Raffles City Shopping Centre shopping in the heart of the city

Raffles City Shopping Centre is located right in the heart of Singapore above the Cityhall MRT and is connected to Swissotel The Stamford and The Fairmont Singapore. With many tourist spots within walking distance or a train stop away, this makes Raffles City Shopping Centre perhaps the most convenient shopping mall in Singapore especially when you pressed for time.

It also happens to be one of my to-go-to mall in Singapore when I am in need of a little of shopping, and to get a break from the routine work week. To stop and enjoy the brightness of colors and goods on display is a definite sensory treat. Raffles City Shopping Centre has done an internal facelift in recent years, making the shopping experience more appealing with the second floor concentrating on fashion and basement focused on little food eateries. 

Raffles City Shopping Centre

252 North Bridge Road

Singapore 179103

Opening hours: 10am - 11pm

MRT: Cityhall

Kampong Glam - Giving Character To Singapore

Kampong Glam, home to the the famous Arab Street, Bussorah Street, and Haji Lane, gives Singapore a character to the otherwise cosmopolitan city. It is located just a couple of streets away from Bugis MRT station. Exit from BHG at Bugis Junction and walk towards Raffles Hospital. Just after the hospital would be the start of Kampong Glam on the right side. Kampong Glam is the hub of where the Arabs, the Muslims as well as local fashion designers hang out. With Haji Lane transformed to a local designer hub, the street gives the area to an eclectic vibe and a different shopping experience to the otherwise standard mall fare you would find in Singapore.

Haji Lane, Singapore

Best time to shop for IT gadgets in Singapore

Apart from GSS and post Christmas and Chinese New Year sale, another fantastic time to shop in Singapore is before the start of each school holiday. And this time, its not about fashion, rather IT gadgets, computers, laptops, and flat screen televisions. Even telcos have gotten into the game by giving away free computers with cable subscriptions.  Comex starts the weekend before the September school holidays, Sitex takes place at the November year end school holidays, the PC Show takes place during the June school holiday and IT Show takes place the weekend before the March school holidays.

Daiso the Ultimate Cheap Shopping in Singapore

One of my favorite cheap shopping outlet in Singapore is definitely Daiso. It is a chain store from Japan where all items are priced at SGD$2. Yes that's right. Surely it is one retail store that will never see a recession. In fact during such times Daiso does even better with shoppers tightening their wallet.

What can you find in Daiso? Literally anything. If you are planning on a long term stay in Singapore or moving here  for good, it definitely one if the first places to check out for your household and knickknacks items needed to set up a home. If you are entertaining it's a great place to look for cheap decorations, plates, and Japanese snacks. If you are a student there is a myriad of files, pens and all other kinds of stationary you would need. And if you are like me, a frequent traveler, this is my favorite place to come prior to a trip. Daiso is where I stock up on incredibly cheap disposable cotton or satin bedroom slippers as well as large travel bags that suck out the air, similar to your ziplock bag. At a department store or supermarket you would probably find similar bags except that it cost 5 times as much.

Be prepared to pay in cash and queue for such a great deal! You can find Daiso outlets in many locations in Singapore. Find outlets at Ion Orchard, Plaza Singapura, Vivocity, Chinatown Point, Parkway Parade, IMM. The shop space is rather cramped as they stock as many items per square inch to maximize profits. The outlets in Plaza Singapura and Chinatown Point are rather spacious and well organized. The largest flagship outlet is located at IMM, in the far west of Singapore.

Daiso, Plaza Singapura
Unit 05-01/02/03
MRT: Dhoby Ghaut

Daiso, Chinatown Point
Unit B2-02
MRT: Chinatown

Daiso, Vivocity
Unit 03-06
MRT: Habourfront

Singapore Fashion Brands

About Singapore Fashion Brands
In the past Singapore could not hold up against cities like Bangkok, where you can get cheap fashion clothes at a steal or Hong Kong, the fashion heartbeat of Asia. Today, Singapore has finally developed its own fashion style with fashion brands from US, UK, Hong Kong greatly influencing how a Singaporean would dress up. In fact, some local fashion labels have done well for itself in Singapore and have begun to expand overseas.

Charles & Keith
If you are in Singapore, be sure to check out one of the Charles & Keith. The brand initially started out as affordable and fashionable shoes for the young working girl and has since included accessories like bags and sunglasses to its collection.

bYSI
For the corporate woman who is not afraid to flaunt her femininity. The bYSI fashion line is affordable for the working girl, where you find clean cut corporate fashion wear, yet with feminine finishing reminding you are that you are still a woman, and proud to be one. You can find them located at Far East Plaza or Plaza Singapura.

Joop
Joop carries feminine blouses and dresses great for the more casual work place or weekend wear. It is for the ultra-feminine lady who is not afraid to express her femininity and dream of her prince charming. Clothes tend to be a little pricier, ranging between S$69 and above. It is a great place to shop when they are on sale. Check out their outlets located at Raffles City or Suntec City.

Iora
Iora represents what a typical Singaporean working girl living in the heartlands will wear. Find your staple work wear in basic solid colors here. The brand carries colors according to the season, giving to you opportunities to accent your outfit. You can never go wrong wearing something from Iora at the work place. They seem to follow the style of G2000, which is a brand from Hong Kong, only that it is more affordable with a little detailed finishing. Clothes range from S$39 and above.

Southhaven Boutique
Southhaven is another great label for the working girl. Clothes are fresh, clean cut, with a twist to the design, giving a whimsical feel to the clothes, yet looking corporate at the same time. A white blouse is not completely a proper white blouse as you will notice it is just fashioned slightly differently. A girl who loves Southhaven is one that though desiring to conform yet has her own individual expression as well. This is a great brand to check out especially if you are bored of the usual working shirts and skirts and want just a little something different. Clothes from Southhaven have become expensive of late, expect prices to start form S$69 and above.

Shopping in Singapore

When to shop in Singapore

There are three best seasons to shop in Singapore. If you are looking for brand fashion new collections it would be in the months of December and January. This is to cater to two key festivities such as Christmas and the Lunar New Year. If you are looking at bargains or major sales would usually happen for at least for 2 weeks after Christmas, Lunar New Year. Another major sale season is in the month of June where all Singapore retailers gear up for the Great Singapore Sale or GSS as it is known locally. Sales during GSS range from 50 percent to 70 percent off and the discounts get better towards the end of GSS, but expect the variety to lessen as well. You will see literally everything going on sale from fashion to household goods to electrical appliances. Even restaurants have begun to participate in GSS with special discounted meals.

Where to shop in Singapore

Ion Orchard the latest hangout place in Singapore

Ngee Ann City