Beautiful translation

“The world’s most beautiful flowers bloom in ceaseless infrequency,
While the most stunning sceneries last only for the shortest time.
Please, no more excuses about leaving,
You’re not convincing me with just a glass of wine.
Here, let’s refill our empty desires,
Because honestly, when we will we stop getting love drunk?
My tears are brought upon by my yearnings,
Tell me my love, after this wonderful night, when will you return?”

- Inspired by Teresa Teng’s “When Will You Return”

Special thanks to Onin Lorente from The Fashionisto for the lovely mention.
Please click HERE to read the complete article online.

He shall not be perceived, she shall not pick sides
She is not pigeon-holed, he might not be with your likes
They prefer to be unjustified but remained unrecognized
They lived in a different perceptions, in a world viewed in two dimensions

With no gender constrains, works from a lineup of Singaporean designers were put together to illustraten androgeny. It’s a celebration, not a demonstrational statement.

The Team

Photography / Micky Wong
Fashion Direction / Ashburn Eng
Model & Text / Luth Seah Zhiqiang
Hair & Make-up / Larry Yeo
Fashion Co-ordinator / Shanna Matthew

Special Thanks to 

Lionnel Lim from E-3 communiations & design
Aaron Kok and Jasmine Tuan from Black Market
Anthony from Converse
Jeffrey and Desmond Yang from abyzz
Jr Chan and Keith Png from Hide & Seek

Stockists

1. Cotton shirt; drappery cardigan, Max Tan.
2. Backless top, Stolen at Blackmarket.
3 & 4. Quilted dress, abyzz. critter hat, Sundays.
5. Cotton shirt; jacket; woven bag (worn as skirt), ForInSaneHuman. Pleated necklace, Kwodrent at Blackmarket.
6. Cardigan; leggings, La Belle. fringe cardigan, Elohim at Hide and Seek. Multi-chain necklace, Unfinished at BlackMarket.
7. Shawl jacket; drop-crotch pants, La Belle. Sneaker, Converse.
8. Double-breasted Jacket, Coupe-Cousu. 6-sleeves top, Nikicio at Blackmarket. Vest with woven applique (worn reversed), ForInSaneHuman.
9. Pleated top, from Phylia Poh. Ruched leggings, from Mae Pang.
10. Critter hat, Sundays.
Coupe-Cousu, ForInsaneHuman, Le Belle, Mae Pang, Max Tan, Phylia Poh and SUNDAYS designs will be available from Parco at Millenia Walk from April 2010.

Quotes from fashion individuals about their thoughts on the androgynous aesthetics: 

Ultimately, in essence, there is no difference between men and women. Accepting the other sex part uniqueness within ourselves could be the end of the quest for equality between men and women…

- Lionel Roudaut, LASALLE Fashion Design Programme Leader

Clothes serve its basic purpose of covering one’s body, to identify and to beautify. Why should clothes then be ‘en-slaved’ to becoming a uniform for a gender?

- Max Tan, fashion designer of max.tan

Androgynous fashion is not about donning apparel to resemble the other sex. It’s about adoring your own sex, it’s about being comfortable in your own skin, gender or sexuality, so much so that you do not care what contemporary apparel does to separate males from females

- Larry Lam, fashion designer of SUNDAYS

I think life will be pretty boring without people willing to push the boundaries and dress for themselves rather than being bothered with what the world says is acceptable.”

- Priscilla Tan, fashion designer of CHALK

Limitations are set by the general society on what can or cannot a man/woman should wear. However, watch out for the overlapping details from menswear to womenswear and vice versa.

- Terry Yeo, fashion designer of ForInSaneHuman

Androgynous fashion has existed before our time. It is not just in recent years that androgynous fashion was birthed. In 1920s, the flappers, they defied social norms and adopted silhouettes similar to boys

- Carlos Keng, fashion blogger of VOGUEITE

I think the general public in Singapore are able to accept certain androgynous style that is unisex and if they consist of silhouettes that is still deemed as acceptable dressing, it will still be difficult for them to accept a man wearing a skirt even if the skirt has an androgynous connotation attached to it.

- Tilly Soelistyo, fashion designer of TILLY

We’ve been ingrained from young to think that each gender must assume certain roles, to dress in a certain manner, and what is needed is to break free of those restrictions in your own head. Go spend some time in the opposite gender’s department, pick something up and head to the changing room and if it looks good on you, people aren’t going to question whether you found it in the menswear or womenswear department.

- Darren Ho, executive editor for August Magazine

I don’t think much can be done to force the public to accept what is viewed as fringe fashion except to give them time to be exposed to the unorthodox, and hope that they become more open-minded through education.

- How Kay Lii, fashion writer of Female Magazine

Why confine yourself to a constrained mind of the general, when there is plenty clothes out there to wear? Do you not find such restrainment limits your own growth and the progress choices in humanity?

