Feb 102012
I bought very few souvenirs during our last trip to Asia. For some reason nothing really stood out to me, and the items that did catch my eye were either too expensive and/or bulky for me to bring back home easily. The only little trinket I did pick up (along with a bunch of dried plums, yum!) was this really cheap cotton sarong from one of the many shops selling them in Phuket.
The print caught my eye and so I stopped and asked the woman sitting on a stool outside how much it was. “250 baht, I am giving you a good deal,” she immediately crowed. Since 250 baht is around $8 US I was already fine with the price but remembered that my local friends had advised me to always bargain. After some pondering, I settled on the strategy of having my husband play the “bad cop”to try and get the price lower. Mr. Feather, who is financially haunted on a consistent basis by my Hermes prattling and pleas for mini getaways, jumped at the chance to finally play the tough cheapskate:
Shopkeeper: The sarong is 250 baht. That is very good price. Please pay now.
Mr. Feather: NO WAY. I am the DECISION MAKER and we will only buy if it is under 150 baht. She already has TOO MUCH STUFF. Even 150 baht is being TOO GENEROUS!!
…and so on and so forth.
As you can see, he got into his role quite a bit and the shop lady was impressed enough to agree almost immediately to sell us the scarf for 150 baht, under $5 US. Score! My hero. Unfortunately, Mr. Feather was a little too loud and during his tirade attracted the attention of a few fellow tourists – two British women nearby, who turned and gave him a slow, scathing glare. Whoops.
Scarf from Thailand
Chanel bag
Hermes bracelet
Anyway, I used this sarong for the rest of our trips and it now holds many special memories for me! Yesterday I tried using it as a scarf as well, it reminds me a bit of Aztec Pucci. I’m looking forward to bringing it to future beach vacations.
What have been some of your favorite souvenirs from trips?
it is so pretty! makes your rather simple outfit really pop! love it!
hope you have a fabulous weekend
Thats a gorgeous print! Very aztec inspired and I love the colours.
Ive been to Thailand a few times and I love haggling for a bargain, sounds and looks like you got one! I love it, I'm going to Thailand soon so I'm going to look out for one like it
Amelia @ UGLY DUCKLING xxx
http://www.DucklingtoSwan.com
LOL at your husband =) He did way better than my husband. I bargained for everything when we took a trip to Vietnam a few years ago. My husband was a little too embarrassed to do so. The sarong is super cute and unique. Have a great weekend, Kat!
Your grey Chanel is gorgeous!
I absolutely love Thailand. Everything was so affordable, the people were gracious, the food was scrumptious…can't wait to go back someday. I loved bargaining with the vendors! I haggled over a purse, and my husband laughs at me about it to this day…I said "But it's my first time in Thailand!" Ahhhh, what an obnoxious tourist moment!
Beautiful sarong! The shoes are perfect with it! I love all of your simple outfit!
And your husband seems great! I hate having to deal with the price on markets. I`d rather just accept and leave. It`s just not in me
Your husband is a great haggler! Love the high-low mix of this outfit!
Gorgeous print on your sarong/scarf!
Happy weekend xoxo
http://www.intotheblonde.com/
It looks great ! Beautiful print and color and very very cheap
http://www.tripsandtreasures.net
new marrakech post
I am stealing your bargaining strategy! I'm not much of a haggler either. The sarong is very cute and love how you've worn it as a scarf! x
acleanercloset.blogspot.com
Love the colours and it really suits you.The shoes are exquisitely matching as well. It's good to haggle but unfortunately, you really can't do that outside a market!!
Lovely casual Look
I'm a bit like you. I tend to pick up one unique piece on every trip I've been to. Good on your hubby. I'm not that good on bargaining. My mom, on the other hand, is queen of bargaining. I leave it to her when I want to get something!
I'm a bit like you. I tend to pick up one unique piece on every trip I've been to. Good on your hubby. I'm not that good on bargaining. My mom, on the other hand, is queen of bargaining. I leave it to her when I want to get something!
I'm a bit like you. I tend to pick up one unique piece on every trip I've been to. Good on your hubby. I'm not that good on bargaining. My mom, on the other hand, is queen of bargaining. I leave it to her when I want to get something!
Great look, Katherine!
You really live in siwy jeans
you look gorgeous!!!
I love your scarf!:)
what a keeper! my bf loves when i make up stories to return things that HE lost the receipts too haha. and omg what a great deal you got! i have yet to visit thailand, but your trip posts make me want to go RIGHT NOW. btw, is that a new bag? love the color!!
xoxo, LC
You look so cute!! I love the pop of color.
The shoes are incredibly fabulous by the way! I remember seeing a picture of them when I first found your blog. 
It's a beautiful memory!
oh i love that!
hmm… a cameo ring from my first trip to italy, a silk scarf from london, a keychain from italy, a pendant from scotland, a teddy bear from harrods… and i'm aiming for something nice and italian on my honeymoon.
so love your shoes!
