Form and Fashion

Introduce yourself!
I’m Simba, and I turn 20 this year. I’m currently waiting to begin university, where I’ll be studying at NTU’s School of Business with a double major in entrepreneurship. Lately, I’ve been into photoshoots, acting, and working out—basically anything active, such as bouldering or volleyball. I’m also into fashion, so it’s fun to try out different concepts in my photoshoots. Oh, I draw and crochet as well!

What got you into photoshoots and fashion?
Growing up, I was that one weird, ugly kid that your mum tells you to stay away from. (laughs) I didn’t really feel secure enough about myself to have my pictures taken because of my acne, and…I had the classic Asian side-part hairdo.

But after putting some effort into my appearance, I started looking better and gaining more confidence. I started getting support from those around me, and even random people would come up to praise the way I look. So now, I’m trying to give back to the younger version of myself who never dared to get his photo taken.

What advice would you give to someone who is where you were before?
The most important thing is knowing that there is always something you can improve on, apart from just your looks. Honestly, people who tell you to just “be content” are just sugarcoating by telling you to do nothing. If you’re really insecure about something, there will always be things you can do to change it. Once you make that change, you will find a concrete confidence in yourself to move forward.

How do you other hobbies relate to your style? 
They all help with building my physique. The body is one of the main factors in how you look and how you fit into clothes. Since I lose out to my peers in terms of height, my physique helps to draw attention to the way I look.

As for drawing, I just decided to pick up a pencil one day because I like looking at pretty people — both girls and guys. I just think it’s very beautiful how God made each face.

How do you curate your outfits?
Well, for one, guys’ clothes are quite limited, and my wardrobe isn’t that large. I just repeat the same old clothes because there really isn’t anything inherently unique with male fashion, in my opinion. So it’s all about finding unique pieces. The bare minimum for guys comes down to accessories, your hairstyle, and colour theory. There really isn’t much else to do, especially in Singapore’s weather where you can’t layer much.