Milan & the Lake District - Italy - page 403

offerings may be secondhand, but only in the sense that a model donned them
briefly for a show or shoot.
Biffi (Corso Genova, 6; % 02-8375170; Metro: S. Agostino) attracts fashion-
conscious hordes of both sexes in search of designer labels and the store's own
designs. One more Navigli stop, and again well stocked with designer wear for men
and women—but especially dresses (no changing rooms, so come prepared)—is
nearby Floretta Coen Musil (Via San Calocero, 3; % 02-58111708; Metro: S.
Agostino), open Monday through Saturday, afternoons only from 3:30 to 7:30pm;
credit cards are not accepted.
CHIC SHOPPING
For the best discounts, you want to “Shop with the Locals,” as detailed above. But
bargains be damned, the best spot for fashion gazing and supermodel-spotting is
along four adjoining streets north of the Duomo known collectively as the
Quadrilatero d'Oro (Golden Quadrilateral): Via Montenapoleone, Via Spiga,
Via Borgospesso, and Via Sant'Andrea, lined with Milan's most expensive high-
fashion emporia. (To enter this hallowed precinct, follow Via Manzoni a few
blocks north from Piazza della Scala; San Babila is the closest Metro stop.)
The main artery of this shopping heartland is Via Montenapoleone, lined with
chi-chi boutiques and the most elegant fashion outlets, with parallel Via della
Spiga running a close second.
If your fashion sense is greater than your credit line, don't despair: Even the
most expensive clothing of the Armani ilk is usually less expensive in Italy than it
is abroad, and citywide saldi (sales) run from early January into early February,
and again in late June and July.
Even if your wallet can't afford it, stop by to browse the new flagship Armani
megastore (Via Manzoni, 31; % 02-72318630; www.armani-viamanzoni31.com;
Metro: Montenapoleone). To celebrate 25 years in business in the summer of 2000,
Giorgio opened this new flagship store/offices covering 743 sq. m (8,000 sq. ft.)
with outlets for his high-fashion creations, the Emporio Armani and Armani
Jeans lines, plus the new Armani Casa selection of home furnishings; flower,
book, and art shops; a high-tech Sony electronics boutique/play center in the
basement; and an Emporio Café and branch of New York's Nobu sushi bar.
Books
Milan has two English-language bookshops. The American Bookstore (Via
Camperio, 16, at the corner with Via Dante; % 02-878920; Metro: Cordusio) and
The English Bookshop (Via Ariosto, at Via Mascheroni, 12; % 02-4694468; www.
englishbookshop.it; Metro: Conciliazione).
The glamorous outlet of one of Italy's leading publishers, Rizzoli (in the
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II; % 02-8052277; www.libreriarizzoli.it; Metro:
Duomo), also has some English-language titles (in the basement), as well as a
sumptuous collection of art and photo books.
If it's a bargain on bookish souvenirs you're after, Remainders (in the Galleria
Vittorio Emanuele II; % 02-86464008; Metro: Duomo) hawks glossy coffee-table
tomes and art books at half price and, on the second floor, offers cut rates on
English-language books—just a few novels, plus lots of art and academic books.