Recommendations for tailors in Bangkok?

[Jellybean]

I have resurrected this topic from only two years ago and, as far as I can see, there are two good recommendations for a tailor in Bangkok, one from Magnum and one from ggobob.

Last year, I was invited to attend a wedding in June 2020. Despite my best efforts to avoid having to attend, I’m afraid they came to nought after the mother of the bride-to-be paid me an unannounced visit and kind of made me an offer I couldn’t refuse! [Gulp!] So, like it or lump it, I’m going! Quite clearly I cannot turn up in jeans and a T-shirt, oh, no, that wouldn’t do at all, so a new suit is required.

Unfortunately, the suits I own and used to wear when I was last in gainful employment no longer fit me. Yet, a forlorn hope that one day I may well fit back into them prevents me from disposing of them. Sadly, age, too much of a sedentary lifestyle, perhaps too many visits to Starbucks and not nearly enough exercise have all taken their toll on my ever expanding waistline.

In an effort to turn back the weight gain I have been attending the gym at my Bangkok condo six days a week for the last month. And while in Pattaya last week I also started swimming again in addition to going to jetts 24 hour fitness, a gym in which my hotel has an arrangement for their guests. But this weight loss malarkey is a slow business! But even a small reduction in my waistline would be welcome so I shall wait a few more weeks and see if all this effort has produced any positive results.

When I lived in Hua Hin, I bought several beautifully made-to-measure short-sleeve shirts and one suit, which were all very satisfactory. And, if I'm remembering correctly, not too expensive – most certainly we are not talking Savile Row prices! I have however never visited a tailor here in Bangkok, although when in the Sukhumvit/ Nana area, I have sometimes been accosted on the pavement (sidewalk) and asked to step in and feel the quality of their merchandise.

I wondered if anyone has any recent personal experience of using a tailor in Bangkok to purchase a made-to-measure, good quality, but not too expensive, suit and is able to recommend such an establishment to me. In the absence of any up to date advice, I’ll probably pop across to Nana and Surawong and see if both businesses recommended by Magnum and ggobob are still trading and report back on my findings.

Rajawongse Clothier near Nana Station is just excellent. I have many suits and a lot of shirts and I love them all. I wouldn't buy any regular suits (like Boss, Joop, ...) again. One suit is now around 14.000 Baht. Of course I would pay more for it, the quality and style are just fantastic.

I've used Excelsior Tailors several times over the past few years - located in the lobby area of the Siam Heritage Hotel on Surawong. I've had shirts and trousers made there as well as a couple of sport jackets and a suit on this last trip. Last year, I mentioned I'd like to get some corduroy trousers made. They are not not always available where I live and if found they never fit. Excelsior found the material in several colors and made up three pairs for less than one badly fitting one would be at home.

Caution based on experience. Make sure you allow time for at least one fitting and think about the style you want - fitting gives a chacge to see if room is available for belly amplification, etc. Don't rush the fitting, if it's a shirt move your arms around, button the collar, etc; if it's a jacket, check how it fits around the neck, do the shoulders square?, etc.

Think about what style you like, bring a photo from a magazine if you see something you like. Tailors in Bangkok are copyists not artists.