Bonjour Xmas: Seven stylish gift ideas for the woman in your life

With less than a week to Christmas Day, time is definitely too short to go out and aimlessly look for gifts for the special woman in your life. 

So if you’ve left your Christmas shopping to the last minute (as most people do), fret not as I’m on hand to help whether your budget is S$15 or S$500.

The great thing about my guide is that each gift is something I would own and thus comes with the Bonjour Singapore seal of style approval. More importantly, every single present idea in this list helps to support and grow the Singapore and Asian fashion ecosystem.  

And for those of you who are feeling lazy (and who are quick on the draw) you can also order most of these gifts online. So you can be super-stylish and awesome from the comfort of your desk or lying in bed at midnight.

Singapore label Foreword's necklace makes a great Christmas gift
for any fashionista!

7 Fashionable Christmas gift ideas for HIM

We all know what it’s like shopping for the significant man in your life.

Whether it’s the husband, boyfriend, dad, son, nephew or best friend, no-one wants to descend into the Christmas cliché of socks, ties and aftershaves.

It’s always hard finding the right present for each person but finding a fashionable one is even harder.

Never fear, because auntie Bonjour is here to give you a handy guide to being the most awesome gift giver this festive season.

Luckily I’ve done the work for you and shortlisted my top Christmas gift ideas for HIM. Almost all of them are by Singaporean designers and there is something for every budget.

So whether your budget is S$30 or S$300, you’ll find something that will hit the spot. Thank me later ;-)

These LookMyBaboush Arabian-inspired unisex shoes is one my
picks for this Christmas' gifts.

Gnossem: Photoshoot Promoting Asian and independent labels

One of the weirdest things about blogging is this notion that people want to know what you're wearing, what you like and even more strangely they want to see it too.

I've always found it endlessly amusing that people would be interested in taking photos of me but I will rarely turn down such an opportunity if it will help publicise some great Asian labels.

This is precisely the reason I was delighted to accept Singapore e-commerce website Gnossem's invitation for a styled dress-up session. I love the site anyway (being one of the few e-commerce sites which almost exclusively stocks emerging independent labels from Asia and around the world) so the chance to be glammed up and helping some labels along the way was too good to turn down.

I love this photo of me in an H Fredriksson Long Stina Dress

Lionelow for MYthology: The start of something big?

One of the most talented young designers in Singapore is undoubtedly Lionel Low, one half of the amazing young label LION EARL.

So it gives me huge pleasure to see him making his debut at the higher end of the fashion scale with his first Lionelow capsule collection for Singapore boutique MYthology.

This is a collaboration steeped in all the things that my blog stands for. Because not only is Lionel a talented Singaporean designer, but the boutique in Club Street loved his work so much that they have backed him financially to help him create this collection.

One of Lionel Low's creations for MYthology

Of Love and Hidden Charms: My Acting Debut!

Those of you who follow me on Facebook will remember me posting pictures of a smiley Bonjour Singapore with Singapore celebs Rebecca Lim and Nat Ho.

I was actually doing something very very exciting. Making my acting debut in an episode of a new XinMSN web series called Of Love and Hidden Charms (which also stars the lovely Romeo Tan - although sadly he wasn't involved in the bits I was in)

The experience was exhausting - but awesome. I never had any idea quite how many people are involved in the making of a TV series and quite how long it took to do things. I'm not kidding when I say that my scenes - which take up about six minutes of the show, took close to two days to film.

Me and Rebecca Lim have a laugh at Nat Ho's outfit in Love and Hidden Charms

Bonjour Bangkok: Keith & Kym's best of Thai accessories labels

One thing about Bangkok - which I’ve heard over and over again – is that it is a great destination for bargain shopping or shopping on a budget. The street markets, weekend market and countless blog-shop type places are everywhere to be seen and even with a budget of S$50, you’re guaranteed to get something (or three) that you like.

While this is absolutely true and definitely great – hey I’ve managed to score some bargains as well – it actually leaves out some of the best shopping in the Thai capital. That is, something totally unique, creative and more of an investment piece rather than fast fashion. This is especially true when on the look for Thai designers whose pieces might not go for S$10 a pop but are still reasonable and definitely worth every penny you pay for it.

