FEMALE People Cam: Schools Edition
In this monthly column, we document real style as seen on the streets of Singapore.
By Imran Jalal & Pang Jia Wei,
ICYMI, FEMALE pounded the streets of Singapore for three weeks in order to document 44 stylish individuals aged between 15 and 24 for our August 2023 Youth! Edition. The work does not stop there, though. Beginning this month, the team will be sharing our compendium of style featuring individuals who identify with fashion and thoroughly enjoy dressing up in a monthly column dubbed FEMALE People Cam. To start things off, we turn our focus on the students at several of Singapore's educational institutions. Scroll on for more.
Watch our FEMALE People Cam street interviews on TikTok
Name: Gladys Ng
Age: 22
Occupation: Fashion design and textiles student
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
Her fit: "My clothes – including these legwarmers – are from independent labels that I found on AliExpress. The shoes are from Charles & Keith."
Her aesthetic: "While I like the punk and goth aesthetic, I'm also experimenting and trying to carve out my own unique style. In the future, I do hope to add more colours and structure to my outfits... perhaps, I will even sew soft toys on them."
Her favourite labels: "There are too many to name but among them are Iris van Herpen, Maison Margiela, Vivienne Westwood, Comme des Garcons and Noir Kei Ninomiya."
The most precious item that she owns: "Every single item in my wardrobe holds sentimental value and means something to me. For instance, this pair of leg warmers, which are made of faux fox fur, are special to me because they remind me of human hair."
A surprising fact about her: "(Before pursuing my current BA in fashion design and textiles), I had graduated with a diploma in performance."
Name: She prefers to go by just Helaine
Age: 19
Occupation: Fashion media and industries student
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
Her fit: "I thrifted this Adidas top a long time ago while the jacket is something I bought in Canada. My boyfriend bought the Jnco Jeans and platform Dr. Martens shoes for me. The Longchamp Le Pliage bag belongs to my mum and I have decorated it with a bunch of accessories to make it look cute."
The most precious item in her wardrobe: "A set of gold jewellery that I received from my grandmother for my 18th birthday. It was the first thing that she bought when she retired."
The most expensive fashion item she owns: "My 'Oatmeal' low-cut sneakers from Gucci which I think cost around $1,000. My mum got them for me as a graduation gift."
Her dream bag: "The ICare maxi tote by Saint Laurent. My mum recently pointed it out and I thought it was ugly at first, but she told me to try it on and I loved it. Huge bags are always in my rotation because I carry everything with me everywhere I go."
What she's listening to right now: "Boygenius' latest record, The Record, is on loop. I haven't stopped listening to it since it came out."
Name: Puteri Nabilah
Age: 21
Occupation: Design communication student
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
Her fit: "My top is from Shein and the jorts are from Monki. The sneakers are from a collaboration between Asics and Kiko Kostadinov and have gotten me so many compliments. The tote bag is from Carhartt WIP."
Her star sign: "I'm a Pisces – and a typical one at that because I'm very sensitive."
What she does in her free time: "I love watching films, especially those starring Cillian Murphy. The recent film I caught was Oppenheimer – partly because he was in it. I have watched almost all of his works including Breakfast On Pluto and Peaky Blinders – even though his haircut was so bad in the latter."
Her favourite films: "I support female directors. This explains why the 'favourites' in my Letterboxd app are composed of films like Sofia Coppola's The Virgin Suicides and Greta Gerwig's Barbie a1nd Little Women."
What she's listening to right now: "'(dream)' by Salvia Palth (the moniker formerly used by Kiwi lo-fi bedroom pop musician Daniel Johann). It's currently on repeat as I recently had a breakup."
Name: Syafiqah Muhammad Noh
Age: 24
Occupation: Film student
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
Her fit: "This beanie belongs to my brother while the necklace is a gift from my uncle. The sweater is a thrift buy from Kuala Lumpur and I have paired it with a skirt that was originally a part of my kebaya that I had worn for Hari Raya Puasa. My shoes are from Dr. Martens."
The last film she watched: "Talk To Me, the horror thriller film by (independent American studio) A24. The show has mastered the 'jump scare' technique which I find really cool (the style is often used in horror films to scare the audience by surprising them with an abrupt change in image or event)."
Favourite director: “I really love the works of the late P. Ramlee (the legendary Malay auteur who was a leading figure during the golden years of Singapore cinema from the late 1940s to the early 1970s). Thanks to my grandmother, I grew up watching a lot of his films. A favourite of mine is Tiga Abdul (a comedy/musical about three wealthy brothers who were fleeced of all their wealth by a cunning businessman).”
