The excitement in the Tent@Orchard was palpable. Diane von Furstenberg, the Belgian-born American designer whose initials are synonymous with female empowerment, was due to present her fall/winter 2015 collection at Singapore Fashion Week in front of a 730-strong crowd.
41 years ago, it was a wrap dress that launched von Furstenberg’s career. Last night, it was a variation of this versatile icon–modelled by our very own Sheila Sim, no less–which marked the beginning of a yearly event integral to Singapore's fashion scene. We couldn’t have asked for a better start to the week.
Singapore top model, Sheila Sim
Those who are up-to-date with the international fashion calendar would've known that yesterday's show was a repeat telecast—von Furstenberg had already shown the clothes during New York Fashion Week in February this year. Still, to see the looks (all 37 of them) in action right before your very eyes drove home von Furstenberg's message of power dressing–especially one that transitions effortlessly from day to night.
A masculine suit drenched in an electric shade of blue and a polka dotted jumpsuit with pin striped chiffon sleeves denoted a sense of authority that proved alluring. Elsewhere, flirty evening dresses that came with sexy cut-outs or lace details seduced and enthralled. And what’s a DVF show without some wrap dresses? Von Furstenberg delivered newfangled versions in tweed or embellished with flowers. At the end of the night, however, it was the opening white-and-black number that felt most definitive of von Furstenberg’s legacy.