What to buy on sale in Italy. Summer sale in Italy

Shopping in Italy is a real therapeutic therapy, a way to get rid of stress and forget about the daily routine. But even during sales, you shouldn’t lose your head and buy unnecessary things at bargain prices from famous couturiers.

Welcome to shopaholics' paradise!

Every self-respecting fashionista has one item or another from Italian brands in her wardrobe. But often the prices for fashion goods are simply not affordable for the wallets of Russian-speaking representatives of the fairer sex. Therefore, to become the owner of this or that item, it is enough to go to Italy during the sales seasons.

Italy has become a true capital of fashion and the birthplace of such famous couturiers as Giorgio Armani, Valentino Garvani, Franco Moschino, Nina Ricci, Nicolo Trussardi, Dominico Dolce and Stefano Gabanna and many others who created Italian haute couture houses.

First, you need to make a list of necessary things, calculate expenses, and only then take shopping centers by storm. With this approach, the purchased goods will be pleasantly pleased in their homeland.

In Italy there are 2 sales seasons, which in Italian are designated as saldi and sconti.

The “winter season” starts on January 7 and lasts until March 1.
The “summer season” begins on July 6 and lasts 60 days.

Shops in Italy are usually open Mon-Sat 8:00-20:00, and some are open to customers on Sundays.

IN resort towns Stores are open even longer and usually on weekends too.

But it is worth remembering that they all have fairly long lunch breaks from 13:00 to 15:30.

A good option for fashion shopping is large shopping centers in the suburbs - outlets, where items from past collections of major Italian designers are sold at a significant discount.

Milan

It is the most popular capital of European fashion and design. The boutiques of the most famous stylists are presented here and annual shows of new collections are held as part of fashion week.

Fashion houses with presented collections of clothing, shoes and fashion accessories from Milanese fashion designers, attracting the entire high society of world fashion, are in no way inferior to Parisian fashion houses.

It's worth going here for those who who wants to replenish their wardrobe with the most luxury brands(Gucci, Prada, Dior), items from the latest fashion collections and those who want to buy the highest quality designer fur coat.

Classification of Milanese stores

During the summer sales in Milan, which begin on July 6 and will last up to 60 days, you can buy designer clothes in stores clothes from current collections with a discount of 30 to 50%, and in outlets outside the city you can buy things at a 30-70% discount.

In Milan itself they sell in stores

Luxury brands(Gucci, Valentino, Armani, Trussardi, Chanel, Prada, Hermes, Missoni, Dolce & Gabbana). Luxury stores are located in the so-called fashion square formed by the streets Via Della Spiga, Via Monzoni, Via Sant’Andrea And Via Montenapoleone.
Upper middle class brands(Liu Jo, Stefanel, Max Mara). Shops with this segment are located on the streets Corso Buenos Aires And Via Vittorio Emanuele.
Mass brands(H&M, Zara). Stores with a mass segment are also located on the streets Corso Buenos Aires And Via Vittorio Emanuele.
Little-known mid-segment brands from Italian designers (Blue Sand, Rocco Barocco). These stores are located only on the street Corso Buenos Aires.

Outlets in Milan

There are few outlets in Milan itself and they are very scattered throughout the city. Here you can make successful purchases of luxury brands Armani, Ferre, as well as brands from the casual segment - Benetton, Sisley.

The following outlets are worth visiting:

FoxTown. There are about 100-120 luxury brands represented here, the main part of which are classic-cut clothes, ideal for adult women and men.
Serravalle. In this shopping center, about 130 brands are presented throughout the year with a discount of 30-70%, including most occupied by youth clothing and shoes. Here you can also find a store with clothes in non-standard sizes.

During sales periods there are additional discounts of 50-60%.

The downside of this center is that there are a lot of Russian-speaking buyers here, so crowds and confusion cannot be avoided.

The remaining large outlets are located 60-100 km from Milan, which cannot be reached on foot. The solution is to track the schedule of special buses or.

Why is it more profitable to rent a car?

Firstly, no need to know and adjust to the bus schedule, because it is not always convenient, but you don’t have to choose.

Secondly, if you need to get to different sales points, then the cost of tickets will no longer be budgetary compared to renting a car. And if you are going shopping with a group, you can divide the rental cost among all people. As a result, the amount of everyone’s contribution will be quite within the budget.

Third, traveling by car is much more convenient and faster, you won’t have to worry about how to transport the purchased items, especially since the shopping list can be extensive.

Thus, a 65-minute drive from Milan is the boutique town of Fidenza Village, where Chic Outlet Shopping is located with more than 875 boutiques of the world's most famous brands: Calvin Klein, Missoni, Vivienne Westwood, Antik Batik, Matthew Williamson, Bimba & Lola, Elizabeth Hurley Beach, Escada, Agent Provocateur, Smythson, Belstaff, Anya Hindmarch and Diane Von Furstenberg.

