CATEGORIES

A Not So Common Scent

For the first time, the singular house of Hermes has launched a chypre perfume fragrance type known for its complexity and dualistic nature a that comes in a first-of-its-kind bottle, no less. Keng Yang Shuen finds out more about Barenia, Hermes's latest scent that hit stores recently, from the brand's in-house perfumer Christine Nagel.

Strange Love

The six names in this story create wildly different works that tend to blur the boundaries among disparate disciplines. All have little in common except one thing: a certain wondrousness and sense of curiosity that inspire audiences to look at familiar things anew. Keng Yang Shuen reports.

The artist

Johnny Depp is certainly far from the conventional leading man: the iconically quirky on-screen roles, the rock musician persona (he was a guitarist before becoming an actor), the unexpected neoexpressionist portraits in 2022 (these paintings of cultural heroes ranging from AI Pacino to Elizabeth Taylor sold out in a day), and of course the title of being Dior's long-standing poster boy for its wilderness-inspired flagship men's perfume Sauvage for nine years and counting.

spirited away

Collaborations with the art world have become a trusted way of injecting novelty into fashion.

Showtime

Shaggy, floor-sweeping, candy-coloured faux fur coats. A tuxedo suit with exaggerated proportions that's a nod to Marlene Dietrich. Bondage-inspired evening gowns. One would think that a collaboration fronted by a contemporary label would mean tempering down on the drama, but the Bimba Y Palomo collection, a tie-up between the fun-loving Bimba Y Lola and the red-carpet provocateur Palomo Spain, more than doubles down on it. Here, the latter's creative director Alejandro Gomez Palomo gives an exclusive interview on keeping the dream of dressing up alive.

Glam Rocks

Lying At The Heart Of Celine Beaute, The First Cosmetics Line From The House Of Celine, Is A Decidedly Romantic Notion: That Makeup Should Be A Luxurious Ritual.

mother!

FOR AN EDITION CENTRED AROUND NOSTALGIA, HOW COULD WE NOT HEAR FROM THE ONES WHO'VE SEEN THEIR RESPECTIVE INDUSTRIES CHANGE OVER TIME? SIX RENOWNED AND BELOVED CULTURAL AUTHORITIES IN FASHION, DESIGN AND CULTURE IN SINGAPORE SHARE WHAT THEY'VE LEARNT, WHAT THEY MISS AND WHAT WHAT KEEPS THEM GOING.

the art of reflection

DICTIONARY.COM DEFINES NOSTALGIA AS \"A WISTFUL DESIRE TO RETURN IN THOUGHT OR IN FACT TO A FORMER TIME IN ONE'S LIFE, TO ONE'S HOME OR HOMELAND, OR TO ONE'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS\". KENG YANG SHUEN ZEROES IN ON FIVE SINGAPORE ARTISTS INTERPRETING THIS OFTEN-INTANGIBLE QUALITY AS WELL AS THE NOTION OF TIME AND MEMORY ONLY TO EVOKE POIGNANCY, CURIOSITY AND EVEN PLENTY OF LAUGHS.

thank you for the memories

GEN Z IS OFTEN SAID TO BE A NOSTALGIA-INFATUATED BUNCH. THE SIX DIGITAL NATIVES FEATURED HERE LIVE UP TO THAT REPUTATION WITH THEIR COLLECTION OF CLOTHES, ACCESSORIES, TOYS, OBJECTS AND MORE THAT DATE BACK TO A TIME IN WHICH THEY WERE GROWING UP OR IN SOME CASES HAVE NEVER EVEN LIVED THROUGH. PAIGE BOON GETS THEM TO OPEN UP THEIR ARCHIVES AND ABOUT THEIR LOVE OF YESTERYEAR.

Super Natural

Who Better To Tell Us More About The N°1 De Chanel Revitalising Eye Serum - The Latest Addition To Chanel's N°1 De Chanel Skincare Collection That Promises To Give Peepers A Fresh, "Wide Awake" Look-than The Maison's Doe-eyed Ambassador And Face Of The Line, Minji Of Newjeans?

THE INITIATIVE: new bahru

EVEN BEFORE IT'S SET TO OPEN OFFICIALLY NEXT YEAR, NEW BAHRU HAS BECOME THE MOST TALKED-ABOUT AND VISITED NEW LIFESTYLE DESTINATION WE'VE HAD IN DECADES FOR ITS AMBITIOUS CONCEPT: A SOPHISTICATED CULTURAL PLAYGROUND TO DISCOVER AND SUPPORT MADE-IN-SINGAPORE CREATIVE BUSINESSES SPANNING F&B TO FASHION. HERE'S WHY ITS SUCCESS MEANS A WIN FOR ALL.

