Must-see shopping in The Italian Lakes

  • Six Gallery from the street

    Six Gallery

    Milan

    A team of creatives have breathed new life into this formerly abandoned 16th-century monastery. Now an atmospheric design space, it's composed of a bistro…

  • NonostanteMarras building exterior.

    NonostanteMarras

    Milan

    Brainchild of Sardinian fashion designer Antonio Marras, this eccentric concept store has an almost cinematic feel. Hidden in an ivy-draped courtyard, the…

  • F. Pettinaroli

    Milan

    One of Milan’s most historic outfits (with a plaque to prove it), Pettinaroli has been furnishing the city’s best desks and purses since 1881 with luxe…

  • Brioni shop entrance

    Brioni

    Milan

    Founded in Rome in 1945, Brioni has been synonymous with luxury since the get-go. Its name comes from the beautiful Brijuni Islands in Croatia, a favoured…

  • The Larusmiani shop entrance

    Larusmiani

    Milan

    Metrosexual men the world over make a beeline for chic menswear and lifestyle store Larusmiani, which is home to heritage grooming experts G. Lorenzi…

  • Close up of Biffi shop window

    Biffi

    Milan

    Retailer Rosy Biffi spotted potential in the young Giorgio Armani and Gianni Versace long before they became household names. More recently, Biffi got…

  • Fabriano window display

    Fabriano

    Milan

    Stationery lovers won't be the only ones going quietly ga-ga in this showroom which stocks the entire Fabriano line. Everything from plain notebooks to…

  • Pellini shop window detail

    Pellini

    Milan

    For unique, one-off costume jewellery pieces, bags and hair pieces, look no further than the boutique of Donatella Pellini, granddaughter of famous…

  • Alessi shop exterior.

    Alessi

    Milan

    Established in Omegna in 1921, Italy's most famous design factory has gone on to transform our homes with more than 22,000 crafted utensils, many of which…

  • Close-up Nilufar shop window

    Nilufar Gallery

    Milan

    Started as a carpet shop in 1979, this is now one of the best collectable design galleries in town, curated under the watchful eye of inimitable Nina…

  • Interior of shop Rigadritto

    Rigadritto

    Milan

    Loads of little stickers, clips, pencils and decorated stationery fill this graphic, colourful space, so much so that it's rather hard to 'behave' as the…

  • Kitsch vintage inside Il Cirmolo

    Il Cirmolo

    Milan

    Sourcing antiques and funky vintage artefacts since the 1960s, Il Cirmolo is a little treasure trove of joy. You can spend a whole morning here picking…

  • Shoppers inside East Market

    East Market

    Milan

    Once a month a big former metalworks is transformed into what is probably the hippest market in town. The place for all your vintage loves, such as…

  • Doriani shop entrance

    Doriani

    Milan

    Established in 1930, Doriani is renowned for its ultrasoft cashmere knits, including polo shirts, cardigans and sweaters. Its quintessentially understated…

  • Danese shop exterior.

    Danese

    Milan

    Milan’s Danese may not be as well known as Piedmont’s Alessi, but its products possess the same sense of wit and attention to everyday detail. If Enzo…

  • Frip shop window.

    Frip

    Milan

    A husband-and-wife, DJ-stylist duo highlight some of Milan’s most avant-garde looks and sounds. Look for super-wearable ACNE workwear and puffball sleeve…

  • Car Shoe shop window

    Car Shoe

    Milan

    Now under the wing of Patrizio Bertelli (Mr Prada), the original '60s hybrid of sport shoe and smart casual loafer is set for a comeback in this flagship…

  • Sermoneta shop exterior

    Sermoneta

    Milan

    A hole-in-the wall on chic Via della Spiga, Sermoneta's boutique store sells standards such as hand-stitched calfskin gloves alongside more unique styles…

  • Lopez Vintage

    Como

    On one of Como's most atmospheric streets, Lopez Vintage lures you in with its whimsical window displays. Inside, the tiny jewel box of a shop has elegant…

