"Marina Rinaldi - what a gorgeous desinger!" Top 5 Page for this destination Italy Shopping Tip by Trekki

I am not very much into clothes shopping. Quite contrary, I seriously hate it and I must be in a very very good mood to do it. But recently I found out that this habit must have developed in context to the lousy attitude of clothes shop staff, which usually can’t be bothered with anything that has to do with customer attention (which is an almost general German thing though...).

My love affair with this brand started already back in Germany without knowing that a love affair has started. I saw an advertisement in a magazine and liked the style of the sweater. Then I looked up the name of the brand and realised that – of course – it is an Italian brand. And when I was in Reggio nell’Emilia for a brief stopover on the way down to Gubbio in May 2010, I was delighted to hear that the biggest Marina Rinaldi shop is right there because Reggio is home to this brand and the one of Max Mara (the group, Marina Rinaldi belongs to). What followed was.... beyond comprehension, given how much I hated clothes shopping. First of all the girl who asked if she can help me was very friendly and did not at all had this look I (German size 44) see so often in German clothes shop where the eyes tell me that I should go, get a gun and shoot myself but never even think about finding something fashionable in my size. No, this girl smiled and when I told her what kind of style I prefer (with the help of a dear friend as translator), this girl brought me some clothes including the one I saw in the magazine some time ago. With an incredible intuition she brought me things I immediately fell in love with. Very much fashionable without being overdressed, and all came in sizes which fit as if they would have been made just for me. In addition, she didn’t make me feel unbearable (like the staff in German stores) with my size, but she and the clothes’ design gave me back a confidence I thought I had lost forever. We both had fun, well, the three of us had fun (I know that my friend also enjoyed this all) and at the end.... without a millisecond of hesitation, I left the store with 15 pieces and some many Euros less on my bank account. But given the workmanship I know that I will wear them for ages and they won’t fell off into pieces like that cheap made-in-China crap will do. Marina Rinaldi clothes are purely made in Italy and that’s obvious if you look at the details like the way a hem or button holes are sewn.

My overall opinion: yes, I wear size 44 and by now, knowing that there are designers working for Marina Rinaldi, I will never again feel rubbish with this size. Haha, it will even make it a tad more difficult to loose weight.

Update April 2011:
What can I say :-) Thank you for another gorgeous shopping day, dear consultant, dear girls at the shop and dear designers :-)

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Region: Emilia-Romagna,
Nearest airport: Bologna (code BLQ).
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Location of Marina Rinaldi on Google Maps.

© Ingrid D., September 2010 (just in case, RickS or others come along and think they can steal texts), update March 2011: location on Google Maps added, region & airport added.

Address: Via Emilia S. Stefano No 4, 42100 Reggio Emilia
Directions: From Teatro Municipale walk south and turn left into Via Emilia S. Stefano. This is the second road after the piazza in front of he teatro.
Theme: Women's Clothes
Website: http://www.marinarinaldi.com/