As a metro-sexual, I like my outfits to be fashion forward. Do I wear velvet, every so often? Yes. How many pairs of shoes do I have? More than 40. Do I shop at the Goodwill? Yes! It’s the best place to snipe the best deals. I am a modern man and I am comfortable looking fabulous. So now that I live in Lisbon I am beginning to hunt for the best places for clothes shopping in Lisbon. Let me share my findings on where to shop in Lisbon below.
Clothes Shopping in Lisbon
CHEAP CLOTHES SHOPPING IN LISBONLojas Humana These are the equivalent of the Good Will in NYC. The selection is not the best for men, but every once in a while there’s something really special. There’s usually a lot more there for women. Blanca’s not a second-hand kinda gal, but she didn’t pass up a pair of rainbow high heeled sandals she saw in the window the other day. They cost just €12 and she picked up a wristlet for just €2. Why shop at Lojas Humana besides the prices? They give a portion of their profits towards helping those in need and they help the environment by reducing waste. They have 11 locations in Lisboa. Primark If you don’t like wearing gently used clothing but are on a budget, then Primark could be a good choice for you. From my reading, it’s an ethical company, although there is some controversy about this. You can get everything there for men, women, children, and even some home stuff. Blanca loves their makeup and she’s usually pretty picky and follows a strict AB routine. I was surprised. Prices here are cheeeeeap. How cheap? You can buy a pair of ladies pants for €6. There is one location in Lisbon at Colombo mall in Benfica. The Feira da Ladra This is Lisbon’s most famous flea market. You can get pretty much everything here. Even clothes. The selection includes used clothing as well as clothing made by Portuguese artisans. You can get some really beautiful pieces here. It’s worth going just for the experience. Prices have a wide range depending on what you are purchasing, so you can end up with something super cheap or something truly special that you will dish out a bit more for. MIDRANGE CLOTHES SHOPPING IN LISBONZara There are plenty of locations throughout the city. Zara is a slightly more expensive version of Primark. Their men’s selection is great, but be careful when you combine their pieces. One piece with some basics can look nice, but put too many of them together and you will look like either a pimp or a clown. I have much better luck here than Blanca. Their clothes for women are just too out there for her and don’t really fit her Colombian shape (she has a tush), Zara’s women’s clothing fits a less curvaceous body. A pair of ladies pants here costs around €40. Massimo Dutti If you like Banana Republic, this store will probably fit your style. The clothes here are well-made and hit a good mix of trendy and conservative. The clothes you buy here will last significantly longer than those you’d pick up in Primark or Zara. A pair of ladies pants will average €99 here.If you are looking for clothes shopping in Lisbon, El Corte Ingles is a good place to startEl Corte Ingles This massive store has pretty much everything you need. That also means that their prices range from mid-tier to very expensive. They carry brands from Levi’s to Armani. Think of this store like a Macy’s. It’s not quite a Nordstrom – their customer service is sub par…and definitely not as high end as a Neiman Marcus…however, it is convenient and they have pretty much everything you could need. BESPOKE CLOTHES SHOPPING IN LISBON If you’ve got cash to spend, you want to go to Avenida Liberdade. All the high-end shops are there from Burberry to Gucci to Prada…but, if you are looking for something special and well made, you need to just walk around either Chiado or Principe Real. Those two neighborhoods have some incredible boutiques for that special something that is not mass produced, label whore “luxury”.Embaixada in Principe Real is a fantastic place to find truly special pieces of clothingEmbaixada This is the first place you want to hit up if you’re looking for something unique. There are some very special boutiques here to shop including Menina e Moça for accessories and Armando Cabral for some exquisite men’s shoes. Once you’re done here, walk the neighborhood. Principe Real has some of the best boutiques in town.There are plenty of boutiques and artisans where you can shop at LX Factory in LisbonLX Factory This old factory space is now home to co-working spaces, restaurants, and some fantastic shops. On top of that, the Sunday flea market is a spectacular place to find truly special pieces. Last time we had friends over we took them there and I swear they emptied out their bank accounts shopping. Check out Trend Hunters and India to get started.
How to get deals when shopping in Lisbon
Look for signs that say “Saldos!” The month of July seems to be the big sales month here as is the Christmas season. We’ll be adding more places as we discover them, if you have a favorite shop in Lisbon, leave a note in the comments so we can go check it out.
The Feira da Ladra This is Lisbon’s most famous flea market. You can get pretty much everything here. Even clothes. The selection includes used clothing as well as clothing made by Portuguese artisans. You can get some really beautiful pieces here. It’s worth going just for the experience. Prices have a wide range depending on what you are purchasing, so you can end up with something super cheap or something truly special that you will dish out a bit more for. MIDRANGE CLOTHES SHOPPING IN LISBON Zara There are plenty of locations throughout the city. Zara is a slightly more expensive version of Primark. Their men’s selection is great, but be careful when you combine their pieces. One piece with some basics can look nice, but put too many of them together and you will look like either a pimp or a clown. I have much better luck here than Blanca. Their clothes for women are just too out there for her and don’t really fit her Colombian shape (she has a tush), Zara’s women’s clothing fits a less curvaceous body. A pair of ladies pants here costs around €40. Massimo Dutti If you like Banana Republic, this store will probably fit your style. The clothes here are well-made and hit a good mix of trendy and conservative. The clothes you buy here will last significantly longer than those you’d pick up in Primark or Zara. A pair of ladies pants will average €99 here.
