Seoul Shopping: The Issey-Miyake Inspired Blouses of Namdaemun Market!

Every time I flew home to the Philippines, I made sure I bought my mom a few of these Issey Miyake-inspired blouses. I first saw this type of blouses at a store in Itaewon. It was the ajumma-owner who told me they were like Issey Miyake blouses. Of course, these were not original Issey Miyake blouses, but 'inspired' by Issey Miyake designs because of the prints and the pleats. 

The first time I bought my mom these, she was happy because these ones need no ironing. They are wash-and-wear types. And they fit her perfectly!😍

I didn't buy the ones in Itaewon because they were pricey and I knew then that I could get the same type at a cheaper price somewhere.

I was right!

During my wanderings around the Dongdaemun shopping district and in Namdaemun Market, I saw a few shops that sell the same type of blouses. And which one sells the cheapest?

A shop at Namdaemun Market!

There are three shops in Namdaemun Market that I found, but the one that is in the middle of Namdaemun offers the lowest prices. I tried to haggle with all of them, trying to charm the ajummas to give me discounts. But it was the one in right in the middle of one of the buildings, in a tiny corner, that has the prices that ranged from KRW40,000 to KRW 80,000. Probably the low rental rate she paid enabled her to go low.

So, if you're interested in these Issey Miyake-inspired pleated blouses, wander around Namdaemun Market so you can also enjoy these wash-and-wear blouses like my mom does!

Happy shopping!😀

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Discovering Dongdaemun After Dark!

The Dongdaemun Shopping District in Seoul is one of the most popular areas to visit. Why? Shopping! Of course!

Although the Myeongdong alleys offer various cosmetic shops, fashion outlets, and a food alley, these are mostly for those who wanted convenience as these are all located in one location.

The Dongdaemun shopping malls, on the other hand, are mostly scattered around the Dongdaemun Design Plaza and are on different buildings. But what Myeongdong does not offer, Dongdaemun does! Shopping till morning!

Yes, while some shops and markets in Dongdaemun are open during daytime, the shopping really comes alive after dark!

               (Therese and friends discovering 
                      Dongdaemun after dark)

So, when my friend Therese, a former Seoulite, came to Korea for a quick visit last week, I told her I’d tour her around Dongdaemun. I had toured friends around Itaewon and at the Dongdaemun bag market at night before. So, this would be another fun night tour!

After their dinner in the nearby Namsan area, Therese, who’s from Oregon, brought along her other friends: Gail from Toronto, Yuna from New York City, Isabel from Paris, Jane from Shanghai, and Mitsuka from Tokyo!

Going to Dongdaemun, we simply boarded the blue bus from the Beotigogae area, where they had dinner, had a short bus ride, and got off at Gwanghuidong Bus Stop, one stop before the Dongdaemun Culture and History Park bus stop.

                    (Waiting for the blue bus!)

Here was our Dongdaemun tour trail:

Gwanghuimun

Said to have been constructed in 1396 during the fifth year of King Taejo, Gwanghuimun is a gate which served as one of the eight gates of the old city. This was destroyed during the Imjin War of the 16^th century. In 1975, restoration of the gate was done.

                    (Gwanghuimun after dark)

Since Gwanghuimun is hidden away on a quiet corner among shops, ordinary tourists to Dongdaemun are usually not able to spot this historical gate. But that night, I made sure Therese and her friends were able to discover this ancient gate.

LED white flowers of Dongdaemun Design Plaza

From Gwanghuimun, we made our way to the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). I told them that this site was an old baseball stadium but is now a unique space for designers and artists, where they can sell, market, and exhibit their designs and creations. DDP was designed by the late Zaha Hadid, a world-renowned architect.

          (The ladies at the LED flower garden)

But unfortunately, it was late when we got to DDP. So, we moved around the DDP and discovered the unique, white LED flowers scattered around the landscape.  A few years back, these 20,000 LED white flowers were ‘planted’ at the southeastern corner of DDP, but they have since been re-planted on a different side.

The ladies joined other tourists and visitors posing next to the thousands of white flowers that lighted up the garden landscape behind the DDP.

Dongdaemun Night Shopping!

And as I told them, the shopping came alive after dark! From the outside, you’d see these brightly lit buildings with colorful neon signs and unique names. But inside, it was a controlled chaos of sorts where local and international shoppers swarmed around shops selling clothes and accessories fashionistas would kill for.

These shops are mostly owned and run by the Korean designers themselves, and most floors of the buildings are all populated by these fashion shops.

         (Inside a Dongdaemun shopping mall)

Outside the buildings, we noticed delivery men gathered and hauled huge plastic packages that were probably meant for online customers.

Cheonggye Stream

It was almost midnight when we capped our Dongdaemun night tour with a visit to Cheonggye Stream, which was right next to the shopping district.

We made our way down the stream for more photos. We were surprised that, even though it was late, there were a lot of people walking through the stream to exercise or walk their way home towards the eastern side of the city.

                (Isabel and Therese dropped by 
                      the Cheonggye Stream)

Yes, shopping is not the only night tour Dongdaemun offers. If you’re in Dongdaemun, make sure you don’t limit your visit to the shopping arcades and malls. There’s the Gwanghuimun, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza, and the Cheonggye Stream!

