If you’re someone that enjoys shopping for moderately-priced fashions then I’m hoping this post can provide some convenience for you if you’re spending time in Bangkok, Thailand.
Like many shopping metropolises in the world, Bangkok has no shortage of the higher-end global fashion designers that are synonymous with luxury. And with luxury comes expense. Brand names like Balmain, Mochino, Vivienne Westwood and Karl Lagerfeld are dotted throughout Bangkok and finding them is a simple matter of knowing how to spell their names correctly and going to their website.
But what of moderately-priced fashion styles? Specifically, those local to Bangkok? if you’re into the men’s higher fashion and are comfortable with a Zara pricepoint, then Bangkok has a lot of options for you. Although there’s never nearly enough when compared to women’s choices,
Bangkok many layers work with ambiguity and femininity which allows for more innovative design and silhouettes usually reserved for the ladies. In BKK, you can find local designers from Thailand as well as designers from the Southeast Asia region — like Greyhound, Q Design and Play, Patricc Boyle, Boyplain and R’s by Zisbeth to name a few. Here’s where you can find high-fashion at a reasonable price point:
The 3 Best Men’s Shopping Destinations in Bangkok: Fashion
1a. Siam Center
Price Range: $$
Address/Location: 979 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan
Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
Public Transit: Siam Station (BTS)
Telephone: +66 (0)2 658 1000
For as large as it is, it’s easy to miss Siam Center as it’s one huge mall next to several other large malls. Siam Center is across from Siam Square, and between Siam Discovery and Siam Paragon. Once you’re inside, you can experience the fashion mall that was rebooted in 2013. Specifically, pay attention to the two floors of independent designer shops and boutiques.
Local, up-and-coming designer boutiques and the designer collecitons can be found on the third floor of Siam Center. When we went recently, there was a standalone Pattric Boyle boutique. We also shopped extensively at Greyhound, Q Design & Play, and a variety of other local designers and fashion houses like The Selected and Gin & Milk. There are several unique men’s stores worth checking out over and over again. Definitely give Siam Center some time.
1b. ZEN@CentralWorld
Price Range: $$
Address/Location: Ratchaprasong Intersection, across from Gaysorn and Erawan
Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
Public Transit: Siam or Chidlom Station (BTS)
Telephone: +66 (0) 431 4078
It’s really a coin flip between Siam Center and ZEN@CentralWorld as far as the best place to shop for affordable, high-fashion men’s clothing in Bangkok. CentralWorld in itself is a great shopping destination, but the specialized Zen@CentralWorld really pushes it up top. ZEN is designed for men that enjoy contemporary styles and “young-at-heart shoppers and those who appreciate world class style and fashion“. You can find those menswear styles on the 4th and 5th floor.
During our visits to BKK, we went HAM at Zen@CentralWorld as they were having a seasonal sale. Here, you’ll find some of our favorite Asian designers in QDAP, Bleach Project, BoyPlain and many other cutting-edge designers. You can get to ZEN via the overhead BTS walkways that connects Chit Lom and Siam stations.
1c. Terminal 21
Price Range: $-$$
Address/Location: Sukhumvit Road (between Soi 19 and 21)
Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
Public Transit: Asok Station (BTS)
Telephone: N/A
Rounding out our trio of top shopping destinations for men’s clothing is Terminal 21, is the airport-inspired mall that has plenty of options when it comes to men’s clothing. With kiosks and small stores all over the London floor, you can spend a few hours just browsing all the independent shops and designers. When we went there were many independent designers, as well as a few of our favorites in Rs by Zibeth, Anello, Lime & Salt, and Russian Roulette. You can get to this large mall on Sukhumvit Road, near the Asoke intersection.
Those three large malls place a lot of focus on men’s fashion and ZEN, Terminal 21 and Siam Center should keep even the shoppiest of shoppers satisfied.
