Want to turn your simple blazer into a statement piece? Take a page out of Yoyo Cao’s impeccably tailored lookbook. The Singapore-based designer and entrepreneur’s style is largely influenced by her tropical surroundings, where she has mastered the art of layering to a t – literally – as every ensemble revolves around tailoring. Cao has become a darling of the street-style lens, with her unexpected assemblage of separates, like pairing an oversized shirt with a mini-dress and pants. Her forward-thinking style code manifests itself in her multi-label store Exhibit, founded in Singapore in 2010. Cao’s concept store redefines the “Made in Asia” market, bringing luxury, modern staples to the city’s retail scene that was made largely of European imports. Exhibit has since expanded to an in-house label, that Cao designs under her pioneering vision.
Whether front-rowing during fashion week or gallivanting on holiday, Cao knows how to keep cool and chic in a hotter-than-hell environment. She defines the Exhibit woman as one with “distinctive spruce and effortless flair,” and Cao exudes those qualities with ease. She gives girlboss a whole new look, with a shirt game that puts any businessman to shame. A crisp oxford slips seamlessly under a suit-jacket one day, and the next she’ll tuck an off-the-shoulder blouse into trousers at the pool. She’s often seen sporting one of her latest creations, throwing other power-femme designers like Dior and Ellery into the mix. The key is experimenting with silhouettes, textures and colors topped off with an ‘it’ accessory or two. Turn that basic blazer into a fresh canvas this season, and get inspired with her street style edit.
