FEMALE People Cam: Singapore Design Week 2024 Edition

A love for Japanese culture, fashion, and the colour black defined the style of the creative community at Singapore Design Week 2024's opening party. Our FEMALE People Cam captured these standout looks. Scroll on for more.

Name: Ella Zheng

Age: 38

Occupation: Graphic and jewellery designer

Her fit: "I found the dress I’m wearing as an outerwear at Mn. Tokyo while shopping in Japan – it's a unique find. I happened to visit an artsy store where they were launching new pieces. Each item is reworked, and I really like the texture and the sleeves. My pants are from Harvesty, purchased at Kindal in Kyoto. I believe the Japanese make beautiful pant silhouettes. My T-shirt is from my friends at Ripple Root; I love their art. I bought the necklace while travelling in London – it's by a local maker called Fruit Farm and is always a statement piece. My shoes are from Nike's Dia de Muertos Collection 2022, and I just love the details on the sneakers."

The inspiration behind her fit: "My partner and I participated in three different activations for Singapore Design Week – Repair+, Neufolk, and The Everyday Shop – and I wanted to celebrate, so I expressed that through fashion. I struggled with my body image for a while, but on that day, I felt brave and took the leap."

How her style influences her work: "I enjoy thrifting, reworked pieces, and mixing things up, which is reflected in my jewellery designs. I often use thrifted jewellery and scavenge for deadstock and vintage pieces to give them new life and to appreciate the craftsmanship that’s hard to find in modern times."

Favourite fashion trend at the moment: "I don’t follow trends, but I know what pieces are unique to me and what I personally like!"

Name: Brenna Chai

Age: 28

Occupation: Interior designer

Her fit: "I'm wearing a one-piece dress I thrifted, paired with black trousers from Bershka and sandals from Teva. My tote bag is from Ginlee. My accessories include a round bangle by a Thai artist and another bangle from a Japanese artist."

Her style inspiration: "I'm inspired by Japanese fashion, particularly their layering style."

Current favourite fashion trend: "I'm not following any particular trend, but I love layering my outfits to create more visual interest."

One piece of style advice: "Being different is unique, so don't be afraid to stand out. Love what you wear and be confident."

Name: Caroline Cheng

Age: 28

Occupation: Interior designer

Her fit: "The white inner top is from Korea, the black lace top is secondhand from a flea market, and I thrifted the flared pants at a store called Jalan Jalan Japan. My shoes are my decade-old Dr. Martens boots."

The inspiration behind the fit: "I like to play with different silhouettes and textures – pairing a tight-fitting top with high-waisted flared pants and showcasing the black lace details with a white inner top."

Current favourite fashion trend: "I don't have a fixed style or follow any specific fashion trends, but whenever I shop or thrift, I think of various ways to wear a piece of clothing. For example, a dress can be worn on its own, over another skirt, or belted to cinch or crop it to wear as a top. You can even layer another top over the dress to transform it into a skirt. This approach allows me to explore more possibilities and expand my wardrobe."

How her style influences her work: "I think it’s a reciprocal relationship. I try to understand my body proportions and play with silhouettes, and as an interior designer, I also need to grasp proportions and how they affect visual space."

Name: Derek Tay

Age: 38

His fit: "My top is from Uniqlo, and the denim overalls are from Beyond The Vines. The shoes are Visvim's Patrician Folks, and the tote bag is from Sojao."

The inspiration behind the look: "For the Singapore Design Week Opening, I chose local brands to celebrate the occasion. I kept it fun with overalls and dressed it up a bit with a white collared shirt and brown leather shoes to make it feel appropriate for an opening night."

Favourite fashion trend at the moment: "I tend to stick to classics and comfort since they're easy to style and work well with Singapore's weather. If there’s such a thing as a utility and workwear trend, then I’m into that—it's practical, versatile, and adds interesting details to an outfit."

Name: Will Chong

Age: 29

Occupation: Graphic designer

Her fit: "My vest is from Zara, the halter top I thrifted in Berlin, the skirt is from Plasmasphere, and the shoes are Marseille from Ssense.com. The bag is from Emis."

Inspiration behind the fit: "There’s not much inspiration; it just came together well. I usually wear a lot of black, but recently I’ve been open to trying more colours. I’ve been buying a lot of grey items – grey shorts, grey pants, grey skirts."

Thrifting or buying new?: "I definitely prefer thrifting. It feels like a treasure hunt, and you never know what treasures you might uncover. Thrifting also encourages creativity, as you have to think outside the box. Plus, it's usually cheaper than retail – except for those curated thrift stores."

