Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fashion
Palermo Viejo is the epicenter
of Argentina's haute couture
industry, while Recoleta
remains the barrio for more
traditional fashions. Some
designers, such as Martin
Churba of
Tramando
, have
already made it big on
catwalks in Milan and New
York; others, such as mid-range
designers
Ona Sáez
and
Juana
de Arco
, are well-liked by
porteños for their chic and
urban designs. Popular fashions
tend to follow European trends
fairly closely, so large shopping
malls stock Armani, Louis
Vuitton, and other well-known
international designers.
For menswear, check out
the creations of
Hermanos
Estebecorena
, while for cool
porteño trends visit
Félix
.
Located close by, on Calles
Murillo
and Scalabrini Ortíz, are
several excellent leather shops
offering their wares at near-
wholesale prices. There are
many shops that specialize in
children's clothes in the capital,
and there are even boutiques
that sell haute couture for
babies only a couple of months
old.
Owoko
in Palermo Viejo is
a bright and bubbly emporium,
selling pyjamas, dresses, T-shirts,
and trendy trousers. A free
kids' storybook is given away
with every purchase. Another
popular clothes shop here is
Cheeky
, which has seasonal
collections and purveys a more
classic, stylish line in urban gear
for young people.
Lingerie and
Swimwear
There are numerous
high-street stores in
Buenos Aires known
for selling good-quality
lingerie. Even small
neighbor hood under-
wear shops dress their
windows in lace and
satin finery. The biggest
name in the country
is
Caro Cuore
, which
sells lingerie for women
at fairly reasonable
prices. The brand has
branches in the malls
and is stocked by all
general retailers.
To cover all bases,
from maternity lingerie to
something exotic and daring
involving lace and fluff, check
out
Peter Pan
's vast selection,
especially their strong line in
animal-print undies.
For sporty swimwear, there
are dozens of excellent sports
gear shops located all over the
capital, including branches of
Stock Center
. The local fashion
retailer,
Salsipuedes
, stocks its
own swimming trunks and Al
Ver Veras bikinis.
The Ateneo Grand Splendid bookshop
tango
kioskos
in Corrientes,
ones that sell law-related
books and magazines in the
Tribunales area, and posh
stands at the airport selling
coffee-table books and the
latest novels. Newspapers,
magazines, and literature can
all be obtained at the
kioskos
in
Recoleta and Microcentro.
The English-language
Buenos
Aires Herald
is sold in many of
the centrally located stands.
For a wide range of English-
language books, visit
Ateneo
Grand Splendid
on Avenida
Santa Fe and also its branches
along Calle Florida. Another
good choice is
KEL Ediciones
branch, which is also very
popular with English students
and teachers.
More sought out by tourists
are coffee-table picture books
and fancy editions of famous
Argentinian classics, such as
Borges's poems and short
stories and
Martín Fierro
by
José Hernández. These are
available at branches of
Libros del Pasaje
and
Cúspide
.
The former has an outlet
in Palermo Viejo and
the latter has a branch in the
Recoleta Village mall.
Zival's is well-known for
tango books and also offers
an excellent and extensive
range of Argentinian tango,
folk, jazz, and rock CDs.
Branches of
Musimundo
,
found throughout the city,
are often cheaper for best-
selling CDs.
Newspapers, Books,
and Music
As in all Argentinian cities, the
kiosko
(newspaper stand) is a
popular sight in Buenos Aires.
The capital of Latin America's
most literate country has a
diverse and generally high-
quality press. There are
A shop selling a wide range of leather goods, Recoleta
