“Clothes are designed to be worn after all,” muses personal shopper and management trainee, Xin Yao. At just 27 years old, Yao—who moved to Singapore from Tianjin, China, in 2003—has become a sartorial savant of sorts, inspiring her bevvy of online followers with a distinct edgy-meets-ageless style. In her wardrobe is a textural blend of pieces that reflect her three dressing pillars: timelessness, balance and effortlessness.

A quick scroll through her Instagram posts will attest to this; in the form of cashmere separates offset with chunky boots and turtlenecks paired with ornate stoles. It is clear that her affinity for elegance and ease draws her to items. “I gravitate towards pieces that are timeless and that I can get multiple looks out of. It’s a way of being environmentally friendly and investing wisely.” And Salvatore Ferragamo’s spring/summer 2022 collection offers just that.

The Italian luxury maison has established a loyal following for its artisanal shoes since its conception in 1927. This statement-making power now extends to the house’s ready-to-wear, too. “If I had to name one brand that is classy, elegant and dreamy, it is certainly Salvatore Ferragamo. I love that their designs are practical and that their pieces can be interchanged. It is in line with how I dress.”
And it’s no wonder. At the hands of design director Guillaume Meilland, Salvatore Ferragamo’s spring/ summer 2022 collection draws from a myriad of references that are as unique as Yao—from Luis Buñuel’s film That Obscure Object of Desire to the maison’s archive.

As for the ensemble Yao resonated with the most on our shoot? Salvatore Ferragamo’s blouse and boots paired with flared jeans. And as for the item she’d like to incorporate into her wardrobe? An all-black Salvatore Ferragamo skirt with tassels. “This outfit made me feel like a black swan. I can picture how I would play around with it and create different looks.”
Augmented reality experience
Want to see Xin model a look right in your own place? Click on the image below with your iPhone to see her come alive in augmented reality.

Photography Zantz Han
Styling Desmond Lim
Hair and make-up Marc Teng
Styling assistant Victor Tan
Location Baroque House
Talent Xin Yao
For more stories like this, subscribe to the print edition of Vogue Singapore.