I personally see it more as Japanese Street Style being a MAJOR inflence all over the globe. Asia isn't the only continent trying to emulate their look, designers are obsessed with them just as much.
poor kids in hk. when i went there last summer, all you see are boys in their heavily washed Bape tees. It seems like to me that its their only few bape tees and is rocked on heavy rotation. Bape is everywhere! It is very expensive and i do wonder how kids get the $$ to afford all these name brand clothes because i know its not easy making a lot there for the average person.
japanese street style is really varied, but i believe it is so because the young people, and perhaps fashion-inclined older ones in japan, are more daring in their choices pertaining to fashion. almost everyone is a fashionista, so perhaps people are constantly aware of what others are wearing, fashion trends, methods of styling etc. even though two people might possess the same 'style', the main differences arise thru accessorising (quirky shoes, bags, watches etc.) and the carrying off of their selected outfits. fashion is serious business in japan..
in singapore, though the fashion scene is heating up, it is still rather passive generally. problem is, people in singapore don't bother to accessorise. sometimes, climate is not an excuse. (of course, sensibility has to be in place.) u can be wearing a simple outfit, but the difference is in the styling of the entire look.
HK street style may be heavily-influenced by japanese hiphop/skater styles, but at least the shopping in HK is way better than what singapore has to offer. sad state of affairs though. o_O that said, i don't condone the blind following of trends by hongkongers, cos i still reckon style is the main factor, not brands. (and yes, BAPE is rather overrated isn't it? no offense to BAPE fans!) afterall, if one doesn't have the confidence to carry off an outfit, what good would a balenciaga weekender bag be? (or for that matter, all the LVs and guccisima hobos in the world) somehow, if u have the panache and eye for good (not necessarily expensive) stuff, u'd look like a million bucks even though your outfit only costs $50. =)
__________________
"fashions fade. style is eternal." - yves saint laurent
i m from hk n i have to agree that most of the teens in hk r fashion victims.It's easy to find them wearing Bape,CdG,Undercover or other tees with a big logo on it,and a pair of levi's.Also with LV,Gucci handbags and glasses...In their eyes,putting all brand-name items on means they r stylish n trendy.I just dun get it,maybe it's becoz of vanity.The problem is they ask money from parents to buy all these...
^Yes, I do think it's disgusting that these kids just put out their hands and expect their parents to pay for all their designer threads - stuff that aren't even classics that you're investing in but brands of the 'moment'. Bape is already starting to wane on the trend front and then there will be another brand ready to lap all this money up. The problem with shopping in Hong Kong is that you are bombarded with choice and up-to-date clothes. I think it really confuses people and the fashion press over there doesn't help either - they recommend items and in turn become bibles of what's cool, what's not. They don't even allow personal style to develop because they're too busy promoting one brand after the other.
singaporeans are generally afraid to stand out. in turn, fashion becomes homogenous. either that, they just can't be bothered.
for those kids in HK who ask their parents for money to purchase expensive streetwear, they'll probably realise they can't upkeep that sort of lifestyle once they get out of school and into the working society. it's pretty sad that a lot of people still think weigh brands over style. i suppose they don't see that fashion is about creativity, not blind obssession with labels.
__________________
"fashions fade. style is eternal." - yves saint laurent
i dont think there's anything wrong with wanting to wear a fur trimmed coat? weather shouldnt be the deciding factor in the way we dress. i guess some ppl just like experimentation?
honey, that's where they coined the term fashion victim. when you let fashion dictate the way you dress or want to dress.
__________________
i'm love animals. they keep me warm.
singaporeans are generally afraid to stand out. in turn, fashion becomes homogenous. either that, they just can't be bothered.
for those kids in HK who ask their parents for money to purchase expensive streetwear, they'll probably realise they can't upkeep that sort of lifestyle once they get out of school and into the working society. it's pretty sad that a lot of people still think weigh brands over style. i suppose they don't see that fashion is about creativity, not blind obssession with labels.
i'm from singapore as well and the level of creative inspiration i get there is about as exciting as a bottle of water. i survive on about 3days of fashion (from wherever i may be) before dwindling down to a polo shirt and a denim skirt. most the time i rock out in what i've been wearing around the house.
