Despite SARS, economic slumps and currency crises, believe it or not, luxury still sells. Time asked reporters in 19 cities around the world to find out what's flying out of their local high-end department stores and designer boutiques. The results are hardly scientific, but they give you a good idea of international fashion preferences. In Singapore, for example, luxury consumers don't like fur (it's too hot); in Sweden the affluent buy Pucci printed down vests for a dose of color on those long, dark winter nights. Only New Yorkers would pay $240 for a pair of jeans. And who would have thought Berliners would be into designer yoga mats? Turn the page for a look at what sells where.
the A list From biker boots in L.A. to fabulous furs in Moscow, a look at what's hot
TORONTO At the Prada boutique on Bloor Street West, a salesperson confided that the best-selling gray wool pants "look no different than what men on Bay Street are wearing." That hasn't stopped locals from snapping up Prada's menswear look for fall, right
CHICAGO On Michigan Avenue, where $12,000 alligator handbags sell like pork futures, the favorite is Yves Saint Laurent's mauve cashmere coat, right. "People are really responding to color," says Phyllis Collins, senior European buyer for Marshall Field's
LONDON Jimmy Choo's Tulita bag, above, sold out in one day at the Draycott Avenue boutique, and there's a waiting list for the next batch. Early birds who got the $1,020 bag include Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry
PARIS Classic Parisiennes ("femmes, pas filles," according to a spokeswoman) stick to Chanel, specifically a new compact version of the classic quilted leather bag and a sexy satin pump, above, beaded by Lesage
LOS ANGELES The rock-'n'-roll chick look has taken hold in L.A., where celebs like Cindy Crawford and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos are hoarding Hogan's new biker boots, above. (Renee Zellweger opted for the matching bag)
NEW YORK CITY Despite predictions that denim would be dead, the hot brand on Madison Avenue is Rogan jeans, below. Fans include models and, of course, Madonna. Barneys reported an 80% sell-through-- pretty good, considering the $240 price tag
HOUSTON The favorite shoe among the SUV (sport-utility vixen) crowd is Manolo Blahnik's $455 "sneaklo," above, a stiletto boot with a lug sole, according to Ken Downing, a vice president of Neiman Marcus
HONOLULU "Sunglasses are a perennial here. No matter what, everyone wants a pair," says a spokeswoman at the Emporio Armani boutique at Ala Moana Center. The hot look: the "shield," a mono-lens mask, above, that sells for $140
MADRID The antifur lobby is virtually nonexistent in Spain, so designers are scoring with fox, sheared mink and textured leathers like Ferragamo's embossed calfskin jacket, above
STOCKHOLM To brighten the northern skies, Swedes are turning to '60s Technicolor trends such as Pucci's signature-print down vest, right, and Marc Jacobs' Courreges-inspired miniskirts
TOKYO Louis Vuitton's Aoyama boutique has been selling out the new black version of the Dalmatian, below. Status worshippers are also filling up the waiting list for Hermes' new Twilly scarf, below