Tag Archives: clothes

Hot on the Highstreet Week 219: Shopping in Barcelona

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There is so much to eat and see in Barcelona it is difficult to fit in time for shopping, but if you do manage a little retail therapy on your trip here are a few tips to finding the most interesting and unique holiday purchases and gifts.

Colmado Quilmez – dating back to 1908 this old-school grocery has a spectacular range of local and international food and drink products. Make sure you check out the unrivalled selection of bottled waters, there are over 200 brands to choose from!

Les Topettes – a dinky, daintily designed shop with a range of lovely perfume brands from around the globe, beautifully packaged soaps and scented candles. I particularly loved the fragrances from Madrid-based perfume house Oliver & Co.

Chandal – Can I please live here? I loved it all…  a fabulous retro concept store stocking retro stationery, books, cameras, toys, t-shirts and much more. A whole load of things you don’t need, but desperately want.

Fantastik – this mad and magical shop stocks imported items from around the world. Here you can buy brilliantly kitsch décor to add some character and colour to your home… Chinese thermos flasks, Mexican virgins, plastic pandas from Japanese and photos of Indian hairstyles from the 70s.

Vincon – an expansive design emporium on the main street Passeig de Gracia Vincon spans two floors and holds a huge collection of aesthetically pleasing furniture and homeware. At the back the small gallery Sala Vincon showcases intriguing exhibitions.

Oriol Balaguer – where chocolate and design meet. Oriol Balaguer is an award-winning chocolatier and he is renowned in Spain. In his bijou Barcelona store in Barrio Alto presents the fine sweets, pastries, cakes and mousses in a beautifully decadent way. Go along in the morning for an indulgent pain au chocolat.

Holala! – this is vintage heaven, with a handpicked selection of vintage clothes and furniture from USA, Japan and EU. Pick up a second-hand Ralph Lauren shirt, neon sports shorts or a retro pinafore to add to your wardrobe.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 214 – Shopping in Istanbul

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Yastik by Rifat Ozbek – Yastik means cushion in Turkish, and that is exactly what you find in this wonderful emporium. The beautiful cushions in this shop instantly transport you to a different place and culture: brightly coloured, patterned and lovely to touch they are carefully designed and made to be the finest quality. I would have loved a selection of the mini lavender filled cushions to scent all my drawers of clothes.

Selda Okutan – This imaginative and inventive jewellery tells a story. Sculptural jewels and tiny figures are Selda’s specialities though I fell in love with the silver and gold ant brooches, that perfectly resemble the little insects!

Fey – This beautiful and eclectic wardrobe style shop is owned by Turkish Marie Claire’s long-time General Manager and Publishing Director Fatoş Yalın. The boutique is stocked with one-off vintage gems and a selection of delicate and divine own branded clothes. I particularly loved the handmade silk shirts which are softer than any I have felt before, and look simple but seductive on. Fey is a treasure trove to explore and admire.

Kağıthane – This delightful artisan stationery store is filled with intriguing and desirable accessories and paper creations. There are several outlets, I visited the shop in the trendy Karaköy area. A great little place for browsing and picking up souvenirs.

More Istanbul shopping ideas here.

Hot on the Highstreet Week 212 – Shopping in Frankfurt

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Freud: Brückenstraße has a great variety of shops. Freud (whose name is inspired by the German word for joy) stocks quirky European brands alongside the owner’s labels, Goyagoya and Lovelove. The clothes and accessories are playful and fun using striking prints and imaginative shapes.

Tia Emma: This multi-coloured little shop is a delight for kids and adult. Crowded shelves display trinkets, stickers, toys, stationery and other useless but wonderful artefacts. You’ll need to sit down after all the excitement, and grab a coffee and slice of cake from the shop’s café.

Apfelweinhandlung: This site was previously home to the beloved concept store Colekt which recently shut. Owner JB’s minimalist shop serves and sells his own brewed apple wine, a Frankfurt specialty. Just 8 Euros a bottle, this delicious brew uses eight types of apples including rare varieties from old German apple trees. Chat to JB about the fascinating process and buy a bottle to take home.

Bitter & Zart: A chocolate shop to inspire and excite. The beautiful interiors wow, with wall art designs by Renata Kos and Oriana Fenwick complementing the cabinets of rainbow hued chocolates. Sit nextdoor in the seductive velvet clad café for Parisian tea or coffee from locally based roaster Jorges.

Designe Kleine! : This miniature design store is definitely worth visiting. Owner Susanne Stahl rents out the display boxes to showcase and sell the work of other designers. There is always an eclectic mix to discover inside, and even when the shop is shut you can use the 24 hour vending machine outside to the shop which dispenses surprise design creations, different every time for 3 Euros a pop.

More information on shopping on the Frankfurt highstreets here.