Five of the best stylish destinations for the fashion conscious

Holidays for some can be simply lying in the sun, taking part in some sort of sporting activity or even doing some volunteering but for others it’s a chance to shop somewhere new for something special.

We’ve selected five of the best destinations from around the globe for all things fashion. Book flights and accommodation at great prices with www.directline-holidays.co.uk.

1. New York New York!
Although the exchange rate is not what it once was, you can still make some massive savings on designer and high street goods on the other side of the pond. Invest in some quality American tailoring with classic shirts and chinos from Ralph Lauren’s stunning flagship menswear store on Madison Avenue featuring made to measure services and a ‘create-your-own polo shirt’ outpost. Getting your shoes shined is a must for any New York tourist; visit legendary Don at 47th and 6th between News Corp and NHL headquarters for the best shoe shine in town. Don’s past clients have included Rod Stewart, Martin Luther King, Jr., Karl Rove and Chris Rock.

2. Va va voom – Paris
There’s a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’ to the classic French way of dressing seen in Parisian streets so it makes perfect sense to shop in the stores the locals do to emulate our Francophile friends. L’Eclaireur on Rue de Sévigné is a menswear boutique bursting
with the latest designer goods in a shop that could be as much described as an art installation with over 147 screens and sweeping floor to ceiling wooden sculptures.

Another must see boutique is ‘Colette’ located near the Louvre, a multi floored store not only selling high end designer and cutting edge up and coming brands but also gadgets, jewellery and techno accessories.

3. When in Rome… or Milan
Italians bring their unique flamboyancy into everyday life through incorporating as much drama into what they wear. Dressing down in Italy is a no-no and definitely won’t earn you any favours with the Milanese. Head to Milan’s ‘golden triangle’, the quadrilatero d’oro for the best of Italian design with Missoni, Prada, Armani and Versace. Cast offs and seconds can be picked up at a bargain price in one of the many outlets, try around the corso Vittorio Emanuele II for savings of 50 to 70%. Il Salvagente is a three floored outlet store divided by size and colour. For an unforgettable experience concept boutique ’10 Corso Como’ is the place to go, described as a ‘mini lifestyle emporium’ and set up by Italian Vogue editor Carla
Sozzani, the store started out life as an art gallery and book shop.

4. Red buses, red phone boxes and red hot fashion – London
Save money and time on flights and go crazy in London’s fashion hotspots and stores. London offers everything from high end designer boutiques in Sloane Square and Mayfair, intricate tailoring on Savile Row to edgy new and vintage fashion in East London. The brand new Westfield Stratford, located within throwing distance of the Olympic stadium offers a fantastic range for every budget and is one of the largest urban shopping centres in Europe. Diversity is the key word in England’s capital and with the Olympics and recent jubilee it’s the place to be. British design has surged in popularity in recent years with brands such as Mulberry, Burberry, Hunter and
Barbour waving the flag for quintessential British style.

5. Style and siestas in Barcelona
Despite not being an immediate shopping destination of choice, Barcelona was recently named second top city after London in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s new index of European shopping destinations. Barcelona’s good cuisine, transport, affordable prices, weather and general ambience secured its place as a great place to shop! Passeig de Gracia is the street to head to for exclusive designer stores. Wanting some new sunglasses or shoes then The Outpost boutique is the place to go, dedicated entirely to men’s shoes and accessories and like most top boutiques the shop itself is pleasing to the eye designed to meticulous detail by Pilar Libano. Antonio Miro is the only place to go for tailoring and the store located on Consell de Cent offers made to measure service as well as ready to wear and high quality leather accessories.