Where to Shop in Milan: 11 Independent Boutiques To Visit
There’s a thriving community of creative Italians who embrace style outside the world of major fashion houses.
Fresh off Milan Fashion Week, I’ve been thinking about the city A LOT. With each visit, I fall for her even more. Milan is mysterious—her beauty isn’t always obvious but something you must seek out and uncover. And if you're from northeast America like me, Milan feels like the perfect happy medium between the rat-race American lifestyle you may have left behind and the slower, stereotypical version of Italy you see on TV.
Of course, Milan is known as the fashion capital (though I’d argue Rome deserves that title, too), home to some of the world's most “important” luxury fashion houses and shopping districts. But beyond Via Monte Napoleone, there’s a thriving community of creative Italians who embrace style outside the world of Gucci and Prada.
Each time I head up north, I discover new independent boutiques and shops, always jotting them down in my notes app. Here are some of my favorites to visit next time you are in the industrial city.
1. Emily Levine
Between Milan’s popular Chinatown and Porta Garibaldi neighborhood, Levine’s pieces make you feel feminine, dainty, delicate, and free. The brand partners with Italian and Indian artisans and creates whimsical, seasonal collections with block printing techniques.
Founded in 1940, Casa del Bianco is 100% Made in Milan. It is noted for its colorful homeware and pigama collections for men, women, and children. The store also sells colorful friulane, button-ups, and home linens.
I love their boxer shorts, pictured above, that can be worn from sleep to street.
3. Vibi Venezia
I talk a lot about friulane because they’ve quickly become my favorite Italian-made footwear. My tried-and-true choice is Vibi Venezia, thanks to their classic styles—perfectly rounded toes, sturdy stitched soles, and timeless, simple colors. Their shop in downtown Brera exudes a charming nautical vibe, decked out in infinite shades of blues and bold reds.
EspressOh Beauty has become the Italian makeup and beauty version of Glossier, with feminine packaging, consumer-facing marketing, and products that can be used on the go. After a handful of years of pop-ups both in Italy and internationally, the newest storefront in Milan is a must-visit to try the products yourself.
I die for the eyebrow gel, cream-based blush, and dewy-base moisturizer.
By appointment only, Vero Veronica by Veronica Pieri crafts handmade jewelry in the city's heart. From engagement rings and diamond pendants to funky beaded necklaces and vintage heirlooms, it’s the newest (and, dare I say, coolest) addition to Milan’s creative design scene.
Originally born in the Cinque Terre, LANAPO also has a showroom in Milan. The brand’s items embody a life lived by the sea, with sweaters and T-shirts featuring seaside Italian-inspired sayings like "You remind me of the sea." However, LANAPO makes incredible footwear, from leather mules to velvet Birkenstock-esk slides and Capri-inspired sandals, which is what I’d shop for.
In the heart of Brera, this multi-brand concept boutique sells men's and women’s clothes and a handful of shoes and accessories. Its merchandise invites shoppers to discover cool, lesser-known brands and touches of personal style.
It is pricey, but the quality and unique pieces justify every euro spent, which will leave you saying thank god I ended up buying that jacket.
8. Bitossi Home
Specializing in tabletop and home decor, Bitossi’s playful, colorful, and joyful designs make eating at the table much more of a celebration. All items are 100% Made in Italy, and I think homeware accessories make for one of the most memorable souvenirs to bring home from a foreign city.
I adore their plates, which have quirky Italian motifs and sayings used in everyday life.
Owner Umberta Zambeletti says, " La vita è bella" (life is beautiful), so why not dress like it? WAIT and SEE’s assortment of clothes, shoes, and accessories is playful, vibrant, and inspiring. Working with niche brands from all over the world, WAIT and SEE is a playground for discovery.
10. LIL Milan
We all need simple, everyday jewelry (and we can never have enough). LIL Milan hits the nail on the head regarding wearable, timeless, and unique pieces. Each jewel is handmade in Milan, and 10 years later, the owner, Veronica, still sketches every piece before bringing it to life with local goldsmiths.
11. Folkloore
Folkloore is the ultimate global artisanal shop. The brand co-creates locally handmade products in more than 20 communities around the world, from Peru and India to Italy, Argentina, and Kenya to name a few. The store selection celebrates fashion through each country’s’ culture, tradition, and craftsmanship, prioritizing sustainable sourcing and fair work.
Wait and See and The Store were two favourites when I used to live in Milan; Woke Store is another beautiful specialty boutique. Have you considered creating more of these lists, but based in Rome, Naples, and other città del sud?
I’ve lived here 10 years and the amount of indie boutiques always surprises! Super list. Need a pair of those shorts 🩳