When it comes to the top shopping areas, there are your usual suspects like Los Angeles’s Rodeo Drive, New York’s Fifth Avenue and Paris’s Avenue Montaigne, but you already knew that. We’re thinking beyond the pale with this list of spots you may not have hit. So get out your notebooks and jot these down, because here are 8 of our fave shopping streets in the world, from Seoul to Paris to our very own Toronto.
Did we miss any that should be on the list?
Garosu-Gil, Seoul
Literally translated as “tree-lined streets,” this is one of Seoul’s hippest districts with endless cafés and boutiques. Not only does it house all your fave South Korean skincare boutiques, you can also find many of So-Ko’s local designers (ie. Steve J & Yoni P and Beyond Closet) set up too.
Mercer Street, New York
While our hearts lie with Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, Mercer’s cast-iron architecture and cobblestone streets give off vibes like no other. It also helps that it houses some of our American designer faves—3.1 Phillip Lim, Rag & Bone and Alexander Wang—all on one street.
Fashion Walk in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
At the heart of Causeway Bay (one of Hong Kong’s buzziest district and notorious for its high rent – think $5,000 per square feet), Fashion Walk is made up of four streets (Great George, Paterson, Kingston and Cleveland). A fusion of both indoor malls and outdoor boutiques, this shopping neighbour carries many of our much-loved designer brands like Max Mara, Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs. If you’re tired out from all the shopping, take a break in many of the coffee shops and outdoor patios lining the street where you can sit and people watch the hustle and bustle of HK.
Rue de Charonne, Paris
A quaint shopping area away from the buzzy parts of Paris, Rue de Charonne is a must-have address to keep tabs on when looking for places to shop alongside your friends with varied budgets. As an up-and-coming village of fashion boutiques, here you can find indie shops sharing the sidewalk with French brands like Isabel Marant and Repetto.
Queen Street West, Toronto
While many would name Bloor Street as the ultimate shopping location in Toronto, any T.O fashion girl would say Queen Street West is where the good stuff is really at. Here you’ll find local independent designers (Hayley Elsaesser just opened her first flagship) alongside a mix of vintage and one-off finds that will set you apart from the crowd.
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Tachibana-dori, Osaka
Nicknamed the Orange Street (it’s named after a Japanese citrus fruit), this 1000-meter stretch of street houses hundreds of chic Japanese boutiques. As one of the hottest shopping spots in Osaka at the moment, here you can find everything from on-trend (and kawaii) apparel pieces to retro furniture and antiques. Key shops to look out for: Biotop (a flower x clothing x coffee shop) and Pesa North (a clothing boutique meets bakery).
Corso Como, Milan
Similar to NYC and Paris, Milan is one of the big fashion cities, so there really isn’t a street that isn’t shoppable. But if we had to name one, it would have to be Corso Como, hands down. Where cool brands meets delicious food meets beautiful architecture, there really isn’t a shopping experience in the world quite like it. Did we mention it also houses an outlet? Think Alaïa, Carven, Céline at discounted prices. #score
Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles
While Rodeo Drive is a must-stop and a no-brainer when it comes to naming LA’s best street, it’s not the most affordable for the average fashion girl. Enter Melrose Avenue. An escape from the tourist-y Rodeo Drive, here you can find more affordable and just as well-loved shops including Fred Segal, Creatures of Comfort and Reformation. Need proof? Just take a look at our fave bloggers’ IG feeds and say it isn’t true.
