… Desigual.
My love affair with this Spanish company began early in 2009, when I first stumbled upon some of their wares in a local boutique. In these bright, slightly off-kilter pieces, my longtime obsession with color was married with my newfound desire to incorporate more patterns into my looks. The scarf shown above was my first piece, and still gets constant wear. But I’ve added many other items to my collection over the years.
Although many of my pieces have come on deep discount from Ideeli, Desigual FINALLY has an e-commerce site that ships worldwide, including the U.S. There are usually loads of pieces on eBay, too.
Are you a Desigual fan? Own any clothing or accessories from this quirky Spanish line? Like the style, but not for yourself?
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{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve always liked your Desigual clothes, but I hadn’t looked at them in any context other than your outfit posts until today. How pretty and cheering and somehow comforting, even just looking at them all at once on one page. There’s a sort of tunic-length dress called DOLMAN that I would love to own.
I live in Barcelona, Spain, and this is Desigual-City.
Their shops are everywhere, many women buy Desigual, and it reflects the typical Barcelona-style.
I don’t know which one is the egg and which one is the chicken – if Desigual imitates what people are wearing here, or if the brand has inspired the look. I suppose it’s the former.
Sal, I think you would go crazy here, because there are many little shops with hippy-clothing and pieces by independent designers or artesans that are very similar to Desigual, but a lot cheaper, especially in the Gracia-quarter.
For me personally their clothes are to loud and busy, I’m striving for a simpler, more streamlined look, although ocasionally I like some of their pieces, especially the ones in darker colours.
But the prices – wow! The other day I went to a Desigual outlet, and even there the prices were much higher than what I’m usually willing to pay for my clothes.
So this is a “no, thanks” from Desigual-City.
Sonja, I visited Barcelona when I was in high school, but CLEARLY I need to go back!
And I’ve heard similar things from folks living in other parts of Europe. Here in the US, the Desigual look is so fresh and different. But for folks who’ve been seeing it for decades, not so much.
Hey, if you ever come back, give a holler and I’ll give you a (shopping?) tour through the city!
Oh, I so will, Sonja! I’d love it!
I LOVE Desigual, and am mentally saving up for one of their long, brightly coloured coats. What a way to make a statement every day!
RE the last photo: Cats always know how to find picturesque settings for themselves, don’t they?
Ohhhhh yes.
Wow, each piece is so colorful, beautiful, and unique! I see why you love them!
I love the colors and patterns! I want to look into that brand. If its super pricey I may have to look for or wait for the “knock offs”!
Check eBay, too, Dee! A few bargains over there.
What a great post since I’m planning to be in Barcelona in September. Thanks for wetting my appetite.
jeanne,
for (slightly!) less expensive pieces, check out their outlets in
Carrer Diputació 232 in Barcelona
and
http://www.larocavillage.com/ (an outlet centre about half an hour away from Barcelona)
I’ve wanted Desigual since I went to Barcelona years ago and the desire was reinforced when I lived there for 3 months in 2006. I assumed it was just expensive in the UK, where we have it in department stores, but I went in the San Francisco and NYC stores in the last year and it costs a fortune in there too! I’d love a bag, and a coat.
I really like Desigual’s look, but I don’t own anything from them. The price is a little high for me. I guess I should check ebay. I don’t think I would sport a jacket- the ones I saw last were a little much for me, but a scarf or a tunic would be perfect. Or do they sell bag/cat combos? I’d spring for that
Have you been through their new store in Mall of America? I’ve been wanting to go in and browse even I probably would only buy on deep discount sites. But I’ve always got my little girls with me and haven’t wanted them to run wild in there.
I have! It’s dark and loud! The staff is very friendly and the store is well stocked, but it can be a bit overwhelming. Might want to wait until you can go without the kiddos …
I bought a dress of theirs on deep discount at a department store (70% off) but I’ve never worn it as it needs altering. You’ve reminded me I should really get to that pile of sewing!
I’ve seen the store when visiting NYC but never knew what it was. Adore all those prints so I must check it out!
I love their stuff and have tried on a few of their skirts but they haven’t quite fit me right and the price is (for now) a bit out of my range. I’ll keep an eye out, though – I like their new shoe offerings!
Oh, that’s right, I like the shoes. This season there is so much orange in them, which I do not like, but if there are some in colours that are more “me” next year, I think I’ll really be tempted!
How would you describe the fit in dresses? My waist is 28 and hips are 37. The closest size on the Desigual size chart is M/42, but I’m wondering whether that might be a bit snug.
Sizing is generally pretty small in dresses and tops, more true in skirts. And they tend to cut relatively narrow in the hips, except for full skirt designs. (I’ve never bought pants, so can’t speak to that – can anyone else?)
