SIGNATURE STYLES Indonesia’s darling socialites reveal the secrets behind their stylish looks
indonesia tatler peeks inside notable socialites’ and designers’ wardrobes to unearth the secret sauces behind their fashionable flair—with some surprising finds
Junita Liesar
Blessed by natural beauty in abundance, Junita Liesar is an elegant lady who has so much more going on beneath mere superficial style and poise. This well-heeled entrepreneur is one of Syahrini’s dearest friends and a down-to-earth woman who loves to give back through her own JL Foundation. With her experience as a model during her younger days, Junita has an impeccable sense of style that makes her stand out among socialites in Jakarta. On her fashion journey she tried out many looks in order to find her own signature look and discovered that simple and elegant simply suits her. “Edgy styles don’t fit me at all,” she says with a laugh when we ask about her big fashion fails. Now, whether she’s in a business meeting with clients or attending an important event, this stunning mother of two beloved children always takes everyone’s breath away with her simple yet sophisticated looks. From the trendiest Saint Laurent shoes to the latest Hermès bags, Junita boasts an apparently endless collection of high-end clothing pieces, a lavish shoes collection, and heaps of luxurious accessories inside her spacious closet. Meanwhile, belts and sunglasses are some of her favourites to accessorise her signature style. Junita’s wardrobe is also completed by Roland Mouret and Lanvin as they fit her body shape, sculpted with daily yoga exercises despite her busy schedule as the President Commissioner of Bumi Bangun Mandiri.
As long as I put on a broach, anything simple and basic will be elevated with its own charisma
Wanda Ponika
Pouring her heart into designing every piece of her lavish jewellery, Wanda Ponika is no stranger to Indonesia as a renowned fine jewellery designer. The genius behind Wanda House of Jewels, Wanda possesses that unique and timeless sense of fashion as also seen inside her magnificent closet, which is packed with lavish brands. Taking a peek inside her milk-white wardrobes, Indonesia Tatler found that it was filled with row upon row of top-shelf brands sorted neatly according to garment types and colours. Wanda’s closet also displayed some of her most prized possessions, from a Hermès clutch to a pair of Christian Louboutin Red Kate stiletto heels. If there’s one thing that stands out among Wanda’s glamour collection, it’s definitely her extensive collection of Chanel bags and clothes. She loves their classic and feminine shapes mixed with the contemporary trends of today. “I’ve loved this brand since I was young,” she says while showing off her favourite Chanel gold-tone clutch, which was a birthday present from her beloved children. “I got to know Chanel from novels and fashion magazines, and my lasting love for Chanel is being passed down to my children.” While Chanel remains on top of her list, Wanda also owns an array of couture and premium brands, such as Azzedine Alaïa, Diane von Furstenberg, Roland Mouret, and Harlan + Holden. As a creative jewellery designer, when dressing Wanda is always effortlessly stylish and pairs her outfit with her own jewellery pieces. “I’m a fan of the brooch,” she says. “As long as I put on a brooch, anything simple and basic will be elevated with its own charisma.”
"My style is bohemian chic, but for special occasions, you could catch me in a kebaya and colorful attire"
Ghea Panggabean
When it comes to iconic Indonesian fashion designers, Ghea Panggabean’s name always appears among the A-listers, and fittingly so. Named as one of 10 Best Asean Designers in Singapore during the late ‘80s, her Pelangi jumputan textiles, which are also known as kain pelangi due to their colours coming from the tie-dye technique for creating motifs, remain loved until today. Jumputan is one of her favourite fabrics owing to its similarity to a rainbow, which represents life and new hope. From Ghea’s point of view, any traditional textile, like gringsing, songket, and batik, perfectly represents the values found in both traditional and modern styles. Through her dedication, she seeks to develop Indonesian fabrics into timeless pieces that will be loved by anyone around the globe, and to keep them simple and sleek with touches of ethnic spirit. “Indonesian cultures are truly rich and interesting to develop,” Ghea says. “My passion for the country’s cultures has led me to collect traditional textiles and to learn more about their heritage; in turn, all of these have become an inspiration to combine Indonesian cultures with modern styles for my collections.” When it comes to her personal style, however, Ghea is truly a queen of bohemian chic. In addition to her antique fabric collections and embroidered coats, her wardrobe is filled with pretty hippie-chic purses, and tribal-style jewellery and accessories. “My style is bohemian chic, but for special occasions, you could catch me in a kebaya and colourful attire,” she adds.
" My style is unpredictable but somehow predictable; structural, but with a touch of edgy-- or you can find me in contemporary style"
didi Budiardjo
Having stamped an indelible mark on Indonesia’s fashion industry over the course of three decades, fashion designer Didi Budiardjo is known for his modern, elegant style. Prepared to pack in all it takes to get to the top, Didi takes his designs seriously and puts hard work and passion into all he does, like the 30th anniversary of his label, when he held the glamorous show entitled “Terlahir Kembali”. Didi’s passion for fashion began when he saw his mum dressed and made-up to go to a party. Fast forward a few years, and a letter of acceptance to Paris’s Atelier Fleuri Delaporte sealed his fate to later emerge as one of Indonesia’s leading designers. “It was in the beginning of the 1990s when I was a newcomer, and I was amazed with the world’s leading fashion designers who have such strong characters and imbue their work with such great love,” he says while sitting on the lavish sofa of Conchita Home. When it comes to personal style, Didi doesn’t limit himself to a particular style because fashion has no limits for him. “My style is unpredictable but somehow predictable; structural, but with a touch of edgy—or you can find me in contemporary style,” he laughs. “I don’t want to limit my style: if I want to wear it, then I will,” he adds. Of course, it goes without saying that Didi loves to wear vintage threads and often mixes and matches brand-new clothes with classic pieces he loves. Among his most valuable pieces, which range from bespoke suits to top-quality traditional textiles, are pieces dominated by Dior Men and Thom Browne alongside seminal pieces from Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto.
Hans Huang
"If you asked me about my favourite watch, or any favourite item of mine, the answer is that I love everything my late mum gave to me"
Undoubtedly one of those dazzling emcees no party would pulse without, Hans Huang can keep guests entertained throughout an entire event with his skilful wordplay and beautiful, clear voice. Hans’s personality is also lively and vivid, and since each event requires a different outfit, he definitely needs a lot of splendid choices to fit any occasion, from lavish birthday parties to the most extravagant celebrations. And no outfit would be complete without the right accessories, which is why Hans collects watches. “If you asked me about my favourite watch, or any favourite item of mine, the answer is that I love everything my late mum gave to me,” replies Hans as he holds up his wrist to show a vintage Cartier ablaze with diamonds. This memorable gift from his beloved mum is a timepiece dear to Hans’s heart, and is only be worn on truly special occasions. Never failing to look chic and on point, Hans is also no stranger to lavish bags, with his first purchase among the most memorable. During his time as a Broadway singer, Hans’s efforts to save money were rewarded with a meticulously handcrafted Hermès bag in bright tangerine and embossed with the famous logo. His next favourite bag is the Fendi Runway Shopper, which has a stiff oval double handle and metal rings with a removable shoulder strap. Just like Hans’s elegant and eclectic personalities, one the most prized outfits in his closet is Elton John’s tiger-sequinned jacket that was won at at Phillips Auction House to raise funds to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS.