The Thai capital is a shoppers' paradise, but all too often visitors fall prey to Bangkok tuk-tuk drivers and tour guides on the payroll of second-rate gem factories. Avoid this by taking the Skytrain to Siam, where you'll find the newly renovated CentralWorld shopping centre.
International brands fill the shiny storefronts, but don't overlook Monkey See (3/F, CentralWorld, Rama I Road, tel: 662 646 1385), an emerging Thai label. Soft, pre-shrunk tees silk-screened with Hawaiian palms or a monkey face (890 baht/HK$210) look classic and cool atop unisex cargo pants (1,750 baht) or itsy-bitsy striped corduroy shorts (890 baht). More micro style can be found across Rama I Road among the alleys of Siam Square. At Cookies & Cream (Siam Square, Soi 3, tel: 662 658 1827), denim skirts (1,090 baht) and sexy satin dress shorts (1,290 baht) are interspersed with ultra girly cotton dresses in floral prints (1,600 baht) and ruffled blouses of sheer silk (1,290 baht).
Watch your step to avoid stumbling over piles of colourful clothes at It Happened To Be A Closet (226 Siam Square, Soi 3, tel: 662 658 4696). Hung on the walls like works of art are Indian embroidered dresses (12,000 baht) and weighty Central Asian skirts (56,500 baht). More pocket-friendly fare can be found upstairs, including polka-dot shift dresses (850 baht), pouf skirts (1,120 baht) and cropped sweater shrugs woven with this season's metallic threads (5,800 baht). The groove goes Himalayan nearby at Issue (266/10 Siam Square, Soi 3, tel: 662 658 4416), where Mongolian blankets are recut as fitted blazers (6,970 baht). Pleated satin miniskirts (2,690 baht), lace-up gladiator sandals in silver leather (3,600 baht) and pretty Mexican embroidered beach cover-ups (8,590 baht) will help you look good for summer.
Take a break upstairs at Vanilla Industry (422/1-3 Siam Square, Soi 11, tel: 662 658 4720), which has delicious chocolate brownies (250 baht) and chocolate-scented hand cream (180 baht). Head back towards Rama I, ducking into Ferrie Fabbies (292/3 Siam Square, Soi 4, tel: 662 658 4395), a four-storey emporium featuring adorable Nepali dresses (1,450 baht) and preppy linen shorts (850 baht) alongside funky beaded necklaces (1,200 baht).
Catch the escalator to the overpass back across Rama I and into the Siam Centre. Duangta Nantakwang creates some of the most stylish frocks in Bangkok at Baking Soda (3/F, Siam Centre, tel: 662 251 5968). This season's puff skirts printed with vibrant flowers (2,500 baht) are paired with body-hugging tees and sparkly tank tops (850 baht). Skull-and-crossbones theme scarves (680 baht) are still decidedly pretty. Nip next door into Senada (Siam Centre, 3/F; tel: 662 735 1267) for dreamy cap-sleeved silk dresses (800 baht) or bubble skirts in dusty pink and sea-foam green (2,550 baht).
Emerge onto the CentralWorld skywalk for one last hurrah at Pink Poodle (below and left; Parichart Court, Four Seasons, 155 Ratchadamri Road; tel: 662 250 1000) for coral and turquoise chokers (49,500 to 80,850 baht) and sublime gold-set aquamarine rings (125,400 baht).
