Women's Fashion Week preview gala night

What can I say - my first red carpet experience, and also possibly my last. It felt so surreal to stand on the red carpet, super dressed up in my Danny L. couture gown and facing at least 10 flashing camera bulbs. On a stage, no less. I thought it was pretty democratic of Dr. Frank Cintamani to have the event such that even non-fashion people, and even some of the public can experience such a phenomenal feeling - the feeling that you are a STAR.

Lotus shaped ArtScience museum at Marina Bay Sands

The red carpet with a sculpture of Dali's melting clock at the right

Inside the museum - registration

Inside the ArtScience Museum - enjoyed the Dali & Van Gogh exhibitions

My friends Lina & Joven and me on the left

Joanne Peh exuding Old Hollywood glamour! 

Celebrity stylist Karen Ng & designer Ashley Isham

Fiona Xie & Utt!

Even though Tom Hanks, Zhang Ziyi and other A list celebrities did not appear as promised (they were at Shaw Lido for the premiere of Larry Crowne though), it was a night full of glitter as the ArtScience museum at the Marina Bay Sands was dressed up for the occasion. The 3 local coutouriers - Thomas Wee, Ashley Isham and Frederick Lee - did not disappoint with incredible designs and exquisite detailing and workmanship during the couture fashion showcase as well.

The Occulus inside the museum converted to a runway!

Thomas Wee

Ashley Isham

Frederick Lee's extravagant couture

All the looks from Frederick Lee

My favourite among the 3 designers was Thomas Wee - the first collection that showed among the three. Despite only using only neutral colors of champagne, nude and white paired with black bottoms and minimal embellishments, the cutting was very precise and it was obvious that he took into consideration of the exact length of fabric that dropped and draped. I find it intriguing that he managed to make the satin fabric that he used into structural shapes that folded and draped so well against the body. Paired off with a black turban, strings of pearl necklaces and long black satin gloves, all the looks were well styled and exuded Old Hollywood glamour. I especially liked his outerwear - there was blazer with satin shawl lapels that was almost like a tuxedo jacket, but yet looked extremely feminine paired with a thin gold chain as a belt and a pencil satin skirt. A black cape had exaggerated peaked lapels and structural flaps - I thought the wide peaked lapels were really good at giving the illusion of wide shoulders and framed the face well - without the need to incorporated shoulder pads.

Ashley Isham showed some interesting prints of flowers in bloom printed on dark mossy green velvet. I liked that the dresses had a slight dip down the chest which showed a little more skin without being vulgar. My favourite look was the short silver dress with a wide train at the back, which the model held up as she walked the runway. It reminded me of the custom Marc Jacobs silver dress that Kate Moss wore to the Met once - that was iconic because it was Kate's first major public appearance after her drug scandal. And she had looked ravishing.

Lastly, Frederick Lee proved to be the most glamorous of all 3 coutouriers - pulling all stops with a feathered shawl, huge ruffles, a one-shouldered feather covered dress, heavy embroidery and detailing, not to mention those extravagant headpieces. I can't say I'm a big fan because I saw so much McQueen influence in all those designs - the feathered headpieces looked like the ones Philip Treacy specially designed for McQueen for his Fall 2006 collection, while the ruffles and heavy one-shoulder feathered dress was also hugely reminiscent of McQueen's designs. However, it is still commendable that Frederick Lee worked with such a wide range of materials and fabrics - and made feather especially sexy by incorporating it in both his dress and headpieces. The dark sheen of the black feathers made it almost appear sea green - giving his gowns a touch of mystery and even slight macabre.

Anyway, here's the hair that I did for the night. This is actually extremely easy to do - just braid 4 tiny sections of your hair and then twist them and the rest of your hair into a messy bun held up by bobby pins. I am wearing Danny L couture - who is a local couturier with his own boutique at Delfi Orchard. For brides-to-be and also other ROM events - I suggest you go to Danny; he is the sweetest guy ever. His designs are all extremely elegant without being over the top - they don't spell "tai tai" - the ruffles, sequins and embroidery that he incorporates in his designs are almost all handsewn as well. So lucky to be able to wear his gown on the red carpet, which still feels surreal.