A woman's guide to shopping in Italy Published Oct. 17, 2013 By Nicole Morandini, Italian Intern 31 Fighter Wing Public Affairs AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- During the Milan and Florence Vogue Fashion Night Out in September, European fashionistas gathered in the two cities to buy and show off the latest trends. But there's no need to wait for such events to do some good shopping, and since you're lucky enough to live in the country of fashion, you definitely have the right excuse. The first thing to do is sort out your budget. Can I afford the latest trends or should I just try to get the last amazing blouse I saw on a fashion blog three months ago? Your answer will determine the shopping location, since there is a difference in prices between boutiques in the city center, and larger malls and outlets. But bigger doesn't always mean better! You'll find out that little stores have dedicated personnel who hand-pick each clothing piece they bring into their store. These shops are definitely 'chic' and the right place to go if you don't want to risk having someone dressed just like you at the next party. You can find these small boutiques mostly in town centers, where prices range from average to high. If your budget is a bit lower, you will probably appreciate the outlets instead. Here, you can find different brand stores that provide last season's collections, often for half the catalog price. Last but not least are the malls. Malls are generally the same in every country. They have many types of stores ranging from supermarkets, movie theaters and restaurants. Malls are great if you want to have a multisensory shopping experience and possibly get a slice of pizza, some sushi or a kebab roll. But, if you don't want to spend your entire day inside just to buy a five-pack of panties, it would be advisable to review the stores online to find their location within the mall and the types of brands you want to check out. Also, don't forget that the collections available might be very different in the shops located in a mall versus in town. Usually you will find unique attire in town and less varied clothes in the malls. Typically, bigger stores have more sizes available so don't give up if you couldn't fit into that jacket, you're going to find the right size, I promise. Speaking of sizes, these days you will probably find both European and American size listed on the price tags. But, if not, here is an average size chart you may find helpful. CLOTHING US 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 IT 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 WOMEN SHOES US 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 10.5 11 IT 36 36.5 37 37.5 38 38.5 /39 39.5 /40 40.5 41 41.5 42 Another question to ask yourself is: what kind of experience do you want? Are you in the mood for a very long and personalized experience with an expert, or do you prefer to shop around alone or with a friend, without being bothered by anyone? Experts will approach you and try to assist with your shopping needs. If you find a good one allow her/him to help you, they will probably make a great ally for your next shopping experience. You just need to ask "Come mi sta?"("Does this look good on me?"). But, if you really don't want any kind of help, you should just say "Do un'occhiata, grazie" ("I'll have a look around, thanks") And what if, after several minutes of meticulous searching, you find the perfect piece, and need a dressing room? Just ask, "Posso provare?" (Can I try it on?) If it doesn't fit just say, "Posso avere una taglia piu piccola/grande per favore?" (Can you get me a smaller/bigger size please?") If the price tag is missing just ask, "Quanto costa questo?" ("How much is this?") Did you like it? Then say, "Lo compro!" (I'll buy it). Did you not like it? "Non mi piace, grazie" (I don't like it, thank you!) is the right one. After you've found the clothing piece of your dreams, the next thing to do is to pay for it! The payment methods are at your discretion, but remember that if you are using a credit card, you will be asked for an I.D. since most retailers only accept credit cards that belong to you. So, if you want to pay with your husband's card, bring him along. In any case, asking "Accettate carta di credito?" (May I pay with credit card?) can avoid awkward situations. Congratulations! You just did some shopping in Italy! But, what can you do if you get home and those shoes don't feel that comfortable anymore? Return policies are important! The common rule is that if the article of clothing is flawed, then it is your right to get another one. But, if you just changed your mind and want to get the blue one instead of the red one you just bought, then it is at the retailer's discretion. Most of them will give you the option to exchange your purchase with something else (anything else with a similar price, as long as you show them the receipt) within a week or, sometimes, a month. Money back is unlikely and if the item was on sale, sometimes they won't let you return it. Lastly, speaking of sales, they are the shopaholic's favorite time of the year and come twice a year, once for spring/summer collections (usually starting the second week of July) and one for fall/winter collections (usually starting the second week of January). As for the starting date, it depends on the regional regulations, as well as the ending date. Perks of waiting until the last week is that retailers usually lower the prices of the last pieces of the collections, but the most common sizes never make it. It's your choice if you want to risk it.