Dressed To Impress

Introduce yourself and tell us about an unexpected interest or hobby that you have!
My name is Nora and I’m a paralegal at one of the local law firms in Singapore. I’ve been doing this for eight years now, but my true interest lies in fashion and design.

Why did you choose to pursue a career in the legal industry?
My dad was a law firm dispatch, so he was the one who introduced me to the industry. At that point in time, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I pursued law in school and have been in the legal line since.

And as for fashion, it’s a separate thing. I like to follow trends and look into new styles and fashion brands, but I doubt I would actually pursue a career in that line.

Do you enjoy dressing up for work then?
I actually used to be very sloppy with slippers and all that, but I realised that if I don’t dress up, I don’t feel very confident. So I started to dress up more and found that it isn’t about wearing expensive brands and pieces, but about knowing how to mix and match.

For me, I enjoy wearing boots with anything and everything. I just started wearing a hijab on the regular, so I cover up more now, but boots are an essential for me no matter my outfit. I’m always in boots!

Tell us about your favourite pair of boots!
The pair that I’m wearing now are my oldest, most favourite pair. I have a pair of heeled boots, but it’s difficult for me to walk long distances in them, and always end up changing them out in the office. If you ask me, shoes play the most important role in any outfit—the moment you change your shoes, your whole outfit changes, whether it’s a casual fit or office attire.

What was it that first drew you to the world of fashion?
I think it’s the way fashion models carry themselves, and the confidence that they have in their walk. And these days, models are more varied in size and body type, which makes me more confident to purchase different types of clothes.

What’s one brand or designer you swear by?
I’m a collector of Ralph Lauren’s pieces because they’re just a classic and can suit any occasion. In fact, my entire outfit is from Ralph Lauren! I can dress these pieces up for the office on the weekdays, and dress 5them down with sneakers and a t-shirt on the weekends.

We hear your daughter is quite the fashion lover as well.
Yes, she’s secondary one this year, and she loves dressing up too. I don’t stop her because it’s her passion, so I let her try and experiment with whatever she wants.

What’s one piece of advice you hope your daughter will always remember?
That she can truly do whatever she wants to. She can wear whatever she wants, as long as it’s appropriate. Not everything revealing is nice—sometimes, you have to cover up for people to see you for who you are and not what you wear. There’s a time and place for every outfit, whether it’s something classy or something fun to party in.