The Best of the Rest: Bangkok Men’s Shopping
4. Emquartier & Emporium
Price Range: $$$
Address/Location: 637 Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok
Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
Public Transit: Phrom Phong Station (BTS)
Telephone: N/A
Run by the same group and a stone’s throw to one another, we included both Emporium and Emquartier in the same spot. While some malls place focus on attracting luxury brands, others try to fill their directories with fast fashion or independent local designers, the “EmDistrict” pulls off all of that. Of the two, we prefer Emquartier, which was opened in 2015. The newer mall showcases both innovative high-end fashion, urban street wear and local designers under one roof. Pay special attention to Qurator, their curated (get it?) Thai designer showcase, giving space to more than 60 Thai designer brands and new collections.
5. Siam Discovery
Price Range: $$$
Address/Location: Next to Siam Center, Pathumwan
Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
Public Transit: Siam Station (BTS)
Telephone: N/A
Re-opened in mid-2016, the futuristic renovations made Siam Discovery more an experience than a mall. When we came here, we headed to Floor M (His Lab) with fashion brands for men and it was set up like a high-end department store a la Barneys. Though less-affordable than the stores before it, Siam Discovery’s men’s fashion featured a lot of higher-end independent designers and styles that captured our attention (and about two hours of our time). It’s worth a walk through or two.
6. Chatuchuk Weekend Market
Price Range: $
Address/Location: 35 acres in Chatuchak
Hours: Sat-Sun (09:00 – 18:00) Fridays (18:00 – 24:00)
Public Transit: Mo Chit Station (BTS)
Telephone: N/A
Bring your sunscreen and prepare to spend hours at Chatuchak. There’s something for everyone at this famous sprawling weekend market that’s both popular with locals and tourists alike. For men’s clothing in particular, you’ll find stalls after stalls of fashion from t-shirts, sweatshirts, backpacks, shoes, and other fashions, you can shop all day and not see everything. Although there’s stuff everywhere, there are specific sections, generally you’ll find clothing and accessories in sections 2-6 and sections 10-26
When we visited recently, we stumbled across dozens of neighboring stalls selling vintage clothing (sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 22, 25, 26) just one of the many “districts” within the huge outdoor market. One’s shopping experience at Chatuchak really depends on where they decided to explore, their patience, ability to withstand the heat and willingness to find those diamonds in the rough. If you put in the effort, there are less-polished, affordable local designers to be had. With Chatuchak, you have to keep your eyes open. You could walk around for 3-4 hours and feel like you’ve didn’t make a dent. That’s because you haven’t. Again, bring sunscreen, wear comfy shoes and breathable clothing, cash, and plan on being there for a few hours to get the experience.
7. MBK Center
Price Range: $
Address/Location: Pathumwan Intersection, opposite Siam Discovery
Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
Public Transit: National Stadium (BTS)
Telephone: +66 (0)2 620 9000
Like Chatuchak, this sprawling indoor mall gives you the feeling of an outdoor market. And like Chatuchak, you’ll have to search for the affordable fashions. At MBK (shorthand for Ma Boon Khrong), there are a handful of stores and kiosks that sell on-trend, cheaper men’s fashions and designer knockoffs. At one end of the mall is a entrance to a mini-mall with hundreds of small kiosks selling trinkets, souvenirs, and fashions where you can negotiate prices with the sometimes-aggressive sellers. MBK certainly isn’t up-market as the nearby Siam Center or Siam Discovery, but if you have time, it’s a great place to find items like backpacks and t-shirts at a lower price point.
8. Siam Paragon
Price Range: $$-$$$
Address/Location: 991 Rama 1 Road, Puthumwan
Hours: 10:00 – 22:00
Public Transit: Siam Station (BTS)
Telephone: +66 (0)2 610 8000
If you’re a seasoned shopper looking for something different, regionally-influenced or quirky, Siam Paragon isn’t it. That said, Siam Paragon does traditional mall pretty well. Paragon doesn’t feature very many (or any) local or regional designers unless they’re big brands – there’s luxury floor with very high-end brands Prada, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Fendi, Chanel and Givenchy. For a lower price point with more widely-recognizable brand names, there are also the male mainstays in Zara, TopMan, Massimo Dutti, H&M and Uniqlo. Check out their directory here.
Unlike many countries, Bangkok is a heaven for men’s fashions, particularly moderately-priced men’s style. I don’t think I’ve been anywhere else where there’s this many affordable, yet high-fashiony choices for men. You just have to look in the right places.
