Scenes from Singapore Part Deux: A Peek Inside the National Museum’s Fashion Exhibit “Shopping for Identity”

I’ve been having a serious case of wanderlust lately, which is probably why I’ve been sitting at home revisiting my library of travel photos instead of getting outside and enjoying the sun. A run is definitely on my list of to-do’s today, so I better hurry up and post already! I had such a fantastic time in Singapore recently, I wanted to share more photos from our brief adventure there. In addition to the amazing food and shopping, which I wrote about earlier, one major highlight was taking in an exhibit on Singaporean women and fashion at the National Museum. The mixed Malay, Indian and Chinese heritage of the country seemed apparent not only in the cuisine we tried and languages we heard being spoken around us, but also, as the exhibit “Shopping for Identity” demonstrated, throughout Singaporean fashion history. The exhibit is part of the museum’s permanent collection, so if you find yourself in Singapore in the near future, be sure to check it out.

From the exhibit "Shopping for Identity" at the National Museum of Singapore: A Kebaya Kota Bahru, traditional Malay outfit worn by Malay women in Singapore in the 1960s (left); A traditional georgette silk sari from 1975 that would have been paired with modern gold accessories at the time. (All photos by Nerissa Pacio Itchon)

Westernized 1950s frocks became popular during that decade, when the country was becoming more industrialized and Singaporean women were gaining exposure to international, especially European ideas.

A floral, form-fitting "Samfoo" pantsuit, popular among Chinese women in the 1960s.
Traditional dress of Malay and Peranakan Chinese women of Singapore: 1950s Kebaya biku (left) and 1930s Kain Sarong

The famous "swinging chadeliers" inside the National Museum of Singapore.