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"__An Interview With Roberta Freymann__\\n\\n\\n\\n*Freymann is a designer and owns an eponymous boutique in New York City.*\\n\\nWe get giddy when we travel, but clothes that look gorgeous in the cool artist's neighborhood in Istanbul may prompt a serious case of transatlantic regret later. Before you buy anything abroad, take some time to think. The trick is to find great clothes and accessories you couldn't get at home.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0 __ Know what to skip.__ When you're shopping in a developing country, avoid the huge outdoor marketplaces; they are the dumps of the shopping world. If you're in a place like Thailand, India, or Morocco, resist the temptation to buy native clothes\u2014you'll never wear them again. If you want to get something that looks local, like a sari or kimono, ask your hotel concierge to recommend an upscale boutique that caters to Westerners. Look for a piece that has a European cut.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0 __ Start small.__ In major cities like Paris, London, and Tokyo, it's the tiny boutiques that carry the unique stuff. Wander the hipster neighborhoods and check out the small storefronts, especially vintage shops and places that carry only one local designer.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0 __ Master Europe.__ Keep an eye out for designer boutiques that don't exist in the United States: Lanvin and Azzedine Ala\u00EFa in Paris, and Valextra in Milan. Consider buying designer clothes in their country of origin (Gucci in Italy, Yves Saint Laurent in France), where high-end designers are typically 10 to 15 percent cheaper. In Europe, there are outlets for Marni, Dolce &amp; Gabbana, Prada, and more, where the goods are anywhere from 10 to 80 percent off. (The area around Florence is particularly famous for its outlets.) You also get an additional 10 to 12 percent in sales tax back at the airport.\\n\\n\\n\\n\u2022\u00A0 __ Embrace the trends.__ The U.S. market tends to be more conservative than the European one, so if you find a great, wild skirt or necklace, go for it. There's a good chance you'll be ahead of the trends when you get home.\\n\\n#### See Also\\n\\n- [Top 10 Rules for Vacation Packing&amp;mdash;The Beauty Edition](http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/blogs/daily-beauty-reporter/2011/07/top-10-rules-for-vacation-packingthe-beauty-edition.html)\\n\\n\\n- [Insiders' Guide: How to Pack Less but Look Gorgeous](http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/how-to/2007/How_To_Pack_Less_But_Look_Gorgeous)\\n\\n\\n- [How Not to Look Like a Tourist](http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/how-to/2011/how-to-not-look-like-a-tourist)"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.allure.com/story/how-to-shop-for-clothing-abroad>