Traveling in Style
October 2, 2014
I have a dear friend, Min, from South Korea. She’s adorable, resembling a porcelain doll. Her sense of style is a work of art. She’s vivacious, and has an inspiring story. I’ll share that with you tomorrow as well as her personal Korean-influenced fashion. But today, for Travel Thursday, I want to focus on some of her favorite style landmarks in Seoul. As Min explains, “Shopping is quite a thrill over there. It’s a shopper’s paradise for the fashion-conscious.”
The Hongdae area is a must on Min’s hot shopping list. This is the home of Hongik University, best-known for its prestigious art school. The college town has attracted a copious array of clothing and accessory shops, not to mention restaurants and clubs. Many of the fashions are local, the prices are known to be reasonable, and several of the stores stay open late. This is especially true on weekends when students want to shop for their evening outfits, eat out with friends, and hit the clubs. If you’re looking for edgy fashion, the arts, and indie music, this is where you want to be.
The Myeongdong district is considered the center for Korean shopping. It features a mixture of global and native brands. So you can expect to see the likes of H&M, Zara, Nike and UNIQLO housed in their own brick-and-motor buildings. But for local flavor, as Min explained, “It’s quite a sight to see the stores lining the narrow alleyways.” She summed it all up by saying, “Here, one can find the latest fashion geared for young people.
If you’re looking for high-end, head to Apgujeong. It’s in one of the richest areas of Seoul. Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Channel, Armani….they’re all there. This district even has a Galleria. You might be familiar with this traveler-friendly concept from other fashionable destinations. There you can shop duty-free and you don’t even have to carry your bags. They will be waiting for you at the airport. This is a late-night venue too. You’ll want to go there at least once in the evening to see the light show on the outside of the building.
Thank you, Min, for sharing your favorite South Korean haunts. I can’t wait to reveal her style secrets and incredible journey tomorrow.
