I-S turns the spotlight on our local fashion insiders
to find what’s hot this Great Singapore Sale. By Zaki Jufri.
Photography by Richard Lee and Tetuko Hanggoro
Prasetyowibowo
The Great Singapore Sale (GSS) is
upon us again, and who better than our very own style icons to let
us in on the best deals on the hottest threads this season. Here,
five style icons show us their picks from the hottest boutiques and
high street stores that are participating in this year’s
GSS.
The
Shoo-In
Who: Marie Choo
Where: River Island (#02-24/25/26 Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252
North Bridge Rd., 6336-8722). 50 percent discount storewide.
“Fashion and shopping are my forte,” says Marie Choo, Director of
consultancy firm Alchemy Consultancy. The spunky looker is one of
the people responsible for the highly touted Belvedere Beat series
of parties that was held here last month. She’s also a favorite
with magazine editors who occasionally feature her in their stories
for her bold sense of style. “Beauty is in the details, and it’s
worth spending to achieve that, especially on accessories like
shoes and bags,” she tell us. “If you buy from high-street labels
like River Island, make that outfit truly yours by accessorizing it
so that you stand out from the crowd and not be afraid of bumping
into someone wearing that same dress or top.”
Marie’s GSS
Picks:
1. “I love little
details like this brooch that comes with this dress. And the
clothes here are full of little
surprises.”
Turquoise block dress with flower detail brooch, $50 (after 50
percent discount)
2. “Doesn’t this look
something from Dolce & Gabbana? Just pair it with some
accessories and you’re good to go.”
Leopard print chiffon dress, $75 (after 50 percent
discount)
3. “Although I’m a
designer footwear type of girl, details like these really call out
to me.”
Sandal with gold studded details, $36.50 (after 50 percent
discount)
The
Standout
Who: Henne Mercer
Where: Front Row (5 Ann Siang Rd., 6224-5501). 60 percent discount
off past seasons’ collections.
With her platinum blonde crop, Henne Mercer, Marketing Director of
Toni & Guy, certainly stands out from the crowd. With her
finger on the pulse on what’s hot on the hairstyle front, the
fashionably dressed Henne is a regular fixture on the front rows of
fashion shows here. “I think you should always browse around first
to view what’s available and think about what you need so that if
something really catches your eye, then you can buy it and not
regret later,” Henne shares her shopping tip with us. “Invest in
great accessories—you can dress up any outfit with them. You should
also look out for more vintage pieces and you can mix them up with
modern items. Just be creative!”
Henne’s GSS Picks:
1. “This is a great classic piece which you can wear to work. Just
add different accessories to create different looks from day to
day.”
APC grey shift dress with bow detailing, $275 (after 50 percent
discount)
2. “I like the fact that although this dress has vintage
sensibilities, it still looks modern and contemporary. And the
color is just lovely.”
Eley Kishimoto dress, $358 (after 60 percent discount)
3. “This top is just great with skinny bottoms, and this necklace
by Crux is just what you need to complete the
look.”
Grey Eley Kishimoto top, $260 (after 60 percent discount); black
and silver tentacles by Crux by Vik Lim, $100 (after 50 percent
discount)
The Smart Dresser
Who: Hideki Akiyoshi
Where: Tang+Co Men (3/F, Tangs, 320 Orchard Rd., 6735-7322). 30 to
50 percent discounts off selected items.
With over 20 years experience in the fashion industry, Hideki
Akiyoshi is considered a style icon in fashion circles here. This
former head honcho of marketing communications company Style Asia
has since struck out on his own after a one and a half year
sabbatical in Japan; and is currently consulting for Eric Khoo’s
Zhao Wei Films and Puma. “Sale period is great to buy things that
you wouldn’t normally buy or wear,” he says. “As prices are marked
down, it’s a good opportunity to experiment with new looks and
colours.”
Hideki's GSS Picks:
1. “Knitwear is definitely in this season and you should invest in
good quality ones. Look out for vest and cardigans in light
fabrics. You wouldn’t want to work out a sweat wearing heavy knit
ones here.”
Daniele Fiesoli polo T-shirt and vest, $169 and $186 respectively;
Weber shorts with nautical details, $439; white leather belt, $259;
and Puma Black label sneakers, $253 (after 50 percent
discount). All other items are at 15 percent discount for
Visa cardholders
2. “I like to mix patterns
like stripes and checks together, creating subtle contrasts for
this season.”
Emporium Viri shirt, $159 (after 50 percent discount), Rice navy
sport-jacket, $911 (after 20 percent discount); Weber pants, $271
(15 percent discount for Visa cardholders) and Puma Black Label
sneakers, $248 (after 50 percent discount)
3. “For a dressier yet
casual look, pair up knitwear with distressed jeans like
these.”
David Mayer Naman shirt and long-sleeved cardigan, $159 (after 30
percent discount) and $203 (after 15 percent discount for Visa
cardholders) respectively; Coast graphic tie, $118 (after 15
percent discount for Visa cardholders); and jeans by David Mayer
Naman, $195 (after 30 percent discount)
The Fashion Princess
Who: Tjin Lee
Where: Blackmarket (19 Jalan Pisang, 6296-8512). 10 to 30 percent
discounts off selected items.