THE INITIATIVE: proud spaces

FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY IN SINGAPORE HAS A PERMANENT, PHYSICAL SPACE WHERE ITS MEMBERS CAN HEAD TO ANYTIME OF THE YEAR TO SEEK BOTH ADVICE AND SOLACE, NETWORK, ATTEND ACTIVITIES THAT EDUCATE AND EMPOWER THEM, AND EVEN STAGE THEIR OWN.

THE INITIATIVE: lucky hall

FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS OR SO, THIS UNUSUAL SET-UP HAS BEEN GIVING YOUNG CREATIVES A LEG UP IN ORGANISING THEIR OWN EVENTS (INDUSTRY ADVICE, SERVICES AT CONCESSION RATES, ZERO RENT). SOON, THE CURTAINS WILL COME DOWN ON IT. HERE'S WHY IT REMAINS THE MAIN EVENT.

THE INITIATIVE: alt-gps

ZACHARY DESKER BELIEVES THAT SINGAPORE'S UNDERGROUND MUSIC SCENE SHOULD BE A TOURIST ATTRACTION. HE TELLS US WHY AND HOW HE'S MAKING THIS HAPPEN ON HIS OWN TIME AND DIME.

THE INITIATIVE: the fruit basket

DRAG AS AN ART FORM HAS BEEN UNDERGOING A CULTURAL RENAISSANCE IN SINGAPORE RECENTLY.

THE INITIATIVE:Shrub

THE CULT GEN Z-OWNED INDIE DESIGN STORE HAS EMBARKED ON A REBOOT IN THE HOPES OF BECOMING MORE COMMERCIALLY VIABLE. WHAT WON'T CHANGE: ITS SUPPORT OF LOCAL INDEPENDENT ARTISTS.

THE INITIATIVE: hear me up

ENTERING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY ON YOUR OWN CAN BE INTIMIDATING, SAYS HOME-GROWN SINGER-SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER SHYE.

THE INITIATIVE: an asylum

TO HELP EMERGING DESIGNERS REALISE THEIR CREATIVE VISION WHILE NAVIGATING THE CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINING IN SINGAPORE, THE FOUNDERS OF ONE OF THE MOST UNDER-THE-RADAR FASHION LABELS HERE HAVE BEEN PUTTING THEIR OWN TIME AND MONEY INTO RUNNING ONE OF THE MOST INTIMATE - AND MEANINGFUL RESIDENCY PROGRAMMES AROUND.

national treasures

CELEBRATING THE ICONIC, CANNAGE-PATTERNED DIOR HANDBAG IT’S NAMED AFTER, THE TRAVELLING EXHIBITION LADY DIOR HOUSE ARRIVES IN SINGAPORE FOR THE FIRST TIME AND RUNS AT 5 JIAK KIM STREET UNTIL AUG 11. IT ALSO FEATURES ANOTHER FIRST: THE WORKS OF THREE SINGAPORE ARTISTS AS PART OF THE MAISON’S LADY DIOR AS SEEN BY INITIATIVE, WHICH SEES INVITED CREATIVE TALENTS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE PRODUCE ONE-OF-A-KIND WORKS OF ART INSPIRED BY THE LADY DIOR. HERE, THE THREE NAMES TELL US MORE ABOUT THEIR EXHIBITS.

Dance Dance Revolution

Just How Much Is Street Dance Part Of Mainstream Pop Culture Today? Returning This Month, The Summer Olympics Will, For The First Time In Its History, Feature Breaking The Dance Style More Popularly Referred To As Breakdancing As A Competitive Sport. To Celebrate That, Emma Ashlee Goh Spotlights Four Urban Dance Communities In Singapore That Each Deserve A Medal For Inspiring Others To Pop, Lock, Vogue And Simply Ge Ance In Their Own Way.

Dream Academy

ALL 13 GEN ZERS FEATURED HERE ARE RECENT OR SOON-TO-BE GRADUATES OF ART SCHOOLS IN SINGAPORE WHO COME HIGHLY RECOMMENDED BY THEIR RESPECTIVE ALMA MATERS FOR THEIR TALENT AND PROMISE. WHAT EXACTLY DO THEY THINK ABOUT A LIFE IN THE ARTS AND HOW EXACTLY DO THEY THINK, WORK AND LIVE? STEPHANIE YEAP CHATS WITH THEM FOR A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT’S DRIVING OUR CREATIVE FUTURE.

