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• 05/03/2007

  Madrid: a shopper’s paradise

  The Spanish capital has become one of the hippest places to shop. With their two different angles on design, the districts of Salamanca and Fuencarral have turned Madrid into a prime international destination for the fashion conscious.

Monumental, bohemian and modern, the Spanish capital is a lively city which never sleeps. Tourists come from all the world to gaze at Velázquez’s Meninas in the Prado Museum or Picasso’s Guernica at the Reina Sofía. It’s also the place to find the perfect cocktail, like the ones served at the Chicote Bar, or to wander through the ancient streets around the Rastro flea market, eat cocido stew at Lhardy or take a stroll through the vast Retiro Park.

Like any city, Madrid has its picture postcard attractions: the Cibeles Fountain, the Royal Palace, the famous Alcalá Gate... But another side of Madrid is to be found around the city’s own version of Broadway – the Gran Vía – with nightlife as youthful, vibrant and creative as the fashion scene around it. Birthplace of the “Movida Madrileña” artistic and musical movement of the Eighties, city with its very own chotis dance… Madrid is guaranteed to have you shopping till you drop.

Deluxe shopping in the Salamanca district

The Salamanca district runs from Calle José Ortega y Gasset to Calle Jorge Juan, and is the location of fashion’s “Golden Mile”, where leading Spanish brands rub shoulders with luxury icons like Chanel, Armani, Valentino and Gucci.

Claudio Coello is the place to find classic Spanish designers like Antonio Pernas and Elio Berhanyer, the master couturier who recently opened a boutique on a street which has plenty of surprises in store. The urban ingenuity of Armand Basi, the sensual lingerie of TCN and the ultra-feminine style of Kina Fernández all have their place here. For footwear, there are the delightful ballet pumps of Mónica García, the chic espadrilles of Castañer, the cute creations of Dorotea and the classic designs of Carmina Shoemaker. This is also a paradise for jewellery-hunters, who can’t afford to miss the ever-popular Tous teddy-bear, the subtle work of Chus Burés or the evocative pieces by Joaquín Berao. Close by, the original work of jewellery designer Elena Cáncer is on sale in Calle Velázquez.

A walk down Calle Lagasca will take you into the territory of some of Spain’s most exclusive designers. Plunge into Mediterranean elegance at Antonio Miró, meticulous accessories at Acosta and classic leather wear from Elena Benarroch. For something more modern, there’s Amaya Arzuaga cutting-edge boutique with her equally avant-garde clothes. The Victorio & Lucchino boutique is as elaborate and Andalusian as the designer duo’s collections. Calle Lagasca is also the place to come for Fumarel’s sports wear, the carefree kids collections of Gocco and La Oca Loca and the delicate accessories of Nice Day Nice Things.

Running perpendicular to Claudio Coello and Lagasca, is Calle Hermosilla with the very best in Spanish kidswear from Bóboli and Nanos. Classic footwear is available from Jaime Mascaró and casual accessories from Fun & Basics. On the same street, Lydia Delgado reveals her picaresque approach to women’s wear. Also crossing Calle Lagasca is Calle Conde de Aranda, where the sensual platforms of young footwear designer Juan Antonio López have recently gone on sale.

Nearby in Don Ramón de la Cruz, Josep Font offers his magical romanticism. Elegance prevails down the road at Ángel Schlesser’s Madrid boutique, while the glamorous swimwear of Andrés Sardá is on sale on number 14. Running parallel to Don Ramón de la Cruz in Calle Maldonado is the cutting-edge boutique of leather goods brand Myriam Gallego.

The wide boulevards of Serrano and Velázquez are the place to go for some of Spain’s leading retail chains, like Zara, Caramelo, Mango, Hoss Intropia and Women’secret, as well as bridal specialists Pronovias on Serrano and Rosa Clará on Velázquez. Custom-made shirts at Artesanos Camineros, the colourful Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada and the expertise of Roberto Verino are all to be found on Calle Serrano, together with footwear sophistication from Farrutx. This mecca for jewellery lovers offers Carrera y Carrera’s hotel-style Suite 76, the exquisite collections of Vasari and the latest in watches from Viceroy.

The last word in luxury can be found at the entrance to one of the elegant buildings that line Calle Serrano, with glamorous footwear from none other than Manolo Blahnik. Then cross Paseo de la Castellana to reach Calle Almagro, where Fernando Lemoniez has recently opened the delightful Demimonde with his associate Blanca Zurita.

Jorge Juan, in a class of its own

One street you can’t afford to miss is Callejón de Jorge Juan, where you’ll find a Spanish designer who defies definition: Sybilla, and her second line Jocomomola. Alma Aguilar offers sweetness and light while Roberto Torretta is urban chic at its most feminine. Scooter offers brands by some of Spain’s youngest and most creative designers like Ailanto, while sensual stilettos by Pedro García are on sale a bit further down.

A few yards away, in Calle Jorge Juan, is Davidelfin’s rather different style of men’s and women’s urban wear, while on the corner of Calle Serrano is Loewe’s Spanish flagship, with fashion and leather accessories at their most luxurious. The exquisite shoes of Sara Navarro and Lottusse and colourful state-of-the-art footwear by Camper are a stone’s throw away. Original footwear specialist Vialis also chose Calle Jorge Juan for its first Madrid boutique, to which it has recently added another in Calle Colón, in the district of Fuencarral.

Between the districts of Salamanca and Chueca, we find quieter shopping streets like Almirante, where TCN recently opened its second shop. You’ll also find the urban, European style of Anjara here and the delicate volume combinations of Jesús del Pozo. Calle Barquillo is a good destination for costume jewellery where Uno de 50 sells emphatic chains and large, industrial-style rings. Plaza Vázquez de Mella is home to footwear brand Uad Medani.

Fuencarral, all the rage

Between Calle Fuencarral and Calle Hortaleza, is the young, modern and Bohemian district of Chueca, one of Madrid’s edgiest and busiest shopping streets. On Calle Santa Bárbara, The Deli Room sells the latest fashions by young Spanish designers like La Casita de Wendy and Miriam Ocáriz. On Fuencarral itself, the young designer of Divina Providencia offers fun and floral pop designs, and Desigual offers some of the hottest Spanish designs. Caramelo’s young brand CRMJ, Adolfo Domínguez’s U or bold youth fashion chain Blanco also have their space here, not far from the surfer styles of El Niño, Lois jeans and up-to-the-minute urban looks from 13 Búho St.

International designer Custo Barcelona keeps all options covered with a boutique in Calle Fuencarral, another in Claudio Coello and a recent opening on an increasingly trendy Calle Mayor. The hippest part of Chueca and Madrid is the Fuencarral market, with iconoclastic fashion and designs by young talent like Luxoir and Pepa Karnero.