These Fashion Tiktokers Really Love Dressing Up
Meet four in Singapore who have won us over with not just their fit checks, but also their infectious enthusiasm for dressing up, curiosity about fashion, and not being afraid to show it all.
If not for TikTok, thrift culture would not be as explosive as it is today and -core aesthetics might have never been a thing. There is no doubt that the platform has been a playground for sartorial self-expression and with it has come a league of style stars who – in comparison to their Instagram counterparts – often come across as quirkier, more experimental and, some might say, a whole lot more interesting. Here, we chat with four TikTokers who have caught our attention with their fire fits.
NATASHA ALIYAH DAWSON, 15, SECONDARY STUDENT
The 15-year-old Natasha Aliyah Dawson is a devotee of the Decora aesthetic that has its roots in Harajuku and celebrates unbridled maximalist fun over simplicity. On her TikTok account @wut_uluvovo, she documents her Decora fits including the myriad toy-like accessories that make each look, how the subculture influences her art, and how her family lovingly supports her expressive style.
Natasha wears her own gifted Care Bear-printed T-shirt; inner top, skirt and legwarmers from Shein; petticoat sourced on Shopee; accessories from assorted shops or DIY-ed; and shoes sourced on Taobao
Her TT account: @wut_uluvovo
If we had to sum up her style: Hardcore Decora – the cute, child-like, maximalist aesthetic that originated in Harajuku in Tokyo, Japan in the ’90s and is the sartorial equivalent of Rainbow Brite on overdrive (the term comes from the English word “decoration”). Think the more accessories, colours and layers, the better – right down to hair and makeup.
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What got her into the aesthetic: “The decora icon cybr.grl (the Texas-based, Filipino Harajuku fashion Youtuber, designer and self-proclaimed “human rainbow” Kristina Elle) was the one who inspired me to try it out! She is one of the first decora content creators I came across online and I started watching her tutorials and went from there, posting my own Decora content on TikTok in 2022. I was really inspired by her then, and I still am today!”
How TikTok has influenced her style: “I love being involved in the Decora community on Tiktok. Whenever I post, I find other people who love the same things as me and it’s always nice to see people on TikTok complimenting my outfits and asking me how to get into Decora fashion… There is a J-fashion community in Singapore, but not specifically for decora. I only know two other people in Singapore who are into this aesthetic.”
Her fashion icons: “Besides @cybr.grl, another TikTok creator whom I admire is @endomarfa. Her makeup and Cosplay skills are extraordinary and her knowledge on how to style clothes is so cool. I also find @xoogiekwisp and @leroisme very creative and inspiring. Over on Instagram, there’s @ozo_ni, @tsubameda.maskfashion, @twinkle.pink_ and @xiaoping_tou – all decora girls whose style and content help me develop my own style.”
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Her favourite places to shop: “ACDC RAG (the Japanese online store specialising in Harajuku fashion since the ’80s). Its prices are reasonable and the quality of its products is amazing. It was thanks to it that I could start my Decora journey… I also buy from Carousell and Taobao, and make my own accessories.”
Central to the Decora look is an overdose of playful accessories – many of which Dawson makes on her own – including hair clips, patterned band-aids worn across the nose, and stickers for the face.
Natasha wears her own top from Shein, and accessories from assorted shops or DIY-ed
How dressing up makes her feel: “I don’t do it for content, but for my own happiness. Though there aren’t many occasions or days for me to be free enough to wear full Decora (the more-is-more aesthetic means one can take up to hours to get dressed), I still incorporate the look into my daily life through little ways such as collecting stickers or keychains, and decorating my room. I’d say I wear Decora at least once every two months. It keeps me happy and feeling charged up.”
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On what she hopes to bring to the Singapore fashion scene: “I hope to be able to influence and encourage others to try something new and out of their comfort zone, and help them be less afraid of expressing themselves. I think people should dress up and feel confident about it when they step out onto the streets, and I hope to see more people in Singapore be the truest version of themselves through playing dress up, no matter their age.”
SITI NADHRAH, 20, PROSPECTIVE UNIVERSITY STUDENT
Starting her fashion-focused TikTok account @nadddwa two years ago during the pandemic lockdown out of boredom as well as to document the start of her hijab journey, Siti Nadhrah has chalked up two million likes as of press time with her effortlessly chic personal style and friendly advice on how to make modest fashion fun and modern on a budget.
