Milano is in the North of Italy. It is known as “The City of Fashion” as it’s most famous designers have conquered the world. Ready to host the EXPO of 2015, Milano is preparing and upgrading its status. ‘Modern’ is the motto of the city.
Milano is recognized internationally as one of the world’s most important fashion capitals, along with Paris ,New York , Rome ,London , and Tokyo . In 2009, the city was nominated “fashion capital of the world” by the Global Language Monitor even surpassing its relative cities.
milanerMilan’s fashion history has evolved greatly throughout the years. Milano began as a centre of fashion in the Middle-Ages and Renaissance, as in Venice and Florence, the making of luxury goods was an industry of such importance that in the 16th century the city gave its name to the English word “” or “millaner”, meaning fine wares like jewellery, cloth, hats and luxury apparel. By the 19th century, a later variant, “millinery”, had come to mean one who made or sold hats.
In the mid-19th century cheaper silk began to be imported from Asia and the pest phylloxera damaged silk and wine production. More land was subsequently given over to industrialisation. Textile production was followed by metal and mechanical and furniture manufacture.
Later, in the early-20th century, Milan became a major center of silk and textile productions. However, the city lost its fashion capital status to Florence , which in the 1950s and 60s was the fashion capital of Italy and home of the Italian “Alta Moda “ equivalent to the French “Haute couture “ .
Milano never fails to disappoint visiting fashionistas with its wealth of apparel from superstar designer names and those that delve a little deeper are rewarded with amazing discoveries from the city’s abundance of emerging designers, artisans and craftspeople.
Milano the city of fashion is the fashion’s capital of the world so it would only be natural for the city to have some of the best designer stores, shopping outlets and boutiques available.
Knowing where to start can be tricky so we’ve listed a few key shops, spaces and streets for those on the hunt for exciting, unusual or simply beautiful items.
The city’s most famous boutiques and flagship stores are tucked into the Quadrilatero d’Oro the golden fashion rectangle that comprises the long parallel streets of via Montenapoleone and via della Spiga. As Milan is the city of fashion there are lots of places to go shopping, especially for shopping deluxe, e.g. Via Montena, Moschino, Kenzo etc.), Via Manzoni, Via Borgospesso and Via Santo Spirito. This is the Giorgio Armani multi-concept store where you can admire the Emporiopoleone (Gucci, Versace, Fratelli Rossetti, Prada, Cartier etc.), Via della Spiga (D&G, Sergio Rossi, Tod’s, Bulgari etc.) Via Sant’Andrea (Chanel, Armani Armani showrooms, Armani casa, and Armani fiori. You can also have an aperitif at the Emporio Armani Cafè or spend an evening at the restaurant Nobu, with a dinner by the best Japanese chef to emerge in the last 10 years: Nobuyuki Matsuhisa who opened this chain of restaurants together with Robert de Niro.
Would you like to do shopping in Milano with a Personal Shopper?
Take our Exclusive Fashion Tour in the Milan Fashion Gold Rectangle: you have special discounts and a personal shopper which will guide you to visit Milan’s best boutiques.