Desmond Lim (@monkiepoo)

Imma immensely grateful for all your friendship guysssss - 2 months of celebrations and some 40 cakes later

“Trends are dead!” claim fashion’s loudest voices online — but are they really? Take the Rodeo trend, for instance. First spotted at Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton men’s collection last fall, it galloped into the spotlight at Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour and soon had chambray shirts, suede jackets, corduroys, and Western boots flooding every major department store. From there, it trickled into the mass market. That seemingly innocuous denim jacket with pearl snap buttons? The one you carelessly throw over your shoulder isn’t just a wardrobe staple; it’s a subtle fragment of a narrative seeded into your closet a season ago. Sound familiar? On the other hand, brands are acutely aware that the “one-size-fits-all” approach has become a relic of the past. The rise of vintage, the emphasis on personal style, and a shift in consumer behaviour where shoppers now aim to build upon their wardrobes rather than reinventing themselves at every creative turnover, brands are being forced to reconsider the era of flashy overhauls - An era, some might argue, had become rather tiresome to navigate. In this big Fall Issue, we unpack the power of reinvention, from Michael Rider’s nostalgia-meets-now at Celine to Lance Pielago’s most subversive trend pages yet. Think body mods, faux-fur glamour, and a Chris Von Wangenheim revival. Fronting it all: the inimitable  @lara_stone, captured by @studioakrans in fall’s most seductive offerings. Plus, a spotlight on a new wave of local fashion graduates that are bringing the power of quiet rituals to the forefront.  And finally to sum up this issue ever nicely, we put together a list of the hottest soundtracks fresh off Fall/Winter 2025 runway that is sure to amp up your daily hot girl trod *Lara wears moutone cashmere coat and bow from @prada

The best of Couture this season

As Singapore approaches its Diamond Jubilee, it felt only fitting to dedicate this entire issue to the voices, spaces, and stories that shape our nation’s cultural identity. And what better place to begin than at the ultra-charming Peranakan Museum on Armenian Street? There, we pored over every artefact, tracing each thread of embroidery with reverence. In doing so, we reconnected with the legacy of the legendary fashion house Lai Chan and the remarkable Peranakan artefact collector and designer Raymond Wong. For this special issue themed Home, I invited my designer friends from Indonesia ( @adelinesther @mistertoton) and Malaysia ( @behati) to reimagine the kebaya—a traditional garment that unites Southeast Asia in ways that feel both regal and modern. And to bring these sensational custom pieces to life, we turned to two of Singapore’s most compelling actresses: Zoe Tay, our national icon, and Tasha Low, the breakout star of Emerald Hill: The Little Nyonya Story, a Mediacorp series fast becoming one of the most talked-about productions of the year. Together, they embody a visual dialogue that honours our cultural past while reimagining its stories through the lens of the present. As if that weren’t exciting enough, I had the pleasure of having acclaimed filmmaker/screenwriter @shuminghe take the helm as guest editor and creative director for this issue. Fresh from directing this year’s National Day Parade music video, He—together with my senior fashion stylist @mystrangeanarchy led us on a cinematic journey across the island where they uncovered hidden enclaves and unsung corners, each rich with evocative beauty that I can’t wait for you to experience. With that, I hope you’ll treasure this glorious issue as much as we’ve cherished the journey of bringing our idea of Home to you. A very special thanks to @jackieyoong @weiqi.yap from the @peranakanmuseum for your generosity and kind advice

