Continuing the topic of shopping in Milan, which began in the first part of the article, today's conversation will focus on where and how to save money in the capital of world shopping. And if you have thoroughly prepared for your trip to the Apennines, and not only Milan will be on your route, we also recommend our earlier posts on this subject: Shopping in Italy: what, where, when, and Outlets in Italy.
Outlets of Milan
Italian shopping lovers, like tourists who are not used to littering with money, prefer outlets to expensive boutiques of the Golden Quadrangle.Outlets in Milan - These are often huge shopping centers, in the range of which are designer clothes, shoes, perfumes, cosmetics and, often, jewelry of past seasons.
Discounts on such products often reach 50-70% of the initial cost, which is a magnet for many thousands of shopaholics who know a lot about branded things. While shopping at Milan Outlets, many are ready to close their eyes to some flaws.
As a rule, all over the world, outlets are moved outside the city limits and Milan, in this sense, was no exception.
Serravalle Designer Outlet
Of the variety of outlets in Milan, Serravalle, which belongs to the global McArthurGlen boutique chain, is considered one of the best - it is not for nothing that BlogoItaliano dedicated a separate article to it.
Its boutiques occupying 32 sq. Km have 180 boutiques, including such brands as Versace, DKNY, Guess, Trussardi, D&G, Hugo Boss, Burberry, Nike, etc.
Outlet Serravalle occupies 32 sq. Km of area
In addition to the shops on the territory of the Serravalle Designer Outlet, there are many restaurants, cafes, a children's playground, parking for 3 thousand cars and everything that will make the buyer stay here absolutely comfortable.
The outlet is located 100 km from Milan on the highway leading to Genoa.
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00.
The official website of the Serravalle Designer Outlet is here.
Franciacorta Outlet Village
Franciacorta Outlet in its size and significance, it is almost not inferior to Serravalle. In the shopping center, there are about a hundred only clothing and shoe boutiques, not counting linen, home accessories, cosmetics, sports and other goods, as well as a huge restaurant complex, beauty salon, spa salon, etc.
Italian shopping lovers also prefer to shop at outlets
Although the Outlet of Franciacorta is located quite far from Milan, and the journey by car, train or special bus takes about an hour and a half, a rare guest leaves here without shopping. The reason for this is impressive discounts on things. And if you find them few, then discount in Milan Outlets can be increased by an additional 5-10% by acquiring a local Village Card.
Address of the Franchacort Outlet: Rodengo Saiano (Brescia), Piazza Cascina Moie, 1/2.
The official site of Franciacorta Outlet Village is here.
Milan Fashion Center Station Ingrosso
If you have little free time when shopping in Milan, be sure to check out Station Ingrosso, located between Republica metro station and Milano Centrale (central city station).
Station Ingrosso has around a hundred wholesale and discount stores.
There are about a hundred wholesale and discount stores where you can buy pretty original clothes for a reasonable price, the authors of which are still little-known, but promising designers.
Experts believe that the future of world fashion is behind them, and the Station Ingrosso district itself is called the Milan Fashion Center.
Other Outlets
There are other outlets in the vicinity of Milan that are not inferior in scope to Serravalle and Franciacorta. BlogoItaliano wrote about the largest of them in a separate article. In it, we described in detail how to get to each of them, and also provided a map of the location relative to Milan.
You can also plan a trip to outlets as part of organized tours. Examples of some of them are given below:
Sales in Milan
Mass sales, as in the rest of Italy, are carried out in Milan twice a year: in winter and in summer. Winter sales last 6 weeks - from Christmas to early March. At this time, store windows are full of inscriptions "Saldi" and tempt shoppers with incredible discounts.
It should be remembered that at the very beginning of any sales, discounts are usually less, and the range of goods is wider. At the end of the season, the situation is changing: and although prices are bottoming out, the assortment leaves much to be desired.
As for the indicative prices, during the sales period in Milan it is quite possible to buy a branded demi-season coat for only 100 euros, an excellent warm jacket for 70, and a fine cashmere sweater will cost about 50 euros.
At the very beginning of sales, discounts are less, and the range of goods is wider
Summer sales in Milan start after July 10th and last until around mid-September.
In addition, fashion in the capital may have come across the termTotal sales in Milan (Liquidazioni). They are not of a mass nature, but can be caused, say, by the closure of a store. In this case, the inscriptions flaunt in the windows: "Sconti" (discounts) or "Vendite promozionali" (advertising prices).
If on the door of the store you liked, they saw the inscription "Entrata libera" (free entry) - do not count on discounts. This inscription means that this boutique has just opened and invites those who are not indifferent to come in and get to know the offered goods better.
Settlements in local stores are made both in cash and by bank cards. Often, a list of accepted cards is located next to the cashier. And although in most Italian stores prices are fixed, paying for goods in cash, you can ask for an additional discount.
TAX FREE
In Milan, as in other cities in the Eurozone, tourists from countries outside the EU, when purchasing goods worth more than 154.94 euros, are entitled to an IVA (VAT) refund.
Those who have already come across this procedure know that it is much more profitable to make purchases in stores that are part of the Euro Free network. In them, VAT is deducted from the total value of the goods immediately upon purchase. Your task is only to present a passport (this is done when calculating the purchase) and fill out a special form at the checkout.
Euro Free Tax stores are very easy to distinguish from other retail outlets: as a rule, special stickers with the inscription TAX FREE, attached to the window or on the front door, inform about this.
Sales in Milan take place twice a year: in winter and in summer
Making Tax Free significantly reduces the cost of purchases, because the amount of tax on clothing in Italy is from 12%, and on luxury goods, such as fur and jewelry, it reaches 35%.
If you nevertheless shopped in a regular store that does not issue TAX FREE, be sure to keep the payment receipt and purchased purchases in their original, undamaged packaging.
Having demonstrated this set to the customs officer when leaving Italy, you can get a special stamp on the check. By sending it back to the store where the purchases were made, you will be able to receive the required compensation. It is clear that not everyone will like this red tape.
Be sure to watch our useful video on shopping in Milan and of course subscribe to the Youtube channel. And the contact of Oksana - the guide in Milan from the video - email protected.
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Photos: Czechian, Tucano Computer Bags, riacale, Sebastià Giralt, CHRISTOPHER MACSURAK.
