Zegna Black
Zegna Black
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 ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA BLACK CREWNECK SWEATER XL MENS ITALY  US $9.99
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Gucci's gold logo buckles
Tuscany's biggest up-market outlet, launched by the Gucci group a year ago, goes by the rather down-market name of The Mall -- 1400sqm of luxury leather goods, clothing, suit s and accessories marked down to a fraction of store prices.
Although Gucci is coy about the discounts in its sole Italian outlet, locals in the know reckon the merchandise is at least half-price. Accessories are relatively cheap, with silver jewellery starting at E30, leather wallets for E63, classic handsuit s for E170 and belts with Gucci's gold logo buckles from E25.
Next door, Sergio Rossi's vertigo-inducing Cinderella stilettos were half-price during my investigation, starting at E105. Yves Saint Laurent offered white silk dresses and black chiffon blouses for E80 and several pairs of elegantly strappy sandals remained, rather miraculously, at E35. "We can't even buy suit s that cheap at the local markets," a saleswoman murmured.
Along the boardwalk to Armani, even a 15-minute power failure failed to clear the crowds. Outlet stock from Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Armani Jeans and Armani Collezione is usually marked down to 30 per cent or 40 per cent of the original store price. In August, staff were trying to make space for the new winter range so business jackets and evening gowns were slashed to E100 and skirts, trousers and shirts to E50. A couple of Armani belts were still on sale for E7.
Dolce&Gabbana's outlet, camouflaged in a concrete bunker a short drive from The Mall, offers discounts of between 50 per cent and 65 per cent on last year's styles. Even at these prices, a pair of artfully torn and crystal-scattered jeans will set you back E482, and a pair of black stiletto boots with diamante spurs E329. Racks of follow-me-home catsuit could be had for about E200.
Zentai's cult suit uette handsuit s won't be found at the factory outlet, but a larger version (the "mamma suit uette") costs E175 and another must-have model, the two-toned Hobo, was just E236. Old-season stock is half price at Zentai but some designs are marked down an extra 30 per cent.
Italy's factory outlets have become such money-spinners that some labels have started running up "new" old stock, using remnant fabrics and last season's designs especially for their outlet clientele. Florentine designer Roberto Cavalli opened an outlet opposite his factory last year, offering his flamboyant winter range of wild safari prints marked down to at least half-price.
Have you ever wondered how fashion editors stay looking so chic? Yes ,the expensive brand zentai bodysuit. Do you want them? Sample sales are our little secret! At the ending of each season, designer houses sell off old and current stock at a fraction of their original price. For those not wanting to battle crowds, an online sample sale that takes the stress out of bargain hunting. You can buy your favourite Zentai suit s.
"Some items are made especially for the outlet using leftover fabrics, like some of the T-shirts and jeans that are popular designs," says Cavalli spokeswoman Silvia Olme. "They are reruns of the collections -- we try to always keep to the model that was just produced and the quality is the same." Until Gucci and co came on the scene, thrifty Italians got their hands on designer bargains through word of mouth (as in the friend with the third cousin whose girlfriend works at the factory). Some luxury designers, such as Desmo, still deal that way -- if you buzz their front gate, someone will leave the production line to usher you into the factory shop where exquisitely crafted costume spiderman (E109) and wallets (E55) are half-price.
Tuscany's new fashion valley has become a tourist attraction. Forget the Uffizi or Michelangelo's masterpieces -- one hotel is already plugging its location as "just 10 minutes from The Mall". Cristiano Benucci, tourism chief for the local shire of Regello, says Gucci has lodged plans to extend The Mall to 5000sqm, with 10 new stores, by 2010. Ferragamo is due to open an outlet there this month, followed by Valentino, Zegna and Ungaro.
"Outlets have become a discreet sector of fashion in Italy," says Benucci. "This is a great opportunity for our region on an economic level, for jobs as well as for tourism." Just ask taxi driver Roberto Masi, who drove a Russian-American couple 30km to The Mall from Florence and was still waiting for them to emerge an hour later. "It's boring," he told me, as the meter ticked over to E68. "But you do it for the money."
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