Singapore Girls

listening to david tao's 'Susan Shuo'...

JF and I had this major disagreement on air yesterday.
It didn't turn ugly or made us enemies. In retrospect, we both enjoyed the discussion tremendously even with our opposing views. Listeners even took sides with either of us.

Do Singaporean women really dress shabbily?

There was an article feature in the Straits' Times Urban on the 'bad local dress sense'.
According to it, Singaporean gals use the tropical weather as a convenient excuse for casual dressing. The typical uniform you see when crossing Orchard Road: low-slung jeans with spagetti strapped tops/ tubes. And when rebonded hair was in, it was worse. You can't tell one gal from the other.
No creativity, no uniqueness. Nada. Zilch.
Otherwise known as B-O-R-I-N-G.

That's crap. No, make it 'sorta crap'. Predictable yes, but bad sense of dressing, no.
I guess we girls are more concern about comfort and convenience. And we don't look that awful! If the men in this country expect us to go around in Korean, Taiwanese or Jap inspired fashion, then jolly well go to these places to look at the girls.
I for one, cannot fathom why these women love layered clothings so much.
Skirts over leggings, mini cardigans over frilly tops, cutesy little pastel thingamabobs... I'll feel more like a ba-zhang (dumpling) than a fashionista. Also, if you go to those countries, you will find dimes a dozen of women in those. Pray tell me, what's so unique about it then?

An interviewee also commented that people in Miami, Brazil suffer the hot weather, but don't compromise on their dressing. I can only blame it on our conservative society (men especially). If you wear booty shorts or something close to it around town, the police may just assume you're a streetwalker. Anything slightly extraordinary will earn you enough stares to make you never wear that item again.

However, having written that, I'm still quite thankful I'm in the media line. On days when I feel like breaking the mould, I can bravely venture out in my garb. I'm fortunate enough to use the occupation as a shield for wacky outfits. Heard Lina had even come to work in princess tiara before. I assume if I turn up for work in pink feather boa, my colleagues won't bat an eyelid.

After squabbling with JF for a good hour in defence of my fellow womenfolk, we came to a consensus. Singaporean women can dress. We just can't be bothered.
Most of us are unwilling to spend 30 minutes planning the next day's wardrobe. We just grab whatever that comes into mind. Why waste time to think, when you can better use the time to sleep or read the papers?

Decided to ditch old mentality and make an effort to preen today. Nothing fanciful coz waking up at 4am to change is not my cup of tea.
Top: Simple white tank
Bottom: Canary yellow tiered peasant skirt, adorned with crotchet trimmings
Shoes: Chocolate brown pumps with simple ribbon
Accessories: Pretty charm bracelet and my usual hoop earrings

Did the 'look better, feel better' saying work?
You bet! Even had this stranger asking me where I bought my skirt! *smug face*
Sigh... but I don't think this will last. I'm only giving myself a week. After that, it's back to the 'oh-shit-i'm-late-wear-what-i-don't-care' attire.