Mandarin Gallery Blog

At any given point in time, there are a dozen and one new and wonderful things happening at Mandarin Gallery. To make sure that you are kept in the know about the biggest bargains and hottest new arrivals from our fabulous brands, keep a keen eye on this blog because we will be updating you regularly on the latest goodies that should be going onto your to-buy List. This time around, we have a piece of award-winning design, truly organic French perfume and cute time-tellers waiting in store for you!

Bud Cosmetics
Proclaiming to be ‘Truly Organic, Terribly French’, Honoré des Prés, a cult French organic perfume range, took the world of scents by storm and bagged the Wallpaper Magazine’s Best Design 2010 Award. Crafted by renowned perfumer Olivia Giacobetti, who has worked with Guerlain, Hermès, L’Artisan Parfumeur  and Dyptique, Honoré des Prés is a luxurious line of fragrances of 100% natural origin that has been certified organic by ECOCERT. Lovers of The Big Apple will be delighted with the sensual, trendy and urbane ‘We Love NY’ (SGD190) collection while the fresh, chic and vintage-inspired Les Verrines d’Honoré (SGD130) collection is an ode to the good old days of our grandmothers.

Honoré des Prés perfumes are available at Bud Cosmetics, #03-32, Mandarin Gallery

Elephant & Coral
Having been awarded the prestigious iF Design Award 2012, the Pentagon Collection from Elephant & Coral is an instant modern classic. Made of polished precious resin and featuring a luxurious 18K gold nib, it has been a labour of love that is 18 months in the making, but the result is certainly worth the effort. Inspired by the Asian interpretation of how the world is conceived, each side of the design’s five-faceted pentagon shape represents one of the following elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Aesthetically simple but strong, the Pentagon is designed to facilitate how it is held, used and stored.

The limited edition Pentagon Collection consists of 200 pieces of fountain pens (SGD1280) and 100 pieces of rollerball pens (SGD1080). Elephant & Coral is located at #03-03, Mandarin Gallery

Marc by Marc Jacobs
You can always count on Mr Jacobs for a bit of fun. This season, the Marc by Marc Jacobs Dreamy Logo collection features the playful font that has been a hallmark of the label’s clothes and accessories. The new Bubble collection is chunky and very trendy with a unique two-piece mirror dial and indexes of cutout dreamy logo lettering. The standout pieces of the collection are undoubtedly the chic aluminum handbag charms (available in shiny silver or black) that can double as a witty pocket watch.

The Marc by Marc Jacobs Dreamy Logo watch collection retails at #01-11, Mandarin Gallery from SGD320 to SGD450

Just as the new F/W 2011 collections hit the stores, the S/S 2011 looks are hitting the runway. This may not make sense to the regular person who is not obsessed with fashion, but for those of us who are, it is simply a matter of planning ahead. Over at Mandarin Gallery, it is no secret that when it comes to high fashion, D&G, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Emporio Armani are just some of our favourites. For the new season, here is what you can expect from these perennially stylish brands.

D&G
Having announced their plans to integrate their secondary line into Dolce & Gabbana, Domenico and Stefano’s swansong collection for D&G is literally the last of its kind. With their signature Italian flamboyance, the designers decided to go out with a bang by paying an epic tribute to foulard prints. An exercise in the creative and masterful use of the humble silk scarf, they set the runway ablaze with a riot of colours, dots, crests, medallions, butterflies and flowers – even the shoes are scarf-wrapped wedges! This is a distilled concentrate of what makes D&G so well loved by its fans.

Emporio Armani
Star Trek may have given sci-fi inspired fashion a bad name, but Giorgio Armani managed to turn that around with his S/S12 Emporio Armani collection. Titled Neodesign, the bright white and icy pastels that dominate the show appear at first glance to be a conventional sci-fi reference. However, instead of unflattering bodysuits, the models were clad in sleek blazers + cropped trousers ensembles and shimmering dresses. If this is the future, we definitely want a piece of it.

Marc by Marc Jacobs
A reflection of his younger self, Marc Jacob’s younger sister line has always given off a retro vibe. This season, however, the MbMJ girl grows up a little and catches up with the present in startling bright neons. Although the colours are brighter than ever, the clothes themselves, while playful and fun as always, have taken on subtle sophistication that hints at a post-college sensibility. The moral of this collection story is that even if everyone has to grow up, one can always do that in the most stylish way possible.

You may find it a little hard to believe, considering how it is as hip and fun as ever, but Marc Jacobs’ younger sister, Marc by Marc Jacobs, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year! After a full decade of offbeat, playful and cool style, it is marking this special milestone with a limited edition anniversary watch. Fans of the brand’s irreverent quirkiness, cute prints and street-chic aesthetic will be delighted with how this watch has managed to capture the quintessential Marc by Marc Jacobs spirit – youthful and trendy with just a touch of devil-may-care.

Produced for both men and women, the 10th Anniversary Watch features the signature Marc by Marc Jacobs silhouette and is available in either a polished stainless steel or black ion plated case. The brand’s iconic skull print, one of its most popular prints over the last ten years, is found on the eye-catching dial, which is topped by an etched logo top ring. The stand-out details of the watch include its striking lightning-rod hands, an over-sized 10 index and a Love Marc Jacobs etched inscription at the back of the case. To up the fun factor, each watch also comes with easily interchangeable straps in metal and leather to suit your needs and whims.

Whether you are a die-hard groupie or just a casual admirer of Marc by Marc Jacobs, the 10th  Anniversary Watch will be sure to be a treasured collector’s item. Coming in a specially designed box, it will also make a fabulous gift for a lucky friend!

The Marc by Marc Jacobs 10th Anniversary Watch will retail for SGD490 at #01-11, Mandarin Gallery

Now that September is finally upon us, the Fall-Winter 2011 collections have been slowly but surely making their way into the stores. If you have been waiting for the new season to hit Marc by Marc Jacobs, you will be happy to know that exciting new pieces have been spotted at the Mandarin Gallery flagship store. Exuding an irrepressibly appealing and very glamourous seventies-gone-forties vibe, this latest MBMJ collection continues to reflect the brand’s design DNA that is perennially youthful, quirky and fun.

Other than the shiny silk dresses, cute knitwear (a signature) and sweet matching separates, you can also look forward to some pretty additions to the bags and accessories section. Among these, the Petal To The Metal range, with its gleaming metal sparrow detail, stands out for its whimsical but functional designs. With a roomy shoulder bag, a small pouchette and a handy cross-body bag, there is a style to suit almost every need.

The Sookie Shoulder Bag (SGD690), featuring a golden sparrow buckle on the front and strappy belts to cinch in the sides, is made of silky leather and can be carried either by its short handle or its skinny shoulder straps. With a magnetic flap closure, it makes a great everyday bag for toting around your essentials and more.

The Natasha Flap Cross-body Bag (SGD790) sports two golden sparrows on its front flap pocket and a discreet buckle strap to cinch in the back pocket for a pretty shape. Crafted from soft, supple leather, it also comes with an adjustable shoulder strap and lots of useful inner compartments, making it an excellent travel bag.

Daintiest of the trio, the Flap Pouchette (shown above, SGD490) is a charming vintage-inspired shoulder bag that is perfect for casual evenings and the weekends. Just large enough to hold the necessities such as wallet, cards, keys, lipstick and phone, it is a convenient and stylish hands-free option.

Last but not least, the range also includes small leather pouches (SGD160), also featuring the golden sparrow, which can double as cardholders.

Marc by Marc Jacobs is located at #01-11/#02-12, Mandarin Gallery