For some, Lee Sinje will always be the blind girl with the big, bewitching eyes in the 2002 horror hit The Eye. The actress was so convincing in her role as a troubled violinist who gains an eerie ability to see ghosts after a successful cornea transplant, it made her the rising queen of scream.
In no time, she became the face that would launch a thousand horror films, lending her quiet charm and charisma to 2004's Koma and 2006's Re-cycle. It seems inevitable that her brand of grief-stricken helplessness would also become a permanent fixture of the genre.
In person, though, the talented 35-year-old bears no hint of that poignant vulnerability she so often espouses in her films. Lee is chatty as she is vivacious and radiates a great, positive energy.
She is also surprisingly down-to-earth. Dressed simply in a grey off-shoulder dress that flares from the waist, Lee is a picture of understated elegance. Her pixie haircut adds a sassy edge to her soft, girlish demeanour.
True to her minimalist style, Lee says that chic, functional everyday looks for the modern woman embody the essence of her clothing line, Cacac.
Indeed, the launch of her latest collection, Cacac City Romance by Cacac by Sinje in Parkson Pavilion,Kuala Lumpur last month saw an array of simple but elegant ready-to-wear casual and evening pieces in shades of champagne, navy blue and a touch of bubblegum pink.
The clothes range from stylish casual wear to flirty cocktail dresses that accentuate the delicate female form - notably the legs, shoulders and waist. Fabrics are mainly silk, satin and chiffon, with a mix of jersey and polyester. There are accessories and shoes available as well.
"I picked simple colours because I think they embody the concept of elegance. I also picked soft, comfortable materials that will take a woman from a day at work to a night-out with friends," Lee enthuses.
With Cacac, she wants to help women look their best. "Cacac is derived from the Malay word 'kakak', which means 'sister'," she explains. "The brand is all about sisterhood and I want to treat all women like my sisters."
Cacac also celebrates femininity, she adds. "It's about rejoicing life, being bold and being proud of one's individuality."
Cacac by Sinje is now available at Parkson outlets in Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur and Gurney Plaza in Penang. Meanwhile, Cacac's flagship store is located at Sunway Giza in Kota Damansara, Selangor.
You can catch a glimpse of her the collection at the Asia Magic Gala in Zebra Square, Kuala Lumpur on November 24, 8pm. The gala is organised by the Malaysian International Fashion Alliance (mifa) and co-hosted by Logwin Logistics, and is part of this year's Malaysia- International Fashion Week (MIFW'11).
