1. Galeri Nila/Galeri Utama/Viridian Art House

This new cluster of art galleries is located side by side at the foot of Fort Canning Park and showcases artworks from a wide range of local and international artists. Currently on show at Galeri Nila and Galeri Utama respectively are nature-inspired paintings by Marisa Keller and Alison Wilson, and watercolor works by Choo Meng Fong. Sculptural works are the mainstays at Viridian, where you can also enjoy pastries and coffee at the cafe after browsing through the works.

2. Garage @ RV

This guerilla concept boutique located on the ground floor of a two-storey shophouse has the industrial look down pat with concrete flooring and an all-glass exterior. Step inside and you'll find a respectable range of covetable mid-priced chinos, jeans, buttoned-down shirts, T-shirts, jackets, knits and shades from brands like People's Market, House of Holland, I Heard They Eat Cigarettes and SUPEr by RETROSUPERFUTURE.

3. Ocouture

A must for fans of designer brands who are unwilling to pay full price. This specialty store gets its stock directly from Europe so prices are extremely marked down. Hugo Boss shirts for men are just $144 upwards. For the ladies, a great range of shoes and huge bags spanning brands like Celine, Lanvin, Mulberry, Prada and YSL ($128 upwards) will do you just fine. We also like the place for its classy black interiors and huge fitting rooms that are great for trying on multiple pieces.

4. Lights

Similar to the plethora of lighting specialists found at Balestier, only better. All the fixtures at this River Valley lightning boutique, especially the giant chandeliers ($3,000 upwards) are adorned with hundreds of Swarovski crystals and are a sight to behold. If you don't intend to break the piggy bank to own one, there are affordable mini versions ($500 upwards) up for grabs.

5. Five & Dime

A tidy little spot along River Valley Road with undeniably charming decor—mint green wooden chairs, a bar counter with sweet treats in glass stands and a bright red coffee machine that's reminiscent of Aussie cafes. Western dishes like fish and chips and Japanese-inspired items such as braised Kurobota pork belly with cha soba ($25) are not bad. But we're more in favor of the very moist banana cake studded with chocolate chunks ($6) here.

6. La Villa

Set in the former River Valley Primary School, this restaurant by the Senso Group has a beautiful setting. A tranquil, bright interior overlooks a small garden and field, with tables outside for a refreshing alfresco option. The food is pretty good, especially its seared tuna loin with spaghetti vongole. Still one of our favorite places to wine and dine after all these years.

7. Toni & Guy

For the latest in hair trends, look no further. Let the always funky hair maestros do their magic at this spot that comes replete with stylish black counters and moody yellow lighting. Go for an edgy Mohawk look or a sleek, solid bowl outline that will set you apart from the crowd if you dare ($59 upwards). Otherwise, simply get your hair washed ($49 upwards) after all that walking about.

8. Dream

This interior furnishing specialist certainly lives up to its name. The 18,000 square feet two-storey space features an eclectic range of mostly contemporary European design furniture and deco pieces. Browse through room after room filled with brands spanning Cassina, Sancal, Knoll and Asplund. Highlights include the quirky Tati cloth rack by Asplund ($1,844) and Air sofa by Sancal ($12, 727).

9. Icon Gallery

Founded by expat Brits James and Esther Walton, this art space is one of the few places where you can get your hands on music-inspired original artworks, fine art prints, photographs and sporting memorabilia. Highlights include original photographs by Celia Philo for David Bowie's iconic Aladdin Sane album ($1,200-6,000) and a black and white photograph featuring both Muhammad Ali and The Beatles ($6,000).

10. The Body Firm

End your journey here for a much deserved pampering. Wind down with a 60-minute Lavender facila treatment ($88) or indulge in the 90-minute Sheer Indulgence package ($185), which includes using warm Manuka honey to massage your face. Pedi and mani are also available at just $29 and $39 respectively.

What turns me on? A perfectly grilled piece of lightly salted saba fish because it is not easy to make. It is an art form.

