Style

(Feature photo) On Mark Chua: Full suit by Lanvin; bow tie by Hackett. On Zaireen: Lace gown by Jason Yek; earrings, stylist’s own. On Chuan: Full velvet suit by Comoddity; bow tie by Hackett.

As Mrs Potts would have it, it’s a tale as old as time. And indeed it is: love, jealousy, power, inheritance and the inevitable stepmother.

The Ramayana, written some 2,500 years ago, is the original Bollywood script.

(Above) On Katrina: Silk gown by Melinda Looi. On Chuan: Suit, shirt, bow tie, and printed scarf, all by Hackett. On Alando: Suit, white shirt, and bow tie, all by Hackett. On Zaireen: Chiffon gown by Jason Yek. On Mark Chua: Suit by Lanvin, scarf by Hackett.

But one sees the thread throughout literature, cinematic and television history: from Shakespeare’s King Lear to Dickens’ stories of grimy London to Dallas/Dynasty and modern-day Hollywood films.

There’s always the good guy who’s disliked by a new member of the family (usually the stepmother), and gets sent away.

(Above) On Chuan: Shirt and pants by Hackett; bag by MCM.

Luckily, he has an ally who accompanies him into the jungle of exile.

(Above) On Chuan: Blazer, shirt, and trousers, all by Hackett; shoes, Chuan’s own. On Alando: Blazer, shirt, and trousers, all by Hackett; shoes, Alando’s own. All suitcases by Rimowa.

In his turmoil he meets a virginal flower who accepts his love and lack of station.

(Above) On Katrina: Dress by Milly at M Pavilion; earrings, stylist’s own. On Chuan: Shirt and trousers by Comoddity; shoes, Chuan’s own.

But as fate would have it, and fate is a big-time baddie in Bollywood, he’s not the only one who likes her. The evil conniver steals her, forcing the good guy to find more friends to win her back.

(Above) On Katrina: Dress by Melinda Looi; earrings, stylist’s own. On Omar: Shirt by Biyan.

(Above) On Alando: Blazer and trousers by Hackett. On Mark O’dea: Blazer by Hackett; trousers by Givenchy. On Omar: Shirt by Hackett; denim jeans by Lanvin. On Chuan: Blazer and denim jeans by Hackett. On Tiffany: Dress by A-Jane. On Katrina: Dress by Milly at M Pavilion; earrings, stylist’s own.

Eventually the good guy has the sense to go home and claim what’s his: nothing less than the estate, oil wells and a lead role in the family saga.

Stepmum is forgiven and left to be forgotten by all and sundry. Daddy is let out to pasture.

But this being Bollywood, it’s never the end.

(Above) On Katrina: Sequin dress by Farah Khan. On Chuan: Tuxedo by Hackett.

(Above) On Mark O’Dea: Shirt by Givenchy and pants by Hackett. On Omar: Blazer by Comoddity, T-shirt by Lanvin, pants by Hackett.

Photography by Chuan Looi
Styling by Max Mak
Hair by Garrie Sim and Bibian Leong
Makeup by Bobo Lee from M.A.C
Featuring Katrina Taib, Tiffany Choong, Tan San Chuan, Mark Chua, Zaireen J. Redza, Mark O’Dea, Omar Khan and Alando Atkinson.

This feature first appeared in the April 2018 issue of UNRESERVED.

Related: Behind the Scenes of UNRESERVED’s Ramayana Shoot