Freitag

In 1993, two brothers, both graphic designers, decided to create messenger bags made out of old tarpaulin, used bicycle tires and car seat belts—unintentionally setting off a new global trend that’s still going strong. All Freitag bags are designed, cut and packaged in Zurich, and around 300,000 bags a year are distributed worldwide. Their products include messenger bags, backpacks, handbags, sport bags, totes, wallets and more for both men and women—all made from used truck tarpaulins. Forty basic models are made continually, but they also launch new lines about every six months. Official prices start at B2,800 for a shopping bag, B3,900 for an iPad 2 sleeve and B6,000 for a messenger bag.
Sneaka Villa accepts pre-orders with a slight markup, Siam Square Soi 11, 02-658-1970. www.sneakavilla.net

InBAQ

Seven designers came up with an idea to support communities and charities by buying unwanted polypropylene bags, vinyl banners, old truck tarpaulins and used bicycle tires. They use them to make trendy but durable recycled bags. Their products include messenger bags, shopping bags, baskets, totes and more, for both men and women. Price starts from B380.
5/F, Zen@CentralWorld, 02-640-7000. www.smart-trash.com

The Remaker

The owner kicked-off this venture eight years ago without even the most basic fashion knowledge. From T-shirts, pants, skirts, shoes and bags to belts, he says he remakes things because he appreciates the rareness of each material and the distinctiveness of each product. The Remaker’s bags are made from vinyl banners or used clothes, and other accessories, like hats and wallets, are also available. Prices can range from B100-5,000 for bags, B40-500 for accessories and B800-20,000 for furniture.
TCDC, 6/F, Emporium, Sukhumvit Rd., 02-664-8448. www.theremaker.com

Urface

Founded by two hip street artists, Mamafaka and Rukkit, Urface, makes bags with new high-quality denim and featuring original art prints designed by the artists themselves. All designs are sold only once, so you can be sure you won’t have that awkward moment when you walk past someone sporting the same bag. Totes are priced at B3,500 and count B2,680 for messenger bags.
Siam Square Soi 10, 081-910-5673. www.urfacestore.com

1.) Powder blushes can be too matte for this look—unless you have oily skin—so try the liquid Cha Cha Tint from Benefit to get that post-workout glow on both cheeks and lips. B1,480
2.) More dramatic tails—think Nike swoosh—are making the cat-eye look even stronger this year. The fun part is more and more brands are now offering unique shades for eyeliners. Stila’s indigo liquid liner is a rare jewel to find here, but you can also get the bright gold-yellow Pure Show Superslick Liquid Eyeliner from M.A.C, B1,000.
3.)The smoky-eyes trend returns with a twist. Play it up with shimmery shades like metallic silver, purple or even coral. Dare to mix some contrasting colors together like pink and green, for example. Smoky Palette from Make Up For Ever has up to eight shades, including a matte black, yellow beige, deep plum, peacock green, metallic navy blue, copper and taupe. B2,655.
4.)Red remains the most popular lip color this year. Try Flamenco Sheer lipstick from Nars, B950 or try one of Revlon’s red hues from Boots, B239.
5.)Urban Decay’s Feminine, Dangerous and Fun eye-shadow palettes have the bold shades to make your eyes pop, B1,650 each from www.sisterway.com.
6.)  Having flawless skin without looking like you’re wearing makeup is always hard to achieve, but not impossible. Apart from skin-care products, make sure you opt for a lightweight foundation—like our all-time favorite, the oil-free tinted moisturizer from Laura Mercier, B1,700.
7.) Extra bold and thick brows are in, so don’t get too wax-happy. Get inspiration for this retro look from the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. A complete brow set with a few shaping stencils from Beautilicious costs B690, but you also can achieve bold brows at B400 from Kate.
8.) “Thick” and “long” aren’t the only descriptions for perfect lashes anymore. Looks that include color and feathers are trends hot off the runways. Instaglam Technicolor false lashes from Urban Decay come with four colors in a box—mix and match as you see fit, B270 on ebay. For the feathery ones, try Black Velvet Feather false lashes from Shu Uemura, about B800.

