Conde Nast Traveller: July 2007

AFFORDABLE EUROPE SHOPPING TIPS

by Tamara Heber-Percy and James Lohan, creators of the 'Mr & Mrs Smith' hotel guides

We love ROME'S PORTA PORTESE open-air fleamarket in Trastevere, the largest in Europe, open on Sundays until 2pm; but get there early to nab a bargain. Visit ST TROPEZ market on a Friday and buy Provencal straw shopping baskets for as little as €9 – they're eco-friendly, practical and stylish. When in France it's also worth a root around for clothes and antiques at PORTE DE CLIGNANCOURT market in PARIS, open Mon-Sat. UZES, north of NIMES, has gorgeous Saturday market selling homely goodies from honey to linen quilts. RUE DE LA MADELEINE in Nimes is also great for window-shopping; buy almost-paste callisons and pastries from Maison Villaret and sweet costume jewellery from Meteonte. ANTWERP is known for cutting-edge fashion with P Nuts boutique on Nationalestraat specialising in catwalk cast-offs. Episode on Steenhouwersvest and Baby Beluga on Volkstraat stock vintage clothes and accessories. While most people don't really visit TALLINN to shop, you can pick up interesting souvenirs – but avoid the hiked-up prices in the old town, instead visit TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMEN in Kadriorg, and watch artisans making jewellery, pottery and stained glass at Katarina Kaik.

MR & MRS SMITH contributes to the B-LIST (www.the-b-list.com), an insiders' directory on where to eat, drink, play, shop, sleep around the globe that can be downloaded exclusively onto BlackBerry smart phones.