Best City Shopping

Shopping heaven - Get ready to pound the pavement as we bring you our shopping guide to four of the region’s best retail destinations

Slick style at Alannah Hill

Melbourne — Australia’s fashion capital

WORDS SHERIDEN RHODES
Photos: Rupert Lorhalder, courtesy of Visions of Victoria

Victoria LoftesMelbourne is where you’ll discover a more subtle, gentrified Australia. Here the feel is European, locals are decked out in black and Melbourne’s funky inner-city villages, such as Albert Park, Fitzroy and South Yarra, offer some of the country’s very best shopping.

Check out the trendy Flinders Quarter for chic boutique stores and local designers. If you long to feel like a screen goddess, head for Victoria Loftes (L4/Curtain House, 252 Swanston St., tel: 61 (3) 9662 9779), which produces exquisite designs that evoke the feel of the 1920s—1950s with luxe fabrics combined with fastidious detailing.

cool-again
granny fashion
at Empire III.

Federation Square builds on Melbourne’s reputation as the cultural capital, while serious shopaholics head for the iconic Melbourne GPO shopping mall which has breathed life back into the city with great boutiques like im (Shop F17/Lvl 1, Melbourne GPO, 350 Collins St., tel: 61 (3) 9663 1611) and the girlie frocks of Leona Edmiston (Shop F08/Lvl 1, Melbourne GPO, Bourke St., tel: +61 (3) 9671 4588). Albert Coates lane in the QV building also houses an impressive line-up of top-shelf boutiques, including the funky Cactus Jam (women’s and international store, 12-14 Albert Coates Ln., QV, tel: 61 (3) 9654 0472; men’s store, 26 Albert Coates Ln., tel: 61 (3) 9654 0798), which has legions of fans, and the gorgeous womenswear designs of Wayne Cooper (22-24 Albert Coates Lane, QV, tel: +61 (3) 9650 8696).

work up an appetite
browsing at
Books for Cooks

colourful
homewares
and jewellery
at Dinosaur
Designs

Good shopping can also be had in Albert Park. Check out Empire 111 (63 Cardigan Plc., Albert Park, tel: +61 (3) 9682 6677), for shabby chic and vintage gear; Victoria’s Independent Bookshop of the Year 2006, Avenue Bookstore (127 Dundas Place, Albert Pk., tel: +61 (3) 9690 2227), for esoteric reading material; and the wonderful HUSK (123 Dundas Plc., tel: +61 (3) 9690 6994), for high-end bohemian labels, beautiful one-off hand-embroidered and beaded pieces by Carvana, as well as ethnic homewares and handicrafts.

Leona Edmiston

Fitzroy, formerly Melbourne’s blue-collar capital, has evolved into little bohemia with an edgy mix of all things alternative, artistic and trendy. Lose yourself among the quirky book shops, young designer and retro boutiques, eclectic art studios, galleries and workshops along Brunswick Street, Fitzroy’s backbone. Retail gems include the street-smart bag store, Crumpler (85 Smith St., Collingwood, tel: +61 (3) 9417 5776); Books for Cooks (235 Gertrude St., Collingwood, tel: +61 (3) 8415 1415); and Circa, for high-end vintage clothing for men and women (1/102 Gertrude St., Collingwood, tel: +61 (3) 9419 8899).

All things unique
at HUSK

Next, grab your Gucci sunnies and prepare yourself for South Yarra, where famous Toorak Road, cosmopolitan Chapel Street, the hip and vibey Greville Street, and Melbourne’s gallery and antique nirvana on the tree-lined boulevard of High Street awaits. Check out chunky funky jewellery and homewares by Dinosaur Designs (562 Chapel St., South Yarra; tel: +61 (3) 9827 2600) and fabulous Aussie women’s fashion designers, such as Collette Dinnigan (553 Chapel St., South Yarra, tel: +61 (3) 9827 2111), Alannah Hill (529 Chapel St., South Yarra, tel: +61 (3) 9826 2755), as well as Skipping Girl (115 Greville St Prahran; +61 (0) 418 661 849) and Kinki Gerlinki (122 Greville St, Prahran, tel: +61 (3) 9529 4599).

Bangkok — from cheap to chic and groovy

WORDS UTE JUNKER
Photos: Lester Ledesma

Na Ra Ya at Central World PlazaBangkok has long been admired around the region for the excellent aesthetics and craftsmanship of its local fashion and product designers. There is nothing you can’t buy here from quality fashion and homeware, to silks and handicrafts at great prices and in an extraordinary variety.

With Chatuchak Weekend Market now closed, hurry to Suan Lum Night Bazaar (corner of Withayu and Phra Rama IV streets), which is also set to pack up its rows of souvenirs and handicrafts for good in April 2007.

