I Want Her Style: Carol Loo and wearing her loud style proudly

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Her World (HW): Describe your style in five words.





Carol Loo (CL): Loud, expressive, maximal, empowering, and proud.





HW: Where do you find your style inspiration?





CL: In the predigital age, Madonna and Kylie Minogue really blazed the way to “Express Yourself” to me. I also vividly remember watching drag queens performing back in the day, and being in awe of them serving looks beyond what I had seen at that time.





HW: How has your style changed?





CL: As I grow closer to my 40s, and having had to deal with postpartum body image, I have come to realise that women should not be ashamed of their bodies. We should not be unnecessarily judged for how we want to dress. So through my style choices, I hope to make a statement.

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HW: Favourite fashion brands?





CL: I love Balmain, Alex Perry, and Tom Ford’s Gucci for their sexy and structural style; Halpern Studio for its bling on bling; Alexander McQueen for its silhouette and impeccable cuts; and Mugler for its celebration of the body and unabashed expression.





HW: What’s your go-to work outfit?





CL: Impeccable tailoring matched only with high heels. It’s a foolproof look for me. I feel like I’m embodying the person I want to be: a modern-day power woman who balances career and family. An exaggerated blazer in a bold colour does have that element of making one stand out in a crowd.





HW: How about your go-to everyday outfit?





CL: You know how people dress for comfort every day and go all out for an occasion? I’m the exact opposite. Spotting me out and about in casual wear is a rare sight.

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HW: Tell us about your career path.





CL: Everything changed when I moved to Shanghai. A start at DDB China took me far beyond what I imagined. I won numerous awards for my projects. Later on, I got promoted to work on Auditoire, an experiential agency under the TBWA group, and grew the team from seven to 180 people during my seven-year tenure there.





I hit another major turning point in my life when I met my husband. Around the same time, I began seeking out work opportunities, which led me to set up Opus, a PR and talent management agency, with my business partner.





When Covid-19 hit, I decided to stay in Singapore and shifted my focus towards the business. In the midst of all this, I became a first-time mother to a wonderful baby boy. Pure joy!





HW: What’s next for you?





CL: I want more success for the next phase of my working life. I like to push myself beyond my comfort zone and limits, to grow even further. So I’ve been busy with developing Opus, while setting up a creative agency arm, Untold by Atlas, also with my partner. I have big dreams for the business. Between that and being a mum, it’s enough to keep me busy for the foreseeable future.

Carol Loo's wardrobe essentials

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1. Functional underwear
Do not knock this! This is every woman’s quintessential staple. It’s so important to have the right undergarments if you’re going to dress up. I never want to be in a situation where I can’t wear a piece I bought because I don’t have the right underwear for it. (It happens more often than you think!)
2. High heels
I never feel fully dressed without a good pair of high heels.
3. Patent leather
It’s sleek, shiny and sexy.
4. Animal prints
If you think about it, they are actually fun neutrals to pair with just about anything.
5. Bodysuits
They are seamless, form-fitting, and work like a dream base layer for numerous outfits.

This article was first published in the December 2021 issue of Her World.