Punk by agnès b., not Vivienne Westwood

Always a nice surprise to see exhibitions by fashion labels. The last one I visited was Chanel’s The Little Black Jacket and that was more than a year ago!

One would immediately associated punk with Vivienne Westwood and perhaps be pleasantly surprised by this agnès b. exhibition. In reality, agnès b. has been collaborating with various art mediums including photography for decades. I’ve always been fascinated by the agnès b. CINEMA in Hong Kong and I applaud their support for the arts community.

Agnès worked closely with photographer Sheila Rock to launch this travelling exhibition, which began in London and Paris in 2013 and is making its rounds across Asia this year. With a last name like Rock, it’s no wonder she is able to capture the unpretentious, raw and creative energy of the punk movement in her photographs.

Of course, there is a pop-up store and you may find me hanging out (permanently) there! Punk+: A Photo Exhibition by Sheila Rock is presented by agnès b and opens today at the Substation Gallery at 45 Armenian Street, Singapore 179936. The exhibition runs through 26 October and is open daily from 12 noon to 9 pm. Admission is free.

x Sybil

(Image from sagg)

Vintage shopping: Nostalgia Queen Vintage

I chanced upon Nostalgia Queen Vintage last month on its third day of business and it is a real treat to have a vintage shop near my workplace.  The place is nicely done up with retro fittings and I feel right at home.

Tucked away in a nondescript corner of Sunshine Plaza, it’s the sort of vintage shop worth visiting on a regular basis.  The range is wide, stocks are updated regularly and prices are reasonable. Originally a by-appointment-only showroom at 92 Sophia Rd, Nostalgia Queen Vintage moved to Sunshine Plaza a month ago. Clearly, there is demand for vintage clothing and accessories. My favourite being vintage jewellery (no surprises there), you’ll probably see me there often because they have a wide selection!

Visit Nostalgia Queen Vintage at #01-75 Sunshine Plaza, 91 Bencoolen St. It is open 11am to 9pm daily, except Tuesday (closed) and Wednesday (half-day 4pm to 9pm).  Like its Facebook page for regular updates!

x Sybil

(Images provided by Nostalgia Queen Vintage)

BLUEPRINT – See you there this weekend!

Keep this weekend free because it’s BLUEPRINT and specifically BLUEPRINT Emporium to the public. BLUEPRINT gathers more than 180 emerging and established fashion labels in one venue for 4 days, out of which 2 days make up Blueprint Emporium where we can shop local and overseas emerging fashion labels, many of which are showing for the first time in Singapore.

Into its fourth edition this year, BLUEPRINT Tradeshow and Emporium will take place from 16 to 19 May at Fashion by the Bay at The Pit Building. Expect womenswear, menswear and accessory brands from Australia, Brazil, China, France, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, United States of America, United Kingdom and Vietnam. Singapore is also slated to host this year’s Asia Fashion Federation Conference, and six representing designers who are prominent names in their own countries will present their ready-to-wear collections at BLUEPRINT. The labels are Kaal E. Suktae (Korea), Christian Dada (Japan), Dieu Ahn (Vietnam), ISSUE (Thailand), Zou You (China) and Ong Shunmugam (Singapore).

We can’t wait!  See you there this weekend!

x Sybil

Black: the colour of sophistication

It’s never easy to find a gift for a guy, especially a gift that is sleek, modern and classic at the same time.  The only way to approach this complicated gift searching process is to go for brands that are well, modern and classic, like Dunhill.

I’ve been looking for a gift for some time now.  The one criterion I have is that it must be entirely black.  That’s when I found this cufflinks.  They are not just any cufflinks.  They are made out of jet stone, a stone that was formed approximately 182 million years ago during the Jurassic period.  How’s that for timeless?  Dunhill managed to incorporate them into a modern and sleek design that is so simple and versatile. Yes, it’s probably more than what we’re used to paying for a pair of cufflinks but I bet they’ll last you another few hundred of years. Hell, a stone like that probably belongs in a museum.

Another option is this all black pen that features an innovative lacquer finish containing genuine crushed black diamonds and meteorite stone.  It’s also limited edition. I want it for myself.

