As much as I love traveling with D and have come to rely on mostly each other for company, there are just some roles we cannot fulfill for each other. Sure, he has learned to listen to me whine talk about blogging and pretends to care about recent gossip and even once went to a Hello Kitty cafe with me, but there is one thing at which he draws the line: shopping. No matter what, D cannot make up for the lack of girlfriends in my life.
I’m all about living the minimalist traveler’s lifestyle, but I still love strolling marketplaces and visiting malls. This is when I always wish I had a girlfriend nearby. D’s tolerance for shopping is about 15 minutes before he reverts to the state of a grumpy toddler. Which as annoying as it is, is probably a good thing. It keeps me from spending money and filling my already-bulging luggage with even more junk.
But then we got to Taipei. The girls are fashionable, the clothes are super cute, and the prices are affordable. Taipei is a shopaholic’s dream! I loved the sense of style too, which seems to be a mix of girly, vintage, and edgy (think loose tops with flared mini skirts, patterned tights, and Doc Marten-esque boots).
So I ditched D and shopped. For a couple of days, I took myself on shopping expeditions, fueled by a fat tax refund. Each trip, I returned with a bag full of clothes.
I got quite a few new clothing pieces so I thought it’d be fun to start putting together some outfits. This first outfit is in the style of Taiwanese fashion!
I noticed that the tights under shorts thing is very popular. Though I spotted quite a few girls wearing black tights under denim shorts, I decided to keep it playfully classy by wearing it under a black romper.
I first saw this purse at my local night market. I immediately fell in love with it but was unwilling to pay the price, though I returned practically every night to admire it. My heart sank when it wasn’t there one night and I thought someone had bought it. When it reappeared on the shelf a couple of days later, I was elated but convinced myself again that I didn’t need it.
Another couple of days later, I went to Wu Fen Pu. And I saw it again. I had already been wandering around for hours by that point and I was dead tired and was just about to call it quits… when I turned a corner and walked into a bag shop. And there it was. I casually inquired about the price and was inwardly ecstatic when the sales girl named a number that was NT$100 less than the night market price. The bag finally came home with me that night.
My elation was short lived when just two hours later, one of the buckles for the shoulder strap broke. Oh well. At least it still has a handle.
Since it was slightly chilly, I threw on my new anorak. I’ve been wanting one for forever! I love that this one has lace detail in the hood.
Anoraks, of all different lengths, colors, and styles, seem to be extremely popular in Taipei. With this outfit on, I definitely felt like I fit right into the city!
Outfit: black romper: NT$300 // belt: NT$100 // tights: NT$100 // anorak: NT $600 // purse: NT$600
Total: NT$1,700, or US$55 for a whole new outfit. I think this is a steal!
What do you think of this feminine-meets-utilitarian look? I rather like it.
And thanks to D who (begrudgingly) took all these pictures! Who knew that he is quite a good fashion photographer?!
Where I went:
- Ximen, an area often referred to as the Harajuku of Taipei with a lot of stores. How to get there: MRT, Ximen Exit, interchange between the blue & green line
- Wu Fen Pu, Taipei’s largest clothing market filled with hundreds of shops. How to get there: MRT, either Houshanpi Exit on the blue line, or Songshan Exit on the green line
Tips on shopping in Taipei:
- Clothes are one size only. I’m petite (5′-0″) and they all fit me pretty well. I think they will probably fit up to 5′-3″.
- Most of these shops will NOT allow you to try on (except for jackets, maybe), so you just have to hold it up and kind of see if it looks okay. I got a couple of pieces that definitely look better on the hanger than they do on me. Oh well.
- No returns, of course.
- If you buy a few pieces from the same store, you can ask for a discount.
- Be careful and check the item thoroughly for faults. You don’t want something breaking right away like what happened with my purse!
- Don’t visit Wu Fen Pu on a Monday, as that day is reserved for vendors buying wholesale.
Aw, you look so cute and cool! I like the lace lining on the hood too. Also, I’m 5’0 too and I get excited when I find other bloggers my size. It was really neat to shop at the little boutiques in Korea – stuff was all one size there too – and know that “free size” fit me for once.
Yay for very petite bloggers! ! I loved that anything off the rack would fit me! In the US, I still have to shop in juniors stores to find clothes that fit. I was so excited to find cute clothes in Taipei that I just couldn’t resist not shopping!
Me too! It’s getting harder to find things I like in those shops now that I’m old! I follow some petite Asian bloggers, Extra Petite, but since I don’t need work clothes it’s not great for inspiration.
I know! It was hard for me to find clothes I liked in those kind of stores too. I followed Extra Petite before (and still do from time to time) but I agree, it’s great for those work clothes idea but I don’t need that.
Gosh, such great deals! I LOVE the anorak. I’m also a huge fan of rompers (jumpsuits are really in right now and I’m trying to get used to them). Those are some pretty solid fashion shots by D, I’m impressed. I’m about 5’3″ or 5’4″ (on a good day) and bought a long dress off the street in Bangkok, but it turned out to be great because I can actually wear it with sandals instead of heels, and people always ask where I got it.
At those prices, I couldn’t pass it up! I’m SO obsessed with the anorak. This is my first romper! I love that it’s slightly classy looking so I can wear it for more occasions. I didn’t realize you were only 5′-3″. You look a lot taller in pictures!
Gorgeous outfit! I love romper suits, they are so comfy (until you have to get changed after a toilet trip) I really missed new clothes when travelling, doesn’t a girl have to treat herself every now and then?! :D
Ha! This is my first romper and I’m a little worried about going to the bathroom when wearing it. I bought a couple of dresses during my 1st month in Thailand, but that was still 6 months ago, and I was really getting tired of my same few outfits! I think a little bit of shopping is good for the soul! :)
yep, you totally look Taipei here :) I’m too tall and broad-shouldered for shopping at most local places… and there are SO many cute shops in Taiwan I wish I could explore. oh well. I rejoiced when they started opening up Gap stores!
