Massimo Dutti (Barcelona, Spain)

No, I'm not in Spain even though these wonderful Spring temperatures almost make me feel like I'm there again. I've been meaning to post about Massimo Dutti, not just because the pics I took during my trip to Barcelona last May have been sitting on my desktop for far too long (click here to view my other Barcelona finds), but because I've gotten a few requests from readers wanting to know more about Zara's 'older sister'. I was also inspired to post about this brand after a shopping trip two days ago when I was hoping to browse this season's newest trends. As fun as high street shopping can be, I found myself fighting my way through the crowds at Zara, followed by picking through heaps of clothing piled on tables or slipping off hangers on the overfilled racks and finally finding something that looked half decent only to realize it was paper thin or made of polyester (mind you, the label isn't all bad as I'm sure you know, but shopping there can be a pain) - all of this made me flee to it's sister brand, who's shop felt like an oasis and where peaceful browsing was actually possible. Despite ignoring the brand more than I should, I found so many beautiful and well-made items during this little outing, I felt it was time to do a little write-up on this label.

A few campaign looks from SS10 (images: Massimo Dutti).

It is fairly well known, at least in Europe, that the Inditex Group doesn't just own Zara but a number of other brands such as Bershka or Pull & Bear in order to cater to various target groups thus widening their portfolio. Massimo Dutti is one of the few brands that wasn't actually created by the corporation, but acquired by it back in 1991. Founded in 1985 Massimo Dutti, who's home is Barcelona (Inditex itself is based in the region of Galicia), where the headquarters still remain today, actually started out as a menswear retailer. As such, you can imagine that tailoring is one of the key strengths of the brand and while a women's range, as well as children's wear and baby clothing followed throughout the years, there's still a proud heritage when it comes to creating looks for the male consumer. It's probably why this is one of the few high street retailers that offers a personal tailoring service, where men can have a suit, shirt or other clothing items custom made for a fraction of what a bespoke tailor would charge (suits start at around 500 EUR). But since I'm not a guy, I have to focus on the women's range, which isn't too shabby either.

Casual menswear on the ground floor.

I had a thing for these spiral stairs... can you tell?

Just a word of caution - Massimo Dutti is the kind of brand that will look a lot more conservative than it is. I remember walking into one of their newly opened stores six years ago. My friend needed a new work outfit and I offered to come along. At the time, I had no idea this brand belonged to the Zara group. I actually thought they were Italian and the decor made me believe they were a designer brand - one with a very Ralph Lauren type of aesthetic. I was surprised by the pricing, which looked fair considering the materials consisted of silk, wool, cashmere or pure cotton. At first glance, I didn't see a single thing I liked. Even today, I have to walk past the initial few looks near the entrance, which usually include clothing in the country chic category. Perfect if you're the kind of gal who likes equestrian sports, sailing, golf or anything else associated with country club activities. There's also a lot of business attire, again a style which might not necessarily appeal to you. But take a closer look, and you'll find the knit dresses, cashmere cardigans, studded tops, sequined dresses and all the other goodies that make a girl's heart beat faster.

Casual women's wear on the first floor. Lovely leather items included this jacket and the suede shorts from the ad campaign above.

They sure love their paisley and florals. Just some of the prints I sighted.

According to the marketing people at Massimo Dutti, their range caters to the "urban, practical, elegant and up-to-date woman who is proud of her brand name without being a slave to fashion trends". This might sound awfully generic and boring, but essentially you will find pieces reflecting a season's key looks, yet nothing will look too blatantly trendy, which means you can easily wear it a year from now. While H&M's more expensive sister COS relies heavily on simple minimalist looks, the Massimo Dutti range includes everything from sporty polo shirts to heavily embroidered evening dresses. Realizing that consumers are becoming increasingly discerning, Inditex didn't just want to offer better products, but the interiors reflect a more sophisticated vibe as well. While all store images were taken in Barcelona (and SS10 product shots were taken in Paris), it doesn't really matter because the decor is almost identical in every flagship. You'll find wooden floors, individual rooms or areas for each collection, plants, couches, elegant tables and clothes that are either carefully laid out or stacked neatly in shelves. The one thing this Barcelona location had that was remotely different, was the beautiful spiral staircase and a very high ceiling on the third floor, which made the store area feel particularly open and airy.