Siti wears her own shirt from the Indonesian Instagram label @bwbyaz; tulle skirt sourced from Shopee; AforArcade pants; Dunia Anita hijab; Pull&Bear earrings; ASOS tie, which she accessorised with pins; Kaleido Jewellery rings; and Adidas Originals Samba sneakers
Her TT account: @nadddwa
If we had to sum up her style: She’s the ultimate hijabi fashion cool girl with her effortlessly stylish, often black-and-white approach to modest dressing accented with fun, unexpected twists. Her goal, she says, is to “showcase that fashion can be modest yet stylish and cater to a diverse range of aesthetics and trends.”
How she sums up her TikTok content: “I began posting on TikTok in 2020 during the early stages of the pandemic lockdown. It coincided with the beginning of my hijab journey, when I was experimenting with my new style and how to incorporate fashion trends into it, and decided to share my fit checks on the platform. These days, I offer styling tips and fashion recommendations, and share get-ready-with-me and vlog-style content… My TikTok content tends to be long-form, informative videos as opposed to the OOTDs I put on my Instagram account (@nvdhxo) because I’ve noticed that the TikTok audience tends to have a longer attention span.”
Her fashion influences: “My biggest style influences have been my mum and sisters. They’ve nurtured my interest in fashion since I was young. My mum in particular has a unique, eclectic style that I admire and always dressed me up in vibrant outfits when I was a child.”
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Her favourite fashion personalities online: “I admire several, each of whom embody a different aesthetic that I resonate with. On TikTok, for instance, there’s @jnoviena and @olhirst who inspire me with their experimental style, and @lara_bsmnn for her chic everyday outfits. As a hijabi, I also look up to @kawi_.s whose minimalist style I find so classy. They’re the same people I look to for fashion inspiration on Instagram. Otherwise I use Instagram more to discover and explore new fashion labels.”
The two looks Siti put together for the FEMALE shoot are epresentative of her signature style: largely monochromatic, minimalist in silhouette yet playful with layer and textures, and a touch of coquette.
Siti wears her own Cos cropped top, Musinsa Standard inner top, AforArcade pants, Dunia Anita hijab, Gucci sunglasses, Pull&Bear earrings, Kaleido Jewellery rings, and Pedro boots
Her favourite fashion labels and retailers: “I'm particularly fond of Indonesian fashion labels such as Blanc Studio, Prelude Choir, Nylony Poplin and Morningsol, many of which got their start on Instagram. All of them offer sophisticated, minimalist pieces that are great for layering, which I love. I also enjoy the Singapore-based retailers Aforarcade and The Editor’s Market, as well as shop regularly at Cos.”
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Her style tips: “Always colour-coordinate; layering different textures is an easy way to make an outfit stand out; and a great way to enhance one’s hijab is to add braided ribbons to the sides or ends, which helps lend a coquette effect that’s so trendy now as well as a feminine flair to one’s look.”
AMIRRUL SUKIRMAN, 29, RETAIL ASSISTANT MANAGER
Better known as @iammirrul on TikTok, Amirrul Sukirman’s infectious enthusiasm for dressing up is reflected in his experimental, mix-and-match style, love for thrifted fashion and regular fashiontok content.
Amirrul wears his own shirt and pants from Stakeout; thrifted skirt, necklace and bag; beret from the Bangkok-based brand Daddy And The Muscle Academy; rings and bracelets sourced on Shopee; Uniqlo socks and Dr. Martens sandals
His TT account: @iammirrul
If we had to sum up his style: Typically – and tastefully – TikTok (read: a delightfully experimental mish-mash of different trends pulled off with an undeniable – and infectious – love for fashion)
How he got started on TikTok: “I started posting regularly when I contracted COVID-19 in 2022. I was stuck in a small room with nothing to do besides a repeated cycle of sleeping, eating and showering for five consecutive days. I found some old OOTDs that I had taken, started to mess around on TikTok by pairing them with trending sounds and that’s how I began my Tiktok journey… The idea was to create an archive of my daily outfits in a video format instead of still life, which I usually do for Instagram (@iammirrul). I had also gotten sucked into a fashiontok vortex, and got inspired to create similar videos… These days I mostly create fit checks, taking videos of my outfits around my neighbourhood before heading out to work or run errands.”
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His fashion influences: “As an amateur artist and illustrator, I would say I get my main style inspiration from art. I’m a huge fan of anime – from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure to Sailormoon. What captivates me most is how anime illustrators come up with head-to-toe looks for each character, and their use of colour often inspires how I incorporate colour into my outfits.
When I was studying for a diploma in apparel design, I was not the best dressed and was indirectly bullied by my coursemates for this. However, surrounding myself with positive people in school who encouraged me to improve my style and not give up my interest in fashion has also allowed my style to evolve.”
