Military

It’s back and classier than ever, the military style invaded the catwalks this year thanks to designers such as Barbara Bui, Jason Wu, Moschino Cheap & Chic, Topshop Unique, Victoria Beckham and Burberry Prorsum. The trend influenced by World War II has had some update overhauls and this season that means lots of large gold buttons, khaki colors and multi-pocketed outfits.
Get this: Mango pleated baggy trousers, B1,790. Black studded sandals by Bershka, B1,990.

Glitter

The catwalk fall collections shone this year with gold a stand out color. Elie Saab, Barbara Bui, Tibi, Prabal Gurung and Michael Kors all featured plenty of bling in their collections with gold, teal and orange being the main players. 1970’s disco style has never completely disappeared and its influence is still going strong through gold couture dresses and suits in jade and pink glitter.
Get this: Black Sequins Gown Mango B8,990. Fashion stole in Antique Gold Promod B790.

Leather

Thakoon, Kevork Kiledjian, Derek Lam, Reem Acra have all developed a whole new leather look, it’s seems there’s no such thing as “too much.” The look has slowly been making a come-back in recent collections but this fall it is a main player, with the long-sleeved leather dress a favorite for both Reem Acra and Kevork Kiledjian’s collections accompanied by black leather stilettos.
Get this: Leather mini skirt by Mango, B2,990. Mulberry Del Rey Deer Brown Grainy Print Leather B54,900. Zara Laced Sandal B4,490.

Burnt Orange

Rebecca Minkoff, Zac Posen, Tata-Naka and Antonio Berardi were just some of the designers focusing on burnt orange this year using it as a solid block color on the catwalk that really made a statement. In contrast to recent collections that have used neon or pastels, fall styles look to be embracing more seasonal browns, oranges and deep reds.
Get this: Bodycon dress by Wallis, B2,890. Peplum detail play suit by Miss Selfridge, B2,690.

Hats

The hat is back and it seems that Marc Jacobs definitely believes in the phrase ‘bigger is better,’ with huge furry hats acting as the focus point for his catwalk show. Louis Vuitton, Jason Wu and Nicole Miller also embraced headwear in a big way while Donna Karan opted for the mini top-hat to complete the runway look.
Get this: Printed wrap fedora by Gap, B1,011. Cartwheel hat with grosgrain band by Zara, B1,190.

Where to Shop in Bangkok

Bershka, Wallis & Miss Selfridge. CentralWorld, Ratchadamri Rd., Bangkok, 02-690-7000.
Gap, Zara, Mulberry & Mango. Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., Bangkok, 02-690-1000. BTS Siam.
Promod. Emporium Shopping Complex, Sukhumvit Soi 24, Bangkok, 02-259-8732. BTS Phrom Pong.

Foie gras, made from the specially fattened liver of a duck or goose, has been rapidly growing in popularity over the past decade. You can now find it on the menus at the majority of Bangkok’s high-end restaurants, but controversy has long surrounded the French delicacy. This came to a head when the state of California, USA, banned the sale and production of foie gras on the grounds of animal welfare, effective July 1, sparking a backlash from chefs and lovers of the dish alike. A ban on shark fin soup would have been unthinkable in Bangkok five years ago. Today, at least three luxury hotel chains have voluntarily done just that. Could foie gras be next?

So far, Thailand would appear blissfully unaware of any growing global sentiment against the dish. In 2009, US$7,728,000 worth of foie gras was consumed in Thailand (according to PETA), and that demand has only increased since. Though traditionally eaten only on special occasions, Bangkokians can’t seem to get enough of the delicacy, with some swanky brunches and tasting menus even dedicated to the dish.

Foie gras translates simply to “fat liver” in French, and is known for having a buttery, silky quality that melts in your mouth when seared, though there are many different forms of the dish. Eloi De Fontenay, Chef at Paris Bangkok Restaurant, says, “From our experience, Asian people are falling in love with foie gras, especially Thai people. It’s a delight for chefs to use in the kitchen; it’s so rich in taste, and can be used raw, cooked and in terrine, and be associated with so many products.”
Reto Moser, Director of Food and Beverage at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, says, “Foie gras is popular for its flavor and perhaps also for a sense of prestige associated with it.” Indeed, it can be pricey, ranging from B500 to B1,100 depending on the type, its accompaniments and, of course, the restaurant. But it’s not only the taste of foie gras that is a talking point, the production of it is causing an ever-growing debate.