Gorgeous fabrics everywhere

Serious shoppers head straight to Bangkok’s mega-malls for their variety, convenience (most are open till 10pm) and value, many of which offer tourist discount cards (show your passport at the information desk). Bangkok’s biggest mall is the newly-revamped Central World Plaza (corner of Phra Ram I and Ratchadamri, tel: +66 (2) 255 9400), with over 50 restaurants and 500 stores, including international labels such as Zara and Next, and Isetan department store. Opposite the mall is the government-run Naraya Phand (127 Ratchadamri St., tel: +66 (2) 252 4670), a good one-stop souvenir shop. The glamorous Gaysorn Plaza (corner of Ploenchit and Ratchadamri Roads, tel: +66 (2) 656 1149) has a good selection of Thai designers (try Senada Theory and Fly Now) and homeware stores like Ayodhya. Locals and tourists alike love MBK for its incredible variety and cheap goods, from electronics to accessories (Mah Boon Krong, corner of Rama I and Phaythai, tel: +66 (2) 620 9000).

Chic Siam Paragon

At Siam Square, you’ll find the massive Siam Center and Siam Discovery Center (979 and 989 Rama I Rd, tel: +66 (2) 658 1000). The former is good for local designers such as Greyhound and Soda; the latter has stylish homeware from Loft, Panta, Degree and 2 Gilles Caffier. The glamorous Siam Paragon (corner of Phayathai and Phetburi Roads, tel: +66 (2) 256 9111) has a massive Kinokuniya bookshop with a large selection of English books, a large cosmetics outlet, as well as the spectacular Siam Ocean World aquarium.

Cheap gifts and fashion
at Gaysorn Plaza

On Sukhumvit Road, visit the luxurious Emporium (622 Sukhumvit Rd., corner of Soi 24, tel: +66 (2) 664 8000) for cool Thai fashion designer Greyhound and homeware by Propaganda, as well as the Thailand Creative and Design Center design museum and gift shop. Pantip Plaza (Phetburi Rd. at Soi 17, tel: +66 (2) 252 5885) specialises in all things electronic, from hardware to software. While on Sukhumvit, catch the stylish H1 (988/7 Soi 55, Sukhumvit), home to design-oriented stores such as Geo (tel: +66 (2) 381 4324) and Basheer Design Books (tel: +66 (2) 391 9815), plus the studios-cum-ateliers of Playground! (818 Soi 55 Sukhumvit, tel: +66 (2) 714 7888), a must-see for design mavens. For silks, Almeta (20/3 Soi 23 Sukhumvit, tel: +66 (2) 204 1413) is a hipper and fresher alternative to the ubiquitous Jim Thompson stores.

Space and style at Gaysorn PlazaAntiques aficionados should explore around Riverside and Silom Road, where River City Complex (23 Yotha Rd., tel: +66 (2) 237 0077) is located. Silom Village (286/1 Silom Rd., tel: +66 (2) 2234 4448), a shopping-and-dining complex of traditional wooden houses, is touristy but its lush gardens and quality accessories outlets like Die Tasche and Jinny’s, make it worth a visit. Silom’s upmarket jewellers are good for finding well-priced gemstone jewellery. Reputable outlets offer a certificate of authenticity and belong to the government-sanctioned Jewel Fest Club; try the seven-storey World Jewels Trade Center (987 Silom Rd., tel: +66 (2) 236 0257).

Bali — from surfer city to resort sophisticate

Photos: Anom Malik

Fun fashionBali is still a bargain hunter’s paradise although in recent years, an increasing number of chic boutiques, stylish interior stores, quality art galleries and talented artisans have cropped up. The best buys on the island are contemporary artwork, surf and sportswear, designer clothing, homeware and furniture, handmade toys, puppets, silver jewellery and leather goods. If you like to haggle, the markets in Kuta, Denpasar, Sanur and Ubud are the best places to go. Otherwise, merchandise is largely fixed-priced (although it never hurts to politely ask).

Surfer centralKuta Square (Jalan Kartika Plaza), Kuta Centre and Matahari department store (Jalan Legian) are where you’ll find the largest number of brand-name shops — selling everything from sports and surf wear to designer clothing — at fixed prices. Check out surfer shops Quicksilver, Billabong and Surfer Girl, and Stussy street fashion. Worth finding are the wonderful Anang’s Art Shop (3x Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai, Tuban, Kuta, tel: +62 (361) 755 281), which stocks unusual antiques, furniture, lacquered baskets and other treasures, and Ibal Designs (The Orchard, 33x Jalan Oberoi, Legian, tel: +62 (361) 410 397) with its contemporary and classic furnishings and chic lamps.

