Singapore Expats

Hi,
I know SIngapore is on the equator and hot and humid but does one EVER need light jackets, sweatshirts like may be night or December ?
Also can one get Gap, gymboree clothes for kids ? Someone said one may have to go to Malaysia. Are they cheaper there ?
Right now I am stocking up on shorts and tees for my toddler.
thanks for your help.

Mom2one wrote:Hi,
I know SIngapore is on the equator and hot and humid but does one EVER need light jackets, sweatshirts like may be night or December ?
Also can one get Gap, gymboree clothes for kids ? Someone said one may have to go to Malaysia. Are they cheaper there ?
Right now I am stocking up on shorts and tees for my toddler.
thanks for your help.

You really won't need jackets for outdoor use here, but you will need sweatshirts and sweaters for indoor activities like the movies, etc... Singaporeans don't even wear raincoats (unless they are on a motorcycle) ~ it's just too hot.

Gap is here, but 130% of what you would pay in the US, so it is a good idea to stock-up. You can find some fell-off-the-back-of-the-truck items around, but the supply is not reliable. Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam all have factory seconds and (more likely) cheap copies of brand names, but again ~ finding these are more serendipity and not reliable. There are local alternatives for kids which tend to be at both ends of the price spectrum, with very little in between. My 'toddlers' are now teenagers and they still buy most of their clothes in the US.

Thanks so much for that information. I think I will get some stuff only so that if we visit any other countries we are not left out in the 'cold' literally

Stock up, stock up, stock up, also shoes if you dare, they are also expensive here, the good ones I mean...

Yep, prices here=extortion, especially for brand name items. There is no Gymboree, but the Gap is here, as well as some Australian stores. There are local chinese brands that are cheaper but the quality is pretty poor. Good quality shoes are the worst as far as price goes (well over $100 for a pair of tennis shoes!!).

We will be buying most if not all clothes on yearly trips home, or getting relatives to send us a few things. Even taking into account the exchange rate it will still be cheaper. The good news is they don't seem need very much here. A few t shirts and shorts and they're good to go!

OshKosh B'gosh also expensive in Singapore.

So just to get an idea, a Gap t-shirt which is right now on sale for $10 here will be how much in singapore in USD ?

My best guess? S$39.

Also factor in crazy sizing and extremely limited inventory.

Just a quick tip: The Australian brand Cotton On has some great stores here - Cotton On Kids. They stock fun and inexpensive baby/toddler clothes. Pumpkin Patch is also pretty good, but on the expensive side. Clarks is the best shop for toddler shoes IMHO. They will measure your child's feet and make sure you get the right size. Their shoes aren't that expensive considering the quality.

it was also my concern on kids clothing since coming to singapore, especially the hot humid weather... I checked some big retail stores and kids stores but the variety simply not that great, I done my shopping for the kid while back in Australia, yes stock up a lot!! I agree that in singapore the brand name kid clothings are limited and lot more expensive, that's why sometime now I done online shopping and get them send from Australia and from States....especially during sale season there in states or Oz, it way much cheaper and nicer varieties....

Are any of you familiar with Zara Kids (from Spain)?? I read they have a store there and the clothes is very nice for kids. I do not know about the price (that is why I am stocking up too), but it would be my better option there.

They have several Zara (kids) outlets here... still quite expensive - but they run some great sales throughout the year. Once your children are school age they will most likely be wearing a uniform which cuts down on a lot of clothing needs.

Cotton-on-Kids is great for toddler clothing - reminds me a lot of an Old Navy.

Mom2one wrote:Hi,
I know SIngapore is on the equator and hot and humid but does one EVER need light jackets, sweatshirts like may be night or December ?
Also can one get Gap, gymboree clothes for kids ? Someone said one may have to go to Malaysia. Are they cheaper there ?
Right now I am stocking up on shorts and tees for my toddler.
thanks for your help.

Gets really cool in Dec and Jan -- all the way down to 23° (°C, that is).

Seriously, it depends on how cold you run your airconditioning at night.

If you are sending a big shipment over by the slow boat, I would also pack some boxes full of sunscreen, baby/toddler soap/ shampoo (especially if you like organic varieties or if your kids have sensitive skin), pull ups, pacifiers, etc etc. UV protected hats, swim suits (full body) are also much cheaper in the US.

Good luck!

Depending on where you are in the US, enjoy the cool air before you come, it's really, really hot here.

Hi there - I'm also from the US. Agree with the other posters who suggested to stock up! We made an epic visit to Costco (diapers, wipes, a few outfits, books) and Target (toddler snacks, sunscreen, swim apparel and accessories, shoes) in preparation for the big move.

Even if you don't stock up, I've found that you can find virtually everything you need for little ones here but you do need to know where to shop and be prepared to shell out a few extra $.