Fashion shopping in Europe
-
A
Gamaya
A breath of fresh laid-back Ibiza air runs through this new ladies’ wear store tucked away on a street that has gone from near abandonment in the 1990s to become a delightful shopping lane today. The lady who runs this shop designs the breezy summer dresses, pants-and-tops combinations and prints herself.
reviewed
-
B
Coquette
With its spare, cut back and designer look, this fashion is automatically attractive in its own right. Women will love to browse through casual, feminine wear by such designers as Tsunoda, Vanessa Bruno, Chloé Baño and Hoss Intropia. To complement the clothes there are bags, footwear and costume jewellery. The store is a leading light on a street replete with fashion outlets.
reviewed
-
C
Greensleeves
If you want to buy a designer dress without breaking the bank, have a flick through the racks at Greensleeves, which specialises in high-quality secondhand clothes, handbags and shoes, many with designer labels.
reviewed
-
D
Banco 10
Prison orange is out and plum silk velvet is in at this nonprofit boutique: all those sumptuous high-fashion velvet tailcoats and cocktail dresses were created as part of a job retraining program at the women’s prison on Giudecca. La Fenice has dressed its divas in ensembles made through this program, which uses opulent silks, velvets and tapestry, donated by Fortuny and Bevilaqua for smartly tailored jackets and handbags designed by women inmates. Volunteers run the boutique, and purchases fund the women prisoners’ continuing career training and reintegration into society after their release.
reviewed
-
E
Birger Jarlspassagen
Designed by architect Ludvig Peterson, this fetching fin de siècle arcade contains a number of stylish gems. Mrs H is a fashionista staple, famed for its savvy collection of cosmetics, vintage boots and top-notch denim labels Citizens of Humanity and Sass & Bide. Indulge your lust for exotic and decadent underthings at Agent Provocateur, or feast your greedy eyes upon the knockout gems at a branch of former pop star Efva Attling’s avant-garde jewellery shop.
reviewed
-
F
MTWTFSS Weekday
Finding this once-hidden joint is a lot easier now that it has branches in two high-profile locations, one in Södermalm (on Götgatan) and one on Drottninggatan (at Kungsgatan), right around the corner from this, its original outpost. All the better for urban hipsters on a quest for street-smart, rock-star threads from the likes of Burfitt, Lois, April 77 and Swedish legend Cheap Monday, whose denim first hit the market at this very spot. Look for flyers announcing upcoming raves and indie gigs.
reviewed
-
E. Marinella
Looking for something to go with the John Lobbs? Naples’ legendary su misura (bespoke) tie-maker has finally made it to Milan. Heavy wooden drawers are filled with RTW silk beauties, subtly adorned with tiny flowers or geometric patterns. Once inside this elegant, private atelier though, you’ll be sure to want a precisely fitted six-fold wool-lined fat-knot number. Their advice: ‘the only rule is to follow the instinct’.
reviewed
-
G
Fiorella Gallery
Groupies are the only accessory needed for Fiorella’s rock-star fashions. Crushed-velvet smoking jackets in louche shades of lavender and blood red are printed by hand with baroque wallpaper patterns and a Fiorella signature: wide-eyed rats. Prices start in the hundreds of euros, but check out your reflection in the graffitied Ettore Sotsass mirror and pretend you’re not impressed.
reviewed
-
H
Klara Nademlýnská
Klara Nademlýnská is one of the Czech Republic’s top fashion designers, having trained in Prague and worked for almost a decade in Paris. Her clothes are characterised by clean lines, simple styling and quality materials, making for a very wearable range that covers the spectrum from swimwear to evening-wear via jeans, halter tops, colourful blouses and sharply styled suits.
reviewed
-
Prickig Katt Boudoir
This store panders to trendsetting guys, who come seeking non-conformist labels like Denmark’s Humor and Göteborg’s Gissy. Unisex extras include anything from hot-pink mock-rococo mirrors to street-art tomes. Sharing the same address, local label Velour and Stockholm legend Acne Jeans stock slick, stylish streetwear for guys and girls.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
I
Dmagazine
Given you usually have to schlep out of town for deeply discounted designer threads, what’s up with this perversely central outlet? Yes, all the major labels are here, but tend to be the stranger of their kind. Plus the tawdry jumble of oddments still going for many hundreds of euro and a barely contained atmosphere of frenzy can make even the most dedicated fashionista sick at heart.
reviewed
-
J
Mango
At home in the basement of a modest Modernista town house (check out the white, cast-iron columns inside) and a dozen other locations around town, Mango offers locally produced, affordable and mostly casual fashion for women and men. Smart but easy evening wear, skirts, jackets, high heels and leather bags for her contrast with collarless shirts, jeans, khakis and T-shirts for him.
