Colombia | A Cartagena Shopping Trip
With how easy it is to get to Cartagena I’m baffled at how I haven’t heard of more New Yorkers taking the relatively inexpensive flight down to Colombia for weekend shopping, eating and drinking indulgences.
No, it isn’t for the weekend shoppers jetting off to Paris or Berlin, but if you’re looking for high quality craftsmanship in bright colors for summer weather or creative bohemian home wares, Cartagena has some deals! We couldn’t leave Cartagena without stopping into a few stores, so here is a quick hit list of some of the places we enjoyed…
Estribos. This store is actually a shared space for Maygel Coronel luxury swimwear, Minerva footwear and Pajarolimon jewelry. I personally loved the jewelry and if you’re looking for some yacht-worthy swimwear - like very structured and expensive looking - this place has some creative stock!
St. Dom. This high end clothing store features Colombian designers with some high quality basics and adventurous pieces. The front of the store was… pricey to say the least though I would have to guess these clothes would have been triple the price in New York. The mid and back sections offered some more affordable options (under $150) that were far superior in quality to what you would find in the US. The shows were incredibly high quality, dance-ready heels that were in the $80 range.
Silvia Tcherassi. Very high end designer wear made by a Colombian women who has worked for some powerhouse apparel houses and who has had runway shows in Paris. This stuff is stunning and while the prices are high, they would undoubtedly be much higher in New York, London or Paris.
MPM. This small store offers high end linen, silk and cotton wear that is just gorgeous. Super high quality at very reasonable prices. I walked away with a few pieces that felt like a steal!
Chiqui House Boutique. This store represents one of my very favorite kinds of stores. The kind you wander through, not sure what you’re going to stumble upon. An eclectic mess of home wares, textiles, clothing, furniture. They bring items in from all over Colombia and the world and have turned this larger storefront into a bohemian mash-up. We spent some time going through the store and at some point I will be back for one of their amazing and affordable rugs.
