RETAILERS

The Milan retail scene proved to be absolutely beautiful, with some of the most captivating visual merchandising displays and varying shopping experiences. Having visited the Piazza Duomo plenty of times now, there have been a few fashion retailers that have caught my attention for good and bad reasons.

Here are some of the few initial observations of Italian style and the retail scene:

• Dogs are allowed in any retail store, from Chanel to H&M, and are normally dressed up in cute doggie outfits, are accessorised with expensive looking collars and leads or carried around in Louis Vuitton bags.

• The puffer jacket is a cherished item of clothing worn by pretty much everyone - sold in almost every colour and cut, in just about every shop we visited. They can be spotted on the streets, at uni, on the metro, on a night out, everywhere.

• Casual style is preferred in Italy as people like to feel comfortable while still looking chic - a lot of people travel by bike - wearing a lot of layers and oversized styles along with trainers or comfortable footwear.

• The older generation are especially polished, opting to wear beautiful fur coats accessorised with vintage Chanel brooches and quirky eyewear.

• I have the worst case of bag envy as everywhere you look, you’ll see the most gorgeous Stella McCartney, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Miu Miu, Givenchy bags or accessories - it makes me think that maybe Italians prefer buying investment pieces that will last them for years rather than seasonal items.

• There is some great edgy and contemporary style on the streets of Milan as well as more polished and lady-like looks - I always find myself doing a double take at surprising but inspiring outfits.

• Apparently Italian women do not wear flip flops or shorts in the summer in the city, but I am yet to witness this as at the moment everyone seems to be wearing winter clothes in 20+ degree heat.

• I don’t think customer service is as good as it could be - some of the sales assistants tend to be quite rude and not pay much attention to the customer - this is purely based on my personal experience - however many people try to communicate with you in English even if they don’t speak very well which is really pleasant.

iBLUES

2, Piazza Del Liberty, Milano

This Italian company currently belongs to the Max Mara Fashion Group, and proposes sensual and feminine looks in flattering shapes and colours. The clothes - as the brand claims - are designed for ‘curious and daring women who follow the fashion world, love to be part of it and live the trends daring to play with their look.’ iBLUES Club, part of the brand that has been on the international market since 1985, focuses more on young and sophisticated trends with emphasis drawn to sport separates.

I was surprised to learn that iBLUES was a sister brand to MaxMara, which is one of my favourite Italian retailers at the moment, however I was really impressed by the visual merchandising and overall look of the store, which isn’t surprising as Max Mara and Max & Co. have some really beautiful displays and store concepts.

I especially liked the over the top mannequins inside the store - even though the clothes didn’t have the most exciting designs.

Falconeri

Galleria Pattari, 2

Falconeri is an Italian brand that specialises in knitwear, created for men and women who look for quality and minimalist & versatile styles. The retailer uses fine natural yarns, favouring cashmere, to create high-quality, maximum comfort pieces at ‘affordable prices’, and are very proud of their continuous technological research of fibres and methods of eco-friendly production.

ALCOTT

Corso Vittorio Emanuele

ALCOTT’s main aim is to provide fast fashion products to young people, as they strongly believe that by offering a fashionable and affordable product each season, they are able to build a strong and durable relationship with their clients. Currently the retailer has several stores across Europe proving popular in countries like Italy, Spain, France and Cyprus as well as Georgia, India and Syria. The brand claims to be suitable for ‘dynamic young people wearing casual articles of clothing and wanting to stay out of stereotype’ as they try to keep up with new technologies, art and music trends which are ultimately represented through their designs.

I would probably compare this retailer to Primark or Peacocks, as they aim to provide customers with fashionable designs at especially low prices - however after inspecting the quality of the clothes and getting put off by their slightly trashy designs it’s safe to say I won’t be coming back to shop at Alcott.

Pull & Bear

Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 24-28

Yamamay

Via Privata della Passarella, 4

Calzedonia

Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 9

Furla

Piazza Duomo, 31

Created by the Furlanetto family in 1927, Furla features products designed in Italy that include handbags, shoes, sunglasses and small accessories. The Italian goods are currently only available for purchase in England in larger terminals including Manchester, London, Edinburgh and East Midlands in the duty free zones. The prices vary from around €30 for a keyring up to €500 for a tote bag - however I’m pretty sure I have previously seen the Furla jelly bags available for a discounted price in TK Maxx back in Birmingham.

La Rinascente

Piazza Duomo

Founded in Milan by Senatore Borletti, La Rinascente, is a luxury goods retailer operating upscale department stores in the area of clothing, household and beauty products. Similarly to Selfridges, customers are able to purchase anything from a plate to a new pair of Dior couture trainers. In 2010 La Rinascente accumulated a revenue of €375.5 million whilst employing over 1,500 people. It is one of the most popular retailers in Italy with La Rinascente stores located in major cities such as Rome, Genoa, Turin, Florence, Palermo, Padova and Monza, and the flagship concept store situated in Milan on the Piazza Duomo. The brand is planning to expand across the world, aiming for recognition in China and Japan.

I honestly think the Milan store is one of the most beautiful stores I’ve ever been in - there is so much to see, you could spend your entire day in there and not get bored. The brands vary from affordable brands such as Urban Outfitters and Adidas, to high-fashion designer like Chloe and Christian Louboutin. And if you get tired or hungry there is a gorgeous bar upstairs with an amazing view over the Duomo and the Piazza - which, sadly, comes at a high price.

Zara

Piazza Duomo

I’ve been particularly impressed with Zara’s visual merchandising displays and interior designs as they tend to present their clothes in really clever ways that make you stop and look at the mannequins - therefore attracting more customers. I found the Italian stores much more inviting than the ones in England, as they tend to be quite safe and verging on boring.

#PullBear #Furla #Alcott #Yamamay #iBlues #Falconeri #Intimissi #Calzedonia #LaRinascente #Zara