#7 Goodbye @themepsi

Editor: @nwangerd

Back in my uni days, I used to look forward to September 1st—not just because it marked the start of a new semester, but because it signaled the beginning of autumn, that sweet spot in time when I could finally start wearing long sleeves without someone saying, “You’re really ignoring the weather again, huh?” There was something deeply comforting about the shift—from T-shirts I’d grown tired of to sweatshirts and hoodies that felt like a gentle kind of renewal.

 

A few years later, after starting my first internship and receiving my very first monthly paycheck, I finally began to shop for clothes I truly wanted. I'd decide on a specific item, save up two or three months of salary, then keep refreshing platforms like SSENSE, Matches, and Farfetch, waiting patiently for the best price to appear.

Through this ritual, I began to build a more defined sense of taste—and naturally, favorite brands started to form. Japanese brands, in particular, resonated with me (they still do). The most affordable way to buy them, as I soon found out, was to fly directly to Japan, shop in person, and claim a tax refund. And so, I started going to Tokyo often, even til now.
When I visited Tokyo during those early working years, the trip was always a strategic operation—budget was tight, of course, so accommodations were basic, and I’d spend most of my time browsing as many shops as I could. I’d compare and compare again, making my final purchase decisions only on the last day.
I even had a personal checklist for choosing the right item, and they were 1) price, 2) utility, and 3) design. Only when a piece met all three would I let myself take it home. Not always an easy find.

In this way, I developed not only an affection for clothes, but a particular approach to dressing—curated slowly, shaped by trial and error. Over time, I built up a wardrobe of pieces that, to others, may have looked mostly the same, but to me, told a story of evolving taste.

And then came two unexpected turns.

1) I relocated to Singapore, a country with an eternal summer.
2) I also gained about 20 kilograms.

These two shifts threw me into a personal fashion recession that lasted from late 2021 through the end of 2023. But as I slowly adapted to life in Singapore, and as the place began to feel more like home, I started to return to myself. I returned to my usual weight. And I returned to clothing—with intention.

It was with this renewed sense of style—and my usual young & broqué spirit—that I launched a small side project in early 2024: a men’s fashion Reels account on Instagram called @_themepsi.

1. About @_themepsi

Now private and no longer active, @_themepsi was where I’d upload short Reels of my daily OOTDs—outfits I wore to work, filmed discreetly in the elevator of my office building.
Editing those videos on a phone with big thumbs is something no one can truly understand unless they’ve tried it. (shout out to all Reels creators out there—it’s no small task.)

Still, I managed to post about 20 Reels before stepping away. The consistency was largely thanks to three reasons.

First, the satisfaction of creating content gave me permission to shop more clothes without guilt.

Second, I entertained a faint but thrilling hope that I might just become an influencer, especially in Singapore, where male fashion creators are few and far between.

And third, I simply enjoyed showing off my outfits.

Of course, the cold numbers told a different story. The lack of views made it clear: Singapore wasn’t an untapped market for men’s fashion creators—it was a market with no real demand.

Eventually, I let the account go. But in its short life, @_themepsi gave me something rare in Singapore: a genuinely fun chapter in early 2024.

So with this piece, I want to quietly say goodbye. I’ll share a few of my favorite outfits—ones that didn’t get the attention they deserved—and in doing so, give the account the sendoff it never quite got.

2. Goodbye @_themepsi

I’ve selected six Reels in total, each paired with a brief note on the day’s outfit.
And with that—goodbye, themepsi.

 

1) The very first Reel I ever uploaded. No narration, no captions. The screen is dim, and most of the outfit is barely visible - but that's exactly why I chose it.

• Views: 321
• Top: Wales Bonner x Adidas T-shirt
• Bottoms: Loewe jeans with a washing detail at the hem
• Shoes: My favorite Vans Vault slip-ons (I've been buying the same pair for nearly a decade. They were discontinued in 2024.)

 

2) As the caption says, this was my first attempt at adding narration. It actually felt like real content for once - and I liked the outfit enough to include it here.

• Views: 366
• Top: A t-shirt from my go-to Japanese brand, Kapital
• Bottoms: Deep indigo Lemaire jeans, long enough to drag along the floor
• Shoes: (again) Vans Vault slip-ons
  

 

3) I once showed up in long sleeves under the excuse of air-conditioning.

• Views: 566
• Top: A high-neck zip-up cardigan by mfpen, a brand from Copenhagen
• Bottoms: Jeans from another beloved Japanese brand, Needles—complete with frayed threads that always get questions
• Shoes: Mihara Yasuhiro’s Vans-inspired shoes
  

 

4) This was the Reel where I started adding subtitles. This was no easy task for sure.

• Views: 403
• Top: Short-sleeve tee from Comme des Garçons Shirt
• Bottoms: The real deal, Kapital jeans
• Shoes: Vans Vault Authentics—similar, but not the same

 

5) A man wearing wool knits in Singapore. That's me.

• Views: 296
• Top: Lemaire wool knit— got no heat rash, surprisingly
• Bottoms: (again) Loewe jeans
• Shoes: (again *2) Vans Vault slip-ons

6) This was the last Reel I ever posted, which is why I included it. 

• Views: 584
• Top: Shirt from The North Face Purple Label
• Bottoms: Reworked Dickies - I made myself.
• Shoes: Let’s skip that part this time. (It just happened to be Vans—I do wear other shoes.)