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Thailand
I went wedding dress shopping on my own, which I think helped a lot. It meant that I got to choose exactly what I wanted without anyone else interfering and tempting me with more expensive items. After a couple of shops I was totally disheartened with the snobby sales assistants.
In the end I visited Savile Row fashion as they often had dresses in the window that I liked. I made an appointment to go in and the two assistants spent an hour showing me nearly every dress in the shop. They were all reasonable price and as they were nice I felt that I could be honest with them.
The shop that I went to was called Savile Row Fashion in Suriwong Street in Bangkok, and I would highly recommend it.
118 rose hotel, Suriwong road, Patpong, Bangkok 10500
contact no: 022354427, 0858441307
email: savilerowfashion@gmail.com
Narry and Aron (father and son) cannot be beaten. They are truly amazing. Especially Narry with his butter soft English and the just mind-numbing ability to remember everyone's name! Having a few suits from them is almost a right of passage for us in the Department of Defense and the protective and investigative services. Walking into their shop is like walking into a museum of US intelligence agencies.
And they make damn fine suits and custom shoes. They even fit them to better conceal whatever weapon you may be carrying.
118 suriwong, near Patpong Street, next to Rose Hotel
0858441307, 022354427
I have been slowly upgrading my wardrobe. I have proceeded cautiously because I know that 90% of the tailors here are ripoffs and most people bought a suit based on the advice of the tout sitting outside the shop or from a Thai airways in-flight magazine ad.
Thankfully, there is an antidote to the Bangkok ripoff tourist tailor. I was recommended this place by an AAAC member. It's far away from the Sukhumvit Road tailors and really a world apart. I imagine this guy could hold his own against the best of the UK or Italy.
This is the tailor shop that the highest echelons of Thai society use.
I had a midnight blue tuxedo made there and it turned out beautifully. I probably broke some rules with the burgundy lining but I couldn't resist
the color when I was given the lining samples.
I had an initial fabric selection and then three fittings as the garments progressed. His fabric selections are limited but are of the highest quality.
A suit from July Tailor will cost 4000 - 12000 baht.
I have always seen another Farang (foreigner) in there. His work is in the upper echelons and his prices are much more reasonable than even the best tourist tailors. That being said, they are still lower than a good canvassed off-the-rack suit in the USA.
118 suriwong/silom road (near rose hotel) patpong street bangkok thailand
saladang station
free pick up 0858441307 022354427
contact:savilerowfashion@gmail.com
You will find everything under the sun - antiques, pets, plants, clothes, books, food. Get there before the proposed plans to raze it and build another air-conditioned shopping centre become a reality.
Take the skytrain to Chatuchak station. Market open on weekends only.
If you take a 15 minute Skytrain journey from BTS Siam to BTS Thong Lo you can join the lifestyle, living and shopping experience in Bangkok's designer shopping district, Thonglor.
The crowd is more residential, international, professional thirtysomething than the teens and tourists around Siam and MBK.
Couples can easily spend a whole day in Thonglor. For the morning get a coffee and up to date with emails at True Life. Relax into a half-day "Ecstasy Time" spa package in a double room at Leyana Spa. Then have an illuminated evening meal outside at To Die For restaurant in H1 - Thonglor's design HQ. And finally, discover some Bangkok trends inside the Playground mall and rub shoulders with Thai celebrities unwinding at Starbucks. If one of you is starting to tire, take an aircon taxi back to BTS Thong Lo for 35 Baht and on to your hotel in air-conditioned, speedy Skytrain comfort.
Alternatively, if you feel yourselves becoming part Thonglor, you may stay late and never want to go back ...
Map: tinyurl.com/ypoorl
With the multitude of tailors' shops in some areas of Bangkok, one couldn't help assuming that most are just jumping on the bandwagon and don't possess the experience or the connections to do a decent job of anything.
It's true that a lot of them turn out some shocking work, I've seen some of it. They really bring to life the phrase: "All over you like a cheap suit".
