A Fashion Lover’s Guide to Mexico City

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Oasis Coyoacán, a fairly recent addition to the Coyoacán neighbourhood of Mexico City, has very much eclipsed its closest rival Centro Coyoacán. With all the ‘international’ stores you could ever need, from Forever 21 (one of the few in the city) to Sally’s Beauty, it’s a one-stop shop for any fashion lover who wants some home comforts. Plus, the added touch of a decadent looking artificial lake and water feature at the back of the centre gives it a certain upmarket appeal.

Moving from one of the city’s artsiest neighbourhoods, to one of the fanciest – Polanco. A fashion lover’s dream, with its Champ de Elysees avenue lined with designer stores, this barrio also has one of the most upmarket shopping centres in the capital, Antara Fashion Hall. The sense of exclusivity hits you the second you cross the threshold and catch sight of the range of designer labels and swanky boutiques that are to be found there; even the food court is classy.

The Roma neighbourhood of Mexico City is a boutique haven for fashion lovers and Apartment 25 is one of the most popular, not to mention coolest, options available if you love a good statement piece. Here you can find a wealth of international labels that aren’t available elsewhere in Mexico, such as the Swedish menswear brand Cmmn Swdn, as well as more local underground brands such as the up-and-coming, uber cool Weimar Youth.

If you’d prefer to pick up clothing that’s got a more traditionally Mexican aesthetic, then Amanoarte in the quaint San Ángel region of the city is the place you should head for. A favourite with locals and travellers alike, here you can buy handcrafted pieces of clothing and art, the sales of which go towards preserving the traditions associated with their production and helping the indigenous communities they come from.

A stalwart of the boutique scene in Mexico City, menswear favourite 180˚ Shop is a hub of urban edginess where you can pick up locally crafted artisanal jewellery alongside underground streetwear branded t-shirts. The atmosphere of cool is apparent even from the décor, which is composed of bikes hanging from the ceiling and skateboards lining the walls. For the fashion forward traveller in Mexico City, this makes for an unmissable visit.

One of the city’s most well-known boutiques, Fábrica Social has a couple of branches in the capital but we recommend stopping by the one that’s smack in the middle of the historic centre. The items you can find here are both fashion forward, mixing commercial trends with traditional handcrafting techniques, as well as socially conscious; Mexican women from eight distinct communities are brought together to learn craft basics and develop their own textile skills, before being compensated fairly for their collaborations.

Originating in Monterrey, the Roma based Goodbye Folk is the boutique for everyone who loves the vintage, hipster aesthetic or wants to shop for individual, hand-crafted items. Each and every piece is unique and made in Mexico, so every purchase supports Mexican textile communities. Furthermore, Goodbye Folk has a reputation for their specially made, exquisite leather footwear; from saddle shoes to loafers, you’re sure to find a pair that suit your style. As an added bonus, they even have a built-in barbershop at the back.

Founded in 2007 by Deya Tarno, this is the boutique that’s known for championing Mexican designers, such as the contemporary, muted designs of Sandra Weil and the sculptural designs of CIHUAH both of whom made our list of Mexican fashion brands to watch out for. While Naked Boutique does make for an admittedly more upscale shopping option for the fashion lover, they also offer personal shopping services so you can get the best styles for your shape.

If you want to find items that are typically harder to come by in Mexico, then Lemur is perhaps one of the best boutique options for you. Look carefully and you’ll spot items that can’t be found anywhere else in the city in this tiny boutique, from their trademark t-shirts, blouses and sweaters with eye-catching prints, made from top-notch materials to quirky phone cases and shoes. What’s more, and unlike many other top Roma boutiques, the prices are accessible even to the fashion lover on a budget.

A combination of art gallery and boutique, you can either browse the artwork upstairs while you mull over your purchase or take a quick look after you’ve taken the plunge and bought something! Happening Store, like Amanoarte, is in the beautiful San Ángel neighbourhood and predominantly stocks pieces by local, Mexican designers. So, if you want to take home a souvenir to remind you of the country (that isn’t another knick knack for your mantelpiece) some shoes or a t-shirt from Happening Store would be ideal.

A former winner of the Who’s On Next Vogue México award, Lorena Saravia now has three branches of her eponymous boutique across Mexico, one of which is in Polanco. While Polanco in general is a great shopping spot in Mexico City for anyone who wants to rub shoulders with the Mexican elite and do some designer label shopping, we particularly recommend Lorena Saravia for its delicate and minimalist designs made for the modern yet feminine woman.

Although you can pick up her designs in various places across Mexico City, you can’t go wrong with a visit to her also eponymously named Roma boutique either. Carla Fernández is admirable for her dedication to providing fashion forward pieces that become wardrobe staples, whilst ensuring she ties in a Mexican sensibility to her work. Vibrant colours dominate the palette and she works in partnership with many communities to promote the use of traditional design practices.

Championed by the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop and big name fashion mags like Elle México, Yakampot has rapidly grown into the formidable designer one-stop shop we see today. While you can find the best Mexico City branch in the suitably upscale Polanco, Yakampot also have a US presence in Miami. With a luxury aesthetic and critical acclaim under their belt, they offer a range of classy and elegant pieces perfect for any fashion lover.

A well-recommended option that’s had tourists flocking to the San Ángel neighbourhood for years, Bazaar Sábado is our final recommendation for fashion fans in Mexico City. Only open on (unsurprisingly) Saturdays, it’s a perhaps more reputable version of the classic tianguis that are also ubiquitous in Mexico. By that we mean that you’re likely to find more genuine items than knock-offs, and you may even be blessed with some designer pieces courtesy of Carla Fernández.