My Wardrobe Story On Straits Times

Click here to read the interview story.

I'm featured on The Straits Times! So happy to have had the chance to share a little bit about my wardrobe and vintage fashion, a topic that I feel so enthusiastic about. 

Thinking back, the defining moment when I 'found' my style was when I decluttered a huge amount of my belongings 2 years ago, as inspired by Japanese organization consultant Marie Kondo's teachings in her book The Life-changing Magic Of Tidying Up. I realized that my energy could be put to better use by taking good care of people and things I already have, instead of consuming aimlessly. 

Since then, I saw fashion from a new, clearer perspective. My love for vintage grows everyday and I truly believe in cherishing old pieces of clothing and buying less but better quality apparel. All the items mentioned here are worn on a daily basis.

Female Magazine Malaysia Feature: April 2015

Look Ma, I'm featured in the press! 

"As a freelance makeup artist and occasional model, Singaporean blogger Uli may be relatively new to the scene, but what she lacks in years of experience she makes up with creativity. With a sense of style both captivating and aspirational, she pieces together near-editorial quality outfit posts, as well as the more approachable travel diaries. (Certainly a style icon in the making.)"

The very kind fashion journalist Brent Taalur (@brenttaalur) wrote to me a few months back asking for a few high resolution pictures for his feature column. He was polite and I did not think much of the opportunity, just until when I realised I was placed next to some of the biggest names in the industry.

People like Nicole Warne and Rumi Neely whom I have admired from the very beginning of my writing journey. My humble title beside these iconic bloggers feels undeserving and is not to be taken lightly at all. I am really lucky sometimes.

Nylon Japan Feature: June

So the first half of the year has officially passed by... I'll wrap it up with my second Nylon Japan, June issue! It was definitely more than exciting to see myself again in a hardcopy magazine, almost surreal to be part of such a large publication. If you managed to catch me, great! If not, no need to worry because I'll be listing down outfit information for each. 

I cannot read Japanese but I was asked for an interview and below were my exact response to the journalist. Not sure if the published chunk was edited in any (or was it even published? can't tell lol) way but here goes:

Name: Uli Chan
Age: 21
Height: 1.67m 

Q: Please tell me the point for each outfit. what care when you chose the outfit each situation!
Relaxed - must be comfortable and easy for me to move around. My favourite casual pieces are jeans and sneakers. I also love white tees with unexpected details. White T-shirt and jeans is a classic combination.
Work - I don't 'work' in a corporate environment but I think generally I like clothes that are more structured. I love blazers even in hot weather haha! I also think that covered shoes are most appropriate for work, simply because they look more professional.
Date night - I always dream of wearing heels but in reality I wear flats more often. Luckily my boyfriend is very liberal with my fashion choices, I sometimes dress androgynously even on dates! On most dates, I think a midi skirt and crop top is super pretty.
Night out - truth is, I am a couch potato who is more likely to stay in and watch YouTube videos. But if I were to go out, I'd definitely wear my leather skirt and boots.

Q: Tell me your biography.
I am a fashion student in Singapore. I lived in Shanghai, China for about 4 years before I came here to study. Currently, I write a blog called ULIMALI and I love cats. My fashion style is feminine, polished and unconventional.

Ribbed crop top & lucite box - ZARA | Sapphire organza full midi skirt - ULIMALI Shop | Round sunglasses - Shanghai | Western leather flats - ASOS

Oversized blazer & leather skirt - H&M | Silk blouse - Uniqlo | Melting latex leggings - URB Clothing | Pascal boots - Dr. Martens

Leather panel blazer - Kate Love | Turtle neck cropped top - ASOS | Work pants - OUAS | Lucite pumps - Charles & Keith

Side slit tee & silver chain necklace - Cheap Monday | High waist jeans - Pull & Bear | White canvas sneakers - Feiyue

Me attempting to dunk #behindthescenes

Hope you've enjoyed this outfit compilation and mini interview! Special thanks to Faith Png, Jing Ying and Becca for shooting these photos for me.

