There’s a really fun blog called Shentonista that chronicles the clothes and faces of genuinely stylish people either working or passing through Shenton Way or any of Singapore’s business districts.
Featuring absolutely no suits – and very few cocktail dresses which seem to be standard CBD daywear – it’s a lovely insight in to the people I never catch so much as a glimpse of when I’m here, as I am today for a few meetings.
What I love most about coming to this corporate area is that it’s an excuse to wear normal clothes, (for me that means something casual, unstructured and usually colourful) which positively zing against the backdrop of standards greys and blacks.
Today as I crossed Raffles Place I was wearing this:
I saw people blinking at the unaccustomed brightness and even smile, which made me smile.
Jeans: GAP
Top: JCrew
Coral and bead necklace: What Women Want
Shoes: Ralph Lauren
Sunglasses: Louis Vuitton
(I’m surprised by how useful the shopping is here: a brilliant stationers next to Sing Post in Change Alley where they sell tapes for my latest infatuation, a Brother label maker – sad isn’t it? Opposite is an incredible alterations service called Haute Alterations (more on that later; worthy of a post in its own right) and opposite UOB Plaza is a fantastic, eco dry cleaners which is actually worth getting excited about.
LOVE this! And what you say about the CBD dressing is so true.
I had the colour epiphany on arriving in Singapore too. After years of corporate life in head to toe black, it just didn’t feel right here. I love swanning around in my bright dresses. You are right, there is often a genuinely cheery response. I fear that on my eventual return to Sydney though, I may just look like a crazy lady!
I know what you mean. What works here, clothes-wise, often doesn’t translate in say Oz or the UK. When I go out in London sometimes my sister refuses point blank to come with me. My lovely dress which gets oohs and aaahs in tropical climes just looks weird in wet weather.