LAUREN ALEXA
Fashion stylist and image consultant
Tell us about your style philosophy and fashion influences.
There’s a phrase, “beauty is pain”, but comfort is key for me. I’m most confident when I’m not pinched in my clothing. I’m a big fan of everything Phoebe Philo did at Céline, and her effortless mix of masculine and feminine energy is a major influence in my work. Peter Do is also a favourite.
Describe the Singapore fashion scene in three words.
Growing, progressing, expanding.
What do you think Singaporeans should do more, or less, of when it comes to street style?
While I’d love to see locals getting more experimental with layering or different textures, it’s basically impossible here because of the weather.
What surprises you about Singapore fashion?
That there’s always something super interesting coming from the new batches of [fashion] students. They’re super creative and push boundaries, experimenting with silhouettes and textiles and techniques, especially those from the 2021 batch such as Anadier Ong Soo Teng from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, and Theocara Missiel Maretha and Gemma Wu Pui Shan from Raffles Design Institute Singapore.
What’s on your wish list this season?
I’m hoping to score the Céline Pirate mules from 2017. I’ve also been on the hunt for the 2009 YSL cage boots with the iconic caged heels for years now. I definitely feel that we should find pieces that resonate with our personal style instead of chasing trends.