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Out of clothes? Need to stock up for the next season? Head to Milan!
No matter whether you’re the designer clothes type or allergic to labels, Milan is a dream destination for every kind of fashion shopper. The fashion cycle is so efficient in this city that a keen eye will give you the opportunity to buy fashionable clothes at various prices. From the catwalks of Milan Fashion Week held twice a year and the racks of the most elite showrooms, fashion percolates to the numerous outlet stores in town within no time.
Let’s start from the top. The most fun fashion gazing can be done at the Golden Quadrilateral, which is a collective term for four adjoining streets that are home to the most expensive high fashion in the world. I say gazing because they’re unaffordable for many an ordinary mortal. The Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni, Via Sant Andrea and the Via Montenapoleone house legends of Italian and foreign fashion. One can marvel at the creativity of designers who work for fashion houses like Armani, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Ferragamo, Dolce and Gabanna, Miu Miu, Missoni, the list goes on.
Another historic shopping spot is the Gallerie Vittorio Emanuele II. Built in 1867, this qualifies as the first shopping mall in the world. Prada, with its flagship store, has been in business here since 1913 and has only recently been joined by Gucci and Louis Vuitton.
While every Milan guide will take you to the Gallerie Vittorio Emanuele II, locals prefer to shop for high street and alternative labels on corso di Porta Ticinese or in Brera. To be inundated with yet more choice, head to Corso Vercelli and the Isola area.
Once you’re adequately inspired by the window displays of the Quadrilateral, head straight to the city’s numerous outlet stores for fashionable bargains. These treasure troves are lifesavers for travelers whose fashion sense is greater than their credit lines. Full of end of season stuff, warehouse returns, and stock from boutiques that have shut down and some factory seconds these outlet stores are a haven for the fashion conscious. Be prepared to elbow your way in and go through rack after rack in search of good bargains. But be warned, outlet stores can still be pricey-after healthy discounts of 50 to 70 percent; some price tags still manage to make you draw in a sharp breath!
Milan is dotted with up to a thousand reputable outlet establishments, and the best among them are to be found on corso Vittorio Emanuele II, Il Salvagente, Dmagazine Outlet and Basement. Serious shoppers will find the stores on corso Vittorio Emanuele II to be quite interesting. Owing to their proximity in location to the big brands, these stores are a bit pretentious. Another great place to separate yourself from your money is Il Salvagente. After all who can resist three floors of size wise, color wise fashion stocked for men and women? Dmagazine Outlet, centrally located, is one of the pricier outlets. In sharp contrast to Il Salvagente, this store is small, hot and busy. Basement, aptly named since it is to be found in a cellar, is for women looking for fashionable, though not cheap by any standard, bargains.
Another affordable way to get you dressed to the nines is to visit Milan during the end of season sales. Held twice a year in January and July, these sales are sanctioned by the local government for a few weeks each. It is the official way to get a good bargain!
Author: Miranda Lopez is a professional traveling blogger who loves to writes about her traveling experiences about different countries. In this article, she is focusing on Milan Guide of Travel and Fashion.