But in a place like Bangkok, finding the original from the copy, the unique from the mass-produced is not easy especially when it comes to accessories. So if you’re a quality over quantity type of consumer and you like something extra special, ditch all the other places and head to one shop which has it all: Keith&Kym Gallery.

Original pieces like this stunning pendant from Thai label Sinturak and more are found
at Keith&Kym's gallery in Bangkok, Terminal21.

Love these statement pieces which you won't be finding anywhere in the street markets...

Singapore's Ed et Al: Bespoke men’s shoes at its best

Warning: This is a post coveting some of the most beautiful and original handcrafted shoes you will find anywhere in Singapore.

So why the warning? Well the items catching my attention are…wait for it….MEN’S SHOES.

Ed et Al is the brainchild of Singaporean Edwin Neo who has recently launched his third collection of beautifully crafted leather shoes.

It’s fair to say the man is a genius. A rare thing in Singapore. A genuine craftsman who has learned his trade the hard way and genuinely puts 100 per cent into his creations!

Self-taught Edwin studied his trade in Singapore (for 4 years!) and then undertook an apprenticeship in Budapest, Hungary, before deciding to set up shop on his own in June last year. He hasn’t looked back since.

H&M x Maison Martin Margiela launch in Singapore + What to look for if you’re buying online

So just like I expected, H&M’s collaboration with Maison Martin Margiela (the emcee kept insisting it was re-edition of previous iconic pieces from various seasons) was not as commercially successful as the previous two (Versace and Marni) in Singapore. In fact, after a good few hours, it was nowhere near to sold out and except for the candy clutch (which was gone by 10:30), by 2pm all the styles were still available in most sizes and in big quantities.

The queue started overnight but this time it was not as big and even when I got to H&M at 10:15am, there was just one line of people waiting. So what happened to the Singaporean fashionable crowd?

Maybe it was the rain – although we got given umbrellas when it started raining – which discouraged people from turning up. But I think it more has to do with the fact that the clothes were mostly heavy and not suitable for Singapore’s tropical weather and that MMM is not as mainstream choice for the H&M usual customers.

At around 10am, the queue was significantly less than last H&M Marni collaboration.

Every item has a description plate indication which MMM season
it was a re-edition of.

TOTON's new looks at Jakarta Fashion Week2012

Jakarta Fashion Week, one of the biggest fashion weeks in Asia took place last week. As much as I wanted to attend, my passport was not ready in time...

One of the main reasons I was so eager to go to Jakarta was to watch the first ever show of the designer I’m so very fond of, Toton Januar (whom I interviewed here before) of TOTON. Upon knowing he was invited to take part in Jakarta Fashion Week’s  Mazda ‘Young and Vibrant Designers’ show, I knew I wanted to be there – as one of his first clients and biggest supporter of course ;-)

Sadly this didn’t happen but nonetheless I wanted to write this small post to show you his latest looks – as part of extension from his first SS13 collection ‘Violent Beauty’ which blew me away earlier this year.

Designer Toton Januar at his Jakarta Fashion Week show last
week! (photos from TOTON's fb page and website)

Loving the new looks Toton has presented in the show! The
fuchsia collar is to die for...

Maison Martin Margiela for H&M: My top 5 items

Truth is, as much as I try to steer away from covering big high street brands and international designer names on his blog there is always one category which still interests me and feel it’s worth covering; that is the H&M Designer collaborations (check out my Versace coverage here and here and Marni coverage here and here).

Reason is, well it looks like it’s only getting better and better and with some (but not all) of the pieces it produced, it is well worth the wait if you are a fan of the collaborating designer but can’t afford the real deal.

This season’s collaboration has to be one of the edgiest so far. As much as I’d love to pretend that Maison Martin Margiela (MMM) is a household name, well it is not. However, it is definitely one which is high on the radar of any fully fledged fashionista (or fashionisto as it proves very popular with men!) for its avant-garde edge and deconstructed cuts which is more likely to work in editorial shoot than on the average everyday pavements.

