A Fashion Lovers Guide To Barcelona

With everything from designer boutiques to some of the best high-street shopping in Europe, Barcelona is every fashion lover’s dream come true. Culture Trip has compiled a handy guide to some of the best places to shop, sleep and hang out in the Catalan capital for the diehard fashionista.

La Rambla is a leafy passageway that’s full of shops and restaurants

Where to shop

BOO

Store, Shop

Located in the trendy Gràcia district, BOO is one of Barcelona’s best places to find that special piece you won’t find elsewhere. A concept store specialising in European labels – especially those from France and Spain – it offers timeless classics alongside more modern pieces by emerging designers. The store stocks not only clothes but accessories, perfume, bags and the odd household item, too.

Santa Eulalia

Store

Located on the Passeig de Gràcia, alongside the big designer labels, Santa Eulalia is a high-end fashion store, founded way back in 1843. For years it has been the place to shop for Barcelona’s high society and stocks everything from Saint Laurent to Alexander Wang. This boutique is luxury shopping at its finest, complete with a champagne bar and bistro for when you need to put the bags down for a minute.

Trait Store

Store

This hip concept store located on the popular Carrer del Parlament in Sant Antoni is another fine example of size really doesn’t matter. Trait Store hand-picks a collection of men’s and women’s clothing, as well as bags and accessories from a range of designers.

Coquette

Store

Coquette opened its doors in the bohemian El Born neighbourhood – which inspired its motto “Born to be beautiful” – over 10 years ago, and it has since expanded to include two other stores across the city. Specialising in timeless fashion pieces, Coquette is a reference on the local fashion scene, featuring a range of national and international brands such as Isabel Marant Étoile, Jérôme Dreyfuss and Swildens, to name a few.

Flamingos Vintage Kilo

Store

For all things retro, visit Flamingos Vintage Kilo. As the name suggests, most clothes here are sold by the kilo, with the price varying according to the type of clothing. It has a great selection of vintage denim wear, including trousers, shorts and skirts, as well as the usual retro dresses and in-your-face patterned shirts.

What to see

The Design Museum of Barcelona

Museum, Building, Market

Museu del Disseny de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Architect: MBM Arquitectes, 2013.

The Design Museum of Barcelona is the city’s premier museum dedicated to space design, product design, information design and, of course, fashion. The Textile and Clothing Museum is a part of the Design Museum and home to a large collection of old and ancient clothing, including corsets, dresses and tunics from the Neoclassical, Baroque and Modernist eras. The 20th- and 21st-century fashion collection contains pieces by Paco Rabanne, Manuel Pertegaz, Elio Berhanyer and Cristóbal Balenciaga.

080 Barcelona Fashion

Organised twice a year, once in winter and once in summer, 080 Barcelona Fashion is the Catalan capital’s official fashion week. A relatively recent project, the first edition was launched in 2008, but it has rapidly established itself as a serious event on the Spanish fashion calendar. Drawing on the region’s history as a textile powerhouse during the Industrial Revolution, 080 Barcelona Fashion aims to put Catalan design back in the limelight, showcasing work by established couturiers as well as up-and-coming designers from the city’s schools.

Where to stay

Casa Camper Barcelona

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

Ever wondered what it might look like if your favourite brand decided to create a hotel? Well, the Casa Camper is just that. One of only two worldwide (the other being in Berlin), it was designed by international shoe company Camper. The brand was guided by the principle that sometimes less is more – while the decor is minimalist, it doesn’t compromise on quality or comfort. Located in the heart of the edgy El Raval neighbourhood, this is the perfect starting point from which to explore Barcelona’s cool underground scene.

Soho House Barcelona

Boutique Hotel

The first and only of its kind in Spain, Soho House Barcelona opened its doors in October 2016 and has already established itself as the place to be seen among the city’s cosmopolitan movers and shakers. Located in the Gothic Quarter, just opposite from the Marina Port Vell, Soho House occupies a stunningly converted townhouse that seamlessly blends authentic Catalan architectural features with a slick contemporary style. As a guest at the hotel, you’ll have access to the much-coveted Club House, which is only open to members otherwise.

About the author

Tara Jessop

Tara is a travel writer and editor who lived in Barcelona for 5 years writing exclusively for Culture Trip. She has a passion for sharing experiences around food and wine.