It’s too bad that they don’t have an all black lighter.  A close match would be this iconic Rollagas lighter with black lacquer, a timeless classic piece.  My grandfather had a similar one.  I like that the logo has been moved from the front of the lighter to the roller itself, the design looks cleaner that way.

Finally, to top it all off, Dunhill’s range of leather collection includes a functional overnight bag that is all black of course.  A unique graphic carbon fibre print is applied to black leather, ensuring that the bag is durable with a high degree of resistance to scratch and water.

Available at Dunhill, shopping for men just got easier.

X Sybil

(Images from Dunhill)

HELLO, SHIBUYA TOKYO

Sybil and I went for the HELLO, SHIBUYA TOKYO POP-UP STORE opening last night and it was quite an amazing space.

A showcase of emerging designers based in Shibuya, Tokyo and Singapore, the event introduces a mash up of collaborations of Singaporean and Japanese designers and artists.

Japanese brands that Sybil and I have written about such as A DEGREE FAHRENHEIT, ANREALAGE, matohu, THEATRE PRODUCTS and G.V.G.V. are all here. Other brands include JUN OKAMOTO, KEITA MARUYAMA, Lily Brown, mint designs, motonari ono, my panda, plumpynuts, snidel and Yasutoshi Ezumi.

Singaporean designers featured are Chalk, Coupe-cousu, max.tan, PAULINE NING and revasseur. There’s also some fashion and lifestyle goods stores that have really interesting items.

Interesting accessories from PHYSICAL TEMPO, a guerrilla shop in Tokyo.

Japanese Horror Dome, made of hair. “Please shake it. You will see a black fantasy.” I absolutely love. So dark and beautiful. Reminds me of Chiharu Shiota’s artworks.

HELLO, SHIBUYA TOKYO is on from now till 10 March.
Plaza Singapura Atrium
Sun- Thurs 11:00-21:30
Fri- Sat 11:00-22:00

 

X Alex

(Images by self)

Vintage and second-hand at HUMANA

Shopping in Europe isn’t always cheap, that’s why H&M is always crowded!  To find something different and continue my hunt for vintage and second-hand clothing, I went to HUMANA in both Milan and Berlin.  The prices are reasonable and if you dig deep enough, you’ll find steals like an ESCADA jacket for 39 euros.  The HUMANA in Berlin is amazing and I have some pictures to show for it!

First off, the place is crazy ass huge.  There are five levels.  The clothing are neatly arranged, coloured coded and pattern coded even.  This is no Salvation Army but to be fair, there are organised Salvation Army stores, just not in Singapore.  On the fifth level, vintage is organised by decades and from the 1920s onwards.  Aside from clothing, shoes, bags and accessories, there are even a few racks of costumes.  The selection here is beyond comprehensive.

The only problem is most clothing come in average European sizes and it’s near impossible to find something in Asian petite size.  Nonetheless, it was an inspiring visit!

x Sybil

(Images by self)

To shop and to support: BLUEPRINT

There are so many events this week we feel like we have to clone ourselves.  We’re going to miss ART HK and Singapore Arts Festival as we are focusing our energy on Asia Fashion Exchange and the highlight for local shoppers will be the BLUEPRINT.

If you are in the trade or a member of the press, BLUEPRINT is open today, showcasing Pre-Spring 2013 womenswear, menswear and accessories collections of asian and international emerging designers.  If you are not in trade but would like to update your wardrobe or support our local talents, BLUEPRINT is open to the public over the weekend.  Discover sample and sales merchandise and limited editions from 150 emerging designer labels and established and up-and-coming brands from around the world, most never before commercially available in Singapore.  There will be music, style workshops and beauty makeovers, ensuring that you stay occupied and entertained for a long time.

Here are two local labels that we like and support:

Local label poss-tilly-ty will be participating in this year’s BLUEPRINT and they are offering a 20% discount for their SS12 collection, as well as other surprises.

Our good friend, Sunny Lim, will also showcase his newly launched label Mils.  The silhouette is clean, contemporary and fresh and in every sense; deconstructed, reinvented and inspired.  For a very long time, we couldn’t find the middle ground for menswear but Mils has finally provided that for men.

