Markets, Highstreet, Designer (Shopping in Milan)

Member Name: topsyturvy

Product:	Shopping in Milan
Date:	30/07/03 (559 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great shops to look at, nice collections, some good sales

Disadvantages: sore on feet, hot walking around, unfriendly shop assistants

This summer after saving up a lot of money I had picked the best destination to spend it. I went to one of the fashion capitals of the world, Milan. I had typed out my list of shops and a day or so after arrival I took my Euros and went shopping. The good thing about here is it is a great type of shopping trip but you can never do all of the shopping in one day. You get a mixture of everything here, vintage shops, markets, high street, mid high street and designer. Even if you don?t have the money you must take a look inside the designer shops even if only for a look at the presentation and collections.

Via Montenapoleone: This must be one of the most famous fashion streets here with the likes of Versace, Christian Dior, Alberta Ferretti, Ungaro, Gucci, Valentino, Prada, Celine and must I go on this is a great place to visit and is always busy with either tourists or those with money. When I went I felt you had to dress fancy here though because the people in the shops as always are snobby and follow you about the shops. The assistants can always speak English and Italian so you can ask them for help. Certain shops are more welcoming than others though, the Versace shop is fine to go on and is usually busy and you can see some recognised items in here. There was no pressure in here and it was nice to have a look.

I went into the Alberta Ferretti store and felt the assistants were unfriendly. One of them looked at me and went the sale items are over here as if I had no money, she didn?t know if I had a credit card with thousands of pounds or not so that annoyed me. Then, I had to embarrass myself even more by making a dress fall off the hanger, I was just praying the material wouldn?t rip or I would have to buy it, then she followed me about the shop fixing it as if to say look you had to make me work. Anyway the shop was lovely though and the other assistants were nicer. When I came out of the shop I looked to see where I could go next and I loo

ked at the Christian Dior shop and thought to myself, definitely don?t go in if you have no money the doorman looked so intimidating and they would be watching you the whole time so I avoided there. It was quite empty so obviously other people had the same idea as me.

Via della Spiga is another place that is full of designer shops which I preferred, there was something more elegant and classy about it. Not so tourist filled but also with sometimes better shops. There was the women?s Dolce & Gabbana boutique, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes (my favourite), Sergio Rossi. Another place good to have a look at and it was easier to look in these shops, lots of nice clothes. A place still well known but not as well known with tourists which is good.

Via Sant?Andrea: Yet another of the designer streets with the likes of Chanel, Moschino, Giorgio Armani, Hermes, Fendi. This was a very nice street lots to look at here every where you turned it was a well known designer. I liked the Fendi store it was a very nice rich atmosphere but that was ruined with an American shouting at the top of her voice how the Euro ?sucked? then saying how much she liked everything when she couldn?t afford it. The assistant was very nice to me here showing me the new collection and I would have spent my money here if I had enough. Next time I visit I will bring enough for designer clothes.

Corso Venezia: This is not a designer street, it?s a mixture it has lots on it. Here is where the Dolce & Gabbana men?s boutique is, D&G store the casual clothing collection, I ended up making a purchase in the D&G store there was so much I could have bought here, great atmosphere, friendly assistants, lovely bags to take away. I have a thing for designer bags they are always really nice.

There are lots of high street shops but one I just couldn?t find that I wanted to was Kookai everyone had the bags but I didn?t know where they were. I saw Diesel, bought lots in Guess, great sa
le, Benetton also bought some things, Zara, Miss Sixty, Cacharel, Marni, there were also many Italian stores I had a look at. I loved the Renascente which is a big Italian department store in every main city there. You can get everything and I love Hello Kitty if you know what I?m talking about you might agree that the merchandise is nice. I got the little cat key ring in a pink dress with fairy wings next time I need more money for here. The town centre has a lot of well known shops and if you are hungry there are many outdoor restaurants or Burger King and McDonalds. Her e though McDonalds is more popular and bought a lot of the Burger Kings but there is a Burger King on Corso Buenos Aires, I think that?s the street name. They get better burgers than here but most is the same. Beside the Duomo there are shops too and Sisal is here.

Another thing you can do when you are here is go to the markets they sell a selection of things here. There are fresh fruit stalls, clothing, rich materials you can buy by the metre, cheese, meat and much more. The market is always busy and you can get some really good deals. The only thing is it can be difficult to get around to the market the only reason I got to one is because it was near my home there. There is a lot of transport though, tram, trolley buses, buses, the Metro (underground). The underground is really noisy though and sometimes scary.

That is probably the most I can tell you about the shopping here it?s a great thing to do but wear the right shoes because I didn?t and now I am paying for that. Bring a lot of money, there is good offers because the Euro makes things cheaper on some items but not in others. It is hot here so if you walk around do it in the morning or from 5pm onwards. Shops close from 1-4pm usually but then are open until 8pm.

You have to look around, to end this review I just have to say I got a lovely bag for 5 Euros which was a great bargain.

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