The building itself is not marked “Gucci” – in fact, there was no announcement when the store opened – but the secret is out and many have enjoyed buying last season’s Gucci items at more than 50% off. The Gucci outlet is also nearby in Tuscany, at Leccio Reggello.
It is advised to arrive before 9:30am when the store opens. Be prepared to wait in line to enter the store, but once inside you’ll find rows and rows of Prada and Mui Mui clothing, handbags, and shoes, all at 60-70% off their regular retail prices. The sign on the building is very small and hard to recognize, but you’ll see the crowd of people waiting to get in. In the small town of Montevarchi, Tuscany (about half way between Milan and Florence), you’ll find the Prada Outlet, officially named “Space”. All offer a designer shopping environment and friendly, courteous staff that speak a number of different languages. If it’s Prada, Fendi, Armani, Gucci, or other famous Italian fashion designers that make you weak in the knees, there is no shortage of outlet malls or discount shops to feed your fashion appetite! Most of the fashion houses have outlet stores in or near Milan, Florence, and Turin. It will serve as a guide map to finding the stores you want to visit, listing over 2000 shops along with directions and what to expect when you get there. This book is printed in both English and bilingual editions. If you’re serious about scouting out discount stores and outlets, there is a book that you can and should pick up, found at most Italian booksellers, called “Lo Scopri Occasioni”, written by Theodora Van Meurs and published by Editoriale Shopping Italaia S.R.L. Many stores have a minimum purchase in place to qualify for the Detaxe, so check with the shopkeeper or store manager for details. If you are a visitor and plan to leave the European Union, you can get a refund on the taxes you have paid on your purchases, called the “Detaxe”. Some even stay closed for the entire day on Mondays. Most shops are closed on Monday mornings, and do not open until 3pm. Don’t be discouraged though – there are often items from current lines available, and the discounted prices make them difficult to resist! Some of the items you’ll find in the outlets are factory seconds or showroom pieces, and you will find garments from the previous years’ collection as well.
Discount and outlet stores never have sales.
The best deals in regular stores in Italy can be found in January and July, when you can find items reduced up to 70% off their retail prices. What better way to do your shopping than by traveling across this gorgeous and historically rich country and seeing the sites along the way? You can easily combine a love for travel with a love for shopping in Italy if you know where to look! Most of the major fashion houses have outlet stores, and outlet malls are springing up quickly all over the country.
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