Singapore women spend $204,000 on shoes in their lifetime

Coveting a new pair of shoes has never been more on trend, with 76% of Singaporean women spending an average of two weeks a year looking for their sole mates. The survey of 1,000 women across Singapore and Malaysia was commissioned by Chic Outlet Shopping®, the Collection of nine shopping Villages across Europe, in celebration of their spring shoe campaign ‘The Secret of Shoes’, dedicated to the craftsmanship and memories that the designer heel holds for many.

An appetite for shoes
Showing their appetite for a designer purchase, two thirds of respondents in Singapore admitted to topping up a secret designer shoe fund every month, saving up to S$1,000, more than double the amount saved by their counterparts in Malaysia. Over a lifetime, the survey indicates women in Singapore spend up to S$204,000 on shoes in their lifetime, with S$120,000 reserved for designer shoes.

A nation of dedicated shoe shoppers, almost a third of respondees buy several pairs of the same shoe or every colour of one style once they’ve found their perfect pair. In stark contrast, 89% admit to owning shoes they’ve worn less than five times, with 46% owning shoes they’ve never worn at all.

“From timeless silhouettes to innovative new designs, shoes have always been a symbol of style and elegance, resonating with fashion-forward women across the world and are a great indicator of how people are feeling both emotionally and financially,” commented international style expert Tamu McPherson, who is hosting shoe styling sessions this spring at Fidenza Village near Milan, one of the Villages in Europe.

Have heels, will travel
With so much time invested searching for the perfect shoe, it’s no surprise that two thirds of women admit to going to great lengths to travel with their new purchases. While more than a third of respondees confess to taking over their partner’s luggage allowance or buying an extra suitcase to bring their new shoes home, a quarter go further, wearing a pair of designer shoes on the plane to save on luggage allowance.


Shoes, the unlikely social barometer
Showing just how closely linked our feelings are to our annual spend, the survey reveals a third of women in Singapore buy shoes to celebrate a success, while 49% admit to rushing out to buy a pair of shoes when their pay cheque arrives.

First impressions count
A good shoe speaks volumes about who you are and the image you want to portray according to the Chic Outlet Shopping® survey. While nearly one in three women in Singapore wear up to a two-inch heel, 44% go higher for a job interview and more than 41% increase their height to supermodel proportions for a date. Is it worth it? Yes. Nearly a third of respondents (27%) admit to forming their first impression of someone based on their shoes.

From stilettos to sandals, the Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages are the must-visit destinations when shopping for shoes in Europe. Across the Collection, discover more than 200 boutiques offering shoes from world-renowned brands and up to 60% off the recommended retail price, all year round. Each Village is conveniently located close to Europe’s key gateway cities, such as Bicester Village near London, La Vallée Village near Paris, Kildare Village close to Dublin, Ingolstadt Village near Munich and Wertheim Village close to Frankfurt. They are Europe’s best-kept secret for luxury shoes; find brands including Jimmy Choo, Sandro and Maje at La Vallée Village, and Rupert Sanderson, Bally and Alexander McQueen at Bicester Village.

This spring, Chic Outlet Shopping® invites guests to discover ‘The Secret of Shoes’ across each of the nine Villages in Europe. Each Village will share captivating shoe secrets with guests, including expert styling tips, exceptional offers and top picks from well-known bloggers from across Europe. Follow #TheSecretofShoes to explore some of the hottest shoe looks posted by guests from around the world.

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Notes to Editor
The research was commissioned by Chic Outlet Shopping® and carried out by 2CV with a sample of 1,000 females across Singapore & Malaysia.
For more information, additional shoe study stats and images, please contact: AKA ASIA
[email protected]
T +65 6222 6136
About Chic Outlet Shopping® by Value Retail
Chic Outlet Shopping® is a unique concept in outlet shopping created by Value Retail, the only company to specialise exclusively in the creation and operation of luxury outlet shopping destinations. The Villages are home to leading luxury fashion and lifestyle brands offering savings of up to 60%, and sometimes more, on the recommended retail price, all year round. Within easy reach of some of Europe’s

favourite gateway cities – London, Dublin, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Bologna, Brussels, Antwerp, Cologne, Frankfurt, Munich and, in China, Suzhou – the Villages are defined by high fashion, superior service and hospitality, a calendar of celebrated events, and exceptional value for money. Value Retail China, an affiliate of Value Retail, saw the first Village – Suzhou Village, located in historic Suzhou – open in May 2014. The second Village, Shanghai Village, is located adjacent to Shanghai Disney Resort at the heart of the Chinese government’s ground-breaking, multi-billion US dollar Shanghai International Tourism and Resorts Zone (SITRZ) and will open on 19 May 2016.