Moving to Singapore for work - advice on a new wardrobe?

[Mummy3574]

It's really hot and humid there, 30 degrees year round, so I only need to buy for one season! Though I might need a very light cardigan for the air conditioning.

The Singaporean women are generally quite tiny and skinny - I'm worried that my post-baby apple shaped size 12-14 body will look huge by comparison. I prize comfort and I love my summery dresses but they do tend to make me look bigger than I have to. I find trousers quite hard to buy as I'm only 5'2 so they don't look particularly good unless they are skinny.

I prefer natural fabrics and cotton and linen are recommended (though I don't love ironing linen too often). I've been wearing merino dresses from Icebreaker which I really like.

Any ideas please? Work doesn't have to be too smart (tech company) just sensible. Thanks!

I just wear the same summer clothes that I would in the UK.

Agree with Sproink that you should basically wear what you'd wear in the summer in the UK. For me that would be light pencil skirts and short sleeved blouses etc. You might need more than a thin cardigan though; my experience of SE Asia was the air con set to about 10°C so you'd put your sweater on when you went inside and take it off when you go outside.

Don't bother with a rain Mac, they make you too sweaty like one of those weight loss suits, so just use an umbrella when it rains.

The humidity will be a killer so thin and floaty clothes would be best, and obviously tights are a complete no-go!

Once you get there you can see what your peers are wearing and get an idea of the weather conditions; then you could order some clothes from ASOS, they deliver worldwide for free / very cheap. You might struggle to find clothes to fit you in shops there, and I've heard finding larger sized bras are a real problem for western women in Asia. Singapore is very international though so maybe you'll get lucky.

Hope you have a wonderful time!

If you have favourite flattering clothing, any season, take it and get it copied by a tailor in fabric of your choice so that it's climate appropriate. Tailoring is quite good value, in a very expensive city.

You'll find all the high street favourites in the huge malls on Orchard Road and by the Bay, plus some astonishing designer ranges, but not much in the local markets at a size 12. Singapore Chinese are small and very status-conscious.

Make sure everything is cotton, linen or otherwise natural materials.

Trousers can be altered to fit you.

Cardigans, wraps, jumpers, etc for covering up inside.

I’d stock up on bras and underwear.

There are a few branches of M&S there, which I used to buy larger sized clothes from. You might want to take lots of shoes/sandals as they can be hard to find in UK 6+. I used to wear linen or silk trousers and a top, to avoid showing my bottle white legs. But you get used to it - after a few months you’ll be fine in heavier fabrics and long sleeves.

Lots of UK shops there. In fact, there's a uniqlo on every corner so better than here! As pp have said, only natural fibres. I also find I wear black or patterns as all other solid colours show sweat. Nice. As you will be in ac offices all day you can also wear a close fitting vest type item to deal with moisture too so your outer layer remains dry.

Lots of lovely sandals. Free your feet. I love Singapore. Enjoy!

Just to add, having lived in Hong Kong, definitely take cardigans or a big pashmina to pop in handbag. The air con is vicious. A thin summer linen cardigan will not be sufficiently warm! I always got good feet/legs too in the office. Not sure what to suggest about that though! Ugg boots under the desk rather than heels? (Not really.)

I meant COLD feet/legs. (Although I do have good feet. Legs, not so much.)