It is time to deliver on my promise to do more fashion and outfit posts! There’s something so satisfying about returning to my roots, especially since my last outfit post was all the way in 2021, before I even started college. I suppose that was an era before tiktok when fashion bloggers were still in vogue, and before I had any chance to really explore style in very bold ways that would land me squarely under the judgement stares of Singaporean society. So of course, I feel like I have to restart this series with a bang, in a way that would make 19 year old me proud of my growth (as a person and in personal style).
This fashion content has changed drastically, well most obviously since I no longer have my brother that I could bully into taking photos for me. Everything has to be done in my little Cambridge apartment, by myself, and with clothes that I have mostly bought for myself. There’s something really freeing about that, since I don’t have to worry about the lingering eyes of an observer — I must admit that with age, camera shyness has not gotten better. In less obvious, but much more meaningful ways, I think the American spirit did wonders for my fashion sense. Let. Me. Tell. You. About. Thrift. Stores. It is life-changing. I know my Asian mum harbours the same reluctance to buy second-hand that many Asian households harbour, because it is seen as old, and unhygienic, and poor. I will get into that whole logic another time because this post is really not about to be that deep. However, the wealth of unique pieces hidden in thrift stores for a fraction of full retail price will always be one of those joys in life that I am happy to share with anyone who would let me. Save the corset — the centre piece for two of these looks — the outfits are all thrifted.
Besides the Great American Thrift Stores, this place has also given me space to be unabashed about self-expression. Some of my friends know that I am much more out-going, socially adept, and in the best ways possible, becoming less Singaporean. I think in my fashion, this much is obvious as well. When I go back every summer, people would always tell me that I am over-dressed, and very un-Singaporean in what I wear. For one, I would dress in a way that really doesn’t fit the weather, because I always forget about the sweltering heat back home, and because I still HATE wearing shorts and slippers. More importantly, I start dressing in a way that stops making me feel shame around my body. I felt huge and very unfeminine growing up, and like all mildly tomboyish girls, felt uncomfortable in dresses and skirts. Didn’t help that I was muscular and once described as “the perfect male specimen”, definitely not cutesy and demure and bonita. Now, I feel like I’ve grown into my body, because in America, no one really cares. It’s so cliche it pains me to say it, but I am a woman and I want to dress in a way that honours that femininity.
Isn’t it ironic that it’s the corset that ends up making me feel so powerful? This piece of restrictive women’s garment was seen as the fist of patriarchy keeping women out of power, but here I am revelling in how it makes me feel. I could ask whether this is stockholm syndrome, but really, it’s not that deep. I just love how it makes me look snatched and shows off my muscles. I do enjoy indulging in vanity.
Did I say everything about these outfits were thrifted? I lied. These earrings, which have now become my fashion staple, were not thrifted. Anyone who knows me knows that I love wearing big bold earrings. Some things never change. This is the part where I actually start talking about my outfit. The first outfit you’ve seen is my best approximation for how I want to wear corsets in Singapore. The jeans — tolerable in the heat — is one of my favourite finds in the new year. I always tell people to find something that attracts their fashion sensibilities, and it’s the silhouette of the wide legged jeans that does something for me. It’s giving casual power suit when paired with the sleek corset. As always, the earrings are what seal the deal by adding a splash of colour. I have longed for one of these beaded babies for the longest time, but could never justify spending more than $20 on earrings, and I think that patience paid off when I spotted them in a tourist gift shop in Vancouver.
I must admit though, the corset and jeans combo is giving very sultry big boss energy, so I wanted to try something else that is a bit more lady like. This is a slight nod to the fact that one of the styling skills I have acquired since coming to the US is the art of layering. There’s no way you can catch me in too many layers in Singapore, but wearing something — like a corset or vest or shirt — over another basic item, always makes it 10/10. This is a velvety multi-coloured beaded dress I thrifted from an antique market, and it just kills me with how expensive it looks. I really like how the texture works together here. The satin look of the corset with the matte shades of the velvet works so well together. This look is also not complete without some dramatic makeup, which I have now mastered thanks to all my experience in ballroom dancing. My philosophy with makeup is the same with earrings — if I’m going to wear it, you best believe I will make sure you can tell I am wearing it. I must admit though, I do understand why corsets were the bane of women’s existence, because they are a pain to be worn with dresses and I don’t think I can really bust it down or dance with them cinching me into this perfect posture.
These two looks are sadly not very wearable nowadays because it is so ridiculously cold. It’s snowing right now, and everything is below -10 degrees (Celsius, duh). I think I would like to take advantage of the chance to layer a little more in future posts. Nonetheless, I think this is a great start to the year of 2025 as I mature into my fashion and style content. It’s really not that deep, but I hope at some point I might show that femininity and “trivial” things like fashion are actually important things to our character.
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