Eight months ago, Bora decided to open this quirky store in Galata on Serdar-ı Ekrem Sokak. It’s very easy to miss because it’s located underground, right below a butcher. As you go down the red narrow stairs between leather jackets and funky coats, you may feel like you’re about to enter some sort of wonderland or the cave of a wild animal. You probably won’t anticipate walking into untamed creativity sprinkled with lots of imagination, taste, and style. Oh, and the sweet taste of random strangers' memories.

You may not be the second-hand-clothing kind of person, but if any store will convert you, it is certainly Atölye dö Bora. Even if you have no intentions of being converted, I strongly suggest you check this store out just to get your creative juices flowing. This dimly-lit, out-of-a-movie-scene kind of retro store is the kind of place where you may choose to place the climax of your next novel. It has that magic where the past molds into the present. Only with a very stylish promise of the future.

OK. Let’s get into the logistics a bit.

On the left by the entrance is the small but very well-chosen men’s section, mainly filled with outerwear. Bora is also a men’s stylist so his men’s collection is quite ambitious. Ideal for men who want to make their mark with their sense of style.

The rest of the store is dedicated to women’s clothing: dresses, skirts, outerwear, tops, glasses, shoes, bags, all neatly stacked into their own section. The store does require serious investigation skills but rest assured that your search will be rewarding because you’ll come out of it with some great finds.

That’s because Bora is very specific about what he sells, he doesn’t just throw in whatever he finds. Did I mention that Bora opened the first second-hand store in Ankara called Junk Second Hand in 1998? The store is no longer around but it sure was a phenomenon when it was. So, in the past 15 years or so Bora has become the person who knows people in the world of second-hand-clothes-hunting in Berlin, London, and Paris. His collection includes nothing too theatrical but generally wearable retro style. Plus, the majority of the collection is in fairly good condition; there are some that even look brand new. Except for the now-antique 1920s dress. It’s pretty, but you probably wouldn’t wear it.

Now, the deal with haircutting. Let’s get one thing clear: Bora is a hair designer not a hairdresser. He’s been in the business – it’s slightly weird calling this a business, it’s more like his calling - for three years. He’s quite specific though – he only cuts short hair (like really short, possibly nothing below the shoulders). He’s very ambitious with blunt and bob cuts, and adding volume to dull-looking hair. If you’re ready to funkify your hair, Bora is who you’ve been searching for. Serdar-ı Ekrem Sokak, No. 8/A, Galata; P: (0212) 243 08 12

Get an idea of what Bora is about:

Sanda Spa in Hillside City Club within İstinyePark shopping mall is an exotic getaway from the stresses of daily life: fresh flowers, calming essential oils, relaxation music, and candles everywhere in this modern, elegant, and spacious spa. You can take your pick from a wide variety of facials, body treatments, and massages, or opt for their luxurious Turkish bath.

You getaway will begin with a cup of ginger tea, and it can go in any direction you like: if you want something light and gentle, try the Sanda Escape that uses Balinese massage techniques. If you’ve never had a massage with oil-soaked bamboo sticks, go for the Bamboo Miracle. If one therapist won’t cut it for you, go for the Twins, where two massage therapists will use five different massage techniques in one session.If you want to see what relaxing hot stones can do for you, go for the Magic Hot Stone. If you want to hit two birds with one stone, go for the Special for Her (an anti-cellulite massage) or Special for Him (that is created to release tension from muscles of sports enthusiasts). Body treatments include a variety of scrubs (se salt, coconut, hazelnut), body wraps (herbal, coffee, avocado), and bodycofee treatments that purify and refresh your skin (such as detoxifying and anti-cellulite body wrap, hand treatment, and food treatment). Keep in mind that the spa also features a sauna, steam room, and lounge area so you can continue your day of relaxation after your treatment ends. Most treatments are for 50 minutes, 90 minutes, or 120 minutes, and the prices range from 105 TL to 430 TL.

Sanda Spa has three locations in Istanbul:

Sanda Spa – İstinye; Hillside City Club Istinye Park, Istinye Bayırı Caddesi No.73, İstinye; P: (0212) 367 2060

Sanda Spa – Etiler; Hillside City Club Etiler, Alkent Sitesi Tepecik Yolu No. 22/14, Etiler; P: (0212) 352 25 00

Sanda Spa – Trio; Hillside City Club Trio, Barbaros Mahallesi Halk Caddesi No.85/1, Ataşehir; P: (0216) 472 00 72

The sun, the sea, the chlorinated pool water...they all take their toll on our hair. It’s time to get ready for fall and get your hair back in shape.

