Singapore Shopping

In Singapore, shopping is a national pastime—second only to eating and discussing food—and for good reason. With temperatures around 90 degrees Fahrenheit daily, it’s enough to drive anyone into the sub-arctic of air-conditioned malls.

And oh, are there malls. On a little more than a mile of the main shopping drag, Orchard Road, there are 35 alone—and that’s just the beginning. There seems to be a shop for every taste, need and wallet size in Singapore. Looking for souvenirs? Designer sunglasses? Cheap shoes? This shopping guide will help you find it all as you plan your Singapore vacation.

Malls

High-End

Orchard Road is a concrete-and-glass wonderland where you can walk from mall to mall without seeing the light of day. You either love it or hate it. If you’re brave enough to face the crowds, start at the top of the fashion food chain: Paragon, a high-end home to designer labels Jimmy Choo, Gucci, Versace, Prada … you get the idea.

 

• Tangs is one of hundreds of retail locations located along the popular Orchard Road.

jakrapong

But wait! There’s no Louis Vuitton! Don’t worry—there’s one across the street in Ngee Ann City, known to locals as “the shiny temple.” Aside from the Japanese department store behemoth Takashimaya, Ngee Ann City delivers a wide variety of upmarket and mid-range lines, from Juicy Couture and Chanel to Spain’s Zara and Pull and Bear. Find new releases at affordable prices at bookstore Kinokuniya, or browse diamonds at Cartier.

Indie and Hipster Flair

On the flip side, bargain shoppers should head to Far East Plaza for cheap shoes and hipster attire—just beware the tween crowd that comes here to buy T-shirts in bulk. Sample perfumes and makeup at Tangs, a Singapore retail institution akin to Macy’s, and have suits tailored at Tanglin Shopping Centre.

Local 20-somethings migrate to lifestyle mall The Heeren, which boasts “cutting-edge stores” such as home-grown Punkstar and the not-so-subtly-named menswear shop Character.Attitude.Personality. Wonder what’s sold in Fourskinstore? “Clothes. Like a second skin.” Ahh, we get it now.

 

• Shoppers relax in massage chairs at VivoCity, a mall located off the main drag of Orchard Road.

alex.ch

U.S. Brands

If you crave U.S. brands and don’t mind paying inflated prices, go to Wisma Atria for Gap, Forever 21, Nine West and a new Nike flagship store. Or if you want to get off Orchard Road, flee to VivoCity at HarbourFront. It’s the largest mall in Singapore (for now), covering nearly 60 acres and offering countless ways to wear out your credit card.

Next: Bargain Shopping