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Posted
I'll be in Spain all next year as a student at UCM. I want to fit in with the Spainards and buy my clothes when I get to Madrid. What are the differences between clothes in Spain and the USA? I assume they are tighter...but what sizes are available for women? What are the current fashions? Are they more/less expensive? Do people repeat outfits more often?
Thanks
 
Posts: 20 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 29 March 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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differences are that clothes tend to have a more tailored look, emphasis on flowing color combinations, clean lines, accessories are big. trends/styles come from europe (nyc is the exception) so spain is at the front of what is hot now..check these spanish fashion clothing, shoes, jewelery sites out..i love to shop in spain..its less expensive, high quality and you know what you are buying won't hit the streets in the us for at least a season..or two..and in the case of camper shoes..years!! have fun you fellow shopper you!!!! Big Grin Big Grin Big Grin

Camper

Zara

Mango



Cortefiel


Tous


to pa'lante
 
Posts: 91 | Location: london | Registered: 02 March 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Check out a street "Calle Serrano". It has a bunch of Spanish designers (as well as Yves Saint Laurent, Zegna and Armani), and most of wich are not too expensive. The Spanish tend to dress slightly more conservative then Italians of the French, but much nicer than the US (NYC excepted as the previous post noted). Its not to difficult to fit in, as there is a lot of varitey. But you will not see the baggy slob like styles that are unfortunately prevalent in much of the US (IE ripped jeans and a hoody).
 
Posts: 8 | Location: NH, USA | Registered: 26 May 2001Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
jer
"the man!"
Picture of jer
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Hey lulu, personally I am not very "fashion" myself but take the advice of joquecalor above, I have met her and she is one stylin' babe Big Grin

Saludos & happy shoppin',
jer...


- madrid nut, webweaver of www.multimadrid.com and keeper of the plazaCam.
- worlds biggest outdoor internet cafe --> www.plazawifi.info - GET CONNECTED!!!
--------------------
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at Onspanishtime.com.
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at spainSIM.com.
 
Posts: 12218 | Location: ny, u.s.a. --> madrid, spain --> the plaza mayor ! | Registered: 30 June 1998Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Hi Lulu --

With regards to sizes...Spanish women are generally smaller than the average American woman. I have read many times that the average American woman wears a size 12/14. Finding those sizes here (or larger) may prove to be a bit more challenging in your average store here in Spain.

I have big dogs...ladies� size 10 and have found it virtually impossible to find shoes to fit my feet here without paying a fortune. So, I stock up and buy a couple of pairs everytime I am in the USA. I can do just as well there (both in terms of fashion and designer) for much less money.

As joquecalor says, fashion accessories are a big thing here. On one recent trip back to the USA I sat next to a fellow expat who lives in Paris. She said she was surprised to see that the Madrile�as were much MORE fashionably dressed than the Parisian women. Remember the rules that your grandmom taught you... the shoes must match the belt which must match the bag (which in the winter must also match the gloves, hat, scarf and coat!!). "Camel" or "tan" are particularly popular fashion colors here right now.

Have fun shopping!


____________________
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Posts: 1376 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 24 March 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Thanks for all the help! I checked out the web sites joquecalor gave me and now I'm even more pumped to go shopping in Spain. I'll just have to be sure to save up lots of money to do so. I really liked the clothes at Mango and Zara. I also thought they were less expensive than what you could exspect to pay for something similar in America. My mother tells me that Spain is known for it's great leather. Are there stores that I should check out in that area? I am also excited to go to El Corte Ingles and see what that is all about. Too bad I have till Aug. till I'll be leaving! But I am sure that I'll learn and experience a lot after beign there for a year.
Saludos,
Lauren
 
Posts: 20 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 29 March 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
pim
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El Corte Ingl�s is just a department store, you shouldn't be too impressed at all, and it's "expensivish". The only thing is that it's THE ONLY ONE now (there used to be other chains).
You'll find Zara's great, meaning, it's the latest styles (new collection every two weeks, which is VERY IMPORTANT considering everybody wears Zara, but nobody likes to see other people dressed like you); great prices (not the best quality but it's really worth it), and they're all over the place.
 
Posts: 627 | Location: Brussels | Registered: 16 December 2001Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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What? No more "Galer�as Preciados"?


Pack light, sleep cheap, eat well.
 
Posts: 479 | Location: ROCKFORD,MI, USA | Registered: 23 May 2001Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
jer
"the man!"
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Yowzers Sue! It really has been too long since you have been back to Spain Eeker

Galer�as Preciados used to be the only competition "El Corte Ingl�s" ("The English Cut" Big Grin ) had until the Corte Ingl�s "les merend�" (ate them alive Eeker )

Saludos,
jer...


