Where to buy winter clothes: Cold Wear, Winter Time, Decathlon and Uniqlo

While people in the Northern Hemisphere brace themselves for a miserable winter, Singaporeans are sourcing for where to buy winter wear in Singapore and places to go for a winter holiday.

To those who grew up in the tropics, being able to bust out those coats, bomber jackets and scarves is a novelty and a pleasure. Heck, you'll even see people layering winter wear in Singapore during monsoon season.

So what happens when you're heading overseas and need to update your wardrobe of T-shirts, shorts and flip flops to include some cold-weather staples?

Here are some budget-friendly places to get winter clothes so you don't freeze to death.

Where to buy winter jackets and coats in Singapore

Lazada (Korean-style coats and jackets from $30)

This site is like the Taobao of Singapore, with just about any product you can think of. They've got a huge range of winter fashion, with many of their items aping the K-Drama style and going at bargain basement prices – as little as $14.

This is a good place to hit up if you're shopping for trendy pieces to complete a look, but you'll have to come to terms with the fact that most will rely heavily on synthetic materials and the quality might not be up to scratch – but it will likely look great in pictures.

Decathlon SG (ski jackets from $65)

Move aside World of Sports. Ever since Decathlon hit our shores, Singaporeans have realised that they offer some of the best deals on sportswear and sports apparel.

You can get a ski jacket for about $65 to $139. Gloves can be as cheap as $12 to $20.

They've also got a few winter items such as warm jackets for skiing and mountain trekking, and can be a good option for those who intend to do sports on their travels or who just like to rock the sporty chic look.

If you're going to hike around Jeju Island and the likes, you might want to ready yourself with one of these rain ponchos too.

Asos (UK high street winter wear from $80)

This multi-brand online store has all types and styles of coats at a range of price points and quality.

You can get a trendy coat that will make you look like a Korean drama idol but will cause you to freeze to death, or a luxurious designer piece – but beware of becoming a magnet for pickpockets.

The cheapest coats are about $80, and prices run upwards to $600 for a North Face down jacket.

H&M (Kids Winter Jackets from $30)

H&M isn't exactly where you go for ultra-functional clothing, but they do have some serviceable cold-weather items during the winter season. You can get an adult puffer jacket for about $60 to $90.

Just be aware that there's a high chance their sweaters and coats will be mostly made of synthetic materials, which will means they won't keep you as warm as you think.

The jackets here are probably okay for a holiday to Hong Kong or Taiwan but not the harsher winters in Japan or Korea.

Otherwise, H&M is a great choice for children's winter down jackets etc.

Cold Wear Singapore (around $300)

Yes! The super classic Cold Wear shop that '80s and '90s kids used to frequent before going on tour groups is still around!

I'm surprised that the chain could survive the two-year long Covid-19. In fact, the brand has rebranded over the past two years.

Like Winter Time, Cold Wear is another specialty store that stocks items appropriate for anything from mild winters to harsh sub-zero temperatures.

They've got padded down jackets, woollen sweaters, fleece jackets and thermals.

Their price point has increased. While adult down jackets used to be $99 or so, they can easily cost $300 and upwards.

There are Cold Wear Singapore outlets at IMM, PLQ, Orchard Gateway, United Square, and Bendemeer. They also have a wide range of items in their online store.

Winter Time Singapore (around $200)

While many high fashion brands carry trendy fall-winter clothing like trench coats and boots, most of these items aren't designed to weather sub-zero temperatures.

For clothing that can help you weather seriously low temperatures, go to Winter Time. You can get down-stuffed parkas, winter boots and thermal wear.

There are Winter Time outlets at Suntec City, IMM, Parkway Parade, Jurong Point, Tampines Mall and Vivocity.

View all Winter Time locations at their website. Their online shop is much more built out than before and you can find down jackets from $99.

With the more heavily padded jackets can cost over $200, and those are definitely for people who have bigger budgets, and travel to cold places often.

Uniqlo Singapore (ultra light down jacket at $99.90)

More than one Singaporean has shown up at Changi Airport with a puffy Uniqlo jacket in their arms.

The Japanese label offers very good value for money, considering many of their jackets use 90 per cent down filling, which is normally quite expensive.

In 2019, the ultra light down jacket was priced at about $99.90, and is able fold and fit a small bag. Today, a newer iteration of this ultra light down jacket costs $129.90.

Uniqlo is also the to-go place to get thermal wear with Heat Tech technology.

Universal Traveller Singapore (from $110)

This travel supply shop might be better known for their suitcases and water bottles, but they've also got a range of winter apparel which includes thermal wear, fleece jeans, padded jackets and sweaters.

At first glance, their products might seem a bit more expensive than Winter Time and Cold Wear's.

But they also offer some pretty deep discounts off-season, so do your shopping in August or March if you want to snag some good deals.

Right now, the most affordable padded jacket is going for $151.20 on discount.

They also have a LazMall shop on Lazada, so if you have LiveUp you can make use of that by shopping for Universal Traveller jackets on Lazada.

Zara (around $170)

Zara is a fast-fashion favourite with a higher price point than H&M at about $170 for a coat.

In return, you get slightly higher quality, and the jackets look a tad more dignified looking than H&M's.

Still, most of their coats are probably made with synthetic materials like polyester and will not be able to keep you warm in temperatures under 10 degrees.

How to dress in winter – three tips for Singaporeans

When travelling to a colder climate, check the temperature before going. It's important to layer so that you keep yourself warm outdoors, yet are still able to peel off extra layers in restaurants and indoor areas where there is heating.

Material: Check the materials of the item before you buy. Natural fibres like wool, cashmere and down will keep you warmer than synthetic ones like polyester and acrylic.

Layering: Put together ensembles that enable you to add or remove multiple layers as you see fit. That means that instead of just relying on a coat to keep you warm, you'll also want to put a cardigan underneath it, and perhaps two to three layers beneath that.

What to cover: We tend to focus on the jacket to keep our torso area warm, but neglect the head, neck and hands. Keeping these areas wrapped up with a beanie or hat, scarf and gloves will ensure you can stay toasty for longer periods of time.

This article was first published in MoneySmart.