La Roma is a hub of fashionable men and women, sleekly flitting from one cocktail bar to the next and looking fabulous while doing so. It therefore comes as no surprise that this trendy neighborhood of Mexico City should find itself in possession of more than a few good fashion boutiques. From vintage favorites to those stocking some of the city’s best local designers, here are the nine best boutiques in La Roma.
Carla Fernández is one of Mexico City’s best and most community-minded designers, with a boutique situated in trendy Roma, right next to the neighboring Condesa district. Her bright, vibrantly colored designs are heavily inspired by her experience with indigenous cultures and the intricate patterns she uses on many pieces are directly influenced by indigenous clothing. This season, she even has a Charro (Mexican cowboy)-inspired collection, which can be bought in store or online.
For the fan of hip hop culture and fashion, which is actually less of a subculture and more of a rising, mainstream trend nowadays anyway, Lucky Bastard is the place to be. Proud to stock only unique items – in fact, they’ll give you a guarantee that you won’t find whatever you buy there in any other store – this boutique boasts brands such as Hall of Fame, New Era and 10Deep. From snapbacks and strapbacks to beanies and mirrored sunglasses, cultivate your New-York-cool appearance in this La Roma boutique.
Lemur is known for constantly stocking new items that are tricky to come by in Mexico, be they shoes, trousers or mobile phone cases. It’s been going strong for almost ten years, and business at this Roma favorite still shows no sign of slowing down. With items at prices accessible to all, their trademark pieces are their t-shirts, blouses and sweaters with eye-catching prints, made from top-notch materials. Look carefully and you’ll spot items that can’t be found anywhere else in the city in this tiny boutique.
Leather shoes, similar to those you can find at Goodbye Folk | Pixabay
Goodbye Folk
A boutique for the hipster that lies within all of us in some small way, Goodbye Folk is a beautifully designed boutique that vintage clothes lovers will adore. Stocking all sorts of items, from leather jackets to band t-shirts to retro dresses, the clothing selection at this La Roma favorite is well curated and not to be sniffed at. They even sell shoes, which can be made to order if they don’t have your size. As an added bonus, they even have a built-in barbershop at the back.
A menswear boutique that prides itself on stocking brands and items that are not so easily found in Mexico City, Apartment 25 continues to be a stalwart store of La Roma. It stocks international brands like Soulland (Denmark), Kit Neale (London), CMMN SWDN (Sweden) and Sunnei (Italy) as well brands from local designers. The most expensive items in the store are around 3000 MXN pesos, which the owner Diego Villanueva believes makes it accessible to everyone. While this may or may not be the case, Apartment 25 is definitely one of the best boutiques around.
Located in the same place as Apartment 25 is Naked Boutique. This store, founded in 2007 by Deya Tarno, is well known for its promotion of Mexican fashion designers, stocking brands like CIHUAH, Lorena Saravia and Sandra Weil (all of whom made our list of Mexican fashion brands to watch out for). It has both a store and a website, in which you can take advantage of the personal shopper service to find the best items for your body and your budget, although this is undoubtedly a more upmarket option.
Unleash the street wear fan within at 180˚ Shop | Pixabay
180˚ Shop
Don’t be intimidated by the uber cool interior of this Roma boutique, as there is something for everyone; man or woman, young or old. Yes, there may be bikes and skateboards hanging from the walls of 180˚ Shop and row upon row of t-shirts and trainers, but there are also local artisan products, such as rings and necklaces. Furthermore, they – like many of our featured boutiques – promote Mexican brands and stock many items by local designers.
An independent boutique specializing in shoes and clothing, Magrathea has a huge selection of niche and high-end pieces from both Mexican and international brands and designers. Special edition pieces can be picked up with ease here, such as limited edition Nikes and even collaborations done with the likes of Karl Lagerfeld. However, it is worth a visit even if you’re looking for something a little more affordable, as they also stock newer, up-and-coming brands at more reasonable prices.
Handily, this boutique is situated just above the Romita Comedor bar, making it the perfect place to end your day of shopping before popping downstairs for a drink. One of the classics of the Roma boutique scene, Local also stocks some fantastic Mexican brands such as Mancandy and Simple by Trista, as well as Gala is Love.
