Shopping around across the globe

Whether you are hunting for bargains or just trying to get the feel of a place, BRIAN JOHNSTON suggests heading for the shops




When you go overseas, go shopping. Haunt the boutiques and malls, the corner stores and street markets, because there's no better way to get a feel for your new destination. Shops are a vivid display of national desires and ideologies, and far more alive than any museum. What's more, shops aren't just plunked there for the tourists. They are places where people go about their daily business, pass the time and socialise.

Sit in the middle of a shopping mall and people-watch - it's great entertainment and it doesn't cost a cent. Of course, if you want to give your credit card a workout then you can do that too, since another joy of shopping is, well, shopping.

Hunt down bargains, treat yourself, go on a wild spree. Shop away to your heart's content. Here are some of the best places to do it.

Milan: A passion for fashion

Few tourists bother to visit Milan, Italy's industrial and financial powerhouse. This is a pity, since those who do visit experience Italy's stylish urban life - and its most superlative shopping. This is the place to go for the mother of all splurges.

Many of the world's fashion leaders, such as Ferre, Prada, Moschino, Versace, and Dolce & Gabbana, have their studios here, as well as flagship stores. The leader in retail style is Armani, with a fabulous new three-storey store which even includes a sushi bar for those whose hunger is satisfied by a sliver of raw fish - and it will have to be if you want to get into the clothes.

You'll find Armani in the famous "golden quadrangle" that makes up the best shopping district in Italy, which probably means in the world. The Via Montenapoleone, Via Sant'Andrea and Via della Spiga are home to just about every renowned Italian fashion designer (Versace, Prada, Gucci, Ferragamo, Valentino, Cerruti) as well as some interesting wannabes.

You should also sashay down Via Gesu, which has a marvellous perfumery and shops selling Italian shoes, beautiful writing paper, fine china and leather briefcases.

For those with limited credit ratings, don't despair. Toddle off to the Corso Buenos Aires, where the prices are more affordable and casual wear and designer knock-offs abound. Just bring sharp elbows on Saturdays, when the crowds are daunting.

High fashion hopefuls can also haunt Il Salvagente (16 Via Fratelli Bronzetti) and Te con le Amiche (33 Via Visconti di Modrone) for last year's designer duds at remarkable discount prices. Also well known to locals is L'Arnmadio di Laura (25 Via Voghera) where you'll find end-of-season discards and second-hand clothes cast off by the rich and famous. Your Chanel suit might be pre-loved, but you'll end up looking like a supermodel.

Hong Kong: Rags and riches

Milan may have the highest concentration of fashion boutiques in the world, but you'll find plenty of clothes in Hong Kong with equally dizzying prices. Hong Kong offers far more than this, though, and from air-conditioned malls to family run stores and open-air markets there's truly something for everyone's taste and budget.

Even the genuine boutiques may be tucked away in some dingy apartment block that warrants adventurous exploration. The Chinese are more than willing to sacrifice ambience for price, and Hong Kong is a bargain-hunter's paradise.

Li Yuen streets East and West in downtown central is the place to go for designer knock-offs, leather goods and knitwear. Then trawl through the outlet-priced fashion boutiques in the Pedder Building. Central must also have the world's most glamorous Oxfam Shop (Jardine House, Connaught Place), where second-hand designer labels go for a song.

At the rock-bottom end of the scale you can resort to street markets. Haggle hard and don't be surprised if those "designer" labels drop off.

There are several such markets dotted around, such as the Kowloon City Market and Ladies' Market at Mong Kok, but the best is on Temple St. Among the bargains are excellent "Swiss" watches made in Taiwan, as well as clothes, luggage and other accessories at amazing prices.

Paris: A girl's best friend

People in Hong Kong haven't quite grasped the concept of serene shopping. Perhaps they could take lessons from the Parisians, who have shopping down to a fine art.

There are many great buys in Paris: clothes, perfume and culinary delicacies such as foie gras and champagne. Above all, it's jewellery that will provide you with the ultimate shopping experience, although by the time you've bought a diamond watch you could have no arm (or leg) on which to strap it. Still, there's no harm in dreaming.

Make a start at Cartier (7 Place Vendome) conveniently located near the opera house so you can nip in for a tiara before the show. Cartier's main rivals are all nearby on the Rue de le Paix: Bulgari, Boucheron, Van Cleef & Arpels.

From here, swan on down to the Palais Royal, where you can find more jewellery, as well as antiques, vintage clothes and perfume in an arcade that just screams elegance.

If you don't want to mortgage your house to buy yourself a ring, despair not: Bijoux Burma (50 Rue Francois Ier) will be your saviour. It's here you'll discover the secret of all those elegant women walking their poodles in the park: costume jewellery. The shop sells some of the best fake jewellery anywhere, enabling you to look spectacular on a budget.

Other than that, make your way to the department stores and discount shops of Rue de Rivoli and Rue St-Antoine, where real people do their shopping and necklaces actually come cheaper than small houses.

London: Treasure hunt

Rather decorate your house than yourself? Look no further than London, undoubtedly the best place in the world to buy antiques. Spend serious money in an auction house or unearth bargains in the city's deservedly famous street markets; sometimes rare manuscripts and forgotten paintings are discovered and snapped up for a few pounds.

Head first to Regent St and Old Bond St for bone china, fine art and antiques, not to mention a bolt of tweed for country attire.

Chelsea and Kensington are the other areas known for their home furnishings and antiques, the sort of place where you can snap up a Chippendale chair or Impressionist painting.

If you prefer more unpredictable shopping, head for antiques centres such as Grays and Grays (58 Davies St) or Alfie's Antique Market (13-25 Church St). Bermondsey Market (Bermondsey Square) is one of London's best and biggest antique markets, frequented by New York dealers and local grannies alike. It is held on Fridays and if you're really serious you'll be down there from 5am ferreting out the treasures.

Portobello Market (Notting Hill Gate) is undoubtedly London's best street market, where you'll find antiques, paintings and country furniture, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. You'll also find quality second-hand clothes that will have you decked out like a country gal or gent in the time it takes to ring for a butler.

Bangkok: Smooth as silk

The English don't have a monopoly on elegant living. For something a bit different, head to Bangkok and shop for some elegance, eastern style. Gold, gemstones, jewellery and leather are all good buys here. This is probably the best place in the world to buy fine silk as quality is high and prices are surprisingly reasonable.

The Jim Thompson Thai Silk Company has many shops (the largest is at 9 Suriwongse Rd) selling silk fabrics and clothes. The styles are a little conservative and the prices are high, but so is the quality.

Rivals Shinawatra (94 Sukhumvit Rd) and Design Thai (304 Silom Rd) have an equally impressive selection of silk. Pick up some dainty silk slippers woven with gold thread and you'll feel like a princess back home.

For something a bit different, head to H.M. Factory Thai Silk (46 Promchai, Sukhumvit 39), which specialises in mutmee silk from northern Thailand. The cloth is heavy and slightly rough and usually comes in bright colours.

You can also pick up fine silk in the shopping arcades of most of the major hotels (the Oriental and Regent hotels are particularly good) although at prices that soar sky-high. In less reputable shops and street markets, in contrast, you can find some incredible bargains, especially if you buy your silk already made up.

Innumerable textile merchants and tailors lurk in Chinatown, especially along Pahuraht Rd where you can buy glorious bolts of silk and have them made into clothes under your instructions.

Then retire to a teahouse and put your feet up, happy in the knowledge that you really have shopped 'til you drop.