1. Get a good hair cut. If you’re complaining about split, dry, or frizzy ends, a good hair cut will resolve all these issues. It’s always fun to experiment with new styles, so chop away. We suggest you head to Erdem Kıramer,HH Hair Design, or Aveda. If you’re after a budget option, try Nehir Kuaför—it’s a tiny, humble mahalle kuaförü (neighborhood hairdresser). We can’t vouch for their beauty treatments, but Savaş (owner and hairdresser) is a fantastic hairdresser, especially when it comes to short hair styles.

2. Bring back the color. If your hair color seems dull or on the verge of boring, color it once again with a fall-appropriate color. Check out our listings to find a hairdresser that suits you.

3. Restore Shine. Apply a DIY hair mask. Here is what you need: small bottle of sesame oil or jojoba oil (the size of an index finger), almond oil (50cc), and a kind of leave-in conditioners of your choice. First add half a bottle of the conditioner in a container/bowl, then add the oils and mix thoroughly. Cover your hair (when it’s dry) with the mixture for 1-3 hours. Wash away with shampoo. Do this once a week for as long as you need to. You can get the oils at Zencefil Aktar or Arifoğlu. The leave-in conditioners are easy to get from any major supermarket.

4. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Kiehls’s Olive Fruit Oil Series and Schwarzkopfs’s BC Moisture Kick Series will definitely do the work.

Lose the hair the Turkish Way: Waxing has been practiced and mastered in the Middle East and Turkey for thousands of years. So ditch those razors, and head to a kuaför (hair salon) to get your hair removed the old fashioned way. You can opt for a luxurious salon in Etiler or Nişantaşı, or simply walk into a local salon near where you live. In the past, women would make their own ağda (sugaring paste) at home with a sugar and lemon mixture (this method is known abroad as sugaring—see below if you want to try it at home yourself.) These days, the more technologically advanced and convenient version of wax (called sir ağda) is commonly used at salons.

DIY:The ingredients to make sugaring paste are sugar, lemon, and water, although the particular formulas vary as some choose to use white sugar instead of natural and some prefer to add lemon salt instead of lemon juice. Here is what you’ll need:

• 2 cups of sugar
• ¼ cups of lemon juice
• ¼ cups of water

Put the ingredients in a bowl, and slowly bring to a boil over low heat, stirring continuously. The mixture will take a liquid form, and once it starts bubbling up, remove from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes. It’s imperative that you wait for the liquid to cool properly or you’ll burn yourself. Then, pour the golden-colored mixture on a wet surface. Make sure that the surface is made of marble or stone so that the mixture doesn’t stick. Here is the more difficult bit: you need to work the mixture in your hands until it becomes easy to smooth on the skin (this may require a few practice runs for the novice). After the paste reaches the right consistency, either apply the paste on the desired area with your hands (it should not stick to your hands) or store in a microwaveable container for later use (you’ll need to reheat the paste to a lukewarm temperature for future application). Spread the paste on your skin (either with a spatula or your hands) in the direction of hair growth and rip it off (with your hands or using strips of cotton cloth) in the opposite direction. Do this quickly with the flick of a wrist for minimal pain.

The procedure may sound a bit complicated and time-consuming, but sugaring is known to be less painful than waxing as the paste doesn’t stick to the skin, so it would be worth your time and effort.

Rejuvenate your skin at a hamam:

In the days of the Ottoman Empire, ladies would spend an entire day at the hamam (Turkish bath), bringing along a retinue of attendants with large baskets containing food and refreshments, as well as various utensils and towels. The day would be spent idly chatting, alternating between the steam room and the cooler atmosphere of the relaxation rooms. You can still get a taste of this age-old experience today in a traditional hamam. A visit to the Turkish bath is a more sober affair these days, but you will still be handed the peştemal to wrap yourself in and the metal bowl to pour water over yourself. Attendants are also still available to give customers the vigorous and foamy scrub that removes layers of dead cells and leaves the skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Learn more about hamamsand pick a hamam from our beauty listings.

Bring your toes to life:

Now is the season for flip flops and sandals, so make sure your feet look the part before you put your boots away in storage. Get a pedicure and put on some lively nail polish. How about Pantone Honeysuckle?

Dress up your feet:

Now that your legs and feet look fantastic, get yourself a nice pair of sandals to show off what you’ve got. High-heeled or flat, opt for something that’s comfortable and sexy.