Business Beat: Over-rated Discount Outlet

It might appear that we are all smiles in our picture in front of Gucci, and while our bank accounts were thankful, our feelings were devastated and disappointed.

 Discount outlet? More like overrated “outlet” mall.

With Chicago Premium Outlet mall in our minds as a picture of what we could expect this mall to be like, you could say we were A LITTLE discouraged.  When we arrived we saw only about twenty stores of high end designers—Lanvin, Burberry, and Stella McCartney. Big sales? Coupons? Nope. None of these cachet stores were advertising eye-catching deals or handing out sought after discount coupons like in the Premium Outlets in Chicago.

The aspects of the entire mall were beautiful, the prices were not. “Outlet” obviously does not mean the same in Italy as it does in the United States.  For example, a short waist leather jacket “on sale” was $2,731.00 BEFORE taxes. A studded shirt from Saint Laurent shown in the video was roughly $400.00.

 Even though we were discouraged by the prices, it was a enlightening experience to be able to see and feel the upcoming seasons from our favorite designers including Prada, Dior, Alexander McQueen, Gucci, and more. Everything was beautiful from the couture to the associates to the food.

All in all, the landscape, location, and couture were aesthetically pleasing, but the prices were not. Coming from fashionistas ourselves, don’t waste the ten euro for the trip to the outlet mall. Stick to the unique shops in Florence.