Foie gras is produced through gavage or force-feeding. And therein lies the controversy. The birds are separated at birth, the female hatchlings discarded as they do not produce high-quality foie gras. The males are left to grow for a few months, free to roam around the French countryside. Then the force-feeding begins and lasts for an average of two weeks. The birds are systematically force-fed corn boiled in fat via a metal tube pushed down into their stomachs, which if done with a lack of care can cause significant damage to their throats. Detractors also point to livers swelling up to ten times their normal size, impaired liver function and all sorts of distress caused to the animal’s body.

With this process illegal throughout much of Europe, France is now relied on for the majority of the world’s supply of the liver, feeding approximately 70% of global demand.

Quince’s chef, Jess Barnes, thinks restaurants can live without the fatty liver. “I think the ban on the consumption of any product in which an animal is treated and raised unethically is good. That said, this ban is considered by some to be symbolic of a class war. Either way, I think morals are the privilege of the upper classes and the entire animal should be consumed if it is to die for our survival.” Barnes also feels that more education about the production process is key to stopping its consumption. “In my eyes the people who have access to the product here are not educated about how it is produced and see it as just another dish like shark fin soup.”

Bangkok’s hotel chains and restaurants aren’t showing any signs of bowing to pressure, so for now foie gras remains resolutely on the menu. As Moser, of Four Seasons, explains, “Our guests are the most important factor in our decisions, guiding the selections we offer.” And Mr Clavel agrees, “It’s something which is famous and well-known throughout the world. To not have foie gras in a French restaurant would be a shame. It’s like a rule for a French restaurant to have foie gras.”

Perfect for: Getting in on the Action
Panasonic Viera TH-P42UT30

• Special Feature: 3D
• Screen Size: 42 inches
• Dimensions: 65 x 99.7 x 5.2cm
3D technology has sprung out of the cinema and into our homes, and this model is one of the best for watching explosive action scenes as the backlight’s fine blinking technology reduces after-images, resulting in smooth transitions that eliminate blurring. It also offers Viera Connect, a cloud technology that lets you access apps like Youtube and Facebook plus games, video and music through your TV. B29,990.

Perfect for: A Cinematic Experience
Acer H5360

• Special Feature: Projection
• Screen Size: 67-762cm
• Dimensions: 8 x 26.8 x 19.2cm
Most of us aren’t quite at the stage where we have an actual cinema in our homes, but the home theater experience is becoming more and more sophisticated thanks to projectors like this. The Acer H5360 model can be adjusted to fit the size of your living room and is 3D-ready to add that extra dimension to your viewing. Little space is needed for the projector which, at a fraction of the price of many of large-screen TVs, could prove a real winner. B33,900.

Perfect for: The Tech-savvy Viewer
Samsung ES8000

• Special Feature: Smart technology
• Screen Size: 55 inches
• Dimensions: 134.9 x 87.3 x 25.9cm
The remote is a thing of the past with this tech enthusiast’s dream TV. Turn the screen on and off, change channels, use apps and browse the web with simple voice commands and hand motions. Use the face recognition function to log on to Samsung’s Smart Hub, which includes three new signature services: Kids, Fitness and Family Story. These mean you can play educational games with your child, keep fit (and track your progress) and also save and share your family photos, all from your TV. Add in 3D vision, a huge screen, 3 HDMI connections, 3 USB ports as well as an option to connect to your PC, and the hefty price tag is just about justified. B199,900.

