Jeanmarie Says: Enough of the multicultural 3-in-1 (read: rojak) ethnic influences or Vanda Miss Joaquim prints.
This year, somebody on the Miss Singapore Universe (MSU) committee had a brain wave. And finally, we get to see the Merlion, a beloved Singapore icon, be the inspiration to this year’s MSU national costume worn by winner Shenise Wong.
There’s so much potential to go deliciously avant garde, and I was hoping for something similar to what Project Runway winner Christian Siriano would design for his runway shows. You know, fierce and fabulous. The result, however, although not horrific, was also not great.
Sure, every fashionista has an opinion, but it basically looks like a mermaid dress, especially since there’s no “lion” element - maybe that could be incorporated somehow before Shenise makes her way to Vietnam in mid-July for the grand finals. Kudos to 18-year-old student designer Hafiz for trying his best though. And hey, at least it’s something we’ve never seen before.
More points to him for his playful sense of humour too. When I asked him what other local icon could possibly inspire next year’s outfit, he blurted out Ah Meng. Orang-utan fur coat, anyone?
Tell Us: What do you think of Shenise’s Merlion-inspired national costume? What do you think Singapore’s national costume should be at the Miss Universe pageant?
You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.
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LETTERS VIA E-MAIL
The dress that miss singapore universe Shenise wong will be wearing to the international finals, may be different but I don’t think it will be a hit. The scales are a little too tacky and the previous dresses look a lot better. I think Singapore should allow younger designers to make the dress to show that singapore is a young nation with great young talents! this way, young hopefuls like me get chances to design something for the country and also gain experience in designing for big clients. Making them prepared for their desired future.
Dildeep Kaur
Firstly I would like to CONGRATS the designer who had comes out with that beautiful design.
My opinion is the guy has done his best to come out with those design. I could see the elegance in Shenise Wong when I saw her wearing the costume on the news.
I don’t think the designer deserve a critism as he had put his heart and soul to it.
He is onli 18 and yet he could design an awesome costume. So, professional fashion designer should not criticise his design BUT to encourage and improve his design if needed to. We, as a Singaporean should appreciate young talent like him. Nowadays majority of the population think that youngsters cant work. But they are totally wrong.
Thats my opinion.
Syahirah
I refer to the recent post about the Merlion-inspired national costume that Miss Singapore Universe will be wearing to the international finals next month.
I have to admit that the dress certainly caught my attention when I first saw it in the papers. The concept was innovational and broke away from the conventional orchid prints, multi-ethnic inspired costumes we usually see.
However, while the concept was daring and inspirational, the execution and the outcome was a fashion disaster.
The silver Merlion dress, complete with ’scales’ on the body of the dress, flare at the bottom and ‘birdnest’ hairstyle, could not bring out the elegance and uniqueness Ms Singapore Universe is supposed to portray. In one recent report, Ms Shenise Wong mentioned that she felt like a mermaid and was comfortable in the dress. But just ask any lady with a fashion sense if she would like to wear this on an international stage, the most likely answer would be no.
Taking a symbol of Singapore and incorporating the essence of it onto a piece of art, such as a national dress, is great. But do it subtly with the right application. Being creative is good but being too creative does make the creation loses its focus.
A national dress expresses an identity through costumes which relate to the uniqueness of the country. No one could diminish the fact that the Merlion is a symbol of Singapore. But there are many other symbols that make us unqiue, such as our culture, our heritage, our food, our multi-ethnic society, etc….Choose something that can be better represented.
One example would be the orchid. The costume need not have loud orchid prints all over it. But by studying the essence of an orchid, it is not hard to work on factors like colour tone, flareness, vibrant, etc….It can just be a simple one piece long flowy dress with subtle colour tones of an orchid incorporated.
The Merlion dress is just over-doing it.
Karen Tan
Hi, i m sure its going to be eye catching at the pageant! At last we have our uniquely ours and singapore costume! Forget about those rojak costume ever year!
