These are the people who spot the trends, search out the exotic and shape what we buy for our bodies and homes. Kara O’Reilly asked 10 style gurus what they seek out whenever they head away from home

Simon Alderson: Along with his partner Tony Cunningham, Simon began selling original 20th-Century furniture by the biggest names in Modern Design from a stall in Camden Market. They’ve upgraded to a shop at 274 Upper Street, Nl (0171) 288 1996.
‘I sell things for a living, so when I go away I don’t actively shop – I’m more interested in seeing the places I go to. However, if I was in New York and a piece of furniture by George Nelson that I didn’t already own happened to fall in front of me, then I’d buy it. He’s my favourite American designer and I’d really love one of his Marshmallow sofas.

Repros are now available but I want an original with all its charm and pedigree.’Anouska Hempel (Lady Weinberg) Designer and hotelier Owner of Blakes Hotel, in London Her latest hotel The Hempel will open later this year. Blakes, 33 Roland Gardens, SW7 (0171 370 6701).”I go anywhere and everywhere in the world and I always look for the main street and market and always with shopping in mind, but no list, I don’t look for specific things but I look for my couture shop, design team, Blakes, The Hempel I look for everything and nothing. I try to keep an open mind, but I do prefer shopping in the country of origin – Armani in Milan is different from London, as are Calvin Klein and Donna Karan, I look for anything that catches my eye in a foreign country, not just when I’m on holiday, but when I’m travelling anywhere. My recent best buy was a cashmere shawl to go over the bottom of the bunk in the boat. The colour was perfect and not something I expected to find in the middle of summer in Sardina.”Bill Amberg: Started off designing gorgeously-soft leather bags and has expanded to leather walls, floors and furniture. His shop at 10 Chepstow Road, Notting Hill Gate (0171 727 3560) is opening at the beginning of September.”When I’m away I usually stock up on food, so this summer in Spain I bought ham, and in France, foie gras and so on. Whenever I go somewhere sunny I buy whatever the local market throws up – oils, jams, jellies.

You can usually find pretty strange things when you’re away, curious objects like dried iguanas I also buy bags. I’m interested in looking at the different shapes of basketry and the way people carry things, or tie things up to carry them – I have used some of these ideas in my work. I’ve really fallen in love with some fabric sarongs which I use all the time. Some are from Tanzania, some from Indonesia, I pick them up wherever I see them. They’re the best alternative pyjamas, and I wear them around the house.”I always go to the markets in Paris like Clignancourt to see what’s new. I’m in New York I often go to the big department stores like Barneys to see if they’ve got anything of interest. I go to the big Army and Navy store there to check out the workwear, and I like to go into snowboarding shops because I love the materials and I think the detailing on the clothes is great That look has been very influential.”Anya Hindmarch.