Love Fashion and Expressing Your Unique Sense of Style? Then Hoi An's Yaly Couture of Vietnam is the Next Travel Destination for You

Do you love shopping? Do you sometimes struggle to find an outfit that fits like a glove? After shopping need alterations anyway? Ever want the perfect duds that describe your sense of style? And of course you love travel . . . Then a trip to Hoi An, Vietnam and an afternoon in Yaly Couture is the next dream vacation for you.

Unless you exclusively buy made in America brands (which I both love and endorse) many of your garments are probably assembled in Vietnam. This country not only accesses terrific fabrics, but has some of the most amazing seamstresses on the planet. And on top of all that, not only does custom clothing come at great prices, Vietnam is both a gorgeous country and a delicious one. Phở ?! Bánh mì? You know what I'm talking about.

Banh Mi from the Banh Mi Queen of Hoi An

What to expect in Yaly Couture

From the moment I walked into the shop everything I heard was music to my ears. My clothing would be ready within 24 hours, I would be assigned a personal shopper, all of my measurements would be kept on file for up to 5 years and I could order anything I want after my trip and have it shipped to me back in the USA! And the cherry on top is that I was paired with a lovely woman named Lynn, who was sweet, insightful, patient and very experienced.

I brought with me to the shop a pair of pants, a skirt, a duster, and a playsuit to be copied. I loved those items and wanted more of them in different patterns. I also had a wedding to go to in Hawaii a few months later so I decided to have a custom dress made as well. I had the option of showing Lynn a picture of something I loved or looking at their catalogues and store inventory. I decided to make a variation of a dress I couldn't keep my eyes off of in the store. It was all beyond exciting!

During my fitting for the wedding dress, Lynn had a question about the custom design's fit at the top of the dress, so she took me upstairs to meet one of the head dress maker's for a quick consultation. I do hear horror stories about the way women who sew are treated in places like this and because I didn't ask about the conditions before I started the process I felt a little nervous heading upstairs to see what the situation was like (admittedly I have learned a lot on this trip through situations like this one about becoming an even more thoughtful and responsible traveler) and to my delight the room was tidy, women looked well dressed, social, eating on their breaks, and although there was some undeniable heat from the large machines pressing clothing I could feel a breeze. This was clearly a positive contributor to the overall experience. Responsible travel is key.

Within less than 24 hours of my consultation I returned to the shop for my first fitting. Nearly everything fit like a glove. I had to have one more adjustment made to the top of the dress, but it would be ready for the next fitting within a few hours. Since I had to come back and I was so excited about the way everything turned out (and I fell in love with some fabric I eye-balled when I came back) I asked Lynn if I could have one more item made and in time for the next fitting. And she said yes! I decided to have a Kimono style cardigan for slightly cool evenings made. It was thrilling.

After the last fitting I decided to have pockets sewn into the kimono and Lynn suggested I also had a belt made of the same fabric in the event I wanted to close it from time to time (see? so experienced). Once everything was completed, I paid for my items and Yaly Couture would wrap up all of the garments and deliver them to my hotel 10 pm that evening after the last adjustments were made. Perfect timing to ensure everything was packed up before my departure to Saigon the next morning.

I could not have been happier with the way everything turned out and fit. Clothing designed for the way you are built? Yaly Couture can also make suits, shoes, bags, shirts and has a variety of fabrics, including leather. It really is absolutely amazing.

In addition to getting your custom made clothing, take your time walking the streets of Hoi An, rent a moped and explore, go on a bike tour of the city and see its outer limits, shop in the night markets and get yourself a gorgeous lamp, take a boat ride and see Hoi An and its islands from the water, stop in one of the many adorable and yummy cafes, and eat delicious Vietnamese meals.