Shopping in Cartagena: Top Boutiques for Colombian Fashions, Home Decor & more

Sexy Colombian pop star Shakira likes to show off her belly-dancing bod in Pitahaya bikinis. Can you think of a better ambassador? "She bought four pairs when she was in Cartagena for New Years in 2007," says Chechy Benedetti, a Cartagena native and the label's designer. Chechy's bikinis and swimsuits feature motifs inspired by native Kuni Indian tribes of Colombia.

For bold, eye-catching rings and necklaces, don't miss the two shops from Amitabha, a line of handmade jewelry made with seashells, semi-precious stones, tropical wood and silver. Most of the materials are sourced from around the world by the designers Mario Arenas and Diana Otera, a young couple based in Cartagena. Their tempting creations are affordable and great to pair with beachy fashions. "We are always looking for natural elements and we use rustic techniques in making our work, yet our designs are contemporary," says Diana. (Their second location is at Hotel el Marquez at Calle de Nuestra Señora del Carmen.)

"Silvia Tcherassi is one of my favorite designers," says Isabel Pinto, a Colombian expat who works as an executive recruiter in New York City. "Born in Barranquilla, she's the best designer in Colombia, and is also known worldwide." Tcherassi's boutique in the old city is stocked with contemporary but feminine dresses and tops in silk and satin. She also has two shops in her home-base of Miami, and is now lending her creative eye to the hospitality industry; keep an eye out for the first-ever Tcherassi hotel, opening in a restored private mansion in Cartagena mid-2009.

Colombian artisans are skilled at making intricate silver and gold-plated filigree jewelry, and there are several shops in Cartagena that sell an array of stunning chandelier earrings, statement necklaces and cool cuff bracelets. Some of the pieces incorporate emeralds, for which Colombia is renowned. The labor-intensive filigrana, as it's called in Spanish, doesn't come cheap, but in Colombia it's more affordable than in Europe or the U.S. For the best selection, local swimwear designer Chechy Benedetti likes Filigrana Momposina. "The jewelry there is desgined by Claudia Zuluaga, who was tapped by the young, hotshot Colombian couturier Estaban Cortazar to make a Mariamulata bird bracelet for a recent Emanuel Ungaro by Esteban Cortazar runway show in Paris," she says.

Ladies who want a more feminine and stylish version of the breezy linen guayabera shirts seen on so many handsome men in Cartagena need only go to Kitty Tinoco for lovely linen tops, skirts and dresses in the obligatory white, plus an array of pastel colors. "The minute I walked in her store, I spotted a mannequin sporting a coral colored linen halter top trimmed with big ruffles along the collar," says Chantal. "I couldn't resist getting one for me, and they had their in-house seamstress alter it for me right away." A Cartagena native, Tinoco also makes summery dresses and sexy cocktail attire for sultry nights on the town.