Other shopping in Europe
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Atuagkat Boghandel
Greenland's largest bookshop has a limited but extremely well-chosen selection of books in English dealing with Greenlandic history, culture, economy, politics and natural history. Maps, and a few guidebooks and postcards, are also available. Mail order available.
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Cabbages & Frocks Market
Although it’s nothing to rival Camden Market or Borough Market, Marylebone’s Cabbages & Frocks Market does sell some particularly fine designer frocks, along with arts and crafts and gourmet foodstuffs.
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Globus
Designer shopping is wedged between Rue du Rhône and Rue de Rive. Globus is one of the main department stores. For designer secondhand, try Rue des Étuves.
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Fausto Santini (Via Cavour 106)
For bargains and previous seasons’ designs, check out this Fausto Santini outlet store at Via Cavour 106, near the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.
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Aspasie & Mathieu
For old-fashioned accessories like gentlemen’s pocket watches, ladies’ hats and walking canes, browse Aspasie & Mathieu in the Latin Quarter.
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De Passage
De Passage, off Hofweg ad Spuistraat, is a 19th-century covered arcade built to give locals an option for luxury goods from Paris.
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Weihnachtshaus Johann Wanner
Weihnachtshaus Johann Wanner is a well-known Christmas store – pick up festive decorations year-round.
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Paolo Atti
For foodie buys head to the Quadrilatero, a haven of delis and speciality food shops, including Paolo Atti.
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Officina de’ Tornabuoni
For natural pharmaceuticals and perfumes go to Officina de’ Tornabuoni.
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Marché Couvert St-Quentin
Iron-and-glass covered market built in 1866; lots of gourmet and upmarket food stalls.
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Celtic Bookshop
A fine addition to the local scene with books on local and Irish topics.
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Custard Factory
So named because the building was constructed by custard magnate Sir Alfred Bird, this centrepiece of Digbeth’s regeneration is full of original, independent shops. At Urban Village and General Stores, rifle through artfully arranged rails of such vintage delights as handmade brogues, leather cases, woollen skirts and paisley cravats. The Bead Shop allows you to pick-and mix baubles to make your own designer piece. Commission your own T-shirt at Street Print (from £8), then check out the chaises longues and anglepoise lamps at Fragile Design’s 20th-century furniture store. Finally, top it all off by tucking in to a mezzaluna (baby naan) in Yumm Deli’s tiny dining space. L…
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Mercato di Pugliano
Fashion fans shouldn’t miss Italy’s largest pre-loved clothing market, which straddles Via Pugliano in the heart of Ercolano. Everyone from local teens to serious Tokyo stylists dives into the op-shops lining the street, where stock-standard junk mixes it with fabulous offbeat finds (killer cocktail dresses, vinyl LP handbags and the odd military jacket). One of the best outlets is Old Star; ask politely and you may be shown the rare stock upstairs. There’s a number of cheap bakeries and food outlets along the strip, while the surrounding streets are awash with fresh produce stalls, fishmongers and suburban Neapolitan life at its cacophonous best.
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La Petite Robe Noire
Paris being Paris, there’s secondhand…and secondhand: in the rag trade since 1975, collector Didier Ludot not only sells the city’s finest couture creations of yesteryear in his exclusive twinset of boutiques Didier Ludot, he also hosts fashion exhibitions in the neighbouring galleries of the Palais Royal, and has published a book portraying the evolution of the little black dress, brilliantly brought to life in his boutique that sells just that, La Petite Robe Noire. Shop mannequins modelled a 1960s Chanel and 2006 Lanvin the day we were there.
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Didier Ludot
Paris being Paris, there’s secondhand…and secondhand: in the rag trade since 1975, collector Didier Ludot not only sells the city’s finest couture creations of yesteryear in his exclusive twinset of boutiques Didier Ludot, he also hosts fashion exhibitions in the neighbouring galleries of the Palais Royal, and has published a book portraying the evolution of the little black dress, brilliantly brought to life in his boutique that sells just that, La Petite Robe Noire. Shop mannequins modelled a 1960s Chanel and 2006 Lanvin the day we were there.
reviewed
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Property Shop
Sozopol is easy to get around on foot and there’s no need to hire one of the pricey cabs from around the bus stop. If you do need a cab, get one on ul Republikanska, the main road in the new town. If you need a car, there are several travel agencies around the new town’s main square, pl Harmanite, which can arrange car rental from about €40 to €45 per day, including unlimited kilometres and insurance (petrol not included). In the old town, try the Property Shop. In summer, you’ll need to make arrangements a few days ahead.
