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If you're travelling in India it's a good idea to wear khadi. This is the name for hand-spun and hand-woven cotton. It was a symbol of Gandhi's independence movement. But more importantly for the visitor it's the most comfortable thing you can wear in this country when the temperature rises.
Ready-made khadi shirts and trousers (kurta/pyjama) can be purchased at branches of KVIC/Khadi Bhavan (found in most cities).
Or better still, take the time to buy a length of cloth and get your clothes tailored. Anybody you ask will be able to recommend a good tailor.
It's a fun thing for the family to do and will keep everybody cool, comfortable and happy in the heat.
Wear tailored khadi in India and you'll all feel much more at home.
If, like me, you know that going to Paris means going clothes shopping then here is a treat: mens’ and ladies’ wear shop Comptoir du Marais.
It has two floors packed with stylish but wearable designs by young French designers and is unbelievably cheap! The shop has a tea room and small gallery where you can relax with your bags - inevitably full of clothes you have just bought. Tucked away at the end of Rue des Mauvais Garcons (street of the naughty boys) in the heart of gay Paris – this boutique is well-behaved wallet-pleasing fun.
8 rue de Moussy, 75004 Paris. + 33 1 4274 0606
www.comptoirdumarais.com
Hoi An is surely the tailoring capital of the world with about 300 little shops crammed into its narrow streets - all selling more or less the same designs made from the same material.
It’s very easy to get completely carried away with the idea of getting an entire wardrobe tailormade. I came back with a bagful of stuff - most of which went straight to the charity shop.
It’s best to know exactly what you want - take pictures from magazine or, better still, a favourite from your wardrobe for them to copy.
Getting shoes tailormade is even more exciting but equally risky - the materials are poor and the craftmanship not great. I spent hours in various shops and had a great time but picking and choosing the cloth/style was definitely the highlight - the final results a bit of a let down.
A small and friendly snowboard clothing and equipment shop with a really well-chosen selection of clothes (both fashion and snowboard - Analog, Anon, Nixon, WESC, Dragon, Element etc) and a particularly good womenswear section. They also had a good selection of boards for sale and to rent.
Castel des Neiges
Route du Linga
Chatel,
Portes de Solieil
74390
tel +33 (0)450 81 61 79
www.switch5.fr/
There is a fantastic secondhand clothes shop on Rue de la Verriere.
The shop is packed full of stuff mainly from the 1970s/1980s but also earlier and priced between EUR5 and EUR30.
Well worth a rummage.
Rue de la Verriere (between Rue du Reynard and Rue du Temple)
Nearest metro: Hotel de Ville
Very few clothes – they are so cheap here and you’ll only bring stuff that is too warm. Very little luggage – this makes you more mobile if you need to be and less vulnerable to taxi touts and undesirable men. (before you go home you can buy any extra luggage (cheap) to take souvenirs etc).
During my stay in Khao San (the main tourist area), I decided to get a formal dress and a jacket suit for work.
Since I was staying at a guesthouse in that area, I went to the Mr. Boss tailor shop next to it.
I was amazed at the variety of materials they had, not only for men, but for women as well. The salesmen there were extremely friendly and not at all pushy like some of the other shops.
Upon entering the shop, I was greeted with smiles and despite my habit of indecisiveness and not being able to choose immediately, they patiently told me to take my time with no obligations.
When I went in the next day, they again greeted me warmly and when I actually got my outfits in 24hrs, I was delighted with the fitting. It was perfect! My friends back here in Singapore adore my outfits, especially since I was given a special 20% discount too!
I highly recommend all my friends to visit Mr. Boss Tailor on your next trip to Bangkok. It was totally worth it!
This shop is situated in Soi Rambuttri (next to Merry V Guest house).
It's in Khao San area so it shouldn't be difficult to find.
Los Angeles is great for vintage/retro clothing, and these two stores, right across the road from each other in Venice Beach, are definitely worth a visit. Aaardvark has plenty of retro T-shirts, shirts and suits, while Gotta Have it has more dresses, vintage knitwear and accessories.
