I’m not as stylish as my dad!” Crystal Piak exclaimed when we first mooted the idea of this shoot to her. The 27-year-old cafe owner is the eldest daughter of Singapore Tatler Fashion Awards 2018 Most Stylish Man, Jeffrey Piak, and his wife Emily.
While her father favours a more experimental style, Crystal prizes ease and comfort, citing her job as the main driver for her fashion choices. “I spend most of my time working and I’m very hands-on at the cafe, so I pick items that I wouldn’t mind getting dirty,” she tells us. By cafe, she means Poppy Pops, the establishment she founded that specialises in home-made gelato ice pops and located on the rooftop of Jem mall. “I started cooking ever since I was a little girl and have always had a passion for it. So when I graduated, my dad encouraged me to follow my dreams and set up my own business. Since I had his support, I figured why not?”
The father-daughter pair share a close relationship, with fashion being the common thread. Crystal regularly accompanies her father on shopping trips as a way to spend time together. “Sometimes I think he likes having me there because I won’t persuade him to buy things for me,” she jokes. “He even likes to school me on what’s fashionable!”
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When it comes to her style, Crystal’s off‑duty looks are just as fuss-free as her on‑duty ones, and she favours shirt dresses and flats. “I rarely wear heels because I walk a lot, so even my heels need to be comfortable and practical.” She believes that the right pair of shoes can really change your look and cites brands such as Dior, Gucci and Roger Vivier among some of her latest acquisitions. She also prefers contemporary labels such as Sandro, Maje and Carven for clothes, and loves discovering new designers during her travels and at multi-label boutiques such as Dover Street Market.