An interesting fact about herself: "I used to play the violin in primary school. I started playing in Primary Three but stopped in Primary Six because I got bored of it. I guess I was quite good at it because I was first chair."
Name: Amara Mya
Age: 23
Occupation: Creative direction for fashion student
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
Her fit: "I designed this top and had it made by a seamstress in my hometown of Yangon, Myanmar (she moved to Singapore in mid-July this year to pursue her studies). The skirt is a thrift find from a store in Yangon. The shoulder bag is from an online brand called Pongl while the tote bag is from Etsy. The boots and my sunglasses are from Zara."
One trend she wishes would stop: "Barbiecore. #NoHate."
Her favourite fashion designer: "My grandmother; she's one of my inspirations who made me enrol into a fashion school. She is not a famous or a commercial designer but she likes making clothes for her children and grandkids. My favourite piece that she has made for me is this Santarina-inspired Christmas coat with a cute and dramatic collar."
A precious item in her wardrobe: "My grandmother's scarf as it holds invaluable memories of her."
A fashion brand to know from Myanmar: "Stallion Goddess is a minimalist and environmentally-conscious womenswear label that incorporates recycled fabrics, organic cotton, linen and sometimes eco-friendly printing in its designs."
Name: Sarah Caudal
Age: 18
Occupation: Music student
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
Her fit: "My dress and belt are from Princess Polly while the sandals are from Skechers."
Her dream job: "I want to be a music professor in a university as it is my biggest dream to teach people and help people figure out their aspirations. I respect and admire teachers and aspire to be one."
Number of instruments she plays: "I mostly sing (she's into blues) but I do play a little bit of the guitar but I'm pretty good at the piano."
The musician she loves: "The Smiths because the way they play is so unique and their music makes me happy. Everyone should listen to their song 'Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want'."
An interesting fact about herself: "I can ski really well. I entered a ski competition in Hokkaido before Covid and won a silver medal."
Name: Oh Jungwoo
Age: 18
Occupation: Fashion design and textiles student
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
His fit: "I thrifted the shirt from a store in Haji Lane. The pants are by Uniqlo. The hat is from a South Korean brand called Extraordinary. The shoes are from a collaboration between Asics and Kiko Kostadinov. The key ring on my belt loop is from Stussy. My bag is from a Korean label called Maison Mined."
His style: "I like mixing streetwear with vintage clothes. Comfort is also important to me."
What he splurges on: "Shoes – I really love footwear. I have about 12 pairs currently, most of which are sneakers. My most expensive buy is a Nike Air Penny 2 x Stussy pair with a black and green colourway which cost about $270."
The sneakers he's eyeing: "Asics x Kiko Kostadinov Ott0 958 Gel-Flexkee Pro."
A K-pop musician he likes: "Rap artist pH-1 is cool. I like the groovy and chill music he creates."
Name: Ponni Ashok
Age: 19
Occupation: Fashion design and textiles student
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
Her fit: "This top is from Zara while the patchwork pants are from Vintagewknd. The shoes are from Crocs."
A fashion trend that should end: "Skinny jeans. I don’t like tight denim. It’s suffocating in my opinion."
Favourite emerging label: "Rave Review (the LVMH Prize-nominated Stockholm-based label founded by Josephine Bergqvist and Livia Schuck). I love what they’re doing with upcycling and patchwork."
Her dream job: "I would say being a textile designer – more specifically, one who is doing print and surface design."
A little-known fact about studying fashion design: "I don’t think a lot of people understand how much theory and research goes into our projects."
Name: Agatha Jung
Age: 23
Occupation: Theatre production and management student
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
Her fit: "This T-shirt belongs to my boyfriend. I bought the sweatpants from a shop in Seoul's Hongdae district (she relocated from South Korea to Singapore two years ago). The skull cap is from Cos while the sneakers are from Gucci."
Number of tattoos she has: "I've not counted but I'm pretty sure there are a lot as they cover almost all of my body. (She even has one on her forehead that spells out the name of the flower 'asphodel' in a graffiti-style script)"
When she first got inked: "I was 20 and had decided to tattoo this small religious inscription on the top of my foot. I was struck by this impressive idea that you can have something that holds so much meaning to you stay on your body forever."