Gotta Have It
1516 Pacific Ave.
Venice, CA 90291
Aaardvark's Vintage Clothing
85 Market St.
Venice, CA 90291
New boutique selling only Danish designers. The department stores and even some other boutiques tend to sell international brands. This is a small and interesting selection of local designers for women's clothing.
Not far off Stroget on Klosterstrade
If you're looking for reasonable kids’ ski wear, head straight to TK Maxx. I recently bought my son a designer jacket that had retailed at £160 for £25! A complete bargain that I'll be able to sell on ebay when he grows out of it!
Crown Tailor's is a tailor shop I was recommended to visit during my trip to Bangkok and because they provided me with excellent suits and services, I think they deserve the credit for it. I was in need of many suits and shirts and Crown Tailors provide me with this at ease, with great service and excellent prices.
I didn't have to deal with any pesky salesman or get ushered into the shop, or even get pressured to buy, I was able to pick what I wanted, which style I wanted and comfortably choose the materials I wanted. If I needed advice, they were there to help me.
I've tried another tailor shops before on my previous trips to Bangkok, but I don't find it to live up to Crown's service. Also, I wanted two fittings, and Crown never once disapproved of it, which in actual fact, it wasnt even needed, as my clothes fitted me ever since my first fitting.
So anyone looking to get clothes tailored in Bangkok, make sure to stop by Crowns, I'm 99.9% convinced you won't be disappointed, with the quality, price and service.
Just inside of Sukhumvit Road soi 8 on the left side. Take the sky train to "Nana" station and you'll see soi 8, so you just have to walk in.
If you want real cotton or khadi clothes, both Indian and Western style, this is the place to go. Reasonable prices. Across the market is their Home Furnishings, just as good. In fact the whole market is becoming a Fab India outlet!!
N-Block Market
G.K. I
New Delhi
Morgan is my favourite clothes shop ever - it stocks fabulous quality, quirkily modern pieces by startlingly creative designers from across Europe. The softest wools, asymetric cuts, surprising shapes and all extremely wearable, if at times wincingly pricey. But don't worry about that, the plastic's for flexing - just go!
Westgate Street, Chester
Here the credit card reigns supreme. One floor alone devoted to all those brand names which women die for. Tommy Hilfiger, Liz Claiborne, Mondee...soft music, the most pleasant of sales assistants and it is so easy to put it on le plastic.
The shoe floor is exquisite, even to me. Nothing less than three figures on the price tags.
I’m told King Juan Carlos of Spain comes to Palma for his holidays and has done so for many years. So. If it’s good enough for him, then it’s good enough for...
Follow the noise of the credit cards
Forget shopping centres. Oxford Street, Paddington is definitely the best place to shop in Sydney. It has the odd high street store (Witchery, which is a more expensive version of Zara, and Diesel) but it’s the Australian designers that steal the show: Collette Dinnigan, Morrisey, Satch, Alannah Hill. Not to be missed.
Venture from the main strip to the tree-lined back streets and you’ll find some great boutiques. There are also plenty of chic cafes and restaurants for when you are shopped-out. And keep an eye out for celebs. I saw Britney Spears (pre-baby, of course). Don't drive though: parking is a nightmare. Take the bus.
Oxford Street, Paddington; Catch bus 380 from the city towards Bondi Beach
This boutique has its roots in Toronto and basically recycles clothes. They take old sweaters, jeans and other items and turn them into ultra-cool, modern creations, each one unique. Prices range from $30 - $250. The staff are friendly and they often have really great sales.
4832 Boulevard St-Laurent;
tel: 1 (514) 499 9898;
www.preloved.ca
The obligatory Red Bull or Beer Chang T-shirt need not leave Thailand.
A great place to shop for clothes - much of the clothes for sale in the western world are made in Bangladesh, and this is one of the places where you can buy them before they hit the high street (and before the high street prices get slapped on).
It's on Gulshan Avenue, between the Gulshan 1 circle and the city centre.
You know those instantly recognisable T-shirts (a colourful mishmash of patterns, textures and fabrics) that cost a bomb in Harvey Nichols? Buy them cheaper in this new flagship store.
Ferran, 36; tel: 933 426 698
This place sells last season's Paul Smith clothes for way cheaper than you'll find them anywhere else - it rocks!
Avery Row, behind Bond Street Station
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