- Larry Yeo, beauty editor of Test Shoot Gallery

I am a model who seems to pull off more feminine clothing more than anything. I feel that it all depends on the person. Most people would like to see me masculine but in all reality I am really not that masculine but not a girl either, I just feel comfortable in my own way

- Shaun Ross, Model

It doesn’t matter if you are boy or girl! Just enjoy the unbounded love of fashion!

- Ashburn Eng, founder and creative director of Test Shoot Gallery

Special Thanks to Jaslyn Bang at PlusSixFive for the lovely mention.
Click HERE to read the full article online

Gamine and whimsical, Amuse is fashion concept centralized on a theme every season. Immerse in a world of surrealism and fantasy, where you can give flight to your imagination.  This Season, Cottontail Caper presents you with soft shapes and flouncy silhouettes.   

Pure silk and soft netting are enhanced by intriguing draping and pleating to inject volume and increase the overall texture of the dresses. The frolicsome side of the cottontail (rabbit) is explored through the expressive use of polka dots and the smattering of vibrant colours. Each and every piece is personally hand-crafted with superior workmanship and a delicate, detailed finish. The sheer and silky flow of the creations will tantalise the senses, whilst encasing the female form with a playful allure. 

The Team

Photography / May Lin Le Goff
Creative and Fashion Direction / Ashburn Eng
Fashion Designer / aMUSE by Jennifer Li
Model / Taisiya P (Upfront Models)
Makeup / Larry Yeo using Shu Uemura
Text / Luth Seah Zhiqiang
Hairstylist / Chris Ruth
Styling Assistance / Shanna Matthew 

Jennifer Li, designer and creator of the label aMuse, gave us a tour into her whimsical world, her inspirations behind her designs, and her latest collaboration with TSG for her spring summer 2010 ad campaign in our exclusive interview.  

Test Shoot Gallery (TSG): Introduce us to your label Amuse?  

Jennifer Li (JL): aMuse is a gamine yet edgy fashion concept build upon playful fantasy. Take a flight of fancy into a surreal dimension, where you can expect the unexpected with each exquisite piece. Discover the wide-eyed ingénue beneath the sophisticated hauteur with delicate fabrics, beautiful drapes and lovely, feminine silhouettes.  

TSG: Tell us more about your inspirations behind aMuse this season? How was that inspiration first sparked? 

JL: aMuse Spring/Summer 2010 Exclusive range will be an exciting panorama of “Cottontail Caper”. Taking a cue from the whimsical story of Alice In Wonderland where a rabbit lead Alice through an exotic adventure, we attempt to capture the spirit using an array of draping techniques and soft flouncy silhouettes. We added a touch of luxury to this collection by using baby soft silk fabrics and swarovski crystals also in order to evoke a surreal fantasy element.  

TSG: If there is one, what would you define as your signature as a designer?

JL: I am inclined towards dreamy, fantastical designs, adorned with an unexpected edge.  

TSG: In your opinion, can fashion be a political statement?

JL: Fashion can send strong visual symbols of lifestyle and beliefs; so yes, through fashion, a political statement can be made through an external representative.  

TSG: In your opinion, what is fashion’s role during the economic crisis that everybody is going through?  

JL: I think most importantly of all, fashion should imbue hope and happiness so that you can have something to look forward to every morning. Wearing your favourite clothing or accessory can really brighten up your mood.  

TSG: Would you prefer to have been born in a fairytale world? Which Fairytale?  

JL: Definitely; it would be wonderful to live in a world where magic and miracles are part of daily life. I would love to become Cinderella.  

TSG: Does it bother you that the mainstream plagiarizes designer’s ideas?  

JL: It doesn’t irk me much because I still believe the original design has more impact and influence. On a more positive note, plagiarism could be considered a form of flattery.  

TSG: In the eyes of Jennifer Lee, what exactly is fashion?  

JL: Fashion is an alternative outlet of self expression; I believe clothes make the woman (or the man).  

TSG: Who would be the ideal public ambassador for the brand?  

JL: Lily Cole; for her gamine, wide-eyed appeal, and not being afraid to stay true to herself.  

TSG: Who would be your ideal muse and why?  

JL: Probably Lily Cole.  

TSG: What can we look forward to from aMUSE next season?

JL: Expect a darker take on another fairytale.  

TSG: What made you collaborate with Test Shoot Gallery for your ad campaign this season?  

JL: I came across TSG’s work through their website and their bold, experimental style really captured my attention. It was a dream come true to work with TSG.
 
TSG: How did you get to know about Test Shoot Gallery?  

JL: I got to know about Test Shoot gallery through their website which I chanced upon while sourcing for a suitable photographer. Their experimental works really captured my attention and stood out amongst the many sites I visited.

TSG: Is the idea of creative collaboration important to you?

JL: Collaborating with different creative outlets enhances my ideas and allows me to see my work in a different perspective.  

TSG: Thank you so much for the interview Jennifer.  

JL: Thank you.  

www.museministry.com
aMUSE Ready-To-Wear collection will be available from parco at millenia walk from april 2010