Shopping: La Roca Village designer outlet near Barcelona

The days when designer outlet stores just stocked five season old neon parkas, flared jeans and static-inducing polycotton blends are far, far in the distant past. As I know from the UK´s designer outlet Bicester Village (where I regularly buy fabulous amounts of Marni), it´s perfectly possible to find properly stylish pieces, at discounts of 60% and more, that are only one season or so old.

So, when I was asked by Bicester Village´s parent company Value Retail if I would like to check out their Barcelona outpost La Roca Village, a mere 45mins outside the city centre, & attend the launch of their Chic Guide to Europe in association with Spanish Conde Nast Traveler, I thought about it for, say, a minute, before accepting.

The Village has over 100 boutiques hosting Spanish and international luxury brands including Burberry, Loewe, Polo Ralph Lauren, Versace and Zegna, although I am more drawn to the likes of Hoss Intropia, Cacharel, Mandarina Duck, Comptoir des Cotonniers & local store Bimba & Lola (stunning discounts).

Apparently inspired by the Modernista movement, La Roca is rather attractive, with its architecture mimicking a traditional Catalan market town. That being said, I was most impressed by the fact that the buildings are just close enough together, with plenty of trees, to provide sufficient shade from the fierce sun. (It´s hard work carrying all those shopping bags…)

Lest one should feel faint from the sight of the dizzying discounts on offer, I suggest starting at the east end, and working your way down the left hand side to the far end where, nestled alongside Adolfo Dominguez, is local charcuterie restaurant Andreu where you can fuel up for the shops on the way back up with vast plates of jamón ibérico and pa amb tomaquet.

I was there with my best friend Miss P, who likes me to take her in hand on shopping trips. She is a woman who likes a graphic print, or maybe a discreet floral motif or embroidered pattern, so I marched her into Spanish favourite Hoss Intropia who can always be relied upon for a mix of all three.

And we were not disappointed. There was a plethora of print, gathers & ruffles and Miss P found a brilliant multi-tasking cotton day dress that will work for the office and weekends at the thrilling markdown of 60% — a bargain at EUR50.

Much to my surprise, gven the preponderence of non-LLG friendly prints, I found an abbreviated plain black mac lurking on the back of a rail, that had neither ruffle nor flowers, but a rather nice graphic cut, and an inverted pleat at the nape, which will look great over black cigarette pants, and was 70% off — EUR180 to EUR54. Perfect for London Fashion Week, when it will doubtless rain at some point.

I fell for some Cacharel Liberty print tana lawn shorts for just EUR35, andMiss P hit Petit Bateau, packed with chic, bargainous outfits for the stylish infant and Imaginarium, a children´s nursery & toystore where presents for my godson were purchased.

Laden down, we returned to our bedroom at our hotel, the W Barcelona,

where I forced Miss P out of the shower to model her new Hoss Intropia frock for me on the W´s sun terrace.

We weren´t the only ones who were shopping at La Roca Village on Tuesday — I saw Jade Jagger at the Conde Nast Traveler/La Roca Village party last night in the delicious scarlet suede Loewe dress I had stroked on the rail in-store the day before. (It looked a hell of a lot better on a brunette than it did on me.)

I´ve been to Barcelona more times than I count for both work & play and, with no offence to the memory of Snr Gaudi, there are only so many times I can gaze at the Sagrada Familia, so I´m thrilled to have discovered another recreational activity near the city whose appeal will never fade. (After all, I´m the girl who drove all around Mallorca looking for the legendary Camper Factory Outlet a few years back. Of course, there´s a Camper outlet at La Roca Village.)

LLG (& Miss P) were guests of Value Retail at La Roca Village, Barcelona