Buy clothes at home or in CM

[Rotagivan]

I have recently gotten rid of most of my clothes. Planning to move to CM live the expat life for 6 months. 

 

What is the general style of clothing among expats in CM? Would I be able to fit in mostly wearing clothes bought in CM? 
What would you advice, buy clothes at home (Stockholm) before travelling or do most of the purchaces in CM?

 

I will ad that my height is 2m/6.5''

 

Thanks in advance 

[Oscar2]

buy at home.

[daveAustin]

Most of the old fogies in CM wear shorts and singlets, so you'll be alright.  Oh, wait, that's Pattaya. Might be worth bringing some slacks (trousers/pants), not least for the flight and when you get back to freezing Stockholm in the winter. But I'd be inclined to bring most of it. Brand name stuff is similarly priced, if not more expensive, as over here. I'm sure you also don't want to waste time trawling the shops.

[FolkGuitar]

Get your tuxedo made here. It will be cheaper. Otherwise, two pairs of short pants, one or two pair of long plants if you are the sort that prefers them, a handful of casual sports shirts (polo, button front, or T-shirts) socks and underwear. Oh.. and a hat.

 

 If you're the sort that likes to dress up, buy what you need before you come. If you prefer Thailand casual, you can find it here easily enough. Some ex-pats live in short pants and T-shirts, others prefer to dress up. As long as you are clean and neat, well groomed, etc. the choice is yours.

 

[Dante99]

You are tall.  Long sleeve shirts probably too short here.  Shoes probably too small.  Long pants doubtful. But FG is correct, the longs are not required and tailors can fix you up with longs if needed but tailors can be a problem sometimes.

. 

[jonwilly]

Once you are settle in you can find local tailors who can do any tailoring job, from Evening dress, Formal suits, to casual ware.

All cheap compared to western world.

I have an older lady in my condo who makes shirts, shorts, and dresses for ladies.

There are ladies who set up with a sewing machine on the sidewalk and offer most tailoring services.

 

john

[NancyL]

My husband, who is also tall, but not quite 2 meters, finds it difficult to buy good fitting/quality shoes and walking/hiking sandals.  He has to pay a fortune for them here.  This isn't something he's comfortable ordering over the internet.  Since the OP is here for just six months, he should bring what he needs with him.  Hubby does order underwear and black full cotton tee shirts (preferred for "at home wear")  on-line from  sources he's comfortable with from our home country.  It's fairly cheap to get those items mailed to us (don't ever use DHL/FedEx/UPS to receive goods, postal system is better at avoiding customs duty).  Again, presumably OP is going to bring enough underwear and simple plain tee shirts with him since he'll be here just six months.  Also a couple pairs of dress socks.

 

As for slacks and cargo shorts (ah cargo shorts, the official uniform of old-fart expat guys), those he buys locally at the export clothing shops.  Good western brands sold at a fraction of the price of the west and in big sizes if you're patient and come back several times to catch when your size is in stock.  And shirts -- either dress shirts or simple short-sleeve sport shirts -- often he shops for fabric himself at Warorot and has a local sewing lady run up a shirt for him.  He likes to add a dash of color with a shirt with an interesting fabric.

[MissAndry]

Sandals are not suitable for hiking. Walking on roads is not hiking.

Robinsons in KSK have running shoes and trainers up to size 13, but maybe not in the colour you prefer (Reebok and Nike).

Robinsons in Central Festival have hiking shoes up to size 13, but not in all styles (CAT and Doc Martin).

Edited September 3, 2016 by MissAndry

[NancyL]

Well, OK, you've probably seen him around town.  Hubby is a big walker, not a hiker out in the wild.  He does like his walking sandals and goes thru a couple pairs a year walking about 6 - 10 km per day.  He has mentioned it's good that he doesn't have really big feet or he'd have a problem buying good shoes and sturdy sandals locally.  I've noticed the same thing in women's shoes.  I'm a U.S. size 8 -- what is that a European size 39 -- and often that's the largest size for the style that's stocked at Central.  

[Konini]

Underwear used to be a big problem, but Uniqlo is good quality and not outrageously priced. If you're going to be here over the winter months you will want a hoodie or similar for around the house, and a pair of slippers will be something you appreciate.  Daytime is warm as long as you're out in the sun but it can get chilly at night, so if going you intend to be out and about after the sun has gone down you will need long trousers\jeans and something to keep your arms comfortable - the number of which depends on how many nights of the week you will be going out, if only once or twice one in the wardrobe and one in the wash.  It doesn't get icy cold, but enough so that you notice it.

 

My husband wears a lot of sports clothing in and out of the gym, for him quality trainers, and both running and casual streetwear shorts and tops such as Adidas and Nike were a lot more expensive here than they were in UK (although we were only looking at places with sales on so that would make some  but not all of the difference).

 

You can buy really cheap clothes and shoes here if you can find them in your size, but for good quality you will pay more than back home for the same items.  

[NancyL]

Yeah, it doesn't make sense that you pay more here for good quality shoes and sports clothing.  They're all made in the region aren't they?

 

When you can find them at the export clothing sports, it's a very lucky find, but you can't count on good quality stuff in the export clothing shops, except maybe for the cargo shorts and Docker slacks.  Sometimes you get lucky, but the Dockers slacks for men seem to be the only good quality item stocked here reliably in the export clothing shops.

[dcnx]

Buy at home. 

 

Everything here is either imported and overpriced or of poor quality. Not to mention, at your size it's going to be difficult to get a proper fit. 

 

Avoid cotton if you sweat a lot. Get moisture-wicking fabrics, these will help keep you cool and dry. Bring a light jacket if you're coming over winter. 

