Multi-sensory shopping: from fashion to food, by the sea
In Portugal, seven designer boutiques for an all-round experience, where fashion merges with hospitality and local flavours and fragrances.
by Lisa Corva
3' min read
3' min read
The name, Fashion Clinic, is playful and cheerful, as are all seven stores in Portugal: three are in Lisbon (men's, women's, home collection), the others in Comporta, Porto and the Quinta do Lago resort in Almancil, Algarve. "Fashion Clinic is a chain of multi-brand luxury stores, among the most prestigious in Portugal. It was founded in 1990 and acquired in 2005 by Paula Amorim,' says Margarida Correia, ceo of Amorim Fashion. "Keeping with the motto 'Food meets Fashion meets Hospitality', the Lisbon boutiques are integrated into our JNcQUOI restaurants. The men's, women's and home stores are within a three-minute walk of each other. This year we asked Belgian interior designer Vincent Van Duysen to rethink the shops in the capital. We will open a six hundred square metre boutique on Avenida da Liberdade and Van Duysen will also design our first hotel, JNcQUOI House, a contemporary Portuguese residence with seventeen rooms'. In Comporta, the heart of the long beach in the Alentejo an hour from Lisbon, there is already the JNcQUOI Beach Club, also designed by Vincent Van Duysen. "In the summer we will instead inaugurate a new DeliBar designed by Jean-Philippe Demeyer, right next to the Fashion Clinic Store, to be true once again to our motto: food meets fashion and hospitality".
What proposals should we expect in the boutiques for next season? "We are particularly excited about Gucci's new direction under Sabato De Sarno (pieces from 200 to 6 thousand euros) and we like the rebirth of Pucci (from 200 to 2 thousand euros) under the creative guidance of Camille Miceli. Ferragamo (from 200 to 6 thousand euros), with the innovative vision of Maximilian Davis, combines the maison's classic luxury with a contemporary style. For the summer, we then focus on fun and casual brands, such as Johanna Ortiz (from 250 to 2 thousand euros) and Marrakshi Life (from 400 to 800 euros). Lastly, we love Amina Muaddi's party shoes (€500 to €1,500) and Gabriela Hearst's sculptural and sophisticated pieces (€500 to €5,100), such as the Anica Dress, a sexy, strapless model, and the Laurel Top.
Collectable'. The Fashion Clinic Stores offer a wide selection of international brands, but do not neglect Portuguese creativity. "This is why our in-house brand Paula was born, from an idea of founder Paula Amorim," Correia confirms. "It is a lifestyle collection proudly handcrafted and made in Portugal, offered in the stores dedicated to the home, where you can also find other national brands such as Leitão & Irmão, Bordallo Pinheiro's dishes, Viúva Lamego, and Comporta Perfumes' room fragrances."
A tip for experiencing Lisbon at its best? 'As far as food is concerned, I can only recommend our restaurants: during the day, even for a quick snack there is the Delibar at JNcQUOI Avenida, for dinner JNcQUOI Frou Frou, with delicious Chinese food and a cabaret atmosphere. A highlight is the Castelo de São Jorge, next to the Igreja de Santa Cruz do Castelo. The church is a hidden treasure and from the roof you can enjoy an amazing view of the city. I live nearby and go there often, if only for the pleasure of admiring Lisbon from above. For those who want to discover the nocturnal face of the city, the right name for more than 20 years is definitely Lux: to dance until dawn to the music of the moment'.
