I Want Her Style: Gabriella Chong and how her amazing shoe collection

What does personal style mean to you? To many, it’s more than just the clothes off their backs — it’s the freedom to express who they are on the inside before even saying a word. While we all have a personal sense of style, no two individuals are exactly the same when it comes to the way they dress. In this column I Want Her Style, we speak to the stylish individuals of Singapore, and find out what makes their minds tick when it comes to fashion, and the people who inspire them.

Frustrated with being confined to her home during the lockdown in 2020, Gabriella Chong found escapism through her clothes. She missed going out for meals, travelling, and wearing all her fabulous outfits and accessories, so she decided she would just wear them for fun and started taking pictures to post on social media.

After a while, she realised that video content was a better way to showcase her outfits, and some of her cute styling videos have since amassed over 123,000 views on Instagram.

Gabriella’s fashion philosophy is pretty simple: Wear whatever makes you happy and confident. “You should always dress for yourself, and no one else,” says the former Sinetron (Indonesian soap opera) actress.

Perhaps that’s why she is such a huge fan of Bottega Veneta. “I love the brand’s philosophy of simplicity. It’s understated yet recognisable. And of course, the quality and workmanship of the products are impeccable,” she says.

While she’s clearly a fan of Daniel Lee (and is saddened by his short tenure), Gabriella was already a faithful customer of the brand during Tomas Maier’s reign, citing the Cabat as one her favourite bags. Today, her Bottega Veneta collection has expanded even more. The proud owner of a few Jodie handbags, the Double Knot bag, Cassette flap bag and Teen pouch, she is also a big fan of the Stretch heel and counts it as her current favourite accessory.

Says the shoe lover, who owns about 80 pairs of shoes:

Besides her exquisite taste in fashion, Gabriella boasts a beautiful head of long wavy tresses. And if you’re wondering how this 32-year-old mother of two boys never seems to have a bad hair day, well that’s because she’s a big fan of Jose Eber hairstyling products (her company brought the brand to Singapore in 2015). “I started as a Jose Eber customer and I was so amazed by the quality and performance of the products,” she gushes.

This year, she has plans to expand Jose Eber into South-east Asia through her multi-label online beauty store Gamoda. Besides managing Jose Eber and a few other brands, Gabriella has also recently launched sunglasses and accessories label Ellamar, inspired by her late mother who, according to Gabriella, is the most stylish woman she knows.

“Always better dressed than everyone else, and so effortlessly stylish,” she says proudly. Well, we can see where she got her great taste in fashion from.

Here, Gabriella shares with Her World some useful tips and tricks on how to be the best version of yourself.

DO YOUR LIPS A SERVICE

1/5

“Lazy makeup tip: Just put on your lipstick and head out! You can’t go wrong with a matte red lip.”

BE A SQUARE

2/5

“Only when it comes to sunglasses. It flatters every face shape.”

WEAR A CROWN

3/5

“When I’m lazy to style my hair, I love putting on fanciful headbands. It just transforms your look from blah to wow in an instant!”

BORROW FROM THE BOYS

4/5

“Your lover’s shirt is yours too. Wear it and own it!”

BUY BLUE DENIM

5/5

“There’s something about denim-on-denim that’s just so effortless and cool. Great for days when you don’t know what to wear.”

This article first appeared in the February 2022 issue of Her World.