WHAT: Abercrombie & Fitch Singapore

WHERE: 270 Orchard Road, Knightsbridge

WHEN: Daily 10am to 10pm

HISTORY: This is A&F's first store in Singapore

Even before it opened, it got people ohhh so hot and bothered.

An oversized advertisement, which teased the opening of the store, featured a topless man with jeans slung low - really low.

It was eventually taken down, but not before some vociferous objections were aired about just how low was acceptable. Of course, we're talking about Abercrombie & Fitch, or A&F as it is more popularly known.

Recently, they've been making the news for the wrong reasons. Its chief executive officer Michael Jeffries apparently has an aircraft standards manual, which states that male flight crew are required to wear A&F shirts and jeans in his private jet. They even need to smell like A&F - by spritzing their cologne at regular intervals.

So is it required wear? This secret shopper ambled down to find out if there is more to A&F than its sexy male models and their drool-worthy abs.

Signature style

With very dim lighting and loud, thumping music, the dark store resembles a nightclub. But don't expect any party outfits here.

Famous for its checked shirts and basic tees, A&F sell mostly casual wear - something you would throw on on a lazy Sunday.

But the huge three-storey store at Knightsbridge has a disappointing range of clothes. There were very few blouses on the racks and even then, much to my chagrin, they were very plain - with an expensive price tag to boot.

Next item please.

I walked about finding nothing but sheer, plain tees and sweatpants in different colours. The sweatpants weren't that great either - great workout clothes usually motivate me but these didn't. Ironically, just as I had survived the beating sun as I made my way to the store, the only apparel that appealed to me was the knitwear. Mmmm.

But apart from a knit sweater in two different colours, and a couple of thick jackets, holiday-goers shopping for winterwear may be disappointed.

Price point

As I flipped over the price tags, I was flabbergasted at how unreasonably pricey all the items were.

A simple checked shirt cost a ghastly $110. Sure, the material is less flimsy, and maybe less likely to wrinkle as compared to similar shirts in other fashion retail chains like Forever 21.

While Take That's Could It Be Magic was blasting through the store, I asked myself if the top had any sort of magical qualities. Because I was puzzled as to how it could cost so much.

If that wasn't enough, I spotted a pair of sweatpants that cost $94.

Exclamation marks formed in my head and my eyes widened.

Even if I were crazy enough to buy a pair, I would never want to sweat in them.

Indeed, the only reason I might consider buying anything was the attractive blonde cashier at the store. It is no wonder then that the sexy staff have played a key role in the chain's success.

Store layout

Be warned that you are most likely going to leave the store with a banging headache. At least that was the case for me.

Even from outside the store, I could smell the A&F Fierce cologne, the one that Mike Jeffries is so fond of - although I can't understand why. The smell only intensified as I entered.

And so did my headache, especially with the blaring music. I couldn't even hear what the hot model was saying when I entered the store. (There was only one model - I wished the store had more like they promised just before the opening.)

Such a pity - although he did flash me... a smile.

My eyes had to adjust to the club-like darkness. It didn't help that I could hardly see where I was going.

Because there were so many mirrors at the store, I kept having to reach out to make sure that I wasn't going to run into a mirror, thinking that it's another part of the store.

Service

While the sales staff welcome you to the store with smiles, it stops there.

I was looking around one of the shelves, where a saleswoman was nearby - she did not even turn around to see if I needed any help looking for my size.

Instead, she carried on dancing to the club tunes.

And when I eventually asked her if she had a pair of jeans in my size, she asked: "Is it not there?"

I wouldn't be asking if it was.

It was also extremely difficult to communicate with the sales staff. With the music so loud, I had to use my "clubbing voice" with the sales staff.

They were obviously used to the loud music because they spoke in relatively hushed tones, which I struggled to hear.

The staff are certainly lookers, but don't expect them to enhance your experience at the store.

Verdict

It is clear that the hyper-sexy image that A&F portrays is a major sales tactic. In fact, they just pulled off another male model extravaganza for the opening of the Hong Kong flagship store in August. But the promise simply doesn't pan out for this secret shopper.

Because the clothes - and price tags - don't impress. Maybe I would have been more willing to part with some cash if more models had been topless.

But fortunately for my bank account, they were fully clothed.

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