Essentials

Beautilicious. www.iambeautilicious.com, 084-0999807.
Benefit. M/F, Siam Paragon, 02-690-1000. www.benefitcosmetics.com
Kate. Watsons, Siam Square Soi 1, 02-658-3955. www.katethailand.com
Laura Mercier. 1/F, Central Chidlom, 02-254-9130. www.lauramercier.com
M.A.C. 2/F, Siam Discovery, 02-658-0282. www.maccosmetics.com
Make Up For Ever. 1/F, Central Chidlom, 02-254-6009. www.makeupforever.com
Nars. M/F, Siam Paragon, 02-690-1000. www.narscosmetics.com
Revlon. Watsons, Siam Square Soi 1, 02-658-3955. www.revlon.com
Shu Uemura. 2/F, Siam Discovery, 02-658-0262. www.shuuemura.com
Urban Decay. Try www.sisterway.com, 081-602-9294. or www.urbandecay.com

Go Foxy

Feminine prints will be all the rage, with pale pink, polka dots and even lace patterns bringing girly—and creative—touches to your spectacles.

Go sporty

Worried you’ll end up looking like a cyclist? Think again. One, they’re going against the retro trend—a sign of personality. Two, they properly protect your eyes from harmful UV rays that cause wrinkles and all those other nasty things that age your skin.

Go Patterned

Flashy colors are nothing new, but spring/summer is the season for color blocking, so expect to see a rainbow of colors out in force. And it doesn’t just apply to the frames, but to the lenses as well, with more and more graded lenses.

Go Retro

Vintage-style glasses have been the top trend for the last couple of seasons, so you can expect lots of cat eyes, round frames and aviator-style shades on the streets. The iconic Rayban’s Wayfarer-style, for example, has made its way into every collection out there, from Prada to Burberry, with only minor tweaks.
** All glasses shown are coming soon to local eyewear
shops and leading department stores.

Oasis Spa

The place: Oasis Spa has 15 treatment rooms decorated in a Thai Lanna style and furnished with waterfalls.
The treatments: They offer five different signature sets combining a series of massage types. The King of Oasis (B3,900) is best suited to men and features a two-hour hot Thai herbal muscle compress and a hot oil massage. Ladies can opt for the two-hour Queen of Oasis (B3,900) pampering menu that blends Swedish and aromatherapy massages. They also have other a la carte and package treatments for hair, body and face starting from B650 for a 30-minute Thai herbal steam or aromatherapy milk bath.
The deal: Free Lanna-style Secret Charm body scrub (worth B1,766) for those who buy one of the signature King or Queen of Oasis packages. Until Jan 31.
64 Soi Sawadee, Sukhumvit 31 Rd., 02-262-2122. Open daily 10am-10pm. www.oasisspa.net

i.sawan Residential Spa & Club

The place: With its Tony Chi design, hi-so residential cottages and treatment bungalows set in a rooftop garden, this is one of the most beautiful spas in Bangkok.
The treatments: Their full-day retreat package ranges from B8,000 to B9,100 per person, including a choice of four-hour treatments and the use of swimming pool, tennis and squash courts, fitness center, sauna, steam and Jacuzzi plus a two-course meal. The cheapest treatment you can get here is the 30-minute foot massage (B1,300). Pricey? Yes, but you can have it by the lovely pool.
The deal: Purchase their 60-minute Absolute Pearl Facial treatment (B2,800) and get another 30-minute free eye rejuvenating treatment. Until Feb 29.
5/F, Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, 02-254-1234. Open daily 6am-11pm. www.bangkok.grand.hyatt.com

S Medical Spa

The place: Founded by Pakpilai Thavisin, a renowned local anti-aging physician, this award-winning spa has an ultra modern almost futuristic décor featuring lots of wood and plenty of light courtesy of the big windows.
The treatments: They look to create real beauty from within, with a selection of integrated wellness programs that cover everything from weight management to beauty and detoxifying treatments. Apart from spa options you can also grab a healthy snack at S Cuisine which serves up dishes that contain less than 250 calories.
The deal: Get a free Supreme Gluta White Facial treatment (worth B3,200) when you purchase a colon hydrotherapy (B3,531) session. From now until March.
2/2 Bhakdi Building, Wireless Rd.,
02-253-1010. BTS Ploenchit. Open daily 10am-9pm. www.smedspa.com

