The founder of Decades and king of vintage fashion shares lessons on disco naps, green days, and batik. Compiled by Sharmita Summugam.
… PULL A FASHION TOPSY-TURVY? Borrow something from the opposite sex. Be it a woman in a men’s button down à la Sharon Stone or a man with a brooch on his lapel, it’s fun to “cross dress”. … CLEAN OUT YOUR CLOSET? Is anything more satisfying to a fashionista than a major sartorial edit? Donate some pieces, resell others, and revisit lost gems. … LAUGH AND PLAY YOUR WAY TO A FIT BODY? The best digestif can be an amusing game of charades. You’ll laugh and burn calories. … INSPIRE FRIENDS WITH A COOK- OFF? Have a potluck. Invite friends over for dinner and assign different courses to each. You’ll taste a myriad of dishes and find out who’s the best cook in your circle. … TAKE A DISCO NAP? A siesta while wearing a Crème de la Mer mask recharges me quicker than a 30-minute deep relaxation before a night on the town. … TALK TO THE WISE? Spend some quality time with someone who’s lived a long life. It’s a guarantee to be rewarded with pearls of wisdom while bringing added joy to someone in their twilight years. … BUY SOMETHING RIDICULOUS? It need not be expensive. From a silly T-shirt or a quirky piece of art, a little eccentricity does your soul good. … GIVE BATIK A TRY? Work it with designer fashions. Malaysian batik is fantastic; wear the beautiful prints with pride. Tie a batik scarf around your Birkin handles for a breath of fresh air. … HAVE A GREEN DAY? I try to avoid my car once a week and have a juice cleanse. It’s good for the environment and your waistline. … MAKE A NEW FRIEND? you’ll forge a lifelong friendship. … START COLLECTING VINTAGE FASHION? Buy something vintage. We all love to consume, but be original and wear something with a history to make your style unique. … TAKE A CYBER HOLIDAY? Okay, I’ve yet to do this myself but going off the grid for as little as 24 hours is probably a good idea now and then. Like a cyber cleanse of sorts. … SHOP LOCAL? Support your local designers and buy something absolutely fabulous either from an emerging or established name. … WRITE A LETTER? When was the last time you corresponded by pen and paper? Be it a fan letter or a love letter, write to someone. … TAKE UP CALLIGRAPHY? Well, after you attempt to write a letter you may realise your penmanship is hideous, so revisit the art of calligraphy.
Meet someone new and maybe