'The more I experimented, the more I felt I was discovering myself': Musician Shazza on weaving the golden vein of culture through her artistic journey
My name is Shazza and I'm a musician. This past year, especially while preparing my sophomore album, has been an intense period of creativity, and it's also been a time of deep reflection on how fashion, particularly modest fashion, is so closely intertwined with my identity and artistic expression.
Style started playing a defining role in my life around the age of 17. As I began my polytechnic education, I experienced my first real taste of 'fashion freewill'. My need for self-expression had heightened considerably then and I quickly realised that the way I dressed was a huge part of figuring out who I was. To me, fashion is a beautiful language—a way of wordlessly conveying who you are at first sight. The more I experimented, the more I felt I was discovering myself. This feeling, this pursuit of finding more of who I was meant to be simply by playing with how I dressed, is something I continue to chase. In an ever-changing world, it's a comforting outlet that helps me feel more in control. With the release of her new single, Medieval, musician Shazza illuminates narratives of empowerment and cultural pride. Courtesy of Shazza
My journey with modest fashion has been a precious process. My faith is dear to my heart, and as I wear my religion on my head, honouring that through my clothing is important to me. This commitment calls for a deeper level of intentionality in my choices, making me more thoughtful and purposeful in how I present myself. Beyond my personal path, I want to share the message that modesty isn't an obstacle or a limitation. I hope people see that it's possible to express themselves boldly through style while dressing modestly. It does sometimes require getting a little creative, especially when styling pieces not inherently designed as modest wear, but I find that challenge keeps me on my toes. It's shown me how extremely fluid fashion is and that it becomes what you make it.
There's nothing like the feeling of discovering or putting on an outfit that feels so wonderfully and serendipitously 'you'. That profound sense of intentionality has cultivated a comforting and reassuring dynamic with my personal style. I feel most empowered when my clothes are a genuine extension of me.
'To me, fashion is a beautiful language—a way of wordlessly conveying who you are at first sight.'
My single, 'Medieval', became a clear channel for this desire to imbue my own culture into my art. It's the first song where I intentionally sought to do this; the track even features Indian percussion that we recorded live. To honour that heritage in every aspect, we embraced full-on traditional wear—a lehenga and gold jewellery—for the visuals, which was a special experience for me. The gold elements were chosen to represent boldness and excellence. The entire outfit was actually bridal wear, as 'Medieval' is a song about the struggles women face in this industry and the common tussles against society's sometimes reductive expectations. My stylist and I aimed to convey the idea of reclaiming one's power and challenging those expectations in one's unique way.
Thinking beyond my projects, when it comes to the wider fashion industry, I believe brands could find more consistent ways to offer modest interpretations of their pieces. I would love to see a more concerted effort to include diversity in their branding, actively showing potential customers how various items can be styled in various ways. Fashion, in my opinion, is meant to be universal.
'My single, 'Medieval', became a clear channel for this desire to imbue my own culture into my art.'
Navigating the expectations that can surround modest dressing—including a sense of perfection or a 'gold standard'— while still making space for my authentic expression is a key part of my journey. Ultimately, how one dresses is a personal thing. My guiding approach has always been to ensure that I am at peace with myself first and foremost. As much as I strive to bring more representation to the table, I don't want to live my life entirely for others, as that would inevitably erode my authenticity. The music industry isn't typically a place where modesty thrives, a reality I was largely aware of when I entered it. However, I believe anything is possible if your heart is in the right place, and for me, it always comes back to intention. Maintaining this can be a fine balance, but it's a challenge I welcome as it keeps me in touch with myself and my faith.
If I were to offer any advice to someone navigating their style, particularly within modest wear, I would encourage them to have fun with the process and be creative. Fashion is wonderfully fluid, and there are no hard and fast rules. What matters most is that the way you dress aligns with your personal values and principles.
In the end, the ability to get dressed on my own terms feels both purposeful and liberating. I take deep pride in how I dress myself because it's an act of intention, and that's precisely why it means so much to me.
Vogue Singapore's June 'Gold' issue will be out on newsstands from 13 June and available to preorder online.