But you can get a decent job for a decent price. Bear these points in mind:
1) Most places are not really tailors. They just want to sell you material and take your measurements. They farm out the stuff to outside tailors.
2) You're not going to get a cashmere suit for $100.
3) In good places you'll see evidence of actual *tailoring* being done. You know more than just a tape measure and a pencil.
4) Most places farm out their tailoring to a different location but it's a good sign when the shop has a representative on site. You'll know, because they'll be involved in the measuring process and the salesman will communicate your preferences to him/her as you go along.
5) You won't get a decent wool mix suit for $100.
6) From my experience and from the genuine-looking reviews I've seen: Good places don't have touts outside.
7) Results are going to be better if you *really* know what you want.
Walk past the shops and take a good look. Get an idea of what they seem most interested in (a lot are just money laundering fronts). You'll get an idea whether they're just selling third-party generic garments for a markup, selling cloth and lots of sweet talk, or if they're more design-oriented and customer-focused.
A small number of good establishments can be found around Asok (just down from Nana) on Sukhumvit Rd. For more excellent info from someone who really knows his stuff check out the link below.
During my stay in Khao San (the main tourist area), I decided to get a formal dress and a jacket suit for work.
Since I was staying at a guesthouse in that area, I went to the Mr. Boss tailor shop next to it.
I was amazed at the variety of materials they had, not only for men, but for women as well. The salesmen there were extremely friendly and not at all pushy like some of the other shops.
Upon entering the shop, I was greeted with smiles and despite my habit of indecisiveness and not being able to choose immediately, they patiently told me to take my time with no obligations.
When I went in the next day, they again greeted me warmly and when I actually got my outfits in 24hrs, I was delighted with the fitting. It was perfect! My friends back here in Singapore adore my outfits, especially since I was given a special 20% discount too!
I highly recommend all my friends to visit Mr. Boss Tailor on your next trip to Bangkok. It was totally worth it!
This shop is situated in Soi Rambuttri (next to Merry V Guest house).
It's in Khao San area so it shouldn't be difficult to find.
This is the best tourist map of bangkok and I recommend this above any other map or guidebook. It is especially good if you want to SHOP!.
It is available from major bookstores in Bangkok. In the UK I found it difficult to obtain. The only website I have found is www.tripneeds.com
Crown Tailor's is a tailor shop I was recommended to visit during my trip to Bangkok and because they provided me with excellent suits and services, I think they deserve the credit for it. I was in need of many suits and shirts and Crown Tailors provide me with this at ease, with great service and excellent prices.
I didn't have to deal with any pesky salesman or get ushered into the shop, or even get pressured to buy, I was able to pick what I wanted, which style I wanted and comfortably choose the materials I wanted. If I needed advice, they were there to help me.
I've tried another tailor shops before on my previous trips to Bangkok, but I don't find it to live up to Crown's service. Also, I wanted two fittings, and Crown never once disapproved of it, which in actual fact, it wasnt even needed, as my clothes fitted me ever since my first fitting.
So anyone looking to get clothes tailored in Bangkok, make sure to stop by Crowns, I'm 99.9% convinced you won't be disappointed, with the quality, price and service.
Just inside of Sukhumvit Road soi 8 on the left side. Take the sky train to "Nana" station and you'll see soi 8, so you just have to walk in.
The floating market is exactly what it sounds like, and I've never seen anything like it before or since. We managed to get on the only paddleboat/kayak I saw, the rest were packed with tourists and noisy, where as there was only room for me, my friend and an old woman who 'let' us row for about half the journey when she was tired.
Ask local Thais about this. Be warned, though, the prices are a lot higher than other parts of Bangkok and Thailand.
Looking for some cheap clothes, and can't be bothered to haggle in the markets? Or perhaps you need to stock up on toiletries for your trip, or you need baby supplies - for all of these reasons you might want to join the locals and head for the nearest hypermarket. Tesco have a major presence in Bangkok, but for most tourists the best located hypermarket is the Big C store on Ratchadamri Road, right opposite the Central World Plaza mall. As well as the main store, there is an excellent food court and a multiplex cinema in the building. Open 9am until 11pm daily.