Breton stripes were all around... including the comfy cardigan and a few embellished tees.

If you've had enough of the simple pieces, there are always some lovely leather bags to cast your eyes on.

Like Zara, Massimo Dutti has several collections ranging from the more casual everyday 'Women' looks, to the more elegant and striking 'Collection' pieces. A new selection titled 'Soft' includes home and sportswear, as well as lingerie. As expected, some of the key trends were clearly visible, such as the Breton striped items, some of which were spiced up with shoulder embellishments. I sighted a lot of paisley prints and florals, as well as a cute pair of suede shorts and matching suede and leather jackets (I've been told their leather pieces are some of the best). Jeans and simple shirts are abundant, as are tunics and day dresses and anything else you could need for a relaxing day out.

The 'Soft' collection consisting of home wear and other comfortable pieces.

The shoe section with a selection of flats, heels and boots. Jewelry is worth noting as well.

Extra attention should be paid to the accessories, especially the bags, which my purse-obsessed friend tells me are of great quality. While I'm used to seeing the usual soft leather bags, I was pleasantly surprised to find a large number of sequined clutches and totes. A few cool belts (studded and sequined) were available as well and even though I didn't see any shoes I loved this time, I've sighted some edgy reworked gladiator sandals and statement heels in the past. Jewelry can be found near the cash desk and on various counters. Usually kept in muted gold or brass tones, the beaded and jeweled pieces reflect a tribal hippie look, but smaller versions including pearls and other elements are suitable for the evening as well.

Mannequins chilling on the top floor. This is the most airy and spacious place in the boutique.

A very snazzy zebra carpet and a few first looks from the more glam women's range, such as the sequined tops and this pretty lace dress.

If you're tired of casual items, heading to the 'Collection' section is a must. This is where I found the beaded, embellished and sequined pieces, ranging from vests, dresses and silk tunics to jackets and cardigans. Not everything was blinged up of course... I was tempted by a few beautiful knit dresses (in a silk/cashmere blend) with metal fastenings that gave it a more rock look. There were stripey blazers perfect for the recurring nautical trend and lace dresses that can take you from day to evening without much accessorizing.

Carefully chosen decor and a neat layout on the top floor.

More sophisticated gear and perfect for Spring: a nautical blazer and a sequined vest.

More sparkly stuff to choose from, including purses, dresses, knits and tunics.

Pricing is of course higher than what Zara is asking for, I'd say on average most looks were 20-50 EUR more expensive, though you are getting quality materials and a better tailoring. Unlike other 'premium' retailers who ask for up to 300 EUR for a silk dress, the price/quality ratio is quite fair (the equivalent dress price was around 125 EUR, which at times even Topshop will charge), but if you're wary about spending that extra bit of money, I'd definitely recommend hitting up the store during sales.

The more elegant pieces in the basement level menswear department.

The 'Personal Tailoring' section with a few example of suits, shirts and trousers.

While Massimo Dutti does get busy during the weekends, it still offers a more enjoyable and relaxing shopping experience and the vibe of the store, while slightly conservative for some, is pleasant and very welcoming. Staff are friendly and always busy folding or putting away pieces, so everything is organized and tidy. The brand can easily be found in Barcelona and the store I visited was relatively large - four storeys high - and quite representative of their style, though the new flagship on Puerta del Angel is worth checking out as well. While they don't have an online store (yet), heavy expansion in Europe, the Middle East and Asia means you won't have to visit just Spain (though pricing is the best there) to find a store, but I'm guessing it makes a great excuse to drop by Barcelona if you get the chance.

More looks from the SS10 range (images: Massimo Dutti)

Ad campaign for Massimo Dutti 'Soft' (images: Massimo Dutti)

Address: Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes 609, 08007 Barcelona
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 10:00-21:30
Massimo Dutti Homepage

Joan Pastor (Barcelona, Spain)

There's just one more store from last month's Barcelona trip I wanted to share. I will start off by saying the clothes aren't really my style, but there are many things about this indie designer (both the looks and the boutique itself) that intrigued me so much, it's still the most memorable shopping experience I had in the city. Imagine this... you're walking around the El Born district one sunny afternoon, one of those hip and cool places that wasn't always trendy but more industrial (like East London or NY's Meatpacking District). And though it's still not exactly picturesque, this area does have cute little streets and nice cafes. The majority of the stores reflect this: they either resemble vintage outlets (even if they aren't) or they have that typical spartan loft interior (exposed brick walls and metal piping) that seems to be so popular these days. The clothes they sell are edgy, modern and usually kept in neutral or dark shades.

