Thailand - shopping for men's clothes for a non shopper

I don't like shopping at all. I force myself to the mall once or twice a year
and load up... that's pretty much it. Sooo have a couple of free days in Bangkok next week and thought I would try to do some shopping and cut down on the amount of stuff I bring from home.

I'm mainly looking for casual/polo type shirts. I would prefer to concentrate on just one or two stores instead of wandering around the entire mall.

I usually dash into Nordstrom or Neimans and hit the sales rack. Something along lines is fine but if there's a great place for baragains that would be even better.

Thanks
dan

Why don't you give Platinum a try if your looking for inexpensive.
The high end mall is right in the same area by Central World.
I'm not sure about the stores in there, we just used it for a shortcut and some A/C.

Maybe best to go to one of the anchor department stores in any large mall, the same as you'd do in the U.S.?

Any Central (World, Chit Lom, Rama 9) mall has a separate multi-floor department store with large men's clothing sections.

Additionally large department stores like Robinsons (everywhere, Asoke), Isetan (Central World) and Tokyu (MBK) are an option.

In MBK there are quite a few men's casual clothing shops, catering to western sizing, but this is a massive mall.

You can find on-line maps for the malls/stores which will allow you to quickly locate specific shops/departments.

Platinum, and the other clothing hypermarts in Pratunam and Bo Bae, are massive and offer a huge array of mostly women's clothing, but may be too much for the OP.

Walk down Sukumvit, look at the many, many stalls selling "authentic" designer polo type shirts of every brand for $5 each or so and fill up your shopping bag.

The quality, according to the friends I have given such shirts to (Thailand doesn't stock my size), is the same as or better than the same brand in the US. One friend is still raving about a "Polo" shirt I gave her ten years ago, still wears it and it still looks good.

Maybe they fell off a truck? Or out a factory door? :D

Don't forget to dicker. @:-)

Thanks everyone.
I really appreciate all of your help.
Cheers,
dan

Can I really expect to find good quality (all cotton) polo shirts in the $5 price range? If not, what is the average price I am likely to encounter? I don't want to have to search too much.

You may have to search. You may have to bargain.

But, the same shirt will sell to one person for 250THB and 1250THB to another. Price is not indicative of quality. One thing for sure.... that shirt will be of a certain quality. The question is, if that is really what you want.

Can I really expect to find good quality (all cotton) polo shirts in the $5 price range? If not, what is the average price I am likely to encounter? I don't want to have to search too much.

Not sure about 150 baht, but I think you can find some decent good quality, all cotton polo shirts in the 300 - 500 baht range, on sale.

I noticed some impressive sales in Tokyu Department Store at MBK today. Polo shirts normally 1,290 baht on sale for 290 baht. Others buy three get one free, and at least a few others sale stations, some marked 50% off. I looked at a few and they seemed to be decent quality, although I've never bought anything but Royal-related polos here.

Maybe just have a walk through a Central Department store, a Robinsons and a Tokyu, which could be done in ~ 30 minutes or less?

There is a current/recent Thai fascination with firearm-related polo shirts. I swear everyone seems to be wearing a Glock/Berreta-referenced polo shirt these days.

Not sure about 150 baht, but I think you can find some decent good quality, all cotton polo shirts in the 300 - 500 baht range, on sale.

Better stick to Brands you know. ZARA, DEFRY... for Polo shirts, I usually go to LACOSTE. Sure it's a bit pricey but the quality is there. I have the polo shirts for 4 years and they haven't moved in shape or color.

Just back from Bangkok where I say plenty of nice Ralph Lauren logo shirts IN THE MARKET (not the stores) for three for 3-400 baht.

But, you have to be comfortable with market shopping and be able to bargain competently.

Hit the weekend market (go early, it gets really really hot) and wander around. You'll find the five buck shirt of your dreams--and if not, it was only five bucks!

The big thing right now appears to be LaCoste style shirts complete with Croc and RL shirts with giant ponies.

PS I saw some really nice polo style shirts at the Jim Thompson outlet in Bangkok. 153 Soi Sukhumvit 93, Bangchak, Phakanong, Bangkok 10260. Open 7 days 9-6. Easy to get to on the Skytrain and only a block or so from a great food market. These are certainly not knock offs but are a bit more than 5 bucks. Well worth a visit to this five story outlet for the famous JT.

