Accessibility links:
Emma Levine joins the jet set to uncover the swanky boutiques, restaurants and hotels of stylish Istanbul
Istanbul's Ottoman sites and spirited markets have always been a big hit with UK travellers. But it's time to take another look at Istanbul. Even if you've seen the palaces and mosques, take a trip to discover its contemporary chic and high-end fashion, all wrapped up in a thoroughly modern style.
Don't sniff at the guidebook clichés - Istanbul really is a unique mingling tradition and today: From headscarf-clad women to teenagers in skinny t-shirts; the mosques' call to prayer to world-class DJs at bohemian clubs; traditional tea houses to the newest rooftop cocktail bar...
No Istanbul trip is complete without the Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace, but now it's time to experience the chic.
Those in the know flock to Bahar Korcan, an Istanbul-born designer with a bijoux boutique in Nişantaşi, Istanbul's fashion hub.
Her collection mixes lace, appliqué, soft wools and delicate fabrics - think dramatic patchwork coats, feminine frocks and quirky skirts, or a contemporary wedding dress created from antique lace.
The studios of Bahar Korcan
→ Next Page: Designer Jewellery