re being watched. Whether it’s by our peers, co-workers or >>

123
THIS PAGE
Bottega Veneta jumpsuit
and earrings; tights and
boots, stylist’s own

FACING PAGE
Ferragamo dress;
Balenciaga boots; gloves,
stylist’s own
“I was playing at illegal warehouse raves in Hackney
when I first started making music. That’s home to me.”
 “Growing up, I remember my nani and bappa
cooking with Bollywood films playing in the background
and everyone speaking Gujarati.”

>> even our sort of frenemies. You know how sometimes you just The colour choice was also a layered one. Green, in Charli’s
feel like someone’s watching your every move? This song is me view, has been heavily oversaturated in the media and fashion as
saying, well, if you want to watch, I’m going to give you a show.” of late. “I wanted to go with an offensive, off-trend shade of green to
Even for someone so keenly scrutinised, one thing many trigger the idea of something being wrong. I’d like for us to question
don’t know about Charli is her multiracial heritage. “My mum our expectations of pop culture—why are some things considered
is Indian and she was born in Uganda. Her family eventually good and acceptable, and some things deemed bad? I’m interested
moved to the UK where she married my dad, who is white,” in the narratives behind that and I want to provoke people. I’m not
she shares. doing things to be nice.”
“I grew up in two half-lives, I suppose. When I would go and Still, this won’t stop the pop star from showing her softer
visit my mum’s family, I felt very Indian. It was all the classic scenes side. Charli reveals that while the album might be aggressive as a
of my nani and bappa cooking with Bollywood films playing in the whole, much of its lyricism is confessional and almost vulnerable
background and everybody speaking in Gujarati. in comparison.
“But then I’d go home to this other world which was largely “Lyrically, this is quite a different record for me. I’ve written
white. It was almost like I would experience the Indian part of my the songs almost in the way I would write texts to my friends or
identity only on the weekends. I never quite felt like I fit into either based on things I would say to them on FaceTime. We talk a lot
world, which I think commonly happens with mixed-race kids.” about pop culture and music and it’s been really fun to gossip
It didn’t help that, at the time, the mainstream media about the songs we go. They’ll ask ‘Oh, who is this one about?
representation for Indian characters was limited to the Is this about a friend? Is it about an ex?’ It has fuelled this fun,
stereotypically written Apu from The Simpsons. “There were a lot gossipy narrative which permeates the album.” Talk about group
of jokes from my schoolmates about corner shops and things like chat material.
that. But also, my grandparents actually did have a corner shop. So The pop star has a banner year coming up, not only with
it was very confusing, you know?” Charli laughs. the release of her sure-hit album but multiple film and television
She also confides that she was bullied in school for her projects—following in the tracks of her breakout song ‘Speed
unibrow—I shriek, since she has one of the best sets of eyebrows in Drive’ from the Barbie soundtrack last year. Alongside co-
Hollywood right now—which is a rite of passage for any Indian kid executive producing the score for the A24 film Mother Mary with
growing up abroad. Eventually, of course, once we are all grown Jack Antonoff and making original music for Benito Skinner’s
up, everyone envies the same features they once made fun of. Prime Video series Overcompensating, Charli will take an exciting
“You’re totally right. I was also teased for my frizzy hair. turn starring in Daniel Goldhaber’s remake of 1978 cult-horror film
Now, everyone is always complimenting me on my hair and Faces of Death. A second act as a scream queen? Seems more than a
eyebrows. So to all the people who made fun of me, the joke’s on natural fit for the dark princess of pop.
you I guess,” Charli says. At the end of our chat, I confess to Charli that I hadn’t
From album art to track list, Brat is geared to be a high- properly been clubbing since the pandemic started. Maybe I just
octane, aggressive record that serves as voyeuristic commentary needed to be inspired—what did her current night-out routine
on pop culture while also functioning as its own subject. “This look like?
album is going to be confrontational,” Charli says with a grin. “You know what? My favourite thing to do before I go out
Even the album cover—a low resolution green square with is to get in an SUV and play music really loudly, and just drive.
the word brat disproportionately imposed on it—apparently made We’ll take the long way there with the music blasting. That
some people mad. “They were like, ‘Why isn’t she going to be on somehow becomes my favourite part of the night.” I’ll take it—if
the cover? She needs to be on the cover.’ Why should anyone have there’s anyone I could trust to make clubbing great again, it’d be
that level of ownership over female artists?” Charli XCX.

