Dress Me Polly

Vintage clothes shopping: Bangkok

I’ve covered this in other posts, but here is a round-up of some fun vintage shopping in Bangkok, Thailand (in order of preference).

1. Major bargains: Chatuchack Market

Weekend-only, but year-round, Chatuchak Market has a wholesale feel to it in the clothing sections. The market is huge, so go have a big breakfast first. You want to head straight to Section Six. Make your way through the isles and you’ll find at least 4 or more shops that sell vintage clothes, and most of these stalls sell every item for 100 baht ($3.40) each. Most of the clothing is from Japan, and the majority was circa late 1970s. Mainly high-waisted midi skirts, above the knee dresses, and little blouses. This is the most bargain vintage shopping I have ever come across. I LOVE IT.

I do have two complaints. Firstly, while the skirts are all as per original, the dresses have almost all been altered, by adding elastic waists. Second, almost every skirt and dress fit me. There was not much sized smaller and pretty much nothing sized above my fit (which is roughly 36/AU 8/US 6). 

2. Cute and quality: Sugar & Cream

This is a small and cute store in Siam Square in central Bangkok. It stocks much the same goods as you will find in Chatuchak, but the best picks… and eight times the price. So it is pricey, but I’ve found nicer pieces in there than I have seen in Chatuchak. By ‘pricey’ I mean around $25-40 for skirts and dresses. They stock skirts, dresses, scarves, bags, belts. You can also buy online from Sugar & Cream’s Facebook page. Again, they stock small sizes.

3. Adorable high-so vintage store: It’s Happened to be a Closet

This vintage collectibles/owner-designed clothing/coffee shop/massage and nails parlour multi-but-mini store is on Floor 2 of Emporium, at Phrom Phong BTS station (and also in Siam Paragon). I came by It’s Happened to be a Closet earlier in the year while trying to find camera stores, and I visited it again last week. It’s whimsical and crammed full of kitsch - including amazingly lurid and colourful 1960’s aeroplane seats. Sadly, too expensive. I adored some of the handmade, eclectic skirts, but $200+ was more than I could part with for a skirt. Found an adorable cotton vintage king sized crochet bedspread, price: $1,000. I did have a lovely coffee and tiramasu, and had the best manicure I have ever experienced (total cost around $30 for the snacks and mani). If you love kitsch, and you’re in Bangkok, you have to check this shop out.

Mani from It’s Happened to be a Closet. Nails in ‘Jade is the New Black’ by O.P.I.

They have a second, more affordable store, Palette, in Siam Square. I have seen some of the Palette collection (not vintage), it’s lovely but still pricey.

Paper doll set from Palette by It’s Happened to be a Closet