Next stop: the bazaar
Going to the bazaar is an old world tradition that one must experience at least once while in Turkey. I've visited the Alaçatı Bazaar, held every Saturdayin the quaint old Aegean town of Alaçatı, for over ten years as part of our annual trips to Turkey. Give yourself a few hours and you will be able to find any essential item from street clothes, undergarments, toys, bags, jewelry, shoes, bed and dining linens, kitchenware, food, or anything else you need except furniture - all under one big tent with thousands of your closest shopping acquaintances. So here's some advice and insights on how to survive this unique retail experience that boasts 360 degree views of the merchandise.
Preparations:
Even if this is your first time at the bazaar, have a plan. Try to think about what you want to buy, how much you want to spend, and get ready to haggle (I'll touch more on bargaining later in the post). Form a mental picture of yourself walking through crowds of people at a really slow pace. If this bothers you, stop here.
If you head to the bazaar in the dead of summer, make sure you hydrate because you are going to sweat - a lot. There's usually a guy bustling through the crowds selling water bottles on a block of ice in a makeshift cart if you are desperate.
Dress the part, especially if you are planning to buy clothes for yourself. Wear something light and form fitting, like a cami and bike shorts, so you can easily pull a dress or shirt over your own clothes while the merchant brings over a small hand mirror for you to check yourself out.
Easy Escape:
Unlike the enclosed, cavernous Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, the Alaçatı Bazaar is an open air bazaar with vendors displaying their wares under canvas tents along one of the main drags in the town. "Open air" are the key words here (translation: you can easily get the HELL OUT if you need to in a flash). A glimpse of the street or someone's backyard patio is usually visible if you look back along the tented walls near the merchants' tables, making for a speedy escape. I've always been mindful of learning where the closest exits are in public places.
What's Trending?
After losing contact with Zac Posen, I've resigned myself to finding out the latest fashion trends at the bazaar. So what's hot? (or not)
Updated peasant attire. And you thought floral prints were here to stay? I've seen a more modern take on the peasant pant with these drop waist, ankle length pants and blousey shirts. Apparently Katie Holmes is also rocking the peasant dress this summer.
Graphic leggings. I have not seen these at Lululemon yet, but heard they are making their way to the workout scene in the states. I found a table loaded with cool, printed capri-length leggings (graffiti art and those darn floral prints) for 10 TL (about $6) and grabbed a few.
Lacoste and those skulls. Ok, so while these brands and icons are nothing new, they seem to be popular with the Turkish crowd because they're everywhere. I donned pastel Izod shirts in eighth grade, then consciously packed them away before heading to high school. Is preppy back? The Alexander Mcqueen skulls appear everything from scarfs, pillows, t-shirts and ties. My inner occult says "pass" on these knock-offs.
Let's Make a Deal:
Bargaining is ingrained in the Turkish DNA. Unlike the states, retail items in Turkey don't have price tags. Why bother when it's more fun toargue haggle about the best price. At the bazaar, most of the items are priced well below retail store value, so bargaining can be a little tricky. If you are buying bulk, then you have better chances for getting a few Turkish lira off the asking price. Then again, if you are like my Turkish husband, the bargainig process goes something like this: feign all desire for said item, have some tea, walk away a few times, come back with a low-ball offer and wait until the seller's eyes are glaring and beads of sweat pouring down his face before shaking hands. Or if you are like me, find find someting you REALLY love, willingly show enthusiasm, and just pay whatever they guy tells you. Sound like fun?
There's also joy in scoring the inherent deal. Take notes. Find a table surrounded by an enclave of women fervently fishing through piles of clothes and head straight over (remember the old Filene's Basement flagship store in Boston?). This event is called "the find" and its guaranteed to yield a pleasant reward. Turkey is known for textiles, and the bazaar is the perfect dumping ground for housing all the leftovers from clothing factories and selling them dirt cheap. You can find brands from Zara, H&M, Ann Taylor, etc., to name a few.
The bags: friend and faux:
For the designer bag purist, this may be offensive. For the designer bag enthusiast on a budget, it's your lucky day. A big step up from New York's Canal Street, designer bag knock-offs from Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Burberry and so on are waiting for you at the bazaar. But they're not cheap as most of these bags are made with leather. I've purchased several bags and wallets over the years and have received many compliments without revealing my little secret. You should too.