Taipei was like a shopping heaven to me since I’m short enough to fit into the clothes! I was thinking that the taller girls must just have to shop at the Western stores. That’s too bad because the local clothes are so cute there :(.
Oh gosh shopping in Taipei is insane!! I’ve actually really enjoyed purchasing lingerie there– everything is so cute and lacy! You look super cute, I’m so glad you got to find some good deals there!
Haha! I’ll keep that in mind for next time! I really loved the style of clothes there. It was my favorite out of all the Asian countries I’ve been to so far! And the prices were unbeatable too!
Cute outfit! I too like East Asian fashions, with the feminine and vintage look. When I visited hk and Tokyo and Beijing 2 years ago, I also noted that wearing black tights under both skirts and shorts was really popular. I think it must be a trend that’s staying in.
And that’s awesome that anoraks are in style there-I am not trendy so I’m all about functional and anoraks are definitely functional. :)
Thanks Soapie! I get wearing tights under skirts, but under denim shorts was a little odd. I’m in Beijing now and I’ve seen a few girls here do it too. This anorak is definitely more for style than for function! It’s thin and the pockets aren’t that big. I still love it!
You look so cute! I love hearing about all the fashion trends in Asia. And I do keep seeing quite a few girls wearing the black tights under shorts look here too!
That trend must be going around the world. That means I’ll fit in in Rome too! And thanks Madaline!
Looking totes amazeballs there :)
The tights and shorts thing, is definitely “a thing” but I don’t know, it feels a little weird when I try and wear it. Too much leg for me.
I think this is one thing I will miss of we start to travel more, being able to choose different outfits and such.
I know! I’m fine wearing the same 5 outfits over and over again, but I do miss dressing cute! I feel like my travel clothes are generally so blah and frumpy. I’m glad to have some cute ones now even if they’re not very practical! And by the way, you have the cutest print tops and tights! *jealous*
I adore that jacket!! Also the bag – super cute outfit! That jacket especially suits you though.
Thanks Holly! I’m so excited to finally have cute clothes again!! I’m sooo in love with both the jacket and bag!
Cuteeeee I love it. And that bag is awesome- even without the strap! ;). Is I was there I would shop with you- we’d get into so much trouble haha ‘and next we need two suitcases.. Each’
I know!! It would have been so fun shopping with a girlfriend! I was actually joking about buying another suitcase and checking that one in so I can buy more stuff!
Anna! I love this post. Shopping sounds so different in Taipei than it is in the U.S. I’m amazed that clothes only come in one size! Are all women basically the same size there?
The funny thing is, they’re not! I guess most girls are petite, but I saw some bigger/taller ones too. I wondered where they shop… maybe at the proper department stores where clothes have more sizes?? That would suck because these little stall are so cheap!
Adore this post! What an awesome insight into Taipei. And you are seriously rocking the poses! Phwoar, lady!
Thanks Terri! I have D to thank for the good pics because he would tell me to adjust or how to pose. Who knew he had this skill!
Haha no way! Very impressive. I look forward to more Slightly Style! ;D
Anna, you look great :) I found that one of the perks of long term travel is that you do have to update your wardrobe fairly frequently since there are only so many times you can hand wash a shirt in the sink before it starts to look like pajamas. Besides, isn’t shopping also an immersion in local culture, therefore a totally acceptable form of spending ones’ day while traveling?!
Hehe so true! It is so interesting to see the different fashion in each place. I haven’t really shooed much while traveling before Taipei, and the clothes I had were getting all ratty from excessive wear and wash. I think I may need to make shopping a habit now! ;)
Really enjoyed seeing you do a fashion post Anna, which is weird since I don’t often read fashion posts! You look so stylish and I would probably have had to peel off too as Pumpkin’s threshold with shopping is about the same – unless the shop has Wifi and a seat and then sometimes he can hold out a but longer before moaning! D’s done a great job with these pics though and seriously Anna, you wouldn’t believe it but I bought a bag in Marrakech after getting so tempted, which is so similar to the one you’ve got too – same colour, same style of buckles and clasps ☺
I knew we are like twins, Shikha! That is such an awesome coincidence! :D I fell in love with this bag at first sight! If a place has seats, then D can endure for a bit longer too but he’ll probably still just get up and leave after a while!
Cute! I have definitely caved to a few fashionable purchases as well…. it’s just…. so hard not to! A new piece really brightens up one’s “on the go” wardrobe so much :)
I bought a couple of cheap dresses in Thailand, but I’ve resisted pretty well until Taipei! I traded out most of my wardrobe, and now it’s not so practical for travel and more strenuous activities like hiking. But oh well!
I love your outfit! It’s so cute! It’s a shame on the purse! It’s stunning! I love purses!
Thanks Stephanie! I can’t believe the buckle broke right after I bought it. At least it’s still really cute with just the handle!
Great outfit! I like the description “the Harajuku of Taipai.” That would definitely draw me in. After living in Asia for a few years, I kind of miss the Asian fashion sense. I like having my daughter along as a shopping partner. As she gets older, I suspect that this little partnership of ours will come back and bite me in the wallet.
LOL! Enjoy it while you can! I really like the Asian style too. Maybe because everything fits me right off the rack. Taipei’s is cool because it’s very Japanese and South Korean influenced.
Loved your outfit and I’m glad you went back for the bag. It’s spectacular! M is also like that but he manages to control himself playing videogames on his phone!