AMANDA PALMER (left)

You can take the girl out of the cabaret but you can't take the cabaret out of the girl.

Amanda Palmer, one-half of American punk cabaret musical duo The Dresden Dolls, gained a cult following in the early noughties for her theatrical get-ups: Think kabuki-inspired make-up and corset tops paired with striped black and white stockings.

Although The Dresden Dolls are now on hiatus, Palmer has retained that cabaret aesthetic of dramatic make-up and lingerie-inspired outfits in her solo career.

The 33-year-old, who is dating graphic novelist Neil Gaiman, launched her first solo album, Who Killed Amanda Palmer, last year.

She was here in October to perform and autograph copies of her coffee table book, also called Who Killed Amanda Palmer, at the Singapore Writers Festival.

The book features her in a series of photographs with backdrops styled to look like murder scenes.

She also gave a performance at the club Stereolab in Pan Pacific Hotel.

Palmer, whose favourite designers include Brit queen of punk Vivienne Westwood and American Betsey Johnson, says the biggest disadvantage to travelling constantly is that she has to live out of a suitcase, which limits her wardrobe options.

Still, judging by the custom-made corset, vintage coat and whimsical star-patterned tights she sported at Urban's shoot, it seems like she has a pretty big suitcase.

Just like any girl, she relishes the chance to get all made up, even if her idea of dressing up may defy conventional norms.

'Being a musician gives you leverage. People let you get dressed up like a freak,' she says.

Describe your sense of style.

My sense of style is completely improvised. I used to go to yard sales and thrift stores when I was younger to buy old clothes to create unique, one-of-a-kind outfits but I don't have time to trawl these places anymore.

I never pay attention to fashion trends and simply pull outfits together based on what I feel like wearing.

What is it with the shaved eyebrows?

I shaved my eyebrows off in 2000 for a costume party and intended to keep them shaved for just two months.

Then I started getting used to drawing them in with an eyebrow pencil.

I also realised that having shaved eyebrows is an invitation for people to start talking to me and I like that.

Where is your favourite place to shop?

While I like owning cool stuff, I don't like shopping.

Mostly I just let destiny choose my clothes. I travel the world and if I chance upon a shop where I see something I like, I will buy it.

The cheongsam which I am wearing for the shoot was a gift from my boyfriend when we went to Shanghai just before coming to Singapore.

I also have many creative friends who design clothes for me or give me interesting fabrics.

I think I have good clothing karma because I am constantly giving clothes away as well to friends.

This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.