New year, new you? Whether you’re due for a closet clean-out or simply want to shop more sensibly in the year ahead, resolution season’s energy can burn bright and fast. So if you’re in need of some fashion motivation to get re-inspired and kickstart your resolve, what better way to do so than by getting a shift in style mindset? Ahead, we picked the brains of local creatives to hear about their style predictions, intentions and how they plan on making the most of their wardrobe in 2022.
Silas Oo, artist and model
BURO: What are three must-have pieces in your forever wardrobe?
Silas: “Firstly, a good pair of black leather boots, something with a good fit that’s comfortable enough for daily wear, with good construction, and a versatile and visually pleasing silhouette. These should last you a good ten years at minimum if you find the right pair and take good care of them. Next would be a well fitting pair of trousers or jeans. I enjoy quality, artisanal construction and materials with every garment so naturally I’d want that in my trousers. Choice of cut is always going to change with the times but I think a slim fit will always remain the most versatile and reliable.”
“My third must-have would have to be a good casual jacket. Like trousers, it would have to be something fitted and versatile, but with quality construction and rugged, heavy yet breathable fabric that would age and break in with the wearer.”
BURO: How would you describe your personal style today? Has it changed in the last year?
Silas: “It has definitely changed, or at least refined. I used to wear more vintage styles, pulling from different eras in fashion, but I’ve pulled away from that and moved more towards the avant-garde in the past couple years, focusing on more artisanal details and construction, as well as interesting silhouettes. In short, I try to study and collect from designers I find interest in.”
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BURO: What’s one fashion trend we should leave behind in 2021, and what do you think will be big in fashion for 2022?
Silas: “I think formalities have been and need to continue to be blurred as we move towards the future. Fashion is no longer just a means to ‘look good’ or ‘attract a partner’. It can be a luxury, an art-form; a means to live out a fantasy or participate in a community. I think the trend to break is normalcy––gender norms, style norms, so called ‘rules’. Come on, we’re way past that now. This is the future.”
“As for what I believe will be big in fashion this year, I think sci-fi- and fantasy-inspired fashion will flourish. There are already so many designers taking inspiration from fictional characters; cartoons, cyborgs, aliens, video games. All kinds of mind-bending and lucrative textiles, silhouettes and details are being explored and boundaries being pushed. It’s insane, and I look forward to the madness.”
BURO: What’s the most-worn item in your wardrobe right now and why?
Silas: “A pair of Nike Air Force 1. They’re heavily worn, with paint and grime splattered all over them as I wear them to work in. They’re not my favourite article of clothing but they’re comfy and get the job done.”
BURO: What are your fashion resolutions and/or creative goals for the year ahead?
Silas: “I want to build a capsule wardrobe filled with a lot more intention and quality pieces. Things to invest in and not replace, that will appreciate and age beautifully. All of this includes decluttering; getting rid of a ton of things I don’t want or need; getting more in tune with my own tastes and design philosophies; saving up for pieces and buying less often; and of course documenting the process, hopefully.”
BURO: What changes do you hope to see in fashion for 2022 and beyond?
Silas: “I hope to see less consumption and consequently less production overall, especially when it comes to things like fast fashion. There are so many factors that people tend to close an eye to when looking for ‘the look for less’––things like quality or durability, labor costs, design integrity, originality, ethical sourcing, and so much more. With social media platforms becoming so incredibly prevalent in marketing and consumption (fashion being an extremely major part of it), it has never been more pertinent to be intentional and considerate in our spending and purchasing habits.”
Veen Dee Tan, co-founder of Hanya
BURO: What are three must-have pieces in your forever wardrobe?
Veen Dee: “Blazer, low cut tanks and a pair of good jeans.”
BURO: How would you describe your personal style today? Has it changed in the last year?
Veen Dee: “Definitely making business casual cute. I guess my style has changed, in a way that I opted for more oversized silhouettes and less playful items. I no longer shop for skimpy outfits because I am not sure if it’s legal for a 32 years old to dress up in butterfly print lilac halter top. But let me know––asking for a friend.”
BURO: What’s one fashion trend we should leave behind in 2021, and what do you think will be big in fashion for 2022?
Veen Dee: “Checkered outfits (my unpopular opinion). I think pleats and colour blocking will be big in 2022 as it was shown across many shows during the Spring/Summer 2022 season via brands like Dior, Valentino and Fendi––to name a few.”
BURO: What’s the most-worn item in your wardrobe right now and why?
