A husband's nightmare
Trip Start
Sep 17, 2007
1
135
272
Trip End
Oct 08, 2008
Hoi An,
Vietnam
Monday, March 17, 2008
Perhaps we might use Erin as an example. When we arrived I had half convinced her not to buy anything at all. She didn't think she NEEDED anything in particular. However, after walking past maybe a hundred displays of shirts and dresses, suddenly she found herself wanting various items of clothing. What a pretty dress, she would murmur. I could use some shirts, perhaps, and I'd like a new pair of shorts. I relented.
The people in the tailor shops only make things worse
inlet on the way to Hoi An
. The mother-daughter pair at the shop we ended up buying things at were very talented. In fact, they were already measuring her for a dress before she had told them what she wanted. They didn't leave me alone either. I could flip through a catalog of all the latest fashions, pick anything I liked, and they would make it for me in a day. Then they would make it fit my every desire. Yes, even I was tempted. I stopped Erin after a Vietnamese-style dress and a pair of shorts. They took measurements and tried to talk us into spending more money before we ran away. Come back tomorrow and they will be ready, they said.
The very next day Erin tried on the shorts, which were pretty well made and a pretty good fit. She only had a small alteration to make. The dress was the same. They were quick and professional. For both the fittings the hard-sell mama wasn't around, so it was fairly peaceful. For the final fitting, however, she was back. She figured we should have another dress, the same style perhaps. And don't forget the shoes, which could be made with the same material. Then she turned to me and made sure I was still flipping through catalogs. This was dangerous so I dragged Erin out of there.
So, in case you were wondering, the dress cost $15 and the shorts were $10. You can get a pair of shoes for $8. Suits range from $30-$100. All you have to do is tell them your dream dress, just a simple sketch will do. Or point to that 1000 pound designer dress in a catalog and they'll make something that looks just like it. You can even bring in a favorite shirt and they'll copy it. They are masters. And it is every wife's dream and every husband's nightmare. Although even I can't complain about the price.
~Travis
Comments
Asian Tailors
I had a similar experience in Thailand. Beautiful clothes made to size and you can get them the next day. It's definitely an interesting cultural experience.
You seem to be enjoying your travels. Hope you're staying healthy!
Pr. Gigie