Instagram is my ultimate guilty pleasure. Except that I don’t feel guilty about it. Honestly, whoever created Instagram really knew what they were doing and if their goal was to halt productivity forever, they succeeded. I know some people (Me.) who check their Instagram feed every couple of minutes. Like when they should be studying. Or sleeping. Or breathing.
My favourite thing about Instagram has to be that its a great place to get inspired. Be it places to visit, the latest food craze or my personal favourite – fashion inspiration. And no one does it better than these young ladies, who dominate the local fashion scene.
We’ve put the focus on the younger generation. It’s the young who will one day become our leaders of tomorrow and these girls heavily influence this demographic. We’ve also got answers from these fashionistas themselves who share with us fashion tips and who inspires them.
Here are 15 Singaporean fashion icons on Instagram you absolutely MUST follow.
We start this list with none other then the founders of Love Bonito – Viola, Velda and Rachel. They are literally the trendsetters, creating the clothes that Singaporean girls end up wearing! If you didn’t know, Love Bonito is far and away the biggest blogshop in Singapore. They aren’t just fashion icons but very successful entrepreneurs as well. Every girl wants to be them.
Viola and Velda have similar styles so drawing style inspiration from either is pretty fool proof. A lot of their clothes are from their store which makes life a lot easier for us mere mortals because all we have to do is hop on there and start purchasing and we’re good to go.
Q: How would you describe your sense of style?
Viola: Sophisticated and classy with a touch of edgy glamour.
Q: Where/ who do you turn to for your own inspiration?
Viola: Travel is my biggest inspiration. I draw inspiration from the culture and style of the people I meet when I travel.
Q: What fashion advice do you have for Singaporeans looking to improve their fashion sense?
Viola: Confidence and comfort is key. Invest in a classic Little Black Dress or blazer that will give you an edge and will not go out of style. Add a finishing touch, it could be a classy clutch and drop earrings for a dinner/event or piling a few different bangles and throwing on a casual blazer for a weekend out.
One third of the brains and beauty behind Love Bonito, you know that turning to Velda for fashion inspiration is going to leave you in the fashion gods’ super good books. She tends to stick to very classic silhouettes that will work for literally anybody.
If the style of the two Love Bonito sisters are a bit too girly for your taste, then you should turn to Rachel. Her style definitely has more edge to it as compared to Viola and Velda’s. She tends to pair her elegant pieces with chunky statement necklaces and her chopped locks are a breath of fresh air.
Q: How would you describe your sense of style?
Rachel: Chic and vibrant! I love to mix things up.
Q: Where/ who do you turn to for your own inspiration?
Rachel: I draw inspiration from glossy fashion magazines like Elle UK. I am inspired by the fashion scene in London.
Q: What fashion advice do you have for Singaporeans looking to improve their fashion sense?
Rachel: Find out what colours go best with your skin tone. Colours can help hide our flaws or make them more visible. Once you are more aware of what colours go well with your skin tone, go experiment with different styles! Also try and understand your body shape.
When it comes to looking good, its not your size or shape that matters, it’s the fit of your clothes. Knowing your body shape and understanding the type of clothes that will accentuate your good features, means you’ll be able to dress in a way that really suits you.
At just 19 years old, this fashion dynamite will have you questioning what you’re doing with your life. She always looks flawlessly put together and will make you feel like a complete slob in comparison. Now now, that isn’t a bad thing. Ever since I followed her I find myself gravitating toward more sophisticated pieces and WWWW (What Would Willabelle Wear?) has become my new fashion mantra.
Too bad she lives in Australia so there’s no chance of me “accidentally” bumping into her and “accidentally” ending up worshipping the ground she walks on.
Q: How would you describe your sense of style?
Willabelle: Naturally, my style changes over time but I’m always big on mixing up colours, patterns and textures. At the moment, its fairly menswear-inspired preppy with a dash of brights here and there. I always reach for a structured jacket, regardless of season.
Q: Where/ who do you turn to for your own inspiration?
Willabelle: I’m constantly fascinated by what Anna Dello Russo is wearing. She it totally OTT and fabulous about it.
Q: What fashion advice do you have for Singaporeans looking to improve their fashion sense?
Willabelle: Style isn’t about who or what you’re wearing – don’t be afraid to mix up high-street and designer labels!
Its incredible how much Andrea (or Drea, as she likes to be called) does. In between making appearances all over the island, being an NTU undergrad, maintaining a fashion blog and hosting theclicknetwork’s “That F Word,” its a wonder how she has any time for herself.
That being said, her Instagram account is still kept in tip top condition, with photos that are incredibly well shot and clothes that will leave you wiping drool off your phone screen.
Q: How would you describe your sense of style?
Andrea: Casual and relate-able, yet classy and sophisticated at the same time!
Q: Where/ who do you turn to for your own inspiration?