A regular fixture at society parties here and abroad, Tjin Lee,
managing director of Mercury Marketing & Communications, a
boutique events management and public relations agency, is the
force who puts together countless fashion events, like the recently
concluded Audi Fashion Festival, which saw a stellar line-up of
international designers like Gareth Pugh and Vivienne Westwood. Lee
says: “Invest in classic items that never date. Seriously—last
season’s Ray Bans look like next season’s Ray Bans. I have a black
dress from Donna Karan that is as current today as when I bought it
10 years ago!”
Tjinn’s GSS Picks:
1. “The bold prints of this dress will certainly make you stand
out.”
Dress by Hansel, $237 (after 30 percent
discount)
2. “Make a statement with this printed dress with oversized bow.
Just pair with leggings or skinny jeans and high platform shoes to
complete the look.”
Dress by Mich Dulce, $477 (after 10 percent
discount)
3. “An adorable blouse that’s adaptable for both work and a night
out.”
Blouse by Hansel, $181 (after 30 percent discount)
The Starmaker
Who: Keith Png
Where: Style Nordic (39 Ann Siang Rd., 6423-9114). 30 to 70 percent
discounts off selected items from Jun 11.
Dresser to local TV stars, fashion designer and boutique owner
Keith Png’s latest oeuvre was creating a dress for TV actress Fann
Wong for her wedding ceremony. His creations have graced many
fashion pages and worn by many celebrities such as Zoe Tay, Junita
Simon and singer Stefanie Sun.
Png says of shopping during the sale period: “Singaporeans roughly
know when a sale like GSS is going to happen; and to beat the
queues, try what you like beforehand so that when it’s sale time,
you can just ask for your size and pay without all the
hassle.”
Keith’s GSS Picks:
1. “The number of details on this shirt alone justifies the price.
And the cut is perfect for Asian men.”
Long-sleeved shirt by Junk De Luxe, $139 (after 30 percent
discount)
2. “This jacket is good
for an all summer place like Singapore because of the half-lining
inside. As for the T-shirt, I’m just obsessed with polka
dots!”
Filippa K navy sport jacket and polka dot T-shirt, $510 and $104
respectively (after 30 percent discount)
3. “Biker jackets like
this is current and the light fabric makes it very wearable
here.”
Black blouson by Pour, $328 (after 30 percent discount)
Shop
Savvy
Here are some tips to make your outings a success and probably save
you a pretty penny.
1) Do Your Research
Doing your research on your favourite stores can help you save that
bit while still keeping in line with the latest trends. Do
familiarize yourself with the sales period for the different
stores.
—Being a VIP member for certain stores lets you be the first to
know when sales start. Club 21 has regular fashion news and sales
preview mailer, simply sign up to be the first to be in the
know.
—Keep your eye out for newspaper advertisements for sales from the
bigger stores.
—It is always wise to check for credit card privileges before going
on a shopping spree.
2) Set a Shopping Budget
Before hitting town, create a realistic shopping budget. Know how
much you can splurge after factoring out your bills. Decide how
much you want to set aside and always stick to what you need rather
than what you want.
3) Go for
Classics
Always remember the rule of thumb: Fads fade, but class is eternal.
Choose colours that would never go out of season. Creams and dark
shades are classic choices, but for that extra edge, inject one or
two pieces with bold prints or electric colours.
4) Get the Right
Fit
Select cuts that would flatter you. Opt for pieces that highlight
your silhouette. An embellished belt would help define your
waistline while giving a kick to an otherwise drab tunic
top.—Andrea Lin
Other places to head for the Great Singapore
Sale:
Agnés b (2/F, Isetan Scotts, 390 Orchard Rd., 6733-5848;
and #01-26 Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Rd.,
6334-4910)
Enjoy 10 percent discount storewide. Additional 10 percent discount
for Citibank cardholders.
Antipodean
(27A Lorong Mambong, Holland Village,
6463-7336)
Up to 70 percent discount on selected labels like Fleur Wood,
Zimmermann and Shakuhachi and 10 percent discount on homewares,
accessories and jewellery.
Beijaflor
(#03-11 Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Rd.,
6737-9985)
Enjoy 50 percent discount on designer jeans and Melissa shoes from
Brazil.
Dorothy
Perkins (#02-338/339
Marina Square, 6 Raffles Blvd., 6336-4408)
Up to 50 percent discount storewide.
Energie
(#02-11/12, The Heeren Shops, 260
Orchard Rd., 6738-2927)
Enjoy 40 percent discount storewide. Additional 15 percent discount
for DBS Cardholders.
Esprit
(#01-047/051, Suntec City Mall, 3
Temasek Blvd., 6333-5690)
Up to 50 percent discount on selected sales merchandise.
Miss Sixty
(#02-29/30, Paragon, 290 Orchard Rd.,
6735-1660)
Up to 40 percent discount on selected items through Jul
22.
Miss
Selfridge (#02-115/116/117, Marina Square, 6 Raffles Blvd.,
6837-2676; #02-39, Raffles City, 252 North Bridge Rd.,
6336-2821)
Up to 50 percent discount on selected items.
Tommy
Hilfiger (#01-80
VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6376-9156)
Up to 60 percent discount on selected items.
Topshop/Topman (#02-109/111/113/114, Marina Square, 6 Raffles
Blvd., 6309-1200)
Up to 30 percent discount on selected items.