June wears a silk organza dress with Karligraphy logo bodysuit and Frame patent neoprene boots, both by Fendi; Villeret Saint Valentin 2019 watch by Blancpain; Fendi Baguette bags, all June’s own
Cover June wears a silk organza dress with Karligraphy logo bodysuit and Frame patent neoprene boots, both by Fendi; Villeret Saint Valentin 2019 watch by Blancpain; Fendi Baguette bags, all June’s own

One memorable experience in the '90s was all it took for the multifaceted individual to pay special attention to Fendi. Since then, she has gone on to own over 30 bags by the iconic Italian brand

Shuttling daily from Cambridge to London during her first year as a medical student in 1997 in the UK, June Rin stumbled upon the launch of the Fendi Baguette at Harrods. It was quite the original It bag that caused a storm, a piece that even today’s viral personalities would be jealous of.

Holding the Baguette in one hand, June contemplated if she needed it as a long line formed behind her. “I hadn’t slept for 36 hours, I was really tired and not very rational,” she recalled, sheepishly. “Who would buy this bag? It was so OTT! People behind me asked, ‘Are you going to take it?’ The answer was… yes!”

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Above The Fendi Baguette (Image: Fendi)

That moment in Harrods was when Fendi truly caught her attention. Designed in a simple shape that was roomy enough for essentials and small enough to nestle under your arm the same way the French carry their baguettes, the Baguette defined a generation of those who came of age in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Created by Fendi creative director of accessories, menswear and children, Silvia Venturini Fendi in 1997, the accessory was a rebel with a cause for individuality.

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Above Outfit by Fendi

“It’s not a heart-warming story,” June reflected on her introduction to the Baguette. “No, your fashion fairy was with you!” the hairstylist retorted as he tamed and teased her bob prior to this photo shoot, where she singled out the Baguettes she owns that serve as memory keepers: a woven beauty that once belonged to her mother, a dramatic tiger print and red strap combo gifted by a friend, and another favourite with eclectic mirrored panels. Of the 30-odd Fendi bags in her collection, a handful have been handed down by her mother.

June herself embodies the traits of a Fendi woman, a multifaceted individual who can wear the different styles Lagerfeld used to construct for the brand with ease. As such, the senior consultant of anaesthesiology and neuro-critical care at the Singapore General Hospital wears many hats. She is also an adjunct assistant professor at the Duke-NUS Medical School and a clinical lecturer at the NUS Yong Loo Lin Medical School, and president of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations championing women’s rights.

This continuous evolvement within her is another trait she shares with Lagerfeld. “Karl is an incredible chameleon,” she said. “You can see it in each label he designed for. He could morph into Fendi, which was so different from Chanel and his own label. So many designers have come and gone, but he’s perennial, relevant and fresh. Even though he has passed, it doesn’t feel like he’s left.”

A fan of change, June’s style is one that is constantly in metamorphosis. “I’m getting more adventurous than I used to be,” she said. “I’m willing to try certain extremes and looks which I may not have thought of when I was younger. Now, I like the big volumes Fendi has done, and its recent collections where it mixed clear plastic with leather.” She finds these pieces to be extremely feminine but still strong and assertive with powerful shoulders and clean lines.
 
With style serving as self-portraiture, what does June’s Fendi collection tell us about her? “That I’m a person with an eye for detail.”


We speak to three other fashion collectors, as they share more about what's in their closets. Find our more in our September issue cover story. 

Caroline Low-Heah | Ginny Ng and Dawn Koh

Credits

Photography  

Darren Gabriel Leow

Styling  

Desmond Lim

Topics