How do they get the clothes over those heads...

In the middle of all of this, one boutique caught my attention more than anything else. The window displays featured mannequins with giant heads, resembling some kind of odd Japenese-inspired dolls crossed with Betty Boop and they were wearing the kind of outfits you would expect a doll to wear: frilly, girly and very cute. At first glance I wasn't even entirely sure this store sold clothes. I had never heard of Joan Pastor before. I was fascinated. And because I spied more giant-headed dolls inside, I knew I had to go in.

Runway looks from 2006 (images: vogue.es)

I have since found out that Joan Pastor is an Andorran designer and from what I understand, the store in Barcelona is the only boutique he currently has. For a while, he took part in the Gaudi Fashion Week and also participated in Bread & Butter. He started getting tired of the media circus and hype surrounding these fashion events and instead decided to focus on opening his own shop which would feature his designs, none of which are made for a certain season. Instead, you'll find some of his older creations along with new pieces he'll bring out sporadically.

Another giant-headed friend (left) and finally.... some black dresses! (right).

Entering the store, the interior was even girlier than I had imagined. All the walls and the ceiling were covered in black and white floral wallpaper. There was even a doll, who's entire (giant) head was covered in it. The furniture and silk curtains were white. And the clothes... well, I'll get to that in a minute. Just when I thought it couldn't get more feminine in there, the very friendly male SA, who seemed quite excited to have visitors, immediately started darting around the store with a bottle of perfume, spritzing every corner with a flowery scent.

Left: Short halter-neck dresses. Right: Overview of the store.

My first thought upon seeing the clothes was that this would be something Gwen Stefani (or her Harajuku girls) could wear. Which implies (to a certain degree) that the pieces are reminiscent of Galliano's work and of Japanese fashion. What makes Pastor's designs interesting is that they are more experimental than you would first think. There are a lot of floral pieces, but the structure of theses dresses was quite architectural and interestingly tailored. There were a few boudoir and Victorian-inspired pieces with ruffles, but combined with mini-skirts, Peter Pan collars or floaty chiffon capes. There were also a few pink brocade items, such as garters, corsets and tops, but again with a slightly modern edge. Some of the most intricate pieces were the cut-out coats and dresses... a few were kept in white, while I found a whole rack of brightly colored dresses which looked like they were assembled from pieces of fabric resembling big flower petals.

Left: Petal-dresses and part of the giant Martini glass. Right: Brooches.

There were a few accessories as well - mainly jewelry housed in a glass case. And a giant Martini glass was filled with transparent globes that contained hair accessories and brooches. A small selection of menswear was available, most of them in hues of peach or cream. A lot of the clothing might seem a bit over the top, but despite my aversion towards anything too girly or pastel-colored, there were a few pieces even I could have worn, such as a cream-colored silk blouse or the black satin dresses.

Left: Another giant doll with a wallpapered head. Right: My Stylist Kits on the table.

One more cool thing I should mention is the 'My Stylist Kit', which contains an item of clothing that can be adapted, e.g. a cropped top that can be lengthened to cover the hips or a tank top that comes with extra sleeves. Definitely one of the most practical pieces in the collection.

Left: Menswear. Right: Jewelry

I have no idea if Pastor's range will make it to a online store or international retailers soon, but if you're ever in Barcelona, I would drop by just to have a look. Even if you're more likely to wear leather and bleached jeans than anything pink, it's still a fun place to browse and once you take a look at the pieces, you're bound to appreciate the workmanship of some of these incredible pieces.

Left: More runway looks. Right: Bread and Butter looks.

