I recently attended Vogue Living Singapore 2026, an exciting new chapter for Vogue Singapore that brings together fashion, interiors, architecture and design through the lens of contemporary living.

Centred on the theme Fashion’s New Habitat, the inaugural edition explored how personal style goes beyond clothing to influence our homes, surroundings and sense of identity. Held at the National Gallery, the experience brought together the ABITO exhibition, which explores the relationship between fashion, furniture and women’s changing lives and a series of Vogue Living Conversations featuring voices from Singapore and across the wider design community.

Vogue Living Takeover

To mark its sixth anniversary, Vogue Singapore brought the October issue beyond the pages with a two-week takeover of Basheer Graphic Books, celebrating The Artisanal Issue and the debut of Vogue Living Singapore.

ABITO Exhibition

One of the highlights of Vogue Living Singapore 2026 was ABITO, an exhibition that explores the relationship between Italian fashion, furniture and the changing role of women in society.

Curated by Italian design duo Ludovica Serafini and Roberto Palomba of Palomba Serafini Associati, ABITO made its international debut in Singapore following its presentation at Salone del Mobile in Milan. The exhibition brought together fashion and design objects from different eras, inviting visitors to consider how the way women dress and the spaces they inhabit reflect wider social changes.

Vogue Living Conversations

The inaugural Vogue Living Conversations brought together designers, architects, editors and other creative voices for a day of discussions on the ideas shaping the way we live. The programme moved between fashion, urban planning, residential design, Southeast Asian creativity and hospitality, exploring how thoughtful design can influence not only the appearance of our surroundings, but also our everyday experiences.

ABITO – Designing Her World: Fashion, Design and the Changing Shape of Women’s Lives

Opening the programme was a conversation inspired by the ABITO exhibition, exploring how fashion and design have evolved alongside women’s changing roles in society.

The discussion brought together perspectives from architecture, education, fashion and design to examine how clothing, furniture and living spaces can reflect women’s freedom, individuality and agency. It also considered the importance of recognising women not simply as consumers of design, but as creators and curators who help shape contemporary culture.

One of the central ideas was that the evolution of women’s lives can offer a lens through which to understand broader social change. From the clothes we wear to the spaces we call our own, design can reveal much about the values and expectations of the time.

The Future City: Designing for Density, Nature and Belonging in Singapore

As Singapore continues to grow and evolve, how can we design a city that feels not only efficient, but also liveable and connected?

This conversation explored the relationship between urban density, green spaces, heritage and community. Bringing together perspectives from architecture, urban heritage and design policy, the panellists discussed how thoughtful planning can create places where people feel a stronger sense of belonging.

Examples such as Our Tampines Hub and Bukit Canberra illustrated how shared spaces and greenery can help bring communities together, while developments such as New Bahru and Golden Mile Complex highlighted the possibilities of reimagining existing buildings.

The discussion offered a useful reminder that density does not have to come at the expense of quality of life. When designed with people in mind, our buildings and public spaces can encourage connection, preserve a sense of history and make everyday life more enjoyable.

Fashion’s New Habitat: In Conversation with Vogue Editors

What happens when fashion begins to influence not just our wardrobes, but also the spaces in which we shop, dine and spend time?

In this fireside conversation, Vogue Singapore Editor-in-Chief Desmond Lim and Vogue Living Contributing Editor Kissa Castañeda discussed the thinking behind Vogue Living Singapore and its inaugural theme, Fashion’s New Habitat.

The conversation explored the growing intersection between fashion, interiors and experiences, including how brands are using thoughtfully designed spaces to create a stronger connection with their audiences. From distinctive retail interiors to lifestyle destinations that encourage people to gather, design has become an important part of how brands express their identities.

It was an interesting look at how personal taste can extend beyond clothing and into our surroundings – and how the places we visit can become just as memorable as the things we wear.

The Sanctuary Within: Home as a Refuge in a Restless World

In a world that often feels fast-paced and demanding, what makes a house feel like a sanctuary?

Presented by Italian furniture brand Molteni&C, this conversation explored how thoughtful residential design can create a sense of calm, comfort and connection in our everyday lives.

The panellists discussed the role of lighting, flexible layouts and carefully chosen furniture in shaping how a home feels and functions. Rather than focusing on aesthetics alone, the conversation considered how a well-designed space can respond to the needs and habits of the people living in it.

Another important theme was the relationship between designers and homeowners. Good design involves more than simply bringing a client’s ideas to life; it also requires listening, understanding how people live and sometimes helping them discover what they need from a space.

It was a timely reminder that a beautiful home is not just about how it looks in photographs. It is about creating an environment that feels personal, welcoming and suited to the life unfolding within it.

Designing Identity: Meet the Creative Voices Shaping Southeast Asia’s Future

This conversation turned the spotlight towards Southeast Asia’s creative community and the people shaping the region’s design identity.

Featuring voices from furniture, product and spatial design, the discussion explored how local context, materials, culture and individual perspectives can influence creative work. The panellists also reflected on the challenges facing emerging designers, including how to develop a distinctive point of view in an increasingly connected and commercially driven industry.

One recurring idea was the importance of looking beyond social media for inspiration. Observing the materials, traditions and everyday environments around us can offer a richer starting point for creative work, while reading widely and exploring different perspectives can help broaden our understanding of design.

Ultimately, the conversation encouraged designers to trust their instincts and develop work that feels authentic to them, rather than simply following trends or reproducing what is already popular elsewhere.

The Luxury of Place: When Design Becomes the Destination

For the final conversation of the day, the focus shifted to hospitality and the growing importance of a strong sense of place in the way we experience hotels and travel.

Bringing together voices from hotel design and hospitality, the discussion explored how memorable destinations are shaped by more than beautiful architecture or luxurious interiors. Local culture, community, history and the smaller details of an experience can all contribute to a property’s identity and leave a lasting impression on its guests.

The panellists considered how travellers are increasingly drawn to places that feel distinctive and connected to their surroundings, rather than spaces that could exist anywhere in the world.

It was an interesting perspective on luxury: sometimes, what makes a stay special is not simply how impressive a place looks, but how meaningfully it reflects the people, culture and environment around it.

As a modern Southeast Asian woman moving into a new home with a love for home decor, design and finding inspiration to incorporate my own cultural heritage into my space, I’m looking forward to Vogue Singapore’s new chapter, to seeing more stories that celebrate the creativity, culture and perspectives shaping the way we live in Singapore and across Southeast Asia – from the clothes we wear and the objects we surround ourselves with to the homes we return to.

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Reference:
Vogue Singapore
National Gallery Singapore
ABITO
Molteni & C