Shop ‘Till You Drop at Zara

If you’re a shopper of any sort then Zara needs no introduction however you may be unaware that you have arrived to Zara-land, the country of origin of a brand that is now a household name around the globe. Zara, is one of many brands owned by the Spanish conglomerate Inditex.

The Inditex Group is one of the largest retailers in the world made up of more than 100 companies within the textile, manufacturing and distribution sector. In other words it’s the Spanish version of LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey) geared towards the masses.

 But don’t think mass is bad. In fact Zara has done an excellent job in making designer fashion more accessible to a broader audience. It is a one-stop wardrobe shop for fashionable men, women and tots. They also recently added a small maternity section and a separate kids clothing store, called Kiddy’s Class.

Lucky for you, in Barcelona much like in the rest of Spain, it´s easy to stumble into a one of their retail establishments. At last count, there were 12 locations not including Zara Home, throughout the city. Yes, that is right, an interior design store that has all the necessary stylish items to outfit your humble abode minus the hefty price tags of other home décor retailers.

For newlyweds, first time homebuyers or for those that have just flown from the nest Zara Home is an ideal option. I headed here first shortly after moving to Barcelona in search of basic items like bed linens and bath towels. I remember walking out with a lot more because A) it didn’t break the bank and B) they had so many cool things that I could mix and match with items I already had.

But back to the fashion as you probably wont be looking for bath mats during your visit to cart back home with you. Run don’t walk to your nearest Zara because in my experience the Zara stores in Spain stock different fashions than what you’ll find in their other international retail locations. This probably has to do with cultural tastes and local trends but I happen to be very partial to its clothing mix in Spain in particular.

Zara is also extremely popular locally. Spaniards adore the brand and many will openly admit to having a Zara-fetish making it their number one store for clothing. This here inlays one minor issue I have with shopping Zara regularly. Everyone else does and therefore you could find yourself in a situation where you are constantly encountering people that are wearing the same clothing you are.

Even though, I myself am a mix-master and prefer not to wear any one brand from head-to-toe, still it’s happened when I have gone out and bumped into another girl wearing my exact dress. Here on vacation, need not worry about this occurring and chances are back home people will want to know where you purchased that smart polo or adorable blouse.

Overall, it’s an ideal brand to seek out when you need to stock up on basics as well as for trendier seasonal fashion. The fact of the matter is, I like fashion however staying up to date with the trends season after season can be costly. Zara makes it affordable. They also offer various collections geared towards different wardrobe needs like business attire, evening/cocktail wear, casual sportswear for men as well as women. Zara puts a lot of effort into supporting its clothing collections with complimentary accessories that include handbags, hats, scarves, belts and even shoes.

Pricing starts as low as 7.95€ for a simple t-shirt up to 199€ for a leather biker jacket. It´s possible to walk out of the store with a head-to-toe look for under 150€. However some might question the quality of the clothing . Realistically, it’s not of the highest utmost craftsmanship but how long the clothing lasts also depends on how well you maintain them and that goes for any garment. The fit varies from item to item so try on everything before going to the cash register.

Overall, my theory about shopping at Zara is this: it’s a lot easier to walk away from last year’s trendy fashion when you know you haven’t spent your savings on it. No go shop!

Zara locations in Barcelona:
Avenida Portal de l’Angel 11-13
Avenida Portal de l’Angel 32-34
Gran de Gracia 74-75 (Kiddy’s Class)
Calle Sants, 27
Calle Pelai 30
Paseo de Gracia 16
Rambla Cataluyna 67 -69
Centro Comercial Diagonal Mar – Avenida Diagonal 3
Centro Comercial Les Glories – Avenida Diagonal 208
Centro Comercial L’Illa – Avenida Diagonal 545-564
Centro Comercial La Maquinista – Calle Ciudad de la Asuncion S/N