BAZAAR Most Stylish Women 2019: Savina Chai

The past 10 years have seen seismic shifts in the world of fashion and culture at large. Gone is the dictating manner in which fashion used to speak. Today, influence and inspiration bubbles up as much as it trickles down. The speed at which movements now take root and cross-pollinate across cultures and communities would have been unimaginable a decade ago. In many ways, the rise of social media and the digital age has revolutionised the way we access, consume and interact with fashion. At its core, style is still about looking a certain way to telegraph a certain message, but the key components of that message have evolved to centre around the ideas of authenticity, individuality and positivity. To close out this progressive, transformative decade, we’ve chosen to celebrate a group of originals who are as sharp as they are stylish; the ones who march to their own beat while maintaining a certain polish and verve that drives home a uniquely Asian perspective.

Savina Chai

What drives you?

I’m very much driven by my failures. Every time I fail in relationships or career moves, I’m redirected to the right direction and am one step closer to my end goal. It’s okay that my journey takes much longer than others as long as I’m progressing daily.

Do you have any style rules you live by?

No more than three pieces in a total look.

What’s a current favourite piece?

I love the leather culottes from Daniel Lee’s first collection for Bottega Veneta.

What is something you would never wear?

A bandage dress.

Why is fashion powerful?

It brings communities together regardless of nationality, religion or gender. It will always be a powerful incubator of ideas and influence. And recently, the impact of fashion is even more prevalent through important dialogues across sectors pertaining to issues like the climate crisis, diversity, sustainability and politics. It’s definitely beyond just clothing and designer bags.