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Mugler dress
and bodysuit

127
Balenciaga dress
and boots
THIS PAGE
Bottega Veneta dress
and heels

FACING PAGE
JW Anderson dress;
Hugo Kreit earrings;
Bottega Veneta heels

Hair, Soichi Inagaki/Art Partner;

make-up, Lauren Reynolds/
Bryant Artists using Suqqu;
manicure, Adam Slee/Streeters;
set designer, Andrew Tomlinson/
Streeters; tailor, Linards Augusts;
casting, Jill Demling/Creative
Casting Agency; photographer’s
assistants, Grace Hodgson,
Madison Blair, Jed Barnes and
Trudi Woodhouse Treble; digital
operator, Sun Lee; stylist’s
assistants, Samela Gjozi, Izzie
Jones; hairstylist’s assistant,
Masayoshi Fujita; make-up
artist’s assistant, Matilde Ribau;
set designer’s assistants, Bradley
Barrett and Alfie McHugh; set
construction, Ben Robotham, Cal
McGarrity; producers, Jasmine
Ashvinkumar and David Bay;
on-set executive producer, Kat
Davey/Liberte Productions;
production co-ordinator, Jared
Pasamer/Liberte Productions;
production assistants, Jordan
Kilford, Johnny Faulkner
and Nicole Ready/Liberte
Productions; studio, Park Royal
Studios; lighting, Direct Lighting;
retouching, Epilogue Imaging.
C O S

G A L
Photography RICE TAN Styling NICHOLAS SEE
M I C

A X Y
Loewe Paula’s Ibiza dress, sunglasses and heels; Fangophilia rings; boa, stylist’s own
THIS PAGE Loewe Paula’s Ibiza dress and boots; Fangophilia rings; ear cuff and socks, stylist’s own; artist, Waft Lab
FACING PAGE Ferragamo cape

135
Noir Kei Ninomiya vest
from Dover Street Market
Singapore; Helmut Lang
turtleneck from Milieu;
Ask & Embla ear cuffs

136
 THIS PAGE Loewe Paula’s Ibiza top and shorts
FACING PAGE Hermès bra and skirt; Burberry heels; Peter Do gloves from Milieu; Ask & Embla earring, bangles and ring

138
Loewe Paula’s Ibiza
dress and shoes

141
Loewe cardigan; &
Other Stories skirt
 Fendi dress; Ask & Embla earring, lip ring and ring

Hair for Palmy, Chanya Chumpalee; hair for Aslesha, Yuhi Kim; make-up for Palmy, Wanit Dejteradon; make-up for Aslesha; Kenneth Chia using Gucci Beauty;
manicure for Palmy, Lunar Nail Cafe - Pattaya; manicure for Aslesha, Rebecca Chuang; producer, David Bay; photographer’s assistants, Nicholas Yan and Bernice Ng;
stylist’s assistants, Elden Zachery, Sophie Tan and Kritta Thongthawat; models, Palmy/ Akiz Management and Aslesha/Ave Management.
LAST PAGE

CHARLI’S Playlist
Missed her jam-packed Boiler Room set? Don’t fret. Our cover star rounds up
an exclusive track list so you can recreate a Charli XCX party right from your living room.

A Charli XCX Party

1. ‘Track 10’ by Charli XCX 4. ‘Faceshopping’ by Sophie

2. ‘Volt’ by Yung Lean 5. ‘Pursuit’ by Gesaffelstein
3. ‘Blinded by the Lights’ by The Streets 6. ‘Boom Boom Pow’ by The Black Eyed Peas

Scan for the full playlist.

146