January 2007 

 

By Maria Tettamanti

 

For most, a jaunt to Italy conjures images of the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel, Venice’s St. Mark’s Square, Rome’s Coliseum, Pisa’s leaning tower and more historical relics. But for a self-diagnosed shopaholic such as myself, Italy invokes the fashion Greats in my mind: Gucci, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Ferragamo to name a few. I am far more interested in strolling along Milan’s bustling Via Montenapoleone and Via della Spiga where best-dressed shoppers indulge in serious retail therapy at Versace, Gucci, Zegna and others. The core of Milan’s fashion district, these streets establish Milan as Europe’s fashion capital. So, no, it’s not the Venus de Milo that gets my blood boiling, it’s Italy’s fierce fashion designers that really get my heart pumping.

But let’s face it, with the euro trampling the dollar, and prices such as a $2,500 for the season’s latest IT bag, the cost of couture is outlandish. And while Milan’s fashion district is great for window-shopping, it’s simply not feasible for the Average Joe. That’s why I’m about to share Italy’s best-kept secret with you — it’s called The Mall and it’s where you can buy designer goods for 30 to 70 percent off. Yep, you heard right — and you won’t hear about it in any of those guide books available at your nearest Barnes & Noble, either.

Located 30 minutes outside of Florence in the Tuscan hills, The Mall is the Holy Grail of designer outlets. Label lovers can get their fill of Gucci, Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, Sergio Rossi, Yves Saint Laurent, Fendi, Tod’s, Armani, Marni, Celine, Loro Piana, Ungaro, Zegna and more. All buys, however cheap, are wrapped with flair — acres of fluffy tissue and luxurious dark-paper carry bags discreetly embossed with The Mall logo — sans address and phone number to add to its allure. Be sure to arrive early, too. Hubby and I arrived 10 minutes before opening, and Gucci already had a line long enough to rival that of Disney World’s Space Mountain.