Does anyone have a suggestion for where to buy inexpensive basic (non-bedazzled, bejeweled, or lace accessorized) clothes in Kunming? I have yet to find a store that has a basic black shirt, dress, or tank top. Thanks for your help!

Count me in! I have no answers for this but would love to find a place like that. For now, I pretty much buy/bring clothes from the west but I'd love a local source.

You can have clothes made quite cheaply at any of the many many tailors around town. Bring in a photograph or a sample clothing item, and a dictionary to the tailor and they should have no problem making it for you.

If you are looking for inexpensive genuine clothes of famous global brands in town, here is the option: Zen, Room 1304, Building C, Beicheng pedestrian street, Tel: 13708497174 . The apparals are from manufacturers in Guangdong constantlyt outsourced by big international companies.

try giordano or balano. balano have a store just down the street from the bird and flower market and there's a giordano just around the corner. they both have branches in hong kong so their products are a bit more 'normal'.