In the age of performativity, novelty is now normalcy. For the sake of engagement, it is not uncommon to witness content that has been heavily embellished for the sake of provoking a reaction — pitchforks raised in the comments section questioning its validity and challenging its authenticity. Ragebait is all the rage, as seen on denim ad campaigns that seem to promote eugenics, alpha male morning routines that include banana facials and makeup routines that involves a bottle’s worth of foundation before it cuts to flawless, blended glam. At this juncture, what is real?
As a prolific voyager on Instagram Reels, I first came across across Roger Tan on a fit check under the handle @chromedaddytan. With ease, he walks the audience through his outfit — goro’s on his neck, Chrome Hearts on almost every finger and Rick Owens on his feet. The immediate reaction was: “Did his kids dress him for a gag?” As I scrolled through his feed, it became apparent that this was more than just a one-off joke his kids pulled before listing their pieces on Grailed. You see it from the palpable swagger in his poses and how he describes his outfits with the flick of the wrist. Intrigued, Men’s Folio catches up with Tan, an interior designer on his style influences, grails and what it means to dress one’s age.
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At 65, to label Tan as a seasoned hypebeast is to disregard the clarity he has when it comes to what he likes and does not. “Designers like Rick Owens, Yohji Yamamoto, Julius and Singapore-based Depression really speak to me. I like how they play with structure, drape, and silhouette, rather than relying on prints or logos. There’s a quiet confidence in their work that I admire,” he shares. What has drawn him to this dark, gothic, avant-garde style could be attributed to his longstanding affinity for darker hues, but over time, he has embraced elements like monochromatic styling and and layers.
How he landed on this current aesthetic involved decades of experimentation. “Being my age, I’ve lived through quite a few fashion eras. Back in the 90s, I was into loud prints, cowboy boots and ties — the style was bold and expressive. Later on, I embraced the Balenciaga phase with the chunky sneakers and skinny jeans,” Tan explains. Now he sticks to a mostly monochromatic look. “I’ve moved away from prints, and instead explore style through texture, layering and how fabric flows. It feels more grounded and more true to myself.” He still recalls his first-ever designer piece: a Dunhill belt he bought in the 80s as a young architect. “A rite of passage,” as he calls it, symbolising his first step into adulthood. “Style-wise, it has no place in my wardrobe today, but I think that’s the beauty of fashion. Your style evolves, but how you dress — to express yourself and mark a moment — that never changes.”
Textures and layers are second nature to Tan as an interior designer. “I draw a lot of inspiration from architecture, the materials and raw textures around me. Whether it’s concrete, aged wood or fabric, I love things with depth and character,” he explains. Whether applied on physical spaces or his dressing, his ethos that centres around clean lines, raw edges and thoughtful details persist. “The way light hits a surface, or how certain materials flow and fold — these elements influence both my design work and the way I dress. At the end of the day, it’s about creating structure and balance, regardless in a room or on the body.”
Instead of the algorithm, it was his son who introduced him to this dark, luxury aesthetic. “As much as I’d like to say I’m the style icon at home, it was actually my son who influenced me. He’s introduced me to so many of the brands I love today.” According to Roger Tan, fashion became a common ground between him and his son. “I’m into sports, while he’s more into gaming. Fashion became our shared language — we talk clothes, swap opinions and strengthened our bond. It’s how we connect.” It was his son who introduced him to niche Japanese jewellery brand goro’s. “That was over a decade ago, when things were much simpler. You just had to show up before 7am, and once the clock struck, everyone would make a run for the railings outside the store.” He stresses the importance of not trying to aim for the first spot, but the next few — because missing it would mean getting pushed to the back of line. When asked for tips to own a first piece of goro’s, he treads lightly. “Things have changed since founder Goro Takahashi passed in 2013. The hype exploded and the brand became harder to access. Hence, I haven’t been back since.” As someone who prefers purchasing directly from the brand, the scarcity has driven him away in fear of fakes. “It’s not the best time to get into it as the moment has passed. However, there are plenty of other brands wich rich stories and beautiful craftsmanship that are a lot more accessible.”
A piece that still lingers in his memory is a Chrome Hearts Cemetery Ring he lost while he was out and about. “I didn’t even realise it was gone until I got home. I’ve searched everywhere and kept an eye out for years, but I never managed to obtain the same one again. The rarity makes it a difficult piece to replace.” More sentimental than he is trend-driven, Roger Tan is not one to chase grails, either. “I don’t have a list of dream pieces to tick off as I shop quite instinctively. I prefer being in physical stores, touching the fabrics and seeing how things flow. If something catches my eye, and the feeling’s right, I’ll get it.” The need to feel his pieces first also means he is not an online shopper. “Maybe it’s my age, but online shopping feels too disconnected from the real world. I don’t know if something will fit, and honestly, who has the time to go through size charts, measurements and deal with returns?” Fashion, to him, is an experience more so than a transaction.
When asked about what it means to dress one’s age, Tan circles back to the idea that style is personal. “I’ve never believed in dressing your age. What does that even mean? No generation owns a certain dress code, if you want to be bold, then be bold,” he proclaims. “We’re all just trying to express ourselves, so just wear what makes you feel good.” His philosophy when it comes to not dressing up for someone else’s expectations also applies to what it means to build a wardrobe, piece by piece. In an era when young individuals seem too eager to build up style identity and wardrobe quickly, he advises against chasing fads. “The world already moves too quickly with trends that expire every week. The pieces that really matter will stay with you for years, and how you wear them will evolve with you.”
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In many ways we dress to perform, but what differentiates between costuming and authentic dressing comes down to the way the garments are congruent to who we are and what we do. Rick and Yohji may be what Roger Tan wears to work, but you would still find him dressed in a sensible golf polo and matching shorts when he’s on the course — there are clear differences between sticking to an aesthetic for the sake of being perceived, versus creating a look that feels natural to your day. As a rookie in content creation, what he creates come across as a breath of fresh air in a scene of hyper-staged scenarios. “No grand plans or strategies,” as he puts it. For those who question the frivolity of fashion as an art form, how will you rebut stories like his?
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