Mils’ Cruise 13 collection explores the juxtaposition of translucent fabrics over paneled structures, the futuristic sensibility with performance fabrics and the identity of the modern man. It is Aldous Huxley‘s acclaimed novel, Brave New World that inspired these elements.

Other local brands who are participating are Carrie K, DEPRESSION, episene, evenodd, Ong Shunmugan and many more!

We will be there. Do drop by and show your support if you’re in Singapore!

x Sybil

(Images from possi-tilly-ty and BLUEPRINT)

Dover Street Market and its magic

On this slow and lazy Monday, I’m going through some archives of news clippings I’ve kept for bedtime reading.  Well, better late than never because this piece of news gives me time to plan for my next vacation.  A seven storey Dover Street Market will open in Tokyo’s Ginza shopping district in March 2012 and I want to be there!

It’s hard to believe that it was 41 years ago that Rei Kawakubo started Commes des Garçons because the brand is still ahead of many others.  It is forward-looking and remains so in today’s fashion landscape, which proves that Kawakubo’s theory of “creating something that didn’t exist before” hasn’t changed one bit.

One of the highlights of my London trip was my visit to Dover Street Market.  I’m surprised at the number of labels the store carries; from Alexander Wang to Yves Saint Laurent.  The store features both established fashion houses, as well as more experimental and younger labels, bringing true meaning to the term ‘market’.  It’s worth a visit when you are in London.

In Kawakubo’s words, “Fashion is something you attach to yourself, put on, and through that interaction the meaning of it is born. Without the wearing of it, it has no meaning…”  Ahhh, words that carry true meaning for anyone genuinely passionate about fashion.

X Sybil

(Images from Dover Street Market)

Shop smart: The Wallpaper* Grads Shop

I’ve lost count of the number of online transactions I made this past week.  Christmas shopping has become increasingly demanding because I insist on exclusivity.  Singapore’s fashion scene has expanded over the years and today, most labels are represented with a boutique or distributor here, which explains why my shopping in London did not exceed the weight limit when I returned.

Hence, enters online shopping and more specifically, exclusive items in limited quantities within well-curated websites so that you don’t spend hours browsing through hundreds of websites for a handful of items and paying shipping multiple times.  However, do not expect high street fashion prices.  It is the season of giving after all…

A good source is this year’s Wallpaper* 2011 Graduate Fashion Directory at NOT JUST A LABEL.  Wallpaper* issues its annual Graduate Directory which highlights the year’s best graduates from various creative arenas, including fashion, design and architecture.  This year, Wallpaper* partners NOT JUST A LABEL to select and feature promising designers.  They include Hannah Taylor, Saskia Schijen, Victoria Spruce, Myrza de Muynck, Dinu Bodiciu, Daniel Hurlin, Matthias Weber, Niels Peeraer, Julie Eilenberger, Vivienne Appelius, Aus Dem, Brian Suter Maury and Nouio.

The selection began with 50 graduates from 36 schools in 22 countries.  Eventually, 13 were shortlisted.  As a result, NOT JUST A LABEL presents ‘The Wallpaper* Grads Shop’ which is a carefully selected collection of pieces from each designer featured in the Graduate Directory.

Among the list, Dinu Bodiciu stands out with his original and visually impactful head pieces.  Based in London, United Kingdom, Bodiciu studied at London College of Fashion.  A fashion and accessories designer, he was born in Romania and studied his first degree in Graphic Design.  His experience includes collaborations with independent theatre companies on costumes and stage settings.  His work explores and experiments with the human form and its response and relation with garments.  He believes that garments serve as an extension of the body and is thus interested in their ‘organic’ nature.

These head pieces were designed to accessorise the FW 2011 collection by Bodiciu.  Entitled Illusions of Reality / Reality of Illusions, the runway show for the collection was held at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.  Worn as masks or hats, they make great collector items and statement pieces for any outfit.

X Sybil

(All images from NOT JUST A LABEL)

My Christmas Wish List…

Nothing’s better than waking up to surrealism objects.  It’s magical and well, surreal! LuxuryCulture came up with a shopping list and what can I say? I fully agree! Christmas is around the corner and if you want to get me a present, my wish list is below.  Thank you so much.

X Sybil

(Images from LuxuryCulture)