What do the expatriate community and socialites like Shabnam Melwani know that most of us don’t? They know there is this all-white store at Tudor Court (137/139 Tanglin Road), and it’s their one-stop designer store for all their resort wear and resort living needs.
What do the expatriate community and socialites like Shabnam Melwani know that most of us don’t? They know there is this all-white store at Tudor Court (137/139 Tanglin Road), and it’s their one-stop designer store for all their resort wear and resort living needs.
When you’ve been to Edit Lifestyle, you’ll see why the multi-label store has been the best-kept secret for the last two years: It looks as if it has been transported from St Tropez, Ibiza or Sardinia – whitewashed everywhere, from high ceiling to wooden floors, and stocked with all the things for an Instagramperfect getaway (or when you want your home to resemble a resort destination). You can’t help but feel like a happy tourist in this one-of-a-kind, eclectic store. You want to thumb through the Assouline coff eetable books; consider art from a Japanese artist; stock up on swimwear that you last saw in Vogue; try on precious jewellery that’s made more for Bali’s Potato Head than a Peak ball; buy exotic candles, bath oils and perfumes from Yucatan, Mexico; do boho with beaded accessories from Tanzania tribesmen; pick up antique napkins from Paris flea markets. “Basically, all the stuff that you’d discover on a holiday,” says Florence Lim, 56, the Canadian behind the store.
Based in Singapore for the last six years and a PR, Florence opened Edit Lifestyle out of necessity – for herself, when she couldn’t find designer resort wear for all the nearby exotic getaways in Bali, Lombok and Koh Samui that she frequents. Going away is important to her (she and her Italian husband have two sons); and she does that at least once a month. Which means she needs resort wear. “To find the latest holiday must-haves, I read a lot (she shows me her stack of magazines and tears), research a lot and travel a lot to source the It holiday labels that I want to wear and I want to stock at my store,” says Florence. Her last trip to Rio and Sao Paulo for two weeks produced two most-wanted bag brands: Brazilian Marcia Kemp’s social initiative Nannacay, colourful straw bags made by Peruvian women; and the Guanabana, a traditional Colombian woven drawstring number that street-stylers are sporting now. What’s on her radar: Sanayi 313, a Turkish brand that marries design, art and food (Florence is interested in its straw mules); Mabu by Maria BK’s handmade Greek sandals with pompoms and Aztec prints; and Vita Kin, the Ukrainian designer who’s taken the fashion world by storm with her embroidered folklore dresses. “I’m constantly trying to find the next big thing. If I can’t please myself, I can’t please anyone else.” Florence Lim, the constant traveller. Clockwise from top: at Finca Cortesin, Andalucia, Spain; at Amanpuri in Phuket; and at Barcelo La Bobadilla, Andalucia. 70 Her World Sept 2016 Angarde French brand for waterresistant espadrilles. Bronzette Sexy and glamorous French swimwear. Beauty For Real Lip gloss and lip cream from Florida. Each comes with a built-in mirror and LED.
Florence Lim, the constant traveller. Clockwise from top: at Finca Cortesin, Andalucia, Spain; at Amanpuri in Phuket; and at Barcelo La Bobadilla, Andalucia.
