W
hen thinking of Buenos
Aires, Argentina,
thoughts of the
tango, Parisian-style
architecture, polo
and prime beef come to mind. But
if you visit the capital of Argentina
without an empty suitcase and
an abundance of US dollars, I can
promise you’ll leave with a pang
of regret.
Not only is Buenos Aires an outstanding shopping city, but thanks
to a favorable exchange rate,
especially with the blue dollar
rate, visitors can leave with
incredible deals on fine,
handcrafted Argentine products.
From custom leather items to
jewelry to home goods, Buenos
Aires is a treasure trove for
even the most casual shopper.
Leah Walker: You’re from
York, England. How did you
end up in Buenos Aires?
Sophie Lloyd: I came to Buenos
Aires in 2010 out of wanderlust,
and I’m still here four and a half
years later. I’d been living and
working in Shanghai as a fashion
journalist for five years previously
and wanted a change of scenery.
My experience in China was
amazing (and I really miss the
food), but it wasn’t somewhere
I wanted to live forever. I love
to travel, and I wasn’t really
ready to return to England. I’d
never been to South America, and
I’d heard great things about Buenos
Aires, so I just took a chance and
booked a flight. Like most, I fell
in love with the city, and now it
feels like home.
A lot of the local designers and artisans only
produce small limited edition collections, that
you won’t find anywhere else
With limited time in the city and
a specific list of items I wanted,
I took to Google for a Buenos Aires
shopping expert. Who I found was
Sophie Lloyd, founder of Shop Hop
BA. I left the city with a custommade leather jacket, a custom-made
pair of leather boots, Patagoniainspired perfume and leather bag
from a local designer. Had I more
time, my suitcase surely wouldn’t
have shut.
After my shopping high wore off,
I sat down with Sophie for some
insight into the shopping scene
of Buenos Aires.
LW: What led you to create Shop
Hop BA?
SL: I’ve always wanted to have my
own business, and I’ve always loved
shopping for myself and for others.
When I arrived in Buenos Aires,
I was a little overwhelmed by the
shopping scene and didn’t really
know where to start as the city
is so big and there are so many
distinctive neighborhoods. I decided
to set up Shop Hop BA to offer
private shopping tours and personal
shopping services to help tourists
and expats in their shopping quests.
I also offer personalized shopping
itineraries for those who would like
some shopping tips, but don’t want
to hire a shopping assistant.
LW: What makes Buenos Aires
a great shopping city?
SL: Buenos Aires has a very unique
shopping scene dominated by local
designers and brands. I love the
boutique shopping culture and many
of the boutiques are housed in
beautiful old houses and buildings.
There’s also a growing trend of
hidden, private appointment-only
showrooms and artisan workshops
that you wouldn’t come across on
your own, unless you are in the
know. A lot of the local designers
and artisans only produce small
limited edition collections, so you’ll
come away with something special
that you won’t find anywhere else.
LW: When potential clients
contact you, how do you go
about customizing their shopping
experiences? What are some
of the benefits of using a
private shopping guide?
SL: I start out by sending a
questionnaire by email to the client
that gives me a better idea of their
tastes, personal style and if they’re
looking for anything specific. I’ll
then create an itinerary based on
that. Every client is different and
shops in a different way, so I try
to remain as flexible as possible.
I also offer personal styling and
wardrobe advice for more fashionfocused tours.
Having a private shopping guide
saves a lot of time and helps
distinguish the good from the bad.
It enables shoppers to find exactly
what they’re looking for at the best
prices and gives insight into the
local design scene from someone
in the know.
LW: What items should shoppers
not leave Buenos Aires without?
SL: Visitors should not leave
without a custom-made leather
jacket, leather handbag, a pair of
handmade leather shoes, ceramic
penguin wine jug and a statement
piece of clothing or jewelry from
an Argentine designer.
LW: How do stylish Argentine
men and women dress?
SL: It depends where you are in the
city, but the majority dress quite
classically. They’re not as
experimental with their looks as
people are in New York or London,
for example, but they always look
smart. The women are very feminine
and like boho chic wearing tight
jeans, heels and feminine tops. The
men tend to dress in a preppy way.
You will find a more hipster crowd
hanging out in Palermo Soho who
are a bit more experimental with
their loo