Nylon Japan Feature: May

So I said I will blog about my Nylon Japan features so here's the first! This is for their May issue themed World Book 2014. Basically the entire issue focused on featuring street style from all over the world, from everyday people to models and celebrities. I was happy to be sorta representing Singapore, and this is the first time I have ever appeared in an internationally renowned physical magazine. It's also coincidental how I'm just next to the Shanghai page; I spent a couple of my childhood years there!

I cannot read Japanese but my helpful friends translated the description for me. It says: 

"Yuri (20). Blogger. Singapore's Cheap Monday one piece maxi with camo jacket and Dr. Martens boots worn on the streets."
"The simple Cheap Monday maxi, camouflage jacket and doc marten boots give this a sense of street style"

Photo by Lenne.

Interview With Starved. Magazine

Me, along with nine other international bloggers were interviewed about how summer is like in our country and how it affects us fashion wise. I screen shot my portion for your convenience but I urge you to read the rest of the article because I personally love imagining how it's like to live someone else's life! That explains my excessive vlogs addiction. Ever wondered what's everyone's summer essential (everything from denim shorts to hair spray)? Anyway, I hope you got to know me better through this short feature. :-)

Read on here: http://www.culturestarved.com/2013/07/top-bloggers-and-summer-cities/

A big thanks to Starved. who decided to interview me!

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The Wallflower

wall·flow·er/ˈwôlˌflouər/
Noun

1. A person who has no one to dance with or who feels shy, awkward, or excluded at a party.

In social situations, a wallflower is a shy or unpopular individual who doesn't socialize or participate in activities at social events. He or she may have other talents but usually does not express them in the presence of other individuals.

Photography Gladys Ng 

Model Uli Chan 

Makeup Michmakeover 

Hair Mark Cheng

Stylist Reyme Husaini, Gabriel Tan

I'm on the cover and editorial spread for MODA Magazine Issue 02! This is by far the most high fashion photo shoot I've ever done in my life. I don't consider myself a professional model but blogging had given me a lot of opportunities to be part of crazy random projects. For that, my heart cannot be more thankful. 

I received a text message from Gladys for this project just two days after I got a pixie haircut. I thought to myself, "oh no...what a great timing to model...", but Mark a.k.a. the hair magician had the ability create miracles out of nothing, literally. How do you like my new locks? I received lots of questions  from friends if I wore a wig or was the pixie cut a prank. I loved the braids so much and they reminded me of Wednesday Addams. Michelle painted me perfectly arched red lips that were a total waste to wipe away at the end of the day. White sparkly eyeshadow is never a conventional choice in the makeup world but she made it convincing. Even in the most humid situations, Reyme and Gabriel were able to dress me up the best way possible. Oh and did I mention, those guys made the two flower crowns! Total overachievers for making that from scratch. The whole shoot was a great experience and it wouldn't have been possible without a dedicated team of creative minds. 

Which is your favourite photo? Mine has to be the third!

-

Update:

I can't believe it. 'The Wallflower' is on VOGUE ITALIA! (www.vogue.it > Photo Vogue)

I am so happy and proud for everyone who worked hard for this; Gladys Ng's Photography, Mark Cheng's hairstyling, MichMakeOver's makeup, Gabby& Reyme's styling + DIY flower crowns... With (half) my face associated with Vogue Italia, I can die happy now. ‪#‎blessed‬

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HYPE Magazine Feature

I am super excited to share with you this fashion editorial which I was featured in. It's the HYPE Magazine Feb 13' issue. During December last year, I was asked to model for some clothes by local designers, in the theme of 'Neon Takes Flight'. Some of the labels I was so lucky to wear included Mash Up and Feist Heist! Those are brands that I personally really like. Disclaimer: I do not consider myself a 'Model', I was merely asked to model for this issue. And of course, I gladly agreed and here's the end results!

