Bangkok Fashion & Clothing
The Fashion Scene
Bangkok has long shed its reputation for merely offering bargain clothing and fake merchandise or apparel at the city's numerous markets and street vendors. The Thai capital has emerged as a truly hip fashion hub in Asia, setting new parameters for the trendy and style-savvy, and everybody else who wants to sport the latest and greatest.
The talents of young, up-and-coming designers are being nurtured and their collections can be found along with those from top international couturiers and fashion houses at most of the city's upmarket malls and prime shopping areas. From either zany or chic avant garde to minimalistic Zen...
The twice-annual Bangkok Fashion Week and numerous trade fairs held throughout the year have helped significantly to raise the style bar and, along with fine, value-for-money workmanship and beautiful textiles like pure silk and cotton in abundance, the stage has been set to be fabulously in vogue.
Good Buys, Deals & Steals
While upmarket malls and surrounding shopping areas like Siam Square and certain sections of Sukhumvit Road are host to top local and international labels - and at prices that vary from reasonable to outrageous - great bargains can still be found at many markets, the Pratunam area and, of course, shopping venues like MBK Centre and Platinum Fashion Mall. This is also where you'd want to browse for fashion accessories like shoes, bags, belts and costume jewellery.
For vintage and second-hand clothing, currently all the rage, head straight to Chatuchak where you can find anything from a pair of original Jimmy Choo shoes (if you look hard enough) to retro track suits, bags and a fabulous faux fur straight from grandmother's closet. And, of course, everything in between; vintage jeans, collectors' T-shirts and even some authentic camouflage street-wear. Chatuchak, like most markets in Thailand, is also the right place to shop for fakes, rip-offs and merchandise from either questionable origin or dubious authenticity.
Whether you're looking for a comfortable shirt or hunting down a must-have trendy item to make a fashion statement or dazzle your date, you won't be let down in Bangkok. Don't despair if small Asian sizes prove to be a bit of a squeeze; the city's tailors are known for fast turnaround times, affordability and quality work. And then there's plus-size clothing of course that caters for, well, 'larger' Western frames. Have a look at the sections below to acquaint yourself with what the fashion capital of Asia has to offer.
Shoes & Handbags:
For the best bargain deals, head to local markets such as Khlong San or Major Ratchoyothin, the popular Chatuchak Weekend Market, wholesale markets around Pratunam like Baiyoke Mall and Indra Mall, or affordable shopping malls like MBK Centre and Platinum Fashion Mall. If you're into fine-crafted and imported brands, luxurious shopping malls such as Siam Paragon, The Emporium and Gaysorn would be your best bet. However, most up-and-coming local designers usually set up shop around Siam Square, directly across from Siam Center.
Designer Labels
Top-end local and international brands can be found at any of the major shopping malls around the city, especially Siam Discovery, Siam Center, Siam Paragon, The Emporium, CentralWorld, and Gaysorn Plaza. If you're hunting down an only-in-Bangkok label, your first stop should be the small boutiques around Siam Square. Look out for the JASPAL and DOMON labels, both of which are exclusively Thai, great quality and value for money (and represented in many malls).
Bargain and Wholesale Clothing
Good buys, deals and steals are abundant in the City of Angels, although the cream of the bargaining crop are found at local markets and wholesale markets. For all kinds of bargain clothing, Bo Bae near the National Stadium BTS station and the markets in the Pratunam area have the best deals. Don't forget popular markets like Chatuchak Weekend Market and Suan Lum Night Bazaar. For Thai and Asian items such as sarongs, batiks, and fisherman pants, the markets in Pratunam is a good option too. The infamous Khao San Road has a decent selection of all the aforementioned, but prices are slightly higher.
Plus-size clothing
Bangkok has several stores that specialise in plus-size clothing for big boys. Head to MBK Centre (sixth floor) or Silom Centre (second floor) - or any of the Central department stores.
Fashion Guide
Bangkok is a true treasure trove when it comes to fashion. Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, D&G, Hugo Boss, Christian Dior and other world-class labels are housed by Bangkok's upscale shopping malls like Siam Paragon, The Emporium, and Gaysorn Plaza. For those with limited financial resources, fret not. Bangkok also offers unending supply of quality and inexpensive clothes virtually everywhere, be that in malls, small sois, local markets and even on the streets! Read more...
