Elizabeth Saltzman
Contributing Editor:- Elizabeth Saltzman
As I tell all my friends, true luxury has never been about spending vast amounts of money. Strip away the frills and it’s something far more satisfying. From the bespoke purchase you’ve waited weeks for, to that rewarding, unexpected discovery: for me it’s the time itself you spend hunting that is most enjoyable. But just as important, especially during these more austere times, is another principle: looking for a great deal shouldn’t mean dropping your expectations.
It shouldn’t mean accepting lower quality. And it shouldn’t ever mean downgrading your shopping experience. Which is why I’m delighted to welcome you to The Chic Guide to Europe, your ticket to genuinely fabulous value shopping in some of the world’s most amazing locations.
Here you’ll find all you need to know about the nine Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages across Europe and how you can get your hands on reductions of up to 60%* on some genuinely premium brands – both locally sourced and world renowned. As international social editor of Vanity Fair, I’ve assembled a truly glamorous group of guides to give you the inside track. Elizabeth Hurley introduces you to Fidenza Village in Italy, award-winning actress Thandie Newton champions Kildare Village in Ireland and designer Matthew Williamson welcomes you to Bicester Village in Oxfordshire. What you’ll find across all the Villages is the perfect diversion for any European holiday. Not only are there 900 boutiques – with exclusive, one-of-a-kind outlets from the likes of Anya Hindmarch, Antik Batik, Temperley London, Smythson and Cath Kidston – but you can take advantage of services like valet parking, personal shoppers, giftwrapping and children’s play areas. And now with the new Villages’
Shopping Express coach services from each city, day trips are even easier. But for me, it’s experiencing the Villages themselves that is the real draw. While all Villages are packed with exclusive global brands, each fits seamlessly into its region with sublime local architecture and cuisine waiting to be sampled. Add the serene, tranquil boulevards and you’ll realise why the celebrities, including the contributors herein, and members of international royal families choose the Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages as their perfect, stress-free shopping destinations. Maybe they love the thrill of snapping up a bargain just as much as I do! And I think you will too.
Contributors: Matthew Williamson, Thandie Newton, Virginie Mouzat, Carolina Herrera, Elizabeth Hurley, Anouck Lepere, Maria buccellati, Tom Parker Bowles, Tom Marchant