Fashion Travelogue: Bangkok Lovin'

The last few years, I've had to fly to Bangkok, the beautiful capital of Thailand, for work-related projects. Being part of a multinational advertising agency has allowed me to brainstorm with other like-minded creatives in the region and work on foreign TV productions over there.

Last month, I went back for an editing job and during my downtime, I was able to go around the city and do some window- and actual shopping.

Bangkok is famous in Asia for carrying fashionable items at dirt cheap prices. And I say this as a Filipino (to think that the prices of clothes, shoes and accessories in general over here are very affordable compared to those of our Asian neighbors). Whenever I'm in Bangkok, I can't help but mentally compute the price differences of various items. Their clothes cost a fraction of ours here, their gadgets are significantly cheaper and to fill one's stomach with food won't cost you more than a few baht.

The thing with Bangkok is that you need to know where to look. To shop at high-end brands, you would go to malls such as Siam Paragon and CentralWorld. 

To get style-eco friendly looks, you would hit the night markets of Bangkok (they're on every street and pedestrian overpass starting 8 pm), malls such as Platinum (floor after floor of really fashionable but more than affordable clothes), MBK (which I will write about in a bit) and the Chatuchak Weekend Market (famous for its really wide range of items at bargain prices).

Here are some of my photos from my last trip.

 A typical street market scene. You can find almost anything under the sun from dresses, tops, skirts, shorts, trousers, leggings, jewelry, shoes, bags and sunglasses in these street markets. Don't forget to haggle, too. Chances are that cheap item you're eyeing will be sold to you for much cheaper. The Thai vendors are generous like that.

Printed trousers on sale at 179 baht (PhP 250 or USD 5). Did I mention that stylish clothes were really affordable in Bangkok? 

One of the many tables selling sunnies for just 69 baht (PhP 95 or USD 2).

This is one of their high-end malls, CentralWorld.

A couple of hundred meters away from CentralWorld via the walkway system is my most favorite shopping place, MBK. It's one huge mall (eight floors) that sells the most varied things from gadgets to clothes, shoes, bags, accessories and everything else you can possibly think of.

A shot from one of the many intersecting escalators. MBK's interiors are something to look at. If you haven't been inside long and frequently enough, you might get confused because of how big it is.

 Printed tops priced at 299 baht (roughly PhP 400 or USD 8.50).

Whenever I shop for my brothers, I always make sure to pass by this particular stall. It carries branded sportswear for a fraction of what they would buy here in Manila. I was able to buy a pair of the latest Adidas basketball shoes for our brother Chuck for roughly PhP 2,500.

At Loft (located in Siam Discovery), one can find this wall of make-up accessories. Because of how the items were stocked, you leave the place wishing you could've bought every single one of them.

Thailand is famous for their silk. So, men, you should seriously stock up on neckties whenever you visit Bangkok. I always make sure to get several for my dad, a necktie fanatic. You can buy affordable ties at MBK for 100 baht (PhP 140 or USD 3) or pricier ones at 500 baht (PhP 700 or USD 15). This shot was taken inside Tokyu, in the department store within MBK.

According to my Filipino friend who now works in our Bangkok office, OPI is the staple nail polish brand used in salons across Bangkok. A far cry, I daresay, from our salons here which usually carry local brands. Not that I have anything against local brands (in fact, our blog aims to promote brands whose quality and styles are at par with foreign ones) but I've yet to encounter a local nail polish brand that doesn't chip easily and has a wide range of options in terms of colors and texture.

A shot of the night market across the street from my hotel, which was Arnoma.

The Thai have a very unique sense of fashion. I'm not quite sure if this girl was trying to pull off a Kate Middleton-esque look.

Even bunnies there are fashionable. Buy one bunny, get a bunny outfit for free!

Rings are everywhere in Bangkok. These were sold on a blanket laid out on a pedestrian overpass. You can get silver and brass rings for as low as 30 baht (PhP 45 or US 95 cents), 50 baht (PhP 75 or USD 1.60) and 80 baht (PhP 112 or USD 2.40) depending on the style and size.

Really cheap belts of every color and every style can be bought from the night markets for only 50 baht (PhP 70 or USD 1.50). I regret not hoarding. Imagine how many of these I can pair with different kinds of shorts or jeans? Failure on my end.

To end this photo-heavy post, here's a shot of me with one of my unique finds there: an iPhone case in the form of an old school casette tape. 

It would be great to take Cooky with me the next time I go. I'm pretty sure she'll go wild when she sees all the things she can buy there. The last time we were there as a family (it was a girls' bonding trip with our mom after I graduated from college) was seven years ago. It'd be great to go there purely for leisure and for sightseeing.

♥, Tina

Fashion Travelogue: Under the Sun

Tin and I recently took a trip to Camarines Sur this weekend with family and friends. Cam Sur is famous for its Watersports Complex (CWC), a resort where you can go wake boarding, swimming, and go through a water obstacles course called Lago. Aside from this, Cam Sur has many other beautiful spots to see. And we were lucky enough to discover this gorgeous virgin island, with a white sand beach.

The sun was scorching hot during the entire trip, so of course there was no better place to be than in the water. We did a lot of walking (and even rock climbing) which wasn't exactly very comfortable. Some people say that you have to sacrifice comfort for fashion. I admit, sometimes this does hold true, especially for us girls with our towering heels, but not all the time. I've always believed in putting together outfits that have that balance of fashion and comfort. Looking good is great, but you have to feel good in what you're wearing too.

So I learned a thing or two about what to wear while under the sun, and engaging in more physical activities. First of all, when you pack for a trip such as this, be prepared to bring some athletic gear that may not exactly look glamorous, but does the job. Board shorts and rash guards are best for wake boarding and other water sports. I'd suggest bringing aqua shoes as well, especially for swimming by falls as these areas tend to be very rocky and slippery. These pieces may not necessarily match (especially in color) if you buy them separately, so color clashes may be inevitable. But hey, playful colors are great under the sun!

Loose tops are good to wear. They're breezy and keep you a little bit cooler while under the heat. It's good to pair these with basic denims for a chill look. Summer dresses are great as well. Long, mid or short, they look great with a nice summer hat (I personally love those with big print bows). Hats are very in this season, and you can find them in several stores and boutiques. And these don't just look good. They keep from squinting as well-- keep your eyes shielded from the sun's glare. For footwear, don't be afraid to go simple by wearing flip flops. They're the most convenient to wear while on the sand and even in water. You can take them out easily, and they dry up fast. Of course you can opt to wear sandals and flats as well. Nice bright colors and floral prints are great to wear in the beach.


Swimwear really all depends on your body shape. You can choose to go one-piece, tankini or bikini, depending on what you're comfy wearing. I used to think one-piece swimsuits were corny, but there are so many new designs and shapes to choose from now. Pick the one that best fits your body. Different styles highlight different parts of your body (chest, butt, waist and curves, etc.) so top pick would be the one that allows you to flaunt you ASSets (if you know what I mean ;D). Don't be afraid to explore and try out different styles until you find one that fits you just right. Experiment with different colors and prints too. I'd suggest having at least one or two in basic colors such as black, white or brown. Then you can go for bolder, brighter colors and designs. Most important thing is that you feel good and aren't afraid to show it! Add a good pair of sunnies/shades to complete the look, and you're good to go! :)

Tin and I with our brothers. Meet CJ (left) and Chuck (right)!

Dressing up for the beach is fun. There are so many different looks you can go for. But don't forget, you never have to sacrifice comfort for fashion. These two go hand in hand. It's all about putting the right pieces together. That way, you can look good and feel good under the sun!

Happy Summer everyone!

♥ Cooky (and Tin)