Therese and her friends had fun discovering Dongdaemun after dark. You should, too!

Dongdaemun After Dark!

Unlike Myeongdong, Seoul's Dongdaemun doesn't have congested alleys and excessive, glistening lights. 

And unlike Myeongdong, Dongdaemun is not just about shopping. It's also about sightseeing. The Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) alone has a lot of interesting corners. Even standing in front of the DDP is a breather enough for any tourist who just wanted some space, which Myeongdong couldn't provide.

In Myeongdong, the only time when you can actually have the narrow alleys to yourself is early in the morning. Because starting noon time, the food carts compete with shoppers and tourists for space.

Around Dongdaemun though, you need not worry about elbowing any fellow shoppers. You just need to worry about how low you want to haggle when you're shopping!

After you're done shopping and stretching your wallet, maybe you can stretch your legs some more by walking around the Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

Last year, the DDP installed 20,000 flowers with LED lights that looked amazingly spectacular both at night and day. But this year, they relocated those lights to the other side of DDP and added more! 

Scattered over a few strips of greenery are 25,550 white and lighted roses, which attract tourists, shoppers and passers-by during the day and night!  Anyone passing by is mesmerized by these installations like a hypnotic '50%-off' price tag!

According to DDP, the number 25,550 is to commemorate the 70th year of Korean Independence. Multiplying 70 years by 365 days, you'd get 25,550. Do the math! And selfie!

Yes, almost everyone does a selfie with the flowers.

These flowers are scattered at the back side of the DDP near the Maxstyle Building. Along the inclined architecture of DDP, the flowers cascade like a stream of lights attracting more visitors to this interesting exterior of the DDP.

During these cool nights, you shouldn't bother looking up the Seoul skies. You'll never see twinkling stars up there with all the bright lights in the city. You just need to go to Dongdaemun and see flowers turning into a galaxy of lights, so many you won't even try to count until 25,550! The counting you will ever do is for your shopping bags and the number of selfies you wanted with these flowers.

By the way, the installation is only until February 2016.

From Exit 1 of the Dongdaemun Culture and History Park Station, just walk towards the back of the DDP. Eventually, you'll end up walking with the stars.

You want to enjoy more of Dongdaemun after dark? This is where you should go to after your shopping!

Myeongdong: The Early Bird Gets The Worm!

In Myeongdong, the early bird indeed gets the discount! Or the shopper!

If you run a shop in Myeongdong, the earlier you open, the more shoppers you'll see entering your shop. And if you are a shopper, the earlier you get to Myeong-dong, the more early-bird discounts and freebies you may get!

The earliest time of the day I was in Myeong-dong was when I attended the Sunday's 9AM Mass at the Myeongdong Cathedral. This was many years ago when Ana and Steve brought me for the first time to that place of worship for Catholics. It was a Sunday morning, before 9AM, when we met up at the Myeongdong Station's Exit 6, and found that the whole place was empty, except for a staff cleaning up the entrance of a shop along the main alley. So, thanks to Ana and Steve, I recorded my earliest visit to Myeong-dong in all of my years in Seoul.

Until...today.

I arrived in Myeong-dong a few minutes after 8AM, not to shop, but to meet up with Joy as she was giving me a bagful of fresh mangoes before their 9AM Sunday Mass! Thanks, Joy!

And while I was waiting for her and Miggy to be dropped off by their driver, Mr. Yi, at the Cathedral, I roamed around the shopping district. 

During the day (and night!), when the shops are all open, the shopping alleys of Myeongdong are crowded with thousands of shoppers and tourists looking for a good buy, be it cosmetics, skin care products, clothes, shoes, or...pajamas!

And while shops may outnumber the restaurants in the area, the lines at these dining places are long during lunch time on week days, and are even longer on weekends.

But this morning, walking the almost empty alleys, where I would bump into anyone had I waited a few hours longer, I still felt sleepy. Ha-ha-ha! The shops still closed, the morning temperatures cool and I just passed by a shop selling pajamas! But I wonder if they have pajamas for men.

Although getting a cup of coffee would be good, my main objective was to meet up with Joy for the fresh mangoes, and not to sit on a cafe and people-watch. After all, there are no people to watch! Ha-ha-ha!  Although, wouldn't it be fun to have a zombie-walk along these alleys when it's almost empty? Hmm. A zombie-watch!

  As I moved around, I could see just a couple of cosmetics shops open, eager to attract early shoppers. And the cafe, donut shop, and restaurant open had their tables full of tourists having breakfast. Early bird, indeed!

                             

 So, as I made my way back to the steps of Myeongdong Cathedral, I thought these alleys, in a couple of hours, will also turn in to a place of worship: a worship for Korean cosmetics, souvenirs and cuisine.

And after I got my fresh mangoes, Joy and Miggy made their way up the steps of the Cathedral and I to the nearest bus stop. And in the meantime, along the empty alleys of Myeongdong, everyone else was enjoying being an early bird!

                          (My fresh mangoes from Joy!)