These women are dressed to kill, and the Maserati is dressed to thrill.
I once came across a column in The Straits Times questioning the logic of local malls and boutiques flaunting Fall/Winter collections in eternal-summer Singapore. Models clad in suede jackets, wool ensembles and thick leather accessories are sprawled across glossy magazine pages, and many a mannequin is dressed likewise. Take a walk along Orchard Road and you will spot the occasional babe-in-boots.
Most fashionistas fail miserably at pulling off an otherwise chic look, while the few who actually manage it still end up looking out of place.
It is all a matter of appropriateness. We should not blindly lap up whatever retailers are dishing out. The same applies to cars.
Take SUVs, for instance. They’re a popular choice among Singaporeans, but where in Singapore is there a need to go off-road? The closest we have to challenging terrain are the potholes caused by heavy vehicles and the bumpy patches left behind by roadworks. In which case, what you probably need is excellent suspension, not an SUV. (Why you don’t need an SUV in Singapore.)
And if you find yourself veering off Old Upper Thomson Road, it’s not going to make much of a difference whether you drive an SUV, MPV or any other form of vehicle. (Five of the best MPVs ever driven by our senior writer, Jeremy.)
What about high-performance cars boasting sub-5sec acceleration from standstill to 100km/h? Where can you actually realise these figures in our traffic light jungle infested with colonies of vigilant traffic police? Even in a crawling van, we can probably get from one end of Singapore to the other comfortably under an hour, so there really is no need for such supercars.
Want, on the other hand, is a totally different matter altogether.
It is a good thing that my fashion decisions are not dictated by the same criteria with which I choose my cars. Otherwise, you will see me strutting down Orchard Road in the latest Fall/Winter collection.
Give me a hand, will you, if I faint from heatstroke?
These fashion photographers are under-equipped and overdressed.
