This was my first visit to Milan, but it took less than a day to realise that in this city, shopping could qualify as an Olympic sport.
It’s not just the endless variety of boutiques. Or the fact that you can shop your little heart out tax-free (did someone say cash back …? Yes please!). Here, in one of the fashion capitals of the world, it’s more about an attitude. They treat shopping with respect. It’s almost as if shopping is considered an art form.
Like Debrief Daily on Facebook.
The pretty cobblestone streets of Via della Spiga and Via Montenapoleone are fashionista shopping heaven – home to all the famous Italian brands (Fendi, Prada, Versace, Armani, Cavalli) with incredibly glamorous multi-level stores.
I had my first ‘moment’ on Via Spiga. I was drawn to the Dolce & Gabbana store by the completely OTT window display – a Christmas feast verging on almost obscenely opulent proportions. This store is the heart, soul and home of the famous brand – with every square metre caressing racks of exquisite clothing and any object you could possibly purchase with a D and a G on the label.
The store even has it’s own maid, dressed in the traditional black and white, dusting shelves and serving coffee. I was so in awe, I was compelled to buy something … anything. And even though I ended up buying the cheapest thing in the store - a bottle of 23 Euro nail polish - it was taken away, gift wrapped and presented to me as if I'd spent thousands. Because … the Milanese love to celebrate the "art" of the "shop".
I had heard that Milanese shopping assistants are selective about who they consider worth serving, fawning over wealthy Russian and Chinese women accompanied by assistants carrying their bags, and ignoring everyone else. However, I stumbled into D&G during my morning stroll wearing my walking clothes, ugg boots and no makeup (and certainly no assistant carrying my water bottle) and I was treated like a valued customer.
