Milan, a must for Italian fashion
Milan welcomes a community of creative talents, know-how and entrepreneurs, establishing fashion as an integral part of the Italian art of living. Guided tour of addresses not to be missed, by district.
For several decades Milan has held its title as the capital of Italian fashion. The city is one of the Big Four with New York, London and Paris, these cities which present the collections of designers from all over the world several times a year during fashion weeks. This position makes Milan the symbol of Italian fashion, because beyond these one-off events, a community of creative talents, know-how and entrepreneurs has developed in the Lombard capital, making fashion an integral part of the Italian way of life.
This results in a rich and diversified offer of fashion boutiques. Each Milanese district has its particularities, with one thing in common: an innate sense of refinement. Here is an overview and addresses not to be missed.
Quadrilatero della Moda, the luxury district par excellence in Milan
It attracts tourists from all over the world in search of shopping at the biggest names in Luxury or simply strollers marveling at the beautifully staged windows.
Located right in the historic center, these are the streets comprising four main arteries: Via Montenapoleone, Via Manzoni, Via della Spiga and Corzo Venezia.
There are all the major Italian and international luxury houses, and in particular French ones such as Chanel (via San Andrea), Hermès (via Montenapoleone).
A few unmissable Italian addresses:
Armani, via Manzoni 31: Flagship of the Italian flagship brand, we find the most accessible collections such as Emporio Armani, EA7 but above all we access a 360° experience of Italian luxury. The place with its clean design specific to the creator, includes a hotel and spa, a restaurant and champagne bar, a café, pastry shop, flower shop and a bookstore with a wide selection of books on fashion, art, and photography. .
Larusmiani, via Montenapoleone 7: Made-to-measure and ready-to-wear tailoring for men for three generations. Also an important figure in the Italian textile industry since the house has developed its own textile production since the 1970s and has become an important supplier for the luxury sector.
The 700m2 boutique spread over three floors, renovated in 1954 and then renovated by the architect David Collins, represents the excellence of the art of living. made in italy.
We discover, beyond the ready-to-wear collections, a host of precious objects and accessories, from vintage luxury watches, to old books, through cutlery to horn combs, shaving sets, umbrellas. or crocodile leather cigar case.
Banner (Biffi group), via Sant’Andrea 8: Luxury designer multi-brands with several boutiques in Milan and Italy. The contemporary design of the store in via Sant’Andrea, created by architect Gae Aulenti in the early 2000s, is similar to that of an art gallery: noble materials, ultra-modern furniture, geometric shapes and colors live.
A few steps from the quadrangle of fashion, the magnificent Galerie Vittorio Emanuele II houses other prestigious brands such as the historic boutique of the Prada house, while on the corso Vittorio Emanuele II, it is rather the ready-to-wear chains that have taken place, alongside Rinascente, a benchmark Italian department store.
Porta Garibaldi district
Another important Milanese place for fashion with major Italian and international brands, mainly corso Como and via Vicenzo Capelli, a stone’s throw from piazza Gae Aulenti.
To discover :
The brand store Momoni, corso Como 3designer of women’s ready-to-wear and lingerie 100% made in italycasually elegant style.
Eral 55, piazza XXV Aprile : Vintage boutique for men offering second-hand clothing and accessories of irreproachable quality, including a large selection of Hermès ties.
Corso Como 10: The reference Milanese concept store founded in 1991 by Carla Sozzani, fashion editor and publisher. Located at number 10 of corso Como in an interior courtyard with a bucolic setting where the café-restaurant is located alongside the high-end multi-brand boutique. The avant-garde selection and exclusives very quickly made the reputation of the place on the international scene.
There is also a bookstore dedicated to fashion, art, design and photography, as well as an exhibition space and a hotel with 3 uniquely decorated suites.
Also, the new 220m2 store of the Japanese sports brand Onitsuka Tiger installed piazza XXV Aprile 9, is worth a visit for the design and architecture of the place as well as for the ultra-modern sportswear ready-to-wear collections created by the Italian designer Andrea Pompilio, creative director of the house since 2019.
Brera district, renowned for its arty style
A little further down, continuing along corso Garibaldi, is the Brera district, renowned for its arty style, where clothing boutiques rub shoulders with art galleries.
The Milaura shop, corso Garibaldi 20, illustrates this style well with a touch of pep as a bonus offered by its creator, Laura Poretti, who since 2015 has created a unique selection of clothing and accessories for women by drawing from 250 brands.
