PALEET
Don’t let the classic façade fool you: This shopping mall on the city’s main street, Karl Johans Gate, is home to some of Norway’s most high-concept style destinations. There’s YME, a three-floor, streetwear-focused shop designed by architecture firm Snøhetta that carries everything from sneakers by Kanye West’s fashion label Yeezy and perfumes by Maison Margiela to Oslo-based names like lifestyle brand Tom Wood and body-care line Sprekenhus.
Also set within a sprawling space is a collaborative shop that represents three of the city’s top contemporary labels: Norwegian Rain, an avant-garde rainwear company that makes unconventional but stylish trench coats from designer T-Michael; his namesake menswear brand, known for expertly tailored and hand-sewn suits, shirts, and kimonos; and Modern Tribute, which showcases restored Scandinavian furniture and lighting classics like Hans Wegner chairs and pendant lamps by Poul Henningsen.
F5 CONCEPT STORE
One of the best spots to find high-end minimalist items in Oslo, F5 Concept Store, in the central Sentrum neighborhood, stocks both its own fashion line (F5) as well as cool-kid staples from a number of under-the-radar Norwegian brands, like Avenue, with its stylish knits; Holzweiler, which creates sharply cut outerwear; and Moe Oslo, who make basics with a twist, including a variety of button-down shirts and pullovers.
HEVN
Looking to go a little dark? Head to the trendy Torggata street for Hevn, which sells the best in what’s called Nordic Noir (no, not the crime thrillers). It focuses on avant-garde labels that play with structure and texture and embodies an eclectic, monochromatic style. For statement pieces, check out Danish punk-meets-Goth line Barbara I Gongini, Swedish industrial chic Army of Me, and heavy-duty footwear from the Last Conspiracy, based in Denmark.
