The curse has lifted, its official, two weeks 6 destinations and5 flights later Its safe to conclude my travelers curse is lifted- touch wood, for the first time ever my luggage and person have both arrived safely and on time.
So why then the delay in fashion news from Asia? alas! lack of Internet or should I say PC Internet- so advanced are Singapore and Hong Kong that the entire country is wireless and I find my self a cyber cripple traveling sans laptop.so where in the world is fashion behind the scenes when I finally gain Internet access? TOKYO!!!But before I send all the fashionistas into Japanese fashion bliss I must backtrack to Singapore ..............I arrive smoothly at (the recently trumped for best airport award) Changi airport in Singapore, I'm greeted by bfff and fellow up and coming fashion journalist Victoria who will be my uber fashionable guide for the next 5 days, the exit feels like walking into a sauna.
Despite being the rainy season (no such concept as `winter` in Singapore) its sweltering hot and the temperature plays a key part in the city's overall fashion sense. Singapore fashion is reasonably tropical although many residents seem to be immune to the heat and stroll around in jeans and long sleeve tops, true- there is air con but only in stores and the underground -what about the transit areas? don't they die? my questions on such things are yet to answered- local Vick can offer no explanation for this insanity. like Singapore in general local fashion style is fragmented on one hand there is the largely tropical look colourful sundresses and beads for girls, shorts and jandals (slippers in local slang) for guys, most of these clothes seem to come from Thailand, many Singaporeans head yearly to Thailand for shopping trips and if they don't, most of the lower level clothing available is Thailand imported at jacked up prices, therefore if traveling around Asia wait and shop for these tropical styles in Thailand.
Alongside the tropical look is a growing UK influence in style due to an ever increasing amount of `Top Shop` stores. much of this look seems ridiculous to tourists eg* leather jackets in 30degree weather? tights? really is it cold? so despite its popularity the London look does not translate practically to Singapore's climate. rivaling Top Shop in the `London look` stakes are several concept stores that are popping up in less well known shopping areas particularly on the edges of China town, most have in house design studios underneath or above their shops.In terms of high end fashion Singapore's infamous Orchard road is the place to head, all the top designers are here, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Balenciaga, you name it its there- at least once. further down Orchard Road most of the street fronts are merely mall entrances and the street could not possibly be scoured in one day even by the most determined speed shoppers. "far east" mall offers boutiques of many fresh designers and younger Korean and Japanese imported fashion.
Under Victoria's tuition I am now capable of glancing at a shop and distinguishing whether its is Korean, Japanese or Chinese. tell tale signs I can offer you are these- the Japanese shops favour what kiwis would consider an EMO look, heavy on red tartan, leather and satchels, Koreans on the other hand champion an ACUTE style (singlish for ACT- CUTE) , lots of pink, pom poms, fur, Chanel style quilt bags in pastel tones with lots of imitation pearl embellishments on everything.
Shoe lovers will be in stiletto heaven in Singapore - its ridiculously cheap- even with the current economy, but heed my warning, should u be so unlucky as my self as to possess a shoe size over a NZ 7/8 don't get your hopes up, even if lucky enough to find your size in length the shoes are invariably narrow in cut and you are likely to find yourself severely disappointed.
So why then the delay in fashion news from Asia? alas! lack of Internet or should I say PC Internet- so advanced are Singapore and Hong Kong that the entire country is wireless and I find my self a cyber cripple traveling sans laptop.so where in the world is fashion behind the scenes when I finally gain Internet access? TOKYO!!!But before I send all the fashionistas into Japanese fashion bliss I must backtrack to Singapore ..............I arrive smoothly at (the recently trumped for best airport award) Changi airport in Singapore, I'm greeted by bfff and fellow up and coming fashion journalist Victoria who will be my uber fashionable guide for the next 5 days, the exit feels like walking into a sauna.
Despite being the rainy season (no such concept as `winter` in Singapore) its sweltering hot and the temperature plays a key part in the city's overall fashion sense. Singapore fashion is reasonably tropical although many residents seem to be immune to the heat and stroll around in jeans and long sleeve tops, true- there is air con but only in stores and the underground -what about the transit areas? don't they die? my questions on such things are yet to answered- local Vick can offer no explanation for this insanity. like Singapore in general local fashion style is fragmented on one hand there is the largely tropical look colourful sundresses and beads for girls, shorts and jandals (slippers in local slang) for guys, most of these clothes seem to come from Thailand, many Singaporeans head yearly to Thailand for shopping trips and if they don't, most of the lower level clothing available is Thailand imported at jacked up prices, therefore if traveling around Asia wait and shop for these tropical styles in Thailand.
Alongside the tropical look is a growing UK influence in style due to an ever increasing amount of `Top Shop` stores. much of this look seems ridiculous to tourists eg* leather jackets in 30degree weather? tights? really is it cold? so despite its popularity the London look does not translate practically to Singapore's climate. rivaling Top Shop in the `London look` stakes are several concept stores that are popping up in less well known shopping areas particularly on the edges of China town, most have in house design studios underneath or above their shops.In terms of high end fashion Singapore's infamous Orchard road is the place to head, all the top designers are here, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Balenciaga, you name it its there- at least once. further down Orchard Road most of the street fronts are merely mall entrances and the street could not possibly be scoured in one day even by the most determined speed shoppers. "far east" mall offers boutiques of many fresh designers and younger Korean and Japanese imported fashion.
Under Victoria's tuition I am now capable of glancing at a shop and distinguishing whether its is Korean, Japanese or Chinese. tell tale signs I can offer you are these- the Japanese shops favour what kiwis would consider an EMO look, heavy on red tartan, leather and satchels, Koreans on the other hand champion an ACUTE style (singlish for ACT- CUTE) , lots of pink, pom poms, fur, Chanel style quilt bags in pastel tones with lots of imitation pearl embellishments on everything.
Shoe lovers will be in stiletto heaven in Singapore - its ridiculously cheap- even with the current economy, but heed my warning, should u be so unlucky as my self as to possess a shoe size over a NZ 7/8 don't get your hopes up, even if lucky enough to find your size in length the shoes are invariably narrow in cut and you are likely to find yourself severely disappointed.
