Nancy Chandler maps
Oct 30th, 2014, 10:39 PM
#23
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Flygirl: No appointment is needed, however, it can get busy in there so expect to have some time to possibly wait a bit. But, they're usually quite quick at attending to customers.
Another thing that they will do is make a matching handbag to your outfit. When I threw my GTG here at home, I was wearing an outfit that I had made at Cotton House, including a handbag made from the same Chinese brocade that I had bought at Michael Levine here in downtown L.A.'s garment district.
I ended up with a gorgeous, Chinese brocade jacket with palazzo-style pants and a small, matching handbag and all made at Cotton House. Khun Reed mentioned that she had it hanging up, in the shop, while waiting for me to come over to pick it up and customers were trying to buy it and also were asking where they could buy the fabric. She then explained to them that I had bought the fabric in L.A. and had designed the outfit in L.A. and then brought the concept to Bangkok and we tweaked it together and then they made it. I can't wait to take in my suitcase full of Vlisco fabric that I had flown in from Europe. We'll have a designing ball. Smiles.
Happy Travels!
Another thing that they will do is make a matching handbag to your outfit. When I threw my GTG here at home, I was wearing an outfit that I had made at Cotton House, including a handbag made from the same Chinese brocade that I had bought at Michael Levine here in downtown L.A.'s garment district.
I ended up with a gorgeous, Chinese brocade jacket with palazzo-style pants and a small, matching handbag and all made at Cotton House. Khun Reed mentioned that she had it hanging up, in the shop, while waiting for me to come over to pick it up and customers were trying to buy it and also were asking where they could buy the fabric. She then explained to them that I had bought the fabric in L.A. and had designed the outfit in L.A. and then brought the concept to Bangkok and we tweaked it together and then they made it. I can't wait to take in my suitcase full of Vlisco fabric that I had flown in from Europe. We'll have a designing ball. Smiles.
Happy Travels!
Oct 31st, 2014, 05:49 AM
#24
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That sounds fantastic Guenmai!
I would enjoy getting something that was Asian-inspired in design. Any place online you would suggest I look to get some ideas?
Thank you again everyone.
I would enjoy getting something that was Asian-inspired in design. Any place online you would suggest I look to get some ideas?
Thank you again everyone.
Oct 31st, 2014, 09:28 AM
#25
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Flygirl: Well, here in L.A., we have quite a bit of clothing by Citron. You might get some ideas from their pages.
Actually, I got the basic idea for my Chinese brocade jacket from a jacket that was in one of Nordstrom's mail-out mini catalogues. It arrived in the mail one day and I saw a jacket that I liked, but it wasn't of the fabric that I wanted plus it was priced at around $250., I think it was. I tore the page out, hopped into my car, and headed for Michael Levine and bought high-quality Chinese brocade at $15.00 a yard. I also bought a gorgeous fabric for the palazzo pants. Then, I took it all to Bangkok.
Another place where you might get some inspiration is from Shanghai Tang. I have quite a few of their clothing pieces. I first bought their clothes in Singapore, many years ago. Then Bangkok got a boutique at Emporium Mall, but moved it over to Paragon Mall when that mall was completed. I just looked to see if it's still there, but it's no longer listed. But, there are still 3 boutiques in Singapore along with one at Changi Airport. So, I'll visit them when I'm in Singapore on this upcoming trip. It's too bad that Shanghai Tang closed its boutiques here in the U.S. a few years ago as there had been a big one in N.Y and a smaller one in Honolulu. I'd been to the Honolulu one several times.
Have fun creating!
https://citronclothing.com/
https://www.shanghaitang.com/
Happy Travels!
Actually, I got the basic idea for my Chinese brocade jacket from a jacket that was in one of Nordstrom's mail-out mini catalogues. It arrived in the mail one day and I saw a jacket that I liked, but it wasn't of the fabric that I wanted plus it was priced at around $250., I think it was. I tore the page out, hopped into my car, and headed for Michael Levine and bought high-quality Chinese brocade at $15.00 a yard. I also bought a gorgeous fabric for the palazzo pants. Then, I took it all to Bangkok.
Another place where you might get some inspiration is from Shanghai Tang. I have quite a few of their clothing pieces. I first bought their clothes in Singapore, many years ago. Then Bangkok got a boutique at Emporium Mall, but moved it over to Paragon Mall when that mall was completed. I just looked to see if it's still there, but it's no longer listed. But, there are still 3 boutiques in Singapore along with one at Changi Airport. So, I'll visit them when I'm in Singapore on this upcoming trip. It's too bad that Shanghai Tang closed its boutiques here in the U.S. a few years ago as there had been a big one in N.Y and a smaller one in Honolulu. I'd been to the Honolulu one several times.
