One Block Down
One Block Down’s sprawling subculture superstore sits just round the corner from the Duomo in Milan’s historic centre, a punky upstart, which has stormed the citadel of high society. The industrial-style space stocks everything from a serious selection of collectable trainers and a tight edit of streetwear through to magazines and books. Brands stocked include Salomon Advanced and Rassvet, but the big draw here is One Block Down’s own line of highly covetable streetwear that always takes it up an extra notch.
Piazza Armando Diaz, 2, 20123; oneblockdown.com
Eral 55
Milanese style icon Ermanno Lazzarin opened his beloved menswear institution on the corner of Corso Como and Piazza XXV Aprile back in 1976. Since then, it’s evolved into a full-service style destination offering everything from vintage denim and the store’s signature stripy socks through to artisanal knitwear and made-to-order suits that call upon his family’s tradition of men’s tailoring.
P.za XXV Aprile, 14, 20124 Milano; eral55.com
Slam Jam
Slam Jam was born in Ferrara, a small city just north of Bologna in Emilia-Romagna where the company built its reputation as one of Italy’s top streetwear emporiums. In 2016 it opened a Milan flagship, a beautifully designed two-storey boutique that pays homage to the world’s urban subcultures. Located in Brera, right next to Parco Sempione, it stocks brands like Cav Empt, And Wander, Undercover and works with collaborators including AC Milan and Umbro.
Via Giovanni Lanza, 1, 20121 Milano; slamjam.com
Mulino Docksmart
In 2008, Elia Fabrizio took over the vintage store that had been operating in this atmospheric old electric mill on Via Toffetti and evolved it into one of the most forward-thinking boutiques in Italy. It offers a special colour-matching service so you can see what tones work with your skin, hair and eyes, and the always reasonable clothes on offer range from streetwear to threads for the office, with a good spread of furniture, fragrances and vinyl records also for sale.
Via Vincenzo Toffetti, 9, 20139; docksmart.it
Clan Upstairs
Also in Brera, on Via Pontaccio, is the beautifully put together Clan Upstairs, a multi-brand concept store that stocks a tight edit of clothes including pieces from Murphy and Nye, Scharlau and Moonstar. In 2020, it launched its own brand, also called Clan Upstairs, a handsome collection of wardrobe staples, which are understated but super-considered, much like the store. Look out for its events, which include regular author visits to its literary club.
Via Pontaccio, 15, 20121; clanupstairs.com
Cavalli e Nastri Uomo
Unsurprisingly, one of the world’s great fashion capitals has one of the world’s great vintage shops. Don’t come to Cavalli e Nastri Uomo expecting to buy by the kilo, however. This is vintage elevated to rarefied heights: Junya Watanabe blazers, Moschino jumpsuits, Yves Saint Laurent ties, Aquascutum trenches. Prices are of a different order to what you’d expect to pay in a London charity shop but are still a long way off the ticket.
Via Gian Giacomo Mora, 3, 20123; cavallienastri.com
