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

La Grande Epicerie (Paris, France)

Besides fashion and art, there's one other thing the French are crazy about - and that's food of course. So it only seems fair to mention the Parisian favorite: La Grande Epicerie du Bon Marché, which will please both foodies and fashionistas alike. As mentioned briefly in a previous post, this gourmet section belongs to Le Bon Marché department store, but is impressive enough to be considered a standalone food emporium (not to mention it has its own webpage).

This gourmet temple is best described as a combination of food hall, supermarket and deli. You'll find everything from artisan pasta to Persil washing liquid - although I would recommend you purchase the latter elsewhere for less money. Shelves are stacked with a good range of French and international delicacies. The 'world food' area might not be interesting if you're a visitor - examples of UK foods include Marmite and shortbread, while marshmallows and cans of Dr. Pepper dominate the US section.

However, taking a closer look at all other shelves will reveal items you'll have a hard time finding anywhere else. La Grande Epicerie prides itself in offering what it calls 'Food Fashion'. This includes everything from Diesel Olive Oil (yes, I'm referring to the Italian fashion brand), edible costume jewelry made of candy and Lolita Lempicka biscuits to special edition Sonia Rykiel chocolates and Jean-Paul Gaultier designed Evian bottles. Other noteworthy collections include an art series called 'Les Arty', featuring a selection of chocolates imprinted with Keith Haring illustrations or boxes of candy based on Andy Warhol's most famous works. If you're brave, you can pick up a pack of vodka flavored lollipops containing a real edible scorpion - thankfully I wasn't that hungry.

(individual images: La Grande Epicerie homepage)

Like most gourmet places, you'll find a fair amount of specialized counters selling freshly made bread, pastries and cakes. Further along, there's a large fruit & vegetable section, as well as stalls selling fresh meat, poultry and fish/seafood. If you prefer your food ready-made, the back area has a good selection of cheeses and hams, which can be put in a sandwich if you wish, and a range of ready-made quiches and pastas. Be warned - if you come here with a large appetite you're likely to spend more money than planned!

Address: 38 rue Sèvres, 75007 Paris
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 8:30-21:00
La Grande Epicerie Homepage

Likus Concept Store (Warsaw, Poland)

Greetings from Warsaw! It's my first visit and boy, did I pick a great time to come here. It's freezing!! Sightseeing is a must (more so than shopping), but it was quite a painful, almost unbearable experience to walk around, despite UGGs and 5 layers of clothing. Never mind, I did of course find some stores and even though I was told in advance that this city "isn't for shopaholics" - untrue by the way - there are a few places worth visiting.

(image: Likus homepage)

One example is the Likus Concept Store. Like most self-proclaimed concept stores, you'll most likely end up spending more time looking at the surroundings than buying whatever they sell. Hidden in a backyard in a 19th century building that formerly housed the luxury baths and saunas, you'll be greeted by a receptionist in charge of the restaurant which is housed on the ground floor. I dined here with my significant other the same night and can definitely recommend the fusion cuisine, though the prices are quite high for Warsaw. The shop itself mainly features Diesel (entire basement) at the average European prices. Oh yeah, watch out for the pool which I almost landed in when I wasn't paying attention.

(image: Likus homepage)

Overlooking the restaurant, the upper level has a good collection of clothes and accessories by designer labels such as Viktor & Rolf, John Galliano and See by Chloe to name a few. Sales were still going on, but the store was completely empty so the staff were quite attentive. Unfortunately I didn't buy anything - I was too distracted (in a good way) by the store design to browse too much. Worth a visit even if you're not into designer fashion.

Address: 16/18 ul. Krakowskie Przedmiescie 00-325, Warsaw
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 11:00-21:00, Sun: 11:00-17:00
Likus Homepage