Italian Fashion & Shopping in Italy
Italy has always been synonymous with fashion. The ideas and designs of Italian designers are known throughout the world. From designer clothes to pret-a-porter, from bags to shoes the quality of the materials used guarantee that the “made in Italy” products are of high quality.
Milan and Florence host important international fashion events every year.
Fashion Events Milan
Milan Fashion Week
Milan Fashion week unveils the spring/summer and autumn/winter collections by the talent of the Italian fashion world. These extravagant shows take place four times per year. The feature huge runway shows and splashy parties and events.
Women’s fashion weeks take place twice per year in February and October
Men’s fashion weeks take place twice per year in January and June
MIPAP (Milan pret-a-porter ) that takes place in April
Fashion Events Florence
Pitti Uomo
Uomo in Florence is the most important tradeshow for menswear. Twice a year in January and June the immense exhibition space is filled with the latest fashion items for men from suits to casual wear to accessories.
Pitti Immagine running alongside Pitti Uomo in January and June, is a fair showcasing special projects in women”s fashion.
Pitii Bimbo which runs in June, showcases the world of childrens fashion
Fashion Events Bologna
Linea pelle that regards the accessories fashion
Linea Pelle that takes place in Bologna in April and October is the international leather r and accessories exhibit. It features designs for footwear, leather goods, garments and furniture.
Stores opening hours
Shopping in Italy is very easy and also convenient.
In every city from the biggest to the smallest there’ s
always a shopping area . There you can find not
only the boutiques of the biggest designers, but
also many other local stores that still guarantee a good
quality products at more accessible budgets.
The stores in Italy are usually open
from Monday to Saturday from 09:00 am to 1:00 pm
and from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm,
but the stores of the big cities, especially in the center,
and the ones in the shopping mall in the surroundings
areas are much more flexible with openings often
until 10:00pm and Sunday too.
Where to shop in italy?
ROME
There many good area for shopping in the Capital
Road to Italy suggests the following:
Spanish Steps: all the streets between via Condotti, via Borgognona, via del Corso and via Frattina
Here you will find very expensive designer name shops but also smaller less expensive shops. A great area for window shopping and people watching.
Via Nazionale this street begins at Piazza Republica and ends at Piazza Venezia. There are many shops for shoes, clothes accessories and more. There are also many cafes and restaurants for taking a break.
Vatican area: the shopping area is between via Cola di Rienzo and via Ottaviano. gas great shopping.Here you will find many locals and not as many tourists.
San Giovanni: This is a very lively part of the city. The shopping area is in Via Appia Nuova between Piazza San Giovanni and Re di Roma Square . Here you will find a great market open every morning except on Sunday. On the Via Sannio you will find the best bargains.
Malls
Just outside Rome there are many shopping malls. The two biggest are:
Parco Leonardo on the highway to Fiumicino Airport
Address: via Portuense 2000 – Fiumicino Roma. Open daily from 09:00am to 10:00pm
Porta di Roma located on the G.R.A. of Rome exit Bufalotta.
Address: via Alberto Lionello 201 – 00139 Roma. Open daily from 10:00am to 10:00pm
FLORENCE
In this city of art shoppers will find many artisans shops that feature stationery, leather, gold and more. You will not find big department stores but rather smaller boutiques
In the city center the best area for shopping areas are:
Via dei Calzaiuoli which is the main shopping street.
Via Tornabuoni On this street you will find the designer shops. Armani, Gucci, Versace, Ferragamo and more.
San Lorenzo Market This lively outdoor market features all kinds of leather products like, leather jackets, belts. You can also find jewelry and other gift items.
Outlet Malls
Tuscany is very popular for the best Factories mall in Italy. These malls are not far from Florence within one hour by car.
Road to Italy suggest you the following:
The Mall located in Reggello 35 kilometers south of Florence on the highway to Rome.
Address: via Europa 8 – 50066 Leccio Reggello(Firenze). Open daily from 10:00am to 7:00pm
Designed Outlet located in Barberino del Mugello 40 km north of Florence on the highway to Bologna.
Address: Via Meucci 50031 Barberino di Mugello (Firenze). Open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00am to 8:00pm
Valdichiana Outlet Village located in Foiano della Chiana 95 km south of Florence on the highway to Rome.
Address: via Enzo Ferrari, 5 – Foiano della Chiana (Arezzo). Open Monday to Sunday from 10:00am to 8:.00pm
Dolce & Gabbana factory outlet located in Incisa in Val D’Arno 35 km south of Florence on the highway to Rome.
Address: Localiata’ Santa Maria Maddalena-Pian dell’ Isola, 49 – 50064 – Incisa Val D’Arno (Firenze). Open Monday to Sunday from 10:00am to 7:30pm
Prada – The Space located in Montevarchi 52km south of Florence on the highway to Rome.
Address: Localita’ Levanella Strada Statale 69 – 52025 Montevarchi (Arezzo). Open Monday to Friday from 10:30am to 7.30pm, Saturday from 9:30am to 7:30pm, Sunday and holidays from 10:30am to 6:30pm
Roberto Cavalli factory outlet located in Sesto Fiorentino – Osmannoro 10 km north of Florence.
Address: via Volturno, 3 Osmannoro – 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze). Open Monday to Saturday from 10:00am to 07:00pm
MILAN
Milan is undoubtedly the capital of Italian fashion, all new ideas, designs, colors pass by Milan first and then go in the other cities. The number and quality of stores that are located in this city are significantly higher than those in the rest of Italy.
The best areas for shopping in Milan we suggest are the following three:
If you want to rub shoulders with the elite of Milan you will want to head to the famous shopping district know as the Quadrilatero della moda
The streets of this area are: Corso Venezia , Via Montenapoleone, Via Della Spiga, and Via Manzoni
These streets are all near the Duomo and La Scala Opera Theatre.
For those who are looking for nice shops, but at a more affordable price we recommend:
Corso Genova ,via Torino (near the Duomo) ,and Corso Buenos Aires from Piazzale Loreto to Porta Venezia where you can find the best clothes, bags, shoes and accessories for all the ages.