Personally, I love Maison Martin Margiela! It is fresh, inspirational and creative but I have to admit it would probably be on the list of those coveted labels which I admire in magazines but cannot see myself pulling off.

Surprisingly though, the MMM pieces for H&M do break this rule and I found myself (despite trying to resist it!) coveting some of the items which I would totally see myself in.

My kinda style! Love this look from head to toe...

Love this look but don't think can pull it off so left it off my list...

Crawford & Sons: On trend tailored menswear in Singapore

Crawford and Sons is a welcome new addition to the menswear scene in Singapore.

I don’t think they are anything to do with Grammy Award nominated Brit folk rockers Mumford and Sons but you never know.

What I do know is that they are filling a much needed gap in the market, namely for well tailored and well made workaday menswear that is bang on trend. 

So imagine you can find a company rocking the trend for that soft palated, sharp yet unstructured mod-lite look. Imagine James Dean rebel cool mixed with the tailoring of the scooter wearing set and you're on the right path.

Imagine you also find an answer to one of the biggest problems with menswear in Singapore - that when it comes to locally sourced shirts you tend to find it caters for the CBD banker market or the left-field cropped pant clad hipster crowd.

Great colour, great fabric and great fit. Is this really a Singapore work shirt?

Crawford and Sons have nailed that denim colour and the mods vs rockers influenced collar

EXCLUSIVE interview with Haute Couture designer Maurizio Galante

Maurizio Galante, as he describes himself at one point during this interview is ‘crazy’! What else can you call a man who makes a dress out of thousands of red seeds, each painstakingly punched to create holes for threads to be woven together and is then topped off with an angel-like bolero made of majestic feathers?

It is kinda surreal and out of this world!

Interviewing him has left me in awe, reminding me why I fell in love with fashion in the first place at 7 years old - staying awake at 10pm to watch one of Elie Saab’s couture shows on TV and try to recreate them for my doll the next day from scraps of fabric - which I tore from my dresses or leftover fabric from my mom’s latest custom-made frock.

It was love and it became an obsession. Something stronger than me, that even after an education and career unrelated to fashion I had to take a turn and share it through this blog.
So how can I not, when presented this rare chance, interview one of the very very few Haute Couture houses founder in the flesh? Sitting next to him and his business associate (his co-designer for non-fashion objects and talented artist in his own right Tal Lancman) I was transformed back to that little girl, daydreaming about his surreal creations which are wearable art pieces, so inspiring and genuine, a world’s apart from vanity dressing and fast changing fashion trends.

A dress which took over 700 hours to make, a precision and technique which needs an OCD person to practice and an armchair made to resemble cold marble when it’s in fact inviting and comfy. You can never expect what’s next from Maurizio Galante who will be in Singapore for his show at the French Couture Week later this month at MBS The Shoppes.

Photos don't give justice for the amazing detailing of Maurizio Galante's
bloleros. The red flamingo one (right) is apparently the best sold item
and even celebrated architect Zaha Hadid owns one!

3 standout labels at Best of British (BOB): SS13 LFW preview

I make no secret of my love for London and the fact I consider it to be the most fashionable city in the world! Lucky me, I’ll be flying off to London in a couple of weeks for a visit and while I’m not looking forward to the cold weather (living in Dubai and Singapore I almost forgot how it feels like!) I’m so excited to be back there to get inspired by this amazing city!

But before I go,  I managed to get a sneak peek on what to expect for the coming SS13 season from some of the coolest London designers – at Best of British's seasonal preview from London Fashion Week (Read about  last season’s trunk show here).

What I love about Glamour Inc, the people behind BOB is that they certainly stray from the boring and ordinary and instead, bring some of the quirkiest labels out there, some of which are starting to make a buzz across the fashion capitals of the world!

Here are my 3 favourites – featuing the three important food groups - shoes, clothes and accessories – which grabbed my attention at the preview and are now firmly on my fashion radar and MUST-have list for the next summer!

