Always impeccably and uniquely dressed, Datin Joanna Low has perfected the art of throwing a look together and making it appear effortless, although she favours comfort and practicality over “high-dysfunctional fashion” anytime. “I must admit I save my more eclectic pieces for when I lunch with friends,” confesses the 38-year-old. “Otherwise my daily outfit isn’t something that I think about too much. I guess it depends on how I’m feeling that morning. Usually, you’ll catch me in my Lululemons as I work out daily.”
Her daily workouts are her secret to looking younger than her age – that, and being blessed with good skin. The mother-of-three firmly believes in wardrobe investments and holds on to all her fashion buys: “I’m a fashion hoarder and I have a strange premonition that everything I give away will come back on trend again,” she laughs. “That said, I think my style has matured and I make wiser choices now. Gone are the teenage years of carrot-cut trousers and up-to-there minis!”
Asked when she first developed an interest in fashion, Joanna says she was a late bloomer. “I remember asking my mum for board games and books for Christmas while my sister shopped for lacy lingerie pieces. I really don’t know when the fashion bug bit, but when it did my credit card took some serious hits!”
These days, Joanna takes her spending elsewhere – as an online shopaholic. “I thank God every day I was born in these times! The convenience, competitive prices, the way products are displayed so attractively plus being able to shop anytime has given me an exhilarating virtual retail experience. Net-a-Porter, MatchesFashion, MyTheresa, and FarFetch are just some of my favourites, and I’m constantly combing the Net for more sites. Who doesn’t enjoy receiving presents from the postman?”
She currently has her eye on the Bullet leather bag from the Chanel Paris-Dallas collection. “I love Chanel,” she reveals. “Karl Lagerfeld is such a visionary. I’m also a fan of Alber Elbaz, Phoebe Philo, Olivier Rousteing, and Riccardo Tisci. Frida Giannini at Gucci delivers clever surprises. This season, I’m really loving Dior. The couture Raf Simons showed is nothing short of amazing. His entire collection is the reason to love fashion, marrying modernism with Marie Antoinette ideas – star archival pieces worth investing in.” While she remains coy about her prized possessions, Joanna tells us she will leave them all to her only daughter. “Becoming a mother to a girl means you have very good reason to shop well!” And if the items she brought out for the shoot are anything to go by, Madison is one very lucky girl.
If there’s one thing Joanna holds dear, it’s family. “I wear my Cartier Juste Un Clou and Eternity bracelets all the time as they are gifts from my husband and children,” she shares. “The bracelets remind me how lucky I am to have them in my life.” She also cherishes both her mothers, who have taught her a lot. “My mother educated me about practicality and to have an economic sense of fashion. From her, I learned to be mindful about my indulgences. My mother-in-law taught me about style and investment in the realm of fashion. In the end, fashion is about being confident in your own distinctive style. No one should dictate how you carry yourself, so go ahead and flaunt a look that’s all your own!”
Photography: Soon Lau/ShowUp Pictures