Andrea: I read a lot of magazines (i.e. Fudge Japan, Vogue UK, Company UK) and I am always so inspired and impressed by their distinctive styles. I try to adapt from the looks I see in these magazines and make them my own!
Q: What fashion advice do you have for Singaporeans looking to improve their fashion sense?
Andrea: Try anything and everything to find the perfect style for you! Also, fashion doesn’t need to be expensive, anyone can make a $20 dress look classy and glamorous with proper styling and confidence!
Having just graduated from university, Christabel is now back in Singapore and hitting the fashion scene at full steam. Her Instagram photos depict a very laid back girly style that a lot of people can emulate. With Andrea’s partner Jem going overeseas for studies, she’s going to be helping guest host theclicknetwork’s “That F Word” with Andrea.
Oh, you can also catch her singing a love song to a tiger on TSL’s Pai, Thailand Highlights Video! I kid you not. Keep your eye on this one!
Update: Christabel has now joined TSL full-time as our video host! You’ll see her in many of our videos in our youtube channel. And her following? It has increased to 31.k! Such rapid growth!
Q: How would you describe your sense of style?
Christabel: I would describe my sense of style to be rather preppy and girly.
Q: Where/ who do you turn to for your own inspiration?
Christabel: I turn to Gary Pepper Girl and Song of Style for style inspirations.
Q: What fashion advice do you have for Singaporeans looking to improve their fashion sense?
Christabel: Singaporeans generally dress pretty well. We dress in very “safe” and comfortable ways and that might undermine our fashionable outlook sometimes. I would love to see Singaporeans step out in bolder colours and prints. Singaporeans could look to Lookbook.nu for fashion ideas and pick out styles they would personally wear.
Another gorgeous 19 year old (sigh), Ashley’s style is much more laid back and casual than the people mentioned above. Her tousled hair is almost like a signature feature in every one of her #ootds and I just love the simplicity and ease with which she carries off outfits.
Q: How would you describe your sense of style?
Ashley: I tend to gravitate towards clean shapes and monochromatic colours. I would say my style is pretty minimal and casual, but I do indulge in my fair share of absolutely ridiculous items once in a while.
Q: Where/ who do you turn to for your own inspiration?
Ashley: I don’t usually have a problem with inspiration but when I do, I turn to the lookbooks of brands I love (like Celine, Acne, etc) and The Sartorialist of course.
Q: What fashion advice do you have for Singaporeans looking to improve their fashion sense?
Ashley: Don’t try to mimic the style of others – find what suits you, and more importantly, be comfortable in whatever you choose to wear.
Tammy is also a blogshop mogul and has been running Oh So Fickle since 2007. The avid selfie-taker also recently announced her pregnancy and is currently at 18 weeks so if you’re on the look out for how to rock that growing baby bump with confidence, keep an eye on her Instagram posts in the next couple of months!
Q: How would you describe your sense of style?
Tammy: I’m one who loves trying many different styles but my personal favourite is edgy.
Q: Where/ who do you turn to for your own inspiration?
Tammy: Everyone and everywhere. Lately the Koreans scene is really popular. I like Style Nanda’s styling.
Q: What fashion advice do you have for Singaporeans looking to improve their fashion sense?
Tammy: Dare to be different if you want to stand out from the crowd.
I must say I really like Rachel’s style. She tends to stick to a neutral colour palette and and adds a girly touch with a pop of floral here and there of or a witty slogan tee which are all the rage right now. Her style is pretty easy to emulate which is great for when your personal style really isn’t going to cut it.
If the shocks of pink and purple in her hair are anything to go by, Elaine has a really bright and lively personality that not only shines through in her Instagram account but also her fashion sense. She’s another one of those girly girls and bright colours and sun-dresses seem to be a staple for her.
Q: How would you describe your sense of style?
Elaine: To be honest, I don’t really have a specific style and it depends largely on my mood for the day. However, on most days, my fashion style tends to be more on the feminine, girly side, with lots of dressed, flare skirts and light floral prints. I have a mad love for pastels as well.
Alternatively, I do have many days where I prefer to keep my outfits simple and casual by putting on my favourite pair of jeans and sandals.
Q: Where/ who do you turn to for your own inspiration?
Elaine: I love Taylor Swift, Laurn Conrad, Miranda Kerr, Jenn Im and Jessica Stein. I also look to Cosmopolitan and Seventeen magazine.
Q: What fashion advice do you have for Singaporeans looking to improve their fashion sense?
Elaine: Be daring! Step out of your comfort zone and try out new styles which entice you. Don’t just follow the crowd. Most importantly, find a style that you are happy and comfortable in, without looking too sloppy.
19 year old Brenda’s style is very minimalist and nowhere is this more evident than on her Instagram account. She takes pictures that look super clean and neat (which are all the rage right now) and you’ll feel like your Instagram account looks like a rubbish dump in comparison. I know I do.
