There is a designer mall outside Florence…about 30 min.by car.
 

Has anyone been to this mall before? I would like to go if it is worth half a day of my 3 day Florence trip. There are buses in Florence going there.
The following is information about this mall:
This designer mall is called The Mall, The outlet centre is situated at a thirty-minute drive from Florence, in the green Tuscan hills. THE MALL actually hosts the Alexander McQueen, Armani Jeans, Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Burberry, Emanuel Ungaro, Ermenegildo Zegna, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Hogan, I Pinco Pallino, La Perla, Loro Piana, Marni, Pucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sergio Rossi, Stella McCartney, Tod's, Valentino, Yohji Yamamoto, Yves Saint Laurent outlet shops.
http://www.intuscany.net/guides/the_mall.htm

Hello GoPlanB, Italian friends of mine that live in Florence have been there. They were not very impressed. They said most items were "last years" styles and they didn't care for the prices consequently. But I have read reports from Fodorites in the past that enjoyed shopping at the mall so if you have the time you no doubt would enjoy checking it out. And perhaps the times that my Italian friends went to the mall the stores didn't have a good selection. I have a large outlet complex close to me and sometimes the stores have nothing that interest me and others times there are to many items that are tempting.

I stopped by last year and was not very impressed. It was sort of on the way where we were headed, but I would definitely not stop there for the sake of it.

Very expensive leather goods, shoes, etc. Lines to get into the stores. Busloads of foreign tourists with lots of money.

If buying designer goods like those are what you normally do, then go for it. If you never buy expensive items like this and are looking for bargain basement prices, then fahgettaboudit.

Been there done that !
Even at a 30% better exchange rate then the prices were still not good.

You folks are right, it may not be a bargain after all with exchange rate.
As J62 puts it, we can 'fahgettaboudit'.
Now we can plan on something else for that day. Thanks.

no, absolutely not worth going to this mall. We 'wasted' one whole precious day of our trip going there. the setting is pretty but that is all there is there--I guess it would be nice to get a gown for only 20,000 euro instead of 40K but that is not for the average person.we came away with absolutely nothing, not even a scarf.

There used to be a few good buys there, but the last couple of years we have stopped by and prices are high.

I have to disagree for two reasons- Tod's and Loro Piana. The rest of the stores' deals and selection were not that great, agreed, but these two were worth the trip (this was October 2006). Tod's styles are timeless anyway, we loaded up, and Loro Piana had some excellent deals on coats, sweaters (cashmere) and dress shirts.

GoPlanB - Did you go?

We went in March and it was not crowded. My spouse got a great Gucci briefcase -- more of a satchel, really -- for about $450, normally about $1100. And if you HAPPENED to be an odd size, you could have found some great menswear at Gucci. I putzed around a bit at Fendi but really there was nothing for me. Blanks everywhere else.

I went with no expectations and no agenda, so it was just an adventure on a dull afternoon.

But where I DID find loot at a great price was the Prada outlet at the back of a crummy industrial mall in nearby Levanelle. Much greater reductions on men's shoes and trousers.

I HAD planned to do more shopping there in March when we return (now an annual pilgrimage) to Italy. We're staying in Montepulciano and so will have a car.

However, I had the great good fortune to be at Sak's Fifth Avenue in NYC on December 26 when they had Prada in my size at 70% off! Got 2 shirts, 2 pairs trousers. Plus deep-discounted Boss, Armani, Miu-Miu, Theory etc items.

So I am already thoroughly kitted out. More than thoroughly kitted out, in fact.

(Getting all our loot through Customs on our return was another story...)

Bottom line: It may be cheaper to shop for most things in the US this year. But Prada is worth a look in Tuscany.

Hello Yeadonite,
Our trip is in May and after reading all these posts, maybe we will skip.

Hello everybody, I'd love to "hunt" for bargain Bottega Veneta items at the Mall and not sure if it would be worth a visit. Do the shops there take credit cards or do we have to pay by cash? Any tax refund or tax free shopping? Any recommendations other than Bottega Veneta? Thanks!

They take credit cards and there are tax refunds

If you do normally buy from those designers, their prices are very good. I understand why some people would be turned off by paying $1000-$2000 or more for a jacket at an outlet, but when they are $4000-$6000 at Neiman Marcus, then the $1k doesn't look that bad. One of the best Malls in Italy for high-end designer goods.

Yes, I tend to agree with Intex. One of the profs that I taught with (Italian) who was VERY fashion concious, considered it an annual must. But then her monthly clothing allowance was my RENT in Italy...she lived at home with Mom to support here habit which is not uncommon for single 30-year-olds in Italy.

The prices would certainly induce sticker shock in anyone who normally shops at Ann Taylor, let alone TJMax!

Two weeks ago:

Men's low Gucci boots: about $240, after VAT refund

Gucci fabric satchel with strap: about $180 after refund

Armani dress shirt $50

Zegna heavy, ribbed cotton sweater: $110 after refund

Prada cotton chino/"khaki" trousers: $75

The Mall's prices for menswear were variable: Armani has very good prices and lots of selection; Zegna has lots of selection but only a small set of items at the back of the store are substantially discounted; Gucci, like Fendi, does not discount deeply and much of their menswear is REALLY over the top ie unsellable. Chiffon shirts????

The Prada shop, 30 minutes away in Levanelle, is GREAT -- I would have bought more, if I had not kitted myself out so royally in NYC post-Xmas.

Trussardi and Dolce + Gabbana have their own outlets near the Mall. Have not visited there yet, though......

PS: What's with all the Russians shopping at the Mall??? And why do they all buy edgy, outrageous, very anti-Leninist gear???