Day 3, Fri
Day 3 was a full day in Siam – from Siam Square Soi 2, 3, and 7 to Siam Centre to Siam Paragon for a fanmeet.
ASAPBKK
I was really excited to check out this place because they carry Olulo Objects, a brand by a Thai actor, War. It’s a multi-label store, so they have tons of local brands designed by Thai influencers and celebrities!
I was actually surprised by the quality of the clothes, shoes, and accessories, and ended up buying quite a bit from here. They had a credit card charge, so I used Paylah instead.
SOS Flagship Store
I wanted to visit this store because a Thai actress, Mook, was promoting it for quite a while. It’s a stylish spot for women’s fashion and accessories. Just a heads up, the sizes run pretty small. The store had a lift to bring you up to all floors, and there were cute dressing areas at each level.
Do explore the alleys behind the main Siam Square street – there are plenty of other shops to discover.
Nineties design
They sold super cute and affordable tops and other items. Place was a little small, and most of the clothes were free size. It would be better if the free size was a bit looser, but it still fits well (for reference, am usually an M-L size). Nineties had colourful and playful designs, with Korean-inspired fits.
Daddy and the Muscle Academy
As a tourist, I had to check out this mainstream spot. The two-storey shop was pretty crowded, with a summer, Y2K vibe. They had lots of accessories, stationery like stickers and postcards, clothes, and they also sold fan-made K-pop items. Expect pastel hues and cutesy aesthetics. However, I found their brand items quite pricey for the basic design and quality.
What really got me hooked was the in-store photobooth on Level 2! They collaborated with Thai brand Twentywendy, owned by a LOVEly Thai actress, so I had to take a set of photos like her! Their photobooth had so many design templates that it took me about 3 minutes to scroll through them all.
Frank Garcon
Another nearby store with a similar concept, the store features selected Thai lifestyle brands for clothes and bags. Thought it was too indie for me, but they were pretty.
Caked up @ SCULPTURE FLAGSHIP
Also had to pop by this photo studio to check out its huge 3D cake sculpture that you can enter for photos! Why eat cake when you can be the cake!
There were other unique photobooth concepts. I was tempted, but you gotta go for the popular cake.
Sculpture Flagship has another shop nearby called Sculpture Corner, which was more towards retro or vintage-inspired. The backgrounds were simpler as compared to the eye-catching sets at the main store.
Lido Connect, Siam Square
This place felt like Bugis Street in Singapore. There were lots of clothes with funny designs and trending characters like Labubu, ButterBear and Crybabies. There are cafes, K-pop shops, eyewear, phone accessories, and local fashion labels.
Originally a cinema, it has been renovated into a space for live performances, temporary exhibitions, and hanging out. There’s also a radio station opened for public viewing. Unfortunately, there was no special guest to fangirl over when I visited.
Lido Connect is between Soi Siam Square 2 and Soi Siam Square 3.
Looking for a quick recharge from shopping? Visit Nature Thai Massage at Siam Soi 5, which is owned by a Thai actor. My friend mentioned there’s a happy hour discount before 5pm and the massage was good and relaxing. The shop features simple but modern interiors that has a welcoming atmosphere. I do hope to go for a massage there on my next trip!
GENTLEWOMAN Flagship Store
You had to climb steep steps, and it was just so crowded. I rather shop at the other branches, though there is a waiting area in the middle. Stuff here was expensive (standard Gentlewoman prices), so I had to think carefully, and skipped on the dumpling bag. (The ButterBear collection was launched the week after I left!)
Matchbox
Was already tired from shopping but stopped by Matchbox to check out the Blue Elephant glasses, known as a Gentle Monster dupe. The designs were similar, but the quality was different.
Turns out this shop is another haven for shoppers, as it is a multi-label store with cool items at reasonable prices. They also had a photobooths on the first floor, with super cute Toy Story, Winnie the Pooh designs!
Siam Center
Siam Center might be tricky to navigate at first, but once familiar, you’ll enjoy its variety of international and local brands (and food!). There was also a Blue Elephant store here if you missed the one at Matchbox. It is also an artsy place, with installations set up all around. We walk though Siam Center often to get to the Siam BTS.
The connecting pathway between Siam Center and Siam Paragon is also usually used for events and filming. So, always be ready to spot your favourite artistes!
You really can’t siam from Siam Paragon
Just when I thought I had seen enough huge shopping malls in Bangkok, Siam Paragon took it to another level. Besides the usual high-end luxury brands and specialty stores, it features luxury car showrooms, an aquarium, bowling, and a massive cineplex. The cinema popcorn flavours had sweet, tom yum and truffle options! I also spotted a Creator House By TikTok, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia for content creators to produce content in that space. There was an F1 and traditional art public exhibition too.
There was plenty to see, including popular Korean, Japanese, and Thai brands, a large and beautiful Kinokuniya bookstore, and lots of food, including halal options. There is a food hall and gourmet market, where you can find fresh-from-farm goods too.
There is a Siam Tourist card for Siam shopping malls, but we didn’t use it at all. So, don’t bother unless you are shopping for branded goods.
Final EP Screening @ Siam Pavalai Royal Grand Theatre
This was my first overseas fan-meet, so it was a precious experience!
Siam Paragon’s mega cineplex, happened to host a Final EP screening during my trip. Thais often host screenings for their drama series with the cast, allowing fans to be the first to watch the episode, enjoy performances, Q&As, hi-touch, and photo sessions. These events end late, but it is so worth it.
I secured tickets easily on Thaiticketmajor back in SG, as it was an English site with intuitive user interface. On event day, head up to the cinema level and find the Thaiticketmajor counter (which is different from the cinema self-kiosks) to collect your physical ticket. Simply show them your e-receipt, and your passport if they request verification. After receiving the ticket, proceed to the main stage area and visit the registration booth to collect your wristbands. From there, you’re free to explore until the theatre doors open. By the way, the cinema hall has two levels!
Fans could spend time watching promotional clips, visit sponsor booths for free items, take photos with the standees, collect fan support, and drop off gifts for the cast. The volume of gifts was impressive, especially with the tradition of giving money hampers from fans worldwide. The event branding had every LED screen in the area displaying the event posters.
Do expect a lot of empty seats as fans would buy multiple seats for the benefits. While the talking segments were in Thai (brain was working overtime picking up familiar Thai words and interpreting the conversation in real-time), luckily the EP had English subs. The cast could also address inter-fan with basic English. You might be lucky to spot other artistes in attendance to support the cast.
I met new moots at the event, so it was super fun listening to their stories and having extra help to take videos for each other! Basically, the line for fan benefits is organised by tiers. You can sort of decide when to join the queue as long as you have the wristband on. The whole experience felt surreal – seeing their faces up close, getting a hi-touch and eye-contact, and being able to thank them personally for their hard work.
Siam Paragon became my homeground, visiting the theatre twice during my trip for fangirl duties.
Uminsummer 