There are also tourist information centers, free year-round parking, safe children's play areas and much more.

Do you want to know more about the rules of shopping in Italy? features of Italian stores– read our article: ?

And it’s just a fairy tale. It is not for nothing that many beaches in Italy have been awarded the Blue Flag, an international award given annually to beaches for a high level of service and the impeccable condition of the coastal area.

It will bring no less pleasure. This is truly a luxury vacation!

Required amount of money

Writing about the amount of money that an individual fashionista can spend is a waste of time. But we will try to guide buyers in the amounts that need to be taken with them.

So, to purchase luxury brands of the current season for 1 person, including 5-6 sets (trousers, shirt, jacket, skirt, shoes and accessories), you will have to fork out about 5,000 €, to purchase brands above the average segment - about 3,000 €.
Buying designer clothes from past seasons in outlets will cost 1,500-2,000 €.

During seasonal sales, these amounts can be reduced from 30 to 50%.

Rome

Rome undoubtedly occupies second place in the ranking of “fashionable cities in Italy”. This city is created for successful shopping for both the elite public and the middle class, for whom a large number of Italian brands with fashionable style and mid-segment design with affordable prices.

Sales in Rome begin on July 7 and will run for 6 weeks.
Here, as in Milan, there are main shopping streets, where there are many boutiques with luxury collections, as well as affordable shops.

Stores with mid-segment brands are located on the street Via del Corso.
Shops with luxury brands are located on the plazza di Spagna (Spanish Square) and the streets leading from it Via dei Condotti, Via Frattina, Via del Babuino, Via Bocca Di Leone and Via Borgognona.

It's worth keeping in mind that on these central streets - places where tourists gather, prices are higher than in less popular places.

During sales, discounts in boutiques reach 50-60%.

In Rome, during the discount season, a huge number of branded luxury collections from last season are sold with discounts from 30 to 70%.

The following outlets are located in the center of Rome

Techer. Here are collections of brands Versace, D&G, Gigli, RoccoBarocc, Armani, Fendi and others, discounts on which reach 50-60% throughout the year. So from 25 € you can buy a Sandro Ferrone cocktail dress, Armani blouses and shirts - from 45 €, jeans - from 50 €. We have devoted a separate article to more details about those from different cities in Italy.
Antonella And Moda Stock. The last two outlets offer a large number of items of various brands, the discounts of which reach 70%.

There are 2 huge outlet malls near Rome

Valmontone. This outlet is popular with Italians. Here you can find well-known brands Twin Set and Baldinini, as well as little-known Italian brands Feyem, Kocca, From By Vestebene, Manila Grace, etc. at very reasonable prices.
Castel Romano. This most famous shopping center offers the largest number of shoes and clothing from luxury brands (Valentino, Ferre, Etro, etc.).

Discounts of 30-70% throughout the year, doubled during seasonal sales.

The main disadvantage of this outlet is its popularity among Russian-speaking tourists, who buy popular sizes and the most interesting models.

As for fur factories, there are none in Rome.

But in the “eternal city” there are many showrooms and fur shops with a large assortment of fur coats of all sizes, designs and designed for different budgets.

Thus, a Euro fur coat from the Fendi brand will cost 15,000 €, and a product made from a fur-bearing animal by an unknown designer will cost only 1,000 €.

During the summer sales season, discounts on fur coats reach 10-15%.

Florence

The capital of the Tuscany region is closely associated with the names of Boccaccio, Dante, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci and is famous for its rich historical past. Tourists choose this city not only to explore its many attractions, but also because of its interesting and profitable shopping.

Florence rounds out the top three most fashionable cities in Italy. In addition to the opportunity to buy here a very stylish designer fur coat, famous brand items (Dior, Prada, Gucci) at discounts, in Florence you can buy antiques, original jewelry and high-quality beautiful leather items.

We draw the attention of our readers that the summer sales season in Florence will run from July 6 to September 4.

As in any other Italian city, in the center of Florence there are boutiques with items from the current collections of such brands as Gucci, Ferragama, Armani, etc.

The most fashionable and expensive shops in the city are concentrated on the streets

Via Calzaioli and
Via Tornabuoni.

Here, after successful shopping, you can sit in the most elegant cafes and bars in the city.

There is also a lively market near the station around the Church of San Lorenzo, where you can add traditional Florentine leather goods to your wardrobe for a reasonable price.

Outlets are located both in the city itself and in its suburbs. World famous brands such as Fendi, Max Mara, Robero Cavalli, Prada and Dolce&Gabbana have their own outlets in Florence.

It would be useful to know that everything these outlets are quite far from each other, therefore, having a limited amount of time, it is better to focus on one or one that will help you quickly achieve your goals.

The following multi-brand outlets are located in the suburbs of Florence

Barberino. This outlet, the most popular among Russian-speaking tourists, is located in the picturesque area of Valle della Sieve and is built in the traditional style of ancient Tuscan villages, reminiscent of Renaissance cities.