Genius In A Bottle

One Of The Most Vibrant And Beloved Scents From Chanel Gets An Unexpected Recharge That Makes It Look All The More Like An Icon.

They Boss

CALL THEM OVERACHIEVERS, THE ULTIMATE OF MULTI-HYPHENATES AND EVEN - AS THEY MIGHT SAY SO THEMSELVES - A LITTLE BIT NUTS. EVERY ONE OF THE SIX GEN Z CREATIVES IN THIS STORY HOLDS DOWN MULTIPLE PROFESSIONS (INCLUDING, FOR MANY OF THEM, STUDENT); HAS LAUNCHED AT LEAST ONE BUSINESS LARGELY ON THEIR OWN; AND IS ONLY JUST GETTING STARTED. ROHAIZATUL AZHAR FINDS OUT HOW THEY'RE MAKING IT.

Face Value

IN THE WORLD OF WATCHES, THE DIAL SERVES MULTIPLE ROLES KEEPING TIME AS WELL AS ACTING AS THE VISUAL IDENTITY OF A BRAND AND THE PARTICULAR MODEL IT'S DESTINED FOR. WITH THE EXPERTISE AND AMENITIES TO DESIGN AND ENGINEER THIS VITAL ELEMENT COMPLETELY IN-HOUSE, ROLEX ELEVATES DIAL-MAKING TO A TRUE CRAFT.

Star Power

MEANT TO BE AN EXPRESSIVE ODE TO FREEDOM, DIOR'S LATEST CAMPAIGN FOR ITS SIGNATURE LADY DIOR BAG, LENSED BY AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHER COLLIER SCHORR, FEATURES AN EQUALLY ICONIC FIGURE FROM THE WORLD OF POP: THE GROUNDBREAKING, MULTI-AWARD-WINNING SINGER-SONGWRITER ROSALIA, WHO HAS JUST ADDED THE TITLE OF DIOR GLOBAL AMBASSADOR TO HER LIST OF ACCOLADES. HERE, THE CATALAN-BORN MUSICAL TRAILBLAZER SHARES ABOUT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAISON AND HOW FASHION FUELS HER.

Up,Up And Away

THIS MONTH, HERMES STAGES A WILDLY ONE-OF-A-KIND, MULTIDISCIPLINARY SPECTACLE IN SINGAPORE THAT SHOWS WHY IT'S OFTEN SAID TO BE IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN WHEN MAKING PEOPLE DREAM ABOUT FASHION. KENG YANG SHUEN OFFERS A SNEAK PEEK.

Girls Aloud

ROCK 'N' ROLL! FOOTBALL! A GOOD DOSE OF CLASSIC BRITISH PREP! CHANEL DRAWS FROM THE ROLLICKING CITY OF MANCHESTER TO PRESENT ONE OF ITS MOST YOUTHFUL METIERS D'ART COLLECTIONS YET, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT DIALS DOWN ON THE TIME-HONOURED LABOUR-INTENSIVE SAVOIR FAIRE THAT THIS ANNUAL SHOWCASE IS ALL ABOUT KENG YANG SHUEN GOES IN FOR AN EXCLUSIVE CLOSE-UP LOOK AT HOW THE MAISON SCORES ON CRAFTSMANSHIP THIS TIME.

Cuteness Overload

The house of Louis Vuitton finds an unlikely collaborator for Pre-Fall in the Chinese painter Sun Yitian, known for her pop art works that get viewers rethinking about consumerism.

The Real Deal

Her Steadily Rising, Self-made Career Has Taken Her To Many Places, Stages And Vip Events Here And Well Beyond Our Shores. The Home-grown Singer-songwriter And Producer Popularly Known As Shye, Though, Is Holding Firmly On To Her Independent, Diy Spirit And Creative Process, And Even Looking To Pay It Forward To Uplift Other Emerging Talents. Ahead Of The Release Of Her Latest Single This Month, We Got Her To Model Chanel's 2023/2024 Metiers D'art Collection That's Inspired By Manchester's Buzzy And Pioneering Rock 'n' Roll Music Culture, And Tell Us About The Evolution Of Her Own Artistry.

Watches And Wonder

Artisanal Collectibles From The World Of Luxury Fashion And Jewellery That's Our Idea Of Oddly Satisfying