At our upcoming Tatler Ball in November, it’s not about the clothes you wear but the story that you tell through them
What makes a legend most?
It’s a question worth considering, especially today when the word “legendary” has been reduced to something as common and inconsequential as a hashtag. But come November, we will reclaim the term as the theme of our Tatler Ball.
To understand the full weight of the word, one should look to the woman who graces the cover of Tatler Singapore’s 40th anniversary issue. Betty Chen, the grand dame of Singapore society, has devoted a lifetime of service to the community. And at almost 96, she wears her wisdom and accomplishments well. As she peers out from our cover, she meets your gaze with the poise and confidence of a person who knows exactly who they are—and compels you to know it too.
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That look has defined other unforgettable figures across history. Refer to Richard Avedon’s famous photograph of China Machado, the world’s first Asian supermodel, in which she stands tall and proud with a coiffure to match. Even more dramatic is a photograph of Alva Vanderbilt that embodied the Gilded Age, with the American society doyenne dressed as a Venetian princess at her history-making costume ball in 1883.
Vanderbilt certainly understood the power of making a lasting impression. As does Rihanna. There is no other red carpet appearance that has been seared into the collective consciousness like the singer making her entrance to the 2015 Met Gala in her extravagant Guo Pei gown. That single moment introduced a new dimension to the colour yellow.
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