At the beginning of last year a dress caught my eye in a shop window in Puerto de la Cruz, a window I had passed a dozen times a week but which was usually so uninspired as to be invisible to me.
There was no mistaking it – the style, the cut, the colours – it was the designer label I had seen in Santa Cruz all those years ago. I looked at the label and committed it to memory.
It said Desigual.

Be yourself
Innovation, creativity and daring are the cornerstones of Desigual’s design philosophy.

They challenge the world of anonymity and homogeneity, creating clothes that project an image of self confidence and optimism for people who aren’t afraid to stand out from the crowd.
What’s equally important for me is that their clothes, although predominantly directed towards a younger market, are stylish and individual without being ‘out there’ which means they’re accessible to all ages and sizes.
Beautiful tailoring ensures a flattering look in dresses, skirts and jackets which is another big plus point in my book. You don’t have to be a Kate Moss to wear them, although I’m pretty sure Kate would look sensational in them.

Originally known for its patchwork designs, Desigual collections include softer and more sophisticated uses of colour in sensual, easy to wear fabrics of silk, organza, cotton and linen. Everything is finished with hand stitching, highlights and beading and Desigual’s signature graffiti.

High profile
Founded in Barcelona in 1985 by Swiss business man Thomas Meyer, the company has seen phenomenal growth through the last decade and their stores are now a recognised worldwide brand.
In August last year Desigual hit the retail fashion headlines when they fought off rivals O2 and Mango to secure the former Disney store on London’s Oxford Street for a staggering £710 per sq ft, creating a new record for Zone A rents on the street and sending shock waves through existing tenants who feared commensurate hikes in their rent.

At their latest New York store opening they took a non-descript building in Herald Square, downtown Manhattan and commissioned Colossal Media to create a vibrant, colourful canvas on the building’s façade. The block is now a Manhattan landmark and loudly proclaims the optimism that the company promotes.

Dream opportunity – nightmare scenario
I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s ever had that nightmare where you’re standing at the bus stop wearing just a vest which is too short to cover your bare essentials.

Well last summer in Barcelona, San Sebastian, Marbella, Madrid and New York that nightmare turned into reality for anyone brave enough to rise to the Desigual challenge of “come in your underwear and leave in Desigual”.
The company invited customers at their stores to arrive in just their underwear and the first 100 would be clothed for free in whatever garments they chose. Everyone else in line in just their underwear got a 50% discount.
I’m guessing the phrase “would you like that wrapped” wasn’t much in evidence that day.

Adding a little je ne sais Lecroix
With the unveiling of the new Autumn-Winter 2011-2012 Dream collection, Desigual has taken a bold new step and is teaming up with Christian Lacroix to design 30 garments.

Monsieur Lacroix said about Desigual: “I was awestruck by the first girl dressed by desigual that I saw in Paris. As I watched her, I could recognise in her a member of my own tribe. It was an explosion of colors and patchwork under the elegant, discreet and always monotonous French sky. It was fantastic, truly love at first sight, a breath of fresh air, all multicoloured, scorching, revitalizing, radiating Mediterranean colours and flavours and creeping into this global and colourless magma inhabited by zombies and clones.”

Whilst I suspect I may well fall into the category of “zombie and clone” in Monsieur Lacroix’s rather excited description, redemption is on the horizon. On a short trip to Santa Cruz de La Palma last week I bought a Desigual dress.
This is haute couture at prices even a writer can aspire to, but I got my dress half price in the sale. There’s still a hint of a grin on my lips even as I type.

Stores
There are 235 Desigual outlets across the UK – check their website to find your nearest.
On Tenerife there are outlets in La Camella, Chio, Icod de Los Vinos, La Laguna, La Orotava, Los Cristianos, Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz. Addresses and locations are shown on the website.

Online
Desigual have now launched their online store so you’ve no excuse for not grabbing a bit of this positive outlook without leaving the comfort of your keyboard and what’s more, there are sales on at the moment.

On the first weekend of September over 230 craftspeople from Tenerife, the other Canary Islands and mainland Spain laid out their wares on stalls and in the shade of the thatched huts that for the rest of the year are part of the Pinolere Ethnological Museum in the highlands of La Orotava.

Under blue skies and with views to die for as a backdrop over 30,000 people turned up to get in some early Christmas shopping.

This is shopping with a difference. Stalls are spread over a series of levels but with vistas like Pinolere’s it can be difficult to take your eyes off the scenery to check out the goodies on sale.

