Trend Report: Japanese-Inspired Fashion

This 2015 a lot of designers looked to the East for inspiration, specifically Japan. The land of the rising sun definitely has no shortage of beautiful landscapes, unique art, and cultural heritage and history to draw from. Designer runways, from Alexander McQueen to Tibi, prominently featured design details directly drawn from Japanese culture and tradition.

I love how designers translated Japan’s heritage into wearable and fashion-forward pieces that every woman would love to wear. I, for one, would love to own something Japanese-inspired. The East meets West aesthetic is just so modern to me. Here is my take on Japanese style for Singaporean designer Silvia Teh. Click here for the full fashion spread that I previously blogged about. Here are some of my favorite looks from the shoot:

There are 4 styles that characterize this trend: origami detailing, tied/obi belts, kimono silhouettes, and japanese print motifs.

Silvia Teh’s design certainly reflect all 4 of those trends. I mean, how amazing is that wave print on the jacket? I also loved that navy kimono vest tied with an obi belt as well as the piece with an origami ribbon detail around the chest.

Here’s a closer on look on the 4 key pieces that comprise this hot trend:

Origami Details

Architectural and sculptural folding details are being integrated into runway looks this season. Instead of dressing up your clothes with jewelry, why not be progressive and opt for origami detailing that lends your look a futuristic yet sophisticated appeal? Margiela’s approach interprets origami via silhouettes that emulate origami’s stark folds and calculated proportions.

 Dasha Gauser // Image from DesignerCentral

Maison Margiela // Image from Vogue

Kimono Style

Probably the most wearable out of all the Japanese-inspired fashion trends, kimono styles easily translate from one season to another. Keep an eye out for exaggerated sleeves, billowy fabrics, and wraparound silhouettes. What’s great about kimono styles is that it’s flattering to most figures and can be styled for either casual outings or fancier events.

Herve Leger // Image from Lollipuff

Copyright © 2013 infinitas.
Article Photo for Denim Jeans Observer
http://www.denimjeansobserver.com
All brands, product names, corresponding products, supplementary materials, graphic or photographic images, licenses, registered trademarks, trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

WHYRED // Image from Denim Jeans Observer

Copyright © 2013 infinitas.
Article Photo for Denim Jeans Observer
http://www.denimjeansobserver.com
All brands, product names, corresponding products, supplementary materials, graphic or photographic images, licenses, registered trademarks, trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

GIG COUTURE // Image from Denim Jeans Observer

Tied/Obi Belt

To look more in the know, swap out your leather and metallic belts for fabric belts that you can easily tie around your waist. It adds an air of chic nonchalance to your look, and it feels so on trend. You can choose thicker or thinner bands depending on your figure. If you’re looking to make more of a bolder statement, look for the full-on wide obi belts.

Image from FashionMio

Japanese Print Motifs

Be on the lookout for vintage-looking Oriental flora print or ancient art inspired prints. It’s patterns like this that will make you stand out head and shoulders over the fashion pack. Consider this the more high fashion alternative to your typical prints.

Image from Trendspotter

Silvia Teh meets SWK

	Fashion Designer:	Silvia Teh
	Photographer:	Cheryl Ho
	Styling:	StyleWithKate
	Model:	Kate Khar

 

Top 3 Runway Trends

Here I am again, giving you the cure to your Singapore Fashion Week hangover. If you’re on the lookout for new pieces to refresh your wardrobe and put some more pizzazz into your personal style, look no further than the runways of the recently concluded, wildly successful Singapore Fashion Week 2015. This year’s crop of designers was brimming with so much talent and we have definitely taken notice of their designs and their inspirations as well. There was so much creativity and great ideas on the runway this season, we’ve definitely got more than enough to last us until the next fashion week.

Trendspotting during Singapore Fashion Week was so much fun! It was an amazing experience to see how different minds translated and interpreted the trends of our time. Here’s my quick rundown of the top 3 trends on the Singapore Fashion Week runway:

1. Bohemian with an Edge

Can I really do a trend roundup without including Thakoon? This international design superstar definitely lives up to his stellar reputation with his collection. The 70s bohemian fashion movement has certainly been a major trend player lately, and Thakoon presented his own take on the boho style and spirit.

Knee-high gogo-inspired boots in bright red, lightweight mock turtlenecks, and vintage frame bags sashayed down the catwalk. With an earthy color palette of burnt orange, navy blue, brown, and beige, Thakoon stayed true to the decade but put his own twist, of course. Embellishments, flowing pleated skirts, and athletic stripes were modern details that elevated his 70s look.

Photos: Singapore Fashion Week

2. Japanese Inspired

Inspired by one of the ancient cultures of Asia, there were lots of Japanese inspiration on the runway. Textiles from the region and obi belts abound. Ong Shunmugam’s cruise collection featured intricate Japanese textiles beside menswear-inspired pinstripes. Styled with super trendy white sneaks, the juxtaposition of the stripes with Japanese prints and patterns is the new go-to print on print for stylish it girls. This is definitely an ensemble that you should cop, it’ll make for a double tap worthy #OOTD.

