Hi! I was just wondering if anyone knew if there is a website for Blanco.

I'm going back to Spain in a couple of months, and have been checking out all the clothes I'm going to be able to buy soon, on the Zara and Mango websites, but I haven't been able to find one for Blanco. Does one exist? Can anyone help me?

Muchas Gracias

Hi sally b! Just want to say, I share the same affection for Mango and Zara. We have around 5 Mango stores here in Manila and women just go crazy in there. I mean, their clothes just make you look thin(ner)and
tall(er). Zara I found on a trip to New york, unfortunately, we don't have it here. Now I'm really curious about this Blanco- it's the first time I've heard of it. So is it similar to Mango and Zara?
I do hope there is a website

Well ladies, I have consulted with the authority on the subject (my girlfriend "Ena" ) and aside from "Mango" at www.mango.es and "Zara" at www.zara.com she can not seem to recall if there is a seperate site for "Blanco".

The three are part of the same monster conglomerate textile company called "indetex" (nothing online about them either) so it would make sense for "Blanco" to have a site as well but we can't find it

Hope someone else can help!

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. "Ena" likes H&M, www.hm.com , as well and I usually lose her to the store on Saturday afternoons

Hola!

I managed to find the Indetex website and had no idea that the one company owned so many of the stores I used to spend half my time in in Spain - Zara, Berschka, Pull and Bear, Stradivarius etc. I guess the company hasn't made it quite as far as Australia yet, because we don't have any of them here, which is kind of good because it means that I can come back from Spain with heaps of clothes and be the only person wearing them.

Lizzie, Blanco is similar to Zara and Mango, but can be quite dangerous because you go in to buy a skirt and end up walking out with the matching jacket, top, shoes, and handbag. It was probably my favourite out of the three stores. I guess it hasn't made it online yet, so I'll just have to wait.

But another question - when do the post-Christmas sales finish in Spain? I am going to be arriving at the end of January, and was wondering whether most shops will still be on sale then.

Thanks.

He sally b, your in luck!

The well known "rebajas" ("rebates" or "discounts" in this case) here in Spain begin after the 6th of January (Kings Day) and run through the end of February.

Granted, the Feb. prices are always lower than the Jan. rebates. The closer it gets to Feb 28th, the cheaper things become. On the other hand, the closer to the end of the "rebajas", the less selection (in sizes, styles, etc.) but sometimes you get lucky.

I will try to get my girlfriend to post on this shopping stuff as she is quite the expert

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. can you give us all the web address for idetex here on this thread?

What a wonderful thread! I'd like to ask if these stores also carry plus sizes for the rubenesque, full-figured gals?
Gracias

Hi, Booklady! I�m sorry to tell you that rubenesque women (real women ) are not lucky with the brand names. The toothpicks are the guilty ones. I'm not a rubenesque woman, I'm normal, I'm a medium size, like the 90% of the girls out there. So you must buy your clothes the sooner as possible or you'll find nothing. Besides, the paterns are so diferent! I bought a shirt with a size in a shop and in another shop, my size was diferent. I don't know what are they thinking of! If you want to buy something in Blanco, maybe you could find it.

Also, you can look in MANGO and in M2 (same as MANGO, but they sell you outlet clothes and a really nice price!) I know girls at my work really rubenesque and they wear the last sensation in clothes. Both shops you'll find on Fuencarral street, near Gran Via st. Also, look in Zara. But I can't promise you anything. I've got the same problem. Only in the USA you can find whatever you want.

Bye, and good luck, girls. (Wish me good luck too). Bye, and go for it!!!!!

ena...

The website for Inditex is www.inditex.com which includes websites for six of their stores: Zara, Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Berschka, Stradivarius and Oysho.

In my Spanish class we read an article ( I think it was from El Pais) about how the Spanish government wanted to introduce laws to make clothing retailers stock larger sizes to help combat the high rate of eating disorders amongst Spanish women. I don't know if anything has come of that, but if the clothes don't always fit at least I can take solace in the fact that the Spanish make some of the best shoes in the world. Camper shoes have become exceptionally trendy all of a sudden where i live, but cost at least double what they do in Spain, so I'm looking forward to buying some very soon (11 weeks til I leave for Spain - I'm counting them down).

Hey sally b, jer here.

Thanks for the Inditex link, I had looked for it but there was no site at that address when I went there, they must have been having web problems at the time.

I had no idea that "Camper" was a Spanish brand until I read your post and my girlfriend "ena" confirmed that it is from Mallorca.

I am a bit out of it "fashion-wise" to tell the truth.

I also knew about the eating disorders here but I had no idea it was so serious a problem

Heck, I thought the Camper shoes were expensive here in Madrid, hard to believe they cost twice as much in Australia

If you want any more fashion/shopping tips, don't hesitate to post as "ena" loves to dish out advice on where to go for the best deals and latest trends (see message 2 posts up).

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. Only 11 weeks to go huh? You must be psyched

Hola Ena,
Grac�as for the advice on the stores. I will be sure to look at the stores you mentioned. Yes, here there are lots of plus sizes but the plus sizes lack the style that the regular and smaller sizes have.

Thanks jer and ena for all your help, and I'll definitely have to keep my eyes peeled for M2.

I'm going to be studying in Salamanca for a year, so I'm envisaging lots of trips to Madrid on the weekends, and I'd be very grateful for any shopping advice you have to offer Ena.

Muchas Gracias,

sally

Hi, Sally! You're fortunate if you're going to study in Salamanca. It's a very nice place, but very cold in winter.
When you come to Madrid to shop-shop-shop, you can go to the center of the city or other areas. Near the center, you'll find M2 & MANGO. They're located in Fuencarral. This street has a lot of small shops that sell "very fashion" clothes, but also very expensive (Look in the Mercado de Fuencarral).
Walking down the street, you�ll arrive to Gran Via. You can look in Zara (the new building, better than the other I think, very near, from Preciados st.)and Stradivarius (this shop also in Carretas st.). Zara has a lot of styles and Stradivarius' style is modern, latest fashion but not smart. If you want something smart, better to look for it in Zara or Mango.
In Preciados st., near Pta. Sol and Gran Via, you can find a lot of shops. Also H&M, cheaper than USA and with big sizes (careful when you look the sizes, because in H&M are bigger than in other shops) The bad thing of H&M it's that: If you want to return something, don't cut any price-tag. They give you around 30 days.
You'll see next to the H&M building a shop called Pimkye. It has a lot of clothes, look in it, but it's a little expensive. And the last thing: you can look in El Corte Ingl�s., but I don�t like it. Always crowded.
This is the center-center. Other areas: Goya o Moncloa (Princesa st.). Hope this will be useful, and careful with the change to the euro.Bye, Sally Ena

Booklady, depends on what you call a plus-size! I am a twelve and absolutely cannot find clothing in Spain, not to mention they cut the clothes differently to fit the "Spanish body" (i.e. slim hips)
Also, Zara's size 14 is more like a 10, my smaller sister (a size 8) couldn't fit into Zara's 8 or 10.
My advise is not to get too depressed if you have a hard time finding clothes (that is, if you are a 12 or above) and just plan on purchasing a ton of shoes!!! That's what I always do!

Have fun shopping!!

Did someone say there's an H&M in Madrid?! Where abouts is it? And is it as cheap as UK?
Also, is there a TopShop?
Thank yooouuuu!

Laduque,
You floored me! Yes, I am a bit larger than a 12, I am also tall. I guess I won't be finding rubenesque clothes in Madrid! Qu� lastima!I guess full-figured Spanish ladies must go to a modista for their clothes.

Yes, I will buy shoes and handbags for sure.