The shopping center is located on the opposite banks of the small river Sieve, along which there are pedestrian paths with amazing bridges.

Just 30 minutes from Florence, the shopping center offers a wide range of mid-market brands such as Motivi, Levi's, Guess and luxury brands such as Prada, Gucci, Roberto Cavalli and D&G.

There are also numerous restaurants and cafes on the territory of the outlet.

Factories of Florence

In Florence itself there are many fur studios where stylish fur coats from unknown designers will cost from 900 €.

But for some of the most luxurious and stylish fur products, you should go to the factory Rindi. Here, fur coats made from natural fur cost from 4,000 €.

If somewhere outside this place you are offered to purchase fur product this factory, know - It's a fake copy.

The factory does not have branches or stores in any other cities.
Only at the factory there is a store selling elegant and elegant fur coats at factory prices.

For quality leather goods, you should go to Empoli, to the FACIMP factory, which is an hour's drive from Florence. Prudent Italian fashion designers made clothes for the most “weighty” men and women.

So Russian women can successfully purchase beautiful leather items even for heads of families in sizes 64.

Leather jackets of excellent quality cost from 500 €.

Rimini

The Emilia Romagna region is famous, but Russian citizens traditionally choose Rimini from year to year.

During the summer season, Italians themselves begin to doubt whether the city is part of the parliamentary republic of Italy or belongs to Russian Federation, there are so many “Russian tourists” at this resort.

Coming here on vacation in July-August, you can enjoy the sea, the sun, visiting various amusement parks, water parks, dolphinariums and at the same time make very profitable purchases.

So, dear compatriots, when choosing Rimini for your summer holiday, you are acting absolutely wisely.

We talk more about it in a separate article.

The summer season of discounts throughout the Emilia Romagna region begins on July 7 and will last for 60 days.

In Rimini itself is located wholesale center for shoes and clothing Grosse Rimini, where Russian store owners shop. Here are some of the cheapest things in Italy.

It is also worth visiting the suburb where shoe spatchas are located - shops from factories with shoes for women and men of all sizes and designs from brands such as Pollini, Baldinini, Sergio Rossi, Vicini. Factory prices.

You can buy leather shoes from previous collections from 45 € per pair, boots – from 60 €.
Stylish boots from Sergio Rossi will cost 130-160 €.

Factories of Rimini

In the Rimini area there are famous fur factories Braschi and UniFur, which offer very stylish fur coats made from high-quality natural fur.

At factory prices, a fur cape, a short fur coat will cost from 1,000 €, a short fur coat - from 2,000-2,500 €, long fur coat costs about 3,000-4,000 €.

Outlets Rimini

In outlets in the suburbs of Rimini, there are 30-70% discounts on collections from previous seasons throughout the year.

During the sales season there are additional discounts from 30 to 50%.

Do not forget that most stores have TAX FREE, which will give you the opportunity to return a tax of about 12% of the purchase price when leaving the country.

Not far from Rimini is San Marino. In the city itself and its suburbs there are about 10 outlets with branded clothing, which are loved by Russians.

Their downside is that they have little choice of shoes and accessories.

You can buy interesting bags of original design there from 30 €, good underwear from the Armani and La Perla brands – from 20 €.

You can get to the outlets by rented car. Foreign citizens can make a deal only if they have a credit card, while in places of mass recreation for Russian citizens there is an exception - they can rent a car with cash as collateral.

Hello, friends! Last time we started talking about shopping and... But, as they say knowledgeable people, not in every European city that hosts seasonal sales, you can find something that suits you in terms of quality and price. Therefore, today we will begin to look at the countries and cities where the most tourists go for shopping.

We'll start with shopping in Italy. And this is not at all accidental. This is not only because there are a lot of outlets in Italy. Italy is still the leader in global shopping tourism. The number of shopaholic tourists (including Russian tourists) wishing to purchase haute couture goods or branded clothing in this country has grown significantly in the past year.

In the cities of Italy that are popular among shopping tourists: Milan, Rome, Florence, Venice, Verona, you can not only admire the architecture and beauty of these places, but also return with tightly packed suitcases and sparkling eyes (by the way, an excellent remedy for depression). There are many shops, a large selection of goods. And all this is of excellent quality and affordable.

The winter sales season in Italy opens approximately after the New Year holidays and Christmas (from January 4-5) and lasts until the beginning of March. There are no exact dates for the entire country, and each city has its own sales periods, the beginning of which can be found in the press, television or on the Internet.

During the winter sales period, shopping lovers from all over the world come to Rome and Milan (the main centers of sales in Italy). This creates certain difficulties with housing. Therefore, it is advisable to take care of it in advance.

Successful shopping will also depend on when you get to Italy. The sooner, the more chances you have to buy what you want. After all, the best assortment of goods awaits you in the first weeks of sales.