His all-time favourite fashion designers: “I grew up watching the runway shows of Alexander McQueen and Jean Paul Gaultier on YouTube. I even had some of their runway looks printed onto photo paper and stored them in an album for future inspiration for fashion illustrations that I create in my free time. I love how free and experimental they were. Other fashion masters to me are Vivienne Westwood, Pierre Balmain and Martin Margiela who have also influenced my drawings.”
How TikTok has influenced his style: “Posting on Tiktok has pushed me to try out new things more. Recently, for example, I’ve been hooked on layering skirts over my pants. It was quite nerve-wracking when I first wore such a look out in public, but I’ve since gotten used to it. I feel that posting on Tikok inspires boys and men to be comfortable in their own skin and express their true selves through fashion.”
His favourite fashion personalities online: “On TikTok, I look most up to @theedwardpark, @aka.samyang and @sharawngsml for how creative they are when assembling an outfit. Additionally, their self-confidence is remarkable because I’m sure there are people who would judge them for standing out so much. I’m also inspired by the straightforward yet crisp editing style of their content. On Instagram, there’s @jaydenrono_, @keisho_0624 & @davidguison, whom I would describe as trendy yet laid back. I’m drawn to how they look so fashionable and put-together in outfits that are often baggy and ultra-comfortable.”
Being on the TikTok has encouraged Amirrul to be more daring and expressive with his style, which is also a real confidence booster, he says.
Amirrul wears his own Uniqlo sweater vest; pants from the Bangkok-based, vintage-focused A2H.store; ASOS boots; and thrifted jacket and assorted accessories
Where he shops: “Besides where I work (a Japanese fashion retailer), around 70 per cent of my clothes are thrifted locally or in Malaysia or Bangkok. I’m so happy to see thrifting become such a huge subculture among youths here because it’s an environmentally friendly way to consume fashion. Some of my thrift shop recommendations would be Stakeout, Ssaltythrifts and Honsieponsie. I also shop on Carousell and have managed to get some pretty sick pieces at a low price! Lastly, tees are my staple and one of my favourite homegrown brands for graphic tees is Wacky Wears. I’m obsessed with its designs!”
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His current fashion obsession: “Plushies – you’re likely to see one hanging randomly on my bag or pants these days.”
A styling tip: “It’s ok to not have a single definitive style – and don’t mind the haters. At the end of the day, what’s important is to just be you and dress to make yourself happy.”
STEPHANIE CAHYADI, 32, FREELANCE UI/UX DESIGNER
Stephanie Cahyadi’s dreamy wardrobe comprising of brands such as Cecilie Bahnsen, Simone Rocha and Comme des Garcons is enough to lure fashion girlie-girls into her TikTok account @tepicurry, but it’s her fun and friendly content documenting her thoughtful approach to dressing up that’s the real draw.
Stephanie wears her own top from the Chinese label Imakokoni, pants from Comme des Garcons Black, Shushu/tong earrings, Simone Rocha bag and Grounds Mary Janes
Her TT account: @tepicurry
If we had to sum up her style: Dream arty-romance core with brands such as Comme des Garcons, Cecilie Bahnsen and Simone Rocha on heavy rotation. As she puts it, her style is “a fusion of girlhood, feminine romanticism and the avant-garde, characterised by abundant volume, and distinctive silhouettes and textures.”
How she sums up her TikTok content: “OOTDs, GRWMs, styling tips, snippets of my shopping trips as well as DIY upcycling projects, and bits of fashion history… TikTok users come across as less pretentious, more authentic and genuinely curious compared to those on Instagram, and I think that’s why the platform is so successful. Its sense of community, lively engagement, and absence of judgment all add up! In contrast, I use Instagram (@tepicurry) more like a personal diary and usually share photos to seek validation from my small circle of fellow Comme des Garçons enthusiasts about whether I should purchase a piece.”
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Her fashion influences: “My style has been influenced less by fashion, but circumstance. After regaining weight that I had lost back around 2021, none of my clothes fit well. The gorpcore aesthetic that was trending then exacerbated the issue as the clothes didn’t flatter my body shape and made me look sloppy. Fortunately, my partner is deeply supportive of my fashion journey and shares my passion for fashion. He often surprises me with pieces from emerging brands and encourages experimentation, and it was him who introduced me to my first pair of Margiela Tabis, broadening my fashion horizons and igniting a desire for more. Soon after, Uniqlo launched its collaboration with Marni and I had my heart set on one of the balloon skirts from the collection except it was only available in limited sizes. At that point in time, I wasn’t prepared to spend more than $150 on a garment yet no fast fashion brand offered what I wanted to wear. After months of consideration, I took the leap and invested all my angpao money in a $600 balloon skirt from Comme des Garçons. It fit – and still fits – perfectly and shifted my perspective on fashion entirely, highlighting the value of quality clothing and avant-garde design. Since then, I’ve just not gone back to fast fashion.”
