NOTHING TO WEAR

Enjoy a shopping tour of Italy’s fashion capital and discover how this northern industrial centre rose to become the country’s main design and sartorial hub, world-renowned for elegance, style and refinement.

Milan has been a famous production centre of luxury goods since the Middle Ages. You may not know that in the 16th century the city’s name gave origin to the English word “milliner”, meaning hat maker, owing to the purchase and importation of women’s finery from Milan. In the 19th and 20th centuries Milan flourished as a major centre of production of silk and textiles but it was only in the 1970s that the city took over the title of Queen of Fashion from its rivals Florence and Rome and became the capital of prêt-à-porter. Designer Elio Fiorucci, who promoted jeans for women in a period of social revolution and protest against the political system, is among the forerunners of Milan’s new trendsetting style. But the city’s fashion stars are numerous and your shopping expert will enrich your experience by recounting historical facts and curiosities about Milan’s major designers and powerhouses. Today the city continues to be the pulsing heart of Italian fashion, attracting hundreds of journalists, buyers and fans from around the world for the traditional Milan fashion week, as here they are sure to find the best of Made in Italy.

This personal shopping tour will be led by a professional fashionista and can be tailored to suit all needs and budgets. Send us your shopping wish list and we’ll create a customised itinerary just for you. Looking for a brand new pair of shoes? A hand-made leather bag? An outfit for an upcoming special event? Precious jewellery for your partner? A sweet scented perfume? Or just some prezzies to take back home? From haute couture boutiques to vintage shops, from artisan ateliers to popular clothing stores, your fashion expert will give you tips on where to find the perfect item. First-time visitors might not want to miss the city’s most important shopping streets and districts such as Piazza del Duomo, with the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and the Quadrilatero della Moda, including Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Corso Venezia and Via Manzoni, where prestigious Italian and international brands can be found.

Your personal shopper will provide you with useful styling tricks, show you which colours, fabrics and shapes enhance your features and teach you how to emphasize your strengths. You will also hear the latest on fashion industry secrets, newest looks and upcoming trends.