The shoppers

Michele Sponagle

Sponagle has travelled to more than 55 countries and loves a bargain. They fear her in markets worldwide because of her arm-twisting haggling skills.

It’s no secret the sunny desert playground of Palm Springs, CA, is a true hot spot. But what visitors might not know is how sizzling the shopping is. Posh art galleries share real estate with vintage boutiques and antique stores. Mid-century modern design rules here. And even the malls provide good views of the San Bernardino and Santa Rosa mountain ranges in the distance—something you’d never find in flat-as-a-pancake Orlando.

Kristen Manieri

From the night markets of Chiang Mai to the streets of Paris, Manieri has had her share of globetrotting shopping exploits, both humble and haute.

Several of the world’s top theme parks lure millions to Orlando, FL, but a “sky’s the limit” shopping scene is what really keeps them busy. Twelve shopping malls, a handful of outlets and several neighbourhood boutique districts with one-off shops make Orlando one of the most popular shopping destinations in the country. O-Town makes shopping good for any budget. Keep your vistas, Palm Springs; Orlando shoppers will take plentiful purchases over panoramas any day.

Outlets

Palm Springs

If you have a few hours to spare

Cabazon is a much smaller outlet mall compared to its neighbour, Desert Hills Premium Outlets. Look for sporty stuff at Puma, Adidas, Columbia Sportswear, Oakley Vault and Rip Curl. Foodie types can pick up cast iron cookware at Le Creuset.

Set aside a day or two to tackle

Turn into the parking lot of the Desert Hills Premium Outlets (off Highway 10) and in front of you is a who’s who of fashion. Some are rarely found in outlets, such as Dolce & Gabbana, Prada, Michael Kors, Gucci, Kate Spade New York and Yves Saint Laurent. Orlando outlets might have some big names, but they are lightweights compared to this A-list lineup of luxury designers.

Families should split off to tackle the 130 stores here. Dad should head to Eddie Bauer and Bose for electronics; teens should scout Levi’s, Diesel, Juicy Couture and Ed Hardy. Shop for the little ones at Carter’s or OshKosh B’gosh, while mom can treat herself to goods at the L’Occitane, DKNY, Saks Fifth Avenue or Barneys outlets.

 

Orlando

If you have a few hours to spare

For a swift shopping jaunt, visit Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores, near Walt Disney World Resort. There’s a manageable collection of some 45 shops (like Aéropostale and Nine West Outlet) that can easily be conquered in a few hours.

Set aside a day or two to tackle

Fashionistas with iron-man stamina ought to set aside two days for Premium Outlets. There are two locations—Premium Outlets International Drive and Premium Outlets Vineland Avenue—that, together, house around 330 stores offering incredible discounts.

Make the trip to both outlets as selection, sales and stores vary. At International Drive, Betsey Johnson wows with flirty US$328 dresses marked down to US$101. Scour Last Call by Neiman Marcus, where eager shoppers have been known to uncover US$130 Michael Kors handbags regularly priced at US$398. A triumphant day at Vineland Avenue might include a US$113 pair of jeans at True Religion Brand Jeans or US$69 yoga pants and US$29 tanks at lululemon athletica (one of only three lululemon outlets in the United States).

It’s basic mathematics, people—330 outlet stores to Palm Springs’ 130. There’s no contest. Orlando rules the outlet scene.

 

Mall Crawl

Palm Springs

Palm Springs Mall

If you don’t mind digging through bins and racks with mixed-up sizes, you’ll love Ross Dress For Less at this mall on Tahquitz Canyon Way. Head to the clearance racks and find new designer-name jeans and T-shirts from Jones New York or Lacoste for less than US$10. Here, shopping is more like a combat sport as people tussle for discounted merchandise, but it’s all part of the fun.

Westfield Palm Desert Shopping Mall

There are more than 150 shops in Westfield, Palm Desert’s largest indoor mall. Stores include Victoria’s Secret (for frilly, naughty things), Forever 21 (for funky, trendy clothes), Macy’s (for pretty much everything) and Lane Bryant (for plus-sized stuff). There is also See’s Candies, one of California’s most famous chocolate makers.

Let Orlando take the win on the mall front. Palm Springs is all about unique stuff, not cookie-cutter shops.

