London, New York and Tokyo: three great shopping capitals vie to be crowned our top luxury retail destination. Jessica Bowen delivers the verdict

TOKYO

LUX RATING: 17.0/20

PURE TOKYO COOL

Omotesando

1 Omotesando is possibly the most eclectic neighbourhood in Tokyo, with Harajuku and all that is weird and wonderful at one end, and Aoyama, with its high-end designers, at the other.

For creative inspiration and a taste of Japanese youth subculture, begin by passing through the flowered arches of Takeshita-Dori, a bustling lane which has been the birthplace of many of Japan’s fashion trends. This is where the Harajuku Girls – or locally named Gothic Lolitas – buy their platform shoes and knee-high socks from the independent boutiques and second-hand stores. In order to experience the teenage culture at its most extreme, visit Harajuku on a Sunday, when young people gather around the station to display their quirkiest costumes.

In addition to its bountiful backstreet boutiques, the main stretch of the kilometre-long tree-lined avenue that is Omotesando acts as a public gallery of world-famous architects – and architectural eccentricity is in abundance. Yohji Yamamoto’s store has no sign but is recognisable by its distinctive bronze façade and Rei Kawakubo’s Comme de Garçons collection is revealed behind a blue glass, pod-like exterior.

Although the Issey Miyake store is more understated than its neighbours’, the design philosophy it houses stands alone in its originality. With new chief designer, Dai Fujiwara, at the helm, the Issey Miyake brand is continuing to push the boundaries of fashion innovation. Look out for his latest design solution A-POC Inside, which fuses technology with a unique Eastern style.

ELECTRIC PARADISE

Akihabara

2 Once famous for its electronics outlets, Akihabara’s Electric Town is now known as a haven for otaku, the manga-loving geeks that have emerged as a social phenomenon in Japan over recent years.

With them came a number of stores offering video games, manga and animation-related goods including Volks, the must-see store in the historic Radio Building.

Akihabara is still an electronics district, so do some duty free shopping for the latest gadgets at one of the major stores, such as Ishimaru Denki, Onoden or Laox, along the main road. Smaller shops selling second-hand goods and specialist parts and tools can be found in the narrow side streets.

EASTERN CHIC

Ginza

3 Teeming with imposing facades, upmarket Ginza district is abundant with glamorous department stores – Mitsukoshi, Wako, Matsuzakaya and Matsuya – which boast everything from cameras to kimonos. Matsuzakaya has a fabulous depachika (food hall) in the basement where sweet delicacies are displayed immaculately and delicately wrapped by the politest of sales staff. Matsuya has an open-air minigolf green and bonsai garden on its roof as well as a pet trimming salon for dogs in need of a haircut.

Ginza’s main street line-up includes big names such as Gucci, Shiseido, Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton but worth noticing are the simpler pleasures such as Itoya, a nine-floor stationery shop and its annex Itoya 3, tucked away on a back street, selling beautiful washi (fine handmade Japanese paper) and calligraphy brushes.

Famous for its cultured pearls, Mikimoto’s first ever store still stands proud in Ginza more than a century after opening and this winter sees the launch of its Stormy Weather collection in collaboration with Yohji Yamamoto.

Stay at: MANDARIN ORIENTAL
Located a short walk from Ginza, the Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo provides an ideal spot to sojourn at the end of a hard day’s shopping. Perched high above the city, the reception, lounge and restaurants are drenched in light during the day thanks to enormous double-aspect, double-height windows. Night-times are pure Blade Runner. Inside, the constant calming sound of running water can be heard from the bar and the spa is a first-class antidote to the bustle of Tokyo. And there’s the Gourmet Shop, selling specialities like individually wrapped Musk melons, exclusive to Japan, costing in excess of ¥33,000 (£140) each. www.mandarinoriental.com/tokyo

LONDON

LUX RATING: 17.5/20

HIGH FASHION

Mount Street in Mayfair

1 Mayfair has always been a shopping hotspot but recent retail renovations have seen it move into a new realm, emerging as an epicentre of cool. Mount Street, by The Connaught hotel, is reinventing itself as one of the world’s centres of ultra-upmarket directional chic.

Marc Jacobs opened his first London boutique here in February 2007 paving the way and firmly establishing the area’s new-found buzz. Up the road, Nicholas Ghesquiere’s design concepts in Balenciaga’s New York and Hong Kong flagships are to be repeated in the brand’s first London store which opens in early 2008, with a futuristic take on the luxury retail environment.

Other new names on the horizon for 2008 are Oscar de la Renta and Jenny Packham as well as the eagerly anticipated Dunhill Club which will open on nearby Davies Street. The club concept will include the largest men’s clothing store in London, bespoke fitting suites, a Pankhurst barbershop, a private members’ club and an Italian restaurant.

DESIGNER COOL

Westbourne Grove

2 Shopping on Westbourne Grove and the surrounding area is a pleasure. It has a residential feel with fewer crowds than Mayfair, a range of enticing designer boutiques and plenty of pit-stop cafes.

Aime, one of the many pockets of Paris in the area, was established by French-Cambodian sister duo Val and Wanda Heng-Vong. It is the main stockist for already established French labels such as APC and Isabel Marant but also carries smaller labels Les Prairies de Paris, Forte Forte, Madame a Paris and, new for this winter, Iro. Jewellery by Serge Thoraval, handbags by Upla, ballet pumps by Repetto and room fragrances by Esteban complement the fashion collections.