The Fashion Scene
Bangkok has long shed its reputation for merely offering bargain clothing and fake merchandise or apparel at the city's numerous markets and street vendors. The Thai capital has emerged as a truly hip fashion hub in Asia, setting new parameters for the trendy and style-savvy, and everybody else who wants to sport the latest and greatest.
The talents of young, up-and-coming designers are being nurtured and their collections can be found along with those from top international couturiers and fashion houses at most of the city's upmarket malls and prime shopping areas. From either zany or chic avant garde to minimalistic Zen...
The twice-annual Bangkok Fashion Week and numerous trade fairs held throughout the year have helped significantly to raise the style bar and, along with fine, value-for-money workmanship and beautiful textiles like pure silk and cotton in abundance, the stage has been set to be fabulously in vogue.
Good Buys, Deals & Steals
While upmarket malls and surrounding shopping areas like Siam Square and certain sections of Sukhumvit Road are host to top local and international labels - and at prices that vary from reasonable to outrageous - great bargains can still be found at many markets, the Pratunam area and, of course, shopping venues like MBK Centre and Platinum Fashion Mall. This is also where you'd want to browse for fashion accessories like shoes, bags, belts and costume jewellery.
For vintage and second-hand clothing, currently all the rage, head straight to Chatuchak where you can find anything from a pair of original Jimmy Choo shoes (if you look hard enough) to retro track suits, bags and a fabulous faux fur straight from grandmother's closet. And, of course, everything in between; vintage jeans, collectors' T-shirts and even some authentic camouflage street-wear. Chatuchak, like most markets in Thailand, is also the right place to shop for fakes, rip-offs and merchandise from either questionable origin or dubious authenticity.
Whether you're looking for a comfortable shirt or hunting down a must-have trendy item to make a fashion statement or dazzle your date, you won't be let down in Bangkok. Don't despair if small Asian sizes prove to be a bit of a squeeze; the city's tailors are known for fast turnaround times, affordability and quality work. And then there's plus-size clothing of course that caters for, well, 'larger' Western frames. Have a look at the sections below to acquaint yourself with what the fashion capital of Asia has to offer.
Shoes & Handbags:
For the best bargain deals, head to local markets such as Khlong San or Major Ratchoyothin, the popular Chatuchak Weekend Market, wholesale markets around Pratunam like Baiyoke Mall and Indra Mall, or affordable shopping malls like MBK Centre and Platinum Fashion Mall. If you're into fine-crafted and imported brands, luxurious shopping malls such as Siam Paragon, The Emporium and Gaysorn would be your best bet. However, most up-and-coming local designers usually set up shop around Siam Square, directly across from Siam Center.
Designer Labels
Top-end local and international brands can be found at any of the major shopping malls around the city, especially Siam Discovery, Siam Center, Siam Paragon, The Emporium, CentralWorld, and Gaysorn Plaza. If you're hunting down an only-in-Bangkok label, your first stop should be the small boutiques around Siam Square. Look out for the JASPAL and DOMON labels, both of which are exclusively Thai, great quality and value for money (and represented in many malls).
Bargain and Wholesale Clothing
Good buys, deals and steals are abundant in the City of Angels, although the cream of the bargaining crop are found at local markets and wholesale markets. For all kinds of bargain clothing, Bo Bae near the National Stadium BTS station and the markets in the Pratunam area have the best deals. Don't forget popular markets like Chatuchak Weekend Market and Suan Lum Night Bazaar. For Thai and Asian items such as sarongs, batiks, and fisherman pants, the markets in Pratunam is a good option too. The infamous Khao San Road has a decent selection of all the aforementioned, but prices are slightly higher.
Plus-size clothing
Bangkok has several stores that specialise in plus-size clothing for big boys. Head to MBK Centre (sixth floor) or Silom Centre (second floor) - or any of the Central department stores.
Fashion Guide
Bangkok is a true treasure trove when it comes to fashion. Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, D&G, Hugo Boss, Christian Dior and other world-class labels are housed by Bangkok's upscale shopping malls like Siam Paragon, The Emporium, and Gaysorn Plaza. For those with limited financial resources, fret not. Bangkok also offers unending supply of quality and inexpensive clothes virtually everywhere, be that in malls, small sois, local markets and even on the streets! Read more...
