Clothes have always worked for us. The way it reflects our personality, mood, and perhaps even giving a sense of liberation through sexuality and authority. For millennials, these ideals trickled down to what one might refer to as “designer-tropes” — think the Hedi Slimane-era Saint Laurent boys, or the Phoebe Philo army of Céline intellectually-dressed women. Dressing was hardly harmonious, and one often moulded their style to certain designers until the Gen Z generation came along.
According to these eight young fashion-heads, style is a sampling of all sorts of trends tried-and-tested. A discussion of trends, executed in an outfit of their own. Welcome to the age of genre overhaul-dressing.
Sanny:
A keen eye on enigmatic artistes such as Tyler, The Creator and Blondey McCoy informs the experimental, almost hip-hop styles of the 20-year-old student filmmaker. Sanny sees dressing as a sentimental, sharp-edged perspective of building his confidence — which he describes as “without which, (he) would not be where he is today nor meet the amazing people along the way.”
Outfit Bryan:
Meticulousness is one way to reason the 21-year-old communications graduate’s gentle approach to his personal style. He dresses with clothes that are comfortable and suitable for all occasions, and is never fixated on a certain genre. Over the years, he has developed a keen eye on separating clothes he likes and needs — which prevents impulse buying whilst still appreciating the flair of his favourite designers.
Outfit Kansh:
For the 24-year-old multidisciplinary artist, identity shapes the way they dress rather than having clothes define them. By avoiding lingering to specific styles, it allows them to explore circuitries of “characters” — which are pieced together from elements of their culture and as a non-binary brown minority. Interestingly, it brings out a bewildered sense of style that is unique to just them.
Martina:
Part bubblegum punk, part industrial goth, part scene-revival — there is no certain way to describe the 18-year-old fashion student and tattooist’s style. Martina stands out from others with her obsession of looking inhuman, and just straight up “strange”. Dressing however, is also another way she externalises her state of mind, and a playground for experimentations as a fashion artisan.
Outfit Putri:
As a fashion designer, Putri has always placed elements of her Javanese culture in the clothes she produces or the outfits she adorns. These elements have fulfilled an idiosyncratic amalgamation of that keen Parisian-chic, executed with actual fabrics or accessories Javanese women used in the past.
Outfit Joey:
Fashion’s impact on the environment is instrumental to Joey’s approach in style. Her consciousness for ethical fashion practices has led to a fascination for natural dyeing techniques and zero-waste sourcing through her mostly second-hand wardrobe. Although possessing an impressive curation, she is still looking for the one satisfactory piece to complete her collection.
Outfit Erwin:
A “complicated wardrobe” makes up the archive of vintage and thrifted items Erwin has accumulated over the years. The 24-year-old model and graphic designer dresses for himself and for his own confidence, citing finding honesty in dressing as the only way one should dress — which helps shape his identity with fashion.
Outfit Sherinn
“Fashion is a lifestyle, a mood, and a feeling”, according to the 22-year-old fashion design student. Like second nature, emotions determine what she will put on for the day — as though clothes have the transformative power to align the stars. Therefore, a “bad outfit” has never occurred to her, as long as it feels just right.
Photography Jeff Chang
Art Direction Izwan Abdullah
On-Set Styling Manfred Lu
Grooming & Hair Priscelia Wong using Shu Uemura & DunGüd
Hair (For Sherinn) Christvian Wu CINQ Salon using KEVIN.MURPHY
Once you’re done with this story about the style of these gen z individuals, click here to catch up with our November 2021 issue!
RELATED ARTICLES
