I've always wondered where stylists shop when they travel. Not the stores, so much as the instinct: which street to turn down, which door to walk through, what's actually worth bringing back. Because I have no idea. I have worn some spectacularly embarrassing clothes in some genuinely beautiful places. There are photos from trips I loved that I still won't post, because I hate what I'm wearing in them. 

So I asked three people who know what they're doing: Divyak D'Souza, whose career spans editorial fashion and styling names like Tabu, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Farhan Akhtar and more; Isha Bhansali, best known for shaping Ayushmann Khurrana's more adventurous menswear; and Akshay Tyagi, stylist and costume designer whose credits include Allu Arjun, Rajkummar Rao and, most recently, Cocktail 2. 

I asked them how they shop when they travel: the cities they keep going back to, what they actually look for, and what’s actually worth sacrificing suitcase space for 

Divyak D’Souza 

How do you find the best places to shop when you travel? 

I am an avid researcher. I generally read as much as I can about shopping districts and try to find things that I would be interested in. Blogs are a great source of information. Honestly, I think the key is also getting a good guide because they know the interesting shopping districts and have that information beforehand. 

But I discover so much accidentally too. I might find a particular store or location simply by keeping an open mind and looking around once I get somewhere. When I was in Seoul, for example, someone told me about a particular handbag place. I discovered this district that had almost five different stores, so I went to each of them and spent the morning walking around. They had amazing bags. The key is to do your research, but also remain open to discovering things once you are there. 

Which destinations have been your favourite or most surprising places to shop? 

I think you get more bang for your buck in many Asian destinations. The hospitality is great, and these countries have such amazing design cultures. Whether it is fashion, architecture or interiors, there is so much to discover. 

Japan, Hong Kong and Seoul have probably been some of my favourites. South Korea, in particular, surprised me in terms of the sheer range of shopping. It is not only clothes, beauty products and gadgets, but also homeware and all the little things you unexpectedly want to take back with you. 

Seoul has some of the cutest options. I have seen so many things there and thought, “Can I bring that back?” Korean beauty shopping is obviously huge, but more than the products themselves, I find the shopping experience interesting. Many of the stores and shopping districts are designed so beautifully that they make you want to take everything home. Seoul has this cool, calm and trendy quality, so it is definitely somewhere I would recommend. 

Which cities are best for thrift shopping, vintage finds and independent stores?

London is definitely one of them. There are lots of subcultures and underground stores where you can find unique and interesting things. In terms of independent stores, East London is where it is really happening. 

In Bangkok, there is Chatuchak Market. It is a massive market where you can find practically everything. It has antiques, furniture, clothes and figurines for comic-book nerds. It brings thrift shopping and independent shopping together in one place. 

Bangkok would be another major shopping destination for me. There is also great vintage shopping in the US. In San Francisco, I found a street that was basically heaven. The entire street was lined with thrift stores. 

Are there particular fashion items you recommend buying from specific destinations? 

Japan, a hundred per cent, especially for cotton and Japanese denim. The Japanese cut jeans differently, create different washes and treat denim in a way that feels very different from most Western brands. Even their high-street brands take familiar ideas and make them more distinctive through their own design language. 

They may borrow certain references from European fashion, but the result still feels distinctly Japanese. The construction of traditional clothing and textiles is also different. You find boxier fits and more experimentation with proportion. Japan is also incredibly innovative when it comes to technical clothing, water-resistant fabrics and different fabric treatments. 

It is a good place to look for interesting footwear as well, including sandals, flip-flops and more unusual shoes. 

What do you usually look for when buying something while travelling? 

For me, it is not only about the uniqueness of the product. I also like finding items that remind me of a particular place. I like picking up candles from good stores because I have a strong association between scent and memory. The minute I smell a particular candle, for example, I can be transported back to South Korea and remember what being there felt like. 

I have another fragrance that immediately takes me back to New York. So, for me, what matters is that the item is unique and emotionally connected to that destination. That becomes more important than the financial value of the purchase. 

What is the best fashion bargain you have found while travelling? 

It was probably in New York City because New York has this incredible range. Some of the best designer brands hold warehouse sales there. Sometimes I am stalking them online and trying to figure out where and when they are happening. 

I have picked up designer pieces, jeans and amazing classic items at these warehouse sales. New York was great in that sense. I ended up buying a lot of good things that I could genuinely hold on to rather than things that only felt exciting in the moment. 

Which cities have the strongest or most distinctive fashion and craft identities? 

Tokyo has incredible young designers and amazing stores. There are the conventional fashion capitals, of course, but some destinations have an identity that is entirely their own. I would also say Jaipur because it really captures the zeitgeist of Indian craftsmanship. 

You have the jewellery from Johari Bazaar and the textiles you find across the city. There are also designers and artists working with Indian craft and interpreting it in new and interesting ways. 

Indian craftsmanship and textiles are such a big part of what makes shopping there unique. Ultimately, every city has its own particular angle when it comes to shopping. 

Isha Bhansali  

How do you find the best places to shop when you travel? 

I follow a lot of handles and often discover places while scrolling through Reels. Whenever I am travelling somewhere, I search for the best places to shop and make a note of the shopping malls or streets that have been covered by mainstream media. 

But I also look at recommendations from people who can lead you towards smaller, more niche streets, independent designer boutiques and vintage stores. 