Name: Lyla Soh

Age: 33

Occupation: Designer

Her fit: "My cap is from a local brand called Summer Summit. The necklace is handmade and was purchased at a local art market. The black tank top is from The Editor's Market, and I've layered it with a black mesh dress I got from Taobao. My pants are also from Taobao. The bag is from a Japanese brand called Freak's Store, and my sandals are from Keen."

Her approach to dressing up: "I love layering, but since Singapore is too hot, I look for ways to layer with light and breathable pieces. I also enjoy colours, so I try to incorporate them into my daily outfits."

Thrifting or buying new?: "I have no preference for either; it depends on what catches my eye. However, I personally think thrifted pieces have more charm."

One piece of style advice: "Pay attention to what you like and what you don’t. Explore and experiment. Most importantly, you should feel comfortable in what you're wearing."

Name: Clarissa Edeline Yu

Age: 24

Occupation: Designer and researcher

Her fit: "The asymmetric top is from Shop At Velvet, and the dress was thrifted in Kyoto. For accessories, my shoes are from Cole Haan, and my bag is from In Good Company."

The inspiration behind her fit: "To be honest, this is my go-to outfit whenever I want to look a bit more ‘put together.’ I’ve worn this combo a few times. I went all black and layered it with the patterned dress to make things more interesting."

Thrifting or buying new?: "I think a mix of both works best. Buying new pieces gives you a lot more options, while thrifting takes time but brings a certain satisfaction when you find a special ‘hidden gem.’"

One piece of style advice: "I’m still in the process of finding my own style as well, so I would say just be bold and start experimenting with the pieces you already own."

Name: Jaslyn Koh

Age: 25

Occupation: Outreach engagement executive

Her ift: "My black top is from Cos, and the skirt is from The Birds, a Korean fashion label. My shoes are from Charles and Keith."

The thought process behind her ensemble: "My outfit actually started with the skirt, which I bought during my recent trip to Korea. It fits the theme 'Design Chic' (we designers wear black a lot) and is super practical – comfortable to move in and featuring large pockets to hold everything I was carrying. The skirt plays with structure and texture, which is why I chose the Cos top; it has an interesting structure with puffy long sleeves and a scarf-like piece. I wore these shoes for added height, and the chunky platform heels really help balance the outfit."

How her style influences her work: "I don't think work has had a large influence on my style choices; if anything, I love that everyone dresses well at work. However, I used to work in the CBD (Central Business District), where the dress code was standard corporate attire. Now I get to have more fun dressing in my own style in the mornings."

Favourite fashion trend at the moment: "Nothing comes to mind immediately. I've always preferred timeless pieces over super trendy items. This might not be a trend per se, but I love that we're increasingly embracing oversized fits because they're so much more comfortable to move around in."

Name: Judea Faith

Occupation: Design manager

Her fit: "My top is a denim vest from Warehouse 129 in Penang, paired with a tube top from Uniqlo. My bottom is a denim skirt that I thrifted in Kuala Lumpur. My shoes are Camper Roku, and my bag is from a shop called Waa in Vietnam."

Her style inspiration: "Comfort and coordinated outfits."

Thrifting or buying new?: "I actually prefer a mixture of both. I like to buy new staples that I’ll wear often and pair them with unique thrifted finds to elevate the look."

How her style influences her work: "Like my work, I approach my dressing style as an exercise in balancing form and function."

Name: Emeline Ong

Age: 26

Occupation: Industrial Designer

Her fit: "My top is from a Vietnamese store I found on Instagram, @lovable.saturday. My skirt is from Muji, and my boots are Dr. Martens."

Her inspiration: "I’m really fascinated by the concept of a look that combines coldness with femininity. That duality is something I’m especially drawn to, and I often find myself searching for outfits that capture it. I’m also particularly drawn to Wednesday Addams from Wednesday! I think she’s super cool, and I resonate with her outfits too."

How her style influences her work: "My work tends to be pastel and whimsical, but I often dress in more monochromatic tones. Despite the contrast, they are similar in how they both explore a sense of duality. For instance, in my latest furniture collection, while the pieces appear soft and gentle, the process of making them can be quite the opposite, with the outcome being brutal despite its soft features. Similarly, in my personal style, I aim to balance contrasting elements to achieve that duality. I’d like to think my work and style influence each other, though I tend to be more adventurous in my work. Perhaps it’s time I change that!"

One piece of style advice: "Try to learn and understand more about yourself. Collect images or inspirations of things that you like, you don’t have to search for their meaning, as long as they resonate with you. Focus on high quality sources, because what you feed your brain influences its output. Look at designers, brands, or magazines for reference. It may look the same at the start, but overtime, your own style will start to evolve, and you’ll find your own voice."