The Oriental Spa

The place: As sophisticated as the hotel it sits within, The Oriental Spa, offers four specialty suites and ten fancy private rooms (with shower, steam and Jacuzzi) all ranged around a central lotus pond.
The treatments: Their huge variety of treatments cover Ayurvedic, Balinese, Swedish, Thai and even Hawaiian therapies. They also offer tailor-made programs. A one-hour Swedish massage starts from B2,900.
The deal: For B5,800, you can enjoy a two-hour winter delight package, including body wrap and oil massage to revitalize and hydrate skin. You’ll also get a complimentary wellness gift set to take home for free (includes lemongrass shower gel, shampoo and conditioner). Until Jan 15.
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Oriental Ave, Charoen Krung Rd., 02-659-9000. Open daily 9am-10pm. www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok/spa

Spa Ten

The place: A refreshing change from the normal Oriental décor spa theme, Spa Ten is much more contemporary with a hip style that matches its design concept to the rest of this trendy hotel.
The treatments: The programs here focus on healing mind and body by integrating traditional Thai and modern techniques to match your specific preferences. Their menu features hydrotherapy, infrared sauna, steam rooms and massages in their cool open-air garden. Starting from B500, a loofa body scrub will help get rid of your dead skin cells while also promoting better blood circulation.
The deal: For only B1,212, you’ll start off with the herbal steam, fresh coconut body scrub and finish with aromatherapy massage using romance essential oil (105 minutes). Until Jan 31.
Siam@Siam, 865 Rama 1 Rd.,02-217-3000. Open daily 10am-11pm. www.spa-ten.com

1. The Bose QuietComfort15 Acoustic noise cancelling headphones are perfect to blot out the dull roar of the jet engines, B16,900
2. The Tank travel bag from Mandarina Duck’s handy compartments will keep your stuff nice and safe in transit. B22,000
3. Different continents, airport lounges and pressurized cabins can mean fluctuating temperatures, be ready for them all with this poncho from Muji, B1,690
4. Step off the plane bright eyed and feeling fresh by applying this anti-fatigue cooling eye gel roller from Clinique, B1,200
5. Stuck on a low-cost? Make your own in-flight entertainment with a Nintendo 3DS, B7,590
6. Big enough to show a movie, small enough to fit easily into a (large) jacket pocket, the new Samsung Galaxy Note also doubles up as a phone and sketch pad, B22,900 from Jaymart
7. Keep your feet snug and comfy with the Happy Socks @UnCENSORED, B390 each.
8. No more neck ache with the inflatable travel pillow from Ikea, B259.
9. Real books don’t have to be switched off during takeoff. Nor do they run out of batteries or dislike sun and sand. Try The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton, B483 at Asia Books
10. Always smell fruity and fresh with the cherry blossom solid perfume from L’Occitane, B450
11. Fight dry, pressurized air with this Shea Butter for face and body moisturizing, B400 from L’Occitane
12. In it for the long haul? Pack a Mipow Power Tube battery for iPhone, iPod, iPad, Galaxy Tab and Galaxy S, B2,790 from iStudio