Mojito shoes anyone? Yes please!!!! Julian Hakes designs displayed at BOB showroom
in Singapore.

An array of beautiful printed scarves...

What I wore: My 10 Digital Fashion Week outfits

I had so many reasons to be super excited to take part of Digital Fashion Week (DFW). As you know I was hosting the interviews with some great established and emerging Singaporean designers and hanging around backstage among some beautiful clothes and models.

But I won’t lie. Getting dolled up every morning with a team of experts and having 10 outfits to change in three days was probably one of the highlights as well. My co-host (Beam Artiste and tanjongbazaar.com blogger Yvette King) and I took our jobs as promoting Singaporean and Asian designers very seriously and spent many days before the event running around planning our outfits mainly from places like Parco next NEXT and the participating designers.

It was tiring but great fun especially that our choices seemed to grab people’s attention - including super model Andrej Pejic who fell in love with a LION EARL digital print dress that Yvette was wearing which prompted the designer Lionel to give him one! Another item which Andrej managed to keep was my TOTON collar which I wore the last day to interview him. Sophie Sumner also made no secret of her love for local label OwnMuse and wore their clothes more than a couple of times during the week.

So if you’ve missed out (or lost count) of my DFW outfits, here’s the list of what I wore on all 3 days and the press conference! Which LOOK did you like most ;-)?

Big thanks goes to my dear friend Aaron Han who was on hand everyday
to snap most of these photos :-)

My 5 Highlights from the 1st Digital Fashion Week, Singapore

It’s been a week since Digital Fashion Week has ended in Singapore but at least for me, it’ll be a while before I totally digest it and the fact that I was in the middle of it all, talking to awesome designers and models.

All in all, it’s been a great experience; you have to start somewhere right? So even for someone who never hosted anything let alone LIVE for the world to see - yes I do look at those videos and critique myself – I was kinda proud that I managed to do it and most of all, have fun while at it. Yup now I’m convinced more than ever not to take myself too seriously when it comes to fashion ;-)

There have been some amazing moments, too many to count and some of which I’ve documented in the previous posts here, here and here, but I have picked those 5 highlights which I will forever remember and look back at as an unforgettable experience which I was so lucky to have had.

But the biggest question is, would I do it again?

Between the nervous moments, I've had a blast especially with my co-host Yvette King,
seen here with Andrej Pejic backstage as he teaches us how to pose 'couture-style'!
Needless to say I have a lot more to learn... smiling and pouting at the same time is not a
good look ;-) (Photo by Zhi Wei)

Digital Fashion Week: Day three, Guo Pei and the pictures!!!

It's been exhausting but we made it. My first ever live presenting gig is finished and my feet haven't touched the ground yet.

I mean that in a literal as well as a metaphorical sense too - the reason I'm only posting the day three round-up now is because I've been sleeping non-stop since Digital Fashion Week finished. Those 14 hours on your feet all day (in heels!) really took a toll!

But I wouldn't have swapped it for the world. Being backstage felt like being in a new era, this was the most relaxed, friendly and comfortable fashion event I have ever attended.

The stars were amazing and happy to give total and constant access not only to myself and my co-host but also to the fans who seemed surprised that the likes of Sophie Sumner, Patricia Field and Andrej Pejic were just casually strolling amongst them.

The Chanel of China, Guo Pei and supermodel Andrej Pejic totally blew everyone away with the final show of Digital Fashion Week (picture courtesy of www.digitalfashionweek.com)

Digital Fashion Week: Guo Pei show and Day two highlights

Wow. It's been non-stop since we started on Saturday (well Friday if you count rehearsals etc) but what a ride Digital Fashion Week has been.

I don't have time to blog in detail at the moment, but I promise you once this is over you will get a full rundown on what went down, on what Sophie and Andrej are like and on what they loved/hated.

Oh you'll also get to find out exactly what I wore. Suffice to say I have still been flying the flag for Singapore and Asia in the clothes I've been rocking. 

