'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
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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