The angels have landed, but they forgot to pack their sexy secrets and lace-up corsets from home.
Following intense media buzz, Victoria’s Secret opened its first retail store in Thailand at Siam Center during the holidays, and although it’s great to see another beloved brand blossom in our homeland in addition to Sephora, Thai women expecting the best may be let down again.
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Just like its franchises in neighboring countries, our Siam Center store is branded Victoria’s Secret Beauty and Accessories, which means the focus isn’t on teddies and bustiers, but bombshell-scented beauty products such as lotions, perfumes, cosmetics, makeup bags and a section of leather purses.
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For those interested in a glimpse of full-on American lingerie standards, there are two small stands showcasing a few types of panties for shoppers to examine. We’d probably get excited if it stocked the famous push-up VS bras, the PINK pjs, and sexy costume collections, which are the main items that earned the brand’s fame.
Speaking of costumes, Victoria not bringing her sexiest secrets to Bangkok is my major disappointment since the “special occasion” lingerie is surprisingly unavailable at any mall in Thailand. The only options we have are the low-rent, one-size lingerie found around Platinum Shopping Mall, which might turn out to be a major turn-off if the costume doesn’t fit right.
Overall, our Siam Center’s shop could be a gift destination for women. One of the store’s triumphs is bringing to Thailand the stylish VS-brand packaging for its large selection of beauty products.
Previously, Victoria’s Secret products had been sold at King Power for international travelers and stocked in a small section at some Tops supermarkets. Personally, the introduction of the new store at Siam Center has left me hanging and asking, “Now what?”
For now, I suggest looking for a comparable brand to cure your urge like La Senza, which has announced itself as Victoria’s Secret Canadian sister and launched in Thailand last year in the same ‘hot pink’ theme.
Just like VS, La Senza provides fetish bustiers, different levels of “push-ups” and stocks Western sizes in case Thai brands do not fit you.
Also worth checking out, Boudoir, the designer lingerie line by Disaya can also bring the luxurious, feminine feels under your garments for those whose self-image leans more “nice” than “naughty.”
Until Victoria’s Secret corporate decides to land a full lingerie section in Bangkok, these two brands will have to do, but the great news is there was hardly a crowd Tuesday at the newly opened Victoria’s Secret and Sephora, so this might be the time to check them out.
I’m left wondering why the mob of Thai women has already moved on from both stores so quickly. Maybe they want to make room for others.
Or maybe they’ve also concluded that foreign retailers should put more effort into creating the same shopping experience here as in their home countries. Do they really think we’ve never traveled outside our little kingdom to hold some higher expectations?
Now who’s heading to the United States soon? I want something.
Related:
All that is glossy is not gold: Sephora is great, but falls short of our dream expectations
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