As for day three. You HAVE to see Guo Pei's show at 7pm this evening on www.digitalfashionweek.com AND you have to stay online to watch me interview the one, the only Andrej Pejic in a Google+ Hangout at 9pm. Do. Not. Miss!

As for my highlights of day two? 

Sophie Sumner and me go Asian style as we have some fun backstage at Digital Fashion Week

Digital Fashion Week: Day two line-up and day one highlights

What a whirlwind. Day one of Digital Fashion Week is over, my live presenting debut is ancient history and we're into day two.

Arriving at the venue early just made me more and more nervous. Watching as the red carpet got laid out (soon to be soaked by a tropical thunderstorm from hell) made me double nervous and then watching the TV cameras roaming around sent me into near panic mode.

But the awesome Yvette King (who is presenting live backstage coverage) helped calm my nerves, as did the whole crew producing the Google+ hangouts and to be honest, once it got under way and I could get down to talking to the guests, the nerves just melted away.

And what a day. It was an honour to talk to the likes of Thomas Wee (who revealed he is taking in Digital Fashion Week but doesn't have a website), JR Chan from -J-A-S-O-N- (who revealed an interesting story behind the name of the label in our chat) and the lovely Pauline Lim from Pauline.Ning (who also revealed why her label has a different name to hers)

So the scorecard from the first day of an amazing event goes a little something like this...

The beautiful Andrej Pejic takes the 'Blue Steel' challenge backstage at DFW. Photo borrowed from the super talented Lenne Chai of Aetienne http://aetienne.net/

Digital Fashion Week: Line-up and lowdown for day one

It's here. It's finally here.

The designers are here, the clothes are here and the models are here (causing quite a publicity stir it seems) and everything is ready. Digital Fashion Week gets under way today.

Yes, that's right the world's first online only fashion week is about to kick off and you can watch it all LIVE.

Much more than an ordinary fashion show, you will have a front row seat to ALL of the action. Front stage, backstage and probably side stage too. What's more is that you will also be given the opportunity to buy the clothes you see on the catwalk thanks to DFW's e-commerce partners Zalora.

All of the shows will be broadcast live on YouTube and on the official Digital Fashion Week website. The backstage action is also being broadcast there too and will be hosted by the beautiful Yvette King.

Post show interviews will be broadcast live on Google+ hangout and will be hosted by yours truly (in a variety of different dresses ha ha) along with a selection of bloggers from Singapore. And we will be interviewing everyone, so stay tuned for that!

Andrej Pejic and Sophie Sumner enjoying dim sum in Singapore. But now it's down to business.
Digital Fashion Week is under way 

Digital Fashion Week: Interview with JR Chan of Singapore menswear -J-A-S-O-N-

Singaporean men really are a spoiled bunch...when it comes to fashion.

Considering this is still very much an emerging fashion market, there are a surprisingly large number of more avant garde labels peddling an increasingly diverse series of looks aimed at the modern male.

From the established labels and six year veterans like Depression to the new kids on the block like MASH-UP, MILS, EvenOdd and now even local icon Thomas Wee is about to launch a menswear collection. The truth is guys, you've never had it so good.

At the forefront of the Singapore man renaissance is -J-A-S-O-N-, a brand that has been around for a year and a half and already has a reputation for it's androgynous shapes and quirky twists on conventional tailoring.

Designer JR Chan took the Bonjour Singapore Q&A ahead of her appearance at Digital Fashion Week. Here's what she had to say.

Bonjour Singapore is one year old today! Thank you for your support!

Bonjour Singapore is one year old today, and what a journey it’s been.

I could never have thought when I posted a polite introduction as a relative newbie to Singapore on October 18, 2011, that I would be where I am now.

What started as a way of keeping in touch with my friends, killing time while I job hunted (still unemployed BTW) and sharing my new found passion for the talented local designers in Singapore has snowballed into something of a crusade.

I always wonder if many of the designers I approached or blogged about initially thought “who is this crazy curly haired foreigner?” but they smiled sweetly and helped me out anyway. 

Now one year on I have met so many talented people, made some amazing friends and been adopted by the Singapore fashion community as one of their own. It makes me realize that Singapore is a place with so much heart and soul.

