I love shopping around the world: Milan

Hi guys! Welcome back to I love shopping around the world. This month the destination I chose is the Mecca of fashion and style made in Italy. Obviously I'm talking about Milan, one of the coolest metropolist in the world, th perfect synthesis among past and modernity, culture, art and progress and a popular destination for the most addicted fashionistas and shopping lovers!

Shopping in Milan is almost a poetry, strolling through shops, cafes, restaurants and art sites with timeless appeal, is possible to taste pleasant atmospheres and take a break from the hectic pace of urban life. Our trip is mainly focused in the so-called "golden quadriteral", heart of milan shopping, mixed blessing of all shopping lovers (the perfect place to Rebecca Bloomwood!).

Giorgio Armani flagship store

We can't not start from Via Monte Napoleone, mainly destination for your shopping in Milan. With the warp of streets that intersect it, it's surely the most elegant street in the city. Walking "Montenapo" - as it is called - means immersing yourself into an atmosphere of exclusive shopping. Here, you'll find la crème de la crème of italian and interational fashion, the flagship stores of brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Etro, Armani, Moschino, Mila Schon and Missoni, just to quote some. Those of you who has not budget problems, will be like in paradise, surrounded by luxury and elegance! Here I suggest you stores like Brioni (Via Gesù, 2-4), a lovely boutique known in Milan since 50's, specialized in the creations of womenswear; Fratelli Rossetti (Corso Giacomo Matteotti, 9), an amazing store of shoes popular for their elegance, comfort and flexibility; Shirò (Via Eustachi, 20), where you'll find the amazing bags created by Massimo Calestrini; Tanino Crisci (Via Montenapoleone, 3), an amazing store of hand-crafted shoes.

Fratelli Rossetti

Tanino Crisci

We continue on our way towards Corso Vittorio Emanuele, the large artery that connects Piazza Duomo to Piazza San Babila where, you'll find many clothing and accessories stores (especially shoes!). Here, I suggest you to take a look to: Da Bernardi (Via Pattari, 6), women shoes of every types, colors and shapes of the most famous brands; Mauro Leone (Via San Pietro All'Orto, 9), one of the oldest shoes store of the city that also sells shoes made to measure; MH Way (Via Durini, 2), one of the best leather shops of the city where you can find bags and suitcases realized by Maiko Hasuike, brilliant exponent of Milan's industrial design.

Mauro Leone

MH Way

Other destination of our trip is Corso Buenos Aires, the biggest Milan's commercial artery and one of the biggest in Europe with prices, average, pretty affordable. Corso Buenos Aires deserves a visit especially during the sales, just after Christmas or in the midseason. That is the moment for the best deals. Taking a walk don't miss to pay a visit to the courtyards: the ones of n° 23, for example, or the ones of Piazza Lima 3. In Corso Buenos Aires you'll find so many stores to lose your head. Here, I suggest you to see: Atelier Bergnach (Via Tadino, 15), where is possible to find skirts in several variety of fabrics, colors and models, both pret-a-porter and to measure. In her little workshop Elena Bergnach works on skirts as en expression of poetry, art and feelings; Alga, little stores of comfortable shoes for those want to be fashionable without beign a victim! Anthony (Corso Buenos Aires, 16), if you're looking for shoes of the biggest brands, this is the right place for you; Claudio Calestani (Corso Buenos Aires, 72), in the center of the city a place where find fashion in rock version: clothes and accessories since 1980; Furla (Via Omboni, 1), one of the oldest bag stores of the city, to be always glamour and chic; Mandarina Duck (Corso Buenos Aires, 14), here you'll find a large collection of bags, backpacks and suitcases realized in exclusive materials.

Atelier Bergnach

Furla

Mandarina Duck

Here we are in Corso Vercelli. Near to FieraMilanoCity, not too far from Sempione Park, the shopping in Corso Vercelli gives you good opportunities without necessarily go towards the city center. Here, I suggest to take a look to: Fabe, since 1963 is one of the most active stores in the city, specialized in selling brands like Tod's, Hogan, Bikkembergs, Ugg and La Martina and Coccinelle bags; Marilena, modern clothing lines and small prices; Luca, shoes sophisticated but elegant, presented in a marble context.

