From The Straits Times    |

Get out of your fashion dry spell even in the Singapore heat: Stay stylish in these comfortable threads, as recommended by eight cool Asian fashion brands.

Now available in store at Robinsons Orchard, these womenswear labels from Singapore, Korea, Malaysia and Thailand feature summer-friendly pieces that will keep you both cool and chic.

8 Stylish summer must-haves from Asian fashion brands
Spring Summer 2014 looks from Cassey Gan (left) and Cruise (right). IMAGE: ROBINSONS ORCHARD

Some of these labels even craft their collections to suit our sunny weather all-year round. Launched by Singapore fashion designer Nic Wong of Saturday, his new Cruise label, like its namesake, embraces a “holiday-friendly” spirit. This translates into loose-fit and comfortable cotton pieces like striped rompers and easy-to-wear chambray dresses.

Malaysian fashion designer Cassey Gan concurs with that need for comfort. Her eponymous label carries predominantly lightweight shift dresses and loose, sleeveless tops in fun mixed-prints; surely an easy way to wear colour blocking too.

Pick up crease-free designs from Singapore fashion label Still for more work-friendly staples; it’s a new womenswear line by Reckless Ericka designer Afton Chen, who has crafted stylish yet unfussy pieces that suit this humid weather too. Then look to the backless dresses and bralets from homegrown brand Stolen for sultry and easy-to-wear looks for your night out.

As Stolen fashion designer and founder Elyn Wong explains, “a very sexy piece needs to be very comfortable when you’re wearing it”, for you to exude confidence while you’re wearing it. Wong understands the need for practicality, putting it simply when she says “there’s no point if the girl who’s wearing it can’t move, stand, sit (with ease) in it.”

8 Stylish summer must-haves from Asian fashion brands
Left to right: Curated by Ek Thongprasert, J Apostrophe, Lie by Lie Sang Bong and One Choi. Images: Robinsons Orchard

Other new-to-Singapore Asian brands in store include the airy and intricate floral pieces by Thai label Curated by Ek Thongprasert, as well as the effortless and minimalist designs from Korean brands J Apostrophe, Lie by Lie Sang Bong and One Choi; you’ll be surprised by how knitwear from the latter can be suitable for Singapore weather too.

Here is our summer hit list, as featured in the video below:

1. Shift dress (Cassey Gan)

2. Romper (Cruise)

3. Chambray shirtdress (Cruise)

4. Striped shirt with elastic detail (Cruise)

5. Sleeveless knit dress (One Choi)

6. Crease-free trench dress (Still)

7. Backless dress with pleated details (Stolen)

8. Black bralet (Stolen)

Watch this video for more details on summer staples and other must-haves from these brands.

Prices start from $79 for a Cassey Gan top and go up to $799 for a jacket from Lie by Lie Sang Bong. Shop for these Spring Summer 2014 collections, now available at Robinsons Orchard Level 2. For more style and shopping ideas, be sure to check out the fashion and shopping pages on herworldPLUS.

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