Have fun creating!
https://citronclothing.com/
https://www.shanghaitang.com/
Happy Travels!
Oct 31st, 2014, 09:55 AM
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Be careful of tuk tuks from near the Shangri-La. They will insist on taking you to specific jewelry marts. Taxis are so cheap in Bangkok. Tuk tuks can actually charge you more and you're stuck behind the nasty gas smell. They look like fun but they really aren't.
The Shangri-La is perfect for access to the metro and also there's a stop there for the river boat/buses. If you are there on a Sunday afternoon, hang out to witness the "tea dance" in the lobby. Really fascinating. I loved that hotel.
The Shangri-La is perfect for access to the metro and also there's a stop there for the river boat/buses. If you are there on a Sunday afternoon, hang out to witness the "tea dance" in the lobby. Really fascinating. I loved that hotel.
Oct 31st, 2014, 09:58 AM
#27
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By the way, have you considered a cooking class? I don't really want to cook but it was such an interesting way to spend the afternoon with locals, learning to understand the nuances and elements of Thai food. Lots of time to chat one on one with the chef and her helper.
I didn't do a "Follow-Me Bicycle Tour" but will next visit. Looks like it could be fun.
I didn't do a "Follow-Me Bicycle Tour" but will next visit. Looks like it could be fun.
Oct 31st, 2014, 10:29 AM
#28
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Belinda is right, most tuk-tuks want to take you to jewelry stores (special one-day government sale!) or tailor shops. Never get into a tuk-tuk or taxi that wants to take you somewhere other than where you want to go. Tuk-tuks are usually more expensive than taxis. In a taxi, make sure they turn on the meter. If they want to negotiate a flat rate with you, get out. There are plenty of taxis.
Nov 1st, 2014, 10:21 AM
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Flygirl: The below article was in the L.A. Times back in 2005 and I remember printing the article back then.
I had already started getting my clothing made in Bangkok before that article came out. But, I did drop by the recommended shop in Singapore, that same year, that is mentioned in the L.A. Times article as, on that trip, I was in Singapore before flying up to Bangkok. The Singapore shop was more expensive than having the exact same thing done in Bangkok which I expected, but I didn't expect such a huge difference in price, like more than double the Bangkok price. I remember the person at the Singapore shop being very nice and even suggesting that I have my particular clothing item made in Bangkok.
I had bought my fabric in Singapore, down on Arab Street, where I buy fabric. I took both the fabric and an Asian-style top (bought in Singapore) that I wanted made into more fabrics to both the L.A. Times article-recommended place in Singapore and also to Cotton House in Bangkok. The place in Singapore would not do custom buttons from my fabric, but said that plastic buttons would be used. I wasn't interested in plastic buttons. So, off I flew to Bangkok and had done what I needed done and since I was satisfied with what was done, I continued to take in fabric for years after that.
Only one time did I have a mishap with some clothing items. I was in Bangkok for only a week and had a LOT of skirts done in the same style. I went in for either one or two fittings as I was busy that week. My finished clothes were delivered to me (free of charge) way across town to my serviced apartment building at Prom Phong BTS area. I was out all day and when I got back to my building, I was told that there had been a delivery for me.
The clothes were nicely folded and each skirt enclosed in plastic. So, I just dumped them all into my suitcase as I was flying home very early the next morning. I didn't try the skirts on as I didn't want to have to refold and repackage them. When I got home, I noticed that 2 or 3 of the skirts had been cut too big. But, I wore them anyway and for nearly a year. The other skirts were sized perfectly. Had I tried them on before leaving Bangkok, there wouldn't have been anything that I could have done about it anyway since I was leaving the next morning.
About a year later or less, I was back in Bangkok again and took the skirts back over to Cotton House and mentioned that those particular skirts were too big. They offered to resize them for me, but I didn't want to have that done so I asked if they knew a charity that they could donate the skirts to. I was told that they did and that they would donate them. Then, on the new order of the clothing that they were then making for me, they gave me a discount.
I will be having the same style skirt made on this upcoming trip. It's a denim cargo skirt that one of the top U.S. designers did many years ago and that I had first bought at retail price here at home. The designer, to this day, hasn't come back with that style skirt or anything close to it, so I have it made of which I've had it remade over many years to Bangkok.
When it comes to custom-made clothes, what's important to me is that I'm getting what I want and not having to wait, from season to season, to see if a retail design company will make what I want/need. I can also select the fabrics that I want the clothing item in and I can have the item fit me the way that I want it to fit as long as I go to the fittings and have EACH item fitted. Plus, I can have the skirts done in the lengths that I prefer and not all of these 21-inch skirts that are off the rack here at home. 21-inch skirts are fine for women who are around 5'4", but I'm taller than that and want 23-inch skirts. Plus, I wear these skirts to work, even the denim cargo ones. So, for me custom made is great and I'm not just looking for a cheap price to have them made, but am looking for having them made in the quality that I expect.
http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1.../p2p-17432073/
Happy Travels!
