Why Singapore is on the brink of fashion suicide

Why learn to dress up in Singapore?

Many would agree that Singapore leads in many areas in the region such as infrastructure, education, safety and stability and efficiency etc.

Nevertheless, when it comes to dress sense, many would agree Singapore is nowhere near the likes of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea in the region.

On weekdays, take a look around you when you are walking on the streets of Central Business District, we will see that many executives have traded their formal outfits to less formal / smart casual attires.

Should you happen to be in the industrial areas, you may even find executives with more casual attires. On weekends, try shopping malls, restaurants and hotels, you will find people in T-shirts, shorts, sandals and flip flops more than ever.

I have heard many reasons from people staying in Singapore for not dressing up appropriately such as:

1. Singapore is a tropical country with hot weather all season long;
2. It costs a lot to dress up;
3. It is not Singapore’s culture to dress up and as long as I have money to pay up when I shop or dine, why bother about how I dress?
4. And More!

I beg to differ.

Firstly, most of the places we work or we go to are fully furnished with air-condition (of course, I do not expect one to dress up when you are at the beach or doing sports or strenuous activities); secondly, dressing up appropriately does not equate to wearing branded labels from head to toe.

A person will look good as long as the size and cutting of the apparel fits and one puts in some effort to mix and match; thirdly, we represent ourselves, our organization and our profession.

We are what people see or think of us through the first impression, be it you like it or not. One’s dress sense, work ethics, professionalism, wealth and other factors are not mutually linked.

However, paying attention to your dress sense is simply respecting the occasion and the people at whichever venue or event you are at, the necessary due respect. 

Brands and labels are not important in one’s dressing. In fact, portraying branded apparels does not necessarily mean you have a good or appropriate sense of dressing.

Most importantly, as long as one takes note of the occasion, venue, puts in some effort to mix & match, be comfortable and carries yourself well and with confidence, you are already a fashion winner.

*The views expressed above are my mine and not those of my company.