If your idea of an outfit for a shopping trip at Orchard Road is a a plain top, denim shorts and a pair of sandals, then you belong to at least 80% of Singaporeans who throng the stores every weekend. Many of us like to use the weather as an excuse for not having the freedom to play around with fashion, that it’s much convenient to simply throw on a spaghetti strap top and shorts and head to town. However there’s a difference between dressing down, and looking downright sloppy, and unfortunately, many Singaporeans fall into the latter category.
Looking fashionably-smart doesn’t mean you have to spend a whole lot of time putting together an outfit, or even much money to buy dozens of different outfits. The secret to always look chic even whilst casual is to invest in a key staple pieces that would go with every, and any of our outfits, or even work well on its own. You will be surprised by the difference these pieces can do for your entire look.
With these useful staples in your wardrobe, you don’t No more excuses for not looking sharp even during a casual afternoon out in town!
Blazers
Blazers have made a comeback in fashion for a year now, and its popularity is still going strong, and with good reason too. The quickest and easiest way to spruce up an outfit is to throw on a well-cut blazer.
Far from being strictly for work wear only, a blazer instantly adds a touch of glamour and chic, even when you’re in a simple top and shorts or jeans, so there’s no need to worry about looking too formal, unless you choose for it to.
Besides its glamour factor, a blazer also doubles up as a shield against any sudden changes in temperatures or weather, and best of all, it matches just about anything in your closet, whether casual or formal.
Summer Dresses
Dressing down doesn’t mean you have to stick to just a top and shorts. You can look absolutely casual, without compromising on fashionability – and summer dresses are your solution to this seemingly paradoxical problem.
Always in fashion, always comfortable, and just dressed down enough when paired with a pair of sandals, summer dresses are heaven-sent for the lazy girl who doesn’t want to spend time trying to figure out how to put together an outfit, or that girl who’s always pressed for time.
Printed Tops
What better way to add a dash of colour and excitement to your outfit than a printed top with bold patterns? After all, which better season to celebrate bright hues and eye-catching prints than Summer?
And coincidentally, one of the hottest fashion trends to hit the runway this season is the “resort look”, which is dominated by allover prints, bold colors, white pantsuits, and short shorts.
Tailored Shorts
If you find yourself in your ratty pair of denim cut-offs for the ten thousandth time, it may be time to invest in a pair of tailored shorts.
Yes, your cutoffs may be comfortable, but they may also be more suitable for a trip to the supermarket near your house than an afternoon in town. The wonderful thing about tailored shorts is that, like the blazer, it instantly brings you from casual chic to formal, depending on what you pair it with.
With sandals, they’re suitable for a day out of shopping with the girls. With heels and a blazer, they bring you from work, to drinks with your co-workers at the end of the day. Yes they are suitable even for dressed-down Fridays at work.