I had already started getting my clothing made in Bangkok before that article came out. But, I did drop by the recommended shop in Singapore, that same year, that is mentioned in the L.A. Times article as, on that trip, I was in Singapore before flying up to Bangkok. The Singapore shop was more expensive than having the exact same thing done in Bangkok which I expected, but I didn't expect such a huge difference in price, like more than double the Bangkok price. I remember the person at the Singapore shop being very nice and even suggesting that I have my particular clothing item made in Bangkok.
I had bought my fabric in Singapore, down on Arab Street, where I buy fabric. I took both the fabric and an Asian-style top (bought in Singapore) that I wanted made into more fabrics to both the L.A. Times article-recommended place in Singapore and also to Cotton House in Bangkok. The place in Singapore would not do custom buttons from my fabric, but said that plastic buttons would be used. I wasn't interested in plastic buttons. So, off I flew to Bangkok and had done what I needed done and since I was satisfied with what was done, I continued to take in fabric for years after that.
Only one time did I have a mishap with some clothing items. I was in Bangkok for only a week and had a LOT of skirts done in the same style. I went in for either one or two fittings as I was busy that week. My finished clothes were delivered to me (free of charge) way across town to my serviced apartment building at Prom Phong BTS area. I was out all day and when I got back to my building, I was told that there had been a delivery for me.
The clothes were nicely folded and each skirt enclosed in plastic. So, I just dumped them all into my suitcase as I was flying home very early the next morning. I didn't try the skirts on as I didn't want to have to refold and repackage them. When I got home, I noticed that 2 or 3 of the skirts had been cut too big. But, I wore them anyway and for nearly a year. The other skirts were sized perfectly. Had I tried them on before leaving Bangkok, there wouldn't have been anything that I could have done about it anyway since I was leaving the next morning.
About a year later or less, I was back in Bangkok again and took the skirts back over to Cotton House and mentioned that those particular skirts were too big. They offered to resize them for me, but I didn't want to have that done so I asked if they knew a charity that they could donate the skirts to. I was told that they did and that they would donate them. Then, on the new order of the clothing that they were then making for me, they gave me a discount.
I will be having the same style skirt made on this upcoming trip. It's a denim cargo skirt that one of the top U.S. designers did many years ago and that I had first bought at retail price here at home. The designer, to this day, hasn't come back with that style skirt or anything close to it, so I have it made of which I've had it remade over many years to Bangkok.
When it comes to custom-made clothes, what's important to me is that I'm getting what I want and not having to wait, from season to season, to see if a retail design company will make what I want/need. I can also select the fabrics that I want the clothing item in and I can have the item fit me the way that I want it to fit as long as I go to the fittings and have EACH item fitted. Plus, I can have the skirts done in the lengths that I prefer and not all of these 21-inch skirts that are off the rack here at home. 21-inch skirts are fine for women who are around 5'4", but I'm taller than that and want 23-inch skirts. Plus, I wear these skirts to work, even the denim cargo ones. So, for me custom made is great and I'm not just looking for a cheap price to have them made, but am looking for having them made in the quality that I expect.
http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1.../p2p-17432073/
Happy Travels!
Nov 3rd, 2014, 02:05 AM
#30
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I saw a Follow Me tour today. It looked like fun. I took a boat ride from near Harmonique to Wat Pho. 600 baht. I know that I was probably overcharged but for my own boat ride along the river for under 20 bucks that was fine.
As I mentioned in my "I'm here" thread, I decided to go with three simple dressed. Sheath, fitted, boat neck, a la Audrey Hepburn - from the front (IE a simple back, not cut out like her Givenchy).
Food so far is quite cheap! For that matter so is this hotel - you'd pay quite a bit more in NYC or Paris. For certain...
As I mentioned in my "I'm here" thread, I decided to go with three simple dressed. Sheath, fitted, boat neck, a la Audrey Hepburn - from the front (IE a simple back, not cut out like her Givenchy).
Food so far is quite cheap! For that matter so is this hotel - you'd pay quite a bit more in NYC or Paris. For certain...
Nov 3rd, 2014, 06:53 AM
#31
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flygirl, I highly recommend taking the public water taxis. For 25 baht or less, you can ride from the Shangri-La to the wats on the river. It's a genuine Bangkok public transit experience. If you want to take a private long tail boat ride, have them take you on an hour-long tour - 600 baht would be an ok price for that.
