MATTEHATTER ❝ blog · fashion · lifestyle ❞  | ·   home  ·   follow  ·   about  ·   contact   ·

SEARCH


FOLLOW ME

MATTEHATTER
Someone suggested that I should start a personal style blog. And I thought to myself, "Why not?" It could be really fun. Or not. Anyhoo, this is my little hole-in-the-wall of vintage finds, style obsessions and the sort. Let's not take things too seriously around here, shall we?


INSTAGRAM
Follow my instagram @ mattehatter

ARCHIVES




Public Garden: An Eclectic Mix Of Local Quirks & Innovation
POSTED ON : Tuesday, 10 September 2013
Has anyone noticed that malls are getting really boring these days? Or is it just me? Well before you dismiss this as a rant of a jaded shopper (ok it is part ranting), I have done my due observations. Most people tend to just hop around, store after store. Sometimes completely oblivious to the things they see while they busy themselves with dirty talk. Or just random chitchat/catching up really. It seems that we have grown accustomed to the repetitive things we see all the time. A Zara here, a Uniqlo there and the familiar pattern repeats itself.

Who knew weekend activities can become such a routine? Not me. I needed something new. Something to reinvigorate my weekends. And that was when I found out about Public Garden.


"Public Garden operates a market comprising Singapore's best independent businesses and creative individuals. Public Garden is an alternative to big-box retail with a free spirit."

There you go, blatantly (and conveniently) copied from its website. Couldn't be better described than the original. With that said, I was really curious with what they have to offer and I made a trip down to one of its fleas a month or so ago. Yes this is an extremely late post, but don't worry you can still catch them soon enough; they are a very active bunch. I just got word that they will be holding a Hidden Finds Market of sorts at Triple One Somerset this coming 20th - 22nd September, so check them out if you will.

Venue: MICA Building Atrium











What's so addictive about Public Garden is that despite holding its flea market nearly every week at various venues, it has a refreshing change of vendors week after week. I find myself continually amazed (and so do the folks at Public Garden themselves) by the kind of innovation we have in Singapore. You will be surprised. A mishmash of quirky trinkets, out-of-the-world crafts, vintage threads. Occasionally even things you wouldn't expect like palm-reading. Or shoe shining service. WHAT?! Essentially stuff I didn't know existed here or where to look for all in one assembly. Pretty darned awesome is what it is.

Eye-opener aside, I definitely went home with quite the takeaway. Bought a vintage giraffe print shirt from a really cool store - Lunakins. Just when I thought Singapore is greatly deprived of vintage threads, especially for men. Here is a store that curates authentic vintage/retro shirts with their various loud, quirky prints for people who don't take themselves too seriously. Like me. With all vintage clothing, Lunakins' shirts are all one of a kind. But here's the catch, they only come in one size. So it really comes down to how fortuitous you are to find something you like that's available in your size. I guess I must have charmed Lady Luck that day :)



Tell me, where can you find such a hippie looking giraffe print shirt anyway? Usually if you find something that has a giraffe print on it, it most likely is gonna be ugly. The truth is, giraffes and fashion are like Paris Hilton and being smart. They just don't seem to work together. But not this simplistic one. It caught my eagle-sharp eyes and I snapped it up.





If you have been browsing through photo albums of your parents' prime and would like to relieve some 80's era fun, then retro pieces like this are good go-to pieces. The key to attaining that old school vibe? Wear a tank top for an inner piece. It always pull the whole look together if you ask me. With this casual getup, I'm already starting to feel like a maverick from one of those nostalgic Taiwanese films~ Well.... I'd like to think so heh.

Searching high and low for a gift that screams novelty? Check.
Dying to show support to our homegrown creatives and be inspired in the process? Check.
Feeling pretentious and wanna act like you know shit? Check. HAHAHA jokes.

Anyway, if you are any of the first two mentioned above, Public Garden is definitely the place to visit.

On Me: Vintage Giraffe Print Shirt by Lunakins, Jinluda Vintage Briefcase (Thrifted), Wallabees by Clarks Originals

 Photography: Benedict

Labels: , , , , , , , , ,

  0 comments (+)
Throwback Thursday: Grandpa Shirt
POSTED ON : Thursday, 10 January 2013





I love shirts like this. Obnoxious yet so nostalgic. Should you want to go for this look, steal one from your grandpa that he wore back in those days. Funny as it may sound, this shirt probably came from some old geezer as well - and most likely stood the test of time, even before you were born.

Isn't that what retro revival is supposed to be? Relieving the styles of the past with some modern edginess to it. One of the many facets (ok, maybe not many) of my personal style is the 70's - 80's era, so I like to show off this side of me every now and then. 

 On Me: Shirt (Thrifted), Bally Briefcase Bag, Watch from Triwa, Wallabees from Clarks Originals

 Photography by: Joyce Roxanne

Labels: , , , , , ,

  0 comments (+)
Vintage or Thrifted?
POSTED ON : Monday, 7 January 2013
Everyone has their own travel routine. The average chump likes to hang out at touristy locations. The dude next to you likes to visit the local strip bar. The girl across the road likes to go gaga over the most insignificant souvenirs at the various night markets.

You get the drift... 

Well each time I travel, I make it a point to visit the local vintage/thrift store as well as its microbreweries. Please don't mind me, but clothes and beer are simply two great loves of mine. 

So recently I have had the chance to visit Taipei, Taiwan. Needless to say, I scoured the most authentic vintage/thrift stores that Taipei has to offer. And these were what I found: 


70s Vintage
















I had a chance to chat with Andrew, the owner of 70's Vintage (above) and he filled me in on what exactly makes his store so unique: 

 "We don't carry your everyday, run-of-the-mill apparel. The awesome thing about resale stores like ours is that every item is one of a kind. You could walk out donning something you bought here and not worry that you might bump into someone wearing the same thing.

 Plus, we like to add small little details here and there to differentiate what we are selling from other similar concept stores. For example, we bleached our latest intake of denim wear and it's the kind of bleaching where you can't just do it yourself; we have factory partners helping us with that." I was sold and bought a Levi's bleached denim jacket amongst other stuff. 

Andrew is also an avid photographer. You can check out his photo shoots here.
Flea Market







I like how these two are greatly contrasted. One is a higher end vintage boutique that procures second-hand clothes and trinkets from places like Japan and America, adding its own touch to make them feel and look special. 

The other is a true-blue thrift store which doesn't give two hoots about its interior decor nor its overall image, passing on value to its customers in this manner. Die-hard thrift fans will love this place. Oh, and if you were wondering what those car fitted doors were - they are actually fitting rooms. I am totally digging that.

 Both were packed with an armful of goods worthy of questioning if you could ship them back. I just bought them all (no I'm just kidding) and left both places a very happy man. 

As I left Flea Market, I overheard one dude in the store saying: 

"You gotta search through a lot of shit in this place and they are all second-hand. But every now and then you can find a $100+ Wrangler shirt for $50, that's where you know you've got it."

Amen, my friend.

Labels: , , , , , ,

  0 comments (+)

← Newer Post
Older Post →