Milan is a temple of
high fashion and the home of Armani and Versace,
and naturally sure to delight the high priests and priestesses of
style world. The so-called Quadrilateral (Quadrilatero
della Moda) of fashion, formed by Via Montenapoleone (‘Montenapo’),
Via Sant’Andrea, Via Monzani
and Via della Spiga north of the Cathedral, is
at the top of the list. Names including Armani,
Dolce & Gabbana, Exté,
Ferragamo, Gucci, Missoni,
Prada, Trussardi, Valentino, Versace
and Vuitton read like a veritable ABC of Italian
chic. Those lacking the supreme self-confidence to enter such hallowed
ground as Gianni Versace’s four floors of
couture (on Via Montenapoleone 2) should stick to window-shopping
paradise on Via della Spiga, where traffic is banned.
L’Armadio de Laura, Via Voghera 25, has some
good offbeat thrift and end-of-season returns.
For the top names in design and furniture the streets to the north
(close to the Quadrilateral in Corso Matteoti, Via Durini and Via
Manzoni) are best, although quite expensive. Alternatively go to
the district around the Brera – once the haunt of artists
who have now been priced out by the exclusive boutiques and art
galleries.
The pedestrian Via Fiori Chiari is a particularly
good spot for browsing galleries, with a number of excellent cafés
along the way. The area is also popular with antique dealers, especially
on the third Saturday of each month (not in August), when stalls
are set up along the road.
Antique fairs are also popular at the weekends around the Naviglio
Grande, along the banks of the canal. South of the Cathedral
and going towards the university area and the Porta Ticinese, prices
fall as high fashion makes way for casual and sporting fashion.
Distinctly less sophisticated but still very trendy, the area between
the Porta Ticinese and the Universita Statale is popular with students.
Via Torino, leading southwest from Piazza del Duomo, is a great
place to pick up fashion items for children.
Outside the historic centre, fashion outlets are able to move into
even bigger premises and include, Corso Buenos Aires
(north), Corso Vercelli (west) and Corso
XXII Marzo (east) are runners up for fashion shopping.
Clothes, luggage, hats, shoes, accessories and sports fashions are
generally high quality and good value in Milan, although not very
cheap. Stockhouse, Via Montegani 7 (telephone number:
02 8951 3951) is a good discount store; others are listed on the
Corriere della
Sera’s website, where the shopping pages (Il mondo degli
outlet) detail outlets and bargains (spacci e occasioni). For the
ultimate shopping experience, English-speaking consultants are available
from Travel Media Consulting, at €60 for two
hours and €30 for each additional hour (telephone number: 02
5831 2696), to guide and help carry purchases.
For those who prefer the bustle of street markets, Viale
Papiniano (metro San Agostino) is open all day Saturday,
while Via Zivetti (metro Centrale FS) and is open
on Wednesday mornings. The flea market, Fiera di Senigallia,
takes place along the Darsena basin on Saturdays between 0830 hrs
and 1700 hrs. The flower market sets up on Sunday mornings in Piazetta
Reale (March-June and September-December).
The winter sales start during the second week of January and the
summer sales start in the second week of July. Most shops open 0930
hrs -1300 hrs and 1530 hrs -1930 hrs, although the bigger stores
stay open all day. Most shops close on Sunday and reopen on Monday
afternoons, except food stores, which reopen on Monday morning but
close again for the afternoon. However, many shops open daily during
the Christmas season and major bookshops are open until 2300 hrs.
Many shops close for most of August.
Sales tax varies between 12 and 14 per cent, depending on the value
of goods purchased. Non-EU citizens should retain receipts for goods
over €154.90 from a single store to reclaim their VAT (IVA),
although this is a drawn-out process and visitors may prefer to
purchase gifts at the Duty Free shops, where the equivalent of VAT
is automatically deducted from the cost. |
