Before I go any further, I want to say that I fully support the over-the-top blinged-out and all fake everything here. Why? Because that's part of the charm. It's what makes a lot of local people happy and that's what fashion is all about. And I truly admire the Vietnamese people for their "no f*cks given" attitude in the style department. Especially the men. I love nothing more than seeing a construction worker covered in paint, riding around with a Hello Kitty helmet and not even for one second thinking about how it might make him look weird. Most American guys would put up a fit and complain before they strapped that thing on. And the ladies at the market? Hell yes, you keep rockin' those cheetah pajamas, baby gurl. New Jersey is waiting for you.
But for those who aren't exactly diggin' the fake rhinestones and anime attire...here are some pretty great labels that are worth checking out:
Libe is definitely my favorite store in Saigon. It is a great place for minimalists. That is not to say that they don't throw out their fair share of funky patterns because they certainly do. However, they predominately have this French-esque stripes and solids thing going on which is a nice contrast to the all-over-stimulation-everything that Saigon tends to embrace. I'm also a fan of their store location. It's on the third floor of 26 Ly Tu Truong, which is this old eerie (but cool) building that reminds me of this apartment building/former Jewish ghetto I stayed in in Budapest. There are a few cafes and art galleries in the building as well. I even ventured on the outside balconies of the building where you can climb the staircases and have a gander at some of the surrounding residencies. At some angles, you can catch a nice glimpse of the Notre Dame cathedral.
On first glance of this place I immediately think of Alexander Wang for H&M 2014. It's unisex but definitely on the more masculine side of things, channeling the whole sporty is chic movement. I'm diggin' the all-black everything.
Mayhem is a secondhand vintage store in Saigon. Thrift shops are a new concept for Saigon but the new generation of ultra hipsters here is certainly embracing it. To be honest I think they can be a little over-the-top with their whole image, but they've got some hidden gems here. They offer discounts if you take shots of vodka with them...so it's perfect if you're pregaming a 70s party whilst simultaneously looking for an outfit to said party.
Urbanista looooves themselves some chambray and stripes (and so do I). In that department, I'm a fan. In other pieces they can get a little cooky on the choice of words they put shirts... but hey--it sells! And if their customers like "Don't happy be worry" on their shirts, they won't be in the slightest bit worried about my disapproval.
