The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Shops in Cairo have, in the last decade or so, expanded tenfold; we now have everything from 2.5oLE shops to international brands such as Massimo Dutti. Since 1985, the Spanish company has expanded its international empire to over 500 shops in almost 50 countries, including several in central Cairo. Originally opened as a menswear shop, their women’s clothing line was created in 1992 and has quickly become a popular fashion go-to.

Spread over two floors of a modest-sized space, Massimo Dutti sits proudly amidst the shopping central of Mohandiseen, on Geziret El Arab Street. The mannequins on either side of the entrance are dressed in sophisticated, immaculate outfits, hinting at the style of men’s and women’s clothing within.

The security guard greeted us by holding open the doors, allowing us to pass into the long, narrow, orderly shop. The ground floor is home to their well-stocked women’s wear whilst upstairs is dedicated to their men’s range. In both sections we saw no categorisation of their clothes and often found the same garment in a different colour on the opposite side of the shop. However, we noticed how the sizes are often placed in order to allow for easier browsing and polite shop assistants are always on hand to help and offer their advice.

The items stocked don’t necessarily conform to the high-street fashion, but instead appear to be stylishly classy and basic. Cardigans in a range of different colours including greys, emerald green, black and navy were priced at 449LE, while a gold shimmer one was 549LE. Light weight jersey jumpers were aplenty; a baby blue knit was priced at 549LE as was a navy heavy knit. Plain, short sleeved blouses start at 349LE, whilst a pretty one with crocheted sleeves was 499LE; team one of these tops with a blazer (895LE) and it can be transformed into a smart outfit. Smart-casual trousers in a multitude of colours, namely beige, navy and black were retailed at 449LE. The number of dresses were limited, although  simple, knee length, lace-patterned dresses were priced at 895LE.

The men’s section is kitted out in much the same way, with quality smart-casual garments. Shirts are available in many different patterns and colours; a plain white shirt, to be dressed up or down, was priced at 329LE, whilst both smart and casual blazers were a little pricey, starting at around 1000LE. Dark-coloured trousers and chinos were priced at 499LE as were light, summery linen shorts. T-shirts and polo shirts start at around 150LE, whilst sweaters start at around 400LE. 

We noticed several coats for sale for both men and women, heavy and lightweight, with leather jackets going for over 2000LE.

There is a very small selection of accessories in both the men’s and women’s sections – cotton scarves were 329LE and the small collections of bags and shoes often came close to, or exceeded, the 1000LE mark. Unfortunately the Mohandiseen branch is small – although not the smallest – and doesn’t stock any of their cute children’s wear products.

Massimo Dutti doesn’t claim to follow catwalk trends and instead stays true to its promise of delivering good quality, casual clothes, instead catering for sophisticated urban trends, and for that, we’re grateful – even if they come with sometimes-hefty price tags.