I NORMALLY wouldn't dare to dream of a vacation shopping trip anywhere in Europe, be it Paris or Milan, Berlin or London. Retail therapy and a great escape it may be, but I also foresee a big hole in my wallet.
That was my mindset until I learnt about Chic Outlet Shopping Villages in Europe. What Chic promises is a gathering of 50 to 100 international designer boutiques at a single paradise - a family of villages in nine cities in Europe, each stocked with genuine previous seasons' collections that give the buyers savings of between 30 and 70 per cent off the usual price.
Forget about the crowds at end-of-season sales and ploughing through piles of leftovers like a cheapskate plucking at the spoils of last summer. Instead, proudly parade at the line-up of designer boutiques and lap up the fashion at a fraction of the original price and tax rebates to boot.
One village you can check out is the Madrid outlet - the city caused quite a stir as this year's newcomer to Global Language Monitor's top 25 fashion cities, riding high at No. 15.
Spain's capital Madrid is the third largest city in Europe after London and Berlin. Located in the Castillian plateau, north-east from the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, it boasts an average altitude of 650m.
Behind the white stucco walls of Las Rozas Village, 30 minutes outside the centre of the colourful Spanish capital, the pristine compound evokes the splendour of a Castilian hamlet, with over 100 high fashion boutiques.
In Las Rozas Village, beside the big names like Burberry, Carolina Herrera, Versace and Calvin Klein are the stars of the Spanish design league, Antonio Miro, Andres Sarda, Pedro del Hierro, Loewe, Hoss Intropia and Roberto Verino.
Chic outlet shopping villages in Europe are located near major attractions such as the Prado Museum and Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (above).
There are also brands from across continental Europe - Hackett from Britian, Kipling handbags and accessories from Belgium, Cafe Coton from France and for chocolate lovers, there is Chocolat Factory from the United States.
From sports to homewear and childrenwear, everything that the avid and sophisticated shopper could possibly need is there on sale every day of the week.
While shopping is fun, it would be a shame not to visit the living 16th century town, Madrid de las Austrias. A walk around the city centre that emerged during the Hapsburg Spanish empire illuminates the importance of art and culture in Madrid life.
The Shopping Village is a 30-minute drive from the Monatery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, a Unesco World Heritage site.
The city has 73 museums, and a few notable ones are the 200-year-old Prado Museum, which recently completed its a major extension; the Thyssen- Bornemisza Museum, with more than 800 paintings, sculptures and tapestries from the earliest Dutch masters; and the Reina Sofia National Art Centre, which is dedicated to Spanish contemporary artists such as Picasso, Joan Miro, Salvador Dali and Juan Gris.
The locals like to go to the historic Casa Lucio for a classic Castilian dinner. On top of seafood courses such as jabugo jamon (prawns in garlic) and hake with the classic green sauce, the signature dish is wonderfully simple: huevos estrellados (eggs and potatoes), just the restorative stuff one needs after a hard day of shopping.
Hotel De Las Letras is adorned with motif that reference the world of art and literature. Walls and ceilings adorned with exquisite tiles and stone carvings lead to the Sensay Spa, where hammam, a Turkish bath that became ingrained in Spanish lifestyle after the Habsburg conquered the Ottomans, awaits.
Here, the stresses and exertions of the day are literally scrubbed off with the passion reminiscent of flamenco dancers. In your newly polished skin and enviable wardrobe, you may feel as glamorous as the gorgeous Spanish women.
For more information on Chic Outlet Shopping, visit www.ChicOutletShopping.com
All photos courtesy of Chic Outlet Shopping and Credit De Las Letras Hotel & Restaurant
This article was first published in The Straits Times on July 31, 2008.
