by Cecilia Cottafavi @maert.ens

From the French word vendage, l’age du vin, the word vintage was born to indicate fine vintage wines, now it communicates the timeless aesthetics of fashion from the past, which, being the true gourmodes that we are, we love and are fond of.

Milan is recognised worldwide as one of the fashion capitals, in Europe it has a record of excellence that it has always disputed with Paris, as such it could not fail to satisfy our appetite for vintage as well. There are more than forty boutiques in the city for clothing alone, which when added to the accessory shops and various markets surpasses any other Italian city.

Is Milan, therefore, Italy’s vintage capital? Peut être, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call it that also because before it became a fashion, it was only us gou gous who appreciated its taste.

Faced with so many boutiques, it is difficult to choose those in which to rendez-vous, so today we will try to indicate the vintage boutiques of excellence for a tasty snack of clothes with friends.

The vintage boutique par excellence in Milan is well-known and highly appreciated by the Milanese Gou Gous. It has no less than three locations: Via Brera 2 and Via Gian Giacomo Mora 12, dedicated to women’s fashion, and Via Gian Giacomo Mora 3 to men’s wear and furnishings. The shop windows of the Cavalli and Nastri boutiques are famous throughout the city, impossible not to be mesmerised. Be careful though: the clothing delicacies are inside!

Cavalli e Nastri – Via Brera 2, Milano | Via Gian Giacomo Mora 12, Milano | Via Gian Giacomo Mora 3, Milano

On Via Valpetrosa, inside the 5 Vie, is The Cloister, an appetising concept store. The shop spans two large rooms on the ground floor and a small mezzanine, all with attention to detail. The tray of clothes here is very varied: it ranges from vintage clothing to accessories, furnishing accessories, beauty products, and various design objects that are sophisticated, non-trivial and have a history. The mezzanine floor is also dedicated to vintage and non-vintage newspapers and magazines.

If you visit The Cloister during summer, you will also be lucky enough to overlook the courtyard of the Casa dei Grifi, a historic palazzo built by Bramante.

The Cloister – Via Valpetrosa 5, Milano 

Juliana and Keith are ready to welcome you in their delightful boutique behind the Navigli, via Mario Fusetti 7, for super colourful clothes tasting. Juliana is the researcher of wonders, it is thanks to her travels that she presents every season classy garments, designer and not, always extra colourful. The boutique consists of a single room with several relays and a display case stocked with accessories. The selection consists only of women’s wear.

Pourquoi Moi Vintage – Via Mario Fusetti 7, Milano

There is no area more gourmode than Brera, n’est pas? And right here, at Via Ciovasso 6, you will find Urzì: a small bonbon of the area, delightful, with an impeccable vintage assortment. Impossible not to fall in love with something, the selection is never weighed down by too many garments and you can see how carefully each piece is chosen. The entire selection is made up of feminine garments.

Urzì Vintage Selection – Via Ciovasso 6, Milano

If you are accompanied by your gou gou garçon you will find right next door another boutique, Bottega Rossa, of the same family, with a wide vintage range also for men. This place is very different from the previous one, overflowing with clothes, it has been open since the 70s.

Bottega Rossa – Via Ciovasso 6, Milano

Along the Alzaia del Naviglio Pavese, precisely at number 52, you will find Sous Vintage, a spacious boutique spread over two floors. Upon entering, on the ground floor, you will find exquisite delicacies from different decades of the past with a selection for both women and men. The shop is extremely well-kept, everything is perfectly ordered and divided by category. Be sure not to miss the goodies near the till, such as the bowl filled with old buttons.

Once you go upstairs, you cannot help but fall into temptation, an assortment of maison is waiting to be discovered.

Sous Vintage Shop – Alzaia Naviglio Pavese 52, Milano

Now dear gou gous, all you have to do is organise yourselves, boutiques and addresses you already know, when do we start this snak?

Bisous