It's always a surreal feeling to see myself in print, in my hands, for once not on a computer screen. Being a kiasu Singaporean, I asked my friend Sheryl to grab five copies for me (thank you!), fearing I could not find them on racks anymore haha! We shot in an old abandoned area which was infested with mosquitos, bad idea to not have mosquito repellent with me. Besides having to constantly fight with the humid weather which was the number one cause of melting makeup, the team also suffered countless bites from blood hungry mosquitos. Thank God we made it out alive!

I would like to take this moment to appreciate Cory and Nicol for making the models - me and Nicholas look super stylish, Flix for getting the shots, Michelle for hair and makeup which I absolutely love, and everyone who was present during that day, getting us food, chasing mosquitos away and making sure we got the shots in time. The shoot would not have been possible without all of you!

Lastly, I'd like to appreciate all of you who have given me compliments and praise on this feature! Thank you so much! It really makes my day when someone tells me they enjoy my work. If you would like to grab a hard copy of this magazine (it's free!), be sure to check out these common locations:

Actually+/ Eighteen Chefs/ Island Creamery/ J Shoes/ Leftfoot/ NP FMS Block/ Rockstar By Soon lee/ SOTA/ TAB/ Timbre/ Victoria Jomo

Style feature In NYP Catch Magazine

Guess what, I am featured on Nanyang Poly's CATCH, their very first magazine publication! I am more than thrilled to see myself on digital print, and extra delighted that Fiona designed such a nice theme for the entire magazine. Everything is very oriental-ish, filled with high contrast bright colours. You can browse their online magazine here. Let me know your thoughts!

Local Watch

Awhile ago I had the opportunity to shoot with the Poached Magazine team, where I got to wear some of Singapore's top designer brands. It was my first time shooting in designer clothes and I was terrified to death. Knowing in mind that what I had on probably cost more than most things I have in my wardrobe gave me so much pressure in wanting to do my best for the shoot but in reality, I turned tense, and doubted myself. But guess what, I am so surprised at how decent the photos turned out! Lucky me. Thanks to JJ who got the best shots and M who was constantly guiding me along with Vogue-worthy poses. It was definitely different from the street style I usually do but I absolutely loved the change. There's always a first time to everything right? Let's hope I get better at this! My favourite piece among all has to be that colourful collared blouse by Kae Hana, which by the way the graphical mosaic design was meant to be perceived as a skull. I couldn't tell in the beginning. Can you?

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Feature In NP News Magazine

{right click on image and view in a new tab}

About two months ago, I got a call from the school office. 'A' told me he wanted to feature me in October's issue as a stylist, and my task was to style two students under a budget. At that point, I was surprised, confused and unsure. Stylist, really? What if I messed up? I have never styled any body besides myself and my Barbie doll. The pressure was on because I did not want to embarrass anyone on a magazine that was going to be issued to every NP student's household.

The shopping experience told me a stylist's job is not easy. Shopping is already peanuts compared to directing the shoot, lightening, conceptualizing. I can only imagine! Thank God Nigel helped me so much (love you) and I finished shopping within a day. On the day of shoot, A, Naomi and Wilson were all so great to work with (thank you)! We had fun and most importantly, the students felt comfortable in their outfits. My job was accomplished. As you can see, some of the items were thrifted from Salvation Army! I'm a firm believer that second hand clothes can look just as good.

Ahh, what a pleasantly strange feeling to see myself in print! Pretty sure I stuttered during the interview but hey, a first time to everything right? :)

Feature on Just Another Fashion Magazine

Screenshots of issue 18 on iPad
(Photo courtesy of Just Another Fashion Magazine)

I woke up this morning to find myself on the 18th issue of Just Another Fashion Magazine! What a pleasant surprise to start the day. I cannot agree less with the editor's take on maxi skirts; they are elegant, versatile and flattering on all body shapes. I love them so much because they are so comfortable. Regardless your style, rock a maxi skirt in the way you want! The best part: no need to sacrifice comfort.

(Just Another Fashion Magazine is an interactive magazine for iPads. You can download from the Apple app store at http://itunes.apple.com/app/just-another-fashion-mag/id501209116?mt=8 )