The food:
Aside from all the retail goodness, the bazaar is like a farmer's market on ecstacy. Freshly harvested produce, nuts, olive oils, and herbs lure you in for the taking. I've always been amazed by the softball-sized peaches that ooze with juice from the first bite. Green figs reveal beautiful raspberry colored hues once cut open. After a walk through the food stations, you will never want to step foot in a Shaw's Supermarket again. Ever.
And at the end of the day, cap it off with a Turkish coffee and some simits and relish in the glory of your purchases.
Preparations:
Even if this is your first time at the bazaar, have a plan. Try to think about what you want to buy, how much you want to spend, and get ready to haggle (I'll touch more on bargaining later in the post). Form a mental picture of yourself walking through crowds of people at a really slow pace. If this bothers you, stop here.
If you head to the bazaar in the dead of summer, make sure you hydrate because you are going to sweat - a lot. There's usually a guy bustling through the crowds selling water bottles on a block of ice in a makeshift cart if you are desperate.
Dress the part, especially if you are planning to buy clothes for yourself. Wear something light and form fitting, like a cami and bike shorts, so you can easily pull a dress or shirt over your own clothes while the merchant brings over a small hand mirror for you to check yourself out.
Easy Escape:
Unlike the enclosed, cavernous Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, the Alaçatı Bazaar is an open air bazaar with vendors displaying their wares under canvas tents along one of the main drags in the town. "Open air" are the key words here (translation: you can easily get the HELL OUT if you need to in a flash). A glimpse of the street or someone's backyard patio is usually visible if you look back along the tented walls near the merchants' tables, making for a speedy escape. I've always been mindful of learning where the closest exits are in public places.
What's Trending?
After losing contact with Zac Posen, I've resigned myself to finding out the latest fashion trends at the bazaar. So what's hot? (or not)
Updated peasant attire. And you thought floral prints were here to stay? I've seen a more modern take on the peasant pant with these drop waist, ankle length pants and blousey shirts. Apparently Katie Holmes is also rocking the peasant dress this summer.
Graphic leggings. I have not seen these at Lululemon yet, but heard they are making their way to the workout scene in the states. I found a table loaded with cool, printed capri-length leggings (graffiti art and those darn floral prints) for 10 TL (about $6) and grabbed a few.
Lacoste and those skulls. Ok, so while these brands and icons are nothing new, they seem to be popular with the Turkish crowd because they're everywhere. I donned pastel Izod shirts in eighth grade, then consciously packed them away before heading to high school. Is preppy back? The Alexander Mcqueen skulls appear everything from scarfs, pillows, t-shirts and ties. My inner occult says "pass" on these knock-offs.
Let's Make a Deal:
Bargaining is ingrained in the Turkish DNA. Unlike the states, retail items in Turkey don't have price tags. Why bother when it's more fun to
There's also joy in scoring the inherent deal. Take notes. Find a table surrounded by an enclave of women fervently fishing through piles of clothes and head straight over (remember the old Filene's Basement flagship store in Boston?). This event is called "the find" and its guaranteed to yield a pleasant reward. Turkey is known for textiles, and the bazaar is the perfect dumping ground for housing all the leftovers from clothing factories and selling them dirt cheap. You can find brands from Zara, H&M, Ann Taylor, etc., to name a few.
The bags: friend and faux:
For the designer bag purist, this may be offensive. For the designer bag enthusiast on a budget, it's your lucky day. A big step up from New York's Canal Street, designer bag knock-offs from Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Coach, Burberry and so on are waiting for you at the bazaar. But they're not cheap as most of these bags are made with leather. I've purchased several bags and wallets over the years and have received many compliments without revealing my little secret. You should too.
The food:
Aside from all the retail goodness, the bazaar is like a farmer's market on ecstacy. Freshly harvested produce, nuts, olive oils, and herbs lure you in for the taking. I've always been amazed by the softball-sized peaches that ooze with juice from the first bite. Green figs reveal beautiful raspberry colored hues once cut open. After a walk through the food stations, you will never want to step foot in a Shaw's Supermarket again. Ever.
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