Silvia Teh, the winner of the Harper’s Bazaar New Gen Design Award, also took a cue from Japanese culture and fashion. Teh also used stripes, but in a different way. Graphic, solid and thick stripes adorned her creations with girly schoolgirl skirts and elegant satin fabric finishes.

Ong Shunmugam

Photos: Harper’s Bazaar

Silvia Teh

Photo: Singapore Fashion Week 

3. Tailored Minimalism

The minimalist trend has been going strong for years now. Two designers made standout collections featuring this trend, Dion Lee and Velda Tan’s Collate The Label.

Dion Lee’s ultra chic and slightly futuristic netting details beautifully offset his stark and forward thinking designs. With a neutral palette accented with jewel tones, Dion Lee showed off his incredible tailoring skills with an array of curved sleeve cuffs, structured shoulders, and strategic cut-outs.

Velda Tan’s Collate The Label cemented her place in the Singaporean fashion scene with her collection of sporty yet luxe wear. I loved her black, white, and pastel color palette. It was so on-trend, and it is so perfect for dressing stylishly in the tropics. The curves and sharp angles interspersed within each of her pieces is a beautiful sight to behold.

Dion Lee

Photos: Singapore Fashion Week 

Collate The Label

 Photos: Singapore Fashion Week

What other trends did you spot on the runway? Which trends are you thinking of snapping up for your wardrobe? I got my heart set on these 3 trends! It’s definitely going to make shopping for the next season easier when I know which trends to integrate into my look.

Best of Singapore Fashion Week 2015

Singapore Fashion Week may be over, but there’s still a lot of inspiration we can draw from it. There were so many exceptional shows and I met so many amazing people. You’ve probably seen a lot of runway reviews by now, but here are the best of the best. It’s quite a tough task given all the talented designers and stunning shows we witnessed. Read on for my picks for the best shows during this year’s Singapore Fashion Week.

Best New Designer: Collate The Label by Velda Tan

What’s great about Singapore Fashion Week is getting to know new labels and seeing the great work of up-and-coming designers. Velda Tan, the creative and innovative mind behind Collate The Label, certainly distinguished herself during Singapore Fashion Week with her modern, minimalistic, and luxurious approach to women’s wear. The Collate The Label runway show generated a lot of well-deserved buzz and earned itself a loyal fashion fan following. Here are some snaps from the show:

The amazing crowd turnout during Collate The Label’s Pre-Fall 2015 show.

Velda Tan (pictured in the center), founder and head designer of Collate The label, poses backstage with two of her runway models. She wears a piece from her own collection. This jumpsuit with a mock turtleneck and sheer panels is the picture of modern sophistication and chicness.

Billowy wide leg pants, and matching coats in neutral tones were a hit on the runway. Structured dresses with feminine details like peplum and pastel colors were also key trends.

Photos from Collate The Label Facebook Page

Best Atmosphere: Harper’s Bazaar Asia New Generation Show

I love young talent! There’s just a different energy and an elevated sense of excitement when young talent showcase their distinctive aesthetic on the runway. Harper’s Bazaar certainly provided these designers a great platform to make their creative visions come to life. Fashion designers from all over Asia were represented. Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore all had representatives who showed their designs on the Singapore Fashion Week runway. I absolutely loved everything about Silvia Teh’s designs. She is such a hardworking talent and it is always a pleasure to see such amazing people win. 

Here is Singaporean talent and New Gen Award winner for 2015, Silvia Teh, with the Singapore Fashion Week and Harper’s Bazaar Asia team. Congratulations! Isn’t Silvia Teh so chic? Love that electric blue vest!

One of Silvia Teh’s beautiful origami inspired designs, her collection was filled with obi belts inspired by Japanese and Javanese culture.

Another noteworthy collection was from designer Siripim from Thailand. I really liked her voluminous silhouettes and her use of colorful artistic painterly prints.

Designer Audrey from Indonesia showed off her own take on sporty dressing with a definite haute couture twist.

Photos from Harper’s Bazaar

Best Clothes: Victoria Beckham

Among all the stellar shows, one stands head and shoulders above the rest, and that is the finale Singapore Fashion Week show by Victoria Beckham. The certified style icon and bona fide fashion mogul flew in to Singapore as part of her Asia tour, and her collection definitely didn’t disappoint. Fashion fans got the understated elegance and modern glamour that they were expecting from Posh’s namesake label. Victoria Beckham’s collection showed off beautiful tailoring with impeccable detailing like intricate folding patterns and men’s suiting details. It was to say the least, nothing short of perfection, the ultimate collection for the modern woman who loves and lives fashion.

One of the standout pieces from the show, a structured gray frock with origami-like waist detailing and large buttons and a tailored silhouette.

I love how she integrated a bit of playful prints into the predominantly somber autumnal color palette of the collection.

The designer herself clad in her signature black look. A simple silhouette with more volume on the bottom, this dress is proof of her sartorial prowess.

Who will be there instead of Victoria Beckham next year? Only time will tell…