[dcnx]

21 hours ago, Konini said:

Underwear used to be a big problem, but Uniqlo is good quality and not outrageously priced. If you're going to be here over the winter months you will want a hoodie or similar for around the house, and a pair of slippers will be something you appreciate.  Daytime is warm as long as you're out in the sun but it can get chilly at night, so if going you intend to be out and about after the sun has gone down you will need long trousers\jeans and something to keep your arms comfortable - the number of which depends on how many nights of the week you will be going out, if only once or twice one in the wardrobe and one in the wash.  It doesn't get icy cold, but enough so that you notice it.

 

My husband wears a lot of sports clothing in and out of the gym, for him quality trainers, and both running and casual streetwear shorts and tops such as Adidas and Nike were a lot more expensive here than they were in UK (although we were only looking at places with sales on so that would make some  but not all of the difference).

 

You can buy really cheap clothes and shoes here if you can find them in your size, but for good quality you will pay more than back home for the same items.  

 

He is probably too big to shop at Uniqlo.  I'm 6'1 and struggle to find clothes there.  It's hit and miss. You need to be thin though,  as everything is fit. 

[SaintLouisBlues]

Isn't everything made in China these days, no matter where you buy it?

[Motown239]

You can find some clothing for tall men in Thailand but I consider it old men's style clothing.

Thailand imports a variety of clothing for children, girls, boys and adults from China.

There's a market for tall clothing in Thailand but it does not exist. Speciality clothing for tall men, slim, average and muscular is needed. For shirts, I don't care for plastic designs on tee shirts.

I'm interested is opening a small shop for tall men; however,I don't know where clothing factories are located in China.

I considered clothing shops for tall men is a untapped market in Thailand.


Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[Oscar2]

22 hours ago, dcnx said:

Buy at home. 

 

Everything here is either imported and overpriced or of poor quality. Not to mention, at your size it's going to be difficult to get a proper fit. 

 

Avoid cotton if you sweat a lot. Get moisture-wicking fabrics, these will help keep you cool and dry. Bring a light jacket if you're coming over winter. 

not really. example: Spalding and Russell Athletic are both high-quality U.S. brands. both are manufactured - where else? Thailand... a pair of sport shorts (running, gym, etc.) and a matching shirt will cost you at minimum 2500-3000 Baht here for a set (more in Bangkok). i found the exact set of each brand in the USA for US $14.00 per set! so i came back to Thailand with Thai made products that cost 800% more in Thailand.

[dcnx]

4 hours ago, Oscar2 said:

not really. example: Spalding and Russell Athletic are both high-quality U.S. brands. both are manufactured - where else? Thailand... a pair of sport shorts (running, gym, etc.) and a matching shirt will cost you at minimum 2500-3000 Baht here for a set (more in Bangkok). i found the exact set of each brand in the USA for US $14.00 per set! so i came back to Thailand with Thai made products that cost 800% more in Thailand.

 

That's why I said buy it at home. The imported clothes here are way over-priced. 

 

Most of my moisture wicking clothes were made in Thailand and Vietnam,  all great stuff, but it's still under a foreign brand so it has to be re-imported after it's exported. I recently picked up a pair of Columbia hiking pants in the USA for about $35 at an outlet store. The same pants here are selling for over $100. Shoes are the same,  $50 for a pair of Adidas running shoes in the USA vs almost $200 for the same shoes selling at the Addis store in Maya. It's madness. 

 

I fill my bags when I go back to the States. It just doesn't make sense buying anything here unless I absolutely have to have it today. 

 

China is even worse. $45 (they were on sale) for a pair of CK jeans in the USA.  $300 and some change in China. 

 

OK,  ending my rant now.  :-) 

[pgrahmm]

YOU'LL GET A LOT MORE Hansum man calls if you're wearing foreign clothing.....

 

That's how they pick out the newbies.....

 

Shoes or sandals with black sox & shorts sends them into a salivating feeding frenzy.....

[Sandy Freckle]

2 hours ago, pgrahmm said:

YOU'LL GET A LOT MORE Hansum man calls if you're wearing foreign clothing.....

 

That's how they pick out the newbies.....

 

Shoes or sandals with black sox & shorts sends them into a salivating feeding frenzy.....

..., from experience ?

Edited September 5, 2016 by Sandy Freckle
precision in comms

[MissAndry]

2 hours ago, pgrahmm said:

 

Shoes or sandals with black sox & shorts sends them into a salivating feeding frenzy.....

 

Shoes with Reebok or Nike show greater spending ability.

[pgrahmm]

1 hour ago, Sandy Freckle said:

..., from experience ?

More from reading the sage advice here..... and having a bit of fun through sarcasm......

 

Since I'd dated & lived with Thais in the states I was dressed correctly when first arriving in LOS....

 

I (think) KNOW my wife would object & at this very moment she's in the kitchen working with the big meat cleaver.....So - I'm not asking......

Edited September 5, 2016 by pgrahmm

[Dante99]

3 hours ago, MissAndry said:

 

Shoes with Reebok or Nike show greater spending ability.

Who cares?

[uptheos]

On 9/5/2016 at 10:10 AM, MissAndry said:

 

Shoes with Reebok or Nike show greater spending ability.

 

Greater taking you for  ride ability too.

[Bob9]

Where should I buy clothes ?? For 6 months?? 

I hope you have done more reading/research here on TV and have prepared the other much more important issues (Visa? Banking? Accommodation? Medical Insurance? etc etc).

 

Anyway, assuming you have, then I would buy it all at home - especially some shorts and short sleeved shirts and comfortable sandals and a hat - and wear them a bit before you get here   Arrive in brand new clothes/shoes  and you are gonna attract some very friendly 'interest'   (newbie with money)

 

[cardinalblue]

Given your height clothing will be in short supply to fit you - and bring socks...