10 of the best fashion boutiques in Istanbul
Atelier 55
With its navy blue awning, Atelier 55 is an unmissable spot on shop-dotted Serdar-i Ekrem street. This concept store offers everything from clothing and jewellery to furniture and art pieces. The great mix of local and international brands is hand-picked by fashion-savvy partners Gizem Bingöl and Başak Abaci – this is the only store in town where you can find Holly Fulton's exquisitely printed trousers, Bora Aksu's romantic blouses and David Koma's experimental dresses. Look out for the eco-friendly label Boa Studio's hand-printed designs and glittery Sylvia Toledano clutches, in between coffee fixes at the store's in-house espresso bar
• Serdar-i Ekrem Sokak 55, Karaköy, +90 212 245 3255, atelier-55.com. Open Mon-Sat 11am-8pm, Sun 11am-6pm
Midnight Express
Banu Bora, half of the husband-and-wife team who run Midnight Express, is a fashion designer with an eye for emerging talent – quirky knitwear brand 2 Ters 1 Düz and fashionable handbag label Mehry Mu are among the many that made their debut in this store. Expect to find fashion-forward clothing and accessories, alongside unique jewellery and chic houseware. Don't miss Yazbukey's playful Plexiglas accessories or Gat Rimon's Parisian chic outfits.
• Kadirgalar Caddesi Açik Hava Apartmani 8/3, Nişantaşi, +90 212 231 2628,midnightexpress.com.tr. Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm
Butik Katia
Tucked away off Beyoğlu's Istiklal Caddesi, milliner Katia's boutique transports you to a different era. The store is situated in Hacupulo Pasaji, a pedestrian passageway dating back to 1871, and Madame Katia's heritage stretches back to the 1930s – she learned her intricate craft from her mother, Madame Eva. Katia's passion for head candy is palpable, and though these millinery confections are not cheap, they are worth every penny.
• Danişman Geçidi 37, Galatasaray, +90 212 249 4605. Open Mon-Sun 11am-7pm
Lastik Pabuç
Owned by trainer doyen and ex-Harvey Nichols menswear buyer Can Soylu, this independent store offers exclusive footwear from sought-after brands like Etnies, Kr3w and more. Imagine a pair of limited-edition Nike Blazer Mid AB Vintagewith suede tops, leather linings and rubber toe cap, next to High Skinny Premium Dunks adorned with cute Liberty prints. While its sister store (Bereketzade Mahallesi Camekan Sokak 4H Kuledibi) is a good spot to soak up Beyoğlu's bohemian vibe, the Bagdat Street branch is perfect for those wanting to explore the fashion hub of the Asian side.
• Bagdat Caddesi Erenköy Apartmani 319/1, Kadiköy, +90 216 478 6101,lastikpabuc.com. Open Tue-Sat 10am-8pm, Mon and Sun noon-8pm
Eternal Child
Eternal Child's one-of-a-kind knit designs combine femininity with a touch of youthfulness. The woman behind the label, Gül Gürdamar, draws inspiration from the energy of the Tünel district, where her studio-cum-store is situated, in a spacious apartment in an old colonial-era building.
• Ilk Belediye Caddesi 5/5, Beyoğlu 34420, +90 212 293 8403, eternal-child.com. Open Mon-Sat 10am-6.30pm
Pied de Poule
This charming little shop is located in Cukurcuma - a district where lots of antique shops and cutting-edge boutiques sit side by side. If vintage is your thing, don't miss Pied de Poule - it's packed to the brim with some real gems. The store's eccentric owner Selale Gultekin started collecting stamps at the age of five, after which her habit of collecting never ceased. Her shop is like a grandma's attic full of clothes and accessories, all of which have a story - petit point embroidered Armenian tote bags, antique boaters, handbags, ancient traditional Ottoman outfits and glamorous ball gowns.
• Faik Pasa Yokusu 19/1, Beyoğlu, +90 212 245 8116. Open Mon-Sat noon-6.30pm
Building
Thanks to its gradual gentrification and an influx of edgy shops over the past decade, Galata (also known as Karaköy) has become a magnet for the city's creative crowd – it's now often referred to as the "Soho of Istanbul". Building opened in 2009 and swiftly enhanced the area's appeal, with its innovative interior design and displays. The raw interior is packed with up-and-coming Turkish designer wares, such as Urbanbake's jewellery pieces, made of metal, silver, clay and electronic materials.
• Serdar-i Ekrem Caddesi 27/A, Beyoğlu, +90 212 243 0717, building.com.tr. Open Mon-Sun 10am-7.30pm
Atölye Mariposa
The Bohemian, artsy neighbourhood of Cihangir is the perfect home for Atölye Mariposa's mixture of bygone and modern. Look out for porcelain tea cups, flirty dresses with lace details, cute floral dresses and Victorian bedspreads, alongside decorative textiles, bric-a-brac and furniture. At the back, there's a small atelier where one of the owners sews and stitches the in-house clothing lines – you'll be amazed by the extensive selection of colourful printed fabrics.
• Simşirci Sokak 11/A, Cihangir, +90 212 249 0483, atolyemariposa.com. Open Mon-Sat 10.30am-8pm
Beymen Blender
Beymen Blender is the younger sister of Istanbul's established department storeBeymen, and it's here that you'll find diffusion lines (cheaper options) of many international labels, including Sonia Rykiel, Chloé and Marc Jacobs. Along with the variety of clothing and accessories for men and women, there are books, cameras, vintage vinyls and stationery, and the store stocks plenty of Turkish designers too. Zeynep Duygulu's loafers and saddle shoes with a retro touch merit particular attention.
• Karakol Sokak 10, Nişantaşi, +90 212 373 4880, blender.com.tr/. Open Mon-Sat 10am-8pm, Sun noon-8pm
Bilstore
Previously a manufacturer of good-quality shirts in the 1990s, Bilstore introduced its first lifestyle shopping concept in 2004, and has grown steadily ever since. The company's headquarters are located in an eye-catching building in Tünel, which resembles a museum, with its fantastic selection of goods – from elegantly displayed Melissa shoes, Fred Perry T-shirts, Archie Grand notebooks, Supergatrainers and dozens of coffee-table books. There's also an exhibition space hosting the works of young artists.
• Mesrutiyet Caddesi 90, Beyoğlu, +90 212 245 9000, bilstore.com. Open Mon-Sun 11am-8pm
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