Most time-consuming tattoo: "The big tattoo design (of a female character) on my back took two days to finish. It was done by a very good friend of mine from Vietnam who was visiting Singapore. He did not have a studio here so we ended up working on the tattoo in his room."
Favourite tattoo artist or studio: "I don't have a particular favourite because I enjoy going to a bunch of different studios and artists and letting them interpret their craft on my body."
Name: Ahmad Hanif Ahmad Jamal
Age: 24
Occupation: Fashion design and textiles student
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
His fit: "I'm wearing a T-shirt from Acme de la Vie. This gilet is from (UK-based brand) MKI Miyuki Zoku – vests are my favourite item and I currently own about six. The shorts are from Cotton On while the bag is from Singapore vintage brand Vintagewknd. The sneakers are from Converse."
His signature style: "I love playing with colour combinations in my outfits. If I have to choose one colour pairing that can never go wrong, it will be navy and brown."
Monthly shopping expenditure: "I don't shop a lot and spend between $200 and $300 on clothes. I work as a part-time retail staff at Uniqlo to supplement my monthly allowance."
The most expensive item in his wardrobe: "My Kenzo Inka trainers set me back by $585."
His dream bag: "Prada's Re-Nylon shoulder bag. It may be small in size but it's so chic. Furthermore, it's Prada, so what's not to love?"
Name: Pauline Mykell Tan Conmigo
Age: 19
Occupation: Audio production student and freelance vocalist
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
Her fit: "The T-shirt is from H&M and the shorts and bag are from Uniqlo. The sunglasses are from Shopee. The boots are from Dr. Martens. The frog charm is from Mr. DIY."
Her personal style: "It depends on my mood. For instance, I was in a pair of Naked Wolfe boots and carried a Louis Vuitton bag yesterday."
Most precious item in her wardrobe: "A vintage Champion jacket because it has sentimental value to me; my mum used to wear it when she was young and my dad had a matching piece."
Most expensive fashion item that she owns: "A Louis Vuitton OnTheGo PM tote which costs around $4,000."
Her dream bag: "A Lady Dior or a Birkin. These bags will go well with my two favourite aesthetics: 'rockstar girlfriend' and 'old money clean girl'."
Name: Khin Sit
Age: 19
Occupation: Fine arts student
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
Her fit: "I'm wearing a shirt that I thrifted from The Hammock Market over a Clavin Klein T-shirt. These jeans are from Bershka while the shoes are vintage Dior. The bracelet is a vintage piece from Cartier and spectacle frames are a custom design which I had made back in my home country of Myanmar."
Why she has a camera around her neck: "Darkroom photography is one of the electives I am taking right now and this is the camera I am working with to produce shots on films."
Favourite fashion trend: Short skirts and long boots – although the shoes might not be quite suitable for Singapore's weather."
Name: Michelle Low
Age: 23
Occupation: Fashion media and industries student and freelance photographer
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
Her fit: "I thrifted the bag from a shop called Nearest Ten in Queensway. The sheer dress and vest are thrift finds as well. Similarly, the boots and jacket are thrift buys from Johor Bahru. I would say 70 per cent of my wardrobe is made up of thrift items."
Small bag or big bag: "I used to be a small bag girl but now that I am working, it's big bags all the way."
Most precious item in her wardrobe: "It would probably be this old leather Diesel belt that's studded and super faded. Even the buckle is worn and distressed."
The most expensive item she owns: "My little baby pink Miu Miu matalasse card holder in nappa leather which a friend helped to get for me in France for 290 euros (S$424). I don't have a habit of carrying cash so I have it with me every day."
Her dream bag: "I'm obsessed with looking at vintage designer bags – especially the fun Dior Saddles by John Galliano and Fendi Baguettes that Carrie Bradshaw would have carried. Hopefully, I get to have my own someday!"
Name: Daniel Oliver West
Age: 23
Occupation: Fashion media and industries student
Spotted at: Lasalle College of the Arts
His fit: "The T-shirt is thrifted while the shorts are from Plop Apparels. The boots are from Dr. Martens. Most of the jewellery pieces are from Monica Vinader and Thomas Sabo."
His sense of style: "I kind of gravitate towards a dark and grunge aesthetic. Most of my outfits are centred around my boots."
A trend he can't stand: "Crocs."
Most precious item in his wardrobe: "My late dad’s navy zip-up sweater. It's something to remember him by."
His most expensive purchase: "A Diesel leather jacket which I bought for around $1,100."
