Normally the words "Shopping Centre" and "Fashion" go hand in hand. Walking into Sorya Shopping Centre the feeling that the exception to the rule had been found was rather difficult to ignore. Whether it was the fast-food atmosphere or the overwhelming music, I kept on imagining that this must be what it feels like to walk around the inside of a pinball machine. However, fashion is a strange creature and known to lurk in the most unlikely of places, so initial impressions were shelved, and the search for stylish clothes began.
Navigating the first floor labyrinth of ice-cream stands, make-up counters, clocks and clothing stalls it soon became apparent that if someone put escalators, music and a few fast-food joints in Central Market one would have- yes, that's right- Sorya Shopping Centre!
The centre's clothing stock does not escape this observation either, with the usual local fashion suspects filling the rails- the familiar floaty shirts in different patterns with bows hanging on the rails and the shiny, gemmed, heeled, flip-flops forming orderly lines on the shelves. And, of course, sunglasses. From the beaches of Sihanoukville to the lunch-stops on route to Siem Reap, one is never far from the opportunity to purchase a pair of sunglasses in Cambodia and Sorya does not stray from this Cambodian quirk.
Handbags pepper the top shelves of the clothing shelves and, unless Hello Kitty is your idea of chic, you will not be adding to your own collection. Better to browse around smaller less-known markets in your neighbourhood for fabric handbags or, if designer copies appeal to you, the upper floors stock what seem to be good Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Gucci etc fakes.
The second floor is where the most promising moments were experienced with a couple of stalls housing very pretty skirts (that are not the length of a belt when worn) and dresses that I have never seen anywhere else in Phnom Penh. Reak Ray boutique (1G 03 05 06) is a case in point- they have a small selection of dresses by a label called 'Bam Bam' that really do tick all the right boxes: flattering shapes and lengths, good fabric and stylish designs. The theory of fashion lurking in unlikely places is proven again!
"Teen Boutique" also has a few fun tops if you feel like a night-on-the-town dressed in sequin. Sounds excessive, but if dressed down with jeans you may find yourself onto a winner. The second floor also provides a few moments of comic relief and in this case it was manifested in a belt: a white mock croc patent leather belt with a diamante buckle with the word: BAPE. Most unfortunate.
Throughout the entire centre, jewellery is available in every shape for every shopper- from chunky silver items depicting skulls to bring a smile to the face of even the most hardened Goth, to dog bone designs on necklaces for, well I'm not sure who really- but it's all there.
The third floor has a shoe selection that would not look out of place in Bangkok and on the fifth floor a shop called "Citymart" carries the label Giordano who make very hip long-sleeved t-shirts for children with pop art inspired designs.
Sorya really does have everything- and nothing- at the same time, but if you subscribe to the 'fashion lurks everywhere' theory then you will be more than willing to have a round in this pinball machine.