reviewed
-
K
Venetia Studium
Get that ‘just got in from Monaco for my art opening’ look beloved of bohemians who marry well. The high-drama Delphos tunic dresses make anyone look like a high-maintenance modern dancer or heiress (Isadora Duncan and Peggy Guggenheim were both fans), and the hand-stamped silk-velvet bags are more arty than ostentatious (prices run from €25 to €120).
reviewed
-
L
Il Salvagente
As you scurry down through the grim courtyard to this basement shop, it can all feel a bit below board. Don’t worry, it may be cash only but the stock is legit, if so tightly jammed together on rails that you’ll wish you’d done a few upper-body workouts in preparation. Brands include giants Prada, D&G, Versace, Ferretti and Armani, and more unusual labels such as Teo Erre.
reviewed
-
M
Day Birger Mikkelsen
The magnificent new flagship store for this leading Danish brand is right in the heart of the mainstream fashion district. Birger’s clothes are elegant, classic and sexy, with just a hint of hippy (and that’s just the menswear). Designer Malene Birger’s own shop (she is no longer part of the Day group) is just around the corner on Antonigade 10 and has the same opening hours.
reviewed
-
N
WESC
This street-smart label got started by dressing up underground artists and musos. In less than a decade, it’s become one of Sweden’s fashion big guns, opening up stores from Seoul to Beverly Hills (actor Jason Lee is a fan). The look is indie-meets-skater cool, with all bases covered, from lusty denim to pimp-a-licious silk hoods for trendy dudes and sistas.
reviewed
-
O
Adolfo Domínguez
One of the stars of Spanish prêt-à-porter, this label produces classic men’s and women’s garments from quality materials. Encompassing anything from regal party gowns to kids’ outfits (that might have you thinking of British aristocracy), the broad range generally oozes a conservative air, with elegant cuts that make no concessions to rebellious urban ideals.
reviewed
-
Biffi
Retailer Rosy Biffi spotted potential in the young Gio and Gianni long before Armani and Versace became household names (more recently, she got Milanese women hooked onto US cult-brand jeans). She has a knack for interpreting edgier trends and making them work for conformist Milan; check out her selection of international fashion heavyweights for both men and women.
reviewed
-
P
Henrik Vibskov
Not just a drummer and prolific artist (past exhibition venues include New York’s PS1 MOMA), Danish enfant terrible Henrik Vibskov is pushing the fashion envelope, too. Stock up on his bold, multiprinted creations for progressive guys and girls, as well as other fashion-forward labels such as Surface to Air, Comme des Garçons and Walter Van Beirendonck.
reviewed
-
Q
Storm
Having recently graduated from the fashion ‘underground’ on Elmegade, this Danish fashion house now has a large corner store in the heartland of the city’s fashion establishment. Storm sells an impressive range of Danish and international labels including Visvim, Sixpack France and Anne Demeulemeester, as well as design books, CDs and fashion magazines.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
R
Siete Besos
A bijou store surrounded by bigger and shriller competition, the ‘Seven Kisses’ is an attractive treasure treat for women’s fashion. Styles can be cheeky and nonconformist but not at all vintage or jeansy. Pretty, light-hearted dresses vie for your attention with pants and tops, all at pretty reasonable prices, considering the part of town you’re in.
reviewed
-
S
Sameheads
The Sameheads, that’s Nathan, Leo and Harry, are three 20-something brothers from Britain keen on carving out a spot for true subculture through their fashion and music network. Their basement shop is a portal for around 30 up-and-coming local designers from around the globe. While there, probe them for details on their next underground party.
reviewed
-
T
3856
Venice is usually more casual and warmer than visitors expect, so 3856 comes in handy with breezy, effortlessly hip boat-neck tees, casual printed sundresses and shapely cotton jackets for women and kids. Priced like sportswear but resort-collection style, these pieces are good to go from day to night with the addition of a Murano glass necklace.
reviewed
-
U
Armand Basi
Local design star Basi appeals to a thirties and forties crowd with a slick line in casual elegance. Suits that are perfect without ties and made to impress at dinner or in the town’s top clubs match with stylish evening dresses. More casual shirts, trousers, tops and frocks broaden the range. Leather jackets and footwear complete the picture.
reviewed
-
V
Hibiscus
Blend right in at the Biennale with Venice’s creative crossroads style, layered piece by distinctive piece at Hibiscus: easygoing Italian linen sailor pants, one-of-a-kind jackets with vintage silk embroidery panels, Japanese watercolour-patterned socks and a Maria Calderara ring that looks like a coral reef wrapped around your finger.
reviewed