MSG, which I fondly call “MSN,“ makes me sick because it is so pervasive in Asian cooking, particularly Chinese food.

I see the funny side of everything in life and I try not to take myself too seriously either. This is evident in all my work—from my stuff in MTV to my films and in the TV series that I’ve created.

After watching one particularly tear-jerking Taiwanese movie, my mother with eyes swollen from crying said to me in Cantonese, “Life is bitter enough. Why did I pay to watch something so bitter?” She made a lot of sense.

I never understood why I was constantly told to be more serious when I was young. The ability to laugh at myself is probably one of my better qualities. I hope.

Memories and dreams make me soar.

Shoes bring me back down to earth.

Anything that requires dedication, concentration and skills to reach perfection is sexy to me.

As a kid, I wanted to change the world for the better through revolution. I still do, but now my revolution is creating unique entertainment content that increases the happiness quotient of global viewers.

Happiness is infectious. The positive energy that it creates, relaxes and energizes me and often the byproduct is really creative thoughts.

I live to create more stories, characters, different worlds and ideas that entertain while making viewers pause and think about various issues in life.

The TV pilot that I have just completed for new TV series Almost is a good example of my work. It deals with characters that, unbeknownst to them, are living in an alternate universe.

This oyster smells funny… oh well, you only live once. Here goes. Slurp.

Following the resurgence in local fashion brands at Men’s Fashion Week and Audi Fashion Festival, a new wave of local designers are blazing the trail with their brave, bold creations. We pick four most worthy to part you from your moolah.
 

MILS
Who: Founder/designer Sunny Lim participated at the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Australia last month, and his collections will hit stores in New York later this year, making him the most promising designer of the lot. Following in the footsteps of the now defunct Woods & Woods, Lim creates contemporary classic pieces for men with a clever juxtaposition of fabrics.

“I am greatly inspired by literature, social constructs and history,” he says.

For his next Spring/Summer collection, for example, Lim was inspired by Brit author Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. “I juxtaposed translucency from high tech dintex fabrics overlaying paneled shirts with irregular collars to create a very utilitarian look.”

Must-buys: For the current season, made-to-order leather jackets ($1,000) and jumpers in black cotton garbandine ($235), while for Spring/Summer 2013 (pre-orders available), waterproof jackets ($199) and made-to-order leather pants ($600).

Where: Parco Next NEXT

Evenodd
Who: Another designer with a penchant for audacious menswear creations withan emphasis on streamlining the male figure, former stylist Samuel Wong’s genre-bending pieces are a hoot. “The brand came about when I was designing clothes for myself to wear to events,” says Wong. “I realized there was a gap between edgy and more wearable, minimal-type pieces in Singapore as everyone is so obsessed with the preppy look. Hence, I wanted to create something completely different.” Indeed, Wong’s philosophy of integrating masculine and feminine elements results in shirts, T-shirts, shorts, pants, blazers, jackets and even ponchos with a twist—with shirts particularly so, fused with flared, emphasized waistlines.

Must-buys: The new collection of Autumn/Winter drops from the brand’s Black line of T-shirts and accessories ($69 upwards), as well as the current range of shirts ($149 upwards) that will make you a standout anywhere.

Where: Blackmarket and Parco Next NEXT

Lion Earl
Who: Marrying fashion and architectural elements to dazzling effect, womenswear designers Lionel Low and Hariz create show-stopping, sensuous dresses that echo renowned local couturier Ashley Isham’s equally elaborate pieces. “For the current season, we came up with a narrative of a tree lady who was forced to leave her forest due to deforestation and urbanization,” says Low.

Key pieces include a dress and a skirt that were hand-beaded for more than 50 hours each. “The fabrics were then frayed to create a fringe that resembled the visual effect of the branches and roots of willow trees,” he adds. “There is also a piece with a deep plunging neckline gown with over 200 hand dyed buttons and a four-meter long train.” Ooh la la.

Must-buys: The above elaborate masterpieces aside, the upcoming Fall/Winter collection features a white chiffon dress with faux fur trimmings and a vest with playful fox motifs—definitely another stunner (all $700 upwards).