As Singapore approaches its Diamond Jubilee, it felt only fitting to dedicate this entire issue to the voices, spaces, and stories that shape our nation’s cultural identity. And what better place to begin than at the ultra-charming Peranakan Museum on Armenian Street? There, we pored over every artefact, tracing each thread of embroidery with reverence. In doing so, we reconnected with the legacy of the legendary fashion house Lai Chan and the remarkable Peranakan artefact collector and designer Raymond Wong. For this special issue themed Home, I invited my designer friends from Indonesia ( @adelinesther @mistertoton) and Malaysia ( @kel__wen ) to reimagine the kebaya—a traditional garment that unites Southeast Asia in ways that feel both regal and modern. And to bring these sensational custom pieces to life, we turned to two of Singapore’s most compelling actresses: Zoe Tay, our national icon, and Tasha Low, the breakout star of Emerald Hill: The Little Nyonya Story, a Mediacorp series fast becoming one of the most talked-about productions of the year. Together, they embody a visual dialogue that honours our cultural past while reimagining its stories through the lens of the present. As if that weren’t exciting enough, I had the pleasure of having acclaimed filmmaker/screenwriter @shuminghe take the helm as guest editor and creative director for this issue. Fresh from directing this year’s National Day Parade music video, He—together with my senior fashion stylist @mystrangeanarchy led us on a cinematic journey across the island where they uncovered hidden enclaves and unsung corners, each rich with evocative beauty that I can’t wait for you to experience. With that, I hope you’ll treasure this glorious issue as much as we’ve cherished the journey of bringing our idea of Home to you. A very special thanks to @jackieyoong @weiqi.yap from the @peranakanmuseum for your generosity and kind advice

Bangkok like no other

It amazes me how just a few days ago we were complete strangers and now we’re nearly inseparable - this is truly one for the books!

It’s always been on my bucket list to visit Naoshima and Inujima and Baaaaam - this happened. Thank you #pradamode / all 📷 by @monkiepoo

When you hit the big 5-0, everything goes downhill,” a friend exclaimed at a recent dinner party. It’s a sentiment I’ve heard more than once — and one that, I believe, reflects a mindset deeply rooted in many Asian cultures. Here, youthfulness and a lithe physique are often celebrated, while aging — as natural and inevitable as it is — tends to be met with resignation, even quiet dread. Many might argue that such attitudes are confined to the entertainment industry, where appearance holds currency. But the truth is, the fear of aging seeps far deeper. It often starts in childhood, with seemingly innocent remarks mostly from a critical Asian parent — a passing comment about a neighbour’s child having one too many burgers, or a resigned acceptance of how one’s appearance, passion and endurance inevitably changes with age. In this issue themed Gold, we set out to challenge the tired narrative of decline that often accompanies aging. Instead, we celebrate what is earned, embodied, and endured over time. And who better to personify this than our very own icon — model, photographer, actor, and viral sensation Chuando Tan — gracing the cover of Vogue Singapore? At 59, Tan is the epitome of empowered aging. And what’s his secret, you ask? “Even as you grow older, you have to keep the sexiness in you,” he says with a quiet conviction. “Not for others, but for yourself.” And funnily enough, this sentiment echoes something my mother often told me while growing up — a belief that when you carry yourself with pride, everything else tends to fall into place.

What does “novel” really mean? For our latest issue, we set out to explore newness in all its forms—whether groundbreaking, quietly intimate, or strikingly familiar. From Gemma Chan’s enduring elegance and Chuando Tan’s disciplined reinvention to the rise of beauty foods born from self-diagnosis, the shift toward sustainable furniture design, and the bold embrace of life’s golden chapter—this issue is a celebration of originality, resilience, and the art of refashioning the self.

Decadent, just like you are.

It’s been 10 months since we first dedicated an entire issue to the spirit of travel—a celebration of spontaneity and a much-needed change of scenery. Back then, I found myself hopping on flights at a whim, time and again, chasing an unexplainable feeling—the kind that invigorates your spirit and leaves you lightheaded. But I soon realised that the true essence of those journeys wasn’t about the destinations themselves. More often, it was about the connections forged along the way, the people, the fleeting conversations and stories shared. In a world where intentionality is praised for its precision and purpose, I would like to believe that the real joy of living lies in the incredible, unexpected moments we call happenstance. I’m often reminded of this by Saeng, a close friend from Penang. She always encourages me to pause, to truly sit in a moment and take in an experience in full. It is this inward reflection that inspired the theme of this issue. Sonder, to me, in its truest essence, is witnessing the lives of others reflected back at you—a quiet reminder of a sea of untold stories unfolding in parallel. And with that, i hope you take a moment to slow down, take it all in, and perhaps tell me what you see?