Rome has plenty of places for shopping lovers to roam: there are an incredible number of shops, boutiques, and outlets. As elsewhere, the most expensive, prestigious and fashionable shops and boutiques are located in the city center. And here you are unlikely to be able to find a good discount on a designer item.

And if you really want to save money, concentrate your searches in stores away from the center and move to the suburbs and outskirts of the city. The rule “the further from the center, the greater the discount” in this case applies unconditionally.

In order not to get lost and confused while shopping, it would not hurt to outline what you would like to buy first and decide on the location of the stores before the trip. In other words, it is advisable to have a shopping route at hand.

Experienced tourists advise not to start shopping from large shopping centers, but to start by browsing through small shops and boutiques, of which there are a lot on the streets of Rome, in particular on the main shopping streets of Rome: Via del Corso, Via Nazionale ), Via Cola di Rienzo, Via Condotti.

The range of goods presented there is varied: a huge selection of women's, children's, men's, youth clothing, shoes, bags and jewelry as famous brands, and quite affordable brands.

On Via del Corso, which stretches for many kilometers, there is a huge number of shopping centers, small and large shops, designed to suit different wallets.

The peculiarity of these stores is that the prices for goods in them are very different: from high to quite affordable. You can find almost everything here. And among the variety of things there are a large number of inexpensive brands: Le Group, Sandro Ferrone, Sisley, Zara, Guess, Marella, Diesel, Max Mara, Miss Sixty and Benetton.

Large shopping centers in Rome

In Rome it is Gallery Alberto Sordi and department store La Rinascente , which houses boutiques of famous world brands, Italian companies and many shops. Their prices are quite high and are aimed primarily at wealthy buyers.

More reasonable prices in the stores of the UPIM retail chain and in Oviesse. These shopping centers are loved by both locals and tourists for the opportunity to update their wardrobe with quality items for every age and taste and at very affordable prices.

Roman outlets

Popular and famous among tourists Castel Romano Designer Outlet And Fashion District Outlet Valmontone .

Castel Romano

The largest shopping center in Italy, where 113 boutiques present models of famous fashion designers from around the world and Italy (Patrizia Pepe, Adidas, Diesel, Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, Ermenegildo Zegna, Etro, Guess, Fratelli Rossetti, Levi's, Dockers, La Perla , Nike, O'Neill, Puma, Pal Zileri, Burberry, Reebok, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino, Salvatore Ferragamo).

What is sold in these outlet centers is in no way inferior in quality to similar goods in expensive boutiques, but taking into account significant year-round discounts (from 30 to 70%) and VAT refunds, the prices for things are quite acceptable, and therefore profitable.

The outlet is located 25 km from the center of Rome (special shopping tours are organized here). If shopping is organized independently, you can get there by car or bus, which runs between Via Marsala (near Termini station) and Castel Romano.

A round trip will cost you 12€.

Valmontone Outlet

Another large outlet center, located 40 kilometers from Rome, which houses more than 200 stores with a standard range of goods and also with big discounts.

You can get there for €7 round trip by bus from Termini Station.

In Rome you can also visit the fashion stores of Fendi and Dolce & Gabbana, located on Via Borgognona, Tiffany and Versace on Via Frattina, vintage boutiques on Via del Boschetto and boutiques with very high prices in Piazza di Spagna. But it’s hardly worth counting on discounts or inexpensive items in these stores.

Shopping in Milan

In Milan, considered by many to be the center of fashion, sales also begin in the first week after the New Year and last for more than a month.

The city has many large shopping centers and brand boutiques, but tourists who come for shopping are primarily interested in outlets.

Moreover, it is in Milan (more precisely, about 100 kilometers from Milan) that the best multi-brand outlet in Italy is located - Serravalle Designer Outlet (Serravalle) .

Serravalle Designer Outlet

This center consists of more than 150 stores, which offer goods not only famous brands, but also their lesser-known counterparts: Guess, DKNY, Versace, Trussardi, Burberry, D&G, Hugo Boss, Nike, Calzedonia, Cacharel, Benetton, Roberto Cavalli, Mandarina Duck, Rifle, Diesel and many others.

Big discounts attract shopping lovers here not only during sales seasons; here you can buy items from designer collections at a good price throughout the year (at least a 30% discount). And during seasonal sales, the chances of purchasing a quality item at very low prices increase significantly.

You can get here by bus or car.

Franciacorta Outlet Village

After Serravalle, Designer Outlet is the second most attractive for tourists (good discounts on items from famous brands) and the largest outlet center in Milan.

You can save even more by purchasing a Village Card, which provides an additional 5-10% discount on merchandise at local stores.

You can get there in about an hour and a half by car, special bus or train. Open daily.

Expensive luxury shopping

The most expensive stores in Milan are located in the high fashion shopping area, where famous fashion houses are located - Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Trussardi, Hermes, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Versace, Missoni. This place is known as the Golden Quadrilateral (formed by four streets - Via Della Spiga, Via Monzani, Via Montenapoleone and Via Sant’Andrea).

