Cutting Class

Aug 1959 Roland Chow may have been better known for his skill at taming unruly manes, but the Shanghainese-born bachelor was adept with needle and thread as well. In fact, he was christened the "Christian Dior of the East" in the 50s, and was the first designer to hold a fashion show in Singapore. While in Japan on a dress-designing course, the style maven met French hairstylist

Roger Valery who invited Mr Chow to train under him. He returned to open his first salon at the Adelphi Hotel in Coleman Street, to which the crème de la crème of society flocked when in need of either a haircut or a dress. Mr Chow was also a well-known Chinese newspaper columnist and authored two books before he died of pneumonia at the age of 85, ending an era of high glamour in Singapore.