I think you know I’m a huge fan! I have a few of their really pricey items:
- This dress (bought in London at a Desigual store in spring 2010 – now there’s a drool!): http://sheilaephemera.blogspot.ca/2011/09/kitty-bombed-in-my-patchwork-dress.html
- This coat (bought locally in 2011): http://sheilaephemera.blogspot.ca/2012/02/feb-20th-outfit-18-capsule-day-1-teal.html
- This dress (bought locally in 2011): http://sheilaephemera.blogspot.ca/2012/05/apr-10th-11th-outfits-9-10-springy.html
- This skirt (thrifted for $9.99 in 2012!): http://sheilaephemera.blogspot.ca/2012/05/may-29th-outfit-25-blue-and-floofy.html
I would like Desigual better if they carried the full impact of their designs round to the back. But they mostly don’t, at least not in the pieces I’ve seen for sale here. I can’t tell you how many of their items I’ve said “wow” to from the front, and then checked out the back and sighed with disappointment. And for THAT price, I’d think they could fully embellish three-dimensionally.
I agree! I was just looking through their site and had the exact same reaction. Also, far too many of them say “desigual” on the back and I really dislike that. I don’t like words on my clothes. Beautiful colors though!
My favourite fall/winter coat is by Desigual. I stumbled upon it in a small boutique that sells mostly hats, and fell in love. It’s plain black — no colour at all except for the word “Desigual” stitched in gold across the upper back — but with a rich textural pattern in the heavy fabric that makes it look like it’s made from an old-fashioned armchair. Of course it did not come in a petite size, so I had to spend a lot at the tailor having the hem and sleeves shortened and the shoulders taken in, but it was well worth it. It draws comments whenever I wear it, and makes me feel like a queen-slash-pirate.
In general, I like Desigual in small doses. After I bought that coat, I went and checked their website, and was disappointed to discover that most of their stuff is a riot of colour and pattern — right up your alley, but not mine! But I like a little bit of wild pattern, like on a scarf or bag, to keep things interesting. Or I might be tempted by some of their colourful skirts, if toned down by the rest of the outfit. I’m impressed with their quality and stylish cuts. But as others have said, their merchandise is pricey. So I’m keeping an eye on Desigual, because I had such great success with the brand one time, in the hopes that I might find something else I fall in love with.
Desigual on Zulily until Thursday!
Wahoo!
I really like your style and the big scarf looks great. But otherwise I just think ‘yuk’. I saw they have a shop in Regent’s Street in central London now, and I walked past it and thought how hideous and cheap everything looked – and I know it isn’t cheap. So I am afraid I just don’t get it. I thought for a moment I might have to change my mind when I saw that great pic of you in the black and white dress. But then I realised no, it’s the bag – and I hate it. Really hate the shoes – but then I am afraid I hate high shoes as well – and even the Desigual dress, although you wear it well, I hate as well. I guess I just don’t like that much pattern – I like Orla Kiely and Missoni and things derived from them, and I love spots and stripes, but not Desigual. There are things I like on other people that just don’t suit me, but in this case it is no, no, no.
Sweet Sal, I love Desigual – I’m lucky enough to own a spectacular coat! The colors do appeal to me though I’ve found that their dresses, skirts and tees don’t quite work for me as their sizing runs smaller… I also favor more neutrals. So the beautiful jacket works well for my wardrobe.
Sal,
That scarf is amazing! Do you have some photos of how you have styled it?
I love how your blog invites me to imagine and envision clothing in ways I never considered before. My closet is so much brighter and interesting these days as a result.
Thanks!
Thank YOU, Barb, for your incredibly kind words!
Here are a few ways I’ve worn that scarf:
http://www.alreadypretty.com/2011/12/daily-outfit-122011.html
http://www.alreadypretty.com/2011/08/daily-outfit-81811.html
http://www.alreadypretty.com/2011/02/daily-outfit-21011.html
http://www.alreadypretty.com/2010/11/casual-outfit-roundup-week-of-november_20.html
The scarf in the top pic is magnificent in color and print, love it. And the shoes too – so, so cool.
I love Desigual, but it’s too much for me most of the time. I have a hard time wearing prints to begin with, but I also don’t own many basics. I tend to hang somewhere in the middle. I do love watching everyone I know who owns a piece wear them though!
Previously, I’ve had to admire Desigual from afar. I’m very excited to learn that their online site now reaches to the US.
Hurry! Fab.com has a Desigual sale tonight.
i sure could spend all day on their website! each piece is fascinating. i love prints, but i’m afraid these would overwhelm my frame. i do think a scarf or bag is in my near future. and their coats are very tempting…
that said, i am trying to steer away from printed tops and dresses because i love them so, but the habit of just buying prints i like has left me with a closet full of orphans. so for new pieces i’m trying to stick to solids in my palette that i can decorate over as i try to sort out my style preferences.
Desigual is all the rage here in Sweden and I love the way it looks on my friends. But on me – no. No, no, no. I think both the fit and the personality of the clothes are all wrong. But I love it on others.
I know I am coming late to this party – but I think that it’s funny that the day you posted this, I was in NYC going to Desigual (some stores carry the line in Canada, but there are no Desigual stores) to do a special order for a colleague. Since I brought her purse back for her, we’ve been preaching the Desigual gospel around the office … and considering we work in the government, a bit of colur goes a long way: I find that my Desigual pieces always get loads of compliments.
Hi, Do you know of any other retailers/boutiques that sell Desigual shoes on behalf of them in the UK?
many thanks,
I’m not totally sure, Jules, but I think you can buy direct from the Desigual site. Go to http://www.desigual.com/ and select UK.