New items from the most prestigious collections of famous designers from all over the world, the most expensive and chic boutiques in Italy await buyers in this area.

An equally expensive pleasure is shopping in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele . This is a unique attraction in Milan in itself, but its main purpose is shopping, albeit in extremely expensive boutiques.

If the purpose of your trip is to spend an insane amount of money, this is the place for you. Those who are limited in their desires and possibilities by a more modest budget can simply wander through the streets of this chic area, as if in a museum, and admire the shop windows that delight lovers of beauty, and the luxurious mansions where millionaires and celebrities live.

Shopping is easier

For those who are looking for new unconventional ideas in the fashion world, original items from emerging designers and good discounts, the area will be of interest Station Ingrosso with many discount and wholesale clothing stores. It is no coincidence that experts in the fashion world call this area in Milan the “Milan Fashion Center”.

Designer discounts

In such stores (on Corso di Porta Ticinese, Corso Buenos Aires, Via Vitruvio) you can find excellent men's and women's clothing, fashionable shoes from famous designers for very little money.

According to tourists, one of the best places for shopping in Milan – Department storeLa Rinascente .

This eleven-story shopping complex, which sells literally everything, is open daily and closes at weekdays(by Italian store standards) very late (10 pm).

For those who arrived for a short time and do not have time to visit other stores, La Rinascente can be a real lifesaver.

The majority of shops in Italy are closed on public and national holidays, on Sundays and Monday mornings. Opening hours for large stores may vary.

The peculiarity of shops in Milan: large shopping centers are open every day, until late in the evening and without a break for siesta.

This means that you are in a store where prices for goods have been reduced to the limit (60-80%).

Another sign of such a total sale can be taped up or completely draped store windows and a large number of buyers.

Don’t be fooled by signs “ vendite promozionali"("promotional prices") and " sconti"("discounts"). Sometimes such advertisements can be a simple marketing ploy used to attract buyers.

Much more attractive than the sign “ Saldi”, which means that the store is having sales.

The price tag must indicate: the cost of the product before the start of sales, its new cost and the exact amount of the discount (this is required by Italian laws). Sometimes prices for goods are indicated without tax, then you will see its real cost when paying for the goods at the checkout.

In some small shops, sellers refuse to accept payment for goods by card. This is illegal: you can pay with cash, credit or debit cards.

Purchase receipts must be kept for 2 months (according to Italian law, defective goods can be exchanged during this period). Also keep your tax-free receipts for refunds.

Happy shopping in Italy. And next time awaits us.

Shopping in Italy is the dream of every fashionista. And it doesn’t matter whether such trips are ordinary for you, or this is a long-awaited shopping tour, hurry to find out when the 2016 sales begin in Italy so that your shopping raid will be not only interesting, but also profitable. For discounted designer collections, head to the Italian fashion capital of Milan. And although there are mass-market boutiques there, it’s still better to make budget purchases during. No less popular shopping destinations during discount periods are Turin, Bologna, Florence and, of course.

Summer and winter sales in Italy 2016

There are two official sales seasons in Italy – winter and summer. Previously, "Sconti" began in different time countrywide. They usually started in the southern regions (the region of Basilicata, Sicily, the province of Campania and the Valle d'Aosta region), and within a few days other territories joined the mass excitement. Discounts in Italy also ended differently, in some cities at a time clearly established by the authorities, in others - at the discretion of the store administration.

Since 2011, there has been a unified sales calendar for the entire country in Italy, and for violating the established schedule, ordinary boutiques can be fined by city services. True, we are not talking about outlets and spats that want to attract the attention of buyers and announce discounts in advance. Thus, the first promotions in stock boutiques can be found in late autumn and early summer. All other stores can start winter and summer sales in Italy 2016 only with the permission of the Italian authorities. Calculating the final dates of the sale in Italy 2016 is quite simple, just count 60 days from the start, but if the discounted goods are sold out earlier, then “Sconti” may end before the end of February and August. At the end of the sale, unsold goods end up in outlets in Italy.

So, when will winter sales start in Italy 2016? They will officially begin on January 6, as evidenced by the “Sconti” signs decorating shop windows and crowds of happy people rushing with purchases from one boutique to another. Sales in Italy in the summer of 2016 will begin on July 7, at the height of the summer holidays, and will end in early September.

Closed sales in Italy

In addition to the official sales in Italy in winter 2016 and summer, many boutiques and showrooms in the country hold so-called closed sales. You won't find them in the calendar, because they are hidden for public access. Regular customers registered in the customer database are invited to such events via SMS. Discounts for “friends” are usually 20-30-40%.