One of my favourite photos of myself (wearing Mae Pang). It's my
anniversary so I'm allowed to post a pic or two of myself :-) Thanks for
John Tan of Streetpeek for the photo!!

Digital Fashion Week: Pictures from the press conference

Digital Fashion Week kicked off in earnest yesterday, with the arrival of the celebrity guests and the press conference officially announcing the event.

Yes – I was gathered in the same room as SATC stylist Patricia Field, ANTM winner Sophie Sumner and Andrej Pejic and watched in awe as my beautiful co-host Yvette King introduced DFW to the media and other Singapore bloggers.

I stood toe to toe with the husband of the genius that is Guo Pei(she'll be arriving at a later date) and I was able to give Eugene Lin my gratitude for his heartfelt and passionate views on the Singapore fashion scene.

An incredible talent line-up for Digital Fashion Week - and me in the corner :-)
On the sofa: Yvette King, Andrej Pejic, Patricia Field, Sophie Sumner, Guo Pei's husband
Jack representing her.
Back row: JR Chan (J-A-S-O-N), Johanna and Juang (Ownmuse), Tze Goh, Eugene Lin,
Pauline Lim (Paulne.Ning) and me :-)

And most importantly, I was able to get some photos. Having already read my Q&As, I know that’s what you want to see - pictures of beautiful people and me being a star-struck teenager.

Digital Fashion Week: Guo Pei Q&A on her exquisite designs coveted by Lady Gaga

It I were to describe Guo Pei’s creations, couture or haute couture wouldn't begin to describe it. There probably aren't enough words in the dictionary to suitably describe her outrageous creations. 

Anyone who says fashion can't be art has clearly never laid eyes on anything from China's top designer whose pieces all look like they stepped out of the most over the top gallery and museum in history.

Taking Chinese history and its rich culture as her inspiration, Guo Pei makes no compromise when it comes to creating and crafting exquisite gowns which sometimes take years to complete. 

It is feast to the eyes, inspiring as nothing I’ve ever seen before and way more avant-garde than anything Lady Gaga has managed to wear - Perhaps that is why the mother monster herself is so keen on getting her hands on one of her creations!

The Chinese designer is coming to Singapore for Digital Fashion Week (DFW) and her show is going to be the highlight and closing show of the event is not to miss for sure. There aren't many times you get a chance to see something so spectacular and exquisite especially after the late Alexander McQueen passed away and John Galliano stopped designing.

Want to daydream about fashion? Guo Pei makes some of the most
exquisite gowns I've seen...

Digital Fashion Week: Singapore's Tze Goh talks minimalism

OK i'll be honest here! when I first got back the answers from my Q&A from Singaporean designer Tze Goh, I was a bit surprised. 

Before sending him my questions, I had done my research and seen a couple of interviews which he'd given, all of which were honest and straight-forward. So I knew I was dealing with a non-conformist designer.

I guess I was expecting a bit more volume, but he was probably short of time and preparing for his Digital Fashion Week show on October 21. His short, yet interesting and to the point answers actually reveal a lot more than at first glance.

I'm not complaining, but I'm just hoping when I interview this Central Saint Martin’s graduate LIVE on Google+ Hangout on the day of the show, he'll be in the mood to talk a little more, or it could be a challenge ;-)

For those who are asking 'who is Tze Goh?', let me tell you this Singaporean-born, London-based designer is as striking and minimal in his designs as his words. Geometric clean cuts and beautiful 3D silhouettes, you can instantly detect the influence of architecture in his work and the subtle details which are essential to form the construction of the garment rather than add embellishment as an afterthought. In architectural terms I see it more like Le Corbusier's Villa Savoy of the future, rather than Gaudi's La Sagrada Familia.

Perfect minimalisn, Tze Goh's collection is breathtaking in its innovative cuts and clean lines

Digital Fashion Week: EXCLUSIVE Eugene Lin interview

When you take interesting and original prints and mix them with well thought of details and top it off with immaculate tailoring, you get a recipe for some serious fashion to look out for!

