Style News: Sam Edelman opens sixth outlet, Saigon youth brands’ pop-up and party

Sam Edelman opens at Raffles City

American shoe brand Sam Edelman opened its sixth and newest local outpost at Raffles City Shopping Centre on Sept 21, marking its third ribbon-cutting in Singapore in recent months.

The women’s footwear chain, which does tasteful and easy modern styles, is the brainchild of its veteran namesake designer.

Edelman launched the footwear divisions of American fashion brands Ralph Lauren and Esprit, and co-founded American fashion brand Kenneth Cole.

The chain he started with his wife Libby has expanded rapidly here since its arrival at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands in June 2024. It has addresses at IMM outlet mall, Jewel Changi Airport, Paragon Shopping Centre and Takashimaya Shopping Centre too.

Its 1,313 sq ft Raffles City store has a ready stock of new designs from Sam Edelman’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection.

The Alie Studded Ballet Flat ($249) is a bolder take on the classic ballet flat, plastered with trendy silver bumps. It comes in a plush brown and a solid black suede.

The Michaela Mary Jane comes in a range of materials, such as an avocado green velvet ($259), a tweed brown plaid fabric ($259) and, for those looking for more flash, a translucent studded mesh fabric ($299) in a mellow wine shade.

Lastly, the Bay Slide sandal in patent leather ($229) is a smart slip-on option.

Info: 02-27/28 Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road; open from 10am to 10pm daily

Youth-run Ho Chi Minh City brands come to Singapore

Nine small indie fashion labels from Vietnam are showing in Singapore for the first time at the Youth of Saigon pop-up from Oct 31 to Nov 1 at an industrial building unit in Tai Seng.

It is a supercut of the costumes of Saigon’s kinetic youth culture – the technical vests of Elements.stu, structured denim of Sidesofus, slouchy cool basics of Revolt and stonewash finish of Outbreak and Ivankov.

Look out too for the limb-swallowing pantaloons by Sagittarius A+ and the louche appeal of Fvnxythings’ all-black streetwear.

All nine designers are flying in to meet customers in person at the event hosted by local organisers, a fashion and culture project known as Toko noma, in collaboration with Ho Chi Minh City multi-brand retailer Mozaic Space. For literal bread-breaking, banh mi and Vietnamese coffee will be on sale from 5pm on Oct 31.

The face-to-face element is crucial. Says Toko noma founder Joash Thum: “These designers are not sending their collections from afar. They are coming themselves, to meet audiences, hear their reactions and build connections.”

Prices for the wares range from $30 to $150.

There will be a party on the opening night of the two-day Saigon-Singapore crossover.

Info: 03-10, 16 Shaw Road; open on Oct 31 (from noon to late) and Nov 1 (noon to 7pm)

Estee Lauder launches new eye cream

The pioneering American beauty brand of bedtime skincare has introduced a new eye cream formula to its cult night repair range, best known for its flagship Advanced Night Repair serum.

The new Advanced Night Repair Eye Lift + Sculpt ($155 for 15ml) is inspired by the multidimensional approach of dermatologists, targeting the lid, inner corner, crow’s feet and undereye to treat existing lines, while stalling new ones.

Based on results from a clinical test on 36 Asian women who used the product twice daily, Estee Lauder promises a visible eye lift in four weeks.

The cream is free of irritants like parabens, phthalates, sulphates, paraffin, drying alcohol, oil, synthetic fragrance, formaldehyde and donors. It is also dermatologist- and ophthalmologist-tested.

Info: Available at Estee Lauder Ion Orchard and The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, all authorised retailers (BHG, Isetan, Metro, OG, Takashimaya and Tangs) and online at str.sg/epta

Ethan K debuts bags inspired by Rolls-Royce

Singaporean designer Ethan Koh, a pedigreed exotic skins specialist, unveiled his latest collection of Ethan K leather handbags at the Rolls-Royce showroom at 11 Kung Chong Road on Oct 1.

His father and grandfather founded the local Heng Long tannery in 1977, known for supplying crocodile hide to French luxury conglomerate LVMH.

For his luxe car outing, Koh created a mini briefcase in snow-white semi-shiny crocodile skin ($18,800) and a matching travel-size suitcase ($13,800) to complement the ivory coat of the British high-luxury car brand’s Spectre model in English White.

And the iridescent finish of Ethan K’s new hand-painted metallic alligator skin Alla Bag ($38,800) mirrors the starry-night-sky feel of the interior of the Rolls-Royce Phantom in Arctic White.

It is also the 10th anniversary of Ethan K’s well-loved Duchess bag, a ring-handled wristlet with a tent-shaped body.

Koh put out a new duo-toned colourway in black and white ($5,600), with the icy white shade also serving as a subtle doff to the Phantom’s Arctic White coat.

Koh tells The Straits Times: “The Duchess bag, representing regality and refinement, feels like the perfect companion when stepping out of a Rolls-Royce.”

Info: Available at 01-03 Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road; open from 10.30am to 8.30pm daily