Why Shop Vintage?
Shopping vintage is a great way to get unique, one-of-a-kind items without spending a lot of money. Not only is vintage shopping easier on your finances, it’s also an environmentally friendly way to shop. It’s a fun and exciting way to find special items you wouldn’t find anywhere else.
When you shop vintage, you know that your purchase has had a life before it came into your hands. This means you can trust that the item was made with care and quality materials when it was originally created—it won’t feel cheap or break easily like mass-produced factory products.
Plus, since vintage items are often one-of-a-kind, you get the added value of ensuring what you’re wearing is impossible to duplicate. Rest assured, you will not see the same piece on someone else.
Vintage shopping also has big environmental benefits. By buying preloved items, we avoid contributing to the increasing levels of textile waste from fast fashion production and consumption. Plus, when we shop secondhand, we help keep these pieces in use rather than being disposed of in landfills or incinerators—which can save resources and reduce emissions associated with producing something new.
Milan’s Vintage Fashion
Milan is known as the fashion capital of the world. It hosts Milan Fashion Week every year, its center is devoted to the top names in luxury fashion and the city is host to incredible museums of iconic designers’ works.
Notably, Giorgio Armani erected Armani/Silos to showcase his most famous and inspiring designs. I recently visited Milan and saw his pieces firsthand –
Considering its legacy as a fashion destination, it’s no surprise that shopping in Milan is exquisite. I scoured the city over a week in search of fashions that I couldn’t find in my home country America. My search was successful at the below vintage stores.
The shops below all offered great vintage finds at reasonable prices. While some were considerably more expensive than others, the prices were always reasonable when you consider the garment’s quality, style and designer.
Price aside, the shops below had amazing selections. I was impressed by the sheer quantity of lasting secondhand apparel each place offered. Usually, I find secondhand stores with a lot of options means they have a lot of unwanted options.
That wasn’t the case in Milan! While their shops had large selections, they were highly curated and none were overwhelming.
I hope you find the same success with the shops below that I did!
Milan’s Vintage Shops
Humana Vintage
For those who want to add some unique pieces to their wardrobe without breaking the bank, Humana Vintage is an ideal destination. This Milan staple has 3 locations around the city; each one is stuffed with quirky vintage finds.
Humana Vintage is ideal for quantity. It offers a lot of options in every category: men’s apparel, women’s apparel, shoes, and accessories. This is the perfect place to go if you have some free time and you want to spend it sorting through racks to find a gem.
This shop reminded me of the classic vintage shopping experience in America. Great prices and large selection that requires a little more effort on your part to find something worth taking home.
Pros
- Large selection
- Great prices – cheapest prices on this list
- 3 locations
Cons
- Requires more time to sort through a lot of stuff before you find something worthwhile
Bivio Milano
Bivio Milano is the happy medium of this list. It has a smaller selection than Humana Vintage, it’s more reasonable priced than others and its offerings are high quality. It’s the perfect shop to visit if you only have time for one vintage experience in Milan!
If you have some more time, visit all 3 locations. Each one has a great curated collection of closet staples. I was most impressed with their dress and blazer selections at the Mora 4 location.
No matter which shop you choose, Bivio will excite you with stylish picks in apparel, shoes and accessories for every age range.
Pros
- Reasonably priced
- Curated selection
- 3 locations in Milan
Cons
- Usual vintage considerations – e.g. small stains on clothes
Madame Pauline
Madame Pauline is the store for rich aunties. They have a carefully curated selection of impeccable fashion treasures.
Here you’ll find everything from spotless Valentino suits to classic Chanel shift dresses. They have high quality garments at great prices considering the condition, designer, quality and style of their pieces.
The store itself has an air of exclusivity. Unlike the other stores on this list, you have to ring a doorbell to gain entrance to Madame Pauline. Only after someone unlocks the entrance can you browse their well-maintained selection.
I consider their offerings to be more conservative that is my personal style. Although they did have a few suits that tempted me. Like I said earlier, Madame Pauline has rich aunty clothes. Come here if that style speaks to you and you have the money to represent.
Pros
- Rare designer finds
- Impeccable quality of garments
Cons
- Expensive – expect to spend at least 200 euros here
- Caters to a more mature audience
Cavalli e Nastri
Cavalli e Nastri is my favorite shop on this list. It has a huge selection of designer women’s apparel and accessories at reasonable prices – relatively reasonable. It’s the second most expensive store on this list (after Madame Pauline).
While its prices are a little more expensive, they’re not unattainable. Plus the store’s large selection, multiple locations and inviting atmosphere make them a must visit.
The Cavalli e Nastri location I visited was in Carrobbio. It was the cutest boutique filled with women’s apparel and accessories. The men’s branch was just a block away and judging by my walk-by it was also well-decorated.
What I loved most about this store was everything looked expensive. Some items definitely were out of my budget, but even the ones that weren’t had a sophisticated quality I loved. Cavalli e Nastri carries all kinds of designers. I even liked the ones whose names I didn’t recognize only because being selected to be at that store clearly meant they were of a higher standard than other garments.
Pros
- Large selection – there’s something for every age and style preference
- Great designers
- Lots of jewelry
- Shop location is around many other great local boutiques
Cons
- More expensive – expect to find investment pieces
Honorable Mention: DMAG
I don’t believe DMAG i vintage so it technically shouldn’t be on this list. However, it offers incredible deals on top luxury designers. I’m talking more than 50% off Off-White, Botega Venetta, Goyard, and more.
They have a large selection of men and women’s apparel to browse. Some shoes and accessories as well, but I was most impressed with the sheer amount of clothes they carried. Be sure to check them out if you’re in market for great deals!