F1 Fabulous: What, where and what to wear...
Not a big sports fan? The Singapore Grand Prix weekend can still be as exciting for fashionistas and party-lovers as it is for F1 fanatics. Our VIP insider Yvette King shows you just how, what and where.
The Formula 1 is not just about fast cars. It’s that time of year again when Singapore revs up her own engine and throws some of the best parties you could imagine. Last year, I was privy to the crème de la crème of premier after-events at Amber Lounge. Reporting from the red carpet was the perfect people watching (and interviewing) experience. But what's good being an insider if it's not to share the best tips including the top three parties you should be RSVPing to and how to prepare for an evening of high octane action!
So get ready, set and go...
TOP 3 F1 AFTER PARTIES
1- Amber Lounge. This is the premier destination for all you luxury seekers out there. A bespoke venue complete with waterwall is crafted specifically for Amber Lounge. It seems that the drivers themselves come straight from the race track to this vibrant party (I met Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg last year). A well choreographed fashion presentation by international designers, performances by renowned vocalists and the best DJs hitting the decks are all part of the opulent fun. Oh and did I mention celebrity spotting? Maroon 5 through to Richard Branson have hit the Amber Lounge dance floor in previous years! Tickets and tables are available on both Saturday and Sunday nights - it’s a unique experience I wouldn’t miss! Click here for more information.
Yvette interviewing F1 driver Nico Rosberg at Amber Lounge 2012...
And here posing with French model Willy Monfret .
2- Johnny Walker Circuit Lounge. A whiskey night cap after a night race is what you need! The dress code at this post race celebration is chic and glamourous, held at the Marina Bay Sands event hall. Word is there will be a theatrical spectacle, a musical collaboration between Grammy nominated The Mad Violinist with DJs and special Gold Label Reserve cocktails will be on hand. As a seven-year-long partner of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team, here’s hoping you’ll bump into driver Jenson Button at the Johnny Walker party! Lock in Sat 21st of September for this one.
3- The Podium Lounge. If you’re a Lewis Hamilton fan, this party is for you. Located in uber close proximity to the track, The Podium Lounge draws in a fashionable crowd of models, drivers and celebrities – you get the picture. A fashion show run by Holstad & Co (Fri 20), Gnossem (Sat 21) and Willow & Huxley (Sun 22) is all part of the entertainment.
what to wear
Decide which party you're going for? Now comes the most important question: What should I wear? If you are heading to one of the aforementioned venues, I would recommend not being afraid to show a little skin and have fun with your threads! A cute, cheery and colourful cocktail dress is ideal or for even more refined glam, go for a maxi dress. Keep in mind if you are moving between events or from the track the latter might not be as easy to manage, especially in 9-inch heels! On that note, if you need extra staying power, perhaps opt for your most comfortable stilettos as these parties kick on till the wee hours of the morning.
Go to brands are BCBG (the Sydney Cowl Neck dress below is a stunner), Michael Kors or Singaporean designers Lion Earl (check out the hot printed Gorudo dress) and ZENCHI. Remember this is a weekend when all the globe-trotting jetsetters come to town to play, so don’t hold back! Be bold, bright and accessorise (I’m thinking gold cuffs or an ID chain). Now’s the time to roll out those red lips to match those Ferraris. Don’t let those grid girls upstage you ladies!
Yvette King is a Singapore-based fashion and lifestyle TV presenter who has interviewed the who’s who in the fashion world. When she’s not reporting backstage at a catwalk show or at a red carpet, she’s working on her style blog tanjongbazaar.com.
Want more F1? Check out our guide for all the rest of the events happening this weekend!
