Girls’ Day Out: Aimee Cheng-Bradshaw, Nicole Liew And Polo Ralph Lauren’s New Blaze Bag
On their feeds, this pair of model besties looks like the friendship everyone wants – brunch dates, festival nights, the odd art jam and never a bad angle. Off them, five years have built something a lot deeper than just posting for hearts. Carrying Polo Ralph Lauren’s new equestrian‑inspired Polo Blaze handbag, the duo take us through the hangouts that built the bond – and how to make and maintain BFFs today.
It all started when Aimee Cheng‑Bradshaw was in Milan in 2021 shooting a commercial and looking for a familiar face to have lunch with. Sort of. Fellow model Nicole Liew – who shares the same mother agency, Basic Models Management – was also in the Italian city for Fashion Week, but did not reply until six hours later.
Nicole (pictured left) wears cotton rugby shirt, fleece pullover (tied around shoulders), denim jeans and Polo Blaze small shoulder bag. Aimee (pictured right) wears fleece pullover, denim jeans and Polo Blaze large shoulder bag. All Polo Ralph Lauren
“I’m the kind of person who either gives everything or nothing in a friendship, so I keep my circle very small and get really nervous when people want to befriend me,” says Liew, 28, of that first exchange between them.
Debuting in Fall 2026, the Polo Blaze from Polo Ralph Lauren is named after the unique white marking that runs down the centre of the face of some horses – a distinctive, often elegant form of identification. The handbag is built around the same idea with its clean and sculptural lines inspired by saddlery, and door knocker‑shaped hardware that nods to those found on archival Polo bags from the 1990s.
Aimee wears cotton-blend short-sleeved jumper, denim jeans, Iconic cotton cap and Polo Blaze large shoulder bag.
While they did end up meeting during that trip, the two of them only cemented their bond a year later, when they returned to Milan for placement and shared an apartment. Liew would suggest walking together to castings, or grabbing meals and coffee in between. “I guess it’s just something I do if I consider someone a friend,” she says. “And anyway, I was free, so I might as well clock some steps.”
Nicole wears cotton-blend short-sleeved jumper; denim jeans; Western acetate and metal sunglasses; Polo Blaze leather top handle bag; and leather belt.
Today, that ritual remains a regular part of their lives – especially since Liew moved into the same neighbourhood as Cheng‑Bradshaw earlier this year. Both can be described as equal parts edgy and elegant, connecting over a love of vintage watch shopping, mystery thrillers, Pilates, good food and a good night out. Among their cultural reccos: the pottery and glass painting studio and cafe Clayful (where Liew brought Cheng‑Bradshaw for her birthday last year), Big Short Coffee (for fun, almost cocktail‑like coffee concoctions for Cheng‑Bradshaw, who’s not a big java drinker) and the stylish, cosy Italian restaurant Lavo (Liew’s pick – “the tiramisu is so good!”).
Nicole (pictured left) wears cotton cable knit sweater, cotton Oxford shirt, denim jeans, Polo Blaze small leather shoulder bag, and leather belt. Aimee (pictured right) wears cotton cable knit sweater, cotton Oxford shirt, denim jeans and Polo Blaze leather top handle bag. All Polo Ralph Lauren
Being top names in the same niche, demanding industry gives them common ground most friendships don’t have, but what makes these self‑declared besties click is what Cheng‑Bradshaw, 31, calls “an alignment of core values”. “We probably didn’t know this at the start, but over the years, we’ve realised that how we treat people – our friends, our family, each other – is very similar, and this means a very deep and natural understanding of how the other feels, which is quite rare,” she explains (fun fact: the girl’s got a psychology degree).
There are a total of three styles in the Polo Ralph Lauren Polo Blaze collection: a roomy shoulder bag in S or L that complements tailoring as well as a T‑shirt and jeans, and a more feminine top handle that’s equally versatile and effortless.
Nicole (pictured left) wears linen cotton vest; matching pants; cotton Oxford shirt; silk tie; and Polo Blaze small leather shoulder bag. Aimee (pictured right) wears wool flannel vest; matching pants; denim shirt; silk tie; and Polo Blaze leather top handle bag.
Liew’s advice on making friends in adulthood: “Girl friendships are super important at any point in a girl’s life and, at different phases, you need different friends who will help you grow. I think us finding each other at this stage of our lives has been very important for the both of us…”
Nicole (pictured left) wears cotton jacket, denim jeans, corduroy cap and Polo Blaze large leather shoulder bag. Aimee (pictured right) wears cotton jacket, cotton-blend short-sleeved jumper, denim jeans, Iconic cotton cap, and Polo Blaze large shoulder bag. All Polo Ralph Lauren
“Being besties with someone doesn’t always mean you can be open and vulnerable with them, or that they’ll acknowledge how they’ve made you feel – but between us, we can.”
SHOP THE RALPH LAUREN POLO BLAZE BAG
Polo Blaze Small Shoulder Bag in Ash
Price: $1,059
Polo Blaze Small Shoulder Bag in Currant
Price: $1,059
Polo Blaze Large Shoulder Bag in Chestnut
Price: $2,199
Polo Blaze Large Shoulder Bag in Black
Price: $2,199
Polo Blaze Top Handle Bag in Petrol Blue
Price: $1,059
Polo Blaze Top Handle Bag in Black
Price: $1,059
TEXT & COORDINATION NOELLE LOH PHOTOGRAPHY STEFAN KHOO STYLING TOK WEI LUN PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT ALIF STYLING ASSISTANTS MEGAN LIM & CRYSTAL LIM HAIR CHRISTVIAN WU MAKEUP KIMBERLY CHEE MODELS AIMEE CHENG‑BRADSHAW & NICOLE LIEW/BASIC MODELS MANAGEMENT
In collaboration with Polo Ralph Lauren
This article first appeared in Volume 10 of F ZINE