Want to discover some lovely fashion boutiques in Milan that embody the quintessence of this city’s spirit ‒understated yet very chic ‒ and that you won’t find anywhere else in the world (unlike the most celebrated fashion brands)?
Here are two of them.
Bottega Artigiana
In the heart of one of Milan’s most lively neighbourhoods there is Bottega Artigiana, a cute little shop that is a real gem for those with a taste for understated chic (which tends to be seen as the “real chic” according to Milanese standards). If you too are definitely not a fan of anything that’s too garish and “in-your-face”, you’ll love Bottega Artigiana.
The owners are Lucia and Cristina. Lucia, who used to work as a buyer for important brands (including Liberty London), creates and “invents” most of the items of clothing in the shop. Her own brand ‒ called B.LOU ‒ is the result of years of research and experience, which make her scout around for the most interesting fabrics. She says that her creative process starts precisely from the fabric, imagining how this could be turned into a dust coat, a jacket, a dress, a skirt…
After roughly sketching her idea of the garment, she discusses feasibility and technicalities with her trusted tailor. And that’s where the magic happens. One of Lucia’s most popular creations are the premium quality silk satin shirts, in stretch fabric and in various colours.
Garments can also be “made to measure”, adjusting them to your figure.
At Bottega Artigiana you’ll find other brands, accurately selected by Lucia, like the Spanish “Nice things” or the French “Diegà”.
Cristina, who founded this boutique 17 years ago, cultivates her great passion for craftsmanship by hand making all the accessories you will find here: hats, scarves, small bags, pouches, belts ‒ you name it. Perfect gift ideas and perfect items to complement your outfit. Her own brand’s name? Un’idea tira l’altra (which literally translates to “One idea leads to another”).
Bottega Artigiana
Via Pasquale Sottocorno 5, Milan
tel. +39 (0)2 39680177
Open:
Monday 3:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
La Franci
La Franci is a delightful little shop in the heart of the Brera district that sells clothes, various types of accessories and bijoux.
The owner ‒ Francesca (who used to work as an architect) ‒ recently decided to open her fashion boutique leveraging her talent and passion for colour-matching in clothing.
Attention to detail is utmost in this shop, from the colour accents and artistic details in the furnishings to the choice of unusual and interesting ornamental objects displayed on the shelves.
The garments are mainly high-quality Italian tailoring, such as blouses, shirts and dresses in a variety of natural fabrics (silk, cotton, linen, viscose, velvet), but also garments from other countries, like hand-embroidered jackets and dusters from India, versatile cashmere scarves from the Himalayas, and other clothes and accessories from France and Denmark.
The jewels ‒ artisanal productions from Italy and France ‒ are in gold-plated silver, brass and bronze, with semi-precious stones and crystals. Perfect to complement your outfit with a spark of light.
La Franci
Via Ponte Vetero 15, Milan
tel. +39 (0)2 38269773
Open:
Monday 3:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday – Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
This post was all about Bottega Artigiana and La Franci, two lovely fashion boutiques in Milan.