SINGAPORE – Phase two begins on Friday (June 19). After two months of isolation at home, many are checking off bucket lists for their cautious first outings.
What's on yours? And more importantly, what will you be wearing apart from your mask?
The Straits Times asks seven local creatives what they plan to do first thing after phase two of the lifting of the circuit breaker, and what clothes they will be blowing dust off for the occasion.
Charlotte Mei, 27, nutritionist and presenter (@thecharlottemei)[hhmc]
I'm a homebody so I eased into the circuit breaker pretty comfortably. I already know I'm going to miss it the moment it's over.
Because of the nature of my job, no two days are identical. I could be filming myself in the kitchen, glued to Excel calculating the nutritional breakdown of recipes, or hosting virtual events.
I still dress up at home because it puts me in a good mood. Currently, I'm wearing a T-shirt that says 'Croissant'.
I've missed human interaction, so I most look forward to seeing friends and loved ones. It may not be so soon till I do this, but I look forward to going for a drink at a bar with a few close friends, probably No Sleep Club (in Keong Saik Road) – I've been meaning to check it out.
It sounds crazy, but I miss being in trousers. They're one of the few items I've not worn at home for obvious reasons.
This pair of wrap pants (about $100) is from Matter and my bracelets and rings (about $100 each) – which I've missed dearly – are from Ashepa. Both Matter and Ashepa are local brands that champion ethical and sustainable fashion, and I absolutely love them.
The crop top ($30), which I bought during my university days, is from H&M.
One takeaway from this isolation? There is no space too small to do a workout and, boy, does Netflix have lots of great documentaries.
Tan Chun Rong, 29, freelance photographer and food stylist[hhmc]
I've definitely had a lot more 'me time', and have been getting back to hobbies I hadn't had time for the past few years due to work, like pottery and cooking. I started off as a food blogger sharing my recipes five years ago, before crossing over to photography.
When I cook, I also document the cooking process to share with my followers on Instagram (@xlbcr), and shoot the end product when it's done. Not forgetting – I work out at home at least three times a week to stay healthy, considering how much food I cook and eat.
In phase two, I'm looking forward to getting a good cup of coffee at my favorite coffee places like Glasshouse (in Chijmes), Homeground Coffee Roasters (in Joo Chiat Road) and Lucid (in Lavender). And I'm definitely in need of a good massage at Natureland.
Comfort and versatility are the most important for me when it comes to choosing outfits – which is why I find the brand COS very suited to my style: COS grey sweatshirt ($120), COS off-white trousers ($150), and COS brown leather sandals ($160).
Even though as creatives, we are not expected to be in formal wear, sometimes when we meet clients, we still have to be presentable.
Once the circuit breaker fully lifts, I'm going to hit the bespoke bars – places like Atlas Bar (in Parkview Square) for the ambience, and Almost Famous Craft Beer Bar (in Chijmes). Basically, chill activities at places that are not so crowded, where we can just enjoy the presence of people over a drink, and cheers to ourselves for overcoming the toughest period yet.
Ginette Chittick, 43, DJ, musician, artist and full-time lecturer at Lasalle College of the Arts[hhmc]
As a mum who does school runs, Ginette has been living in her pair of sneakers from Vans. PHOTO: COURTESY OF GINETTE CHITTICK
These days, it doesn't take much to get ready for the day. I take my five-year-old daughter to school, do a grocery run and zip home to make a simple lunch for my husband and me.
Then I work (as programme leader of the Diploma in Creative Direction for Fashion course at Lasalle College of the Arts), practise my deejaying, do a spot of gardening on my balcony or work on my art. After picking my daughter up and settling dinner and her bedtime, I bust out a bottle of Merlot and Netflix the night away with my husband.
I can't wait to have dinner and drinks with my friends – I have missed them dearly. I'm dying to go back to my favourite bar, Intermission Bar at The Projector in Beach Road.
When the circuit breaker fully lifts, I need to get my club night DayDream Nation – a monthly indie rock night at Intermission Bar – going again. Throughout the whole isolation period, I've felt a deep yearning to DJ and dance the night away. I've not felt this way since I was a teenager!
My Molly Goddard dress (about $400) will be the perfect stepping-out dress – it totally says, 'I'm so happy all this is over!' A friend of mine copped this for me at the (annual) Club21 sale.
As a mum who does school runs, I've been living in my sneaks; this pair is from Vans.
My takeaway this circuit breaker: That it wasn't actually that painful to cook proper meals every day for my family, keep my plants alive and slow down.
Johann Khairi, 31, communications and public relations manager at Arts House Limited[hhmc]
Johann Khairi's stay-home style has been running shorts and a baggy T-shirt. PHOTO: COURTESY OF JOHANN KHAIRI
Since the circuit breaker started, I have been consistent with my workouts and running. I try to fit them in after dinner and usually manage a run of anywhere between 5km and 30km.
Otherwise, a typical day for me working for Arts House Limited consists of brainstorming sessions, internal meetings and catch-up sessions with our media friends.
My stay-home style has been running shorts and a baggy T-shirt. For important meetings, I make it a point to look semi prim and proper with a white-collar shirt and casual running shorts (that no one can see).
I've missed the gym a lot, so going back and lifting proper weights will be my priority in phase two. But ultimately, you'll have to drag me away from the Civic District and the arts.
Nothing can replace the feeling of being part of an immersive live performance or exhibition, so that would be the first thing I'd like to do when the circuit breaker fully lifts.
When that happens, I'll be donning a white slim-fit Oxford shirt from Uniqlo ($29.90), a pair of navy chinos from Giordano ($19) and my white canvas shoes from Muji ($32.90).
While this look is somewhat simple, it is comfortable and extremely versatile – I can always add a blazer for a formal look.
Smita DeSouza, 36, beauty editor at Cleo Magazine[hhmc]
For Smita DeSouza, getting ready while working from home entails just doing her brows, putting on sunscreen and lipstick. PHOTO: COURTESY OF SMITA DESOUZA
I've been working from home, so I treat it like any other day when I would go to work – except work is now in the living room, and getting ready entails just doing my brows, putting on sunscreen and lipstick. Some days, I wear foundation too.
I feel it's important to set boundaries, and a simple act of getting ready helps set the tone for the work day.
After work, I try to do a small workout at home before settling in to watch TV. I like clothes that are fuss-free, comfortable and cool, but that also lift my spirits. So it's airy maxi dresses or kaftans, palazzo pants, and some loungewear from Uniqlo thrown into the mix.
The first thing I want to do is get a manicure and pedicure! And a facial.
It's also my husband's birthday a few days into phase two, so we're definitely going out for a nice Spanish dinner. I bought this pair of white pants from Zara ($59.90) right before the circuit breaker was announced and haven't had a chance to wear them.
Everything else – & Other Stories top, Nine West shoes, H&M earrings and vintage Chanel bag – is ages old, so I don't recall the prices.