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'The more I experimented, the more I felt I was discovering myself': Musician Shazza on weaving the golden vein of culture through her artistic journey
My name is Shazza and I'm a musician. This past year, especially while preparing my sophomore album, has been an intense period of creativity, and it's also been a time of deep reflection on how fashion, particularly modest fashion, is so closely intertwined with my identity and artistic expression. Style started playing a defining role in my life around the age of 17. As I began my polytechnic education, I experienced my first real taste of 'fashion freewill'. My need for self-expression had heightened considerably then and I quickly realised that the way I dressed was a huge part of figuring out who I was. To me, fashion is a beautiful language—a way of wordlessly conveying who you are at first sight. The more I experimented, the more I felt I was discovering myself. This feeling, this pursuit of finding more of who I was meant to be simply by playing with how I dressed, is something I continue to chase. In an ever-changing world, it's a comforting outlet that helps me feel more in control. With the release of her new single, Medieval, musician Shazza illuminates narratives of empowerment and cultural pride. Courtesy of Shazza My journey with modest fashion has been a precious process. My faith is dear to my heart, and as I wear my religion on my head, honouring that through my clothing is important to me. This commitment calls for a deeper level of intentionality in my choices, making me more thoughtful and purposeful in how I present myself. Beyond my personal path, I want to share the message that modesty isn't an obstacle or a limitation. I hope people see that it's possible to express themselves boldly through style while dressing modestly. It does sometimes require getting a little creative, especially when styling pieces not inherently designed as modest wear, but I find that challenge keeps me on my toes. It's shown me how extremely fluid fashion is and that it becomes what you make it. There's nothing like the feeling of discovering or putting on an outfit that feels so wonderfully and serendipitously 'you'. That profound sense of intentionality has cultivated a comforting and reassuring dynamic with my personal style. I feel most empowered when my clothes are a genuine extension of me. 'To me, fashion is a beautiful language—a way of wordlessly conveying who you are at first sight.' My single, 'Medieval', became a clear channel for this desire to imbue my own culture into my art. It's the first song where I intentionally sought to do this; the track even features Indian percussion that we recorded live. To honour that heritage in every aspect, we embraced full-on traditional wear—a lehenga and gold jewellery—for the visuals, which was a special experience for me. The gold elements were chosen to represent boldness and excellence. The entire outfit was actually bridal wear, as 'Medieval' is a song about the struggles women face in this industry and the common tussles against society's sometimes reductive expectations. My stylist and I aimed to convey the idea of reclaiming one's power and challenging those expectations in one's unique way. Thinking beyond my projects, when it comes to the wider fashion industry, I believe brands could find more consistent ways to offer modest interpretations of their pieces. I would love to see a more concerted effort to include diversity in their branding, actively showing potential customers how various items can be styled in various ways. Fashion, in my opinion, is meant to be universal. 'My single, 'Medieval', became a clear channel for this desire to imbue my own culture into my art.' Navigating the expectations that can surround modest dressing—including a sense of perfection or a 'gold standard'— while still making space for my authentic expression is a key part of my journey. Ultimately, how one dresses is a personal thing. My guiding approach has always been to ensure that I am at peace with myself first and foremost. As much as I strive to bring more representation to the table, I don't want to live my life entirely for others, as that would inevitably erode my authenticity. The music industry isn't typically a place where modesty thrives, a reality I was largely aware of when I entered it. However, I believe anything is possible if your heart is in the right place, and for me, it always comes back to intention. Maintaining this can be a fine balance, but it's a challenge I welcome as it keeps me in touch with myself and my faith. If I were to offer any advice to someone navigating their style, particularly within modest wear, I would encourage them to have fun with the process and be creative. Fashion is wonderfully fluid, and there are no hard and fast rules. What matters most is that the way you dress aligns with your personal values and principles. In the end, the ability to get dressed on my own terms feels both purposeful and liberating. I take deep pride in how I dress myself because it's an act of intention, and that's precisely why it means so much to me. Vogue Singapore's June 'Gold' issue will be out on newsstands from 13 June and available to preorder online.
