Ho Ching’s “disgraceful” open-toed sandals make a comeback at two official functions in the past week

Besides her marriage to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and her career as chief executive of Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund, Ho Ching is perhaps most well known for her sense of style – or lack thereof.

Ho Ching’s choice of footwear has particularly irked Singaporeans time and again after she sported open-toed sandals that have been criticised as “sloppy” and “disgraceful” to official events.

This past week, Ho Ching’s open-toed sandals made appearances at two official events. At the first event, Ho Ching wore a pair of light-colored open-toed sandals to the luxurious 33rd Asean summit gala dinner held last Wednesday (14 Nov).

The dinner, that was hosted by PM Lee, was graced by regional leaders like South Korea Prime Minister Moon Jae-In, Chinese premier Li Keqiang, Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Malaysia Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi, among others.

Two days later, on Friday (16 Nov), Ho Ching again wore a pair of nude open-toed sandals as she greeted visiting US Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, alongside PM Lee.

The national broadsheet had painted Vice President Pence’s as the latest in a series of “high-level” bilateral engagements between the US and Singapore.

In October last year, Ho Ching drew criticism when she was spotted wearing a pair of sandals when she accompanied her husband on his official visit to the United States of America to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House.

https://theindependent.sg.sg/ho-chings-sloppy-sandals-make-an-appearance-during-official-us-trip-once-again/

She had sported open-toed sandals at an official US visit back when Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama was in office as well. Netizens were quick to point of the difference in dressing between former US President Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle Obama and Ho Ching, when PM Lee and his wife were invited to a state dinner at the White House.

Among others who criticised Ho Ching then, aesthetics doctor and Save our Street Dogs founder, Dr Siew Tuck Wah commented:

“Its a historic occasion for Singapore Prime minister Lee and wife Ho Ching to be invited to the White House. But while first lady Michelle Obama made headlines with a Naeen Khan bright yellow floral dress, Ho Ching really could have chose something, well, more cheery.”

“We need to get a stylist for her please,” he added.

https://www.facebook.com/siew.tw/posts/10154077743459093

Ho Ching also drew flak for her footwear when she went with PM Lee to visit now-toppled Malaysian politician Najib Razak to sign the High Speed Rail project agreement:

Besides being criticised for her clothing when she accompanied PM Lee to congratulate Dr Mahathir on his election win in Malaysia in May, Ho Ching also drew flak for her outfit at an official event where everyone else wore suits, recently:

https://theindependent.sg.sg/ho-chings-maid-attire-at-formal-event-exasperates-netizens/

https://theindependent.sg.sg/ho-chings-out-of-touch-outfit-during-visit-with-mahathir-irks-singaporeans/

Meanwhile, netizens sharply criticised her latest open-toed sandals as “disgraceful” and not fitting for the wife of a nation’s leader to wear when greeting other leaders:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1973253092764202&set=a.902318569857665&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2064958780236041&set=a.741914479207151&type=3