Jimmy Choo's well-heeled guide to Kuala Lumpur

His shoes ignited a worldwide sartorial revolution, but he hangs his hat in KL. Here are his top hometown experiences, from enjoying street food to deg your own bespoke suit.

Home to the Petronas Twin towers and one of the world's most recognisable skylines, the Malaysian capital has evolved over the last four decades from a modest metropolis known for its charming colonial architecture to a thriving, ultra-modern city.

"Many years ago, when I came to Kuala Lumpur for the first time, it wasn't as modern," says legendary shoe designer Jimmy Choo, who hails from Penang, an island on Malaysia's north-western coast. "It has changed a lot. There are now lots of high-rise apartments and hotels and it's a lot more multicultural." 

The perennially fashionable Choo, who splits his time between London and Kuala Lumpur where he owns a penthouse apartment a stone's throw from the Petronas Towers in the upmarket KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) neighbourhood, says the city has also become a major destination for fashion fans on the hunt for high-end bargains. "A lot of people come here to shop because we have a lot of designer shops and the prices are not too high," he says. "Whether you want to buy shoes, bags, accessories – you can get them all in KL."

If your budget won't stretch to luxury labels, Choo recommends seeking out homegrown talents. "Malaysia has a lot of local designers who have been very well trained overseas," he says. "They go to study fashion in places like the UK or Australia, then when they've finished their studies, they often come back to their own country to promote their designs."

Beyond retail therapy, the cosmopolitan city is famous for mouthwatering street food from all corners of Asia and plentiful people-watching opportunities at fancy rooftop bars, where you can show off your designer finery while sipping an ice-cold cocktail. 

Here are Choo's favourite places for shopping, dining and drinking in the incredible views of Kuala Lumpur.

Founded in 1974 by designer Robert Loh, Lord's Tailor specialises in custom suits for men and women and is beloved by many of Malaysia's most stylish celebrities.

"It was recently the 50th anniversary of the designer Robert, who learned tailoring and design in London," says Choo, a loyal customer since the 1990s. "Whenever I travel to different parts of the world, they will design all my outfits – daywear and evening wear." 

Providing exceptional sartorial skills at a fraction of the Savile Row price, the atelier's team of tailors and seamstresses can whip up a bespoke or made-to-measure suit in a matter of days. 

"They have their own factory, and all the staff have been very well trained," Choo says. "If you go on a Monday for the measurements, they will have everything ready by Wednesday or Thursday to bring home."

How much will a Lord's Tailor suit set you back? "It depends on the fabric you choose," says Choo. "Prices start at around 3,000 ringgit (around £515) for a jacket and tros with one shirt, going up to 10,000 ringgit (around £1,750) if you choose Italian fabric."

Website: www.lordstailor.com.my

Address: F18 & F19, 1st floor, Bangsar Shopping Centre, 285 Jalan Maarof

Phone: +6 017 670 7217

Instagram: @lordstailor/

A fashionista's paradise, glitzy Pavilion shopping centre is where you'll find the flagship stores of luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior and Hermès alongside high street favourites like Zara and COS.

"Pavilion has got a lot of different brands so there's something to suit every budget," Choo says. "For example, if you want to spend £30 on a shirt or tros, or if you want to spend thousands and thousands on those higher-level designers."

To sample Malaysian style, try cool handbag brand Sembonia, trendy plus-size fashion pioneer Ms. Read, or Fipper, which sells rubber flip-flops in a vast array of colours. And if you've exhausted your options at Pavilion, pop over the road to another of Choo's favourite retail hotspots, The Starhill, a luxurious shopping centre home to the world's biggest watch gallery.

Website: www.pavilion-kl.com

Address: 168 Jalan Bukit Bintang

Phone: +6 032 118 8833

Showcasing Malaysian handicraft techniques, the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex is a series of buildings in the Terengganu style with gabled roofs and intricate wood carvings and features a museum where visitors can see how traditional textiles are woven and dyed.

"Batik is hand-painted and uses wax to create the designs," Choo explains. "Songket comes in lots of different colours and has the gold and silver thread woven through. It's quite expensive because it takes some time to weave by hand."

Typically worn on formal occasions, a songket outfit usually comprises a baju kurung long-sleeved shirt, a sarong or tros, a sampin decorative scarf around the waist and a songkok cap for men.

"Usually when I'm attending my birthday event I wear songket because one of my students designs with songket material," Choo says. "It's common at Malaysian weddings as well. When government people go to functions, they usually wear batik."

Travellers can purchase songket and batik fabric as well as readymade garments and accessories in the Karyaneka Boutique at the Kuala Lumpur Craft Complex.

Website: www.kraftangan.gov.my

Address: Section 63, Jalan Conlay

Phone: +6 032 162 7459

Instagram: @kraftanganmalaysia

To refuel after all that shopping, cheap – and delicious – eats are just a five-minute taxi ride from the city's major shopping centres to Chinatown; namely, Petaling Street Market.

Reflecting Kuala Lumpur's history as a trading hub since the 6th Century, the market features a blend of Malay, Indian, and Chinese cuisine with hints of Arab, Thai and Portuguese flavours to boot.

Choo lists his favourite Petaling Street eats: "I love char kway teow [stir-fried flat noodles], Hainanese chicken with rice, roti canai [flaky Malaysian flatbread], nasi lemak [rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaves served with chilli paste, anchovies and boiled egg], and nasi kandar, which is chicken with spicy curry sauce."

For dessert, he suggests sniffing out a helping of durian, the divisive yellow-fleshed fruit with a spiky exterior and a distinctive aroma. "Some people like it, some don't," says Choo. "They say it smells like cheese or something like that. But you cannot bring it back to the hotel, they won't allow it because it smells so strong!"

Address: Jalan Petaling, City Centre

While many of Kuala Lumpur's rooftop bars look down on the city, WET Deck at the W Hotel is situated on the 12th floor, meaning the neighbouring Petronas Twin Towers provide a dramatic and glittering backdrop when night falls. 

"If I want to have a drink and some good western or Malay food, I normally go to W Hotel bar," Choo says. "You can sit by the swimming pool and see the Twin Towers right in front of you. It's a place you can relax and take some nice pictures. You can see the whole of KL." 

Choo's tipple of choice is a nod to his international lifestyle. "People in Malaysia like to drink cognac and whisky," he says. "But my favourite drink is actually a very English one; I love a lager and lime." 

A minimum spend of 500 ringgit (around £90) per table is required at WET Deck on Friday and Saturday nights, so choose a weeknight if you're looking for a more affordable option.

Website: www.wkualalumpur-wetdeck.com

Address: W Kuala Lumpur, 121 Jalan Ampang

Phone: +6 012 365 4188

Instagram: @wetdeckkualalumpur

An urban oasis nestled among the skyscrapers, KLCC Park is popular with city dwellers and tourists alike. With a jogging track, children's playground and wading pool, it's great for families, or anyone who wants a breather and a shady spot to escape the heat. 

"You can have a beautiful morning walk in the park or go for a run, you can see water features and birds during the day," says Choo. "And at night it's very romantic. You often see couples walking around the lake."

Open from 10:00 to 22:00, with the main entrance on Jalan Ampang, the park also offers a brilliant vantage point to grab some snaps as the sun sets and the skyscrapers light up.

Address: Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur City Centre

BBC Travel's The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers.

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