Eugene Lin does just that. Impeccably-cut clothes which look modern, chic with an edgy twist and would fit into any style-conscious woman’s wardrobe.

The Singaporean-born, London-based Central Saint Martins graduate has already started making waves in the fashion world and it’s no surprise when his work set very high standards for emerging designers. And perhaps what’s even more interesting is his honesty and outspoken attitude in a world where diplomatic and politically-correct statements are the general rule.

I am very excited to be meeting and interviewing Eugene after his first ever show in Singapore during Digital Fashion Week (DFW), especially after this explosive and honest Q&A with a man not afraid to speak his mind. 

In by far and away the most controversial interview of the DFW series, the London based Lin lets rip on exactly what is wrong with the Singapore fashion scene, celebrity designers and the problems with Singapore's attempts to support local labels.

Eugene Lin will show his latest SS12 collection 'The Judgement of Paris' at DFW!
Certainly not to miss!!!

Digital Fashion Week: OwnMuse - EXCLUSIVE Interview with young Singaporean designers Johanna and Shu Juang

I won’t lie. The glamour and the amazing personalities taking part in Digital Fashion Week (DFW) are worth a lot of excitement and one of the reasons I took part of this awesome event.

But as much as I am excited to rub shoulders with, and interview the likes of Andrej Pejic and Sophie Sumner, I also cannot wait to see some young Singaporean designers finally get some great exposure and show their work alongside top designers like Thomas Wee and Guo Pei for the world to see.

One of the carefully-picked emerging labels taking part of DFW is OwnMuse. The designers behind the label, Johanna and Shu Juang started their journey 2 years ago as part of Parco next NEXT incubator program and since then, their work has been evolving non-stop and they stand out for their understanding of their customer and the need to dress well every day while still feeling comfortable and relaxed. their SS13 collection which will be debuting at DFW is a perfect example of that!

OwnMuse is building a reputation as being the to-go-to label for chic,
understated and comfortable everyday clothes.

Digital Fashion Week: Patricia Field - EXCLUSIVE interview with the legendary SATC stylist

When people ask me ‘Are you a Sex and the City fan?’, I roll my eyes at them!

I mean come on… is this even a question when one glance at my exploding technicolor wardrobe and 100+pairs of shoes says it all?? How could a girl with so many eclectic outfits, an obsession with sky high heels - and a mop of curly hair a la Carrie Bradshaw - not be a SATC fan? Fanatic more likely!

But although Carrie Bradshaw and myself share a few obsessions (not with Mr. Big though!), the main reason I love watching SATC again and again is the fashion and this means one thing: stylist extraordinaire Patricia Field!

Legendary in the way she mixes and matches the unexpected and for creating seemingly effortless yet iconic looks, Patricia’s styling is something any aspiring stylist like myself would love to achieve. In many ways, she is one of the reasons I got into styling and had the confidence to wear whatever I want regardless of what others thought of it.

Patricia Field is responsible for so many iconic looks in film and TV which are still talked about...

Digital Fashion Week: Sophie Sumner - EXCLUSIVE interview with the America's Next Top Model winner

To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of models. 

I know it’s highly judgemental on my part and almost sacrilege from someone who is deeply embedded into fashion, but from my experience I get the impression they take life a little too seriously.

Don't get me wrong. I know it’s a damn hard job, and they have my utmost respect for the job they do, but on the few occasions I've been lucky enough to be behind the scenes (for example backstage at Audi Fashion Festival) I only needed one hand to count the number of smiles on show, even hours before a show.

But not all models are created equal. So when I learned that America’s Next Top Model’s winner Sophie Sumner was going to be at Digital Fashion Week (walking for Singaporean designers Thomas Wee and Ownmuse), I knew it would be a different story. Having followed her journey on Top Model and seen her (very dry and British) sense of humour and larger than life personality, I know the perma-pout will be replaced with laughter and smiles in Singapore.

Sophie is no ordinary 'boring' blonde!! want proof? read on her cheeky answers below ;-)