Name: Emma Nguyen
Age: 19
Occupation: Accountancy student
Spotted at: Singapore Management University
Her fit: "Both the jacket and jeans are thrift finds from my home country, Vietnam. My top is by a Vietnamese label called Rocky Denim. My friend gifted me the bag. I don't remember where the shoes are from as I bought them long ago."
Her sense of style: "Anything that's flattering and gives me confidence."
A recent splurge: "I just got a stunning necklace from Vivienne Westwood for about $300."
Her favourite Viet labels: "I've always been a huge supporter of local Vietnamese designers. I love Moi Dien for its unique aesthetic design; the clothes are made from high-quality materials too."
A current obsession: "Recently, I’ve been obsessing about getting a pair of black Siren clogs from Crocs."
Name: Gladys Pang
Age: 18
Occupation: Architectural technology and building services student
Spotted at: Temasek Polytechnic
Her fit: "I've layered two dresses which I got from Chinese label Allin’s House which is carried on Taobao. The bag is by (Singapore brand) Shibuigarm which I bought at (the multi-label store Anteiku Studios; it's decorated with a scarf that I thrifted from Stakeout. The boots are from New Rock while the jewellery is a mixture of pieces I bought from various sources such as a flea market, Taobao and TikTok."
Her aesthetic: “I'm very into gothic rock and punk music. I was going for a gothic doll look when dressing up for school today.”
Favourite goth earworms: "'Temple Of Love' and 'Lucretia My Reflection by The Sisters of Mercy; 'Au Revoir' by (Japanese visual kei rock band) Malice Mizer; and 'Трюмы кораблей' (say tr-yumy ko-ra-bley) by (Russian post-punk outfit) Blazh."
Favourite musicians: "Lana del Rey. I have liked 127 of her songs on my Spotify and I listen to her songs every day. Her music is so seductive and makes me feel like a girly girl. I also enjoy listening to (Russian electro and metal duo) Icep3ak."
Where she likes to hang out: "I love Anteiku Studios (at 195 Pearl's Hill Terrace) because it is such a cosy and creative-looking space with all the graffiti and posters on its walls. I have spent too many long hours there with my friends. I also love the relatively new thrift store Two Worlds at Golden Landmark. The owners are very friendly and there is a changing room there – which is super because I can actually try on the clothes before I decide if I want to buy them."
An interesting fact about her: "I absolutely love fragrances and always lug a full-sized perfume bottle to school. Perhaps that is also why I love carrying big bags. I also love offering to spray scents on my friends. What can I say, perfumes are my love language."
Name: Shayna Soh
Age: 17
Occupation: Hospitality and tourism management student
Spotted at: Temasek Polytechnic
Her fit: "I got my cardigan, belt and socks from Taobao. The skirt is from Uniqlo. I bought the boots and bag online from ABC-Mart and Everything Cute Club respectively."
Dream job: "Zookeeper. I love animals – I have a five-year-old schnauzer – and love watching animal documentaries. Plus, it's kind of related to what I study as some job scopes of being a zookeeper include customer service."
Her obsession: "I love Sanrio's My Melody character. I estimate that I've spent around $1,000 on My Melody toys and merchandise. I've once waited an hour in the queue for the Sanrio store at Takashimaya D.S. to open so that I can get my hands on a limited-edition My Melody Christmas ornament."
Last holiday destination: "I visited Yokohama, Japan, in January this year. I think the highlight of my trip was skiing and visiting Disneyland and Sanrio Puroland... where I bought a lot of plushies."
Name: Christiane Meur
Age: 17
Occupation: Apparel design and merchandising student
Spotted at: Temasek Polytechnic
Her fit: "The skirt is from H&M while the shirt is from Urban Revivo. The faux pearl earrings and necklace are from Lovisa. I DIY-ed the pin that I'm wearing on my collar. The wedges are by (Spanish brand) Ria Menorca."
The inspiration behind her look: "I actually had a presentation earlier today and I was trying to channel formal wear and being that ladylike girl boss who has everything. Also, a shoutout to my friend Julian, who wears pearls every day and inspired the jewellery I have on today."
The most precious item in her wardrobe: "My mum’s Mango jeans from 15 years ago. They fit like a charm and it’s just hard to come across a good pair like that."
The most expensive fashion item she owns: "It's probably my Siren Muse hoop earrings by Monica Vinader that my mother gifted me as my graduation present. They cost about $240."