ESSENTIALS

L’ Occitane. 1/F, J Avenue, Thonglor Soi 15, 02-712-6444. www.loccitane.co.th
Bose. 2/F, Siam Paragon, 02-129-4301. www.asavasopon.co.th
Ikea. 38 Moo 6, Bangna-Trad Rd., 02-708-7999. www.ikea.co.th
Clinique. 1/F, Central Chidlom, 02-655-7198. www.clinique.co.th
Nintendo. Try Happy Console, 884/19 Rama 3 Rd., 086-701-5677. www.happyconsole.com
Mandarina Duck. 1/F, CentralWorld, 02-251-2418. www.mandarinaduck.com
Muji. 3/F, Central Chidlom, 02-793-7777. www.muji.com
iStudio. Try 2/F, Esplanade, Rachadapisek Rd., 02-660-9259. www.istudio.in.th
Happy Socks. UnCENSORED, 2/F, CentralWorld, 02-646-1448. www.uncensored-bangkok.com
Asia Books. 3/F, Emporium, 02-664-8545. www.asiabooks.com
Jaymart. 4/F, MBK, 02-611-5734. www.jaymart.co.th

1. Pick a plain colored paper or Kraft paper and then cut to size. (Don’t use glossy-finish paper.)
2. Stamp on the paper to create a desired pattern. White ink looks great on brown paper. If you don’t have a cute rubber stamp, use objects with uneven surfaces like erasers or buttons to create the prints.
3. Once the ink has dried, wrap your gift with the paper.

1. Fold a 5.5”x12” piece of card paper, leaving a 4” width in the middle and 2” columns on either side. then cut the middle parts with a knife so your card is foldable.
2. Cut out each cartoon character from your selected pattern papers and arrange them on the card. Then glue them on neatly.
3. Decorate the card with gloss, glitter and distress ink as you wish.

Mind Memory

Apart from the scrapbook and papercraft products, they also offer a 3-hour hands-on workshop on scrapbooking for beginners. If you feel like it’s not worth buying all the tools to make a single card then you can opt for their scrap lab hour, when you can borrow their stamps, inks, punchers and scrap materials. An instant DIY scrap kit costs from B495 to B1,250 for a 12”x12” card size.
505, 5/F, Central Rama 9, 086-622-1006. www.mindmemorystore.com. Open daily 10am-10pm.

Scrap it!

This place offers a selection of step-by-step kits which cover different themes from sporty to granny. Some products come in bag sets but there are also cute-pattern papers and cardstock, stamps, stickers, ribbons, and other accessories sold separately. If you’re too lazy to do the work yourself, just get one of their beautifully wrapped scrapbook kits (B695-B1,795).
1/F, K Village, Sukhumvit Soi 26, 084-005-0739. www.scrapitscrapit.com. Open daily 10am-10pm.

Spoonful Zakka & Café

This cafe-cum-stationery place won’t only settle you down with gift ideas from their imported kitchenware and random home accessories from Japan but also sell some stationery and scrapbooking tools like their cute multiple-purpose masking tapes (starting B90).
2/F, The Portico, Soi Langsuan, 02-652-2278. www.spoonfulzakka.com. Open daily 11:00am-7:00pm.

Goose

Goose is far from cheap, but definitely our fave. It sells everything scrapbook and DIY craft-related with a special emphasis on tools like embossing paper punchers as well as the more basic stuff like cardstock. Besides all the technical equipment that can be found here, like burnishing tools, rubbers stamps, brad clips and more, GOOSE offers scrapbook workshops which last two-hours and cost between B1,100 to B1,750. Call in advance to reserve a seat for the workshops.
405, 4/F, Siam Discovery, Rama 1 Rd., 080-201-9421. www.goose-store.com. Open daily 10am-10pm.

Scrap@Love

This place is particularly popular when it comes to scrapbook supplies from cute paper, 3D stickers, and cartoon stamps, to fancy-patterned paper punchers from Martha Stewart (B690). Although there isn’t much workshop space for customers, you can pay for the supplies and let the staff finish the piece for you (prices start around B300).
1/F, Major Avenue Ratchayothin, Ratchayothin Rd., 089-478-7855. www.scrapatlove.com. Open daily 11am-9.30pm.

