The couture exhibition by Alliance Fran&ccedil;aise de Singapour showcases jacket artistry throughout history, including runway pieces by French fashion houses Saint Laurent, Christian Dior and more.

If you haven&rsquo;t already done so, take some time out to visit the La Veste exhibition by Alliance Fran&ccedil;aise de Singapour. The showcase serves as a contemplative journey into the enduring allure of the men&rsquo;s blazer, and explores its artistry through designer pieces from iconic French fashion houses like <a href="https://www.hommessingapore.com/style/saint-laurent-mens-spring-summer-2024-runway-collection-every-look" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saint Laurent</a>, <a href="https://www.hommessingapore.com/style/every-look-louis-vuitton-mens-fall-winter-2024-runway-images-pharrell-williams-pfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Louis Vuitton</a>, <a href="https://www.hommessingapore.com/style/fashion-hommes-dior-mens-fall-winter-2024-runway-images-show" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christian Dior</a> and more.

The exhibition is curated by renowned international fashion consultant Leonard Choo, who handpicked 42 exceptional examples from law professor and fashion photographer David Tan&rsquo;s private collection. Here, he gives us the lowdown on his favourite pieces from history and the runway.
A great jacket&hellip;
Should graze the body, and not constrict it.
Name a quintessential jacket in fashion history.
The Regency-style tailcoats from the end of the 18th century &mdash; see any photos of Beau Brummell or his contemporaries &mdash; as they are arguably the first iteration of a jacket. On the heels of the French Revolution, they encapsulate the drastic shift in menswear from being signifiers of ostentation and excess, to the &ldquo;new age&rdquo; of modesty and rationality.

Favourite piece from the La Veste exhibition?
The Glenn Martens of Y/Project for Jean Paul Gaultier Fall/Winter 2022, with the trompe l&rsquo;oeil print of the male form on the outside of the garment. Conspicuously risqu&eacute; and incredibly clever in its presentation of the &ldquo;dressed&rdquo; man.
Best jacket accessory?
I love a good thematic lapel pin. It could be a silk flower, scrimshaw bone, precious stones, or even a cheeky statement on the proceedings. I have a teapot chained to a cup for afternoon teas, and a gold phone with its receiver on a chain for introductory conversations.
Name one iconic jacket in film history.
Robert Redford&rsquo;s pink Ralph Lauren suit in The Great Gatsby (1974) &mdash; what a bold, fabulous colour choice.

One jacket you dream of owning?
Prada&rsquo;s Fall/Winter 2012 campaign had a series of mid-19th century-inspired frock coats. Some of them, especially the foulard-patterned and contrast-lapel ones, really resonate with my personal old-world aesthetic.
Lastly, sartorial elegance or avant-garde?
The best is a clever interplay of both! As the La Veste exhibition shows, the most exciting jackets build on, reference, or break down traditional codes to make a statement and pose a point of view.

The La Veste exhibition will run until 16 March at La galerie, Alliance Fran&ccedil;aise de Singapour.

Leonard Choo, Curator of La Veste, On All Things Jackets

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