Just north is Seminyak where small boutiques, smart homeware stores, trendy cafés and restaurants are home to local expats. Stroll along buzzing Jalan Raya for chic resort wear at boutiques like Biasa (36 Jalan Raya Seminyak, Kuta, tel: +62 (361) 730 308), where elegant linens, silks, cottons and beaded belts and sandals wouldn’t look out of place on a yacht. Also aplenty are interior stores, such as Serene — the Art of Living (47 Jalan Raya Seminyak, Kuta, tel: +62 (361) 738 611), which stocks unique contemporary homeware, and Disini (6-8 Jalan Raya Seminyak, Banjar Basangkasa, Kuta, +62 (361) 731 037) for quality cotton and linen sheets and pillowcases.

Downtown Seminyak and KutaFor a more relaxed retail experience, head to Sanur, 20 minutes from Kuta. Along Jalan Danau Tamblingan wander past interesting shops, galleries and great beachside restaurants and cafés. Check out A-Krea (51 Jalan Danau Tamblingan, Sanur, tel: +62 (361) 286 101), a stylish, minimalist interiors store with fashionable homeware.

If it’s artwork, homeware or jewellery you’re after, head for the hills of Ubud, the island’s cultural centre. Check out Ganesha Bookshop (Jalan Raya, tel: +62 (361) 970 320) with its excellent selection of books on the arts and culture, and the contemporary art space, Gaya Fusion of Senses (Jalan Raya Sayan, tel: +62 (361) 979 252). The bustling, multi-storey Ubud Market is a treasury of traditional batik, masks, sarongs, crafts and homeware. On the way to Ubud stop at Celuk, home of silver and gold artisans, where you can buy a variety of intricately designed pieces at shops or from the craftsmen themselves.

Ho Chi Minh City — exotic adventures

The upper hallway of
Si Hoang silk shopWORDS UTE JUNKER
Photos: Fred Wissink

Ho Chi Minh City is not the sort of city where you need a special shopping itinerary. Just wander through the city’s bustling centre, known as District One, and you’ll be beguiled by small shops proffering brightly-coloured items made of silk and lacquerware, alongside army surplus mementoes and the usual tourist trappings.

The area’s main streets — Dong Khoi, De Tham, Pasteur — and the nearby lanes boast the best selection of shops where the traditional shopping rules still apply, which means bargaining is essential. Ho Chi Minh city is a great place to update your wardrobe, with local tailors expert at making made-to-measure copies. Many have their own design books, or bring along a photo of an outfit that’s caught your eye. There are plenty to choose from on De Tham and Pasteur — try Zakka (134 Pasteur, tel: +84 (8) 824 5345) or Maison de la Soie (75a Le Thanh Ton, tel: +84 (8) 822 2270). Allow at least three days turnaround time. Or pick up an off-the-rack ao dai — the effortlessly elegant ensemble worn by Vietnamese women — at Ao Dai Si Hoang (36 Ly Thu Trong, tel: +84 (8) 829 9156) or Vietnam Silk (183 Dong Khoi, tel: +84
(8) 829 2607).

Paintings on Dong Khoi street

Homeware are also a great buy, particularly the characteristic lacquerware (look for platters, chopsticks and bangles), little boxes made from aromatic woods such as camphor and cinnamon, and bronze, brass and jade jewellery and figurines. Made In Vietnam (26b Le Thanh Ton, tel: +84
(8) 822 0841) has three floors of crafts and furnishings; Phuong Tam (153 Dong Khoi, tel: +84 (8) 822 5835) sells old French advertising posters, Tin Tin placards plus handicrafts; while Craft Home (39a Ngo Duc Ke, tel: +84 (8) 823 7786) specialises in hill-tribe handicrafts with profits returned to the community.

Ho Chi Minh City’s galleries offer some great finds. At Lotus Gallery (55 Dong Khoi, tel: +84 (8) 292 695) you’ll find authentic drawings and oil paintings, while further afield, Vinh Loi (41 Ba Huyen Thanh Quan St., tel: +84 (8) 930 5006) shows quality contemporary art. World Art Gallery (241a De Tham, tel: +84 (8) 836 0442) is the place to pick up a pseudo Van Gogh, Monet or Klimt.

For a real Vietnamese shopping experience, explore one of the city’s many indoor markets. Ben Thanh (Le Loi Blvd., tel: +84 (8) 822 5699) is the biggest and best: the stalls spill out onto the pavement, and there are plenty of bargains, including conical hats, basketware, and Da Lat delicious coffee.

Jetstar flies to Melbourne, Bali, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, visit www.jetstar.com