What's Madrid like for designer clothes (Armani, D&G, Prada etc...)???

[ 11-28-2001: Message edited by: MadridMan ]

MadridMan - what've you edited??

Hi notyr! I added the city location to your subject line to reflect your area in question. It helps others to find topics of which they are interested when looking only at the list of topic subjects in the forums. For this reason, I always ask people to put the city location in their subject lines since MadridMan's Spain Message Board is about the whole of Spain and not only about Madrid. Hope you get SOME replies! Wish I could help you with your question, but I know almost nothing about fashion in Spain - only that the women always look GREAT! :p

I'm not sure what kind of information you're looking for but you'll find most of the top designers there (don't recall seeing a D&G store though, but they do sell it at Corte Ingles). Try Serrano street and Ortega y Gasett (off of Serrano). Prada is on the corner of Goya and Serrano, Armani is on Ortega y Gasett along with Chanel. Also head to Corte Ingles at Nuevos Minesterios, they have the best designer sections at that location.

Realize you asked about clothes - but there is brilliant and extremely well-known jewelry designer on Serrano. Name escapes me at the moment - can anyone else who has gazed and dreamed about this jewelry help??? (free standing building on the right side of Serrano walking towards the city). Long established Spanish design firm - stuff sells at Shreves for about 6X what you will pay in Madrid.

[ 12-03-2001: Message edited by: Puna ]

Puna,

You caught my attention...I've been looking for store in Madrid to purchase engagement rings. Please take a look at this website and let me know if this is what you're talking about...would love to save 6X on Spanish rings, and you're place sounds like to ultimate store to visit! Let me know if this is what your trying to recall...

Durán Joyeros

Thanks! Jason

Hi,

Maybe you're talking about 'la joyeria' Suarez¿?
I don't know; it seems to me that 'las joyerias' in Serrano St. aren't EXACTLY inexpensive!!! But maybe compared with the ones in the US....


paloma

P.S.: Engagement ring?, Congrats!, ¡Enhorabuena!

JJP - Congratulations! I checked the site - its not what I was referring to in the earlier post. The designer (who's name I still can't remember) is very very well known internationally - and probably the most famous of Spanish jewelry designers. A lot of the work is in white gold sort of woven together with yellow gold; with less expensive variations thereof by the same designer using, I think, silver and gold to create a similar effect. Some of the designs are whimsical - others use flowers and vines.

pim - the store I'm thinking of is expensive; I'm one of the people who look - long - but have yet to buy. Regardless - the designer's jewelry is far less expensive in Madrid than it would be to buy it in the US.

If I can come up with the name I'll post it - in the meantime maybe someone else can remember.

Puna and Paloma,
Thanks for the congratulations!

OK, one of my roomates is from Spain. She's certain it must be Juaquín Berao.

Hope he's the one, and this is helpful. If not, I'll finally resign to wait for the help of a true Madrileño.

Regardless, the website is a work of art on it's own. Check it out:
http://www.joaquinberao.com

[ 12-07-2001: Message edited by: MadridMan ]

JJP - What a fantastic website! Thank your roommate for sharing. Check with her but I'm positive the designer I'm thinking of is on
C/Serrano and neither of the two Madrid locations were. Could be a cross street I suppose - but don't think so. Unless the design work has changed considerably over the last year - not the same designer.

[ 12-08-2001: Message edited by: Puna ]

[ 12-08-2001: Message edited by: Puna ]

I was thinking Suarez as well but they aren't in a free-staning building. It wouldn't be Carrera y Carrera? They aren't in a free-standing building either (and don't totally fit your description- more famous for their animal designs although their latest pieces include vine/flower work). I'm at a loss- you got me with the free-standing building. Perhaps I'm misinterpreting your description of a free-standing building. This is going to drive me nuts!

[ 12-08-2001: Message edited by: nevado ]

Nevado -

For some reason I thought it was a free standing building but it could be that a thought the building was occupied by only the jewelty store/design rooms.

This weekend I finally looked it up and you were right. Carrera y Carrera. I know they used to have lots of animals in the designs but the last couple of years there seems to be a prepnderance of flowers and vines.
Regardless - truly beautiful!

I did a search on the web and determined that the designer clothes were to be found in Salamanca.

We took the tube up there mid afternoon and hit the Armani shop first. I heard a shop assistant speaking English and asked him where the mens clothes were and got a Pretty Woman type of look from him as he pointed me in the right direction (Rachael - my girlfriend - was dressed for extensive walking, while I, as ever, was looking pretty dapper, and I think he took exception to her big white Reebok trainers ).
I ventured downstairs and found the prices to be extortionate compared to what they are here in Manchester. Is Armani still a big label in Spain??? I would have thought it would be cheaper than here in England as Italy and Spain are situated on the same land mass, right next door to each other (???).

Anyway, I wasn't impressed with the choice (or lack) of clothes and the prices were highly amusing.
Watching all the suits walking out of the financial institutions situated in Salamanca though, I can understand the clothes shops attempt to take advantage of them by ramping up the prices.
Viva Free Enterprise!!!

Does anyone know where you can buy Spanish jewellery on-line? I used the link above, but am looking for more options. Thanks!