CAPE TOWN DIVA: Style, Design, Innovation ~ & my fave mall in Bangkok...

As @lateralpaul says, 'fashion is expensive, style is free'. I saw plenty of fashion in Bangkok, high end brands draping well- heeled women, displaying the latest in international looks etc. Nothing new there & not much to excite or delight me. What did get me going, as I mentioned in a previous post, was the chiffon, silks & voile...the soft fabrics that so many women & girls in Bangkok have embraced. An exquisite, feminine look & a refreshing trend that inspired me to buy my own collection of vintage shirts at the exceptional Talad Rod Fai night market, the coolest night market in Bangkok. I have to say here that the gents of Bangkok need to up their game - seems stylish men are as rare as hens teeth. The gals have flair, the boys must catch up.

On the clothing & store design front, there is no better place to spy style & innovation & succomb to retail temptation than at the Siam Centre next to the Siam Paragon behemoth, in Siam natch. Store interiors, window displays, shop layouts, shelving, packaging, clothing rails & clothing is edgy & unique; the design on show here is phenomenal. The mall itself shows off fabulous elements in roof displays, use of space, lighting & signage that sets the centre apart from the run-of-the-mill shopping emporia that we see every day in most cities. Even the restaurants do their part & present their food beautifully. Siam Centre is an inspiring creative space. I so admired & appreciated the efforts store owners & designers put into making their products stand out ~ enticing shoppers in for a closer look in the hopes they will part with their plastic. Not at tall order for someone like moi. Next time, I'll be scooping up gorgeous items at JNBY, amongst others. Put this amaze retail space on your To Do list.

Lovely lighting in Siam Centre...