Her dream bag: "I’m not really a bag person but I really love the shoulder bags made by Diana Ulanova. (The label is known for its sculptural and asymmetrical designs)"
Name: Cheryl Shepherdson
Age: 17
Occupation: Communication design student
Spotted at: Temasek Polytechnic
Her fit: "I'm wearing a top which I thrifted from The Hammock Market. I got this bag from Fifth, a thrift store in Taman Paramount in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. The pants are from Taobao and the shoes are from H&M."
Where she goes to thrift in Singapore: "Definitely Haji Lane because it's the closest to where I stay and it's also where you have the highest concentration of thrift stores in one area."
Favourite fashion label: "Shanghai-based fashion label Shushu/Tong. I can't afford any of its clothes but I love looking at its runway shows and all the cool new releases it drops. One day, though, when I get a job and earn my own money to buy actual stuff from the brand, I am going to make its (coquettish) aesthetic mine."
A cool chill-out spot in Singapore she recommends: "This is probably kind of cliche but the rooftop of Funan is really cool. It offers a nice view of the city skyline and you can also roll around on the grass patch there if you like."
Name: R. Sindhu
Age: 20
Occupation: Apparel design and merchandising student
Spotted at: Temasek Polytechnic
Her fit: "This top is a hand-me-down from my grandmother. My jeans is from Bershka while my shoes is from Nike. I'm wearing jewellery that belongs to my mother."
Her favourite designers: "Sandy Liang and Miuccia Prada. I admire how versatile they are, especially Mrs. Prada. She is constantly evolving Prada and Miu Miu, keeping them modern and relevant."
Her regular shopping haunts: "I love The Editor's Market for its quality basics and Bershka for its bottoms. I mostly thrift online on Buyee or @starrymoonthrift9f.sg on Shopee."
Her current obsession: "I’m currently obsessed with collecting Tamagotchis. They are cute accessories and my present emotional support device."
Name: Bryan Ng
Age: 17
Occupation: Hospitality and tourism management student
Spotted at: Temasek Polytechnic
His fit: "My T-shirt is from Acme de la Vie. The shorts and necklace are from Shein. I'm carrying a JanSport backpack and wearing sneakers from Converse. The spectacle frames are from Cotton On while the dinosaur plushie is something I had won from a claw machine."
His music idol: "It is Chinese singer Zhang Hao of the new (nine-member) Korean group Zerobaseone. He was the first one in the group to catch my eye and I admire him for not only his voice but also for his appearance, aesthetics and charisma."
A song he has on repeat: "It has to be 'Do Not Touch' by Japanese subunit Misamo. The group is made up of three members – Mina, Sana and Momo – who are also members of the K-pop group Twice. I really love the vibe and energy of the song and the dance choreography goes very well with it. I listen to the song between five and 10 times a day and I would always hum to the tune everywhere I go. It’s a very catchy song and I highly recommend you listen to it."
An interesting fact about himself: "I love to sing and dance! Whenever nobody is watching or when I’m alone, I act as if I am an idol and the location I’m at is my stage."
Name: Hazwani Aqilah
Age: 19
Occupation: Fashion design student
Spotted at: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Her fit: "I'm wearing a top that belongs to my sister. The jeans are from Cotton On while the boots are from Zara. My watch is from Alba."
What she would be studying if it wasn't fashion design: "I would probably be studying photography or video production."
An item she cannot live without: "My band T-shirts because I'm very into rock music, especially '90s rock."
Her favourite musicians: "Guns N' Roses, Queen, AC/DC, Eagles, Kiss, Aerosmith, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Green Day, Bon Jovi, Arctic Monkeys and Paramore."
Name: Goldwin Siah
Age: 21
Occupation: Fashion design student
Spotted at: Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
His fit: "Everything I'm wearing is from Shein except for the Jacquemus bag."
Why he chose to study fashion design: "I do drag as a hobby (he goes by the moniker Midas Touch) and design and sew my own dresses and accessories. I hope that by enrolling into fashion school, I get to deepen my technical skills and get a proper certification as a designer. Who knows, maybe I'll become the next emerging designer in Singapore."
His drag alter ego: "Midas Touch. The name is inspired by King Midas in Greek mythology who had the ability to turn whatever he touched into gold. It's also a nice link to my name, Goldwin."
Design idol: "Chinese designer Guo Pei. Her designs are so intricate and I love how she plays with structure. Plus, she loves gold!"
His most expensive purchase: "This Le Chiquito bag from Jacquemus that I'm carrying. Even though it cost me about $1,000 and I can't even put my phone in it, I just had to have it as my first designer bag."