Look of the Day: Office Xmas Party

Look of the Day: Airplane Mode

Trend Focus: Clutch Mentality

Small, boxy clutches have been punching above their weight in the bags department for the past few seasons and they are still going strong. A fabulous accessory for both night and day, they help to keep your load light by giving you only enough space for keys, cards, phone and maybe a tube of lipstick.

(Photo: Jak & Jil)

For cocktail parties and black tie events, go with a hard, structured one like the Givenchy Mini Miniaudiere Clutch. For a less formal day look, pick more softly shaped and casual options, such as the Proenza Schouler PS11 Calfskin Clutch or Mulberry's Lily Chain Two Tone Clutch. Vintage clutches are well-worth a mention for their often beautiful hardware; best of all, they are usually one of a kind. Interesting details (e.g. unique closures) and functional add-ons (e.g. a detachable shoulder or wrist straps) are also things you should be looking out for.

The nifty mini clutch is the next best thing to being hands-free!

Look of the Day: Country Gent

Celebrity Style: Alexa Chung

Throwing on a blazer is the easiest way to look put together and is perfect for those days when you are running a little low on outfit inspiration. Fashion darling Alexa Chung understands the magic of a well-cut blazer and incorporates it into her signature preppy-boy-meets-quirky-girl style. Choosing to pair her cream blazer with a duo-toned shirt and black shorts (an Alexa staple), she finishes off this winsome get-up with cute striped pumps to lengthen those already shapely gams. Accessorise sparingly with a handy envelop clutch, a chain belt and an eye-catching time-piece. Put on a light coat of peony pink lipstick to brighten up a fresh, barely made up face.

[1. Yves Saint Laurent Envers Satin Jacket; 2. Maurizio Pecoraro Embroidered Chain Belt; 3. Chanel Rouge Coco in Rose Comète; 4. Watch For Snake Eyes Watch, 5. Panel Presentation Top; 6. Oh-So-Lovely Shorts, 7. Charlotte Olympia Suede Striped Pumps; 8. Maison Du Posh Python Rings Clutch.]

Look of the Day: Painting Dreams

Design(er) Speak: Ong Shunmugam

At Ong Shunmugam, Past meets Present in a most pleasing manner. Focusing on construction, fit and cut instead of passing trends, this local womenswear label brings together traditional and modern design elements to create a refreshing hybrid. Designer Priscilla Shunmugam's latest collection, Guardianship, is a tribute to the body-loving cheongsam. Updating this oriental classic with Western-style details (i.e. colour block paneling and ruffled peplums) and intriguing eco-friendly materials (i.e. soy fibre), the resulting pieces retains the unique cultural symbolism of the cheongsam while being delightfully wearable.

We sat Priscilla down for a quick chat to get to know both her and her fledgling brand a little better!

FS: I am aware that you were a lawyer before starting Ong Shunmugan. Why did you decide to move on to fashion design?

PS: I was trained as a lawyer but I chose early retirement. In 2008 I packed my bags for London with nothing really set in stone, except for an open mind and some savings. The fashion scene there seduced me - I bought a sewing machine on a Friday and on Monday I started a dressmaking course and a few weeks later, I took up pattern cutting.

From a young age, I’ve always liked the risk of creating something and watching people react to it. I suppose having these very innate inklings – the transition into an institution like law school was always going to be a challenge. The transition back however, has been a lot smoother, and that probably says a lot.

So the decision to design womenswear was not pre-meditated, it just came to me when I finally learnt to trust my instincts.

FS: What kind of materials do you use for your designs and do you source for these materials personally?

PS: Fabric plays a key role in all our collections because we capitalise on the lush textures and rich prints readily available throughout the South East Asian region. A central focus is our use of traditional Asian textiles, for example, vintage Javanese batik, Balinese batik, Cambodian ikat and Chinese brocade. We also experiment with technologically advanced fabric like silk blends, organic crepe and soy fibre.

Yes, I source for my materials personally, usually travelling across Asia with not much more than an empty suitcase!

FS: What inspires you and your designs?

PS: The Ong Shunmugam design philosophy references a spectrum of Asian heritage, for example, the Chinese and Indian civilizations, the South East Asian-specific races of the Peranakans and the Malays, or even Japanese, Indonesian and Sri Lankan peculiarities. It is a big pool to tap from but I tread carefully, ever mindful of assumptions or generalizations.

On a personal level, I get my inspiration from the simplest people and the simplest things.

FS: What are your favorite online shopping websites?

PS: Net-A-Porter gets top marks for showing everyone how to shop online like a grown up.

FS: Congratulations on opening your first store at Hong Leong Building! Are there plans to open a second store?

PS: Thank you. We are just settling in, trying to get used to being in Raffles Place. It is funny to have almost every major bank across the street and then us in our modest little corner. Another retail space? Let's see what happens from here.

FS: Are there any designers, whether local, regional or international, who you look up to?

PS: Isn't Tom Ford a genius? I am also a big Rodarte and Preen fan. I really respect younger designers Marios Schwab, Holly Fulton and Mary Katrantzou for their brave yet commercially viable aesthetics. Closer to home, I like Thai labels Milin and Disaya.