Love the sarong turned scarf
Hmm favourite purchases I bought this aztec scarf in Asia that is really unique that I love 
I buy a lot of diff items that I know I won't be able to purchase back in Aus 
katattack2000.wordpress.com
Wow love it !! very cute outfit !!
Lamia
http://ginger-chocolateandhoney.blogspot.com/
LOL that's a funny story – I like the sarong as a scarf…looks like something by Theodora & Callum.
xo
The Fashionable ESQ
http://www.thefashionableesq.blogspot.com/
PS: Hosting a giveaway on my blog. Drop by!
Well played by Mr. Feather. We need to get him and Mr. MpChouChou together, they could bond over our Hermes habits. He usually plays bad cop for me at all points while shopping, haha. Either way, lovely purchase.
haha Mr. Feather, good job! Love how you're wearing it as a scarf, it's so pretty. My favorite souvenirs have been little trinkets and pieces of jewelry from small shops. Unfortunately I don't haggle, and neither does my husband. haha
keepcalmandcarrylipstick.blogspot.com
this works so well as a scarf, and love that you paired it with something casual. thanks for stopping by, let's keep in touch!
http://tidbitsofaddiction.blogspot.com
The print on that scarf is so pretty. Your Chanel is stunning too! My husband is much better at bargaining than I am and I gladly let him take over the negotiations.
Good on your hubby! Me and my hubs are terrible at bargaining! Aren't Siwy jeans just the most comfortable jeans ever?? Plus I find they're the perfect length for us petites!
This is such a great story, and only $5!!! I love picking up little things like this when traveling, though I don't think I've gotten anything that cheap! I have a pretty beaded shawl from Turkey, charms from Egypt, a pin from Israel, earrings from Budapest, a ring from Prague, various things from Italy….the list goes on.
I can't wait to make it to Thailand some day!
Such a gorgeous print! Haha I don't think I'm that good at bargaining and probably end up paying more…oh well. I always collect little figurines like an eiffel tower from Paris, the leaning tower of pisa etc
You paid too much!
Looks like fantastic! Love those colors!
Haha this story is hilarious! You look so pretty, I adore the print and the shoes work so well with it!
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your chanel bag is gorgeous, dear!!
thanks so much for stopping my blog, you've got a new follower, too
XX from germany
itsnotjustabag.blogspot.com
I love the scarf! Mr Feather really made me laugh out loud – he's too funny!
As for favorite souvenirs – lately I have not found anything in my travels to buy (how hard is it to find a funky straw purse in Thailand or the Caribbean? Apparently it was tough for me) – but I do love the faux red cinnabar boxes from the Peninsula in HK (curiously filled with a bar of soap), a small ceramic box that was filled with chocolates from the Landmark Mandarin Oriental in HK and a "do not disturb" door sign which I swiped (blushing) from the George V in Paris.
Have a great weekend!
Haggling is always the toughest thing for me- good on you Mr Feather!
I love the colors against the rest of the neutral outfit.
I melt at the sight of your pumps! She deserves a close up shot
The story about Mr. Feather made me laugh, my grandma is the exact same way! Thanks for following and leaving a comment on my blog, it means so much to me! You look fantastic with this sarong/scarf, and your nail polish adds a nice contrast to your outfit.
xoxo,
Genie
http://www.uniqueandchicstyle.blogspot.com
What a lovely spring/summer colour. It looks very good on you.
Love that sarong/scarf…the print is gorgeous and definitely looks like it costs more than $5. haha I'm actually the bargainer in the relationship…it's fun! Glad you got something in Thailand!
That is a cute sarong/scarf! I love scarves – it's a staple in my wardrobe
I've always wanted to travel to Thailand!
Good choice on that scarf and indeed a good deal. 150 baht is a good deal =)
Your look is great. Love the pop of color you added with your souvenir and the shoes!
Great blog! Thanks for your comment sweetie!!!
xo
Dani
http://www.welcometomyjungle.com
Funny bargain story. Thanks for sharing! What a great deal you got on that sarong. Love your outfit here!
♥ Pjlatte's Bag Book ♥
that print was totally worth the haggling!
dash dot dotty
hahah great story! I'm the worst bargainer, so maybe we'll try this on our next trip. I do love the scarf though – gorgeous pattern.
what a steal…!
love the patterns!
bahahah mr. feather is so badass!! that scarf is gorgeous kat!! and it matches your loubies so well!! the color is GORGEOUS (both the scarf and the loubies hahaha!)
the scarf is so fabulous!
iheartvintagecouture.com
Geez…. These street vendors don't even make much to begin with and by paying the asking price you could actually help t hem out a bit.
Ohhh.. Coming from India, Bargaining is what we do from the vegetable vendor to everything possible
That is a gorgeous sarong!
That scarf will serve as a great accent to any outfit! I'm actually quite terrible at bargaining. Although I know that the prices are most likely jacked up, I can't help but feel guilty!
http://xjole.blogspot.com
It looks great as a scarf! Brings a nice punch of colour to the neutral outfit, and at such a great price!
I love that the Mr. played bad cop, and the scarf is beautiful!
your louboutins are beautiful!
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