Pauline entertains her guests and
shoppers in the unique Yes Boutique.
by Ayrada
YES! Ladies, we are saved. Usually, going to the market or to
Thai-boutiques can be quite frustrating. At least for some of us. Dresses are
too short, too tight, too black or too bright, or simply too cheap looking. Now,
an energetic lady takes care of these problems.
Pauline Dalton, who is rather tiny, still knows and
understands those ladies who are not as lucky. She sells designer clothes in
every possible size in her (also very tiny) YES Boutique. As soon
as you enter her shop, which is located in the Amari Orchid Hotel, you’ll be
astounded by how many dresses she can fit into just a few square meters without
giving the impression of being overcrowded. The interior and the colors are very
well chosen to give the shop an animal like look: beige mixed with curry,
leopard design curtains and a small, high counter where you can sit and enjoy a
cool drink or a coffee and a chat with the owner while looking at the newest
models.
I took advantage of having a coffee first before trying on
some of the most beautiful designs. A couple of dresses went into my shopping
bag for it would have broken my heart not to buy them. Pauline, enjoying my
searching and chatting, told me, “I love to have people around me, not
necessarily only customers, just some friends and friendly people who drop in
for a chat and a drink. At the same time, I can give them good advice about what
would fit them and what would not.”
I asked Pauline what made her decide to buy her shop when she
could just enjoy life in general (her husband, Peter, who works in Thailand, can
easily support her). Pauline answered very truthfully, “Living for more than six
years in Thailand, three of them in Pattaya, I simply felt bored. At the same
time, I was quite frustrated with shopping here. There were times when I wanted
to have a real smashing dress with a special design and all I could find was the
same as everybody else was wearing. Some of my friends had big problems as well,
especially those who are full-breasted. It seemed that Thai seamstresses
couldn’t cope with those type of bodies, which are very different to their own.
I thought for a long time about how I could change things. Then, two years ago,
I organized a craft-fare in Pattaya, which happened to be a big success. This
was the first time I seriously thought about selling something on my own. The
same year, I went on a holiday to Bali and brought a bunch of shoes back with
me. Within one hour, I was sold out - even though I only showed them to my
friends. Encouraged, I went back to Bali to buy good quality clothes. I avoided
buying any of the cheap tourist stuff. While I was on my shopping tour, I was
lucky to meet an Australian designer and immediately made a deal with her. Since
this well known designer back in Australia is quite a “big” lady, she understood
the problems of other ladies like her in trying to get decent dresses.”
Shortly after she opened her shop in September 1995, Pauline
met with another well known specialist, a French designer from “Animal”. The
French company exports their clothes worldwide and Pauline grasped this
opportunity immediately. Now, after gaining enough experience, she’d like to get
more involved in the designing part itself. Recently, she shopped around and
chose some materials, together with her designers, for every single model. Her
idea of fashion is: It should be fun and affordable. Soon she will get
materials printed with the Yes logo, and will also make some fashion
jewelry in form of her Yes logo.
Apropos fashion jewelry, Mrs. Arlette, formerly of “Paris
Decor”, a well established shop in the Royal Garden Plaza, has now joined with
Pauline. Both women agree that fitting jewelry should be bought together with
the dress. Most of the jewelry is done and designed by a French artist who is
very well known in Europe. Much of the jewelry is hand-crafted in France, though
some of it is made in Thailand. The artist found a special formula to keep the
color forever and to keep the jewelry from breaking - even when you smash it on
the ground. Besides the jewelry, she is going to sell special table-settings,
frames and lamps - all handmade. To tell you the truth, after looking at some of
the samples, I promised to treat myself to some of those unique creations. Two
of the rings I had to take with me immediately - I just couldn’t’ resist.
Arlette, who comes from an aristocratic Russian family (most
of the members of which have been living in the USA since the Russian
Revolution), gained much of her wealth of knowledge from her roots. Her aunt
opened a Russian Art Museum in the USA, the first of it’s kind. The rest of her
family has been in the fashion and jewelry business for more than 40 years. This
is also exactly the amount of years Arlette has spent in Thailand, yet it wasn’t
until 1 1/2 years ago when she came to Pattaya to open a shop.
The two women plan to expand their business very soon. They
are already working on opening a shop in the Amari Watergate Hotel in Bangkok,
which is scheduled to begin operation no later than June 1st.
On the 6th of May, Yes Boutique is holding a fashion
show for the International Lady’s Club at the hotel, which will be open to
non-members as well.
I could talk for hours about this unusual boutique, but I believe it’s worth
it for you to drop in yourself. Not necessarily to buy, but...
