 |
| Freeport A'Famosa Outlet Village - The Facade |
Yet another outlet mall has opened it's doors to eager shoppers recently on the 5th of December 2015. Freeport A'Famosa Outlet Village, located in Melaka is just over an hour drive from Kuala Lumpur City Centre via the Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan / E2.
 |
| The Dutch inspired interior |
 |
| You can actually walk up, stick your head out the window and snap a pick |
Commenting on the opening, Chris Milliken, Commercial Director at Freeport Retail who are the long term managers of the centre said, “We are absolutely delighted to officially welcome customers to the outlet. We are sure that they will find a visit to the centre a fun experience where there is something for everybody whether that be those living in the region or the many tourists who visit Malacca and the A’Famosa Resort – they are all very welcome at the outlet”.
 |
| Something for the kids |
To kick-start the opening of this new mall, 40 Bloggers were chosen and given the privilege to participate in the Style on a Shoestring Contest. We were divided in to 2 groups - Stylish & Casual. We were given RM350 and 2 hours to prove that it is possible to look like a million bucks even on a tight budget.
2 hours does sound like an ample amount of time, but it is not really enough to comb the whole area that offers over 60 fashion, sport and accessories brands in some 180,000 sq.ft. In fact the line entering Nike seems to never cease as everyone tried to get their hands on the heavily discounted items.
 |
| Themodelmom & other blogger friends as we arrived at A'Famosa Resort for the forum |
2 hours does sound like an ample amount of time, but it is not really enough to comb the whole area that offers over 60 fashion, sport and accessories brands in some 180,000 sq.ft. In fact the line entering Nike seems to never cease as everyone tried to get their hands on the heavily discounted items.
 |
| Left to Right: Malaysian Celebrity & Influencer Xandria Ooi, Sue Lynn @ Bangsar Babe - the famous veteran in the blogging sphere, Pam the forum moderator, NYC based Malaysian Blogger The Ambitionista and blogger Bwincessnana |
Before we were set free to roam the outlet, we were given some pointers by some veterans in the influencers and bloggers sphere. Thanks to Freeport A'Famosa Outlet, we were also given the opportunity to ask these amazing ladies anything we want about being a professional blogger.
 |
| Themodelmom seizing the opportunity to ask a powerful question to the esteemed panel. |
Here are 3 tips that I took away about looking stylish without busting a hole in your pocket:
i. Only shop during sales or at outlets
ii. Never spend a fortune on something that you will only use once
iii. Invest on staple pieces that are versatile
 |
| As you can see Themodelmom really enjoyed this interactive session haha |
My Shopping tips:
i. Visualize what you want before you go shopping to avoid spending hours looking at random things if you are pressed for time
ii. Take a picture of the outfits that you like to simplify selection process
 |
| A group shot with all 40 of us pre-shopping |
After our inspiring session with these awesome ladies, we were given a tour of the village. The outlet is set in an open air mall featuring a lake, fountains, carousel and windmill with architecture loosely themed on Malacca’s Dutch heritage. Brands open at the moment include Nike, Cotton On, Esprit, Puma, G2000, Carlo Rino, Clarks, Forever 21, Samsonite, Folli Follie, Sacoor Brothers, Melinda Looi among others. We were told that more brands will open in the coming weeks and Phase II that will be ready in 2016 will offer another 40 shops!
 |
| Discounts on top of discounts |
I started by checking out Luv Lux that sold luxury brands such as Moschino but couldn't find what I was looking for. I was a bit hesitant to go in to Melinda Looi boutique as designer clothes are usually way beyond budget. However, I was pleasantly surprise that you could get things for under RM150! But again, it wasn't what I was looking for for this particular contest. I did make a mental note tho to come back if I need something to wear for an extra special occasion.
 |
| Finally get to wear designer labels. No one will know you got it at a steal. Unless you be like a Malaysian & tell em :p |
 |
| Themodelmom in Forever 21 ready to try on her choices |
I spent most of my time in Forever 21 (which I kind of already expected). It was hard to keep focused on my theme but I had visualized that I wanted to get some shorts and dress it up with a jacket or a long sleeved shirt. Oh, so that is my little secret of shopping. I always visualize what I want first and work around it. If not you will end up spending hours looking at random things (well, unless that is what you want). So, I managed to match my outfit and gave it to the girl at the changing room to reserve as I went to checkout other shops for options.
 |
| Forever 21's crazy deals |
After walking to the end again and trying on some shorts and tops from Esprit that were 40% off, I ended up going back to Forever 21 to get my first choice!
 |
| I wanted to send this pic to my FB and ask Yeay or Nay before purchased however the signal was not so strong. |
Worn out by all the walking about and thinking, it was time to recharge at Zang Toi Cafe which was the only eatery open during the time of our visit. Everyone was looking really good in their own way after the shopping spree.
 |
| Iced Lemon Tea and an assortment of cakes from Zang Toi Cafe |
Here are our group shots....
 |
| Group A - Stylish |
 |
| Group B - Casual |
And...
here is my look!
So, What do you think?
 |
| Jacket from Forever 21 @ RM90 Sequin Top from Forever 21 @ RM90 Shorts from Forever 21 @ Free (N.P. RM 79.90) Clutch Bag from Forever 21 RM50 Ear Stud from Forever 21 - Buy 5 @ RM20 Aviator Shades from Cotton On @ RM25 Total Cost : RM275 |
I conquer with the words of Chris Milliken “Outlet shopping is a day out and bargain hunt and it is meant to be a fun experience for all the family." Or friends :)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Freeport is one of the pioneers of the outlet industry in Europe having been the first company to bring the outlet concept over from the USA. It opened its first outlet back in 1994. Since then Freeport has opened 12 outlet villages either as sole developer and investor or in joint venture with third parties. Freeport has opened 5 outlets in the United Kingdom and others in Portugal, Sweden, Italy, Czech Republic and Slovakia and is currently developing a major new outlet in Lyon, France. Freeport A’Famosa Outlet is the company’s first project in South-East
Visit Freeport A'Famosa Outlet Village's Facebook page for updates on sales and upcoming events such as the nightly fireworks display for the new year and Chinese New Year.
No comments:
Post a Comment