Veen Dee: ” The boyfriend shirt and blazer because it brings out the girl boss energy in me whenever I need to pick myself up. You can never go wrong in them.”
BURO: What are your fashion resolutions and/or creative goals for the year ahead?
Veen Dee: “More colours! And get fitter, not skinnier but fitter!”
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BURO: What changes do you hope to see in fashion for 2022 and beyond?
Veen Dee: “More sustainable approaches in the fashion scene. I see many brands claim to be sustainable but being sustainable is not just about the materials used during the production process but the entire ecosystem. It goes down to the waste we create during the creation process; minimum wage and age for workers; as well as packaging and promises to the community. I plan to create more upcycled pieces for Hanya to gain more awareness of sustainability, so fingers crossed!”
READ: Conscious fashion: 7 Malaysian labels keeping the planet and the people in mind
Nazreem Musa, digital creator
BURO: What are three must-have pieces in your forever wardrobe?
Nazreem: “Navy blue blazer, bootcut jeans and a comfortable pair of leather boots.”
BURO: How would you describe your personal style today? Has it changed in the last year?
Nazreem: “It hasn’t really changed. I feel like my personal style has been the same for the past 10 years. It has always been androgynous, edgy and comfortable.”
BURO: What’s one fashion trend we should leave behind in 2021, and what do you think will be big in fashion for 2022?
Nazreem: “Hair scrunchies. I think a lot of people tried bringing it back in homage to the lockdown we all went through in the past two years, but I don’t see it. Definitely not in 2022.”
BURO: What’s the most-worn item in your wardrobe right now and why?
Nazreem: “Basically all my hoodie co-ords. I feel like that was my official lockdown uniform throughout 2020 to 2021. I sleep, eat, and repeat in my hoodie and sweat suits. It is almost illegal how comfortable I get in them.”
BURO: What are your fashion resolutions and/or creative goals for the year ahead?
Nazreem: “I look forward to supporting small businesses and young up-and-coming designers, especially ones in Malaysia. We have so many talented artists and I’m already eyeing a few. Another resolution would be to share more #OOTD photos with my followers and trying something new every other week.”
BURO: What changes do you hope to see in fashion for 2022 and beyond?
Nazreem: “Gender-fluid fashion. I feel like it is already happening slowly. Gender-fluid fashion is becoming more accepted and advertised within the mainstream media today. I just hope it’ll stay as is or even more so in the future.”
Deanni, fashion stylist
BURO: What are three must have pieces in your forever wardrobe?
Deanni: “It’s hard to say because I have so many important pieces in my closet! If I had to choose, it would be a pair of platform boots, a skirt, and an oversized jacket. I feel like these pieces are essential to me no matter where I go, and I could wear them with almost everything.”
BURO: How would you describe your personal style today? Has it changed in the last year?
Deanni: “I think that my style today is completely different than it was a year ago, and that goes for every year before that. Today, I’d say that I’ve become more into gothic and punk fashion: I’ve started to wear more boots, more eyeliner, more darker colours, but I still keep elements of my style from previous years such as by layering pieces and wearing oversized clothes.”
BURO: What’s one fashion trend we should leave behind in 2021, and what do you think will be big in fashion for 2022?
Deanni: “It’s difficult for me to answer this, because I don’t usually keep up with the yearly trends in fashion and focus on elevating my own personal style. As for this year’s prediction, I think that there would be a comeback of wearing loud colours that pop out like the 70s or 80s era, unlike the muted/dark colours that we see a lot of today. That would be really exciting to see!”
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BURO: What’s the most worn item in your wardrobe right now and why?
Deanni: “It would definitely have to be my platform boots. I literally wear them everyday, or any pair of boots! I don’t know why really, but after getting my first pair, I got obsessed with owning and wearing different boots, it makes me feel comfortable and empowering in them! (It also makes me taller hehe.)”
BURO: What are your fashion resolutions and/or creative goals for the year ahead?
Deanni: “Personally, I’d love to explore of my own style and implementing different styles––going out of my current comfort zone, especially. Other than that, I hope to work with more brands that understand my style and share the same vision as me, because that’s one of my favourite parts of my job.”
BURO: What changes do you hope to see in fashion for 2022 and beyond?
Deanni: “I think I’d love to see more people exploring their own styles, without the need to follow the latest trends. I also hope for more support for sustainable fashion, and more incorporation of that in big fashion.”
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