Essentials

Casio. 3/F, Central Chidlom, 02-793-7777
Ben Sherman. 2/F, Siam Paragon, 02-690-1000
Topshop. 1/F, CentralWorld, 02-640-7000
Dorothy Perkins. 3/F, CentralWorld, 02-613-1769
Project 1.1. 3/F, Emporium, 02-269-1000
Brooks Brothers. Selective Shop.1/F, Emporium, 02-269-1000
Shake Appeal. 2/F, Siam Paragon, 02-690-1000
Sretsis. 2/F, Gaysorn, 02-656-1125
DKNY Jeans. 2/F, Siam Discovery, 02-658-0219

Browhaus

The place: Semi-private treatment rooms with a raw street theme. Think dental chair-like treatment beds separated by steel cage walls.
The staff: Well-trained and not very chatty—a plus for some clients.
How they do it: This is threading, not waxing. Your brows are first cleaned with makeup remover, antiseptic solution and baby powder. The technician uses regular thread, one end in her mouth and a coiled end held at the perfect angle over your brow.
Our take: It doesn’t hurt all that much, just a bit of stinging, and the results are satisfying. There’s no makeup service when you’re done but for B1,000 you can also have your brows dyed to match your hair color, and it really does make a big difference.
Price: B450 for classic threading and B600 if you also want it tweezed.
3/F, Siam Discovery, 02-658-0344. www.browhaus.com. Open daily 10am-9pm

BareHare Wax Salon

The place: A princess style space, painted in white and pale purple, with two tiny private waxing rooms.
The staff: Anastasia’s ex-staff with four years of experience and fully-trained in 3D brow tattooing.
How they do it: The technician designs the brow shape then draws them onto your face with makeup, using angles that suit your face. Hairs outside the lines are then waxed off before finishing touches are made with scissors and tweezers.
Our take: The wax job is super quick, though the technician takes a while finishing things up afterwards with tweezers and make up.
Price: B700 for normal brow shaping and B6,900 for permanent 3D brow tattooing.
Ekamai Shopping Mall, Ekkamai Soi 10, 081-100-7971. www.facebook.com/barehare. Open Wed-Mon noon-9pm

Benefit Brow Bar

The place: A typical girly cosmetic booth surrounded by other beauty brands in a mall with absolutely no privacy. Unlike other waxing bars, here you’ll have to sit on a stool for almost an hour, so expect some back pain after.
The staff: Well-trained in both facial waxing and makeup. Informative but not too chatty.
How they do it: After cleaning the brows, the technician draws lines with a makeup pencil to shape perfect angles. Then four areas around each brow are waxed, and tidied up with tweezers, scissors and makeup.
Our take: They are makeup experts so you can have your whole face beautified with their full range of cosmetics. This is probably the best pick if you’re doing it before your big date.
M/F, Siam Paragon, 02-690-1000. www.facebook.com/benefitcosmeticsthailand. Open daily 10am-10pm

Khoobsurat

The place: A plain old local salon. Think fluorescent white light and lakhon playing in the background.
The staff: They do everything from hair cuts to body waxing and have all been trained on threading by their Indian boss.
How they do it: After cleaning your brows with cotton, one technician stretches out your brow while the other threads. They then tidy up with scissors and an eyebrow pencil.
Our take: Very bare-bones, but efficient and fuss-free. We were done in less than five minutes. It hurts a little with just a touch of redness for an hour or so afterwards. This is probably the winner for price, time and value, although, the neatness might not be quite as precise as you’d get from some super-fancy brow bars.
Price: B70 for eyebrow threading.
G/F, Sukhumvit Plaza, close to Sukhumvit Soi 12, 081-338-6051, 02-252-5353. Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm

Reveal Wax Salon

The place: A homey spa with private waxing rooms.
The staff: On our last visit, our beautician was a bit hesitant during the waxing, but very friendly and chatty during the whole process.
How they do it: It’s a similar procedure as to when you’re using hot wax on your legs. The staff follows no fixed template—she simply follows her instinct.
Our take: This might not be the best place for a brow wax since body waxing is their specialty. We liked the brow shape we ended up with, but there was some skin irritation afterwards.
Price: B540 for women and B650 for men.
Thong Lor Soi 13, 02-712-8209. www.revealwaxsalon.com. Open Tue-Sun 10:30am-8:30pm

Still curious about how Anastasia compares to the traditional thread method, see our review here.