Vogue Singapore
13-06-2025
- Vogue Singapore
This summer, the one-piece swimsuit isn't just for the pool Vogue Singapore
There was a time when the one-piece swimsuit felt more like a punishment than a wardrobe staple. In my teens, the wedgie-inducing cling of a Speedo Endurance swimsuit, paired with a claustrophobic rubber cap, was the dreaded uniform of mixed-gender swimming lessons at my secondary school. The heady scent of overchlorinated pools still lingers in those memories. Even as an adult, I've often found the one-piece slightly impractical for beach days: problematic when it comes to tan lines, too warm in the heat and sometimes difficult to slip in and out of. This summer, however, the one piece is no longer solely for swimming lanes in the public pool or sprawling out on a sun lounger. As versatile as it is flattering, the fashion set encourages you to wear your one-piece with pretty much anything. Net-A-Porter's fashion director Kay Barron is an advocate of incorporating swimwear into your summer rotation—even when there's no beach in sight. 'As with any piece in your wardrobe, finding the right swimsuit starts with fit, comfort and the level of support that your body needs,' she tells Vogue, pointing to brands like Staud and Nili Lotan, which offer swimwear with added underwire and extra coverage. It's no wonder this styling trick works. Usually made with spandex and double-lined for durability, swimsuits have a built-in, Skims-like compression designed to hold everything in place, no bra required. Perfect for heatwaves when the fewer layers, the better. Alexa Chung at a Miu Miu event in February. Darren Gerrish Cindy Bruna at the Victoria Beckham show in March. Getty Key styling references came from Miu Miu's spring/summer 2025 show, where models wore swimming costumes in bright red, sky blue, navy and hot pink, all with contrast hems and daring cut-outs. Worn with candy-coloured lacquered skirts, oversized blazers, pleated mid-length skirts, leg warmers and peep-toe pumps—a few with additional chain belts that slung low on the hips–the contrast was deliberate and playful, proving that a classic one-piece can be easily dressed up with the right separates and accessories. At Tory Burch's sports-inspired show, a swimsuit was bedecked with sequin embellishments and worn with tie-up tailored trousers and insignia ballet flats—offering a more refined take on the everyday trend. Meanwhile, the Zimmerman show opened with snippets from a '70s Aussie surf film, with the collection featuring plunging swimsuits styled with everything from floor-sweeping organza skirts to jorts and butter-yellow trench coats, later seen on Katie Holmes at fashion week. Chloé's swimming costumes, printed with floral blooms and flamingos, were practically destined for picnics in the park when styled with gathered bloomers or high-waisted flares and grown-up jelly shoes. But fear not, you don't have to spend a small fortune to get in on the trend. Beloved British-Indian designer Supriya Lele's new collection with Mango proved that beachwear can indeed be partywear, too. The line featured shimmering beach bags, sheer party dresses and a gathered cut-out swimsuit in blue high-shine fabric, which could be easily worn under the ruffled maxi skirt and styled with strappy sandals to create the ultimate summer look. Tory Burch spring/summer 2025. Zimmerman spring/summer 2025. London-based brand Fruity Booty, known for its cheeky prints and cutesy cuts, has seen customers wear its swimsuits in endless ways. 'With mini shorts, under loose-fitting shirts, cardis—even with tights, I think my favourite is with a pair of bloomers or a towelling skirt,' says Hattie Tennant, founder of the brand. Its one-piece offering includes a punchy leopard and playful polka dot print, which are as fitting in a festival field as they are by the beach. Another fan favourite is Hunza G. Its original crinkle one-size-fits-all swimsuits are a holiday staple for many, including Rihanna, Hailey Bieber, Alexa Chung and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, but the sculpting seershucker fit also doubles for daily wear. 'I think everyone feels their best self in a Hunza G. It really does an amazing job of sculpting on the body whilst supporting you,' says founder Georgiana Huddart. At Coachella in April, Cara Delevingne styled the brand's best-selling swimsuit in metallic cocoa with high-waisted black shorts and an easy denim jacket. 'Swimsuits are so versatile now; they're not boring and standard. People get really playful with them when it comes to design details,' says Inge Kotze, founder of swimwear brand Away That Day. The brand's most popular piece, the Cannes one-piece, is perfectly plunging with a balconette neckline and two-tone colourway. 'It will take you from your morning coffee, to the beach, to the night club,' she continues. If, like me, you're still haunted by memories of awkward, ill-fitting swimsuits, this season's fresh take on the one-piece might be the reset you need. Whether it's something you already own or a new addition, the one-piece is the ultimate summer multi-tasker, taking you from the beach to brunch and everywhere in between. 1 / 4 Fruity Booty swimsuit, $157 Available at Fruity Booty. 2 / 4 Burberry swimsuit, $511 Available at Burberry. 3 / 4 Hunza G swimsuit, $304 Available at Mytheresa. 4 / 4 Away That Day swimsuit, $322 Available at Selfridges. This article was originally published on
