How To Be Fabulous on Instagram
w Erwinshah Hastings
M: How did you discover fashion?
E: I drew, painted as a kid. Fashion illustrator Hayden Williams inspired me to draw human figures. Moved on to portraits. Got into dressing up. I studied fashion in ITE, graphic design in LASALLE.
M: Interesting you brought up fashion illustration, it’s a not-as-discussed part of fashion.
E: I never really liked sewing. Preferred just drawing out my ideas. Hayden’s drawings are very glamorous, regal. I’ve followed his work forever; he’s liked, replied to my tweets. I didn’t want to completely copy him; I expanded on his drawings, saw them differently.
M: I think of fashion illustration as an extreme version of fantasy. Was it fashion design you were interested in or how comic book-like, barbie doll-like his images look?
E: They’re very pleasing to look at. Fashion school helped me to expand my understanding of designers, garments.
M: Did you ever see yourself in those clothes?
E: Back then, not really. As I grew up, it helped me understand how I like to see, wear things.
M: Of the model friends I know, most of them discovered fashion through being scouted, modelling. It seems you discovered modelling through fashion, pop culture.
E: I don’t think anyone grows up just knowing they want to be a model. It’s all about exposure, seeing things, influences. Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, etc. I’m not a professional model. I like to take photos of myself, my outfits. #OOTD #WIWT
M: It actually occured to you to create images with your body rather than rely on a good outfit for likes?
E: There are models who wear white t-shirts and jeans, and models who incorporate brands into their own style.
M: Based on feedback, modelling seems to be a passive career for many. But in your perspective, there seems to be ways to have more control over it.
E: For sure. Modelling agencies and campaigns tend to be rigid. Everyone, even models, should explore style on their own terms.
M: Your social media seems to promote a message regarding gender and masculinity.
E: I like to explore the way men can dress. I like to gender-swap outfits. I don’t think it should matter. If it works, it works. It’s always been at the back of my mind.
M: Let’s talk about diversity. It’s been brought to the limelight in a big way.
E: You have to be brave to fight for diversity, to fight for what you want people to see and learn. We all grew up watching old media—white people in magazines, movies—but everything should be changing. I teach my nephew about feminism, issues discussed even at our age group (early-twenties).
M: Will all big media “apologies” today be seen as tokenistic?
E: They should actually act on their apologies, instead of just saying it.
M: Of some Malay influencers, for example, I’ve heard—There’s no point trying to make it in Singapore, it’s only possible to be big in Malaysia. That “solution” is disheartening. I’d like to think our Chinese majority is not just accepting, but proud to see beauty represented in media in all shades. But the reality doesn’t seem like what the hope is.
E: Hope is eternal misery. *laughs*
