Anne C here and I am much more of an impulse shopper than Anne H – I always come home from my travels with something new – whether it be
clothes, jewellery, shoes or handbags – the latter is my absolute weakness.
Fabulous clothes!
Since I have been holidaying on the Greek island of
Santorini every year for the past 15 years, many of my summer purchases have
come from there – including last year which featured on our blog here. I have discovered a cute Greek brand of
casual clothes by LS which feature lightweight summer clothing in wonderfully
bright colours – exactly what I go for – and the best thing is that you won’t bump
into anyone else wearing the same outfit.
Since I usually travel there towards the end of the summer season, I
have managed to get quite a few of their garments at half price, which is
always a bonus.
Santorini also has a great selection of linen dresses and
tops – of which there is a huge choice – though linen isn’t particularly cheap,
even in Greece. Linen is always so cool, comfortable and easy to wear, and for
holiday visits to steamier climates, it is a must …. though one of the
drawbacks is that linen creases so badly, so probably not too good for
travelling in long haul.
If you’re lucky enough to visit the Far East,
which we did three years ago, there are some fabulous shops and markets
offering great bargains. I have a lovely cool white cotton Chinese-style blouse
bought in Chatuchak market in Bangkok for less than a fiver, while a made-to-measure
suit in silk and cashmere cost around the same price as an off the peg
polyester one back home – and was ready within a day. Look out for great deals
in Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore – you can get made to measure clothes at a
fraction of what they cost at home – and they don’t even need a pattern. My “dressmaker” copied the design from a
photograph and it was completed within 24 hours!
Top tip: If you’re travelling to tourist destinations,
always look for bargains at the end of the season, and if you’re visiting hot
climates, seek out clothes in lovely cottons and linen fabrics to keep you
cool.
Anne H meanwhile loves city breaks, so her clothing purchases have
been bought in independent fashion boutiques which also tend to be slightly
more formal. She bought this stunning black coat from Carin Wester with peek-a-boo back opening in
Amsterdam last year, which looks fabulous with either tailored trousers or
jeans, while her cream Max Mara jumpsuit, also bought last year, but
in Rome – is completely on-trend this season.
Top tip: For city break travellers, seek out
independent boutiques if you want unusual finds, and steer away from global
high street brands – though to be aware that different countries do offer
different styles from home.
Jewellery
Thira, which is the main town in Santorini, has a stunning
choice of jewellery shops with the most fabulous diamonds, sapphires, emeralds,
rubies and designer watches at ridiculously high prices – aimed at the hundreds
of cruise ships which dock there. Unless
you are extremely wealthy, I would avoid these shops unless you are
specifically looking for something unusual and have found either something
completely different or much cheaper than home.
However, if you want fabulous costume jewellery, Bizermani
has the most unusual and limited pieces. From beautiful pearls to a peacock
style gold-tone and thread necklace to a rhodium plated and coral long
necklace, these are definitely one of a kind.
The tourist resorts too will often have ranges of inexpensive jewellery
in leathers, unusual beads or turquoise stones, and which are great for gifts
and you can always save until Christmas!
As Anne H has family in Tropea, Italy, she travels there at
least once a year, and she always manages to find interesting pieces. She is pictured here with a handcrafted cuff
with coral inserts, which complements her dark green Zara top. Her Versace glasses too are a Tropea find
from a couple of years ago, which she has now updated with a new pair of MiuMiu
glasses, bought in New York. If you find a spectacle design you like while on
your travels – don’t be afraid to buy them and then take them to a good
optician back home to get them glazed with your personal prescription.
We have visited both Dubai and Bangkok together over the
years and have come home with some fabulous jewellery. Dubai in particular is a wonderful place to
buy gold at reasonable prices – try the gold souk in Deira – but do your
research before you go and be prepared to haggle and walk away if the price
isn’t right.
Top tip when buying jewellery abroad: do your research! You can actually find some real bargains in
certain parts of the world if you’re prepared to haggle, but you can also end
up paying a fortune when you don’t need to if you’re taken in by the glitz of glamorous foreign high streets!
Shoes and handbags
I have a weakness for handbags and shoes and my go-to
leather shop is Transit in Perissa, which also has another shop in Megachlahori. My lovely Greek friend offers comfy leather
thong sandals and a good selection of soft leather handbags and traditional
old-style suitcases. I always need a larger shoe size in hot countries –apparently
British and Scandinavian women tend to have problems with swollen legs and feet
in the sun – so when I go abroad I always take shoes or sandals that are too
big at home. And don’t go away on
holiday with brand new shoes – I made that mistake with a pair of flats which I
thought would be comfortable for walking in Singapore. They weren’t and I had blisters for three
days!
Top tip: Don’t fill up your suitcase before you get there –
you can find fabulous shoes and sandals
to buy once you get there, usually at great value for money.
**Extracts taken from a post written for Sixtyandme first printed in May.**
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