Address: Carrer del Bonaire 4, 08003 Barcelona
Opening Hrs: Mon-Fri: 11:00-14:00, 17:30-20:30

Julie Sohn (Barcelona, Spain)

The one and only thing I knew about Julie Sohn before I left for Barcelona, was the fact that she had two pretty amazing stores in the city. Even when I tried searching for current collections, the first things that popped up on Google, were images and reports from architectural digests on how spectacular her boutiques were. I knew I had to take a peek in person, but was intrigued by the fact that an indie designer, albeit a somewhat successful one in Spain, would have such large flagships, when so many others are still working out of a back office or showroom somewhere. In fact, many of the bigger upcoming designers like Gareth Pugh or Christopher Kane don't even have a store to call their own - who is this remarkable Ms. Sohn?

Runway looks from various seasons

Well, it seems that Sohn has a long history in her field. She was born and raised in her native Korea until her move to New York, where she studied at Parsons School of Design followed by a few of years in the same school in Paris. Early work experiences included Anne Klein and Pecklers, then she moved to Barcelona, working for Purificación García and David Valls. The latter two are said to have influenced her own collections the most.

The store that receives the most attention from the press, is the big flagship in the heart of Barcelona. Sohn, who helped start CCT Arquitectos, the architectural company behind the store design and which is partially run by her husband, found the site for this boutique by accident, when she was driving past it on her scooter one day. The rent was reasonable, so she decided to put all her money and effort into creating the perfect gallery for her clothes. The converted 1900s building now resembles a cool modern museum more than it does an apartment.

Left: Window display. Right: Entrance with water to the left and right of the middle section.

The first thing I noticed when I found the shop, were the windows. The mannequin was perched on the ledge of an exposed brick wall but what fascinated me the most, was the fact that the window space wasn't on ground level. Instead, you could catch a glimpse of what probably used to be the basement and which had now been completely exposed. I later found out that this enabled light to filter into the subterranean stockroom. The entrance was a few feet away and in order to enter the store, I had to walk on what appeared to be a runway floating in the middle of a pond. Looking into the water, I once again caught a glimpse of the lower level.

View of the hallway from the entrance.

Even though I had previously seen images of the store, I was a bit stunned by the sheer size of it. The entrance area resembled a large tunnel with clothes draped on racks and minimalist white shelves. Walls consist of exposed brick, floors were made of concrete and clean wooden tables could be found in the middle of the shop area. While there was certainly enough space to display clothes, the majority of the shelves and tables were quite bare. The whole setting really did resemble a gallery with clothes on display like pieces of art. And because of this backdrop, the store felt more intimidating than it should have, despite the fact that only one SA was present.

Clothes were displayed here as well, but it still looked pretty empty.

Browsing the clothes, I realized that many items were surprisingly conservative and very appropriate for work wear. Some pieces were more casual than others, but after a while I noticed that there was an edge to the design. Dresses were either very sheer and floaty or made of chunky knits. Main colors used are black, white and subtle neutral shades. You won't find a lot of bling or embellishments here - the details lie mainly in the use of certain fabrics and tailoring - whether it's an asymmetrical hem or the purposeful fraying of the sleeves.

Main room with a full view of the sculptural ceiling.

The main store area was an open square and the biggest part of the boutique. The most interesting feature in this room was the white sculptural ceiling which reflected the light perfectly and gave a nice contrast to the more industrial atmosphere. Again, racks of clothing and wooden tables lined the four walls, though this time, I was happy to find the table actually displayed something. Magazines, jewelry and smaller accessories were laid out to make browsing easier. I also noticed that the clothes on display weren't just by the designer herself but included pieces by her previous employers/partners and other local creatives such as Sita Murt.

Some tables displayed t-shirts and other smaller items.

While I think it's great Sohn put so much effort into this store and I was truly amazed by the architecture, I realized this is the rare example of when an interior design is so similar to the collections on display you end up not knowing where to look first. Like her clothes, the store seems minimalist, until you see the finer details and cutting-edge complexity that was involved in creating the final result. And even though not all the clothes were my style - though there were a few I quite liked - if I lived in Barcelona, I probably would come here again and again... if only to get away from the tourist bustle outside and to meditate in this zen-like retail environment.

A small selection of magazines and fabric necklaces (right).

