Clothing stores in Buenos Aires range from budget-friendly wholesale districts to high-end boutiques, with locally-made items typically offering better value than imports. The city’s fashion scene reflects European influences, and understanding Argentine sizing, seasonal needs, and where to shop for different budgets will help you build your wardrobe here. Import taxes make foreign brands expensive, so exploring local options often makes more sense financially.
Argentine sizes run smaller than US sizes and vary significantly between brands. There is no standardized conversion chart.
Always try clothes on before purchasing due to this variability. Know your measurements in centimeters (bust, waist, hips, neck) to compare with local size charts.
Imported goods are expensive due to high import taxes and tariffs. Foreign brands cost significantly more than they would in the US or Europe.
Locally-made items (marked “Industria Argentina”) are typically cheaper and can be well-designed. However, in budget shopping areas, quality may be lower and items may not last as long.
Prices are not standardized according to quality or luxury, so you’ll need to assess each item individually rather than relying on price as a quality indicator.
Flores (Avellaneda Avenue): Known for wholesale shopping with unbeatable prices. Many shops sell individual items at wholesale rates, though some require buying two to three pieces minimum. Visit early to avoid crowds, especially on Saturdays.
Once (Balvanera): Budget-friendly retail and wholesale district for cheap clothes and fabrics. Good for basic items like t-shirts and jeans at lower prices.
Villa Crespo: Outlet district with affordable international and local brands. Check streets like Aguirre, Castillo, Thames, and Malabia for deals.
Palermo Soho: Trendy boutiques and independent designers around Plaza Armenia and Plaza Serrano. Mix of higher-priced boutiques and affordable options, plus artisan markets. Distrito Arcos is an outdoor outlet mall in Palermo.
Recoleta: Upscale neighborhood with luxury stores and high-end malls like Patio Bullrich and Galerías Pacífico featuring international and local luxury brands.
Calle Florida (Microcentro): Pedestrian street with various clothing stores and souvenir shops.
Ferias Americanas: Second-hand shops where you can find unique items with some searching.
Always ask for a cash discount (“efectivo”). This is common practice and can reduce your total.
In crowded shopping districts like Once and Avellaneda, keep your phone put away and wear your backpack in front of you to avoid pickpockets.
If you have leftover pesos, duty-free shops at the airport set prices in dollars but convert at the official rate when paying in pesos, which can be advantageous depending on your exchange rate.
Tailors (modistas) are common throughout the city, especially in Once. Many work from home and rely on word-of-mouth recommendations for alterations or custom work.
Local brands include Prüne (leather goods, shoes, handbags), Ayres (women’s clothing with good quality and sizing) and, La Martina (polo-styled clothes, high quality)..
Exploring local brands often provides better value than imported options due to import taxes on foreign goods.
