Elizabeth Kiester: A bit of Wanderlust in Siem Reap

Elizabeth Kiester's Wanderlust designer shop brings the chance to buy high fashion in Siem Reap

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Former chief creative director for LeSportsac and fashion director for magazines YM and Jane, Elizabeth Kiester now runs Wanderlust in Siem Reap.

Elizabeth Kiester's lifestyle and clothing store, Wanderlust, offers those in Cambodia's Siem Reap the chance to keep up with high fashion. She describes her shop as being about "a lifestyle of nomadic experiences, culled from memories, thoughts, dreams, and passport stamps."

Kiester is a former high-powered chief creative director for LeSportsac and former fashion director for magazines, YM and Jane. She relocated from New York and started Wanderlust in Siem Reap after touring Southeast Asia on a volunteer vacation in 2008 with Globe Aware.

Her products are mostly bright, colorful, print dresses and accessories perfect for warm climates, sitting on the beach, and parties day or night. Kiester's favorite? "I am currently wearing my Bali Djellaba, a modern take on a caftan. I love this dress and wear it constantly. It's loose, easy, chic and sophisticated and looks good for a zillion occasions -- over a bathing suit at the beach, with sandals for daytime, over pants, on its own, dressed up for dinner. It's a seven-day-a-week dress."

Wanderlust's products are available to order online if you're not living in or planning a trip to Siem Reap anytime soon. If you're already in Cambodia but more of a big city person, fear not, Kiester owns another Wanderlust store in Phnom Penh.

"There are some amazing shops now in Siem Reap," Kiester says. "We are really building a creative community here, one that supports the beauty and magic of the Angkor Wat temples."

Elizabeth Kiester's guide to Siem Reap

Poetry: "On the Alley West, which is the little lane that Wanderlust is on. Poetry is owned by two artists, Loven Ramos and Don Protasio, and is an emporium of all things creative," Kierster says. "Fab clothes designed by Don, artwork in the form of paintings, totes, tees and more by Loven...it's a blast and a shop you'd expect to find in Tokyo or New York."

Garden of Desire: "Beautiful high fashion jewelry shop owned by a young Khmer guy who was trained in Paris. On the passage in Old Market area."

The McDermott Gallery: "John McDermott has been called 'The Ansel Adams of Southeast Asia' and his gallery is a testament to this. Beautiful photography in huge format to ogle over, but smaller prints and giftables (books, calendars, stationery) to take home and display in your living room. Swoon-worthy! He also has great shows supporting other amazing photojournalists."

Eric Raisina: "He is a celeb here," says Kiester. "An amazing fashion and textile designer who shows his wares in Paris and New York. His new shop is located at the FCC Hotel on the river and is not to be missed."

V&A: "A wonderful vegetarian restaurant that offers high concept, lovingly prepared European and Khmer food that pleases even the non-veggies around (including me). I am nuts for her salads, especially the apple/blue cheese one. I've been known to eat it almost every day."

Abacus: "Excellent French and European food served al fresco in the garden of a beautifully restored modern house on the outskirts of town. Wonderful."

Sugar Palm: "Hands down the best Khmer restaurant in town, set in a beautiful traditional wooden Khmer house. Katana, the owner, is Khmer and came back to Cambodia after living and cooking in New Zealand for years. Fabulous.”