Eleanor Lee Is Harper’s BAZAAR Singapore’s October 2024 Cover Star

In this hyper connected world that we live in, it’s easy to get obsessed with things rather quickly. When I mention “things”, it can be anything from the latest It bag, holiday destination, song, dish or even toy. The minute you Google something, it’s like being dropped into a never-ending rabbit hole of online search engines with optimised click-ons. Suddenly you are bombarded with said obsession everywhere you go, and you start to think, “Is the world listening to my innermost thoughts?”.

Unfortunately, they are in a way. It’s hard to be secretive in a time where everything can be searched and found in a nanosecond. And so, we decided to dedicate this issue to the world of obsessions—bags, shoes and accessories—because that’s what BAZAAR does best. We curated some of the most highly-desired items and show you how best to style and wear them. Turn to page 42 in our special accessories section to see if the item that you lusted after is listed. If not, we guarantee you will find something else there that will pique your interest.

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And if you have found your treasured bag or shoe, find out how you can transform it into a one-of-a-kind piece, like how global style icon, Heart Evangelista, turned her stained Birkin into a work of art on page 56. Then there’s our Waitlist item: LOEWE’s latest Squeeze bag with American hermit-painter Albert York’s mural of a dog mapped out with caviar beading. There’s also Bottega Veneta’s Sardine bag with a handle that resembles a marble statue; and Francesco Risso’s work at Marni, where the team took everyday separates and applied acrylic paint to the surfaces—all amazing, wearable art that elevates your look.

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Then there’s the obsessive side of the perfect bod; the belief that thinness is next to godliness. The whole Ozempic craze has invaded our consciousness because this miracle drug has given us what we crave: instant gratification and a snatched waist. There are results in the first week of taking this wonder drug. Read about the truth behind these weight-loss drugs on page 70, because as the saying goes, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. On the same thread on beauty, Senior Beauty Editor Arissa Ha questions our Asian obsession with fairness and if it will ever end. Read her story on page 68.

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What about life beyond the material and superficial? Will we ever stop seeking or wanting? Our cover star, Eleanor Lee, has certainly achieved greater and bigger goals since she first appeared on our cover four years ago. She has starred in new dramas and movies, taken on complex and unfamiliar character roles, and released new music that brings her fans deeper into her world. On page 101, she speaks candidly about her struggles with loneliness and depression. Is that too high a price to pay for fame and fortune? You decide. My hope is that you let honesty and transparency be your new obsessions.

—Kenneth Goh, Editor-in-Chief 

Download the digital edition from the App Store, Google Play or Magzter. 

Editor-in-Chief: Kenneth Goh
Photographer: Joel Low
Stylist: Gracia Phang
Fashion: Celine
Model: Eleanor Lee
Makeup: Shaun Lee
Hair: Gary Low / Passion Hair Salon
Photographer’s Assistants: Eddie Teo
Stylist’s Assistants: Crystal Lim