Designing Women

Chic Paulistas love their megastores filled with international brands. But the city is also sprinkled with smart little boutiques where independent designers sell their own creations. Although Andrea Saletto began her career in Rio, it's her São Paulo flagship (1072 Rua Oscar Freire; 55-11/3061-2723; that best shows off her sophisticated eveningwear. She works mostly with silk and linen, creating body-skimming camisoles, floaty dresses, and chic minaudières. Saletto's second line, Permanente, is geared toward a younger clientele, with playful stuff like striped cotton tops, pigment-dyed dresses, and boxy jackets. Cris Barros (295 Rua Oscar Freire; 55-11/3082-3621; opened three years ago, and now her fitted jackets, flirty skirts, and spaghetti-strap tops are staples among the city's stylish set. Imagine the Jil Sander of Brazil and you'll get Clô Orozco, who has been making exquisitely cut minimalist clothes for three decades. Her shop, Huis Clos (1105 Rua Oscar Freire; 55-11/3088-7370;, carries her hand-tailored pieces; we especially loved the slim cotton skirts and belts subtly adorned with silver sequins. Catering to São Paulo's boho crowd, Adriana Barra (1801 Rua Peixoto Gomide; 55-11/3062-0387; is famous for her marvelous long dresses made of printed silk and jersey. She also does refined versions of bell-sleeve tops, tunics, and wraps—all sold in a villa filled with fabulously interesting bric-a-brac from her travels.