CATEGORIES
Smells Like Queen Spirit
In 2001, Chanel Debuted Coco Mademoiselle, An Ambery Fragrance Meant To Embody The Young Version Of The Maison's Founder: Unconventional With Its Blend Of Citrus And Patchouli, And At Once Playful, Sensual And Unmistakably Confident. This Year, This Signature Scent Continues To Scintillate With The 20-year-old Actress Whitney Peak Cast As Its New Face. Here In An Exclusive Series Of Interviews With Chanel's Head Of Global Creative Resources For Fragrance And Beauty As Well As Fine Jewelry And Watches Thomas Du Pré De Saint Maur; The Brand's Nose Olivier Polge; And The Gen-z Starlet We Find Out What It Means To Keep The Essence Of Individuality Fresh.
Going Places
Since Its Founding 125 Years Ago, Rimowa Has Carved Out A Niche As A Luxury Luggage Maker With Serious Cool Cachet, Complete With A Rep For Being A Collaboration-heavy Hub Of Creativity. That's The Big Takeaway From The Label's Seit 1898 ("Since 1898" In German) Retrospective That Kicked Off In Tokyo Last Month And Will Wrap In The Brand's Birth City Of Cologne Next Spring. During The Opening Of The Travelling Showcase, Imran Jalal Sat Down With The Company's Senior Vice-president Of Product And Marketing Emelie De Vitis - The Brains Behind Rimowa's Hyper-modern Campaigns And Tie-ups Who Played A Key Role In The Conceptualisation Of The Exhibition To Ask Where This Forward-thinking House Is Headed Next.
The Bold One
The House Of Hermes Has Always Moved To Its Own Whimsy. Take Its Latest Fragrance, Un Jardin A Cythere, Which Is Part Of The Cult Parfums-jardins Collection. Conceptualised With The Theme Of "Astonishment" In Mind (It's The Big Idea Behind Everything That The Brand Creates This Year), This Delightfully Wild Scent Combines Notes Of Fresh Pistachios, Olive Trees And Sun-toasted Grass To Evoke In-house Perfumer Christine Nagel's Memories Of The Greek Island Kythira. During A Recent Visit To Singapore, The Soulful And Good-humoured Nose Tells Keng Yang Shuen About Its Unusual Beginnings And More Unexpected Ways In Which The French Maison Dreams Up Fragrances.
The Stars Aligned
Bringing Together Irreverent Zodiac Elements And A Beachside-perfect Wardrobe, Fendi's Astrology Capsule Launched For The Summer Season This Year Balances Fun, Functionality And Craftsmanship For A Collector-worthy Line-up That Some Might Call Utterly Divine. In Partnership With The Italian Label, Female Pairs Up With Singapore Artist Jaeyyelle A Popular Collaborator In The Graphic Design Scene Here For Her Chic And Whimsical Drawings Το Spotlight Its Universe Of Bags, And How Each Style Spells "Dream Vacay" In Spirit.
Designing For Every Day And Beyond
Industry Guru Pann Lim On The State Of Graphic Design Today And What Is To Begin With.
Ready For Take-off
As An Icon Of British Elegance With A Heritage In Adventure (Founder Thomas Burberry Started By Designing Outdoor Attire And Invented The Weather Proof Gabardine Fabric, After All), Burberry Can Be Counted On For Designs That Are Equal Parts Bold And Practical Take The Bags From Its Summer 2023 Collection. Signature Everyday-friendly Styles That Turn Heads Thanks To A Clever Play On House Motifs. With The Help Of Graphic Designer Natasha Hassan A Name To Watch For Her Vivid, Indie-cool Visuals With A Surreal Touch Female And The Label Show You How They Can Take You Just About Anywhere.
KIDS SUPER
MEET THE FUTURE OF SINGAPORE'S GRAPHIC DESIGN SCENE: EIGHT EMERGING NAMES ALL AGED BELOW 30 WHO ARE BREAKING FREE FROM THE INDUSTRY'S CONVENTIONS IN THEIR OWN IDIOSYNCRATIC WAYS. KENG YANG SHUEN TELLS YOU WHY YOU SHOULD BE PAYING ATTENTION.
PRINTED MATTERS
Make a mark with these summer season motifs.
CRAFT WORK
MUCH OF NIGHTLIFE PROMO MIGHT HAVE GONE DIGITAL, BUT THAT HAS NOT KILLED THE ART OF THE PARTY POSTER. NICHOLAS SEE PULLS IN A PREVIEW OF THE DESIGN COLLATERALS FOR SOME OF THE COOLEST ELECTRONIC MUSIC EVENTS COMING UP ON THE LOCAL CULTURAL CALENDAR.