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Beatles Shop
For decent memorabilia, check out the Beatles Shop. Forty years later, the club is gone, the band has long broken up and two of its members are dead, but the phenomenon lives on and is still the biggest tourist magnet in town.
The Cavern Quarter - basically a small warren of streets around Mathew St - has been transformed to cash in on the band's seemingly unending earning power: the Rubber Soul Oyster Bar, the From Me to You shop and the Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds cafe should give you an idea of what to expect.
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Hallwag, Kümmerly + Frey
Hallwag, Kümmerly + Frey has a vast range of road atlases, city maps and hiking maps, which can be bought online. Swiss Hiking Federation maps and maps produced by the Bundesamt for Topographie (sometimes down to 1:15,000 scale) are also found in most travel bookshops. The Swiss Travel System brochure, free from Switzerland Tourism and major train stations, has a clear A3 map of bus and train routes. For more detail, buy the Swiss Federal Railway rail map from any Swiss train station.
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Portal de l’Àngel
This is one of the annual markets that is worth looking out for. For 10 days in mid-May (dates change each year), stands set up in the Portal de l’Àngel for the Fira del Llibre Antic (Antique Book Fair). The same spot hosts the Fira de Terrissa (Pottery Fair), which lasts for five days starting around 20 September, coinciding with the Festes de la Mercè and the similar Fira de Ceràmica Creativa (Ceramicists Fair), around 23 December to 5 January.
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Zara
Fashion fans may want to make the pilgrimage to the original Zara, in A Coruña’s main shopping area at the southwest end of the isthmus. Opened in 1975, it today looks much like the other 1400 Zara shops around the world. This was the small beginning for Galician Amancio Ortega’s mega-successful Inditex group, which has since launched Pull&Bear, Bershka, Stradivarius and other international brands but still has its headquarters in Arteixo on A Coruña’s outskirts.
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Heidihaus
At Heidihaus, where of course she never lived because she never existed, you could visit the Heidishop to buy Heidi colouring-in books, Heidi videos or just plain Heidikitsch. For little-girl-of-the-Alps overkill, you could follow the Heidiweg into the surrounding hills (Heidialp). When you’re done, you might be in need of some Heidiwein for your Heidiheadache…or perhaps just hit the A13 road and Heiditail it out of here north into Liechtenstein.
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Carrickmacross Lace Gallery
In the town’s former cattle yards, a local cooperative runs the Carrickmacross Lace Gallery, which sells the distinctive gossamerlike designs. Designs here are appliquéd on organza using thick thread and close stitches. Excess organza is cut away and the work is embellished with a variety of point stitches, guipure, pops and the lace’s distinctive loop edge. Most famously, Carrickmacross lace graced the sleeves of Princess Diana’s wedding dress.
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La Pignasecca
Naples’ oldest street market is a multisensory escapade into a world of wriggling seafood, drool-worthy delis and clued-up casalinghe (housewives) on the hunt for filthy-fresh produce. Shop for local cheeses and vino at Antiche Delizie, scoff down fabulous street food at Friggitoria Fiorenzano, then scour the streetside stalls for everything from discounted perfume and linen to Neapolitan hip-hop CDs and fake designer bags and threads.
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Cc Bombarda
Amid the galleries along Rua Miguel Bombarda, the small, unique CC Bombarda is well worth a peek. Inside this shopping gallery, you’ll find stores selling locally designed urban wear, bonsai trees, stylish home knick-knacks, Portuguese indie rock and other hipster-pleasing delights. There’s a shop (Frida) where you can order a doll made to your own likeness and a cafe (Pimenta Rosa) serving light fare on an inner courtyard.
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