Abercrombie & Fitch opens in Singapore

I almost retched after stumbling out of Abercrombie & Fitch on Orchard Road last night. The American sportswear brand had just opened its first store in Singapore a day earlier, and I was expecting a Friday night, last-weekend-before-Christmas queue. But I was inside within three minutes. Out in 15. Why? I couldn't stand the smell. 

You get a hint of A&F's signature scent, Fierce, from the street. But inside it gets suffocating. The strong musky smell made me think I had ended up in the Middle East even if  there's hardly any preppies or preppy wannabes in Saudi, and that's what A&F is all about: all-American pretty boys who are cool, casual, rich and go by names like Nate and Buck. That said, true preppies actually wear Brooks Brothers and Lacoste.

Inside, the lighting's turned down low and the good-looking staff like to ask, "How's it going?" They look like they mean it, but the music's too loud for small talk. I got asked five times but didn't know what to say back, so I just bobbed my head and stared at the wall which, fortunately for me, displays pictures of muscular, near-naked preppy boys engaged in varying forms of sporty activities. Near the entrance, a topless male model was posing for a picture with two giddy female Chinese shoppers. In life, as in art.

There are three floors: basement and first are for menswear, the second floor is for ladies. Merchandise are displayed on a large table in the middle of the room, and the walls are lined with clothes and accessories. Navigating your way around the shop can get tricky, though. The windows are permanently shuttered so whether it's morning or night, it's always dark inside. Some walls are mirrored, so the store layout can get very confusing. Walk slowly if you don't want to end up bumping into a wall or stepping into a recess. How can you get any shopping done here? Fortunately, you don't have to. No one ever follows you around to ask if they can "help" you so there's really no pressure to buy anything. And if you did want to get something but (literally) can't see anything you like, how's this for a consolation: you can always get a picture taken with a hot A&F model. 

• Abercrombie & Fitch is open daily from 10am-10pm at Knightsbridge (270 Orchard Road). Nearest MRT: Somerset.