Tauquil - Thailand / UK

Posted: Sep 14 2014

Where are you from and what do you do? 
I was born in Thailand but went to school in the UK when I was 11. I came back here ten years ago. I now live and work in Yangon, Myanmar, but I still come back to Bangkok whenever I can. Bangkok is where the family is, which means Bangkok is home.

Myanmar has a different pace. The slow internet takes some getting used to but it is getting a lot better now! To give you an idea, when I first arrived in Myanmar, SIM cards were over US$1000, now they are US$1.50.

I run my own company, which does trading, consultancy services and makes investments in Myanmar. We are backed by a fund and opportunistically invest in various projects that feel right, such as, telecoms, hotels and the energy sector.

What’s your favorite thing about Bangkok?
There’s nowhere quite like it. It’s got a hidden charm, even though it might not be the most attractive city on the surface. If you don’t like it, you haven’t explored it enough. 

Any good spots to recommend?
Other than Tailor On Ten? Baan Somtum, near the Surasak BTS. After a lot of field testing, this is my number one place for Isaan street food in a clean and air-conditioned environment. Best of both worlds! After that a beer at Mikkellars always goes down well.  Pete behind the bar is a veritable encyclopedia of all things beer and I am trying to work my way through their 30 beers on tap but they keep changing on me! I guess I’ll just have to keep on trying. 

To work off the good food and drink, I do Brazilian jiu-jitsu at BKKBJJ. I’ve done it for a few years and really enjoy it. I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a great way to work out!

Do you wear TOT to work? Get lots of compliments?
Every day! I always get great comments about my suits. One thing I really like about TOT that you cater to everyone, whatever cut they want. I’ve had some suits made in London at Savile Row, where the tailors all have their own house cuts, whereas at Tailor On Ten, you simply get what you want. I can get a more aggressive cut here, but you can also do conservative. My dad, who’s 80 years old, had a tuxedo made and gets a lot of compliments; my dad and I can both walk out happy. 

What do you tend to wear?
Ben has got me into two things; the first is three-piece suits. I think they’re fantastic. They work even when you take the jacket off and they let me channel my inner Harvey Spector! Also, I travel a lot, so the waistcoat is great for hiding my creased shirts. Khun Cha has given me some packing tips but I can’t seem to replicate! The second thing is linen shirts. They’re fantastic, the more you wash them the softer they get. Linen is very comfortable, especially here in the heat. Of course, I have a lot of normal shirts too – and a word of warning; don’t start with the Thomas Mason fabrics, you won’t be able to go back! I just figured I’d try one to see and now I’m hooked. Putting one on is like coating yourself in butter!


Any travel destinations to recommend?
Myanmar. Go now, before it changes too much, it’s just a short flight. Bagan is truly stunning. It’s similar to Angkor Wat, but has pagodas spread out as far as the eye can see. It’s really something else. I’d recommend a hot air balloon trip at sunrise. It’s totally worth it and absolutely breathtaking.Also, go trekking for a few days in Shan State. It’s blessed with cool, lush green mountains. The wonderful thing about Myanmar is that it has a bit of everything. In the north you get snow-capped mountains and down south you have beautiful beaches. There are not many places like it. Each region is different, almost like separate countries. The states differ in cuisine, dress, dialect, landscape etc. In the south, I’d recommend Ngapali, which has beautiful, still relatively undeveloped beaches.

 

Tauquil is wearing melted butter - oh sorry, we mean a Thomas Mason shirt - and an off-navy waistcoat from Vitale Barberis Canonico, which is given a luxurious touch with mother of pearl buttons and a light blue last button hole as a playful detail.

His Irish linen shirt has kept him cool (in both senses of the word) through a long day in Bangkok’s heat, resulting in the characteristic wrinkling, with a lovely sense of authentic lived-in-ness. This gives a charming off-duty look, equally appropriate for a day of shopping or on the beach.

 

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