VIVIENNE TAM, 52
The Guangzhou-born, New York-based designer who coined the term 'China chic' is best known for her East-meets-West aesthetic. They include exotic Asian prints like dragons and lotus flowers as well as embroidery and beading, techniques often used on traditional cheongsam.
For fall/winter 2010, she turned to the Chinese zodiac for inspiration, creating dresses and pantsuits with origami folds that suggest tiger stripes and reptile scales.
What are the top three trends to look out for this year?
Layering, so you can take your look from day to night. I've also turned to military styles, as you can tell from my jackets and use of cargo pockets. Finally, mix the old with the new.
What are three wardrobe must-haves this year?
A simple shift dress, a cardigan and an army jacket that you can mix and match easily to create different looks that would take you from work to play.
Which is your favourite outfit from your collection and why?
Every dress is my baby but this being the Year of the Tiger, I'd say it's my black tiger dress with horizontal folds that subtly echo stripes.
How can Singaporeans adapt your fall/winter looks for the hot, humid weather?
All my clothes are made of natural silk and cotton, so they are perfect for your weather.
DONNA KARAN, 61
New York's queen of uptown chic created what is arguably the world's first diffusion line in 1989.
DKNY is a more casual offshoot of her eponymous label that offers downtown-girl sophistication at more wallet-friendly prices.
Customers have since come to depend on the brand's cool menswear-inspired shirts, oversized cardigans and cute jersey dresses for a look that is easy yet elegant.
Her fall/winter 2010 collection has a schoolgirl appeal (above), pairing geometric print mini dresses and pleated skirts with boxy blazers, woollen socks and platform brogues.
What are the top three trends to look out for this year?
As much as we are moving into the future, we are also celebrating the past. Individuality is always very important.
Your look should respect your lifestyle choices.
I also think we are returning to a more sophisticated, pulled-together look.
What are three wardrobe must-haves this year?
You can never have one too many of a great pair of pants, the sweater you can't live without and the jacket that you would wear every day.
Which is your favourite outfit from your collection and why?
I've already stolen the oversized men's jacket. I particularly like the colours used and the pleated skirts - they really celebrate the classicism and spirit of DKNY.
How can Singaporeans adapt your fall/winter looks for the hot, humid weather?
The beauty of this collection is that we've used a lot of trans-seasonal fabrics such as silk, satin and a T-shirt material.
The colours echo the fall/winter season but the clothes are lightweight and, therefore, really season-less.
CUSTO DALMAU, 52, OF CUSTO BARCELONA
This Spanish designer has cultivated a cult following with his zany, colourful graphic prints and patterns that range from tropical rainforests to cartoon rock stars.
Inspired by metallic elements in the periodic table, his fall/winter pieces included sequinned mini dresses with electric-hued geometric prints, sparkly fur coats and one standout mirror-encrusted jacket.
What are the top three trends to look out for this year?
I have no idea what is going on with trends.
What is important with Custo Barcelona each season is being able to reinvent our unique identity, which is a fusion of colours, graphics and innovative materials.
This season, for example, we experimented for the first time with fake long-haired fur.
What are three wardrobe must-haves this year?
A long-haired fake fur coat, a knitted dress which is ultra-feminine yet very comfortable and printed leggings, which are not only high on comfort but also versatile and great for layering.
Which is your favourite outfit from your collection and why?
My favourite look is the turtle-neck bolero jacket in fake fur which I find feminine yet fresh and very strong and sexy.
How can Singaporeans adapt your fall/winter looks for the hot, humid weather?
Obviously our fur coats should be left only for travelling - or if you're a true fashionista willing to bear with the heat.
Several of our dresses and leggings, however, are made of acetate and rayon that are suitable for most climates.
EMMA HILL, 40, OF MULBERRY
This British brand may be better known for its It bags such as the boxy Bayswater tote and the recent hit, the Alexa. But creative director Hill, who took over from Stuart Vevers in 2008, has been upping its fashion quotient with a growing range of feminine designs that are preppy yet girly.
For fall/winter 2010, she drew inspiration from the cult 1960s novel Valley Of The Dolls with dresses featuring pretty puff sleeves, jewel-encrusted necklines and tulle tutu-like skirts.
What are the top three trends to look out for this year?
One trend would be multi- functionality such as a bag that can be worn across the body as well as on the shoulder so that you can wear the same thing but always look different.
What are three wardrobe must-haves this year?
The Mulberry Alexa bag because it looks cool without being too try-hard. I'd also include a leather jacket because I believe every girl needs one. Ours is so lightweight it's not only appropriate for your climate but also packs like a cardigan, making it perfect for travel.
Finally, I am obsessed with our T-bar ballet flats that lend a bit of sex appeal to the otherwise classic shoe shape.
Which is your favourite outfit from your collection and why?
The Neely plum-coloured, puff-sleeved leather jacket paired with a matching cone skirt and T-bar ballet flats.
The jacket is made of buttery soft nappa leather you can shove into a bag and still come out crease-free.
How can Singaporeans adapt your fall/winter looks for the hot, humid weather?
Out of the four collections we've done so far, this is probably the easiest to adapt to your tropical climate. A lot of the dresses are made of lightweight silk and several looks are created through layering.
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times .
