If you’re fashion hungry, and prepared to veer off the well trodden fashion circuit, Buenos Aires provides a veritable sartorial feast, with the city becoming ever more colourful and exciting of late in terms of new creative talent offering a private shopping experience behind closed doors.
The alternative to high-end boutique design, until recently, had always been market style clothes stands, offering cheap substitutes but with increasingly generic design and poor quality confection, and synonymous with the tourist trap of Plaza Serrano. In recent years, the price tags of some of the more established Argentine fashion houses has rocketed. They have allowed the increasingly overinflated peso and the approval of an elite status-hungry Argentine client base go to their heads, yet at a cost. Many local designers are now deemed too pricey, even by international standards, to tempt a tourist into buying.
As a direct result, many young emerging fashion designers or vintage clothing sellers are shunning the crippling rents of commercial spaces, in favour of small flats or studios in unmarked private apartment blocks dotted around the city. The fact that they are still honouring the fashion conscious stomping grounds of Las Cañitas, Palermo and Jardin Botánico in their location choices makes their showrooms accessible both in terms of location and price. They also maintain exclusivity, due to their appointment only policy (in some cases) or address on request protocol.
What makes the experience both so personal and memorable is that the showrooms are generally run by the designers themselves, passionate about what they do and invariably down to earth and buena onda. Regardless of whether you leave laden with bags as you bask in your fleeting Alicia Silverstone ‘Clueless’ moment, or empty handed with a smile from ear to ear (having tried on countless outfits and with an impossible wish-list that eclipses the measurement of your inner thigh) they just want to ensure you leave happy and tell your friends. Social networking (especially ‘feizbuk’) is their most effective advertising platform through word of mouth and recommendation.
Here is a selection of my favourite showrooms:
Blackmamba T-shirts and jackets (courtesy of Blackmamba)
Blackmamba
Run by the adorable Bianca, with her two partners in crime, Rocío and Facundo, this label is a force to be reckoned with. Having just opened the doors of their space to the public in April after an impressively slick inaugural runway show of the A/W 2012 collection, the label is fast developing a name for itself : think beautiful leather design, limited edition pieces and fierce accessories. An eclectic mix of cultural influences with a nod to the early 90s, black magic and pentacles combined with bang up-to-date soft palettes and sharp tailoring make this label stand apart. Highlights are the felt and oh-so-buttery-soft leather mix biker jackets, irresistible one-off amulet jewellery collection (with new and varied stock every visit!) and beautifully handmade chelsea boots and velvet platform wedges. The menswear is a perfect excuse to drag a male friend along or shamelessly style your boyfriend by buying him gifts.
No appointment required. Thames 2110 1 ‘D’. Tues-Fri 11am-9pm, Mon & Sat 2-9pm
Maison Abbey dress and accessories (courtesy of Maison Abbey)
Maison Abbey
Run by two girls from Uruguay, this showroom works as a concession for a number of independent Uruguayan designers as well as local upcoming Argentine designers. There is a cross-section of stock, from meticulously embroidered evening wear to more casual day wear and accessories. Look out for bang on trend lace up platform brogues by Potatoe, Mina Ezqueirra’s incredible red wedges and this season’s must have floor length skirts, in a variety of colours and fabrics. Handbag designer Le Boix’s creations are a reasonable must, with the tartan tote getting a thumbs up for its lush design as well as its price tag.
Gurruchaga 1974, PB 1. Tues-Sat 12-8pm. No appointment required.
Vendaval is doing things very much DIY. Recycling select vintage garments and adding a fresh approach with subtle alterations, transforming pieces from outmoded to ahead of the trend. Lovers of 90s cultural references makes for a jewellery collection brimming with lusted-after pieces: their shirt collar accessories with crucifixes and mock silver ear cuffs with drop details are hot property.
Call/message to check times/location details.
Bimba Vintage dress and accessories (courtesy of Bimba Vintage)
Bimba is a tangible incarnation of what a dream dressing up box would look like. Jazmín Rodríguez, recent first time mummy and model/presenter, has turned her hand and exquisite eye to this showroom and no detail is overlooked, down to the delectable labels and carefully selected one-off vintage pieces, every one of which has a story to tell. Unlike the mixed bag that ferias americanas offer across the city, Jazmín has a stock that reflects current trends: there are no ‘fillers’ here, you’d be hard pushed not to want to force her to pack up shop and hand over her entire stock to you in one fell swoop. She boasts a celebrity following too: Alexa Chung bought four pieces when she was in BA recently shooting for MTV.
Appointment only. Contact to arrange a time/for location details.
Their first collection has sold out three times over in as many weeks of the showroom being open. But these girls know what they’re doing. Their exuberance for their product is infectious, and with good reason. The full-length, homemade tie-dye skirts, slouchy tops and flared leggings are to die for: in lightweight cotton jersey and especially in this seasons hot colours of mustard and maroon, they look sensational.
Message first to check opening times/location details, but no appointment required.
These bags are predominantly geared towards the US market, retailing in department stores such as Free People and Fred Seagal, but in Argentina Blit run a modest showroom, selling their trademark baby soft leather bags at trade prices to locals and clued-up tourists. The bags are both stylish and functional, each with a myriad of pockets and compartments for practical needs, while boasting 100% colourful silk linings and vibrant colours.
Appointment needed. Message to arrange a time/for address details.
The lovely Jimena Anastasio also has a new showroom in Almagro, Perón 3778 (doorbell 2), Fridays and Saturdays 3-8pm or by appointment [email protected] Very recommendable!