Pastel backdrops in Singapore

Millennial pink has been painting our Tumblr and Instagrams for a while now. In fact, the obsession with these dreamy tones has extended to pastel colours in general, and we’ve got to admit: they’re super pretty to look at.

With these colours being the centre of attention on everyone’s IG feeds, there was no way to pass up a chance to go on a hunt for our very own pastel-splashed buildings and backgrounds in Singapore. Here’s what we found after a full-on #OOTD adventure around the island:

1. Koon Seng Road

At Koon Seng Road, there’s an array of Peranakan houses bursting with different pastel shades. These houses hail from the colonial times, and we’re so lucky that some of them still retain much of their beauty.

You won’t be able to miss them for the simple fact that they inject a state of wonder amidst the regular white buildings. While one side of the street is more visibly pastel-toned, both sides are incredible in terms of architecture and colour. For lovers of anything pastel, this road is the ultimate spot for a photo sesh.

Note: These are also residential estates, so do take care to be discreet while basking in pastel heaven.

Nearest MRT: Dakota

2. Joo Chiat Community Centre

Community centres and OOTDs in the same sentence – who would’ve thought.

Along the smaller roads leading to the inner alleys of Joo Chiat is where we found Joo Chiat Community Centre – an entire building in light pink. Interestingly enough, this really resembled film director Wes Anderson’s pink Grand Budapest Hotel. Anderson has been touted by many for kicking off this millennial pink craze when the movie hit the screens in 2014.

The spray of national day flags added a cute twist to our feature that can’t be gotten at any other time of the year.

This pink oval feature that doubles up as a railing is located on the upper floors of the community centre. It’s generally quiet, so you’ll be free to snap a few pics with no obstacles – just hop onto the staircase on the opposite end to get a shot like ours.

Address: 405 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427633
Nearest MRT: Dakota

3. Hotel 81 Sakura

Located just a few minutes from Joo Chiat Community Centre is Hotel 81 Sakura. It’s purplish-blue walls and orange furnishings complemented our outfits perfectly – and yes, this was a surprising location for a photo session, to say the least!

Address: 181 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427452
Nearest MRT: Dakota

4. East Coast Road

A strip of coloured terrace houses line this single street in the Joo Chiat-Tembeling Road crossway. These conserved houses are raised a level above the ground as they were built to avoid the tides in the past. Keep your eyes peeled for the houses, or you might completely pass it by.

This quaint unit’s colour resembled Pantone’s gorgeous Serenity shade.

Play around with the various colours to see which is your best OOTD background. Try not to go too overboard though – the residents might not be not too impressed with strangers having a full-blown photoshoot at their doorstep!

Nearest MRT: Dakota
From Dakota MRT,  board bus 16 from Blk 99 and alight opposite 112 Katong Shopping Mall. It’s a 2-3 minute walk from there.

5. Lickety Cafe

One of the newer cafes on the block, Lickety Cafe is every pastel-lover’s utopia. Turquoise-blue and pink shades dominate the interior and exterior, and certain ice cream flavours have cute pastel shades too! 

The waffle box colours are reminiscent of Mendl’s box, a cake box featured in Anderson’s Grand Budapest Hotel!

Note: Lickety Cafe is halal.

Address: 34 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199452
Nearest MRT: Bugis

6. Looksee Looksee

Looksee Looksee is quaint in every way imaginable – from its vintage storefront to the range of indie books lining its walls amidst muted pink and blue furnishings.

The dim lighting complements the interior’s aesthetic, muting the pastel colours even more to act as a great background for photos. You won’t be able to resist snapping photos at any spot because each part of the little tearoom is equally photogenic.

If the lighting seems a tad too dark, try moving to the couch where more sunlight pours in.

If you decide to pop by for tea, do note that their menu changes every month, keeping you in pleasant suspense each visit. If that isn’t enough of a draw, the payment works on a gratuity basis – it’s up to you to decide how much to pay for your meal!  

Address: 267 Beach Road, Singapore 199545
Nearest MRT: Bugis

7. Wanderlust Hotel

Wanderlust Hotel’s Room 201 – the Pantone Deluxe – is awash in yellow, meant to pay tribute to The Beatles’ hit, Yellow Submarine. 

This room comes in the perfect shade of Pantone’s Yellow C.

If that isn’t enough, this surrounding is a close copy of this scene from Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited!

Address: 2 Dickson Road, Singapore 209494
Nearest MRT: Little India

8. Blair Road

It looks as if the beauty of old shophouses can’t be stoppered – Blair Road has a whole row of conserved shophouses along the entire street. Although the rest of the houses on the street are painted in different colours, this was the first pastel green tone we came across.

A remnant from Singapore’s colonial era, these houses are part of the government’s Blair Plain conservation area to preserve the architectural splendour from the early 1900s. The district as many know is also a popular one for cafe-hopping, so this is a great spot for OOTDs and weekend brunches. 

Nearest MRT: Outram Park

9. Naumi Liora Hotel

Old buildings are ever-present in Chinatown, so much so that we’ve become used to the façades of faded colours and intricate carvings on them. But opposite a strip of white shophouses, the brightly-coloured Naumi Liora Hotel stands proudly in stark contrast.

Even though it occupies the entire street, this boutique hotel might be missed by many for the lack of any tourist hustle and bustle – so keep a lookout for it!

Address: 55 Keong Saik Road, Chinatown, Singapore 089158
Nearest MRT: Chinatown/Outram Park

BONUS: Labrador Nature Reserve’s Berlayer Beacon

 Now a nature reserve and historical landmark, Labrador Reserve has been transformed into a botanical paradise against the picturesque backdrop of the sea.

Here you’ll find Berlayar Beacon, a monument marking the existence of the Batu Berlayar, a rock that was used as a navigational landmark for sailors. Here’s another Wes Anderson reference: this structure looks just like the one from his movie Moonrise Kingdom.

While this looks truly pastel, the beacon is more of a faded red tone when seeing it in person. Interestingly enough, baby pink hues come into play as an effect of the strong sunlight – so don’t be surprised when you see it IRL! Play around with your camera’s functions here and you might be able to recreate one of Pantone’s colours of 2016, Rose Quartz. 

Aside from this pretty structure, you might even chance upon a peacock strolling the walkways!

Address: Labrador Villa Road, Singapore 119187
Nearest MRT: Labrador Park

Tip: When driving/walking there, be sure to arrive at Carpark B/C and not A.

Flannels for the perfect #OOTD

Though it may be 365 days of summer in Singapore, it’s the autumn season in fashion – and flannel is in. UNIQLO‘s flannel collection features comfy wears with over 50 patterns and shades to mix and match with your outfits.

Flaunt the prints over a same-coloured tee by knotting it around your waist, or looping it around your neck for a boho vibe. A simple addition to your everyday jeans gives your look a casual stylish feel that doesn’t say trying too hard.

Muted and whimsical, pastel tones will probably never go out of style or season, so don’t be afraid to get creative to achieve this fun aesthetic. Paint the town red Pantone with these new outfits – your IG feed will thank you!

This post was brought to you by UNIQLO.