Fabe

Marilena

Another great destination is Brera. Animated long time ago by artists and bohemien, Brera was one of the most characteristic of the old Milan. Today it has changed but this don't preserve an interesting itinerary of shopping, that is presented full of surprises. Near there I suggest you stores like Cavalli e Nastri (Via Brera, 2), known in the city as one of the best stores of vintage clothes and accessories. Clothes by Dior, Chanel and Pucci, bags, hats and jewels; 10 Corso Como (Corso Como, 10), this unusual store sells pieces in limited series: clothes, bags, accessories, shoes, books and records. On the first floor you'll also find an amazing art gallery that hosts temporary exhibitions, a restaurant and a delicious cafe. To not miss; Merù (Via Solferino, 3), founded in 1967, it launched the "poor jewels", made with low cost materials, and micro jewels; several combinations of materials - leather and gold, or wool, ivory and gold - for nice enamelled jewels; Garlando (Via Madonnina, 1), an extraordinary rage of colors and infinite combinations of women shoes. A store for a young publi; Spelta (Via Belfiore, 7), an wide rage of hand-crafted women shoes, famous for comfort and flexibility.

Cavalli e Nastri

10 Corso Como

After a tour de force of shopping like that, the most addicted shopaholics may go to Via Torino. For many years it has been one of the main streets of shopping in Milan. Today the reality of Via Torino is resized, but it doesn't mean that there's not interesting stores in there. Destinations to not miss are: Biffi (Corso Genova, 6), six hundred meters for this boutique that proposes the last news of menswear and womenswear of the biggest brands; Mariza Tassy (Via Molino Armi, 45), a wide rage of young designers of female youth clothing, plus accessories and jewels. Among the brand present in the store, we can quote Isabel Marant, Velvet, Kristensen du Nord and Mes Demoiselles.

Biffi

Mariza Tassy

And here we are in Via Paolo Sarpi, one of the most lively and popular districts of the city, considered the Chinatown of Milan, characterized by stores traditionally low cost but with good quality products. Great examples are: Chiu (Via Pontaccio, 5), a big space with a great rage of leather goods of the best brands like Kipling, The Bridge, Mandarina Duck, Just Cavalli and Alviero Martini; Mauro Giuli (Via Pontaccio, 2), famous store of shoes and bags for women.

Chiu

Other addresses to not miss in Milan surely are: Tad (Via Statuto, 12), the best place for a shopping experience to 360°. Elitist and in high-tech boudoir style, it sells clothes, design articles and fragrances. In there is also possible to find a hairdressing, a cafe and an interesting bookshop; La vetrina di Beryl (Via Statuto, 4),  the Mecca for all milan shoes addicted. Here you will find a wide rage of unavailable, eccentric and bizarre shoes of the biggest brand; Purple Shop (Corso di Porta Ticinese, 22), the paradise of urbanwear upperclass. Here you can find sporty chic clothes, shoes and accessories, rigorously inedited;  

Tad

Purple Shop

Il Salvagente (Via Bronzetti, 16), if you're looking for the best brand with the smallest prices this is the palce for you. Be carefull if you go there during sales... it's promptly stormed and you have to fight through clenched teeth to grab the object of your desires; Frip (Corso di Porta Ticinese, 16), the cult store of niche clothes and shoes, imported by Scandinavia, England and France. Among brands presents, Acne Jeans, Vinskov and Marios. Plus you can also find several international fashion magazines; Vintage Spirit Multistore (Piazza Cantore, 3), a true Mecca of vintage and avant-garde. In this store you'll find selected vintage clothes, chosen by experts as Elisabeth The First, DGP Elite Vintage and A.N.G.E.L.O. 

Frip

Well, our trip is over. As usual I hope to have been helpful. Have a good shopping! 

I see you next time!