Milan’s Best Retail Outlets

By Patrick Fontaine -

6.19.16

For the opportunity to buy some of the world’s best luxury brands at just 30-70% of their normal retail prices we recommend you take a drive through the beautiful region of Milan’s Piedmont. In this picturesque setting of rolling green hills, aromatic lavender fields and pretty vineyards brings you within tantalisingly accessible means to shop at Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Fossil amidst the many more top tier brands. With many of the world’s most sought after brand all accessible in one area and at heavily discounted prices all year long, this is the time to get serious about fashion. For a day (perhaps make that two) indulge to your heart’s content in designer shopping whilst you explore this breathtaking region.

 

Serravalle Designer Outlet

Located within an hour’s drive from the center of Milan, the Serravalle also boasts the status of being the largest designer outlet complex in Europe. Housed within beautiful Italian architecture, it elegantly brings together the combined appeal of luxury designer brands with the beauty of the surrounding Piedmont countryside. In your drive out of Milan and towards the ocean, you’ll glide past the stunning Gavi Hills filled with picturesque towns and their local confectionaries and patisseries.

Where: From Milano city center take the A7 motorway and exit on Serravalle Scrivia.

What: Boasting a range of over 300 prestige fashion brands, such as Gucci, Dolce&Gabbana, Hugo Boss, Blumarine and Versace just to name a few. Great sales can be snatched up with merchandise reduced from their normal retail prices by 30% to 70%. As it is a pleasant drive out of Milan, an easy to reach location on arrival you can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy the free wifi, indoor children’s play area, support from multilingual staff and plenty of cafes and restaurants to refuel your energy - for more shopping!

But also: After a busy day of shopping we recommend stopping by on your drive back into Milan, at one of the quaint and intimate farmhouses where you can order a classic Italian dessert such as an amaretti, canestrelli and baci di dama.

 

Fidenza Village

Arrive at the pretty baroque styled courtyard of Fidenza Village and help yourself to the variety of fashion boutiques, designer homewares and elegant cafes and restaurants. This shopping village is one of a franchise of nine “Chic Outlet Shopping” villages that are found in Europe, known for offering their patrons a wealth of high end labels.

Where: Located halfway between Milan and Bologna, hire a luxury car and head south on the A1 motorway. Take the exit at Fidenza/Salsomaggiore Terme

What: Presenting over 100 of the world’s most prestigious designer boutique in utterly elegant style and class. Brand stores such as Valentino, Paul Smith, Missoni and Michael Kors for example have each been known to have selected apparel at 70% off retail prices.

But Also: En route we recommend that you stop off at the nearby villages of Parma and Terre Verdiane to learn more about the beautiful art and culture scenes that beautifully colours the region.

 

FoxTown Factory Store

A drive northward to the Swiss border will bring you to FoxTown, a prestigeous shopping village  that boasts enormous American style “Factory Stores”. With a great selection of brands and boutique labels on offer and all at “factory” prices. Some tips to help you come prepared, is that prices are in Swiss Francs and any discounts are applied to the Euro list prices. Perhaps because it is located on national borders, but tax free shopping services are also available.

Where: Coming from Milan it is a 55km drive by taking the Lugano Highway and exiting at Mendrisio.

What: Between the 160 stores there are more than 250 top brands to shift between, ensuring there really is a good chance that you will shop ‘til you drop.  Some popular brands that can be found here include Prada, Armani, Fendi, Hogan, Polo Ralph, Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Burberry, and Lacoste.

But Also: In case that is not enough for you there is also a dazzling casino and a collection  of 7 bars and restaurants, to take sips between credit card slips.   

 

Vicolungo the Style Outlets

A mere 30 minute drive out of town, arriving at Vicolungo could possibly be made even faster if you choose to rent the Italian favourites of a Ferrari or a Lamborghini. This “Style Outlet” as it enjoys making itself known is located in the province of Novara where those travelling through can enjoy the great variety of ancient history that the nearby Piedmont town has to offer.

Where: Heading west from Milan, jump onto the A4 motorway to Torino and then take the exit at Biandrate Vicolungo.

What: With a series of elegant shops all located in the one village, Vicolungo the Style Outlets makes for a very pleasant location to enjoy a much needed shopping spree. There are 150 designer stores to wander between with many of them making you feel welcome with their familiar names such as Armani, Missoni, Trussardi, Calvin Klein and Cavalli. Merchandise includes anything and everything, from apparel for him, her and the kids to homewares and beauty products all at discounted prices.  

But Also: As the folks at Vicolungo the Style Outlets clearly now how to flaunt, they are not shy of putting on a show, which they do fairly regularly. Time your trip there well and you may be able to catch special events and gallery exhibitions amidst other initiatives that they often have going on.