How to score ‘cheap’ Prada bags in Tuscany

Text and photos by Cathy Rose A. Garcia

HEADING to Italy and planning to shop until you drop? Make time to include a trip to one of the outlet shopping malls scattered throughout the country.

Outlet Shopping: There are long queues in the Prada boutique just to make a purchase, with several open counters at least 10 people deep even on a weekday

Italy is synonymous with luxury labels such as Prada and Gucci, so it’s no surprise the outlet malls are heaven for shopaholics with a taste for designer goods.

The Mall, located in Leccio Reggello in Tuscany, is one of the most known outlets. Less than an hour away from Florence, The Mall lives up to its reputation as the best outlet mall with shops of top brands Prada, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, Chopard, Tod’s, Fendi, Balenciaga, Valentino, and Salvatore Ferragamo.

A direct bus service to The Mall leaves the BusItalia/SITA depot along Via Santa Caterina de Siena, every day in 30 minute intervals. A one-way ticket costs €7, while a round-trip ticket costs €13.

A ticket can be bought on the day itself — I got a ticket around 9 a.m., but there was already a long line of mostly Asian women waiting for the bus. Never underestimate the allure of discounted luxury goods for Asians.

The two buses that arrived quickly filled up, and I was on the verge of giving up, but thankfully, the 10 a.m. bus had one seat left.

The ride was comfortable and took less than a hour. It was a little before 11 a.m. when the bus pulled in at The Mall.

At first glance, The Mall isn’t as big as the outlets in the US, but it is certainly prettier and boasts a decent view of the Tuscan hills in the background.

Like many of those who got off the bus, I made a beeline for the Prada store. At the entrance, a store attendant handed me a slip of paper with a number. The number is used to identify your purchases when you go to the counter to pay.

The two-storey shop had the general look and feel of a “real” Prada boutique, complete with good-looking shop clerks who were eager to assist. Prada handbags and accessories, as well as those by Miu Miu, were on the ground floor. Men and women’s clothing were on the second floor.

There was a surprisingly wide selection of handbags, from nylon totes to leather shoulder bags, as well as accessories such as sunglasses, key fobs, wallets and card cases.

Printed nylon Prada totes were marked down to €200, while classic-looking leather bags were between €500 to €600. The handbag designs were mainly from previous seasons or made exclusively for the outlets, which is why they’re “cheaper” than the €2,000 purses found at the Prada boutique in Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II arcade.

Shopping at the Prada outlet wasn’t very pleasurable since there were long queues just to make a purchase. There were several open counters, but all were at least 10 people deep and it was a weekday!

It turned out the “ticket” system was the reason why check out took so long. A customer hands the number to the cashier, while an attendant goes to the stockroom to pick up the items. Each item is unwrapped and carefully inspected for any defects. So imagine my frustration when one of the customers in front of me ordered seven pairs of shoes and five bags, as well as several sunglasses.

After an hour and 20 minutes (yes, I noted the time), I finally exited the Prada store with a big sigh of relief.

NO LINE ELSEWHERE
Across the street, I found the Gucci store, which was bigger but had fewer customers. The handbag selection seemed limited, but the fact that there were no lines at the counter was a big plus.

Another reason to go here is the Gucci Caffe, located at the rooftop of the boutique. The menu featured pastries, sandwiches, salads, and pasta. A Gucci fan should order a cup of coffee, which comes with a sugar cube shaped in the brand’s interlocking Gs. A similar café can be found at the Gucci Museo in Piazza della Signoria, Florence.

Unlike the Prada outlet, the other stores at The Mall did not have big crowds, perhaps because of their limited offerings.

At Bottega Veneta, there were only a handful of bags featuring their famous Intrecciato weave. Lanvin’s outlet store was a bit cramped and mostly had shoes and clothes.

The Tod’s store, which was combined with Hogan, yielded a few good deals. Prices of Tod’s Gommino driving shoes started at €200, roughly half of the regular price. There were even some shoes going for €100, but unfortunately these only came in broken sizes and had slight blemishes.

A reminder: don’t forget to bring your passport to avail of the refund on the value-added tax (VAT). The process may take a few minutes when you’re at the counter, but you can get a 12% refund for purchases above €155.

The Mall even has an office where you can process your refund, whether in cash or credit, immediately. The long line here can be worth it, especially if you get your cash back — more money for shopping.

Overall, going to The Mall is only worth it if you are a big fan of luxury labels. While the outlet prices are lower than at the boutiques, don’t expect to find anything for less than €100.

For the months of June, July, and August, The Mall is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. (it usually closes at 7 p.m.). The summer sale usually starts in July. Visit https://www.themall.it/en/outlet-italy/homepage.html for more information.