Where: Parco Next NEXT

ZAAK
Who: Informed by the works of fashion designers Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada, the brand by Daion Lim pushes the style envelope with its uncompromising take on accessories and womenswear. “I’ve always believed that any piece of design must be able to evoke emotions, whether good or bad,” says Lim. For his latest collection, Lim chose to focus on the silhouette and cut and also play on the impracticality of clothes. “Friends always harp on how everything has to be practical and it really annoys me,” he says. “So I placed pockets—some oversized and up to four—on a sleeveless top or moved the pockets to the front of pants as well.” Very bold indeed.

Must-buys: Chunky accessories and bags ($59 upwards) that are inspired by Lim’s recent trip to Dhaka, Bangladesh. “I was really interested in the strong colors, as well as their use of raw materials, in particular how they manage to weave plastic fabrics into their bags,” he says.

Where: Threadbare & Squirrel

Quite possibly the most provocative and: sexually-charged art exhibition in recent memory, the clued-in folks at indie art space Vue Privee have outdone themselves with their latest group show Tokyo Erotika. Featuring the works of Spanish photographer Xavier Comas, Japanese painter Emi Uchida and Singapore-based French-Australian collage artist K-Narf, the exhibition is an uninhibited journey into Japanese sexuality. It evokes the mood of pioneering photographer Nobuyoshi Araki, whose depiction of Japanese in various states and acts of undress was deemed pornography.

“Sexuality in Japan has developed separately from mainland Asia as it did not adopt the Confucian view of marriage; the belief that marriage was an important part of life, as it brought clans of different surnames together,” says Olivier Henry, founder of Vue Privee and curator of the exhibition.

Monogamy in marriage was unpopular in old Japan and married men often maintained relationships with courtesans. Since medieval times, sexuality in Japanese culture has evolved. “Ancient art forms depicting the act have been modernized and replaced by more contemporary forms such as anime to create a wide tapestry of works,” Henry adds.

Fusing diverse elements through various mediums, the works will get viewers hot under the collar. Uchida reinterprets the ancient art form of Jiuta-mai, a secretive Japanese classical dance of obscure origins enjoyed only by Japanese nobles and superiors in ancient times, through her series of oil on cotton tapestry and pen and ink on paper works.

Photographer Comas documents his relationship with a Japanese Jiutamai dancer, capturing her essence in sensual and private moments that are as intimate as they are titillating. Meanwhile, K-Narf has a bit more fun with a series of wild and imaginative collage works, artist’s own photographic shots.

“The artists are extremely bold with their glorious interpretations, each from dissimilar cultures and varying perspectives on sexuality in Japan,” Henry says. “Their true desires may or may not match what one shows to society or the people around them, and that’s what makes them so interesting.”

The Tokyo Erotika exhibition is on through June 29 at Vue Privee.

Little Drom Store
Old memories come rushing back as you step into The Little Dröm Store: Tin toys, vintage fashion, retro knick knacks, old cameras, mini pots of glue from your old school bookshop and more. Prices range from $8 for its oh-so-cute knick knacks to $65 and above for books, fashion and cameras. For those with a sweet tooth, the store shares space with k-ki which offers some heavenly sweets.

Oakham Market
This is literally an underground vintage boutique, open only on Saturdays and Sundays from noon, and located just below Little Drom Store. Green and white walls, parquet floors and neatly arranged racks of apparel bathed in warm lighting greet you at the bottom of two flights of stairs. The spacious layout of the store makes for a pleasant shopping experience, where items are conveniently sorted into three categories—Thrift, Premium and Vintage. All thrift goods are priced at a pocket‑friendly $16.95 onwards.

Stevie General Store
You will find loads of arts and antiques, such as books, eyewear, lamps, tin toys, watches, silverware and every other item imaginable in this very special place founded by store owner Hwee Yee who sourced for the various collectibles from Singapore to Japan to the US. Highlights here include vintage Levi’s jackets (from $90) and quaint table lamps (from $200).