The best spots for shopping in Milan

Expect to find here: Edgy designer fashion, statement accessories and beautifully curated coffee table books

No shopping trip to Milan is complete without a stop at 10 Corso Como. Founded in 1990 by Italian book and magazine editor Carla Sozzani, the flagship store may be undeniably chic, but it’s never been just about clothes. Often described as the world’s first true concept store, 10 Corso Como was among the first to bring fashion, art, design and publishing together under one impeccably curated roof. Inside, you’ll find a boutique, a bookshop, art installations, a café and a full gallery. Honestly, it’s worth visiting for the beautiful setting alone.

Address: Corso Como, 10, 20154, Milano

Opening hours: Open daily from 10.30am-7.30pm

Expect to find here: Major fashion labels, beauty favourites and everything you didn’t know you needed

Facing the iconic Piazza del Duomo, Rinascente is a sprawling, luxury department store (a bit like London’s Selfridges) featuring a whopping ten floors full of clothes, makeup, homeware and more, plus a load of great restaurants. Anything you need, La Rinascente has it in buckets. At the end of your spree, head to the food hall right at the top for some of the best views of Milan, best enjoyed with an Aperol Spritz. Shopping doesn’t get much better than this.

Address: Piazza del Duomo, Via Santa Radegonda, 10, 20121, Milano

Hours: Open daily from 10am to 10pm

Expect to find here: Offbeat clothing, one-of-a-kind accessories and a curated flea-market feel

The location – a convent from the 18th century in Milan’s historic Cinque Vie (five streets) – may be old, but the philosophy of this colourful and eccentric boutique is forward-thinking. Fashion expert and self-proclaimed aesthete Umberta Zambeletti offers a curated selection of clothing, accessories, objects, stationery and vintage pieces from all over the world.

Address: Wait and See, Via Santa Marta 14, 20123, Milano

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10.30 am to 7.30 pm, Mondays from 3.30pm-7.30pm

Expect to find here: Surreal and highly decorative homeware 

If you are looking for a quirky and truly Milanese keepsake or souvenir, venture no further than the flagship Fornasetti store between Porta Venezia and the Duomo. This three-level store feels almost like a museum, featuring creations by famous 20th-century designer Piero Fornasetti along with newly inspired collections by his son who continues to carry on the family tradition. Here you’ll find furnishings and items for the home, such as plates, candles, vases, and much more, all showcasing distinctive Fornasetti prints. A temple of Italian design in the heart of the city. 

Address: Corso Venezia, 21A, 20121, Milano

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 7pm, Monday from 3pm-7pm, closed Sundays

Expect to find here: Prim, beautifully made clothes for kids and women alike

Long a go-to for Milan’s quietly stylish set, this boutique built its reputation dressing the city’s bourgeoisie in understated, impeccably cut pieces. Founded in the 1960s by the late Pupi Solari, the shop still champions her signature aesthetic: minimal, elegant and never trying too hard. Inside, you’ll find a smart edit of pared-back labels like Aspesi, Jil Sander and Massimo Alba, alongside impeccably made children’s clothing. Proof that good taste really doesn’t date.

Address: Piazza Tommaseo 2, 20123, Milano

Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 10am-7pm, Monday from 3pm-7pm, closed Sundays

Expect to find here: Vintage finds, funky collectibles and great coffee 

Chichi Meroni, designer and proprietor of L’Arabesque, has created a world of her own in her Largo Augusto 10 flagship. The boutique carries her own designs, vintage clothing, furniture, rare books and a café. L’Arabesque ups the ante when it comes to concept stores, channelling an old-world, distinctly Milanese kind of glamour – a byproduct of Meroni’s impeccable taste.

Address: Largo Augusto, 10, 20122, Milano

Hours: Open daily from 10.30am-7pm

Expect to find here: Coveted indie labels, from ACNE Studios to Hope

Just steps from the picturesque Colonne di San Lorenzo, Frip has been a quiet fixture of Milan’s independent fashion scene for nearly 25 years. Known for its savvy, understated aesthetic, the shop specialises in well-made pieces from standout British, French and Scandinavian brands. It’s a go-to for anyone seeking thoughtful, longer-lasting alternatives to the fast-fashion chains crowding the city, with clothing and accessories for men and women that are designed to become true wardrobe staples. 

Address: Corso di Porta Ticinese, 16, 20123, Milano

Opening hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm and 3pm-8pm, Sunday from 3pm-8pm, Monday from 3.30pm-8 pm 

Expect to find here: Head-to-toe prints and fashion that’s anything but shy

P​​rints are on the table at this shop and showroom. They’re also on the floor, walls, chairs and all the way up to the ceiling. Founded by former fashion journalist and American expat JJ Martin, La DoubleJ started as a vintage e-retailer but soon blossomed into a ready-to-wear line that specialises in maximalist, colour-centric, made-in-Italy womenswear and accessories – from bold dresses and skirts to statement tops, knitwear and more, all anchored in joyful, graphic patterns.

Address: Via Sant'Andrea, 10/A, 20121, Milano

Opening hours: Open daily from 10am-7pm 

Expect to find here: Second-hand designer fashion at seriously good prices – if you’re willing to hunt! 

Milan’s most fashionable crowd has got to clean out its closets sometime, right? When that happens, stuff goes straight to Bivio. This much-loved consignment shop is one of the few places in the city where you might score Marni or Prada from a couple of seasons ago for the price of a Zara dress. 

The catch? You’ll need to roll up your sleeves and dig through the racks – but the payoff can be big. With multiple stores for men and women on Via Mora in the Ticinese district, plus another outpost in Porta Venezia, it’s worth following Bivio on social media to get first dibs on the best second-hand arrivals.

Address: Corso Lodi, 18, 20135, Milano

Opening hours: Open daily from 11am to 7pm 

Expect to find here: Cutting-edge designer fashion and directional streetwear 

Tucked away on an otherwise unremarkable side street just off the Naviglio Grande, Antonioli specialises in excruciatingly of-the-moment fashion. The store describes its clientele as “men and women who choose to lead the way, living their lives free from conformities” – which tracks, given the bold, fashion-forward mix on the racks.

The 400-square-metre space, designed by Milanese architect Vincenzo de Cotiis, is as much a statement as the clothes themselves. Inside, expect eclectic offerings from major fashion houses, buzzy independent designers and a strong streetwear lineup, all curated with Antonioli’s signature edge.

Address: Via Pasquale Paoli, 1, 20143, Milano

Opening hours: Open daily from 11am-8pm