A Magical Night at the Opera

When the French throw a soirée, they do so in true style. At the 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner for the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore (FCCS) on May 16, everything from the cascading flower arrangements to the palate-tingling food was carefully crafted for magnificence. Themed “A Night at the Opera de Paris”, guests were invited to celebrate the art of French lifestyle and culture.
A visual and gustatory feast for guests at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore.
	It was therefore an honor for Raffles Design Institute’s Fashion Design students to play a major role during the prestigious annual Gala dinner, which enjoys an unparalleled reputation in Singapore. 11 haute-couture gowns had been created in just over four weeks and were debuted to great success. In glamorous shades of gold, red and black, the students presented a variety of garments that were based on different couture houses such as Lanvin, Balenciaga and Kenzo. Following a welcome address by Guest of Honor and Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Lim Hng Kiang, guests were treated to a spectacular opera performance.
Guest of Honor Mr Lim Hng Kiang, Minister of Trade and Industry, giving his Welcome Address.
Fully immersed in the glitz and glamour of the night, models took to the stage in gowns so beautiful that the crowd reacted with sheer disbelief when informed that they were created by students.
Breath-taking haute couture gowns designed by Raffles Design Institute’s Fashion Design students.
The gala dinner was held in conjunction with the Voilah! French Festival and Encore! The European Season in Singapore, which helps to raise awareness of and interest in European events and artists in Singapore. In return, local companies and artistes are given the chance to gain international recognition. The event, which offers invaluable networking opportunities, is the perfect platform for young Raffles Designers to launch their careers, even before they graduate! Learning the Art of Haute-Couture Fashion Design student Eve Tan was exhilarated to have had her gown chosen for the event. “I had a sense of satisfaction when the models went onto the runway,” she said. Eve’s gown was inspired by the couture house Kenzo, which heavily incorporates culture and ethnicity into its collections. In keeping with this theme, Eve studied the Navajo tribes and adapted their simple layering style for high fashion by using printed silk chiffon in red and black. She created a loose batwing top tucked into a tiered skirt, and complemented the garment with vibrant accessories. “I have a whole new respect for this one-of-a-kind pieces in couture,” said Eve. “What I learnt from this experience is how much handwork is involved in couture, and also how important it is to stay focused throughout the project.”
Eve poses with her model before the show.	A colourful fan adds to the dramatic flair.
Fellow Fashion Design student Yelly Dahlian chose to base her couture garment on the “Jazz Age” of the 1920s. Her resulting gown was an elegant cowl-neck dress with a full-length fringe skirt that was ever inch reminiscent of the iconic flapper girl. “At first I wanted to use real ostrich feathers, but I found it quite costly,” she said. Instead, the resourceful student eventually found a cheaper alternative that gave her the same exquisite-looking results she had intended.
Yelly’s flapper-inspired dress backstage and on the runway.
Chen Fang’s Gothic-inspired garment was also a study in patience – the designer spent weeks stitching ribbon and lace flowers and petals all over the floor-length gown in order to mimic rose windows that are found in Gothic architecture.
Chen Fang’s embroidered gown is anything but simple and took weeks to complete.	Siew Ling with her model in the Little Red Riding Hood-inspired garment.
Leaping from Gothic to modern, Sim Siew Ling created her own version of Little Red Riding Hood’s cowled outfit, made out of red and black duchess satin. “I am inspired by the character of Little Red Riding Hood because I believe that a woman [who] is confident, intelligent and quick-witted is attractive and unique,” said Siew Ling. In order to reflect this, her gown as a low back and a unique silhouette, something that only a confident woman would dare to wear. “I was very excited about this event because it was a really big event,” Siew Ling said. “It was a very interesting experience and I was very happy to be there.” The following students are credited for their active participation:- Sim Siew Ling, Jennifer Mao Di, Chen Fang, Wong Chu Qin (Nicole), Dilki Annie Nishika Samarasinghe, Yelly Dahlian, Wang Kher Sze, Reinard Grevin Siswandjaja, Kim Ji Soo, Huynh Huu Ngoc Tram, Tan Yifei (Eve). If you are interested in our Bachelor of Design (Fashion Design) programmes, please contact: Bangkok Tel: +66 2 632 7656 Chiang Mai Tel: +66 53 895 278-9 www.raffles-iao.com