Why Bangkok's Dan Bespoke deserves a place on every gentleman's travel itinerary in Thailand

As my wife and I firmed up our plans to visit southeast Asia (Bangkok, Vietnam, Hong Kong), I began to seriously investigate the bespoke tailoring options in. I knew that it was possible to have a suit made very quickly and relatively inexpensively in the three countries, but I had also seen pictures online of the men and the suits they’d had made during their visits. I wasn’t really that impressed with most of the clothing.  The suits were cheap, and they looked it.

One exception was Dan Bespoke in Bangkok. I looked at his website online and read reviews on tripadvisor.com. Dan’s house style is a Neapolitan cut, with soft shoulders and nothing too blousy and nothing too severe in the cut. Just timeless, understated elegance. This caught my eye more than any possible ‘good deal’ I might get as a result of a favorable exchange rate and lower labor costs.

I booked an appointment.

On our second day in Bangkok, I walked in to Dan’s shop (a few blocks from the Ritz Carlton). Dan and his brother Dave offered my wife and I bottles of water (very welcome in the hot weather) and put us at ease. Conversation drifted from what I was looking for garment-wise, as well as what I liked in terms of style, fabric, and details.

We decided to start with a navy blue suit. I wanted a double-breasted with wide lapels, cuffed pants, cut in a silhouette that would never ‘go out of style’.  While Dan began taking measurements, Dave presented a seemingly endless variety of fabric choices, all from world-class mills, for my wife to begin reviewing.

We quickly agreed on a medium-weight wool, and then it was off to races: considering options for pants and jackets. Throughout the process, Dan and Dave struck a wonderful balance: they listened to me, understood what I wanted, and then made sure to offer their expert advice about the possible options. They were eager to please and diplomatic, but confident when they thought I might be better served with one option (pants construction, namely) over another.

I listened, and I benefited from their good taste and wisdom. The result was that I got a great suit, two sport jackets, three pair of pants, and four shirts, all bespoke, all well-made, that fit like a glove.

The Thomas Mason fabrics used on the shirts feel like a dream. The construction is flawless and the fit is perfect. All of my preferences (high collar, two-button cuff, etc) were implemented. I started with a variety of light blue solid-color dress shirts and one pink stripe dress shirt, but I think some bengal stripes from Dan are in my future.

A few of the details I love on the suit, jackets, and pants: working buttonholes on the cuffs (de rigueur for bespoke jackets, but still a joy to behold); pants with an adjustable waistband, accommodating those inevitable fluctuations in waist size that all of us gents experience); and very deep pockets in the inside breast pocket of jacket (for the wallet, passport, airplane tickets, etc.) and deep pockets in the pants (if you’ve ever had keys or coins fall out of your front pants pocket when you sit down, you can appreciate the thoughtful design.)

 Make no mistake: you definitely get the value for the money with Dan. But I’ll order more clothes from him and Dave because of the craftsmanship and the service. And Dan and Dave are nice guys, and that counts for a lot with me.

So if you’re planning a trip to Bangkok, book an appointment in advance with Dan Bespoke. Top quality, timeless style, at a fair price.

If you want more details or an introduction, let me know. And don’t forget that he makes clothing for women as well.

Related reading: Of Aristocratic, Blue Blood, and Old Money Style

Contributor

Byron Tully (right)

Grandson of a newspaper publisher and son of an oil industry executive, Byron Tully is an author who also writes for the entertainment industry. His nonfiction debut, "The Old Money Book," was published in April of 2013 to excellent reviews and enjoys consistently strong sales worldwide. His other works include "The Old Money Guide To Marriage", "Old Money, New Woman: How To Manage Your Money and Your Life", and "Old Money Style - The Gentleman's Edition".

Byron regularly contributes to its blog, www.theoldmoneybook.com, which has been visited by over 1 million readers since 2014.

In February of 2020, "Old Money Style - The Gentleman's Edition" was published by Acorn Street Press. This fourth book in the Old Money series reveals the fundamentals of dressing well in a classic and timeless style. In November of 2020, Byron published a 2nd Edition of "The Old Money Book", which expands on his original classic. This 2nd Edition includes vital information and insights for readers as they navigate a very different, post-pandemic world.

Byron speaks frequently about the culture and values of Old Money. He has been interviewed by KABC New York's Financial Quarterback Show, The Huffington Post, and The Simple Dollar, among others.

He lives in Paris and is happily married to an Old Money Gal from Boston.