ON A ROLL
THE PARISIAN HOUSE OF LONGCHAMP HAS BEEN ON A COLLABORATION-HEAVY STREAK IN RECENT YEARS, AND ITS LATEST TIE-UP MIGHT JUST BE ITS MOST VISUALLY AUDACIOUS TO DATE: A CAPSULE OF LE PLIAGE TOTES AND TRAVEL ACCESSORIES SPORTING IMAGERY BY THE BRAZENLY IRREVERENT, POP CULTURE-INFLUENCED ART PUBLICATION/AGENCY TOILETPAPER. AHEAD OF ITS LAUNCH DATE ON JULY 18, HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW THE COLLECTION CELEBRATES THE FRENCH LABEL'S HERITAGE IN THE WITTIEST OF WAYS.
A Place Of Beauty
About an hour's drive from the coastal town of Biarritz, where Gabrielle Chanel first opened her couture house in 1915, lies the village of Gaujacq. Here, thousands of camellias - the blooms from which active ingredients are extracted for Chanel's beauty products, including its vitalising N°1 de Chanel skincare line blossom each year during winter. At the height of the harvest season earlier this year, Imran Jalal headed to this magical land to meet its guardians and find out why growing Coco Chanel's favourite flower is a true labour of love.
Defenders Of A Lost Art
On the left is independent writer Xingyun Shen, one of the most prominent young sustainability advocates here whose biggest shtick is encouraging people to get more wear out of their wardrobes. On the right is artist/designer Konanliz Chu, a 27-year-old who moved here from China last year to pursue her master's degree and has not been actively shopping since 2020. Now aren't they also some of the most fashion-forward individuals around? Here, they share with Keng Yang Shuen about how they shop less, buy better and do more for the earth, all while keeping their love for fashion lit.
When You Wish Upon A Star
The restaurant Kausmo has been a small but bright gem in Singapore's fine dining scene, celebrating what most would deem "ugly" (read: oddly shaped or overripe and thus often-shunned) produce, and pro-local and sustainable practices.
Past, Present, Future
Trusted as a classic and associated with legends, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust is a reminder that greatness often begins by making every day count. Here, get acquainted with what makes it one of the most dependable watches around.
the simpler life
Pas Ditching the big city for more rustic pastures that allow for a slower, more intentional way of living might sound like the stuff of Disney+ movies. For the individuals featured here though, it has become not only a reality, but also a calling that sees them parlaying their mindfulness mantras into unique lifestyle experiences that others can also get a taste of. From a photographer who built her own abode from scratch in a Yunnan village to a pair of reformed club kids who've found serenity and community in Koh Phangan, Keng Yang Shuen discovers more about their expedition happiness.
Best Coast
LUXURIOUS SAINT-TROPEZ GETS REIMAGINED THROUGH HEDI SLIMANE'S INDIE ROCK VISION AND HAS NEVER LOOKED COOLER. ENTER CELINE'S SUMMER 23 COLLECTION WHICH REVIVES THE GRUNGE-MADEEFFORTLESSLY-GLAMOROUS STYLE HE POPULARISED IN THE 2000S. THEN, GET ACQUAINTED WITH THE CELINE PLEIN SOLEIL COLLECTION AND ITS POOLSIDE-PERFECT LOUNGEWEAR INSPIRED BY THE TOWN'S BEACH CULTURE IN THE 1960S AND '70S. HERE, LET FEMALE AND THE MAISON LEAD YOU TOWARDS THE SUN
Red Hot
The colour has always had a special place in the heart of chanel, established as one of its most emblematic hues (alongside black, white, beige and gold) since gabrielle chanel invented her first lipstick in her own bespoke shade nearly 100 years ago. Now, the maison has dedicated a makeup collection to it, extending it beyond lippies for an electric effect that brings to mind the beauty of bowie
Glamour! Indie! Rock 'N' Roll!
