The wife of Singapore's second president, Mrs Benjamin Sheares, had a knack for combining East and West fashions. She often wore a Western-style jacket over an ankle-length sleeveless cheongsam.

One of these outfits is now on show in the National Museum's Fashion Gallery.

The gallery uses garments worn by women in the 1950s to 1970s to tell the history of Singapore.

Curator Chung May Khuen, 35, says Mrs Sheares' outfits were tailored with lace to 'adopt a more formal look for night functions' that she would attend with Mr Sheares, who held office from 1971 to 1981.

He died from cerebral haemorrhage in 1981, while still in office.

Lace accents were also used in another outfit, newly on show at the gallery. It belongs to Puan Noor Aishah, 76, widow of Singapore's first president, Mr Yusof Ishak.

At Mr Yusof Ishak's swearing-in ceremony, Puan Noor Aishah (above, second from left) wore the self-tailored gold and black baju panjang. It is among the exhibits (right in Photo 1), which include Mrs Benjamin Sheares' Western-style jacket and cheongsam (centre in Photo 1).

She made the kebaya pendek herself and donated it to the museum in 2004.

She would match her top with a kain panjang, which is an unstitched ankle-length cloth, decorated diagonally with a floral pattern.

She would then top off the ensemble by draping a selendang or shawl over her shoulders.

Ms Chung says: 'She would buy her fabrics from Arab Street or High Street and sew her own outfits. This reflects women's challenges in those times. No stylist told them what to wear so they had to be creative.'

When Singapore gained independence in 1965, Mr Yusof became the first president and held office till 1970, when he died of heart failure at age 60 after a long illness.

The clothes, says Ms Chung, are more than just cultural fashion statements - they also represent the nation's identity.

She says: 'Puan Noor Aishah's kebaya outfits send a clear message to neighbouring countries that Singapore belongs to the greater region.'

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FIRST LADY SHOWCASE

Where: National Museum of Singapore

When: Open 10am - 8pm daily

Admission: $10 for adults (for all galleries), free admission from 6 - 8pm daily

Info: www.nationalmuseum.sg

This article was first published in The Straits Times.