Meet Velda Tan—local style icon, entrepreneur and blogger, who has also added the garnish of restaurateur to her cap. She shares the best of Singapore shopping and dining.
Founder of fashion label Collate and creative force behind hip new lobster shack Pince & Pints in the trendy Duxton Hill area, Velda is a maven of shopping and dining in Singapore. A wallflower, so she says, but we know otherwise about this serene, inspiring and beloved girl about town.
Singapore’s best-kept secret is... Capella Singapore. It’s a great place to get away from the bustle of city life without having to cross borders. An even better kept secret would be Bob’s Bar—the hotel’s lounge that overlooks lush greenery and is discreetly tucked away. It’s the perfect place for catching sunset and some pre-dinner cocktails.
The dining scene here is... diverse and multicultural. We Singaporeans are spoilt for choice when it comes to the variety of cuisine offered in our city. I particularly love the idea of being able to choose between roti prata (South Indian flat bread) or Teochew porridge (porridge with separate side dishes) at any time in the day, even for supper at 3am! Some of my favourite supper spots include PS.Cafe on Ann Siang Hill and The Black Swan in the Central Business District, which has a special supper menu. Also, Maxwell Food Centre does a gorgeous bowl of Cantonese porridge till 2.30am.
No one should leave Singapore without... a meal at Makansutra Gluttons Bay or one of our hawker centres. They’re the best way to get a taste of local delights like chilli crab, satay (grilled skewered meat), char kway teow (stir-fried rice noodles in dark soya sauce) and oyster omelette. Best to order as much as you can eat and share the plates.
Local designers are... gaining traction because our community values creativity and is becoming more supportive of homegrown brands. This is not only seen in the fashion industry, but also in the arts and dining scene.
Singapore Fashion Week... was extra special since 2015 was my first year under the new moniker, bringing it in line with the big four fashion weeks of the world. I’m super excited that Diane von Furstenberg opened the show and participated in a series of industry talks and sessions organised in collaboration with LASALLE College of the Arts.
This demonstrates deep support of local designers. I also launched my new fashion label there as well. Squeal!