The buzz: Local departmental store Robinsons seems to have completely shed its marmish image, and proof of that is its newest store—a sprawling 85,000 sq. ft, four-story shopping mecca housing over 70 labels—at Jurong’s latest hotspot JEM.
The vibe: Bright and clean with a creative edge. The beauty zone is a glossy, luxurious space replete with polished marbled floor, white-washed counters and a cool ceiling art installation that looks like a mess of giant silver curly ribbons. Two floors above, the gents and ladies departments feature rustic wood floors, black-rimmed display stands and industrial lighting. On the fourth level (also our favorite part of the store) is the cozy home section, which stocks an eclectic-yet-sophisticated range of home wares.
The goods: Totally mind-boggling; we’re talking thousands of products from close to 80 brands overall. Robinsons’ fashion regulars like Free People ($95 upwards) and Matinique ($39 upwards) can still be found here, but more noteworthy are the exclusive brands including Korean accessories label lapalette ($59 upwards) and Noxx ($33 upwards) from Antwerp. The store also places particular focus on local names (hear, hear) like CRUISE (by Saturday’s designer Nic Wong , $49 upwards) and Pauline Ning ($59 upwards). For the home, it’s hard not to be smitten by the lovely and afford able wares from Orla Kiely Home and T&G ($7 upwards).
Why you’ll be back: It’s a bit of a trek to the mall if you don’t live out West, but the outlet’s hip vibe, cool local labels and irresistible home goods should make the trip worth your while.
