ANN LOPEZ, 23
Digital creator
What made you fall in love with fashion?
Definitely the movies. I have a huge love for Bollywood and the opulence of Indian heritage and culture. How would you describe your style?
I play a lot with colour, so that’s definitely a must-have, along with texture and volume. I like things that stand out, things that are a lot more designed or with an intricacy to them—I don’t like things that are very mass or commonly available. I love balloon silhouettes, so balloon sleeves and dresses. Because I’m very petite, things that create a lot of volume and texture make me feel more empowered; I feel a lot bigger. What look do you feel most powerful in?
When I wear my Indian jewellery with a modern piece—I like to create a fusion look that mixes the East and the West. Which designers and brands do you love?
I like Manish Malhotra, Sabyasachi [Mukherjee], Anita Dongre and Ritu Kumar. I also like Dior a lot. I look up to Sabyasachi for his rich textile craft and for embodying the whole Indian heritage. Dongre speaks to my more feminine, playful side. Malhotra and Kumar capture the grandeur of Indian culture very well, but their pieces are difficult to assemble into a daily outfit, so I bridge that by wearing them with more modern ones. And Dior has always been my favourite brand. What is the most treasured piece in your collection?
All of my jewellery. Most of them have stories behind them because a lot of them came from my grandmother.
She moved to Singapore from Gujarat shortly after giving birth to my mum and my aunt, and she carried these pieces here in a little silver trunk. Even now, I have to open the trunk to get the jewellery and that’s really sentimental to me.