OF WOMEN & SINGAPORE

From fashion trends that capture the cultural zeitgeist, to introspective opinion pieces about a life best lived, fashion historian NADYA WANG charts 31 years of ELLE Singapore history through its pages.

In December 1994, on the first anniversary of ELLE Singapore, editor-in-chief Julie Sherborn wrote that “the ELLE woman wanted to be taken seriously—to be amused, provoked, intrigued, entertained”. That ELLE was “set to continue to capture the spirit of the times with a varied menu—light and intellectual, emotional and visual, always controversial”. At the time of writing, ELLE Singapore was 19 out of 25 global ELLE editions. Today, it is one of 50—but the promise that was written all those years ago still rings true.

In my work as a fashion historian, I consider women’s magazines to be a rich historical resource. This is especially so if they have run for a long time, as ELLE Singapore has, for 31 years. They not only reflect but actively shape women’s attitudes and interests. In short, they are treasure troves for learning about shifts in women’s lives. I see it as a safe— and fun—space for readers to learn about themselves and others like them, to navigate and negotiate their identities. It is striking that ELLE Singapore has remained consistent in its core offerings, from Sherborn as its very first editor-inchief and now to its current steward, Charmaine Ho. While each voice is unique, the chorus of voices over its history is recognisably ELLE.

The content covers fashion and beauty, health, advice for personal and career development, investigative stories, lifestyle events and travel recommendations, and—my favourites—inspirational stories. Throughout its nearly 350 issues, Singapore is at the foundation of the publication, at times humming in the background and at other times loudly front and centre. The overarching message from the editors is for readers to live their best lives. And together with their teams, month after month, they put together suggestions for how to do so.