Of course a fashion lover can’t go wrong with Paris or Milan, but there are other “capitals” that shouldn’t be overlooked.
To break down what those are and why, we turned to Keith Brooks, a travel expert and Happiness Member at Upaway.
Seoul
“Even though the city was hit badly by the pandemic, Seoul still holds its place as the beauty capital of the world. In the popular Myeongdong district, you can find top Korean beauty brand Innisfree’s flagship store, which leaves a relaxing respite from busy and crowded Seoul. In the Samcheong-dong district, you can find Gen Z and trendsetters heading here and get a real-life peek at Seoul’s style, as the neighborhood is filled with boutiques and stores for shopping. The Garosu-Gil district is also recommended and has a very interesting art museum, a beauty concept space for top Korean beauty brand Dr. Jart and the Etude House Color Factory where you can create your own lipstick — reservation required!”
İstanbul
“Not only is İstanbul a textile haven, but travelers can also get the biggest bang for their buck here due to low prices. The city has some of the fanciest malls in Europe and has many scattered throughout the city, including Emaar, Kanyon and Zorlu Center and are filled with Turkish and international clothing brands. Even Kanyon alone is worth visiting for the stunning architecture. The Nişantaşı neighborhood holds a bulk of the city’s designer stores, and the Cihangir and Balat neighborhoods are also great for vintage shopping.”
New York City
“New York City is one of the most expensive places in the world, but you don’t have to shop on 5th Avenue or SoHo to be fashionable. Travelers and locals tend to head to the Bushwick neighborhood just east of Williamsburg in North Brooklyn, which boasts lots of fashionable boutiques and vintage stores that hold anything you can find on a runway. Stepping off the L train you’ll find Friends NYC and also Urban Jungle nearby, which may be the biggest vintage store in the city. If you do have to get designer goods, head to SoHo, but also explore some innovative and local stores such as Flying Solo and Acne Studios.”
Sao Paolo
“Sao Paolo is one of the most diverse cities in the world, and it certainly shows such through its style, particularly with Afro-Brazilians being highlighted during past Fashion Week events. Besides Avenida Paulista, many locals and travelers head to the upscale Jardins neighborhood, particularly Rua Oscar Freire for luxury shopping and notable Brazilian brands. The city has a number of impressive malls which are a completely different shopping experience compared to a typical American mall. For affordable fashions, you can head to Morumbi Shopping Center, which has 450 retailers, or Shopping Iguatemi.”
