A Free Afternoon on Orchard Road
My son had just been dropped off at his English day camp near Orchard, which meant I suddenly had a few unplanned hours to myself. I’d walked past the Brandy Melville sign in the Somerset stretch of Orchard Road more times than I could count, so this was finally the day I went in. The store opens up into a wide wooden staircase, and it’s obvious within seconds why it’s such a popular photo spot.
Before Brandy Melville, I’d already ducked into TYPO, Uniqlo, and a couple of small edit shops further down the road — it was one of those loose, no-agenda shopping afternoons. But this was the store I actually wanted to write about.
Getting There
The store sits right in the Somerset end of Orchard Road, an easy walk from Somerset MRT (NS23). Since I’d already sorted out a local Singapore SIM card on an earlier trip, pulling up directions on the walk over was painless enough.
Store Layout & Photo Spots
Right past the entrance, a big cloth banner with the brand’s crossed American and Swiss flags logo hangs over the racks — plenty of people stop here just to take a photo before shopping. Behind it, the first racks are already stacked with navy dot camisoles and striped shirts.
The stairs themselves are as much a design feature as a way to get upstairs. One side wall has a hand-painted mural of a surfer character next to hibiscus flowers, and the steps are lit from underneath, so they photograph well even under mixed store lighting.
Tucked into the space under the stairs, two vintage-style bicycles sit against a black-and-white photo wallpaper. It’s clearly staged as a photo corner, and a few shoppers were waiting their turn while I was there.
What’s on the Racks
Once you’re upstairs, the sheer amount of knitwear is the first thing you notice — cardigans, cable knits, and camo-print pants folded in towering stacks, with a couple of khaki duffel bags styled on top.
The shelving is arranged more like outfit inspiration than a typical rack — a plaid camisole, a floral ruffle skirt, and a grey hoodie are grouped together so you can basically shop the whole look in one grab. It’s a big part of why the store is easy to browse even if you don’t know the brand.
One thing worth noting for anyone doing the math before walking in — the mini skirts and shorts on this wall were tagged at SGD 12 each, which is genuinely cheap for a going-out skirt, plaid or floral.
There’s a whole table dedicated to camo and khaki pieces alone, with a mannequin in a cream ‘Singapore’ tank top standing guard over it.
A narrower corner near the back leans more into a preppy, slightly dressier plaid — burgundy velvet tops, red and burgundy check skirts, and pinstripe trousers on the mannequins.
There’s also a full corner for loungewear — soft grey long-sleeve tops, navy ruffle skirts, and plaid pajama pants folded with the tags still on, which is where I ended up spending most of my actual browsing time.
Accessories & the Sticker Counter
Past the clothing, an entire wall is dedicated to baseball caps in every color from cream and navy to bright pink, plus a crochet bandana hanging above them.
The jewelry wall is dense — gold and silver necklaces hang from the top rail, and rings, hoops, and stud earrings are pinned to craft-paper tags below, each priced individually.
Right under the wooden Brandy Melville sign, there’s a tighter grid of necklaces — cross pendants, simple chains, a few with small pearls — along with bracelets, which felt like the easiest low-commitment souvenir in the whole store.
Bags get their own little display too, mostly small black crossbody styles, next to a hand-lettered ‘London’ sign — one of a few city-name touches scattered through the store that have nothing to do with actual geography.
Speaking of city names — Brandy Melville does a whole line of country and city basics, and the Singapore store carries its own local versions. I saw a burgundy ‘Singapore’ sweatshirt on one mannequin, and there’s a plain ‘Singapore’ t-shirt in the same collection that a lot of visitors pick up specifically as a souvenir.
One small but genuinely nice touch: at checkout, there’s a tray piled with free stickers — teddy bears, baby characters, the works. My daughter would have taken the whole tray if I’d let her.
Trying On the Hoodie
I took a grey waffle-knit hoodie into the fitting room, mostly out of curiosity about the fit. It runs true to size and relaxed rather than boxy — comfortable enough that I could see myself actually wearing it around the house.
Up close, the fabric is a soft waffle knit with a half-button placket and a single front pocket — nothing fancy, but the kind of basic that’s genuinely nice to have.
What to Know Before You Buy
Here’s the part that actually decided whether I bought anything: the exact same basic ‘Singapore’ t-shirt that runs about 25,000 KRW in Korea was priced closer to 35,000 KRW here once I converted from SGD — about 10,000 KRW more for an identical item. The SGD 12 skirts and shorts were the closest thing to a real deal I found in the whole store. If you’re comparing prices item by item, the basics are simply cheaper back in Korea; the only reason to buy them here is the ‘got it in Singapore’ factor.
Tips
If plain basics aren’t why you’re going, focus on what you can’t easily get elsewhere — the country-specific prints, the SGD 12 skirts, and the small jewelry pieces are better value here than another plain camisole. One personal regret from the visit: I passed on a western-style bag I’d been eyeing and still think about it — if something catches your eye, don’t assume you’ll get another chance at it. And if boutique-hopping around Singapore is your thing, we’ve also written up our visit to Dover Street Market in Dempsey Hill, which is a completely different kind of shopping trip but worth pairing with an Orchard day.
Who It Is For
Brandy Melville Singapore is worth walking into if you’re already going to be around Somerset or Orchard, if you have a teenager who knows the brand, or if you want a light, photogenic browse on a free afternoon like mine. It’s less worth a special trip if you’re strictly hunting for prices better than what you can find at home — for that, Korea wins on the basics every time.
We ended the afternoon cutting through one of the newer mall corridors nearby, all glass walls opening onto a tropical courtyard, before heading back to pick up my son from camp — proof that an unplanned afternoon on Orchard Road fills itself in pretty easily.
FAQ
**Where exactly is Brandy Melville in Singapore?** It’s in the Somerset stretch of Orchard Road, an easy walk from Somerset MRT (NS23).
**Is the store just one floor?** No — it’s a two-story shop connected by a wide wooden staircase that doubles as a photo spot.
**Is it cheaper to buy here than in Korea?** Not for the basics. The same plain ‘Singapore’ t-shirt runs about 10,000 KRW more here than the equivalent basic costs in Korea.
**Do they give out anything free?** Yes — there’s a tray of stickers at the checkout counter that you can take for free.
**Is it worth visiting if I’m not planning to buy much?** Yes, honestly — the staircase, the mural, and the bike photo corner make it a fun stop even without buying anything.
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