Mandarin Gallery Blog

In this age of instant gratification, we have come to expect information at our fingertips. Thanks to the Internet, everything we need to and want to know is often just a few clicks away. When it comes to shopping, keeping up with our favourite brands and stores has never been easier than with the various social media platforms, including the omni-present Facebook.

From new arrivals to special limited period sales, checking your Facebook timeline can yield you unexpected retail gems. To help you sieve the must-know deals from the cyber white noise, here are the latest Facebook updates from some of our favourite stores at Mandarin Gallery!

Atomi
This well curated little shop condenses the best of Japanese design and presents you with an excellent selection of furniture, accessories and other knick-knacks from the land of the rising sun. Manned by a friendly husband-and-wife team, Nipponophiles will find much to love in this cozy little space.

As Seen On Facebook: Follow the Atomi duo’s live reports of their adventures at the Japanese design tradeshows in Tokyo, gain insight from their encounters with Japanese master craftsmen or simply check out what is new in-store.

Bape Store Singapore
There is always something exciting happening at the Bape Store. From Singapore-only limited edition merchandise to the latest collaborative collections, fans of the über cool Bathing Ape can constantly look forward to new things to covet.

As Seen On Facebook: To celebrate Halloween this year, the Bape Store will be giving you a treat (no tricks) with any purchase – hurry down to find out what it is!

hansel
This shining star of the local fashion scene always has something fun and cute up its fashionable sleeves. Specialising in sweet dresses and pretty knitwear, this is the go-to place if you are looking to inject a dose of quirky femininity into your wardrobe!

As Seen On Facebook: Flyaway Donkey, hansel’s AW11 collection, will be available at a pop-up store at Isetan Scotts, Level 2, from 4 November to 1 December. Enjoy 10% off a minimum purchase of 2 items or 15% off when you spend a minimum of SGD350!

Inhabit
Stuffed with racks of the trendiest of designer labels from all over the world, Inhabit is a treasure trove for the discerning fashionista who likes to add a little edge to their ensembles. The avant garde jewellery the shop carries deserves special mention for their uniqueness.

As Seen On Facebook: Fans of Alexander Wang will be both sad and delighted because although the brand will no longer be stocked at Inhabit, the designer’s earlier collections will be marked down as much as 95% at a special farewell sale!

.WoodWould..
This haven for lovers of paper goods is stocked to the brim with colourful stationery, greeting cards, design books and other pretty things. With Christmas breathing down our necks, here is a great place to start the gift hunting for all the parties you will no doubt be invited to.

As Seen On Facebook: Receive a Mandarin Gallery voucher worth SGD10 with every SGD50 spent. This .WoodWould.. + Mandarin Gallery special is for a limited time only!

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.

With Rev-Up@Orchard celebrating F1 Singapore Grand Prix 2011, an incredible line-up of live concerts and a fashion show on street wear, the last week at Mandarin Gallery seems a tough act to follow. If you are looking to chase that high, fret not, because we have you covered. This weekend, Mandarin Gallery invites you to fall in love with fashion and indulge in a Fall Romance of the latest F/W 2011 collections! With fabulous giveaways and some of the season’s most irresistible promotions, succumbing to temptation has never felt so right (for the wallet).

Spend And Redeem
From 16 September to 16 October 2011, simply spend a minimum of SGD300 to receive a SGD20 Mandarin Gallery voucher. Shop away, and be quick, because this redemption is limited to the first 800 customers only!

To help you along in this retail quest, here are the latest Fall/Winter deals from our participating stores:
If jewellery is your kind of poison, head straight to Béjwl and enjoy 30% off 18K gold colour stone items. You should also check out DeFRED’s amazing offer for its ‘Heart to Heart’ collection.

Quirky local label, Hansel, is offering 20% off the second (lower-priced) item. Applicable for regular priced items from both Hansel and Hello Hansel, this is a great opportunity to grab some very cute pieces from the brand’s Fall/Winter 2011 collection, Flyaway Donkey!

Planning your year-end vacation? Buy any piece of Rimowa’s remarkably resilient check-in luggage and be entitled to purchase a matching piece of cabin luggage at 40% off!

One can never have too many pairs of shoes, especially if they are as good for your feet as Terra Plana ones are. With 15% off these eco-friendly shoes now, you have even more reason to bust your shoes budget.

Stock up on the sweet dessert wine with The Oaks Cellars – buy 3 bottles of Moscato D’asti and get the next one free!

Contrary to popular belief, men are not necessarily averse to shopping – in fact, many of them like to indulge in retail therapy as much as the average women. At Mandarin Gallery, we do not play favourites with the genders and there are fabulous buys for the boys as well. We scoured the shops for the hottest boys’ toys and this trio of new arrivals at BAPE, The Denim Store and Ambush came out tops!

Uniform Experiment (Ambush)
Started in 2008, the Uniform Experiment is an experimental project for men’s clothing and accessories. Treading the line between novelty an universality, the label strives to provide an alternative to conventional menswear by contradicting the existing rules. The results are often refreshingly original.

Top Pick: Uniform Experiment X LASONIC iPod Boombox, SGD1440

Uniform Experiment is available at Ambush, #03-14, Mandarin Gallery

Sanders (The Denim Store)
Hailing from the United Kingdom, Sanders is an established shoemaker that has been producing quality men’s footwear since 1873. Crafted from the very best English hides and local oak-bark soles, Sanders’ shoes are designed to be refined, sturdy and fit for the gentleman.

Top Pick: Suede desert boots, SGD319

Sanders can be found at The Denim Store, #03-09-11, Mandarin Gallery

BAPE
The ultimate vanguard of street cool, BAPE constantly churns out the kinds of things that induce a near-slavish cult following. From neon sneakers to Baby Milo t-shirts, the brand has the remarkable ability to turn its products into highly covetable collectors’ items. It single-handedly proves, with its legions of older fans, that being hip is not just for the young.

Top Pick: Camouflage backpack, SGD469

Bape is located at #02-02/03, Mandarin Gallery