Crafts range from the traditional, such as these wicker baskets…

…to those that you might as well sellotape straight on to your stomach.

And then there are the more contemporary works like these cheeky designs.

Or Canarian classics – hand rolled cigars from La Palma; as good as Cuban cigars…so the people from La Palma will tell you.

As well as hundreds of delightfully unique crafts on sale, the fair has art & craft making exhibitions, live music, rabbits and birds to coo over, demonstrations of traditional life in the hills , these wonderful huts and loads of secret corners to explore…and all for a €2.50 entrance fee.

If you missed Pinolere this year, don’t fret there are other craft fairs and markets around Tenerife, just not in such a spectacular location. Keep an eye on our ‘Happenings’ page for news of a fair in October featuring crafts from South America, Africa and the Canary Islands.

Charleston Charm

The heat’s rising on Tenerife’s beaches and the sales are in full swing; it’s the perfect time to bag a bargain summer outfit and dress it up with some of Bijou Brigitte’s eye-catching new jewellery collection.

Ooh-La-La!

If you haven’t already discovered Bijou Brigitte, you’re in for a treat. With branches all over Tenerife, this little treasure trove of trinkets is packed with enticing earrings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, brooches, hair bands and more – all colour co-ordinated to make it easy to find exactly the shade you’re looking for.
It’s a great little shop in which to buy gifts for the jewellery lovers in your life too with prices ranging from piggy-bank friendly to lavish gesture. It’s always an early stop for me on the Christmas shopping trip.

The new Autumn/Winter 2010/2011 collection evokes memories of foreign travel and secret romance in vintage retro mode. Think Casablanca and Brief Encounter – cassis, champagne and smoky crystal shades in 1920′s style.
Paris provides the inspiration for the new season’s fun accessories in bright, primary colours; an Eiffel Tower pendant, charm watches, pretty polka-dot bows and hooped earrings.

The Jet Set

Or fast forward to the 21st Century and team up satin and chiffon with polished jet and rhinestone chandelier earrings and lace gloves to show off the summer tan on El Faro’s rooftop bar.

This is fashion jewellery at its best for me – great value for money; a huge selection of styles and colour co-ordinated displays so you simply find the shade you want and settle in to enjoy the spoilt-for-choice experience.

Torviscas (Thursdays and Saturdays 9am to 2pm, opposite the Costa Adeje Gran Hotel)
One of the biggest markets in the South; clothes, jewellery, handbags, shoes, souvenirs, books…and even a fashion show. There are bargains to be had as long as you can tell The Real Thing from The Pretenders.

Los Cristianos (Sunday mornings 9am to 2pm, next to the Arona Gran Hotel)
Probably the largest market in the South with extensive stalls selling everything from crafts to clothing. Expect to be elbow to elbow with fellow browsers and feel free to practice your bartering skills.

Santa Cruz Rastro (Sunday mornings 9am to 1.30pm, around the African Market)
If you can sell it, you can buy it at the Sunday Rastro in Santa Cruz. By far, the biggest market on Tenerife. From African drums to Zinnia plants; browse the hundreds of stalls in air perfumed with patchouli oil and hot dogs. Not so much a market as a retail experience. Top shopping.

Tegueste (Saturdays & Sundays 8am to 2pm, Mercadillo del Agricultor – behind the PCAN station)
Fruit and vegetables straight from the farmer’s fork (often with soil still attached); mouth-watering home-made cakes and bread; hand crafted models and ornaments and best of all, local wine – all accompanied by Latino music. You may need to book a room, or at very least, salsa lessons.

El Médano (Saturdays 9am to 2pm – Plaza de Principe)
Neo-hippies and cool dudes selling handmade jewellery, clothing, African artefacts and all things Bohemian. Probably the coolest market on Tenerife; wear your best shades.

Los Abrigos (Tuesdays 5pm to 9pm, top of the harbour)
Tenerife’s only regular night market. CDs, DVDs, clothing, jewellery, belts and more, all a short stroll from the best fish restaurants in the south and perfectly timed to examine your purchases over a plate of seabass and a glass of white.

La Laguna (Every day to 2pm, Plaza del Cristo)
Air thick with the smell of spices, cut flowers and salt fish – La Laguna market is the most comprehensive food market on Tenerife. Whether it’s meat, fish or fowl, you’ll find it here; as well as cheeses, cakes, sauces, wines, plants, flowers…a foodie’s paradise.

Tacoronte (Saturdays and Sundays 9am to 2pm, Tacoronte – Tejina road)
One of the largest agricultural markets on Tenerife with over 100 stalls of produce. Cakes, pastries, wines, cheeses and herbs – trash the diet sheet before you go.

