Shopping in Bali by Cynthia Rosenfeld
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Taman Selini
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A good driver and an even better credit card are all you need to master this meander which changes names several times but never goes out of style.
Why not start with a chic sack to carry whatever comes next? A wall of leather wonders greets those who enter Nafsu (Jalan Lesmana 7A), meaning ‘desire’ in Bahasa Indonesian, which you will for the Agatha bag, a highly practical square of butter soft hide wrapped in braided leather cord that’s got a nifty inner pocket for stashing cash. Gold lame dresses by Studio Paras line the walls but eyes will be drawn to the centre table display of good to go anywhere clutches in leather and python.
Add some bling directly next door at Maru (Jalan Laksmana 7A) where the chattering classes adorn their mobile phones with sterling silver Balinese beads and the more adventurous can add a woven silver flowerpot hat to their wardrobe. Chunky rings of rose quartz or turquoise should stay in style long after the holiday is but a memory.
Pop into Paul Ropp (Jalan Raya Seminyak 39) where the American designer fills his plush dark grey space with an abundance of colourful frocks made from antique sari material. Itsy bitsy shorts show off a Bali tan while the dizzying prints on the peasant dresses hide a myriad of sins.
For men, Ropp fills the racks with slouchy pants in wild fabric to be topped with his funky interpretation of the Hawaiian shirt. Feel good you haven’t overspent? Check out the chunky turquoise belts at the checkout counter, so beautiful you just may find a way to justify that nothing else will hold up your bottoms better than this sterling silver waist chain.
Need a snack? Order tangerine juice with ginger and a cookie to nibble on while loading up at The Corner Store (Jalan Laksmana 10A) on eye-popping smock dresses and rather kooky kids’ togs, from delicious apple dresses to tie-dyed concert tour tees for the family’s littlest head-bangers.
Around the bend, Michel Harcourt (Jalan Raya Basangkasa) elevates the neighbourhood with his catwalk creations. This Swiss trained in Karl Lagerfeld’s atelier and it shows in his Chloe-inspired silk dresses, intricately beaded camisoles and romantic ruffle dresses. The two-story all white cube is attracting considerable attention from those who know life begins when the bikini comes off.
Continue on to Kerry Grima (Jalan Raya Seminyak 26) who fills her boutique with her own line of leather and suede filigree frocks in black or white. Suede tank tops look even sexier under a soft as cashmere suede shawl but for those who can’t bear the thought of cowhide in the Bali sunshine, one long wall of LBDs (little black dresses) should suit your sartorial needs, especially the backless babe dotted with sparkly ladybugs.
Sari Shop (Jalan Raya Seminyak 36) is the place to load up on old batik sarongs or wiggle into the funky fabric re-cut as body hugging pants, endearingly tacky button downs for men or simply a practical and pretty headband, ideal for brushing back sea soaked locks.
Before calling it quits, duck into Biasa (Jalan Raya Seminyak 36). The name means ‘nothing interesting’ but the walls are lined with attention-grabbing minimalist separates like the lacy take on a traditional Indonesian kebaya blouse and bandeau tank tops that are beautiful but barely there.