Orlando

The Mall at Millenia

Find more than 150 haute haunts including Tiffany & Co., Chanel, Jimmy Choo and David Yurman. You can even valet your car at this swanky 1.2-million-square-foot luxury shopping mall.

The Florida Mall

As the largest mall in Orlando, the Florida boasts 1.9 million square feet of space, more than 250 stores (like M&Ms World which sells nearly 50 colours and flavours of the candy) and restaurants, plus its own hotel.

Pointe Orlando

This small outdoor shopping and dining centre near the Orange County Convention Center features 40 retail favourites like Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works amidst bubbling fountains and towering palms.

Orlando has seven malls, with a grand total of more than 1,000 stores, restaurants and movie theatres in the area. Palm Springs’ meager mall offerings pale in comparison to Orlando’s vast selection.   

Speciality Shopping  

Palm Springs

For vintage enthusiasts: North Palm Canyon Drive

When Palm Springs society types downsize their closets, the best stuff lands in stores like Marc Joseph’s Secret Back Room. These aren’t your typical smells-like-grandma’s-basement used clothing places. These are well-organized, clean and laden with retro designer goodies from Pucci and Christian Lacroix. I challenge Orlando to have just a fraction of the cool vintage stuff Palm Springs has. Puh-leese—it’s not even in the running.

For the Mad Men-obsessed: Palm Canyon Galleria

If you’re a fan of Mad Men, you’re no stranger to mid-century modern décor. While you might not be able to lug home a sofa, you can nab a cool objet, like a pottery vase or a funky, framed sketch. Many of the stores are dotted along North Palm Canyon Drive. Try the Palm Canyon Galleria, where there are 10 boutiques under one roof.

For label junkies: El Paseo Shopping District

It dubs itself the “Rodeo Drive of the desert,” and there’s some truth to that. It’s all about swank here. Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, Banana Republic, Juicy Couture and one-off boutiques neighbour chi-chi art galleries here.

Orlando

Pick up all the Disney paraphernalia you want, but don’t miss out on all the artsy, retro and little eccentric gems not far from the theme parks.

For vintage vultures: Antique District

Find a handful of well-stocked antique shops and several far-out retailers in this neighbourhood. Deja Vu Vintage Clothing, a local favourite, sells rescued threads and vintage costume jewelry. Rock & Roll Heaven stocks one of the largest collections of vinyl records in Florida.

For art aficionados: Downtown Arts District

The area is anchored by the CityArts Factory, a mixed-use art hub with six independent galleries and the Kiene/Quigley Community Gallery, an active photography studio, an art house café and an improv theatre. Local and national artists showcase their work, especially during the Third Thursday Gallery Hop.

Check out the gallery inside the Grand Bohemian Hotel and its ever-changing collection of more than 100 original works priced from US$175 to US$35,000. Jewelry lovers will flip over the gallery’s collection of zany handmade pieces.

For souvenir hunters: International Drive

International Drive has dozens of shops that bait tourists with blinking lights and $2 T-shirt deals. According to Florida Celebration, one of the area’s oldest souvenir spots, the most popular purchase on I-Drive is not mouse ears or snow globes, but actual alligator heads. Thousands of tourists, especially those from the United Kingdom, take these mouth-gaping mementoes home for about US$12 each. Go figure.

For designer label-lovers: Park Avenue

Winter Park’s brick-lined boulevard is an upscale area north of downtown Orlando. Established brands like Tory Burch line the racks at Thread, Canali and Hugo Boss outfit gentleman shoppers at John Craig Clothier and designer denim takes top billing at newcomer Blue Door Denim Shoppe.

Seriously, folks—forlorn frocks in Palm Springs over the latest trends in Orlando? Come on; Park Avenue is where true fashionistas flock.

Insider Tips

Palm Springs

Marlene Blackwell, stylist (she has worked with celebs like George Clooney and Brooke Shields)

“Route 66 West has incredible vintage jewelry and their purses are 50s square Lucite. They never go out of style.” For retro décor items, she likes Bon Vivant, especially for vintage glass. Blackwell also recommends checking out local garage sales to score a gem.

Orlando

Patricia Clifton, chief concierge, Grand Bohemian Hotel

Downtown Orlando, College Park and Winter Park. “These trendy neighbourhoods, just a few miles from downtown, are where you’ll discover one-of-a-kind clothing, accessories, art and gifts, often made locally by Central Florida artists.”