Hello.
I have a question and I am hoping there is someone out there who has an answer. Does anyone know when the best time is to shop in Italy? By this I mean, is there a specific month (s) when the fashion designers hold their annual sales? I have a friend who thinks this happens in July. Does anyone know for sure? I would be so appreciative of anyone who could give me a definitive answer.
Mille Grazie,
Gianna

Gianna, I am not a shopping expert but if I am not mistaken the latest shopping trends are getting away from sale during a a specific time of the year. There are outlet all over italy that offer excellent value at any time, it all depends on which are you will be. If you tell us the region I will post a couple of suggested shop 'till you drop places.
Ciao
Paolo

As Paolo said, the designer outlets are your best bet and they are year round. Good luck! If you are more specific I can also help you.

My Italian teacher who is from Milan says July is the best time to go if you want to get designer wear for cheap in Milan.

She wears very well-tailored clothes and yes, some of them are absolutely gorgeous designer stuff. She has an Armani jacket which makes her look terribly elegant!

So, if you are in July in Milan, please let me know if you found any designer gear on sale.

dear gianna

there are essentially 2 period for buying in italy.This one of it,infact this the period of winter sales.the second starts in july when there are summer sales.

byby

I was talking to my Italian language exchange partner today and she said she has been able to find places in Torino where last year's fashions of designers like Armani sell at a much lower price...she could buy a 2006 long dress for about 250 euro.

Knowing Armani, it would never really be out of fashion, some of the Armani basiscs can last for years, look as good as new, and never go out of style.

Of course one needs a good eye to pick up a well-fitting, classic cut, but if you look around enough, you can get yourself a bargain.

There is a great armani outlet just outside Milano.
take the autostrada for chiasso exit lomazzo look for this little town call
Vertemate con Minoprio. The factory store is the name of the outlet.
the things they sell are from The Giorgio Armani line wich is not sell in the USA is what the store most have, few of theyr stuff is a second hand becouse they come back from the fascion show and are the clothes that model wear at the show. is a 3 story high shop i'm sure evryone can find some good bargen.
my ex wife loved it. my wallet not to much but i could see that was a bargen

Well i am about to visit this wonderful country within a few weeks time so it pays for me to know about the fashion that is adopted by the people there, I mean I really want to feel what it makes to be an Italian with the fashion at least.

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I find in Italy that, although it appears you can get away with a lot more as far as fashion goes, Italians still have quite strict fashion rules... most of which are correspondent with the season of that particular time. For example: as soon as autumn arrives open toe summer shoes are put straight away in the back of the closet, replaced by closed toes, until summer reappears again.
This may seem like a normality, and actually theoratically it makes sense, but for instance, the beginning of winter last year came very late. I was still wearing my breathy open toe shoes way into october, despite the occasional glance at my feet from the older Italian women.
And the same goes with the winter coat. When exactly, by fashion law, should we start rugging ourselves up?
In my opinion, a coat is worn when the owner feels cold enough to wear it. Not when a date on the calender says.

I also find that Italian women never wear white in winter.

These are just a couple of the little fashion laws I have learnt over the years in Italy...

When I visited Italy a year or so ago, we visited The Mall, an outlet centre about 30 minutes from Florence. Normally I hate outlets but this is like no other....Gucci, Lorno Piana, La Perla, Tods, the lot! Shops that look like the real thing and not at all junky. Am coming back to Italy in June and can't wait to get back to the Mall. It is for designer wear (upmarket) but well worth the trip. Good luck with the shopping!