Flea Market, Puerto de la Cruz (Saturdays 9am to 2pm, outside Supermercado Municipal)
A colourful local market with a mix of new and second hand goods. Antiques, books, clothes, ornaments and lots of excellent crafts. Inside the mercado on the first floor is a really good farmers’ market too – that’s two markets for the price of one, ladies and gentlemen.

Feria Recinto (Avenida de la Constitución, Santa Cruz)
From cars to Christmas and babies to brides, the 40,000 square metres of Institución Ferial de Tenerife is THE place for trade fairs. This coming weekend (19th -21st March) is weddings. Check their website for details.
As markets go – this one’s MASSIVE.

With 519 stores dotted around the country, you’re never far from a Zara in Spain… or in the UK, or France, or even India in future as Zara stores are scheduled to open in New Delhi and Mumbai in 2010. In fact there are over 1500 Zara stores in 73 countries worldwide; they’ve come an awfully long way since Amancio Ortega opened the first shop in his home town of A Coruña, Galicia in 1975.

Zara’s Autumn/Winter 09/10 collection has seen a return to the big shoulders and tiny waists of the 80s for women. Fitted trouser suits worn over soft silk blouses in nude and muted earth tones give power style a soft edge. Long tunic tops in creamy soft cotton worn under leather bomber jackets with skinny trousers or minis and thigh-length boots create Dick Whittington meets Angelina Jolie sex appeal.
Men are getting in on the act with leather bomber jackets and knitted American Jock-style cardigans paired with sharp cut, military style double-breasted jackets. Trousers are baggy with cuffed bottoms worn inside ankle boots. It’s all very communist worker and will have you reaching for the vodka and your well-thumbed Tolstoy.

Of course, with a design-to-shop turnaround of just two weeks compared to the industry standard of six months, it could all have changed by the time you’ve read this and made your way to your nearest store.
Still, the sales are just around the corner and Zara always has huge discounts on everything. Happy bargain hunting!

Oysho is one of those shops you need to keep a regular eye on as they change their stock so frequently that you just might miss something.

Recently moving more into the teens market as well as women’s wear, Oysho specialises in underwear and what they term ‘home wear’ which is a mix of pyjamas and soft, comfy things for wearing about the house.
To be honest, some of my nicest tops have come from Oysho’s home wear collection but I wear them to go out in. Of course, now I’ve told everyone that, I’ll probably get sniggered at in the street.

If you’ve got presents for teenage girls on your Christmas shopping list, Oysho’s a great place to find girlie pyjamas and underwear in pretty pink florals or Mickey Mouse motifs which the early teens love.

For us rather more grown up women, this autumn’s underwear is 1920s style. Designed to emulate a period in history when intellectual women were experiencing social emancipation, you could call it the Bloomsbury bloomers collection. But they don’t, they just call it the Twenties Collection.

Knickers are French style in polka dots and bows with matching balconette bras in ruched velvet and soft cottons. Beautiful black satin corsettes and silk pyjamas will have you reaching for the cigarette holder while humming Rhapsody in Blue and wafting a marabou fan.

Oysho stores can be found in major commercial centres in Santa Cruz, La Orotava and the south of Tenerife.

Black leather, studs and chains matched with silk scarves, slouchy boots and bomber jackets pick up this season’s aviator look. The waist makes a return with 60s meets 80s style featuring the miniest of skirts over leggings, slinky tops belted at the waist, killer heels and faux fur and animal prints.

The Stradivarius label brings the constantly changing face of fashion to affordable street wear. Collections team avant-garde with basics making their clothes hugely accessible and desirable to a broad range of ages. Unlike some outlets, Stradivarius dares to be different and brings a touch of originality to those who want to create their own style. Always popular, when the sales come around you can guarantee the longest queues will be at Stradi’.

Jackets range from €30 to €60; jeans and trousers average around the €20/€25 tag; tops and dresses fall into an affordable €10 to €20; and shoes and boots will set you back €50 to €70.
Quality is good for the price tag and sizes get up to 46 (US size 16/UK size 18).

If you want to try out this season’s styles without leaving the comfort of your keyboard, go to the website and play with the neat ‘fitting room’ feature which is the digital equivalent of cut out clothes. Mix and match the basics on the ‘virtual you’ until you get the look you’re after and then hit the calculator icon to price up your new image.

There are Stradivarius outlets in all the major commercial centres on Tenerife.