10 Best Black Office Shoes

Best Black Office Shoes in 2023

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The Insider's Guide to Shopping in Palermo

This shopping guide will give visitors to Buenos Aires insider tips on finding unique Argentine clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry, and whatever else they might desire in the trendy Palermo neighborhood.

Some of the city's prime shopping can be found in the neighborhood (barrio) of Palermo. Previously home to the red light district, Palermo-which includes Palermo Viejo, Palermo Hollywood, Palermo Chico, and Palermo Hollywood-is now one of the trendiest locations to live, dine, and, of course, shop. New high-rise condominium complexes for the young, wealthy, and beautiful are springing up everywhere, and restaurants are packed every night of the week.
Since moving to Buenos Aires in October 2020, I have made Palermo Hollywood my home. In the process of exploring and getting lost in my new barrio, I have discovered some of the best shopping in Buenos Aires.

On the weekends, outdoor markets abound throughout Palermo's plazas and plazoletas. One of the largest fairs takes place at Plaza Serrano, where vendors and shoppers crowd the small square, spilling onto the surrounding sidewalks for several blocks. Racks of skirts, shirts, jackets, dresses, and lingerie fill the bars and restaurants surrounding the plaza, which have been converted into weekend shopping spaces. Blankets spread on the sidewalk display jewelry, wallets, and tango knick-knacks, while inexpensive artwork hangs from fences and convenient wall space. It's a colorful scene, full of porteños pawing through clothing and accessories, searching for the best deals and unique items to add to their stylish ensembles. I recommend browsing all the stalls around the square, since several sell the same items, but often at different prices. Some of the best items include ¬handmade leather purses in unusual styles and colors for about $89 pesos (U$D 25), tube tops and dresses for $30 pesos (U$D 10), and tons of sexy underwear from $10-$15 pesos (U$D 3-5). It's also possible to find patterned wallets, silk-screened T-shirts, vintage clothing, belts, and the oh-so-Argentine enormous necklaces, complete with beads and small figurines.

More stellar Palermo shopping opportunities can be found at the Feria de Pulgas, or Flea Market. It's a smorgasbord of antique furniture, chandeliers, glassware, jewelry, faucets, doorknobs, and assorted curios. Comprising several blocks, at Dorrego and Niceto Vega, the market is divided into permanent stands for assorted vendors. The fair is loosely organized by product, with the majority of the chandeliers grouped in one aisle, bathroom fixtures in another corner, and glassware in another location. Furniture is the most prominent offering, but chandeliers are probably the most spectacular, portable option. Multi-faceted prisms dangle from the more traditional chandeliers, while bright pop art chandeliers provide a cool 1960s vibe. Marble-topped dressers and side tables crowd alongside enormous dining room tables, armoires, and fainting couches. Many vendors also refurbish furniture, and it's possible to watch them reupholstering an armchair or repairing a chandelier while browsing for the perfect vase. Here, bartering is acceptable, but don't press too hard or the vendors will lose interest.

Along with informal outdoor markets, Palermo also boasts one of the trendiest malls, Alto Palermo Shopping, located near the Bulnes subway stop. A variety of upscale stores selling everything from designer clothing to the ubiquitous Argentine leather products fill the three-story building. Zara, a Spanish store catering to young style-setters, teens, men, and even children, is often crowded and disorganized, but flirty skirts and dresses and chic business suits are well worth the effort required to find sizes. Nasa jeans is the best place for finding denim in larger sizes for foreigners frustrated by the minuscule Argentine pants, while Ayres is an eclectic blend of Banana Republic and Anthroplogie. For leather goods, check out Prüne, where buttery soft bags and convincing synthetic options are available at reasonable prices.

And, of course, you can't forget to browse the side streets of Palermo. Below are some unique stores I've discovered, but make your own shopping explorations when you're in Palermo.

First on the list is Traza, a shoe store with two Palermo locations (one at 3349 Cabello Street and one 1428 Malabia Street). A pair of acid green patent leather ballet flats first caught my eye, but Traza offers more neutral ballet flats in a variety of styles and colors (red, black, gold, bronze, white, and brown), strappy sandals, and wedges. On my visit, the woman behind the counter was putting the finishing touches on several pairs of raffia wedges; these shoes don't come from an anonymous factory, but are instead conceived and created in the local workshop.

Reina de Corazones is the one-stop place for earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and purses. The tiny store, at 4977 Cabrera Street, displays an impressive variety of jewelry. An entire wall is covered with earrings: reds and oranges, blues, purples, yellows, greens, black, silver, gold. Beneath the earrings dangle necklaces and bracelets. Purses line the back wall, with large patterned cloth handbags and metallic clutches as some of the more interesting options. It's easy to stare at the hypnotizing wall of earrings, only to find when you go to pay that you've accumulated 15 pairs of favorite earrings.

Another jewelry store, Los Vados del Isen, is located at 2918 Araóz Street. The one-of-a-kind necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and barrettes are made in the back room, and although a little pricier than jewelry at Reina de Corazones or street fairs, the quality and vibrant designs are well worth the price tag. Chunky necklaces strung with a rainbow of beads, earrings perfect for special events, and flowery hair decorations will make you stop to browse for hours.

So grab your credit cards and get some pesos from the nearest bank, put on your most stylish walking shoes, print out a copy of this guide, and start shopping!