In a world rife with crazy politics, fake news, plastic pollution and phone addiction (just four out of a whole lot of issues), the 21st-century woman can either fight or take flight. Well, we choose the former.
Scroll to see our survivalist gear picks – from a watch that accompanied James Cameron down to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, to reusable straws for eco-conscious.
ALSO READ: THE BUSY GIRL’S GUIDE TO ALL TYPES OF ACTIVEWEAR AND HOW THEY BOOST YOUR WORKOUT
This feature was first published in the October 2018 issue of Her World.
PHOTOGRAPHY KENNETH WONG, ASSISTED BY HIFZHAN/STILLS NETWORK
STYLING BRYAN GOH
HAIR CHRISTVIAN GOH/ARX, USING KEVIN.MURPHY
MAKEUP WEE MING, USING CHANEL
MODEL TALIA/MANNEQUIN
Protective gear to fend off all the elements: Balenciaga has you covered with not just one coat but two.
Nylon canvas coat (worn outermost), $11,080, nylon and canvas cost (this has five layer; the innermost black layer has down insulation), $10,140, wool turtleneck, $1,870, and silk dress (worn under), $4,410, Balenciaga. Plastic sunglasses, $380, Oakley.
Prada started Linea Rossa as a line of sunglasses in 1997. Relaunched this year, it has evolved into a high-fashion-meets-high-performance gender-neutral line. It draws on its origins in 1990s sportswear, but is built for 2018 needs. The refreshed range offers outerwear, footwear and specialty clothing like skiwear and snowboarding wear. Each piece features Prada’s iconic Linea Rossa emblem – a streak of red.
Nylon vest, $2,720, nylon skirt, $18,530, and polyester sneakers, $1,340, Prada. Plastic sunglasses, $380, Oakley. Naturehike PVC swimming float/waterproof bag, $17.50, Outside.
The new materials used for Prada’s Linea Rossa line include conductive nanotech for effective body-temperature regulation; graphene and recycled polyester for padding; water repellent Gore-tex Pro microfibre; and the ultra-light, highly abrasion-resistant, and super-thin Nylon 3L. Prada has also renamed its Tela Tecnica sportswear fabric – it’s now called Tela Tecnica Pro, for its anti-wind and waterproof properties.
Nylon parka, $4,580, Prada. Big Bang Meca-10 ceramic watch, $31,300, Hublot.
The ultimate survivalist watch, Rolex’s Oyster Perpetual Deepsea is famous for being the first (and only) timepiece to survive the crushing pressure of the Mariana Trench, the deepest point of the Pacific Ocean, at 10,916m. This year, it gets an upgrade – aesthetically and mechanically. The bracelet is wider, and the watch is now equipped with Rolex’s cutting edge calibre 3235, which offers improved precision, power reserve, reliability, and resistance to shocks and magnetism.
This boot is not just made for walking. It has a neon pink nylon gaiter for maximum visibility (especially useful at night), and thick sawtooth rubber soles for ultimate protection and slip-resistance.
$2,160, Prada.
Part of being a good survivalist is making eco-friendly choices, like opting for faux fur instead of real.
Coat, $7,100, and PU leather belt, $1,100, Givenchy. Fjallraven cotton cap, $69, Outside.
The world isn’t dystopian yet, but this jacket with removable and reversible parts (the lapels and inner shearling gilet can be detached, and the latter can also be worn inside out) will survive anything – or just offer you lots of variety (even if you are unimaginative, you can wear it six ways).
Lambskin-blend coat, $4,330, silk dress, $1,905, and velvet boots, $1,525, Longchamp.
To prevent dystopia from being a reality, stop using anything in non-reusable plastic. Dutch label Susan Bijl’s ripstop nylon bags are almost indestructible, and are made of the same lightweight materials used for hot-air balloons and parachutes.
Ripstop nylon bag, $49 for a large bag, and $39 for a small one, Kapok. Plastic sunglasses, $380, Oakley.
You may need to kick butt in a hostile world. Doc Marten-inspired boots in black are contenders for the best footwear for doing just that.
From top: Patent leather boots, $1,370, Tod’s. Leather boots with metal plates (price unavailable), Giuseppe Zanotti. Calfskin boots, $2,970, Roger Vivier.
For the urban survivor, a backpack is a necessity. This one – with two side pockets and interior pockets – from MCM can also be hand-carried by its tubular top handles.
Stadt lambskin backpack in medium, $1,680, MCM.
Fight the good eco fight: Say no to plastic straws, or use reusable stainless steel ones. The straw pictured here is from local social enterprise Seastainable Co, and it comes in two sizes – Regular and Bubble Tea, both available in a set with two brushes for cleaning the straws, and a pouch of recycled linen to hold everything, for $7.50. The brand promises that 50 per cent of its sale profits will be channeled to marine conservation groups.
Polyester puffer jacket, $679, viscose dress, $489, and wool-blend turtleneck, $229, Calvin Klein Jeans. Acetate sunglasses, $1,020, Chanel. Silicone and plastic watch, $167, Swatch.
To tackle life’s challenges, an all-terrain timepiece is pretty handy – not as handy as a Swiss army knife, but still good to have. Tag Heuer‘s Aquaracer Calibre 5 Titanium has a highly scratch resistant bezel and a Grade 2 titanium case. It’s water-resistant to 300m, and built for all kinds of extreme conditions, not just diving and other seafaring activities.
In two colourways (Arctic camouflage, pictured here, and Khaki, each with a matching Nato strap), $3,950 each. Nylon and canvas coat, $4,240, Balenciaga. Plastic sunglasses (price unavailable), Oakley.