Address: Carrer de la Diputació 299, 08009 Barcelona
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 11:00-20:30

Mango (Barcelona, Spain)

Mango (or MNG) seems like one of the most obvious stores to mention when it comes to Barcelona shopping, mainly because this Catalan brand is the city's biggest high street success story. And while I realize it might not be one of my most exciting shopping finds, as their stores are almost everywhere these days, it's still one of my favorite retail brands. I never actually realized this until I recently reorganized my closet and noticed that most of my high street buys were Mango. Unlike a lot of brands out there, they've always had a good mix of trendy, elegant, casual yet timeless pieces that don't look outdated after a season. Some of their dresses might be too colorful for my taste, but that's the beauty of their collections - there's usually something there to suit every taste. Plus I adore their skinny jeans, which seem to fit me better than any expensive version out there.

Looks from the current catalogue.

Mango has been around for 25 years, though for the first decade or so the label was only represented in Spain. This was followed by a flagship in Paris, then London and these days, Mango stores can be found in over 90 countries.

Penelope Cruz, Dakota Johnson

The brand has done pretty well for itself in the last few years, especially when it comes to designer collaborations and selecting appropriate spokespeople for their campaigns. Everyone from Milla Jovovich (for the Jovovich-Hawk line) to Faye Dunaway have been featured in their ads and catalogues. Most recently Penelope Cruz - the perfect candidate to represent a Spanish brand - has been the face of the company, along with Dakota Johnson (Don Johnson's/Melanie Griffith's daughter) for MNG Jeans and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld for the SS09 range. The next celebrity set to be promoting the FW09/10 line will be Scarlett Johansson. Designer collections currently include pieces by Zuhair Murad, Adam Lippes and emerging designer Sandrina Fasali.

Julia Restoin-Roitfeld models this season's hottest trends.

In trying to find the first ever flagship in Barcelona, I was told it was located on Passeig de Gràcia, but as there were actually two stores on this busy high street, I ended up going to the one I thought was prettier. Located in what resembled a big mansion, I found this store to be unique in the sense that it actually had a lot of windows. Ever noticed that many department stores and other shops lack natural sunlight? It annoys me at times, and this is what made this store such a pleasure to browse. It was pretty huge and reminded me more of an upscale boutique than a high street chain, mainly due to the bright atmosphere and the homey touches such as the photos and paintings on the walls or the comfortable couches which could be found in the men's department.

Ground floor featuring a nice jewelry selection.

The great thing about visiting a bigger flagship of a brand you already know, is that they'll usually stock items you've never seen or noticed before. In most cases I tend to ignore accessories, such as bags, shoes, scarves or jewelry. Here, it was hard to miss. The ground floor had summer dresses, tartan shirts and all kinds of other breezy items suitable for the hot weather. But what caught my attention was the chunky statement jewelry which was housed in glass cases near the entrance. I was especially enamored by some of the necklaces, which were pretty heavy and well-made.

Accessories on the upper level.

The upper level was where most of the women's range could be found. Everything from the limited edition designer collections to the current season styles and autumn/winter previews were available. It's worth noting again, that the prices here are lower than what you'd pay for Mango outside of Spain, so if you see something you like, I'd definitely go for it. As before, I somehow gravitated towards the accessories selection - this time the bags and shoes. A nearby scarf rack had a great variety of silk and cotton numbers I hadn't seen before - some even reminded me of last year's McQueen rainbow range.

Big French windows were on either side of the store, which meant that anyone browsing here could still enjoy the sunny weather. Towards the middle, an enclosed balcony displayed a few dummies who were wearing Zuhair Murad dresses. I won't go through what I saw, because I think that pretty much every MNG item on the website could be found in the store.

Left: Mannequins in the enclosed balcony. Right: Odd props added a nice touch.

I took a quick peek at the menswear (aptly named 'HE') as well and quite enjoyed the setting they chose for it. I think the interior designers were channeling a gentleman's club, with the old fashioned couch, lush carpets, gothic chandeliers, more paintings on the walls and antique Chinese props that were placed on various shelves. The menswear range isn't widely available at the moment, so once again, if any guys out there happen to be in Barcelona, I'd pay this store a visit.

Cozy decor in the menswear department.

Because of it's central location and proximity to many of the Gaudi structures, you're bound to pass this store anyway, so you might want to have a quick browse. Otherwise, you'll probably get the chance to visit one in your hometown anyway. If there's no outlet near you, check out the Mango online store which sells the majority of their collection and ships worldwide.

