Shopping in Buenos Aires

If you’re like me, then some of your favorite mementos are those precious items that you’ve purchased while traveling. The earrings you bought in Cinque Terre, the scarf you bought in London, the shoes you bought in Paris. Once they are safe-and-sound in your closet back home, these things manage to stem the tides of ever-shifting trends and remain in your wardrobe for years.

Upon your arrival in Buenos Aires, you may be hoping to take advantage of the exchange rate and get some sweet deals while increasing your stock. And, indeed, you can! But it’s not that simple. Prices are not standardized here according to quality or luxury as you’d expect. And even more frustrating, finding something that fits can be a challenge, even to the bravest shopper.

This is not an exhaustive listing of shops, sizes and bargains. But hopefully it can help get you started on your way to finding a reasonably priced, well-fitting and distinctive new item for your collection.

Now, let’s get the hard part over with: SHOPPING FOR CLOTHING

Before arriving in Buenos Aires, I was been warned by friends and guidebooks of the challenges of shopping for clothes in this city. I had been told that clothes are very expensive here and that finding my size would be unlikely. Fortunately, these statements are only half-true. Prices are comparable to what I have paid in the US (don’t expect to find too many bargains, though). I wear either a size 4 or 6 in the states, and most of the time I am able to find something that fits me. That’s the good news.

The bad news: if you wear any size greater than 8, you’re going to have a hard time.

Although clothing sizes vary from shop-to-shop, most stores either stick to the standard system of SMLXL, or carry sizes ranging from 0-5. Since sizes are not standardized here, there is no set conversion chart. You’re just going to have to try things on and see what happens.

As a rule of thumb, try one or two sizes bigger than what you normally wear. So if you wear a small in the states, try on a large in Buenos Aires. When trying on garments with numerical sizes, it helps to divide your size in half and then add 1 or 2. So for example, since I wear a 4 in the states I would try on either a 3 or 4 here (4÷2 + 1 or 2). This is only a starting point, though.

If this pride-sucking exercise begins to wear your nerves, you can rest assured. The women here, while it is true that on average they are thinner than women elsewhere, are also frustrated with the sizes available in stores.

The safer bet: LEATHER, JEWELRY, SHOES and OTHER ACCESSORIES

Leather, jewelry, shoes and a whole myriad of other accessories and trinkets can be found everywhere in this city. They are cheaper and involve a lot less hassle.

Shoe sizes are easier to convert than clothing sizes. If you typically wear a half size in the states, you will need to try on a couple pairs to see which fits best, but as a general guideline, just follow this chart:

As is the case with clothing, however, you may have to try on a couple different pairs before finding the right fit.

As for where to go?  Well, if you fancy yourself a fashionista, go to Palermo (try starting at Guruchaga and Honduras and start wandering). There, you’ll find boutique shops with well-constructed, more distinctive items. Prices will be higher in Palermo, but what you will find there will be better crafted and better looking (well, for the most part).

Also, you may want to try wandering around Santa Fe Ave. (start the intersection of Santa Fe and Callao and walk for several blocks in either direction). You will find more chain stores there, but can still find some really nice things.

There are just a few stores where you can find clothing in sizes beyond the US size 8. Try Zara, or any of the other larger chain boutiques, at either Alto Palermo or Patio Bulrich (in Recoleta). Both of these are more typical shopping malls. There, you will find really nice things (although pricey, be forewarned). You will also find the same stores along the pedestrian Avenida Florida. I’d avoid buying anything there, though, as the prices are highest in this area (and also because pickpockets are more common).

If you’re looking for souvenirs, leather goods or something with a more “authentic” Argentine flavor, I’d also suggest a day trip out to El Tigre. It’ll take you a while to get out there, but you’ll be happy to be there when you will find great bags, wallets, and anything else you can imagine. Even better, most everything you find at El Tigre will be much cheaper than what you will find in the city.

These are really just a few suggestions. You will find places to shop at every turn as you stroll around the city. Just explore and try not to get too fed up with it all.

Kristin Dean
LPBA Staff