Perfect for: Watching the Olympics
Sony Bravia KDL-46EX650

• Special Feature: HD
• Screen Size: 46 inches
• Dimensions: 107.4 x 65.1 x 6cm
As the Summer Olympics get into full swing, feel like you’re right there sat in the stadium. Sony’s X-Reality engine ensures a smooth image no matter how fast the athletes are moving, so you can really immerse yourself in the action. Plus with the built-in Skype feature, all that’s needed is a voice-controlled camera and microphone, and you can share all the medal moments with your family and friends, wherever they’re watching. B40,990.

Perfect for: Keeping the Kids Happy
Sony Bravia KDL-22EX310

• Special Feature: LED
• Screen Size: 22 inches
• Dimensions: 52.9 x 34.7 x 4.2cm
The enhanced color of an LED screen and the full experience of surround sound should ensure most children are kept transfixed, mouths agape (not to mention adults). Sony claim they’ve been working hard to create high-performance products that have a minimal impact on the environment, and this model uses Edge LED to significantly reduce its energy consumption—great for the planet and your electricity bill. This is also one of the cheaper televisions on the market at B9,020.

WHERE TO BUY BIG SCREEN TVs in BANGKOK

Panasonic Viera TH-P42UT30. Tripetch Power Outlet, 4/F, Central Plaza Chaengwattana, 99/9 Moo 2, Tambon Bang Talat, Bangkok 02-101-0855.
Sony Bravia KDL-22EX310 & Sony Bravia KDL-46EX650. Sony Style, 249-251/2F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., Bangkok, 02-610-9664-6.
Samsung ES8000. Samsung Plaza, 218-219/2F, Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., Bangkok, 02-610-9584-8.
Acer H5360. Acer Care Rama 3, 338, 338/1-2 Nanglinchee Road., Bangkok, 02-685-4311.

When AirAsia X cancelled its Kuala Lumpur to London and Paris routes earlier this year, skeptics took it as a sign that applying the low-cost flight model to long-haul travel was doomed for failure. But instead it’s led to a greater focus on Asian and Australian markets—with an increasing number of low-cost operators entering the fray.

Since AirAsia X launched back in 2007, it’s been joined by a slew of budget carriers looking to link Southeast Asia with further flung Asia-Pacific destinations, like Singapore Airlines offshoot Scoot, Qantas subsidiary Jetstar, and Tiger Airways. Between them, you can get from Bangkok to Seoul, Tokyo, Tianjin and all over Australia. There is a catch, though. Flying low-cost long-haul from Bangkok generally means a stopover in somewhere like Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, or even Bali.

Airlines have markedly improved these connections, though. Jetstar, Scoot and AirAsia will transfer your baggage so there is no need to check out and back in again at the stopover airport as used to be the case on some routes. And if one flight is delayed, the second leg of the trip is still the airline’s responsibility. (However, do beware that this does not apply if you have two separate bookings.)

You still pay for these connecting flights, though, so that the final prices are not always as low as you might like. We compared fares for roundtrip flights in August and the results at times dramatically favored the low-cost (Bangkok-Syndey for B13,850 anyone?). On other destinations, we’d rather pay B3,000 more to fly a traditional carrier and get miles, service and no layover.

Unfortunately, the connections don’t always work. On the aforementioned too-good-to-be-true B13,850 roundtrip to Sydney (via Singapore), there was no way to connect within the same day on the return flight. You’d have to either spend the night in Singapore (there go your savings), or fly another carrier on the Singapore Bangkok leg of your flight­—a serious hassle.

Then there’s the cabin and service. When it comes to a one or two hour flight, most are happy to forego in-flight meals, entertainment and complimentary blankets, if it means they can reduce their expenses by half or more. But for more far-flung destinations, with flight times exceeding five hours, squeezing into a cramped seat, paying for a drink of water and relying on your own iPhone’s battery for entertainment are not as easy to accept.

AirAsia and other low-cost international airlines are set to operate out of Don Muang from Oct 1 with the lure of massive discounts on airport fees. Perhaps, that will mean long-haul low-cost flights departing directly from Bangkok­—and prices too low to resist. Until then, we’ll hold out for bargains on national carriers.

CARRIERS COMPARED

All prices for roundtrip flights mid-August 2012 outbound  inbound