(individual images: Mango)

Address: Passeig de Gràcia, 08007 Barcelona

Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 10:15-21:00

Mango Homepage, Mango Online Shop

Lobby (Barcelona, Spain)

One of the things I've quickly discovered about Barcelona, is that the El Born district is the place to be when it comes to shopping in smaller boutiques or cool stores. Like most such areas, it wasn't always hip and trendy, but this once run-down location is now much loved by tourists and locals alike. The smaller pathways are great for strolling along but somehow one afternoon the hubby and I ended up on a bigger road in the same quarter. It was deserted, grey and I was convinced we had gotten lost.

Left: gifts, toys & accessories. Right: overview of the store.

Passing random windows, I soon noticed that many of the buildings housed smaller shops, showrooms and studios. Then I sighted a much bigger building. A building that looked like it contained a really big shop. Once inside I realized that I had in fact found a concept store in the middle of a deserted street. And unlike the ongoing construction work and resulting debris that could be found outside, the interior was calm, quiet, very new and - like most boutiques with an industrial setting - a good mix of shiny parquet floors and exposed brick walls.

Left: Diesel Jeans section. Right: Chocolates and beauty products.

The reason I guessed this was a concept store was because the first things I could see besides the mannequins dressed in what resembled cool avant-garde clothes, were tables and shelves filled with items ranging from books to useless gadgets no one really needs but everyone wants to have. A small section featured baby items and toys from a brand called Papalote, while a nearby corner had shelves stacked with beauty products I had never seen before (by labels Hierbas de Ibiza and MySkin), as well as a very tempting foodie counter which displayed exotic chocolates by Xavier Mor Chocolatier. To top it off, there was also a small selection of homeware that included items such as lamps, cushions and clocks.

Left: Books are laid out in the center. Right: Diesel Black Gold section.

Clothing could be found towards the back of the store, but the only label that was prominently featured here was Diesel's more upscale Black Gold range. I was slightly disappointed at first - after all, this isn't a brand that's hard to find - until I realized the store also had a basement.

From right: Diesel Black Gold, Pleats Please, Crea Concept, Annette Görtz

Shoes by Bertrand Landro

The lower level was slightly more bare, with it's concrete floors and brick archways which gave the feeling you were in a wine cellar. But this is where the real goods were. I've already forgotten half the designers featured here... again many I had not heard of before, such as Jaume Roca and an up-and-coming Catalan designer who's brand is simply named 'Who'. Some names were more familiar such as Crea Concept and Rundholz, mainly because they're slightly more well-known in Europe. And then there were a few more bizarre pieces, such as the very crazy footwear by Bertrand Landro - four pairs of his prototype shoes were presented here first.

Left: Overview of the lower level. Right:Fancy a bike with your dress?

I was also pleased to see that there were a few Japanese labels among the selection, such as Issey Miyake's Pleats Please and Garde Collective. All the clothes in this area fulfilled the slouchy, cool and unique tailoring criteria. But all of them were also highly wearable and comfortable. The same applied to the menswear which ranged from sporty to edgy, but was never boring or conventional. And to prove that this was in fact a concept store, bikes (which were for sale) were placed as centerpieces in different spaces, while a nearby bar featured a menu of salads, sandwiches and drinks, just in case you needed to energize yourself after (or perhaps before?) spending lots of money.

Right: More bikes in the menswear section.

The store was completely empty when we took a browse and judging by the fact that there was only one SA on each floor, it probably doesn't get all that busy here. Nevertheless, while writing up this post I found out that it's actually prominently featured on various websites while some locals claim this store to be something of an institution in Barcelona and a cool place to be, so maybe it gets busier during the weekends or at night. In any case, it's definitely worth a browse just to catch a glimpse of some pieces by lesser-known brands. And as with most concept stores, the gadgets and gifts are always quite fun to look at as well.

From left: d-cln, Garde Collective, Sarah Pacini, Who

Address: Ribera 5, 08003 Barcelona
Opening Hrs: Mon-Fri: 11:00-14:00, 16:00-20:30 Sat: 12:00-20:30
Lobby Homepage