What are the best Turkish clothing and cosmetics brands to buy in Istanbul?

One traveler noted that after shopping in Korea and Japan, Istanbul feels expensive overall, but she remains a big fan of the local brand MD.

Jeans from Mavi and Colin's are recommended — good quality and fit according to travelers. Also worth checking out the cosmetics brand Flormar, known for affordable prices and solid quality.

Compared to shopping in the US, Istanbul offers a wider selection of clothing at more affordable prices, with sizing patterns better suited to European body types.

Zara and MD can be hit-or-miss — sometimes it's hard to find decent clothing, and MD's shoe selection gets less praise than the rest of their range.

Stock availability depends heavily on the season: in late May, the spring collection was already sold out and summer items hadn't fully arrived yet, so not everything seen on the brand's Turkish website was available in stores.

Some shoppers have better luck at chain stores like Bershka — one traveler's daughter bought so many bags of clothes there she had to carry some in her hands and hold others in her teeth.