Q: How would you describe your sense of style?
Brenda: I would say my sense of style is more inclined toward minimalism, or monochrome. I love putting together black, white or grey pieces and I’m hardly dressed in colourful prints.
Q: Where/ who do you turn to for your own inspiration?
Brenda: I enjoy reading a few fashion blogs such as fashiononymous.net and paledivision.com. Other than that, I do sometimes visit local and international online stores to see how they style their items (One of my favourites is StyleNanda!) But most of the time, I am just “inspired” by whatever I can find in my wardrobe.
Q: What fashion advice do you have for Singaporeans looking to improve their fashion sense?
Brenda: A nice hairstyle and a pretty pair of shoes will complement your outfit very well, so don’t thrift on those!
This gorgeous 20 year old is a blogger, model and is very hot in the local fashion scene. She recently made her film debut starring in Jack Neo’s ‘The Lion Men’. Her style comes across as rather girly but with an extra edge in the form of ripped jeans of brightly coloured hair. (Its currently green) Just a warning, following her might not exactly boost your self-esteem.
Francesca is 21 years old and having been signed to Elite models, she has been taking Singapore’s fashion world by storm. She’s now a full time blogger and model and, like everyone else on this list, Instagram is her go to place to keep her fans updated.
Q: How would you describe your sense of style?
Francesca: My style is a little tom boy, a little feminine, a little sensual but mostly simple and easy. I wear a lot of basics and I like to glam it up with lots of jewellery. I try to stay away from clothes that are heavy or body-con. Right now, my obsessions are low back tops and dresses and clean cut pants!
And of course, my undying love for denim shorts.
Q: Where/ who do you turn to for your own inspiration?
Francesca: My current muse is model Kiko Mizuhara! I draw inspiration from everywhere actually. I’ve also been hooked on tumblr recently. I’m on it all day and night and I like to see my own tumblr page (tumblr.com/throwinggums) filled with beautiful pictures. I also hope that I am able to inspire people through my OOTDs on my blog (francesca.com) and Instagram!
Q: What fashion advice do you have for Singaporeans looking to improve their fashion sense?
Francesca: Do not just jump onto the bandwagon when it comes to trends. Just because everyone is wearing it, doesn’t mean you should too. Take time to find out what kind of clothes suits you best and….
Do not wear crocs.
Its just a matter of time before Rachel will be huge in the fashion scene. My favourite part about her looks is how she super effortlessly mixes high end labels like Balenciaga and Chanel with blogshop pieces. I think that’s the goal for everybody interested in fashion, to look effortless. If you manage to pull it off kudos to you, the rest of us can just stick to stalking people on Instagram and going back home to cry.
Q: How would you describe your sense of style?
Rachel: Probably feminine meets fun. I like to flaunt cute accessories to inject some kitschy fun into my otherwise duller outfits.
Q: Where/ who do you turn to for your own inspiration?
Rachel: I turn to blogs and Instagram for most of my inspiration. Chriselle Lim is one of them- she embodies the sophisticated woman and is a wardrobe stylist.
Q: What fashion advice do you have for Singaporeans looking to improve their fashion sense?
Rachel: I would say first of all, dress according to your body type. Know your proportions and don’t just follow the trends. Pick what works for you. Secondly, experiment more with colour. I’ve noticed how most Singaporeans like to play it safe with black and white. Some colour wouldn’t hurt!
I saved everyone’s favourite DJ for last. Rozz isn’t your typical fashionista. In fact, her account is mostly pictures of (amazing) food with fashion posts popping up once in a while. But a Singaporean fashionista list is just not complete with Rozz who carries her own unique Rozz style.
Whenever she uploads a fashion post, the fashion gods themselves do a double take.
Q: How would you describe your sense of style?
Rozz: Acute. Being aware of who I am as an individual is key in how I choose to project myself style-wise.
Q: Where/ who do you turn to for your own inspiration?
Rozz: My style icons are Gwen Stefani for being her unique, unapologetic self. And Ann Demeulemeester for her edgy use of black textures, fabrics and materials in her designs.
Q: What fashion advice do you have for Singaporeans looking to improve their fashion sense?
Rozz: Don’t follow fashion blindly, or risk looking like everyone else on the streets. If you feel 100% awesome in jeans, flip-flops and a white tee, then you have achieved style nirvana – because its all about how you feel, not how you look. The best looking people are the ones who are comfortable in their own skin.
These ladies are great for inspiration but at the end of the day, you should also take what you like from each one of them and try to find your own personal style. Follow their advice! As the great king of everything fashion related, Yves Saint Laurent, famously said “Fashion fades, style is eternal.“
This list is not exhaustive and if we missed out someone important we are sorry its not on purpose! If you feel someone else should be featured here do let us know in the comments and we may add them to this list!
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