Europe Euphoria

Madrid which was once synonymous with hedonism, a place most visited by party goers has now become a shopper’s paradise. Madrid has emerged as one of Europe’s top shopping destinations, boasting streets crammed with some of the world’s top designers. Also, there are numerous delightful traditional stores and markets creating wonderful contrasts and variety. Image Credit There are so many shops to choose from in Madrid that it is difficult to know where to start, but if you want to shop beyond the global brands, focus to a single street head to Calle Serrano. Here you’ll find dresses of various international designers such as Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, Tommy Hilfiger and many more. Image credit Wanna buy post-punk cloths with a Spanish twist? If yes, you can head over to the Mercado Fuencarral, which features three floors of tiny boutiques. You’ll get great Spanish shoes, vintage duds and lots of quirky wares if you move to Chueca neighborhood, especially along the Calles Augusto Figueroa, Libertad and Horteleza. Image Credit Wanda is a cozy boutique that carries men and women wear. It is the sole distributor for up-and-coming designers like Micco. Men wear includes a green military-style jacket from Boxfresh, a small British label, on sale for 89 euros and more. Delishoes (Calle Manuela Malasana) specializes in shoes from native Italy and adopted Spain, including a pair of delicate, strappy sandals from the Madrid label S.ALBA, recently on sale for 85 euros. Image Credit Biscuit (Calle Divino Pastor) is a cute boutique with lilac walls. You’ll find brands such as Muka, which makes a blousey women’s T-shirt and a silk-crepe wrap dress for 144 euros, also, you can buy men’s graphic design T-shirts that range from 20 euros. Farrutx is a store that sells classy leather goods – jackets, boots, shoes and bags, don’t expect any bargain prices out here. Loewe has separate stores for men and women and sells a range of bags, accessories and fashionable clothing. Image Credit Whether you’re looking for a valuable antique or just a simple gift for someone back home, Madrid has a lot to offer you. Enjoy shopping!