What does it really mean to live luxuriously today? Here at ELLE Singapore, it’s not just about the visible trappings of success, but rather the quiet privilege of time and space to pause, to think, to reconnect. Having almost arrived at year’s end (and with all of us having survived 11 gruelling months), we wanted to sweep the drawing board clean to carve out a bit of sanctity.

This issue has been crafted for moments when you need a little “me time” or a spot of calm amidst the day’s chaos. Setting our sights on the concept of understated luxury, we looked beyond wardrobe doors to explore a deeper kind of refinement: One that nourishes not just how we look, but how we feel.

That spirit is beautifully embodied by our cover star Ameera Khan, who opens up about finding grace in growth and being confident to move at one’s own pace. Having grown up under constant scrutiny, Ameera has had her every move and fashion decision watched, discussed, and judged even before she’s had the chance to discover herself.

But rather than resist the noise, she has chosen to move through it with poise and purpose. “People think my life looks perfect on social media,” she admits, “but there’s so much that isn’t. When I realised that, I started focusing on getting better for myself—and not for anyone else.”

That subtle but powerful shift mirrors the spirit that runs through this issue: Luxury is having the space to breathe, to grow, and to choose stillness when the world demands a frenzied pace. And that’s where our annual Spa Awards 2025 comes in. Presenting the 50 best treatments that can be found on this island, our expert judges have spent months curating an encompassing list of spas and services to help you take care of you, from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. The places found here don’t just rejuvenate the body, they reset the mind and spirit. From meditative massages to transformative skincare rituals, each experience is an invitation to rediscover your inner balance.

This issue celebrates a modern definition of luxury—one that values how something feels over how it looks, and why it matters over what it costs. So take this magazine as an invitation to exhale. To savour your own company. To rediscover the elegance of ease. Because, sometimes, the most luxurious thing you can do is nothing at all.

Photography CHUAN LOOI
Styling JEFFREY YAN
Make-up Artist KHIR KHALID
Hairstylist CODY CHUA
Producer STELLA NG
Photographer’s Assistants MAX ONG; SERAFINA SIM; XUE NI; CHONGYEW ONG; JUNE YAP
Stylist’s Assistant JOCELINE YAN