The Mall Outlet Firenze : The place to score luxury brands on sale
This summer, as we was travelling to Puglia to get married, my now husband and I made a stopover in Firenze. A stay in this city is not possible without a stop at The Mall Firenze, the temple of luxury brands! Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Fendi, most of the best designers have a store there. The particularity? You can find the old collections with discounts of up to 80%. It is not in the center of the city but this detour is well worth it. As a proof, when I was studying Italian in Rome, I rented a car with my best friends and we went to Firenze for an unforgettable shopping session! I'll share with you all my tips to make the most of this experience in this mall outlet!
All products featured on the blog have been independently selected by Claire Marnette and her team. When you buy via the links integrated on the blog, we can collect an affiliation commission.
What brands to shop at this mall outlet?
You will find in this shopping temple most of the Italian luxury brands: Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Fendi, Prada, Tods, etc. French brands such as Balenciaga, Givenchy, Céline or even Saint Laurent are also present. You understood that there is enough to make everyone happy, whatever their tastes are. I advise you to prepare a list of the stores you absolutely want to visit. Some stores are a bit hidden so you could easily miss them!
You are probably wondering what discounts to expect. There are no rules, but you will always score greater deal on ready-to-wear than on accessories. You can expect an average of -25% to -35% on accessories. For the clothing, the average is more around 50% off. From my experience, I found the discounts to be larger at stores like Saint Laurent that have less selection. On the other hand, brands like Gucci that have a large selection and outlets all over Europe will offer smaller, more widespread discounts on their entire catalog.
When to go to The Mall Firenze?
This mall outlet is open every day, including on Sundays, from 10am to 7:30pm. Personally, I always try to get there a little before the opening. It doesn't happen often that I spend 10 hours there, but if I do, I don't want to be in a hurry when. they close. There is nothing worse than making purchasing decisions in a hurry. It's the best way to have regrets. Since the outlet requires a bit of a drive, I recommend waking up early so that you can be there by 9:45am. This will allow you to fully enjoy the experience. It doesn't matter when you arrive, the village being quite big, I never felt it crowded, even when I went in early July! Just note that the Christmas season is busier.
As for the best time of year to go, it is of course more interesting to go during the sales periods. They take place during the months of January and July in Italy. During these 4 weeks, you will be able to take advantage of additional discounts on already discounted products. An opportunity to make great deals! For the selection in store, the collections are delayed by one year. So there is no time lag as in other outlets. You can buy your swimsuits in summer and your jackets in winter.
How to get to the mall outlet?
The easiest way to get to The Mall Firenze is by car. There is a large free parking lot right next to the entrance. If you are staying in Firenze, it will take you approximately half hour from the center of the city to get there. From Rome, it's a 2.5 hour drive without a break and 3.5 hours from Milan. Personally, I already found the drive from Rome very long so I don't recommend going just for the day from Milan. The car will remain the easiest choice, especially in order to bring back your numerous bags that you will probably leave with.
If you are doing a city trip in Firenze and you don't want to rent a car, there is a shuttle bus. It leaves from the Stazione Orti Oricellari, the main train station near the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral. There are buses every 2 hours except at the beginning of the day when there are a few more. It will cost you 7 € per trip, much cheaper than renting a car. You can book your tickets directly here to make sure you get your seat!
How to get a good deal at The Mall Firenze?
I've had the opportunity to go to this outlet several times and I've learned a few techniques to save as much as possible on pieces that will last years. First of all, you have to be careful because some stores have full price collections. This is especially the case at Gucci, for example. It would be a shame to go to a place like that and not benefit from the discounts, unless you fall in love with a particular piece, of course.
Don't forget that you are in Italy. The contact with the people working there is therefore essential! It was while I was chitchatting with an employee of the Saint Laurent store and telling her that I was getting married that she offered me a pair of white pumps that were not on display. So take your time in the stores. Don't leave too quickly because you don't see anything on display.
Save this article for later!
