Central Samui - the fashion store where we discovered LOLITA and fell for its colours, fabrics and cuts

01Central Samui - not just another clothes shop

The Central Samui shopping centre, formerly called Central Festival Samui, is in the heart of Chaweng, one of Koh Samui's main tourist areas.

It has fashion, cosmetics and accessories shops, restaurants and cafes, alongside international and local brands.

But one of the places we most enjoyed browsing was the Central department store.

Unlike an ordinary fashion shop showing one brand's collection, Central Department Store brings a range of brands together under one roof. You can move between dresses, tops, trousers and jumpsuits from different designers and brands, and compare styles, cuts and fabrics.

What particularly impressed us was the choice of clothes that did not look like just another version of the fashion you can find in every international chain.

There were different colours, interesting combinations, flattering cuts and fabrics that were simply a pleasure to touch.

And that is exactly the kind of shopping we love abroad: discovering pieces we would not come across at home.

02What is so special about the clothes at Central?

The first thing that caught our eye was the colours.

It was not only clothes in strong colours, but interesting colour choices: rich pinks, soft shades, unusual combinations and prints with presence.

We often walk into clothes shops and feel we are seeing the same colours and the same cuts again and again.

At Central we found something different.

Even fairly simple cuts gained character thanks to the colour, the type of fabric or a small design detail.

The interesting thing was that the colour did not come at the expense of sophistication. Some of the clothes were very colourful, but still elegant and feminine.

Feminine cuts that flatter the figure

Beyond the colours, we really loved the cuts.

Dresses that sit beautifully at the waist, flattering jumpsuits and pieces where you can tell real thought has gone into how they sit on the body.

There is a difference between a garment that looks good on the hanger and one that looks good when you wear it.

For us, successful clothes are ones that define the body in the right places without feeling too tight or uncomfortable.

At Central we found several pieces that managed to combine femininity, comfort and special design.

That was one of the reasons we bought more than one piece.

03The fabrics - a big part of the shopping experience

We can fall in love with a colour or a cut, but if the fabric is not pleasant or does not sit well, we usually will not buy the garment.

With the clothes we found at Central, the fabrics were a central part of what drew us to them.

We especially loved the feel, the drape and the way the fabric moves on the body.

The finishing and the overall feel of the clothes were also much better than we would have expected at the prices we paid.

Of course, you should not generalise about every brand in the department store: the quality and composition of fabrics vary from piece to piece.

But in our shopping, the combination of fabrics, cuts and prices was exceptional.

What to check when buying clothes in Thailand

Thailand's hot, humid climate makes the type of fabric an important consideration.

Cotton, linen and light blends can suit the weather very well, but synthetic fabrics also vary a great deal in thickness, breathability and drape.

So we would not choose a garment just by the composition on the label.

Try it on, feel the fabric, check how it sits when you move and look at the seams and finishing.

It is precisely when there is a big choice of brands in the same shop that you can feel the differences in the quality of fabrics and cuts.

04LOLITA - the Thai fashion brand we discovered at Central

One of the brands we loved most was LOLITA.

It is a Thai womenswear brand that combines a feminine, romantic style with modern cuts and clothes that also work for everyday wear.

The brand offers dresses, tops, skirts, trousers and jumpsuits, with an emphasis on flattering silhouettes and design details.

The designs sometimes include lace, embroidery, ties, pleats and other elements that give the garment character.

What drew us to the brand is that it manages to be very feminine without looking old-fashioned.

There are elegant dresses, but also lighter, younger pieces that suit a holiday, a night out or everyday life.

LOLITA's colours

The colours are one of the things that make LOLITA particularly interesting.

Alongside classic, neutral shades you can find rich colours and interesting prints.

Some designs combine soft, romantic shades, while others stand out with a bolder colour or a special cut.

We liked the fact that the clothes did not feel as if they were designed only to follow a passing trend.

They were special enough to attract attention, but also wearable enough to keep using after the holiday.

05The denim dress that still gets compliments

One of the best things we bought at Central is a denim dress.

On the face of it, a denim dress is not a rare piece. You can find dresses like this in almost every fashion chain.

But it was the cut and design of this particular dress that made it special.

Long after we got back from Thailand, one of us still wears it at home, and people keep asking her where it is from.

For us, that is one of the signs of a truly successful buy.

Not a garment that only looks good on holiday, and not a souvenir that stays in the wardrobe, but a piece we keep enjoying and that does not look like something bought in any ordinary shop.

Alongside the denim dress we also bought other dresses and jumpsuits, and with those too we loved the combination of design and price.

06The prices - not as cheap as a Thai market, but excellent value

While shopping at Central we found pieces for about 1,100 THB (about $33 / €29) per item, partly in the sales.

That is not particularly cheap compared with clothes sold in Thailand's markets.

At the markets you can find beach dresses and tops for much less.

But these are not the same category of clothes.