- madrid nut, webweaver of www.multimadrid.com and keeper of the plazaCam.
- worlds biggest outdoor internet cafe --> www.plazawifi.info - GET CONNECTED!!!
--------------------
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at Onspanishtime.com.
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at spainSIM.com.
 
Posts: 12218 | Location: ny, u.s.a. --> madrid, spain --> the plaza mayor ! | Registered: 30 June 1998Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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I must mention a couple of other designers that I love for M&W. PURIFICION GARCIA & ADOLFO DOMINGUEZ.

Puri always has incredible fabrics, cuts, & variety. It is more on the conservative side but I never feel conservative when I wear her clothes.

Adolfo on the other hand is a lot more fun and sometimes daring.

Both have GREAT prices and both have several stores in Madrid, as well as other stores around Espa�a.

LA
 
Posts: 48 | Location: Santa Monica, CA | Registered: 16 October 2001Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Anthony writes:
quote:
Its not to difficult to fit in, as there is a lot of varitey. But you will not see the baggy slob like styles that are unfortunately prevalent in much of the US (IE ripped jeans and a hoody).


There is alot of variety, however, among the University crowd a more "slacker" look is definitely more prevalent rather than the designer look. And I am sure most of them do not go shopping on Calle Serrano. I have seen the girls wear the tighter jeans with bell bottoms, paired with a peasant blouse and clunky shoes or boots (possible Camper). University students also wear sneakers with their outfits... all the rage now is the "bowling shoe" style. Guys wear the jeans with a t-shirt or pullover sweater, occasionally a sweatshirt or button down shirt. Warmer weather brings out the shorter sleeved polo style tops.

Hope this helps! Reporting from the "front line"! Big Grin


____________________
Tired of dining alone?
http://www.tiwd-club.com
 
Posts: 1376 | Location: Madrid | Registered: 24 March 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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I had to post, I just came back from Spain on tuesday and I missed it reading about all the stores I shopped at while I was there. I stocked up on skirts at Zara (11.80 euros) and Adolofo Dominguez, it seemed like there was a Zara every 2 blocks. And what is with all the bridal stores? I wore skirts (knee length) the whole time I was there, with some great sandals I found that looked nice and held up during all walking we did.
Next time I would bring far fewer clothes from home and just buy stuff there.
 
Posts: 7 | Location: Boston, MA | Registered: 04 April 2002Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
jer
"the man!"
Picture of jer
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Hey Kinsman_Girl, thanks for checking in.

Glad you had a great trip.

Don't be a stranger Big Grin

Hey, a new motto to promote shopping in Spain...

quote:
"Spain shopping, come naked and just buy it all here!" Big Grin
Shop, shop, shop!
jer...


- madrid nut, webweaver of www.multimadrid.com and keeper of the plazaCam.
- worlds biggest outdoor internet cafe --> www.plazawifi.info - GET CONNECTED!!!
--------------------
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at Onspanishtime.com.
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at spainSIM.com.
 
Posts: 12218 | Location: ny, u.s.a. --> madrid, spain --> the plaza mayor ! | Registered: 30 June 1998Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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Hi there! need advice from the shopping experts out there Smiler Will be arriving in Madrid this September and will be staying there for a year. I don't really have much winter clothes since I come from a tropical country. I plan to buy all my stuff when I get there. My question is, are there any outlet stores there similar to the ones in the states like woodberry common or barstowes where they sell maybe last seasons winter stuff really cheap? I have absolutely nothing for the cold weather and I have no idea how cold is cold out there. Over here cold is maybe around 16 degrees during December.
 
Posts: 30 | Location: manila, philippines | Registered: 01 November 2001Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
jer
"the man!"
Picture of jer
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Hey lizzie, I will get Ena on this one right away as she can hold her own (not referrinf to her own shopping bags of coursesince that is what I am for Big Grin ) in the shopping field.

I know their is a place called "Lefties" as in "Left Overs" from trendy stores like Zara, Mango & Blanco that has exactly what you want. They carry the previous seasons stuff as well as "irregular" items tha have some type of irregularity in the fabrication (usually unnoticable to the human eye hoewver).

It is on Gran V�a near Zara but I amn not sure of the street #. Will get Ena to confirm.

About a year ago the Factory stores opened up here just outside of Madrid, I have never been but you can see them at www.factory.es

Saludos,
jer...


- madrid nut, webweaver of www.multimadrid.com and keeper of the plazaCam.
- worlds biggest outdoor internet cafe --> www.plazawifi.info - GET CONNECTED!!!
--------------------
- rent or buy a cell phone from me for your stay in spain, more info at Onspanishtime.com.
- already have a cell phone, get a spanish SIM card for it at spainSIM.com.
 
Posts: 12218 | Location: ny, u.s.a. --> madrid, spain --> the plaza mayor ! | Registered: 30 June 1998Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
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