There is a current/recent Thai fascination with firearm-related polo shirts. I swear everyone seems to be wearing a Glock/Berreta-referenced polo shirt these days.
But if you get one of these, just don't try to wear it through a security checkpoint in the USA... the TSA might refuse to allow you into the sterile area... :rolleyes:

Just back from Bangkok where I say plenty of nice Ralph Lauren logo shirts IN THE MARKET (not the stores) for three for 3-400 baht.

You shouldn't pay more than THB 200 for such shirts at any of the stalls along Suk. If you can't bargain your seller down to that level or below, walk on to the next one.


The big thing right now appears to be LaCoste style shirts complete with Croc and RL shirts with giant ponies.

Those big pony shirts have been popular here at least since I started coming in 2006. I never saw them anywhere before then.


PS I saw some really nice polo style shirts at the Jim Thompson outlet in Bangkok. 153 Soi Sukhumvit 93, Bangchak, Phakanong, Bangkok 10260. Open 7 days 9-6. Easy to get to on the Skytrain and only a block or so from a great food market. These are certainly not knock offs but are a bit more than 5 bucks. Well worth a visit to this five story outlet for the famous JT.

Thanks for the tip. I wouldn't have guessed that JT sold that type of shirt. I'll take a ride up there this afternoon or tomorrow.

I am hoping to find some polo shirts without any logo --- or is that too much to hope for?

We looked for non-logo stuff and didn't find.

I am hoping to find some polo shirts without any logo --- or is that too much to hope for?

This shouldn't be a problem; I was in a Robinsons at Central Rama 9 today (a large department store chain here, with anchor stores in most Central malls) today and saw thousands of polo shirts without logos. I only looked at one sale station; normally 890 baht, buy one get 15% off, buy two get 50% off both. The shirts felt like good quality.

Personally I wouldn't buy any clothing off the street vendors in tourist areas, or even in markets which might cater to tourists. The quality is so poor I wouldn't use these for car cleaning rags. Note that in real Thai markets there is no mark-up or negotiation, barring perhaps a lot purchase of 12 or more of a single item.

The gigantic logo-ed Ralph Lauren Polo shirts were all the rage here ~ 7 years ago, I honestly haven't seen anyone wearing one recently. And most of those were probably fake, as is everything in the tourist markets.

I saw some Lacoste polos in Tokyu, 2,990 baht. I suspect these may be less expensive in the U.S.? There are some Lacoste stores as well here.


Uni Qlo, the Japanese clothing retailer, is making a splash here; I saw huge stores in Central Rama 9 and Mega Bang Na (Ikea). I wasn't overly impressed with the quality/price ratio but maybe worth a look?

Other than Royal-oriented/logo-ed polo shirts (pink, yellow, blue, purple) I buy all my clothing in the U.S.

I saw some Lacoste polos in Tokyu, 2,990 baht. I suspect these may be less expensive in the U.S.? There are some Lacoste stores as well here.Virtually all non-Thai name-brand goods will be significantly cheaper in the U.S. than Thailand due to punitive import duties. At best, you'll find many high-end designer items to be comparably priced (TH vs US) due to the brands' own price standardization agreements/policies designed to keep their goods priced the same everywhere in the world, regardless of the local economic climate.

[Obviously referring here to authentic goods, not knock-offs.]

I also recommend the MBK Center in Bangkok! Thailand has many opportunities, but some are just unique! RihlaPrime.com helped me find great accomodations just near the MBK Center. My kids both a lot of stuff from there!

Try Terminal 21 for their local design and massage around the area, and Platinum Mall for cheap wholesale. Was there last week and Platinum Mall as 1level worth of clothes for male ;)

PS I saw some really nice polo style shirts at the Jim Thompson outlet in Bangkok. 153 Soi Sukhumvit 93, Bangchak, Phakanong, Bangkok 10260. Open 7 days 9-6. Easy to get to on the Skytrain and only a block or so from a great food market. These are certainly not knock offs but are a bit more than 5 bucks. Well worth a visit to this five story outlet for the famous JT.

Can certainly second this.It is now on our must visit list when in Bangkok.the shirts wear well.Usually priced from 750-1000B.Much cheaper than the retail JT stores.

I have had great success shopping at the "Export Shop". There are 2 of them in MBK. Polo's and dress shirts at great prices. All original no knock-offs. If you're a full size farang then try the"XL Shop" also in MBK
P