Some people like to unwind to a white sandy beach with the waves at their feet, while others prefer to trek hills and explore the wilderness, however, sometimes our thought of the ideal vacation is somewhere we could shop. The planet’s most beautiful stores are home to more than just fashion: many of the world’s best retailers are just as famous for their interior design components. And the best part about shopping overseas is finding these unique and one-piece bits no one else will possess back home.
Singapore
This is the city-state where shopping is considered a national hobby. There are over 300 shops, all under the one roof including luxury duplexes for boutiques like Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Cartier, and Prada.
In case you still have more buying power, you have to visit Singapore’s monster mall, ION Orchard, even if it is just for the building’s structure. Its incredibly futuristic look is a photographer’s dream. Costing about $1.5 billion to build, the ION Orchard spans across eight retail floors, including another 48 residential floors on top of that, with over 333 shops of high-fashion manufacturers and gourmet dining. If you are planning a trip, be sure to reserve it during the Great Singapore Sale, Singapore’s largest sale of the year where you can pick up some great bargains on mens and womens shoes.
Stockholm
Home to a few of our favourite brands, Acne- plus a number of the world’s most trendy bloggers (Zanita and Look de Pernille), Stockholm is high up on our list. And if you need further evidence of the city’s global fashion ranking, it even includes its own fashion week. But apart from its trendy setting and individuals, we love the al fresco element of Stockholm’s shopping experience.
Tokyo
Tokyo is unquestionably on many people’s shopping bucket checklist. This high heeled city is famous for its unique mix of interesting designer shops, huge shopping malls, and offbeat style boutiques in the favorite Shinjuku neighbourhood.
If you’re more of a mall shopper, you will enjoy KITTE. Located directly in front of Tokyo station, the six-level atrium construction includes a unique wedge-shaped inside with an outside garden on the top floor. We love the architecture, but with over 100 restaurants and boutiques devoted to Japanese cuisine and aesthetics, the storefronts are the attraction for us. It’s also linked to the underground tube, so tourists can get to and from the building easily.
For vintage fans, the New York Joe Exchange is a super-fun treasure trove exploding with contemporary secondhand clothing, even finding a funky pair of womens sneakers. You can purchase, sell, and trade.
A trip to Tokyo isn’t complete without a trip to the wealthy Ginza shopping district. Imagine super-high-end boutiques and shiny department stores, including the avant-garde Dover Street Market Ginza. Famous Comme des Garçons designer Kawakubo Rei has been the creative director behind this phenomenal building which includes seven floors of Japanese style and art installations throughout, making it a must-visit destination.
Move even higher up the designer tree with a visit to Istean. This is without a doubt among the most lavish department stores in Tokyo, if not the world. Each of the designers reside there: Chloe, Fendi, Chanel, and more. Even in the event that you don’t purchase anything (which we’d find difficult to believe), the experience of shopping in Tokyo is worth the trip alone.
Milan
As host to one of the greatest fashion shows in the world, the Milanese live and breathe style. If luxury designers are your thing, you’ve come to the right place. Each of the world-famous Italian designers are all here, from Versace to Armani to Missoni.
Quality design is anywhere in Milan: A stroll down the quiet side roads will alert you to some of the greatest ateliers making handmade leather shoes and world-class artisanal pieces. Just walking the roads is a feast for the eyes: everyone is impeccably dressed and über-chic.
For the expansive mall experience, head to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, one of the world’s oldest shopping malls that is home to most of the major design houses, such as Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci, where picking up a pair of formal shoes would not be a problem.
Dubai
There is, in fac,t no other shopping destination quite like Dubai. It is home to one of the world’s biggest shopping malls, the Dubai Mall, that has over 1,200 stores. To conquer purchasing fatigue, you can let the staff at the mall’s in-house hotel bring you back to life. Or perhaps a fast trip to the world’s largest candy store, Candylicious, will do just fine. But if your toes are still willing and capable of more, strut on up to the largest shoe store in the world, Level Shoe District, which sells 600 pairs of shoes each day. This is shoe enthusiast’s paradise, with 96,000 square feet of footwear and 300 brands to choose from, such as 40 stand-alone designer boutiques.
Paris
We surely couldn’t compile the world’s best shopping list without including among the most stylish cities in the world: Paris.
With downright charming department stores like the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, this is a city that you want to get lost in. While the shopping at Printemps is like something out of a fantasy, be prepared for a sensory explosion once you visit the sixth-floor brasserie. Have a seat on one of the famed Philipe Starck Lucite Ghost chairs and enjoy the light show from the magnificent stained-glass dome that reflects onto the mirrored tables under.
For something a little more casual, but not enchanting, take a stroll down to the historic quarter Le Marais, prime stomping ground for fans of those one-of-a-kind and unique pieces, antiques, and art. A shopping trip to Paris would not be complete without a visit to the hottest and most popular fashion sectors: the Avenue Montaigne, Avenue des Champs-Elysées, and the Saint Honouré with all of the flagship designer boutiques.
Travelling around the world for a great pair of shoes is an excellent way to find unique buys, however, you can always buy shoes online from these international boutiques and feel part of the international market, all form the comfort of your home.