I love vintage shopping, so I make space for it in my itinerary. I also scour Google Maps quite maniacally. It is really a combination of research, social media and exploring once I am there. 

Which city is your favourite shopping destination? 

Paris is my favourite shopping destination, hands down. To simplify it: for womenswear, Paris; for menswear, Milan. 

Do you have any favourite markets or outlet-shopping destinations? 

I enjoy markets, but I also like outlet shopping because it gives you a good mix of designers and price points. I have visited several of The Bicester Collection’s outlet villages, and they usually bring together everything from high-street and mid-range labels to luxury brands. For outlet shopping, I would particularly recommend visiting the European villages. 

Are there particular fashion items that you recommend buying from specific destinations? 

There are many answers to this because different countries specialise in different things. 

I have not been to Japan yet, but I associate Japan with some of the best denim, interesting silhouettes, sneakers and great streetwear brands. Onitsuka Tiger, for instance, is one of the names that comes to mind. Italy is where I would look for leather goods and accessories. 

What do you usually look for when shopping abroad? 

I usually look for local or homegrown brands first. I prefer buying something that belongs to the place rather than choosing a familiar brand, unless I urgently need something specific. I also look for past-season pieces at better prices. 

The real joy of shopping abroad is finding something you cannot get at home. Even after the item becomes old, it still carries the memory of that trip. That is what makes the purchase feel personal. 

Which destinations are best for vintage shopping? 

I used to live in the UK, and there were some great vintage markets there. For me, the appeal of vintage shopping is finding something genuinely unique and unexpected. Almost every city has its own markets, particularly weekend or Sunday markets, so there are many destinations where you can find good vintage pieces. 

It is really about looking through those markets and coming across something you would not ordinarily find elsewhere. 

Akshay Tyagi  

How do you find the best places to shop when you travel? 

When I am travelling, I usually don’t like to do too much research. I prefer discovering places as I go, although having a general lay of the land is important. 

I’ll look at a broad shopping guide and some of the best stores depending on what mood I’m in, whether I’m looking for vintage or thrifted pieces, luxury, high street or great outlet sales. 

It really varies. I think you first have to decide which world you want to operate in. Do you want to reuse, recycle and reintegrate older pieces into your wardrobe, or are you looking for newer items and fresh stock? Personally, that is how I approach it. 

Which city has your favourite shopping scene, and why? 

I absolutely love Bangkok. 

Apart from the fact that the food is incredible and the city has great infrastructure, there is so much variety in terms of brands, styles, designs and overall vibes. 

I can go to Platinum one day, CM the next, and look at Thai couture the following day. If I am doing a three-day weekend trip, I feel like I can cover completely different worlds within that time. Then, of course, there is local street shopping at places like Chatuchak or the night markets, which are always fun. 

Are there any particular stores, neighbourhoods or shopping districts you always recommend? 

In Bangkok, it is always Platinum, CM and Chatuchak for me. In Paris, it is Le Marais. I always find it beautifully curated and very well put together. 

BHV also used to be one of my favourites in Paris because it allowed you to discover so many different designers under one roof. 

Where would you recommend shopping for denim, suits, sneakers, leather goods and accessories? 

I would say Milan. Italy is incredible for this category of shopping. There are outlet malls where you can sometimes find things at a fraction of the original price. Milan and Italy more broadly are great for sneakers and leather goods, and when it comes to suits, Italian tailoring is obviously unparalleled. 

What do you usually look for when shopping while travelling? 

Wherever I go, I try to pick up something connected to the local culture, craftsmanship or heritage. It might be home textiles or decorative objects. Sometimes I collect small archival pieces for my personal collection. 

I also do not necessarily like splurging on luxury all the time. I prefer seasonless, classic pieces that can continue to work through different phases of your sartorial journey. For me, it is about buying something that has longevity while also carrying some connection to the place I visited. 

What is the best fashion purchase you have ever made while travelling? 

Definitely the Madame-T scarf from Issey Miyake’s Pleats Please collection. It is one of those OG holy-grail pieces for me. I also have an Alexander McQueen silk formal suit scarf, which is a shorter men’s scarf. Those are two pieces that have stayed with me forever. 

Another thing I am obsessed with is vintage eyewear that I buy from The Gentleman’s Community in Dubai. It is a fascinating store with vintage accessories for men, watches and all sorts of paraphernalia connected to that sartorial, Pitti Uomo kind of lifestyle. 

Which city would you choose for the ultimate shopping trip? 

Florence is incredible, especially if you are interested in the world around Pitti Uomo. It has such beautifully put-together styles, tastes and perspectives. It is definitely worth spending time exploring. 

If I had to choose one shopping destination, I would probably say Florence. Spend a day or two walking through the streets, discovering different brands, fabrics, local offerings and accessories. 

If you want luxury shopping as well, there are excellent outlets outside many of these cities. La Vallée Village outside Paris is incredible. I have been there once or twice. There is also Bicester Village outside London and The Mall in Italy. London has its own flavour, but you really need to know what you want to pick up there. 

New York, for me, is overwhelming. There is simply too much on offer all at the same time, so I would not necessarily recommend it to someone who is new to shopping there. 

Florence feels sweeter and quainter. Milan is smaller and much more focused when it comes to shopping.