I Just Spent 4 Hours at Spain's Biggest Zara—These Are the Items I Immediately Rushed to Buy

Is there anything better than shopping while you're in Europe? I don't think so. The VAT refunds, unparalleled selection, and low-key ease of dropping (or, in my case, slamming) your credit card to pay for a new pair of shoes, a bag, or clothing items really get me going. So, when my parents told me they were moving to Spain a few years ago, the shopping in Europe became a sport in my book, and I took home the Olympic gold medal every time.

There's nothing quite like shopping from homegrown brands while I'm in Madrid. Yes, I love Flabelus, Paloma Wool, and Gimaguas as much as the next fashion girl, but my secret obsession with stopping into Zara every single day while visiting my parents needs to be studied.

Given that my parents live right heart of the city center, the opportunities to do major financial damage at Zara feel limitless. Every time I get off my International flight I usually go home, take a shower, and head straight out to Madrid's flagship Zara in Plaza de España, the large plaza at the end of Madrid's Gran Via (a bustling shopping street where there is, unsurprisingly, another Zara I go to). That said, the Plaza de España Zara takes the cake in my book.

In-Store Experience

Up until recently, the 41,064-square-foot store was the largest Zara in the world—and it still holds the title of the largest in Spain. As a Spain-based brand, Zara’s Plaza de España location functions as the company’s main commercial hub in the capital city. The store features massive fitting rooms, three floors of shopping, and several dedicated areas for new campaigns, beauty products, home goods, higher-tier ZW Collection pieces, and a seamless checkout experience. Being the largest Zara in Spain also means the store carries (almost) everything you’ll find online. As a plus-size, trend-forward shopper, I’ve found Plaza de España to be the only Zara where I can reliably find everything I need in my size. No more tracking down a specific pair of pants or a cute going-out top at one of Madrid’s smaller, tourist-packed Zara locations.

And yes, while the Plaza de España location sits in the heart of one of Madrid’s most touristic areas, its sheer size means you’re not constantly bumping into people or fighting for fitting rooms. That’s a win in my book!

Zara Home

There’s even a Zara Home inside the Plaza de España location—a rarity in Madrid. Since we don’t have dedicated Zara Home stores in New York, I usually take my sweet time browsing and snapping photos to use as inspiration for my tiny, shoebox-sized NYC apartment.

Fitting Room Experience

Most importantly, though, I shop at Zara like it’s my job—because, honestly, it kind of is. When I was in Spain over the summer, I knew I had to go IRL and document some of the best pieces I found at the country’s largest Zara. Armed with my trusted iPhone, a giant bag filled with clothes, and comfortable shoes, I spent nearly 45 minutes in the fitting room trying on at least 25 different pieces.