Shopping

Outlet Shopping
Street Markets
Size Conversions

Links

www.luxos.com
www.friendinmilan.co.uk

In Milan, nearly all shops are shut on Sundays. Non-food shops are closed on Monday mornings as well: food shops are open on Monday mornings but closed on Mon afternoon. For Sunday shopping, there are the multimedia stores in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, Piazza Duomo, Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Via Torino, a few fashion stores on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, and, near Garibaldi station, Corso Como 10.

The range of retail outlets in Milan runs from the high fashion boutiques, to small shops, department stores, supermarkets, discount outlets, and street markets. Some parts of the city have a specific character as regards shopping. Via Montenapoleone and the adjoining streets (within the area bordered by Via della Spiga, Corso Venezia, Via Bigli and Via Manzoni) are the high fashion area. There are furniture and lighting shops in Corso Matteotti, Corso Monforte and Via Durini.

Piazza San Babila, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Piazza Duomo (including Galleria Vittorio Emanuele) and Via Dante form a continuous pedestrian precinct with many shops, mainly clothes, but also books and media.

Other important, less central shopping streets include Corso Buenos Aires (near the station), Corso XXII Marzo, and Corso Vercelli. Via Torino is strong on fashion for young people.

The Brera district, around the like-named academy and gallery, was once the reign of artists: there are still a number of private galleries in Via Brera, Via del Carmine and Via Solferino, but these streets are now great for shopping. Via Fiori Chiari, Via Madonnina and Piazza del Carmine form another attractive pedestrian precinct with small, interesting shops, and in the evening the area is kept lively by virtue of the many bars and cafés.

Corso di Porta Ticinese, particularly in the stretch between the churches of San Lorenzo and Sant’Eustorgio, has many trendy, ethnic-type shops for clothes, furniture etc., and it has also become a focal point for young nightlife. It is close to another characteristic shopping and nightlife area, the Navigli canal district (Ripa di Porta Ticinese, Via Ascanio Sforza). On the Naviglio Grande canal, on the last Sunday of each month, there is a large antiques market with stalls selling everything from postcards to furniture.

Via Paolo Sarpi is the home to Milan’s Chinatown (actually just a few streets), and so here there are many shops selling their specialities, in particular leatherware.

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DISCOUNT SHOPPING

Discount outlets, shops selling quality brand products at wholesale prices, are becoming very popular nowadays. As Milan is an important fashion centre, it is rather difficult to find real outlets, because none of the major brands wishes to be seen selling off stock cheap. There are a few stores that specialise in reduced-price fashion garments, but their stock often changes according to season and availability. Some stores offer tax rebates for non EC visitors, and your passport will probably be necessary to obtain this. Another reason why it is a good thing to carry your passport around with you.

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STREET MARKET

You would be hard-pressed to miss Milan’s outdoor market scene. Every zone in Milan holds these markets on various days. Citizens of Milan not only do their grocery shopping here but also look for knick-knacks and other miscellaneous items. Two rules guide your visit: don’t touch the produce, and no haggling. Vendors take pride in choosing the best products for you and will only be offended by haggling or a bossy client. Here a zone map of Milan as well as a table of locations (as organized by zone and day market is held).

Zona Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1 San Marco
Cesariano
Papiniano Calatafimi
San Marco
Pagano “Fiera di Sinigallia”
Papiniano-Darsena-D’Annunzio
2 Cambini Rancati
Viale Monza
Zuretti
Vittorelli
Marco Aurelio
Stresa
Corso di Porta Nuova
Valvassori Peroni
3 Kramer
Moretto da Brescia
Pisani Dossi
Benedetto Marcello
Eustachi
Ampere
Orbetello
Rombom
Canaletto Benedetto Marcello
4 Barigozzi
Mompiani
Piazzale Martini Calvi
Ungheria
Scheiwiller
5 Ghini Luca
Santa Teresa
Gratosoglio Sud Giovanni da Cermenate Agiulfo
Crema
Dei Guarneri
Gratosoglio Nord
Benaco
Bordighera
Valenza
Gianbologna
6 Ponti Ettore Strozzi  Borsi
Giussani
Vespri Siciliani
Di Rudini
Segneri
Curiel Via Della Rondine
7 Arpino
Palmi
Zamagna
Arioli Venegoni Bentivoglio Osoppo
Tonezza
Pistoia Arcangeli
Isernia
Osoppo
8 De Predis Bonola
Pascarella
Fiamminghino
Pareto
De Predis
Traversi
Bonola
Drago
Fauché
9 Trechi Garigliano
San Miniato
De Capitani
Gaeta
Val Maira Catone Garigliano
Ardissone
Asmara
Ciccotti

 

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Size Coversions

Women’s Clothing

Italy 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54
Spain/France 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50
Germany 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
United Kingdom 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
USA 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

 

Jumpers/Pullovers, Suits, Jackets

Europe 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58
United Kingdom 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48
USA 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48

 

Mens’ Shirts

Europe 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
United Kingdom 14 14 ½ 15 15½ 16 16½ 17 17½
USA 14 14½ 15 15½ 16 16½ 17 17½

 

Women’s Shoes

Europe 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42
United Kingdom
USA 3 4 5 6 7 8

 

Men’s Shoes

Europe 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45
United Kingdom 7 8 9 10½
USA 5 6 7 10 11

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