Her favourite fashion labels: “I absolutely adore Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe, Noir Kei Ninomiya, Issey Miyake, Sacai, Egg Trading, Simone Rocha, Cecilie Bahsen, Trippen and Rundholz. My style thrives on a blend of avant-garde and feminine pieces. These brands have cultivated my appreciation for unique silhouettes, textures and volume in fashion. As a big girl, I constantly hear people telling me what clothes to wear to make me look smaller and slimmer, but these brands made me realise you can look amazing being big, and it’s okay to take up space unapologetically.”
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Where she shops: “I particularly love shopping in Tokyo, given the affordability of Japanese brands there. Some of my favourite stores to hit when I’m in the city are Comme des Garçons and Issey Miyake in Aoyama, Dover Street Market Ginza, Parco Shibuya and GYRE in Omotesando. I also enjoy Ragtag, Kindal and 2nd Street for their selection of second-hand labels. In Melbourne (where she used to live), I often visit The Signet Bureau for its avant-garde German and Australian brands; Swop and Goodbyes for their diverse selection of second-hand labels; and Mutual Muse for its inclusive range of clothing sizes. And when I’m in Singapore, I enjoy browsing at Club 21 and Comme des Garçons in Voco Orchard, as well as Dover Street Market in Dempsey. All this said, I do also lean towards online shopping for the possibility of snagging better deals with e-tailers such as Ssense, Farfetch and Cettire being among my favourites.”
On why she favours shopping overseas: “The issue lies in what Singapore lacks: Variety, competitive pricing and sizing are major issues. When I was living in Australia, I could comfortably wear sizes M or L, but here in Asia, my clothing size typically goes up to a double or triple XL, which can be quite challenging to find. And regrettably, good and affordable second-hand consignment stores that also have variety in style and sizing are few and far between here. Furthermore, a more conservative approach to dressing up in general has made retailers and buyers hesitant to stock up on unique or more unconventional pieces, leaving little room for experimentation. I’m not opposed to supporting local brands, but they often fall short in terms of creativity, sizing and quality. I’m not willing to shell out $109 for a pair of pants that don’t fit well and fall apart after two washes – unfortunately, this has happened to me before. Thankfully, Singapore’s consistently strong currency makes everything abroad seem a bit more affordable, which explains why I find joy in thrifting and shopping overseas whenever the opportunity arises.”
From showing how she repeats garments to maximise their wear to customisation how-tos, Stephanie helps to highlight the value of buying quality designs in a down-to-earth manner as well as how one “can look amazing being a big girl”.
Stephanie wears her own Comme des Garcons top and skirt, Cecilie Bahnsen dress, Shushu/tong earrings, Dispatcher No.8 bag, customised Asics sneakers and other assorted accessories
Her favourite fashion personalities online: “The TikTok content creator Sophie Davies (@imsophiedavies) is one – she’s a dedicated outfit repeater who exclusively purchases second-hand items. I admire her dedication to sustainability. Recently, she mentioned a digital wardrobe app that encourages her to be more mindful of her purchases and to refer back to her existing digital wardrobe to decide if a new item would complement it or aligns with her wishlist. This approach deeply resonated with me and I’ve started doing the same. Ryan Yip (@ryanyipfashion) does a lot of fashion commentary, and his take on fashion is often very insightful. In one of his videos, for example, he talks about our generation being ‘addicted to curation’ and that struck a chord in me. He pointed out that curation should serve as the beginning of a conversation rather than the conclusion and I wholeheartedly agree with him. And locally there’s Natasha of @holanatasha and Nicole Wong (@ncwong). I admire Natasha’s ability to curate stunning outfits using local and Southeast Asian brands while Nicole and I have a mutual love for many of the same brands. I also admire her authenticity in not concealing her accent and that she doesn’t seem to strive toward conventional ideals of beauty, which adds to her authenticity.”
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What she hopes people will take away from her own videos: “I want to instil confidence in young viewers, emphasising that fashion should be fun and enjoyable. No matter what size you are, don’t hesitate to explore and embrace your unique style. And for older viewers, remind yourself that it is never too late to heal your inner child.”
ALL INTERVIEWS HAVE BEEN EDITED FOR CLARITY AND BREVITY.
COORDINATION PAIGE BOON PHOTOGRAPHY LAWRENCE TEO ART DIRECTION JONATHAN CHIA HAIR VANESSA DREA MAKEUP SIM ANN LIM, USING LANCOME & MAC COSMETICS
This article first appeared in the June 2024 TikTok Edition of FEMALE