A THREAD IN TIME

The relationship between BAZAAR and art can be traced all the way back to the 1920s, when illustrations by Erté (aka Romain de Tirtoff) graced the covers of that era (works by Man Ray and Andy Warhol were to follow in subsequent decades). For Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore’s 20th celebration, we wanted to have a narrative of fashion and art but with a central focus on Singapore and Singaporeans.

For our cover story, we teamed Singapore superstar Stefanie Sun, dressed in the latest cruise collection, with three talented local young artists who lent their unique perspectives to the shoot: Ashley Yeo, whose intricate hand-cut paper crafts set the stage for exquisite jewellery; Tiffany Loy, whose surrealist yarn critters recall the relationship between tailoring and draping; and Kelly Limerick, who champions upcycling by reusing discarded materials, and incorporating them into her hand-knit art pieces.

Then, we took a drive with some of the season’s most graphic and shapeliest looks and shot them onboard a double-decker tourist bus. As dawn turned to dusk, the twinkling night lights and iconic skyline of Singapore entered the frame, creating a magical backdrop that elevated the cocoon-shaped dresses, decorated smocks and cool trouser ensembles. And just like that, we placed the vernacular of fashion within the realm of the city we call home.