Terminal 21 | Search Results | Frivolous Universe

CLEANIN’ OUT MY CLOSET

By: Kim Philley

04-09-2012

To clean house you gotta raise dust. Today I’m packing up my Bangkok apartment. I’m cleaning, mopping, schlepping heavy books for resale, trying to wrangle an XXL suitcase, writing a radio script on an esoteric Burmese spirit festival, and bracing myself for a 54+-hour flight with five layovers–all in the next 48 hours.

Thank goodness for bubble-monkey pauses.

I have Baltic-blue wedges, a mop,

string-cheese biceps,

more laundry to do than is humanly possible, soda water,

books on high shelves,

in-flight reading material,

and, best of all, a meditation MP3 from a guy named Dr. Wise intoning:

Acceptance is relaxation

Bisou! My next post will be stateside.

shirt: Hey Pilgrim (Chatuchak Weekend Market, Bangkok); jeans: ZARA; belt: vintage (4th floor Union Mall, Bangkok); gold-and-lapis necklace: 1970s Bangkok; earrings: Charlottesville boutique; gold ring: Mondulkiri, Cambodia gemstone–a gift from my friend Heang; wedge sandals: custom-made at Mosstories (Terminal 21, Bangkok)

HOW TO SURVIVE ADRIFT AT SEA

By: Kim Philley

15-05-2012

Kim

Objects you can use to signal for help:

aluminum can;

sunglasses;

metallic earrings;

silk dress;

vegetable peeler;

votive glass;

shiny onions;

your shoulder;

a Chanel pressed-powder compact.

Massive metallic earrings: COLOR Vintage Clothing & Accessories, Phnom Penh; checkered shirt: eye-ful (gift from Vanessa Boots); hi-so sunglasses: GADHYPE, Terminal 21 Bangkok; gold ring: 1970’s Bangkok vintage (gift from my mom); black capris: “the Liberty” by AG Jeans (Adriano Goldschmied); blue-leather wedge sandals: custom-made at mosstories, Terminal 21 Bangkok; vintage Thai silk shirt: God-knows-where (gift from Vanessa Boots); Grecian silk dress: AXARA Paris; Chanel Radiance Powder Compact.

NOTE: If you’ve been wondering what the heck I’ve been blogging about with my incessant mentions of Terminal 21, check out today’s article from The New York Times T Magazine, “Bangkok Rising” by Pankaj Mishra, which traverses Thai history, politics, and, above all, shopping.

COLOR IS THE NEW BLACK: Playing dress up with Dalis Chum of COLOR — Cambodia’s homegrown, microfinanced vintage clothing pioneer

By: Kim Philley

01-05-2012

Kim

Polished, affordable, vintage clothing and accessories in Cambodia? And all run by a whip-smart, sassy Khmer businesswoman with great fashion sense? I know I jump on a dime these days, but I went full-on trampoline for Phnom Penh’s new COLOR Vintage Clothing & Accessories:

Dalis Chum–a 29-year-old entrepreneur, single mother, and owner of COLOR–gave me the run of her vintage racks yesterday. It was hard choosing, but I finally settled on three outfits and two motorbikes I long to sneak past Suvarnabhumi Airport customs.

Not only are COLOR dresses darling, scot-free of the typical fades / snags / stains that plague vintage clothing, and perfectly pressed, but her COLOR accessories rocked my world. These Chinese metal orbs-cum-earrings only set me back five bucks and they’re surprisingly light on the ears.

safari dress: Mashhad International ($18)

fabric belt with metal buckle: ($10)

hi-so sunglasses: KOMONO, Gadhype, Terminal 21, Bangkok

slim-fit long black coat: Jazz Club Ctd. ($45)

black cotton top: ($8)

red skirt: ($13)

comfy Cece suede ballet flats with hidden wedge: J.Crew

After all that street jumping it was time for a more grounded look.

I love a maraschino-red mini paired with a simple top and jingle-jangle earrings ($5). And as you can see, COLOR doesn’t neglect the boys with its hand-picked selection of vintage vests, trousers, and other dapper menswear.

I love these silver-hoop earrings with big black hearts for $30. How in the world did I forget to buy them? I think tomorrow may warrant a return visit. And if the beautiful glove don’t fit, COLOR offers in-store tailoring to ensure a flattering silhouette.

Two more things I can’t get enough of: Honda scooters and trompe l’oeil skirts. I have the hips of a 14-year-old boy and a waist that balloons after a single can of Anchor. Not only is this Mardern Milan skirt yet another COLOR five-buck steal, but it creates the nip-tuck illusion of a tiny waist with its poofed, ruched hips. Et voilà–instant voluptueux!

And last but not least, the impeccably accessorized beauties who made this post possible: Dalis Chum of COLOR and my booking agent/buddy extraordinaire, Vanessa Boots.