Features of the sale in Italy

Experienced shopaholics know that when the 2016 sales begin in Italy, there is no time to hesitate. After all, the most “delicious” goods are sold out in the first days of the long-awaited “Sconti”. And although the discounts at the start are not large, there are queues at the boutiques. So be prepared for busy fitting rooms, police officers supervising stores and general excitement. In addition, if you go to sales in Italy in the winter of 2016 or in the summer, keep in mind that initially not all goods are discounted. Typically, the store's assortment is divided into parts and gradually put up for sale. So it’s up to you to decide when it’s better to go to Italy for new clothes, and what’s more important to you: the opportunity to buy the best models of the collection, albeit at minor discounts (20 - 30%) or a collapse in prices for the latest sizes (up to 70%).

You can visit the Christmas or summer sales in Italy 2016 on your own, with a personal shopper, or in the company of like-minded people by purchasing a shopping tour to Italy. Read more about each type of trip in Shopping Expert's material about

During winter and summer sales in Europe, you can afford to significantly update your wardrobe by spending a minimum of money. In Italian cities, you can buy shoes from Prada or D&G for up to 200 euros, a Furla bag for 100 euros, or men's shirts from Brioni for 75 euros only during sales. At this time, with huge discounts from 30% to 70%, you can purchase many things both from ordinary manufacturers and from branded autumn-winter collections of the just ended year.

Sales law

The Italian government passed a law in 2011 establishing uniform sales dates throughout the country. Before this, sales began on different days - depending on the location of the sale, the status of the outlet (boutique, chain store, mass market, etc.). After the adoption of the law, a calendar of official sales was adopted, and traders were fined for violating the schedule. Now stores can organize promotions and discounts only with permission from local authorities.

The duration of the sales period is 60 days, but if stores manage to sell discounted goods faster, they have the right to end the promotion earlier than this period, returning to the standard pricing policy. Those items that were never sold are sent to outlets and various warehouse locations.

It is important to know that at the beginning of the sales period, discounts are approximately 10-20%, but as the buying frenzy begins to subside, the most popular sizes and models are sold out, and discounts begin to increase. As a result, at the end of the summer or winter season you can expect discounts of up to 50%.
It is most profitable to raid Italian stores twice a year - in winter and summer.

Winter sales

In Italy, the winter discount season starts on the first Saturday in January and ends at the beginning of Lent. Winter sales are the most profitable, as discounts can reach 70%.
When preparing for winter sales, there are some important things to consider:

Italy is a country that attracts absolutely everything: culture and traditions, rich historical past, developed tourist infrastructure...

Since January 6 is a holiday in Italy, all stores are closed.
The discount season in outlets begins earlier. Thus, in Rimini and Rome, 40% discounts can be found already in December.
Some patches also start their sales earlier. For example, Fabi and Loriblu patches in the Marche region offer discounts already in December.

Summer sales

In summer, sales open on the first Saturday of August and can last a month or two - the authorities of each city decide here.
These terms are important to know for those who want to buy products from luxury brands. Well, in order to simply update your wardrobe with high-quality but inexpensive goods, you can go to the store at any time of the year. Moreover, discounts are valid in Italian spatchas, outlets and warehouses all year round. But the same outlets add an additional 30-40% to their discounts during the sales season.

Italian sales rules

Shopping during the sales season will be more effective if you know some unspoken rules:

On the very first day of sales, real chaos and pandemonium will reign in stores. Therefore, stores often hire additional security personnel or police officers on this day.

If someone wants to be in the front row of the endless queue to the boutique, then he will have to take a place at night, since there will be an incredibly large number of people eager to become the owners of noticeably depreciated original items.

During sales, all retail outlets adhere to the same policy - in the first weeks discounts of no more than 30% are given, and after 3-4 weeks many of them increase to 40-50%. When there are only a few days left before the end of the “attraction of unheard-of generosity,” some discounts grow to 80%.

Almost all stores offer 50% discounts during the sales season. But Bulgari, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and some luxury stores, according to their marketing policies, never offer discounts at all.

Some products for which discounts are provided will not appear on shelves from the first day of sales. Over the 60 days that the sale lasts, the assortment is gradually replenished.

Half the shops are closed on Sundays.

Even if you grab the desired item in a serious struggle, there is practically no hope of trying it on, since all the fitting rooms will be permanently occupied and preceded by queues no shorter than the one that brought you into the store. Experienced buyers recommend buying a product without hesitation; in any case, it can easily be resold later at a profit.

Outlets, stocks and spacci

Outlets

Italy has more outlet stores than any other country in the world. An outlet is a large shopping complex where unsold goods from famous brands are sold at discounted prices throughout the year. Usually these are items from collections 3-5 years old, discounts on which can reach up to 70%. Now outlets are often called various stocks and spacci.
During the sales season, they charge almost half their price for shoes and clothes. They already offer year-round discounts of 30-70%, but seasonal ones can also be added to them, reaching up to 50%, as a result of which the final price of an excellent item may turn out to be indecently low. For example, jeans from Trussardi in an outlet usually cost 100 euros, but during the sale period they cost only 50-60 euros. By the way, Italians themselves prefer to dress in outlets during sales seasons.