Walk up from Chit Lom Skytrain station;
www.bigc.co.th/en/index.asp
Don't buy the suits that people often charm you into on the streets. In such areas such as Siam Square, they are often badly cut. But do have a chat with the people trying to sell them, as they will tell you lots of useful tips and places to go.
A vibrant nightlife district of Bangkok. However, amongst the shows, bars and endless offers of “DVD, VCD, sex,” there is a reminder of how the west abuses the east. There are some great bargains, though (in the clothes markets, I mean!)
Leave your cases at home, and buy everything for your travels here, including your suitcases.
The biggest market I have ever come across, most Thais know it as Jay-Jay market.
The market contains everything you could ever wish for, from trainers and jeans (all fake but as good as the real thing) to furniture, plants, decorations, T-shirts, rucksacks and suitcases. There's also a great food area, so you can make a day of it.
A must go place, all the Thais shop here, as should you.
Take the metro to Kamphaengphet station, and the market is right there. Open Saturdays and Sundays
If you want to get away from tourist zones, take a longtail boat up the canal to Ramkhamhaeng.
It's a major university and the streets around it are thronged with market stalls for great food and 'alternative' goodies.
There are a few cafe/bars with live music and the students will be keen to practise their English on you!
The ancient capital of Siam, it's the same distance north of the airport as Bangkok is south.It is everthing Bangkok is not - rural, relaxing, peaceful, hassle-free and the only choice if you have small kids. You can even breath the air.
Once there, choose from a range of lovely, cheap family run guesthouses within walking distance of the crumbling golden wats, some over 1000 years old, that dot the canal girt plain. Built by the Khmers and destroyed by the Burmese only a couple of centuries ago, they make an ethereal sight as the dawn lights the mist through the banyans.
Just catch a train in the opposite direction from the front of the airport. On arrival, a tuk-tuk will take you round to the hotels on the opposite side of the river for a few baht.
The souvenir stands along 6 Soi Kasemsan 2 on the way to the Jim Thompson house museum sells rubbings of musicians and dancers for about 10 baht. Great gifts or souvenirs.
6 Soi Kasemsan 2
The biggest market in the city. On the weekends all the stalls are open, on Wednesdays and Thursdays there's an amazing plant market. Friday's the day for wholesale, but it's still very interesting.Wander around and buy when you see something you like, you'll never find the same spot twice.
Take the metro to Kamphaengphet station, and the market is right there.
Looking a bit like the Arndale Centre circa the mid-eighties, MBK (Mah Boon Krong) is basically a huge covered market spread over five floors also incorporating a cinema and food court. Need a new watch? Choose from fake Rolex, D&G, Guess and any number of other names. Always wanted a Thai football shirt? You’ll find one here. Run out of credit on your mobile phone? Just buy another one. If you want plenty – and I mean plenty – of choice in you fake goods/souvenir/gift shopping then this is the place. Be prepared to bargain, be prepared to spend and be prepared to buy yourself that Louis Vuitton handbag you always knew you really wanted.
Corner of Tha Phra Ram 1 and Th PhayathaiNearest Skytrain station: National StadiumOpen: 10am-10pm
The newest of Bangkok’s night markets, Suan Lum not only offers the usual fare of fake designer goods, Thai silk scarves and incense sets, but also small shops selling arts and crafts from local designers and artists. The pottery and paintings are particularly worth a look.There is also a large food court and beer garden featuring live music (the Thai equivalent of Busted when we were there) and – more bizarrely – reruns of Premiership football matches from 2002 on a big screen. In the beer garden either go to the bars or look for the waiters selling Chang or Tiger beer, which are at fairly reasonable prices (50 to 100 Baht, £0.70 to £1.40 per bottle). Otherwise you may be offered western imported beer at an exorbitant price (Erdinger and Heineken for the equivalent of about £5.00 per litre).
On the corner of Thanon Rama IV and Thanon WitthayuNearest Metro stop - Lumphini Nearest Skytrain - Silom, then walkOpen 3.00pm-midnight
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