Supporter of Merlion Costume
YOU’re saying WHAT?? THIS is WHAT MISS SINGAPORE will be DONNING? AND no sparkly bits? Where’s the fun in that?If you’re asking whether it’s any better this year, I think it’s not. And it doesn’t even take a fashion expert to think it’s not a “splash”. At a glance, I thought it was a dress made of recycled products. Maybe by the fact that it looked tacky. The scales that is! Upon reading and realising what this dress really meant for, it brought utter disappointment that we couldn’t have created a better dress than this ‘get-together’. Truthfully, I’m awed that the Merlion has conjured an inspiration this time round but not when it turned out this way. It doesn’t even outshine our Miss Singapore. There’s no element of elegance and lacking in richness and boldness of creativity. Furthermore, the designer must keep in mind to accentuate her figure and not flaw it. The layer of the fabric below made her appear stocky.
If this is the most that we can portray then we’re doomed. We’re seriously in need of more creative heads.*Scoffs* A plain evening dress would have passed off better. What I feel is that while the designer is trying to be different this time round, there’s not much difference from a merlion costume a 10-year old girl might wear for NDP. Short of fine embellishments, it looked too easy and raw; it couldn’t have been a designer’s work. Merlion-inspired is fine but not looking nearly like it. If she don the lion head she’ll already look like it! It’d better fit for a mascot theme than the national dress. We’re really not artless people though. What a shame!
Aziyyatie Zaimie
I found your writeup on the Singapore costume interesting and would like to make some alternative suggestion.
In my mind it incorporates everything about Singapore - from ethnic groups, to Merlion to Orchids, without looking too weird.
Singapore is just so cosmopolitant that we need to think beyond our shores and try to “internationalise” our National Costume, yet without losing touch with our heritage.
The small, beaded scales motiffs sprinkled subtlely gives the outfit detail symbolizing the Merlion scales without being too overwhelming. The beadwork reflects our Peranakan Heritage, which has, in the past been neglected. Also, the finishing should enable the outfit to look elegant and sophisticated.Details should be present,yet simple and NOT loud. Use of excellent, high-quality fabric like pure silk and Swarokski crystals for the beadwork would help take the outfit into couture ranks.
Using the big applique scales as in the design on Pg27, however, makes the costume look like a cheap, patchwork “Getai” piece or something out of a creatures of the deep comic book! The dangling earrings and strange hairclips add to the busy-ness of the whole appearance. A simple pair of stud earrings and a single strand short necklace to complement the beadwork on the outfit could be a better choice.
The hairdo, on Pg 27 is a definite NO-NO! It makes poor Shenise look like she is having a really bad-hair day. Let us not embarass Singapore like that!
Angeline Bick
From my perspective, the dress has failed to reveal its true identity. And because of this, it fails to reflect the culture, the spirit and the value of our society. For those who don’t know Singapore well, they may actually think that we are designing a ‘mermaid-like’ costume, which make no sense and meaning.
Last year’s costume was already a rubbish - this year’s design was even more rubbish. There is no doubt that Shenise Wong certainly has the looks and the poise to compete in the international stage but her dress has spoilt everything. In short, her good looks (face and body figure) are not compatible with the dress. Hence, I believe the 1.73m beauty does not deserve this kind of ‘trash’.
Yew Choong
Here’s my unequivocal support to Hafiz for his Merlion design. A costume design which will be paraded in any pageantry should have the following I think:-
1. A reflection of the Country’s heritage, history or tradition.
2. A work that does not shout “over the top” although blandness is a no no.
3. Exquisite and when shown off by the wearer leaves an impression that reflects her beauty, charm and elegance.
In this instance, Hafiz’s design has tick all the right columns in my book. It is chic without being unappropriate for an event such as this. Shenice carries it of very beautifully.
Part of the Miss Universe participant’s work at that event is to promote our country, hence I hope the dress will in its small way convey the story of a burgeoning sea port that has grown to tremendously now.
A costume that pays tribute to our heritage. Thumbs up and Kudos to Hafiz and Shenice. Do Singapore proud!!
Bell
