Department stores are a good place to begin your shopping. They offer a comfortable environment, hassle free staff; you know the kind who doesn’t trail you to see if you’re shoplifting. The stores have genuine sales and fixed prices that provide useful points of reference when shopping in stores where prices aren’t marked. It’s good to do some browsing here first if you plan to shop elsewhere. It’s especially important if you plan to haggle. This is really helpful if you know you want to shop for jewelry. In the department store, the difference in prices does reflect a true difference in value. This is not always true in other stores. In the Sukhumvit Road area you’ll find your basic American department store “Macy’s”. Bangkok’s most trendy and upscale mall “the Emporium Shopping Complex, can be found in the area nearby some of the Thailand luxury hotels. Genuine (no knock-offs here) designer fashion is featured in the slick modern stores. In the same neighborhood there are quite a few tailors who offer “amazing” deals on made to measure garments for men. When dealing in this arena, exert caution. Insist on two fittings, get everything in writing and know exactly which fabric will be used. Once you’ve paid, there’s not a lot you can do about an unsatisfactory outcome.
For a more “local” and authentic experience, visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market. You can get there on the sky train, the MO Chit station, which stops just outside the market. Arriving fairly early (9AM) on a Saturday or Sunday will give you a few hours to shop before it gets too crowded. There are more than 8000 stalls, which are divided into areas that sell pets, food, plants and clothing. There are some products geared toward the tourist, but for the most part the vendors offer discounted merchandise to the thrifty Thais. Food and drink stalls are located throughout the market, providing the necessary sustenance to keep you shopping.