Upscale shopping malls and designer boutiques that wouldn’t be out of place in Manhattan or on the Champs Elysées mark Kuwait City’s burgeoning fashion scene. If you're the kind of traveler that loves exploring the locale through the local fashion trends and dazzling shops, then Kuwait is your dream destination. Spend your free time exploring the cream of the crop with these tips from a travel and shopping expert and blogger.
Modern Malls and Old-World Souqs
There’s no shortage of sleek shopping malls in Kuwait City, with both The Avenues and The Marina Mall around a 20-minute drive from our Radisson Blu Hotel, Kuwait. Blogger 'The Boudoir' explains their prevalence: “Kuwait has more malls than street boutiques, probably because of the hot weather. The biggest mall in the Gulf region is found here, and it’s still expanding. It’s called The Avenues and I highly recommend it as it has practically everything you need under one roof, from high-end fashion to smaller brands.”
The Avenues contains over 1,100 shops split into twelve unique districts. If it’s designer fashion you seek, pay a visit to the Prestige district, which is home to big names including Christian Dior, Prada and Burberry. The design of the building itself is also fascinating! Stop to admire its unique architecture, constructed using stones imported from Italy, before paying a visit to the spa in the Second Avenue district, or strolling down the European-style Grand Avenue, which boasts the first Harvey Nichols in Kuwait.
“Another place I would recommend is Souq Al-Mubarakiya, one of the oldest and more traditional places to shop,” says The Boudoir. "The newest part of Souq Al-Mubarakiya is trendy SoMu, which is taken from ‘SoHo’ but ends with ‘Mu,’ relating to Mubarkiya. It has some nice boutiques and cafés.” With over 200 years of history, this traditional market has been renovated in recent years and is the ideal place to soak up the atmosphere of Kuwait City. The fragrant spices, dates and honey-drenched sweets will tempt your taste buds, and you’ll find colorful, traditional clothing and silk carpets to tempt your wallet. Pause by the courtyard near Al-Bahar Mosque for a restorative cup of tea, freshly brewed over hot coals.
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The Essence of Kuwait Style
You’ll see an intriguing blend of styles on the streets of Kuwait, from edgy European designer looks to trendy fast fashion. What they all have in common is the willingness of the wearer to really make an effort to stand out. Local expert The Boudoir describes the sartorial scene: “Kuwait is high on fashion. You see fashionably dressed people, practically everyone dresses up to date. Designer fashion is very popular, and so is high-street fashion like Zara, Topshop and H&M.”
The Shops
One of The Boudoir’s favorite shops is Al Othman, which was founded in 1956 and is the go-to spot for local fashionistas in search of designer attire from labels like Helmut Lang, Elie Saab and Oscar de la Renta. The flagship store is located in Salmiya, with 20,000 square feet in which to exhibit stunning collections. The Boudoir also recommends 4 Concept Store, a chic industrial warehouse space that stocks a blend of furniture, books and edgy brands including Ann Demeulemeester and Gareth Pugh. The Boudoir's top five list concludes with the unique jewelry and accessories in Burj Jassim, in Al-Tilal Complex, and in Al-Mubarakiya.
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Book a room with a view at Radisson Blu Hotel, Kuwait and discover a dream-worthy shopping experience.