Here we are talking about more carefully designed pieces, with cuts and fabrics that felt good quality, the kind one of us still wears back home.

At those prices we felt we got excellent value.

How much does LOLITA usually cost?

On the Central Online website you can find LOLITA dresses at regular prices of around 1,690-1,790 baht (about $50-53 / €45-47), tops at around 990-1,190 baht (about $29-35 / €26-31) and other pieces at varying prices.

In the sales, prices can drop significantly, and some designs are sometimes sold at 40%-70% off.

So it is well worth checking the sale areas in the shop, not just the new collection.

Because prices vary between designs, seasons and sales, treat them as a rough guide rather than a fixed price list.

07Why look for Thai fashion brands?

One of the things we love about shopping abroad is the chance to get to know local brands.

When you walk into a well-known international chain, you can usually find a style similar to what is sold at home.

But when you discover a local brand, you are sometimes exposed to a different approach to design.

Thai brands like LOLITA offer clothes influenced by local fashion, the weather and the taste of their customers in Thailand.

The result can be an interesting combination of colours, cuts and fabrics that you do not always see in the shops at home.

That said, it is important to check the sizes.

The cuts of some local brands follow size charts that differ from the ones we are used to, so try things on rather than relying only on the letter S, M or L.

08Shopping in Koh Samui vs shopping in Thailand's markets

In Thailand we found very different kinds of shopping experience.

In Pai, for example, you can find beautiful beachwear at particularly good prices.

The dresses are light, colourful and suit the holiday atmosphere.

But on Koh Samui we also found clothes that felt higher quality and more designed, the kind you can work into your regular wardrobe and not only wear during the trip.

For us, the difference is not necessarily between a better place and a less good one.

They are simply two different kinds of shopping.

At a market we look for light dresses, fun pieces and bargains.

At a department store like Central we are willing to pay a little more for good-quality fabric, a special cut or a piece we know we will wear for years.

09Boutique Asia - another fashion find at Central Samui

In the same shopping centre we also discovered Boutique Asia by Maple, a shop where we fell in love with some special scarves.

Unlike the clothes we bought at the Central department store, where we were drawn mainly by the cuts and fabrics, at Boutique Asia we fell for the embroidery, the patterns and the colour combinations of the scarves.

We bought about five scarves there, at an average price of about 1,100 THB (about $33 / €29) per piece.

They were not cheap by Thai standards, but their design and quality made them one of our best buys.

Together, the two shops made our visit to Central Samui one of our favourite shopping days in Thailand.

10Is Central Samui worth a trip just for shopping?

If you love fashion and are staying on Koh Samui, it is definitely worth setting aside time for the shopping centre.

The advantage is being able to combine international brands, Thai brands and smaller boutiques in one place.

You can find everyday clothes, dresses, accessories, shoes and beauty products here, and also stop for a coffee or a meal.

It is also a convenient option for a rainy day or the hot midday hours.

If you are looking for special pieces, we would recommend not stopping at the familiar international shops, but also spending time in the local brand sections.

That is sometimes where the biggest surprises are.

11Where is Central Samui and how do you get there?

Central Samui is in the Chaweng area, at 209 Moo 2, Bophut, Koh Samui.

It is a fairly central part of the island, with hotels, restaurants and shops nearby.

If you are staying in Chaweng, you may be able to walk to the shopping centre, depending on where your hotel is.

From other areas, such as Lamai, Bophut and Maenam, you can get there by taxi or transfer.

Opening hours may change, so check them before you visit.

12What to check before you buy at Central

One of the advantages of shopping in a well-organised department store is that you can try clothes on, compare brands and check their quality.

But here too, there are a few things to look out for.

First, do not rely on the size you usually buy at home. Try on every piece, especially with Thai brands.

Second, check the fabric composition and the washing instructions. Delicate fabrics, lace and embroidery may need special care.

Third, take a good look at the sale areas. You can sometimes find pieces from previous seasons there at significantly lower prices.

And finally, try to think whether the garment will also fit into your wardrobe at home.

Colourful, light clothes look wonderful in Thailand, but a truly successful buy is a piece you will also want to wear after the holiday.

13The bottom line - why we loved Central Samui so much

On our travels in Thailand we bought quite a few clothes, but Central on Koh Samui was one of the places where we found the best combination of design, quality and price.

We loved the unusual colours, the fabrics, the feminine cuts and the fact that the clothes felt special without being particularly expensive.

The LOLITA brand was one of our best discoveries, with dresses and jumpsuits that have stayed with us long after the holiday.

And the denim dress we bought there, which still gets compliments and questions about where it is from, is probably the best proof of that.

If you love fashion and are looking for clothes on Koh Samui that are a little different from what you know at home, do not skip the Thai brand sections at Central. For us, it was one of the most successful shopping experiences in Thailand.

14Central Samui and LOLITA FAQs