i guess my personal style is alot on layering (clothes, jewelry, accessories. i layer everything) so i kinda just swelter if i even attemp that. but i think the weather (or the lack of it) plays a big part in the lack of inspiration. afterall, you're pretty much subjected to wearing the same things year after year. there's no temperature change to instigate any kind of fashion transition. and its so hot that your heart breaks when you perspire into that white chloe number you just bought (sweat stains anybody?). plus, drycleaning fees??... its just not realistic to be all high fashion sometimes...
and if you've realised, singaporean style is very much into street and its underground labels. it is pretty cookie-cutter but its uniquely singaporean in its own way. and the exchange rates make designer labels barely affordable so i guess you search for other alternatives "/
ok, blabbing too much and its too late. sorry if i'm incoherrant. i'm not bothering with a read-thru.
__________________
i'm love animals. they keep me warm.
haha, "uniquely Singaporean", not sure if you used the phrase intentionally but nice one lee.
I agree that it is hard to be more elaborately dressed in Singapore. Weather's too warm, so there's a limit to how much you can layer and the type of clothing that you put on.
But I must admit that I am sometimes too lazy to think about what to wear and go out mostly in t-shirts and jeans, although I try to stock my wardrobe with items that are unique but not trend based or things that guys in Singapore would not normally wear , like skinny raw denims or some light weight wool sweaters or cardigans. Not the most fancy way of dressing but at least I try. And I'm generally not a fan of those overpriced t-shirts from those underground streetwear labels and the shapeless baggy silhouette that most guys prefer.
Furthermore, people generally do not want to spend too much on clothing especially since trendy clothing or fairly good quality basics can be bought quite easily and pretty cheaply. And coupled with the comparative low wages that people receive here, designer clothing are seen even more as luxury items than neccessities. This results in a greater conservatism when people do buy designer, as they are unwilling to invest in items that are too flashy to be worn too often or items that may not last beyond the season.
And a thing that i feel is lacking in Singapore is a good selection of vintage clothing that don't cost a bomb. I know two shops but they prices they charge are quite expensive for the type of vintage clothing that they are offering. I refuse to pay S$39 for a piling t-shirt that the seller has probably got for almost nothing.
And a thing that i feel is lacking in Singapore is a good selection of vintage clothing that don't cost a bomb. I know two shops but they prices they charge are quite expensive for the type of vintage clothing that they are offering. I refuse to pay S$39 for a piling t-shirt that the seller has probably got for almost nothing.
this is so true and i totally agree.
sadly where else can i get my vintage kick from? i banned myself from ebay, will go overboard with my spending
since i will be moving out of sg, i am thinking of bringing in vintage stuff from europe online (save on store rental) and i will have a distributor in singapore so that will save on shipping costs. we'll see, i'm excited!
koreans are obsessed with fashion. they have all the model's pictures and collection pictures from way back and everythings so extensive..yet their street style lacks individuality b/c they are still very involved in a conservation society with strict confucian morals. revealing anything is a violation. being different is being queer. ppl stop to stare. its sad
Just up on style.com... since nobody posted it.. it thought i should do it I've just picked the looks i love the most.. the rest is on style.com!
"For the Alexander McQueen fashion show at the legendary Joyce boutique, starlet Hilary Tsui chose a Junya Watanabe trench over simple black. Her purse is by Balenciaga"
"Angelica Cheung, the charismatic Vogue China editor, said, "Most often I wear black." At the Alexander McQueen show, she mixes a Chanel jacket with a Calvin Klein skirt. Her shoes are Roger Vivier, and her bag is Christian Dior."
"Businesswoman Shirley Cheung looks effortless in a cream Chanel trenchcoat and purse, with Miu Miu shoes."
"Lane Crawford's ultrachic fashion director, Sarah Rutson, "felt like being a bit bare" in her asymmetric Roland Mouret dress, with Lanvin shoes. The purse is by new designer Michael Teperson—"I discovered him in Paris."
"VIP Chanel clients Miss Li Xiao Geng and Miss Xu Dan Dan stand with Jeanne Wang, general manager of Chanel's China boutiques. All in Chanel."
"On her way to a go-see, student Ismay Haddon-Cave wears her black-and-white stripe Topshop dress as a tunic, with a white tee, jeans also from Topshop, and a popular Fendi Spa bag. "I like to mix and match."
I've just picked the looks i love the most.. the rest is on style.com! 
Linear Mode
