When I was still playing on playgrounds and swinging from monkey bars, my friends and I had a daily evening street soccer game at the court a block from my house.

The only problem was: the court was made of sand.

It then became a court tradition to tie bandanas across our faces to keep the sand out of our mouths and nostrils. To this day, that same bandana is often a piece in my outfit - I feel like it’s a symbol of nostalgia and history. This bandana, to me, exactly encompasses what personal style is and what fashion should be.

IDON’TCAREABOUTFASHION

Do you care about how you look? The answer is nine-times-out-of-ten a yes. It may not be your priority, but it’s definitely on your list. People undervalue the potential of showcasing yourself through the clothes you wear. Fans of the “don’t judge a book by its cover” club are fighting a losing battle. We all judge to a certain extent based off of another person’s physical appearance. We’re all human in that we use our first available sense to discern whether another person is good or bad - that’s often our eyes.

Given that your outfit covers a lofty percentage of your body, it is central to promoting, preserving, and embellishing your image as an individual. Fashion is important, whether you appreciate it or not.

INDIVIDUALISM

Now that we have established the significance of fashion, let us peruse the integrity of the concept. Your choice of clothing presents you with a unique opportunity - showcasing your identity without the use of a single word. At the root of it, fashion is an artform very much similar to creating music in the sense that:

You can limit it to genres (hypebeast streetwear, business casual etc.) but the outfits that stand out employ recombinants of multiple genres to generate an element of surprise, whilst still retaining familiarity.
You should draw inspiration from other artists (fashion blogs, magazines, instagram etc.) but if done correctly, your style will never echo the entire sentiment of the inspiration.

If you wish to be a successful musician, it needs to come from yourself at its foundation. This can come in the form of personal creativity, experiences, or beliefs. Fashion should very much resonate with the same ideal. Your choice of clothing should present a respectful representation of yourself. If you hope to utilize your dressing successfully to create the image you hope for others to perceive you, your pieces need to come from your own personality and beliefs.

Today, I present to you 3 examples of how this can be casually showcased in your everyday outfit.

DAMON ONG

Growing up in both the US and Singapore often led to struggle of influence. Despite the westernization of Singapore, my Asian roots were still forcibly held deep within me. Yet, I became a victim of arguably the most Americanized concept - consumerism. Materialistic possessions were a huge part of me since the beginning. Ironically, my favorite t-shirt for the past few years has been this ragged-looking Babyface T-shirt. Handed down from my Dad which was given to him by his older brother, this t-shirt marked the beginning of my phase experimenting with the oversized trend back in 2016. Given that my Dad is one of my two biggest idols (+ my Mum of course), this t-shirt serves as a symbolic item.

The Dickies Denim Work Jacket was a pick-up in Johor Bahru, Malaysia for a measly $10. Believe it or not, perusing a night market back in 2017 led to this golden find. The trend of workwear had yet to erupt at that time but I saw this jacket and immediately felt it to be an essential piece to go into my wardrobe. This was largely because of how it fit seamlessly with my military-inspired style.

Having had to serve the Singapore military for two years of my time, it greatly evolved my style away streetwear. This was reflective of my personality change because of my service, as I found myself maturing and placing further importance on values such as discipline, order, and readiness. The boots in the military had the ability to be used across all scenarios and terrains, which prompted me to search for a similar boot that could do so as well. Thus, these Rothco Khaki Desert Boots caught my eye, and have become my go-to shoe for all types of situations.

SOPHIA ZHANG

My sister is my best friend. She is also my biggest inspiration. Being 12 years younger than her, the dynamic is a unique one, where we find ourselves close despite the different stages of life we are at. My parents were originally from China, and their traditions and struggles in life meant they had little ability to explore fashion. It only became natural that my sister was my main style guidance growing up (and still is today). Hence, every single piece on me today originates from her closet, stolen under her nose (!!!). Yet, guidance does not wholly beget style and thus the pieces I add to my wardrobe - from her or otherwise - are an evolution from her influence into my own disposition.

For instance, my sister engages in a very classy and elegant style in her outfits, while I prioritize comfort, simplicity, and casual pieces. In other words, if she were Chanel, I would be Zara - I don outfits for the girl-next-door. This can be noted from my choice of Side-Ripped Boyfriend Jeans and my Black High-Top Converse Sneakers. I personally also enjoy pieces defined as “bubbly and girly”. Light colors, especially pink, are my choice of tone. This can be seen from my selection of the Pink Spaghetti Top taken from my sister’s closet.

My biggest exploration has been jewelry. Having taken huge inspiration from my sister in many aspects such as clothing, I see jewelry as a lane for my own character to shine. I greatly appreciate the concept of how nobody wears the same jewelry. It is truly individualistic and ensures each piece is reflective of your own personality. I thus took a leap of faith last summer and decidedly opened my own jewelry store. With Korean jewelry marked up by a huge margin here in the US, I source directly from Korea and retail them for reasonable prices. Each piece in the store is curated carefully and are reflective of my belief in how jewelry can represent a statement of your own character.

Check out Sophia’s jewellery store here

JERALD SAW

I always keep my eyes open for aesthetics. People know me as a photographer but I personally value myself as something more - a creative. I see every photo, every piece of work I involve myself in as an opportunity to mark my stamp on it by engineering the aesthetic plane towards my vision. My outfits are no different. I see them as potential reflections of my personality and my experiences. For instance, my simple Black Oversized T-shirt is representative of my line of work, with it being a staple for every shoot.

I am truly fortunate that my job takes me on journeys across the world. Traveling means access to unique shopping experiences, such as Sunday markets in Melbourne. My Calf-Skin Leather Belt was a purchase from one 5 years ago, and it has been a part of my outfit almost everyday through (literally) thick and thin (because when I’m fat, I loosen, when I’m fit, I tighten). Having traveled to more than 30 countries and countless cities, one of my favorite places still has to be Bali, Indonesia. With a galore of activities to explore, the vibe of the city is just distinctively special. A most memorable experience was a scooter accident there in my Black Chinos, with the slight rips on the knees being an actual result of the incident.

I see accessories as the strongest memorabilia of any ensemble I wear, given that their value and potential statements they make are significantly higher than most other types of pieces. Having served two long years in the Singapore military, my trip to Europe upon the end saw myself having splurged on a Bottega Veneta Bracelet to reward my efforts in serving the nation. However, my most valued accessory is still my Silver Turning Ring, being a gift from my parents. Despite losing the first one they gave me in Iceland, they miraculously managed to purchase another from Thailand. The loss made me realize how much it meant to me despite its size, and it has been a constant in my outfits ever since.

Check out Jerald’s photos on his instagram here