The pandemic-birthed resuscitation of Indie Chic - or, as the media now puts it, Indie sleaze and its continual ascent on the internet and style charts. The luxury world's embrace of young musical acts such as the leather-suited maneskin and grunge princess Beabadoobee (and, dare we say, a 38-year-old Avril Lavigne). Gen z-ers' obsession with the late Dame Vivienne Westwood. Fashion has always sought stimuli from musical subcultures - the more provocative, the better - but lately, it seems as if we're entering a whole new weirdly nostalgic golden age of dressing like rockstars (go ahead, pick your genre). Boil it down, perhaps to tiktok, where the celebration of individual aesthetics and a hyper-smart algorithm have made discovering and forming a subculture (or the 2.0 version) as easy as a scroll. (at press time, the hashtags #indie and #punk raked in 11.9 billion and 8.1 billion views on the platform, respectively.) of course, many of us could also simply be inspired by the most rockstar generation today: twenty-somethings and under for whom self-expression and creativity are a way of life and, in the wake of the pandemic, are even less afraid of chaos. Ahead, all the fashion houses that are professing their love for rock 'n' roll in one way or another in spring summer 2023
Smells Like Teen Spirit
First revealed as part of Fendi's epic, collaboration-heavy 25th anniversary celebration of its Baguette handbag last year, the brand's highly anticipated capsule collection created jointly with fashion's original prince of grunge, Marc Jacobs, hits boutiques this month. Here we are now to entertain you with close-up look
Lady Stardust
Damnsel, last month, emerging singapore photographer Joseph Koh, aka badsoju, launched his debut book which documents young women here with an individualistic, punk-spirited sense of style, to much fanfare at the Singapore art book fair. This month, he reveals his first fashion editorial as commissioned by female: a showcase of spring summer 2023's florence welch-ian looks long, languid, vintage-tinged and unapologetically high on drama - shot in his favourite environment, the streets of Singapore
Rad Moon Rising
Classically trained singer and multi-instrumentalist Hannah Bussiere Kim, better known as luna li, first shot to fame during the early days of the pandemic with a series of tiktok jam sessions filmed diy-style in her bedroom. Now, she is touring the world, having made her debut performance in Singapore at the women-fronted music festival, the Alex Blake Charlie sessions, this february. In an exclusive shoot with female during her trip here, the toronto-based independent musician casts rock star glamour in a refreshing new light
Not Your Usual Book Club
An art book is not just some coffee table tome, Renee Ting will have you know. Instead, think of it as a work of art that comes in the form of a book. As founder and director of the Singapore Art Book Fair, or SGABF for short, the 30-year-old has been an indispensable figure in building awareness and support for this experimental medium here and in the region. This month from the 14th to the 16th she will host the biggest edition of the independent festival yet to mark 10 years since its debut in 2013. Ahead of this milestone, this bibliophile with a creative streak gives Keng Yang Shuen a crash course on art books, how the scene in Singapore has evolved, and the all-important community she relies on to help keep print going.
This Is Us
Last year, Dior Beauty amped up the bold, individualistic spirit of its high-shine Dior Addict lippie with the introduction of couture cases: decorative shells that fit any of the refill bullets from the range to give it a fashion-forward personalised touch. Now, another four holder designs and 10 shades have been added to the collection. Peter Philips, creative and image director for Dior Makeup, tells Noelle Loh how his idea of self-expression is one for everybody
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once
For the first time, Hermes has installed a creative director of fashion accessories within its house, a single role that oversees four of its existing ateliers: gloves, belts, hats and fashion jewellery. The woman who has taken up the mantle: Clemande Burgevin Blachman, a design guru who has spent most of her career behind the scenes and has lent her modernist eye to everything from bags to advertising and, most notably, furniture and interiors. In an exclusive interview with Female – her first with a publication from Asia – she tells Noelle Loh that what makes a great fashion accessory is a free mind
And We Are All Made Of Stars
More than 90 years ago, it took a fashion designer to show the world just how much fun and freedom one can have with diamonds. Her name: Gabrielle Chanel. Ahead of an exclusive showcase that pays tribute to her landmark high-end jewellery collection happening in Singapore this month, Imran Jalal delves into how the founder of Chanel helped us use the precious gemstone to find and express ourselves.
Chain Reaction
How is it possible that the same watch can look as elegant on a silver screen siren in her 70s as it does on one of menswear's most stylish millennials (and so many others in between)? Keng Yang Shuen zooms in on Cartier's coolly androgynous Tank Francaise, which gets its first-ever update this year, and how its all-metal design makes it an effortless styling accessory for all.
The Dream Factory
One of 2022's biggest art news was Documenta, arguably the world's most influential contemporary arts festival, held in Kassel, Germany, once every five years. Notably, this year's edition was headed by ruangrupa, a collective from Jakarta, Indonesia, known for espousing a non-hierarchical, communal approach to art-making. Spreading out the power, the group enlisted 14 collectives and artist groups that, in turn, invited other artists on board, resulting in a far looser and more decentralised interpretation of what a mega art event can look like.
The Queen & I
The mantra at Dior this season: "The power of fashion is the power of women". And trust creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri to turn to one of the most influential female style icons of all time for inspiration: the Italian-born 16th-century Queen of France Catherine de' Medici, who expressed her rule through not just her wit, but also her wardrobe. Together with the luxury maison, FEMALE looks at how her approach to dressing up continues to reign today.
Cartier's Androgynous Tank Francaise Watch: The Perfect Styling Accessory
How is it possible that the same watch can look as elegant on a silver screen siren in her 70s as it does on one of menswear's most stylish millennials (and so many others in between)? Keng Yang Shuen zooms in on Cartier's coolly androgynous Tank Francaise, which gets its first-ever update this year, and how its all-metal design makes it an effortless styling accessory for all.
The Sound Of The Underground
Call it the Tik Tok-fication of music: a new and young generation of performers who are eschewing elaborately produced bangers and music videos for a sound and image both raw and real with an unplugged edge no matter the genre. Nicholas See spotlights five up-andcoming names in the local scene to listen out for.