Shopping in a big city such as Florence can be overwhelming when every store seems to be a designer brand. But, there are actually many amazing chain stores in Florence, and Italy as a whole, that will not break-the-bank.
Stores in the United States
You have probably heard of Zara even if you are not from Europe. Zara has recently become more popular in the U.S. with more stores opening across the country. But, it is originally a Spanish store like Mango, highlighted below. Zara has a great selection of quality clothing with many business options for men and women, which can be difficult to find other places at such reasonable prices. I believe the selection is much better at the Italian stores compared to the states and they are also much more organized. Zara is a must-stop shop that will fill your closet with European trends.
"When I go shopping in the U.S., I usually only find a few items that I actually want to buy," said Jackie Bragano, an American student visiting Italy. "But, in Italy, I wanted to buy so much more."
Mango can be found in a few cities in the U.S. including New York City and Miami, but they are very popular in Europe with headquarters in Barcelona. Similar to stores like Zara and H&M, they have a wide selection of women’s, men’s and children’s clothing. I personally like this store because they have European styles that cannot be found in most places in the States. Also it is very reasonably priced, dresses range from $20 to $100. They also have a large accessories selection with great quality shoes for around $40.
Department stores
When you enter La Rinascente, it reminds you of a Bloomingdales or Saks Fifth Avenue. But, this department store actually has very reasonably priced clothing for men and women. Their clothing lines run mid-range with pieces around 60 euros and up. They also have a large cosmetics department on the first floor, a home goods and food market on the fourth floor and a bar and restaurant on the top floor with views of Florence. You should stop by La Rinascente for not only clothing, but unique Italian foods that cannot be found in the local supermarkets in the city. I loved my experience shopping here because it felt very high-end and genuinely Italian.
Coin is a department store that carries a wide array of brands from around the world. These include Levi, Calvin Klein and Allsaints. They sell clothing for everyone, accessories, cosmetics and home goods. Unlike La Rinascente, Coin is much more family-friendly and can be less intimidating to shop in. It is also a better option if you are shopping on a budget. There is a Coin located in Florence at Via dei Calzaiuoli, 56/r.
Shoe Store
Bata is a Swiss shoe store that has many locations in Florence. They have great sales so that you can get a high-quality pair of shoes at a very good price. I like Bata because the shoes are very different than in American stores, they are not just Nike and Adidas. The shoe stands in the markets around Florence can be overwhelming with so many shop keepers trying to get you to buy their products, but a shoe store like Bata is stress-free and you can still get those Italian shoes you were hoping to find.
Designer Brand
Longchamp is a french designer brand with popular handbags. There are many Longchamp stores across the world, but I noticed a considerable price difference at the store in Florence. A typical Longchamp Nylon tote is around $150 to $200, but in Italy they can be found for 20 to 40 dollars cheaper when converted from euros to US dollars. You should stop in the designer stores in Florence because many of them have a price difference when compared to the prices in other countries.
Affordable Shopping
OVS is another store with a wide selection for men and women. They have a line by Kendall and Kylie Jenner, which I found both unique and surprising to have American celebrities have a fashion line in a Italian store. OVS is owned by the same company as Coin, so you can see many similarities between the stores. Their dresses run around 20 to 50 euros and they have a large selection of jeans for around 30 euros.
"Shopping in Italy is different because their sizes are different so that takes some getting used to, you have to try on everything," Bragano said. "But, I like their style a lot, everything is really stylish."
Specializing in women’s undergarments and swimwear, Tezenis is a great option for women. Their swimsuits are very affordable, for tops around 20 euro and bottoms less than 10 euro. You can find the perfect suit here for a trip to Capri or the coast. They also have very fashionable fitness wear that is also at a great price point. Shopping at Tezenis is convenient with five locations in Florence and has so many options for a tourist to get European pieces without breaking the bank.
Even though these stores are chains that are in many Italian cities, they are worth a visit because of the savings you can find on wonderful clothing.