Massimo Alba : High-end Milanese fashion designer. His style: a nonchalant but skilfully studied elegance, characteristic of the style of dress of the Italians where sprezzatura in the professional jargon that can also be found in its women’s collections. His shop, via Brera, 8 exudes a “home away from home” atmosphere. A special feature: her passion for pretty printed cotton veil handkerchiefs, each one more chic than the next.
Ottod’Ame, via Solferino 1: Florentine brand of women’s ready-to-wear and accessories. Contemporary style and accessible fashion, 100% designed and made in Italy.
Anthonyvia Cusani 5: Located a few steps from piazza Castello and parco Sempione, the multi-brand Italian boutique with ultra-modern decoration brings together the Men’s/Women’s ready-to-wear collections of the big names in international luxury as well as models in collaborations exclusive.
Another address to discover to appreciate another aspect of Milanese elegance is Jejia Housecorso Magenta 44, fruit of the Italian Anna Maria Marino, who since 2012 has been creating silhouettes with a crazy look and resolutely modern, constantly looking for the detail that will make the difference with particular attention to materials and colors, and whose fabrics and prints are invented in Italy.
Cinque Vie district, the oldest in Milan
Considered the oldest district in Milan, it owes its name to its five main streets organized in the shape of a star. Between old buildings, maze of cobbled streets, art galleries and independent shops, the district is distinguished by its charm and its cultural and artistic richness. On the mode side on retains:
the Circus concept store Via Medici 15: Boutique with minimalist decor mixing their own collections with specifically selected brands. Circus also offers a variety of services ranging from armour, appointments during which the customer is advised by professionals to determine the colors that will enhance them, to the recycling of jeans or a personal shopping service.
Jean Candiani, piazza Mentana 3: Manufacturer of denim fabric for four generations, located in the Ticino natural park in Lombardy, whose sustainable development and environmental protection have always been at the heart of their activities. As a result, the cotton and the dyeing processes are ecologically certified, the stretch material used is biodegradable and some of the models are created from unsold jeans or unused canvas. There are ready-to-wear denim collections for men and women, as well as some children’s models.
Wait to see via Santa Marta 14: A concept store like a huge treasure chest, a host of accessories and jewelry meticulously selected by the designer of the place Uberta Zambeletti and women’s ready-to-wear collections with a chic and colorful bohemian spirit for looks vitamins and a good mood guaranteed.
Porta Venezia – Risorgimento district, one of the trendiest
One of the most elegant districts of Milan with its opulent buildings with Liberty facades and its overflowing energy of trendy bars, restaurants, designer boutiques. Some addresses to remember:
Imarikavia Giovanni Morelli 1: Multi-brand concept store basing its selection on respect for craftsmanship, durability, materials used and value for money.
Voted best research boutique (of emerging brands) by the Camera della Moda (Italian Fashion Federation) in 2017.
Sweden viale Piave 33: Brand of clothing, shoes and accessories for women 100% made in Italy offering accessible collections in bohemian chic style.
The Parisians, via Sottocorno 3: Boutique-workshop for women, created by Karine Biais, French and Milanese by adoption distributing a selection of French designers representing the essence of Parisian chic and bohemian. In addition, recently, the store also offers its own models in the form of a collection capsule designed and created locally and using high-end fabrics from dormant stocks.
Fashionspiazza Risorgimento 8: Italian multi-brand store with a selection at the forefront of international trends
Navigli district, one of the liveliest
One of the most popular neighborhoods for its nightlife, artists’ studios located along the canals, flea markets and vintage shops. However, the offer of fashion stores is not limited to second-hand, in particular:
memevia Savona 1: Friendly boutique, where the designer Emmanuela Giusti, passionate about fashion, composes deliberately feminine looks with folk accents from carefully selected European and French brands.
Antonioli, via Paoli 1: Contemporary fashion boutique set up in a huge 700m2 space (a former silent cinema from the 1920s) along the Naviglio Grande. There are avant-garde collections from international designers for men and women.
AnthropologyAlzaia Naviglio Grande: On the other side of the Naviglio Grande, in an inner courtyard characteristic of the district, is the boutique Anthropology Milano, a concept store with the charm of a country house offering a selection of clothing, accessories for men and women, but also some home decor items.
Last nugget of this long series, the workshop of the Italian artist Giotto Calendoli who creates under his brand Handle freely unique pieces, hats, t-shirts, objects and accessories, embroidered with messages or decorated by hand.
Unusual workshop-boutique set up in an interior courtyard via Seneca 4, by appointment only.