The Mulberry store offers a dose of quintessential Englishness and includes a bespoke handbag service, while Emma Hope’s welcoming boutique sells slim-fitting boots and patent and velvet sneakers alongside matching bags.

THE EDGE

East London

3 Head east and rub shoulders with celebrities stepping out in style from the wealth of boutiques set among warehouses and workingclass housing. A melting pot of talent, E1 is the place to go for one-offs from emerging talent, bespoke items from independent boutiques and the best vintage London has to offer.

Voted in one survey as ‘One of the top 100 stores in the world you must visit before you die’, Absolute Vintage is the warehouse-style shop which caters for all your vintage requirements. It has the largest stock of vintage shoes in the UK. Sister company Blondie stocks top-end and collectables hand-picked from around the world, with items including Louis Vuitton trunks, Dior dresses and Hermès bags. Alternatively, try Beyond Retro or Glitterati, a specialist in a specialist in vintage cufflinks and costume jewellery from designer Miriam Haskell.

Precious occupies an original Georgian corner shop and offers this season’s must-have fashion. Former fashion buyer Kate Evans selects key items from collections that are exclusive to the area.

Stay at: DURLEY HOUSE
Located on Sloane Street, just a short walk from an unbeatable string of designer boutiques, Harvey Nichols and Harrods, this charming 11-room, all suites hotel, is the perfect home for a shopping spree in London. The rooms are spacious yet cosy and uniquely English. Best of all the dumbwaiter delivery system means you won’t even have to open your door to the room service waiter (unless of course you want your meal laid out) so there is nothing to disturb you as you try on your day’s purchases.
www.steinhotels/durley

NEW YORK

LUX RATING: 18.0/20

AMERICAN DREAM

Madison Avenue

1 Top of almost everyone’s ‘Greatest shopping cities in the world’ list, New York is the best place to buy everything imaginable. A Stroll on Madison Avenue from 50th Street to 82nd yields outposts from Bottega Venneta (59th Street), BCBG (65th Street), Cartier (69th Street), Versace (68th Street), Luca Luca (78th Street),and Michael Kors (77th Street).

You can’t do NY without doing the Ralph Lauren world flagship stores; his Polo range is celebrating its 40th anniversary for which he has created the ultimate holiday gift: The Polo Collector’s Trunk. Handcrafted in a sleek translucent silhouette with saddle leather straps and fitted with a unique silver plaque engraved with an edition number, each trunk is offered with 40 limited edition embroidered polo shirts. This along with all of Ralph’s lines, including the deluxe Black Label are represented in The Rhinelander Mansion, Ralph Lauren’s Madison Avenue flagship store and one of the few remaining turn-of-thecentury great homes in Manhattan.

FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD

Broadway and Third Avenue

2 New York goes crazy over candy during the holiday period and the confectionery counters in major delicatessens are truly tempting. Dean & DeLuca is based on Broadway with smaller outlets throughout the city. The signature tins of herbs and spices make excellent presents and as far as sweets go, you can’t beat their handmade candy canes.

Dylan’s Candy Bar is a Wonkaesque supersize sweetshop across the street from Bloomingdale’s. The brainchild of Dylan (daughter of Ralph) Lauren and Jeff Rubin, Dylan's is a dentist's nightmare of custom-coloured Skittles and M&Ms, a Pez zone, and custom-made sundaes. Indulge in a one-of-a-kind creation from Dylan Lauren, like solid-chocolate ‘moon pie cakes’, or, if you’ve had enough of shopping, have your cake delivered to your hotel door by courier.

HIP BOUTIQUE CHIC

West Village

3 The East and West Villages are scattered with an exciting array of boutiques brimming with alluring designs, which come and go as quickly as the fashions they display; more touristy than edgy, but the stores themselves boast some great design and architecture.

In recent months Stella McCartney set up shop in West Village. Stella’s store has a modish décor of muted pinks and beige, plus a cool soundtrack of ambient music, a perfect backdrop to her new line of travel bags, luggage, baby accessories and bags for mothers. Oh, and it’s all vegetarian.

From Courrèges to the avant-garde designers no one understands yet, you can trade in your trust fund millions at Jeffrey on West 14th street.

Alternatively, visit Butik on Hudson Street is Helena Christensen and her life-long best friend, Danish flower artist, Leif Sigersen’s shop. Filled with their favourite things from Denmark, Sweden and Paris, it is stuffed with fashion, antiques, candles, lamps, flowers and chocolates. Also worth the trip are: Patricia Field, the eponymous shop of the stylist behind Sex and the City, located on Bowery, and Screaming Mimi’s on Lafayette Street, for its vintage Valentino.

Stay at: SIX COLUMBUS
Six Columbus is the newest addition to the super-trendy Thompson Hotels portfolio. It’s located at Columbus Circle, on the bottom left corner of Central Park, a quick stroll from überdepartment stores like Barneys, and right next to the eating and drinking mecca of the Time Warner Centre (which boasts Thomas Keller’s Per Se and Mandarin Oriental’s Asiate among other restaurants). Six Columbus is minimalchic, with beautiful guests, even more beautiful staff and a rooftop greenhouse garden – just be sure you smile at the paparazzi as you leave. www.sixcolumbus.com