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Top 5 outlets in Italy

In Italy, there are outlets in every region and city. Which one should you prefer?

Outlet Castel Romano (Castel Romano Designer Outlet) is located near Rome and is open daily from 10-00 to 21-00. Address: Via del Ponte di Piscina Cupa, 64. Outdated collections of world brands are sold here with 70% discounts. For its regular customers, this outlet organizes a series of additional private sales.
Outlet The Mall is located in Florence and is open daily from 10-00 to 19-00. Address: Via Europa, 8. It belongs to the luxury class, offering items from past collections from fashion houses Fendi, MiuMiu, Prada and others.
Outlet Fidenza Village Outlet located in Milan, open from 10-00 to 19-00. Address: Via S. Michele Campagna, 43036 Chiusa Ferranda, Fidenza PR. It sells products from more than a hundred shoe and clothing manufacturers. The outlet has its own website fidenzavillage.com, where you can preview its assortment. The only thing that is not very convenient is that it is located quite far from the city center.
Outlet Prada&Miu Miu Outlet (Space) - another one in Florence, located at Via Levanella Becorpi, Località Levanella, S.S. 69 - 52025 Montevarchi (AR). This outlet offers the public exclusive and high quality items made by Prada and MiuMiu. At the same time, here you can find not only items from past collections with discounts, but also from current collections, for which special offers are given.
Outlet Fuzzi Factory Outlet located in Rimini at 167, Via al Mare, San Giovanni In Marignano RN. It is popular because it is full of extravagant and unusual models, made by sophisticated Italian designers. Many of the goods presented there cannot be found in any other Italian outlet.

Drains

Stock stores are small stores that sell discounted goods. They contain items that have been in boutiques for several years but were never sold. Stocks are characterized by the highest discounts. Thus, wardrobe items can be purchased here at 70-80% cheaper than they once cost in a boutique.

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Spacci

Spacci are a type of outlet store, but they sell products taken directly from production. Prices in spaches are slightly higher than in stocks.
Typically, spacci are located in close proximity to the factories where the items they receive are sewn. You can find the following products in spaches:

Items from collections released at least 3 years ago.
Exclusive prototypes of leading fashion houses, released in single copies, which may be included in future collections. Such items are made for catwalk models, so they have minimal sizes.
Items from old and even new collections, but with a slight flaw, which immediately lose up to 30% in price.

Should you come to the sales from the very beginning or wait?

During the first three days of sales, crowds of buyers storm all the stores in the hope of buying the best things. Therefore, sellers are even forced to limit entry into the hall, allowing several people in at a time. In the first week, most of the goods on the shelves will actually disappear from stores. However, new deliveries are made every week. All goods are scheduled for the sales season between stores so that a new batch arrives weekly.

You also need to remember that discounts, in the first days amounting to, for example, 30%, can increase to 50% in a week, so there is no point in rushing to be in the front row at sales, but it is better to wait a little. Well, you can decide to make purchases in the first days of sales because at the very beginning, the most beautiful bags, belts, shoes and other accessories end up on the shelves, which are sold out without waiting for the biggest discounts.
The best products, as a rule, go to the store's regulars, who can spend months on guard for an item they like, just waiting for the sales season to purposefully grab it. Therefore, in order to avoid all these not very pleasant circumstances inherent in sales, it is better to drive up to the store in a week or two. It's better to go there with someone local who knows the best places to go without wasting your time.

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Which cities in Italy have the best sales?

The experience of fashion experts and buyers themselves shows that the most convenient places for shopping with discounts are: Rome and Rimini in the center of Italy, Milan in the north, and Bari in the south. All of these cities have entire areas where you can find the most varied and productive sales. Prices for items from popular designers are approximately the same in boutiques in all Italian cities. Therefore, in Milan, and in Rome, and in Bologna or Venice, you can purchase goods from Prada, Armani or Gucci during sales with 30-50% discounts.

Milan

Milan has a shopping quadrangle formed by Via Andrea, Via Gesu, Via Monte Napoleone and Via della Spiga. But in Milan you can also find retail outlets of not so famous Italian brands, where, for example, they sell leather boots for only 100 euros, which during the sale cost 50-60 euros. If you get to a warehouse center in the suburbs of Milan, you can buy a shirt from D&G for 30 euros.

Rimini

Rimini outlets are located next to each other, besides them there are shops selling not the most popular brands, and three fur factories, but you are unlikely to find luxury goods here. This city is home to many retail outlets that offer clothing from mass market to ready-to-wear. In January-March, winter and demi-season items are sold here. Very often, Russian fashionistas come to Rimini for sheepskin coats, fur coats and leather jackets- all this here is of excellent quality, and the prices are quite affordable. The sales season in Rimini concerns both shops and boutiques selling one brand or luxury goods, as well as factories producing wholesale quantities of middle-class goods, as well as fur salons.

