Retail Heaven: Six Global Luxury Shopping Districts

Via Montenapoleone

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Via Montenapoleone | Milan, Italy
Milan is an international capital of fashion and design. And it makes perfect sense that this city in Northern Italy is home to one of the most famed shopping districts in the world: Via Montenapoleone. Prada and Versace were founded in this city and maintain boutiques on this street. Italian brands Gucci and Giorgio Armani have also set up shop. Boutiques on “Europe’s most expensive street” are renowned for the exterior and interior designs that are just as gorgeous as the goods inside.

Opened in 2016, Dolce & Gabbana’s flagship location features striking décor including an 18th-Century gold-leaf mirror at the entrance, green turtle marble covering the stairs and walls and Sicilian baroque furniture throughout—designed to make customers feel like they’re in a museum. Italian shoes are known for being some of the best in the entire world, and many luxury shoe brands have stores on this street too. Shoppers can head to Casadei, Greymer, Santoni and A Testoni where they can purchase high-quality Italian shoes.

Photo by BCFC / Shutterstock

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Rodeo Drive | Los Angeles
Los Angeles’ Rodeo Drive is perhaps the most luxurious two miles in the entire world. Top brands like Gucci, Harry Winston, Jimmy Choo, Prada, Tiffany & Co., Salvatore Ferragamo and Valentino all reside here. Strolling down this street (a la Julia Roberts in Pretty Women) is a true treat for the senses. When you’re in this luxury shopping district, you’re bound to spot luxury vehicles, and many of the shops put up extravagant and elegant window displays.

One highlight? House of Bijan. Established in 1976, Bijan is often called “the most expensive store in the world.” The price of a tie? $1,000. Starting price for a suit? Around $10,000. The shop is by appointment only. If you’re a high roller, your name might even be on the door. Billionaires, star athletes and five of the last six presidents have been outfitted by this brand—an impressive feat even by Rodeo Drive standards.

Scottsdale Fashion Square

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Scottsdale Fashion Square | Scottsdale
At nearly 2 million square feet, Scottsdale Fashion Square is Arizona’s largest mall and is considered to be the area’s premiere shopping destination. And most recently, The Macerich property unveiled an expansive new luxury wing in November of 2018. Shoppers can look forward to a plethora of new and redesigned luxe boutiques and amenities intended to elevate the luxury shopper’s experience.

Highlights include a two-story entrance complete with a grand chandelier and a dedicated luxury valet. Renovated and redesigned boutiques include Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Montblanc, Jimmy Choo, Gucci, Omega, St. John, CH Carolina Herrera and Neiman Marcus. New stores making their debut at the mall include Breitling, Hublot, IWC Schaffhausen, Saint Laurent and Trina Turk. And the best is yet to come. Shoppers can also look forward to the arrivals of luxury fitness destination Equinox, the renowned Nobu and Caesars Republic Scottsdale, the company’s first non-gaming hotel.

Tiffany’s on Fifth Avenue

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Fifth Avenue | New York City
If you’re headed to New York City to shop, your first destination should be Fifth Avenue. Many top companies have flagship locations on this bustling street. Highlights include the Cartier Mansion—the largest Cartier shop in the entire world—and one of Fifth Avenue’s only remaining mansions. Customers can enjoy four floors of jewelry, watches, fragrances and accessories. Tiffany & Co.’s flagship location (where you can now have actual breakfast at Tiffany’s at The Blue Box Café) is another stand out store.

You can usually view the legendary yellow Tiffany diamond, which is now in a necklace and typically displayed on the ground floor. Bergdorf Goodman’s only location resides on Fifth and is a celebrity and fashion designers’ dream come true. The late Joan Rivers even called the department store “the epitome of the city.” Assuming you can nab one, you could try booking an appointment with legendary personal shopper Betty Halbreich. She’s styled the likes of Meryl Streep, Sarah Jessica Parker and Rivers and knows a thing or two about how to dress to impress.

The Dubai Mall

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The Dubai Mall | Dubai
With more than 80 million annual visitors, The Dubai Mall is the world’s largest and most-visited retail destination in the entire world. The retail behemoth is home to a staggering 1,300 retail outlets including two anchor department stores—Galeries Lafayette and Bloomingdale’s—and also features an aquarium, an ice rink, a flight simulator and an underwater zoo. Luxury shoppers will want to head to Fashion Avenue where they can find 150 designer brands. Some of the most exclusive include Faberge, Van Cleef & Arpels and Tom Ford. The Dubai Mall is also home to the Level Shoe District, a shoe lover’s paradise that only sells exclusive footwear. The world’s largest shoe store is divvied up into four pavilions featuring women’s designer, contemporary, men’s and trend from luxury brands including Christian Louboutin, Manolo Blahnik and Giuseppe Zanotti.

South Coast Plaza

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South Coast Plaza | Costa Mesa, CA
Orange County’s South Coast Plaza touts itself as the “West Coast’s premier shopping experience,” and it’s not hard to see why. South Coast Plaza is home to more than 250 prominent boutiques, award-winning restaurants and the nearby Segerstrom Center for the Arts. The largest shopping center on the West Coast features the highest concentration of high-fashion retailers in the United States. Luxe brands like Gucci, Hermes, Alexander McQueen and Givenchy all have stores here. Rolex even opened its first standalone flagship shop at this mall in 2008. Many shoppers love the Jewel Court—featuring a stained-glass dome and high ceilings that’s home to numerous luxury boutiques like Fendi, Prada and Max Mara. And the mall boasts impressive numbers. More than 22 million people head to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California, to indulge in retail therapy annually. The mall’s sales total to $1.8 billion yearly—making it one of the highest grossing malls in the entire country.