Discover my world as I live it.

I refer to an article by URBAN [The Straits Times] 25/8/05 similarly titled: ATTACK OF THE CLONES. In a nutshell, this article, written by self-proclaimed fashionistas and commented on by fashion 'pundits', is one that criticises Singaporean GIRLS' fashion sense or lack thereof according to them.

I qoute: "Express yourself, Madonna's anthem to woman once went. But when it comes to fashion, Singapore women would clearly rather hide behind a uniform. We're talking about the standard ensemble of a skimpy, sleeveless top teemed with tight jeans worn low-slung. An exposed band of midriff flesh is optional, though favoured. Heels, flats and sneakers complete the look."

I do not doubt the truth in the above paragraph for I myself along with many of my friends are guilty of the above dress-up. But indeed, what are we really guilty of? The article lashes out at the most well-rehearsed excuses bandied about, like the need for comfort, our sickeningly humid and hot weather, and because the look is in vogue. Granted, I can understand these fashion pundits' exasperation and imagine them tearing their hair (wigs?) out at the last reason for those in the know would realise that this look actually started five years ago and somehow ended up perpetually stuck in our wardrobes.

But this article raises an important point about our society's need to conform even in the arena of fashion. I'm not talking about our so-called uniform look but about how people stare when you dress differently. Let me get this straight, you want to dress differently but you don't want people to stare? What is the point of dressing differently? Personal preference? Boredom and disdain regarding current looks or the need to shock and excite yourself or others. The key word being 'DIFFERENT', just see yourself as on a mission to re-educate your fellow counterparts in the world of creative dressing and heck those stares or embrace them. Just don't naively expect to be ignored if your dressing is out to bewilder, shock or dumbfound people.

*Important disclaimer: Before you aim to wreak fashion vengence on us improvished mortals, get it right because creative fashion dangerously borders on the abyss of plain bad fashion sense (along with big gaudy flower prints found in your grandma's closet).

Now back to the important question of whether we are really at fault for the way we dress. I'd like to first define 'we' in terms of students from tweens to university-going gals because we are the ones mostly carrying off this look (Not to mention that we can still carry it off). Ahah! There's your answer! It's cuz we are freaking students who generally have no fixed income to splurge on clothes ( And darlings, I'm not even talking about Ferragamo or Christian Dior!). So unless those fashion pundits who earns oodles of moolah can spare me some, they would be think before they speak. Okie, so they say that you don't need tons of moolah to dress creatively. But forgive me for not shopping in flea markets, 2nd hand shops and at the Salvation Army. These are places where you'd probably get more inspired clothings but I'd really like to know where my clothes have been. Anyway, the tweens and teens are mostly stuck in their uniforms 5 days a week so the only time you'll see them in going-out clothes is when they flood the town on weekends. So, the people you are most likely to see in town, out of uniform, are the Uni students (that includes me!).

So let me put things in perspective for those so-called fashion pundits who soooo neatly classify clothes into 2 categories: function wear and fashion clothes. Dylan Boey from URBAN writes that function clothes are for getting lunch from the market across the road, washing cars....blahblah and that fashion clothes are for flair and fun. He is not wrong. But for us uni gals, function clothes has to be fashion wear or rather, fashion wear has to be function clothes. (I'm just going to expound on a case example, namely me, so this is not meant to be a generalized take on all uni students) I'm from the Science faculty, meaning that besides going for lectures and tutorials, I have lab work. There are safety regulations concerning lab wear, especially if you are working with chemicals or biohazardous stuff that can mutate your cells. Which means, you jolly well wear those long pants and covered shoes. Of cuz, there are bound to be flouters of this safety regulations but this slight hitch has already limitted my choice of clothes on days when I have lab sessions. On the otherhand, when I have lessons in the Arts faculty, I'd tend to dress up and embrace my sandals or flip-flops. Trust me, you'd WOULDN't want to wear 3 inch heels around in NUS (my uni) because of all the hills and slopes and stairs you have to climb. IT WOULD BE ALMOST SUICIDAL!

Anyway, this example kinda explains my choice of foot-wear. How about the ubiquitous jeans?? Lab work is a consideration but not the sole reason. I do wear fluffy skirts, jeans skirts, long skirts...in short I do have a fashion life outside my jeans. And so do the other girls in NUS, judging from what I see. But for me, I'll only wear my skirts on days when I don't have anything important to do like meeting professors or stuff. It's just the image you'd want to project. Personally, I adore my blingblings (earrings, bracelets, necklaces, belts...accessories galore!) and a fren of mine once commented that she thinks I have the funkiest earring collection in school cuz I rotate my ear-wear daily. But try meeting your professors (in my case, it would be to discuss my on-going projects. I'm not talking about casual meetings to clarify doubts raised during lecture) in a flouncy skirt paired with a spahgetti and topped up with chandelier earrings. I'd come across as an air-head. I want to be taken seriously (goddammit, this guy is gonna be writing my referral letters for god's sake!) and short being over the top and wearing a suit, I choose my jeans.

Finally, the most important reason of all. The very reason for me writing this long-winded post. Two words, Singaporean guys. Now, before the male species come bearing pitchforks and whatnots, hear me out. I don't mean this to be a simple blame-pushing exercise.

URBAN: "It's understandable for men to not fare better as menswear options are traditionally limited. But women, with their kaleidoscopic array of retail options to choose from?"

Granted that these are perfectly legitimite reasons for our men to dress the way they do due to limited options and traditionally more costly prices for menswear. But honestly, I don't have much qualms with a graphic prints t-shirt paired with berms or trendy jeans so long as it makes you look good. It's the laid-back casual look or the Sunshine boys (the kind that looks like he's ready to head off to the beach anytime) look that most guys try to emulate with varying degrees of success. But you see, that IS the problem. This is how our guys dress...ANYWHERE or ANYTIME be it for dates, outings or shopping expeditions with their gf.

We would look like an ABSOLUTE fool beside them if we wore our 'sleeveless sundress or chich highwaisted cigarette pants' (these are Dylan Boey's personal favs for us gals). We girls can up the glam factor anytime but can our guys get with it? We are just being considerate when we dress down with jeans. Besides, who says that clothes are the only way to express out individuality? I push the cause for accessories again!! My cheap way to get maximum milage out of your tired wardrobe choices.

Another point about our so-called kaleidoscope of retail clothings. Most are simply put, boring office wear. Why would I want to buy mature women clothings now when I have the rest of my life to immerse myself in it? It's a vicious cycle. Retailers think we want conformist clothes so they import them and woman buy them cuz they are there. Anyway, the more exciting wears are mainly formal or for cocktail parties. Other than that, the japanese-inspired or the taiwanese pseudo-jap inspired fashion. Now, I'm big on Japanese culture and fashion but trust me, some of their clothings are just kooky. And note that they are kooky but not cheap. Even if I were willing to do as the Japanese gals and work at dolling myself upself for a minimum of 2 hours before even stepping out of the house, some of our guys just like us the way we were. Au natural and unpretentious. Actually, I think that some of them gets threatened by too trendy gals...so this puts us in a no-win situation.

Besides, isn't it better to actually have out beauty sleep then to wake up 2 hours early and try to conceal dark eye circles? I rest my case.



A picture of japanese fashion
*The author is just a poor student so don't sue her. This commentary is based on exchanges and shared sentiments between her friends who also read the URBAN article.