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Rome

Rome has both luxury boutiques and inexpensive brands. In addition to them, there are many outlets of world brands offering big discounts, and since tourists do not know about them, their assortment is almost never washed out. Any fashionista considers it his sacred duty to visit Via dei Condotti in Rome. It is home to a huge number of premium shops and boutiques, where you can find clothes, shoes and accessories from the most famous contemporary designers.

Bologna and Naples

It is best for wholesale buyers to go to sales in Bologna or Naples. There, all the factories in their showrooms are ready to give a discount of 30-50% even on goods from the current collection, so here it is quite possible to buy things from new collections not only at wholesale prices, but also with good discounts.

Florence

People looking for jewelry and leather goods should head to Florence, which is famous for its individual artisans who sell their creations at reasonable prices. Florence also has plenty of outlets and spats of famous brands, which during sales reduce prices by up to 60%.

Venice

If Venice is chosen as your shopping destination, then you need to head to Piazza San Marco and the streets adjacent to it.

Marche

In Marche, during the discount season, shoe manufacturers of the brands Fabian, Fabi, Tod’s, Loriblu and related patches offer discounts of up to 60%. Therefore, a pair of Fabi shoes can be bought here for 100-150 euros.

Italy, summer, sea and seasonal discounts in boutiques and shops in the country. The vast majority of fashionistas plan their trips to Italy for the second half of summer, when traditional sales begin. During this period, you can buy exclusive models of clothing, shoes and bags at 50-70% cheaper than the original price.

Sale dates

What do you need to know to plan your Italian shopping trip? First of all – sales dates in different regions and cities of the country. The trade policy is structured in such a way that potential buyers have the opportunity to visit maximum amount shopping centers and boutiques.

Even in winter, experts plan their travel schedule around the country based on data from the specialized Saldi calendar. According to him, you can have time to purchase a fashionable model from a famous couturier at a more than affordable price.

Sales schedule in cities and regions of Italy in the summer of 2016

What do you need to know when planning your travel schedule? A large number of competitors - those who want to be the first to choose their favorite item. Therefore, on the first day of summer sales in Italy, store owners invite police officers to maintain order. There are also unspoken rules to consider.

First day greatest number buyers. But the queue is strictly observed - in order to be among the first to enter the territory of a boutique or store, you need to defend the “night shift”.
In the store there is no queue at all. Usually all the fitting rooms are already occupied, so it is recommended to immediately go pay for the goods.
Don't confuse seasonal sales with promotions at outlet stores. The latter are huge warehouses in which items from 5-6 years of collections are stored. Often, discounts in these establishments are not tied to traditional seasonal ones.

If the desire to update your wardrobe has overpowered the delights of a relaxing holiday, you can safely book a ticket to Italy. But for shopping to be not only productive, but also relatively calm, you should follow the recommendations.

Where is the best place to buy

If you analyze the geography of summer sales, you can identify 3 main areas where they occur. Depending on personal preferences, they choose certain boutiques and stores, having previously learned about their assortment.

If you plan to visit several cities in the regions, it is recommended to pre-book not only the flight, but also tickets for traveling within the country. At this time, many airlines (especially LowCost) significantly reduce the cost of flights within Italy. So, you can get from Rome to Naples for only 20-30 Euros.

Every city has certain places where shopping will be most productive. Although they are included in the mandatory program of every tourist, sellers are ready to satisfy everyone’s needs. Years of experience and clear planning allow us to avoid supply disruptions and maintain a huge range.

Rome - via Condotti and adjacent streets. Don't miss the famous Piazza di Spagna.
Milan is a shopping “triangle” of streets Andrea, Montenapoleone, Gesu and Della Spiga.
Venice - Merceria, and the streets closest to it.
Naples - Via Calabritto and Via dei Mille. Particularly popular are the shops in Piazza Amadeo and Piazza dei Martiri.

These are traditional places for mass shopping during seasonal sales. But real experts stick to less popular routes.

Shopping on your own or with an expert

At this stage, the question arises: should you shop on your own or use the services of a specialist? The shopper (this is the name of this new profession) will not only create the optimal route, but will also perform the duties of a stylist. The main thing is to find out whether it is advisable with financial point vision. The services of such a specialist are not cheap - starting from 300 euros per day. If the shopping budget is 3000-4000 euros, this is an acceptable expense.

With the help of a shopper, you can not only save significant time, but also purchase goods with an additional discount. Often, professionals have personal connections with the owners and employees of boutiques, which makes it possible to purchase the item you like at a really low cost.

But you need to be extremely careful when choosing a specific shopper. It is best to do this on the recommendation of friends, taking into account the specialist’s many years of experience. They always take an advance payment, and in case of incompetence it will be difficult to return it.

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