  • 43 Cycles

    Milan

    Alberto Crivellenti’s bespoke bicycle company produces the Rolls Royce of bicycles, using braze-welded steel; some have hand-sewn detailing in deerskin or…

  • Mania Vintage

    Milan

    Serious handbag aficionados need look no further than this superbly curated vintage store, which specialises in bags and accessories from high-end brands…

  • Altalen

    Milan

    Milan’s hottest new milliners are Antonina Nafi de Luca and Elena Todros, who artfully craft Madagascan straw golf hats, towering silk turbans and custom…

  • Libreria Galleria Demetra

    Milan

    Bibliophile Andrea Oioli’s beautiful book gallery is full of antiquarian treasures, collectable 20th-century editions and graphic artworks. Here, books…

  • Camiceria Olga

    Milan

    Although Milan made prêt-à-porter fashionable in the 1960s, the made-to-measure habit remained ingrained and most Milanese have a personal seamstress or…

  • Borsalino

    Milan

    Master hatter Giuseppe Borsalino opened the first store of what would become his empire in 1857. Still Italy's most famous headgear, the iconic rabbit…

  • Aspesi

    Milan

    The sheer size of this shop is a clue to just how much Italians love this label – Aspesi outerwear is de rigueur for mountain and lake weekends, while its…

  • Imarika

    Milan

    Fashionista Benedetta Bevilacqua seeks out breakthrough designers with an eye for bold colours, unique prints and sharp shapes, which she presents with…

  • Cavalli e Nastri

    Milan

    This gorgeously colourful shop is known for its high-end vintage clothes and accessories (which are priced accordingly). It specialises in lovingly…

  • Mercato Coperto

    Como

    Como’s largest and best food market is this Fascist-era covered market crammed with fruit, veg, meat, bread and cheese purveyors. One hall is entirely…

  • Mercatone dell'Antiquariato

    Milan

    This antiques market is the city's most scenic market. Set along a 400m stretch of the pretty Naviglio Grande, it has stalls from over 380 well-vetted…

  • Triennale Bookstore

    Milan

    Designed by Studio Urquiola, the Triennale's bookshop stocks beautifully produced architecture, design, graphics, fashion and photography books as…

  • Women’s accessories in Antonia

    Antonia

    Milan

    Every fashionista in Milan frequents Antonia – and not just because of the sleek design and 17th-century palazzo (mansion) location. What makes it special…

  • The Mutinelli shop front

    Mutinelli

    Milan

    Millayne bonnets were all the rage in the 15th and 16th centuries, so much so that they gave the city its name. Founded a few centuries later in 1888,…

  • Exterior of vintage shop Bivio

    Bivio

    Milan

    The brainchild of San Franciscan Hilary Belle Walker, Bivio is a buy-sell-trade store offering top quality 'pre-owned' fashion at a fraction of the…

  • Mamu building entrance.

    Mamu

    Milan

    Taking a leaf out of the concept-store book, Nicola Kitharatzis has created this classical music wonderland, a huge 350-sq-metre space where enthusiasts …

  • Etro shop entrance

    Etro

    Milan

    Home-grown talent Gimmo Etro founded his fashion brand in 1968 and it's still run by the family. Contrary to the usual Milanese penchant for minimalism,…

  • The shop window of CB Made in Italy

    CB Made in Italy

    Milan

    If you can’t face the teetering heels modelled in the Quadrilatero d'Oro, opt for Cecilia Bringheli’s handmade loafers in a rainbow range of soft suede,…

  • Nipper shop front.

    Nipper Milano

    Milan

    With a focus on vintage technology, Nipper feels like a mix between a period newsroom and a games arcade. The shop is the brainchild of Alfonso and…

  • The Premiata shop exterior.

    Premiata

    Milan

    On trend as ever, Premiata's flagship store is designed by Vincenzo de Cotiis. The contemporary interiors provide a backdrop for this historic Marche…

  • Vintage rack in Cavalli e Nastri

    Cavalli e Nastri

    Milan

    Claudia Jesi turns her expert eye to vintage menswear in this outpost of Cavalli e Nastri. Expect to find a large selection of tailored suits, boldly…

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