A Handbag Lover’s Pilgrimage to the Original Prada
How an extraordinary experience in the world’s first Prada store deepened my everlasting love affair with handbags
What happens when a lifelong love for handbags meets the birthplace of one of fashion’s most iconic brands? Our newest contributor found out — and lucky for us, she brought back more than just a shopping bag.
In this piece, Asia Glenn takes us inside the original Prada store in Milan, but this isn’t your average fashion-girl recap. Think of it as a love letter — not just to Prada, but to the thrill of collecting the things we love, the joy of travel, and the kind of handbags that make your heart skip a beat.
Happy reading,
Amarissa
When It All Began
From as early as I can remember, I’ve always had a love for handbags. It was the accessory that made every outfit feel complete. Its presence on my arm solidified the essence of my “girly girl” persona. Before I was a teenager I had amassed a collection of handbags with a variety of fabrics from denim to sequins to faux fur.
As I grew older, the collection became more sophisticated as I traded in my Children’s Place handbags for a more timeless, classic collection that evolved with my sense of style. I still remember the intoxicating smell of genuine leather from my first “big girl” purse that made me feel so stylish and chic. Today my collection consists of 22 luxury handbags ranging from rising Black designer brands like Brandon Blackwood and Telfar to century old European brands like Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Prada.
Love Without Borders: Handbag Collecting Across the Globe
In the last few years, I began combining my love for handbags with my love for travel. In 2023, I purchased a Louis Vuitton handbag from the flagship store in Paris, France. While I had already owned two other Louis Vuitton handbags, something felt unique and special about owning one directly from Paris. Sipping my complementary cappuccino, I was overjoyed when the sales associate presented me with my freshly wrapped new vanity handbag — a statement piece of pure femininity. The entire experience felt surreal — after all it was my birthday, and I had just gifted myself with a precious gem. As the old saying goes “a luxury once tasted becomes a necessity” and the craving for more began.
This March, I took a trip to Italy in hopes of purchasing a Fendi handbag in Rome and a Prada handbag in Milan, the origin cities of both fashion houses. Similar to the experience at Louis Vuitton’s flagship store, the options at the Fendi flagship store were endless and the staff was extremely insightful and patient as I tried on handbags of various sizes and prints. I eventually decided on a dove grey baguette handbag, Fendi’s most popular style. I was delighted to add another handbag to my collection — especially from its city of origin — but I had a feeling that visiting Prada in Milan, the brand’s very first boutique, would offer something even more special. I was right.
More Than a Store: Prada’s First Home
The original Prada store in Milan is inside Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, an indoor shopping plaza with dazzling marble floors that features several high end fashion stores conveniently located near the jewel of Milan, the Duomo. Similar to all the stores in the Galleria, the entrance of the Prada store has an arch frame displaying the name of the fashion house in gold letters over a black background. Inside is where the true magic was.
I walked into the store ready for my special adventure and feeling like a fashion icon, dressed in leopard print denim, a red lizard skin jacket, thick brimmed sunglasses with a red tint, black high heels, and of course one of my beloved handbags, a YSL croc-embossed sunset bag. I was eagerly greeted by a saleswoman dressed in the Prada uniform: a black sweater, white button up, long gray skirt, black translucent tights and black Prada loafers. I told her that I was in search of one of Prada’s re-edition 2005 bags, which I view as the “original handbag” for its simplicity yet elevated style. Though the main floor offered a handful of styles that one would see at a typical store, the saleswoman invited me to explore further, hinting at a more enchanting experience below. “You’re in the original Prada – it’s like being in a museum. Come, come!”
Below the Surface: Discovering Prada’s Story
Off we went down the spiral marble staircase to the lower level of the store. Before entering the shopping floor, we walked through a long hallway with a beautifully hand painted panoramic mural of travelers headed for voyage by ships on one side and by trains on the other. Lining the walls of the mural were vintage trunks contrasted with modern roller bags with floor lights illuminating the travel bags in the dimly lit hallway - a subtle nod to Prada’s roots as a luxury travel brand.
As we got onto the shopping floor one side looked quite similar to the upstairs display. We tried a few different variations and colors but I ultimately fell in love with a baby blue Prada 2005 re-edition with gold hardware. Since the hard work of choosing which bag I would get was over, the saleswoman decided to take me on a tour of the rest of the lower level.
We headed to a room that reminded me of a home office. There was a large desk at the front of the room and travel goods - trunks, briefcases, and duffle bags in exotic leathers - were on display on the surrounding walls. After that room we walked through what was staged as a dining room with a long table covered in Prada chinaware. Off to the right there was another room filled with more travel goods and a tablet on display of the glass countertop. On the tablet, you can customize your very own Prada bag with the ability to choose different colors, materials, and hardware along with your initials engraved in a place of your choosing. To the right of this room, was the ready to wear fashion which felt as if you were stepping into someone’s very fashionable walk in closet.
A Memory Wrapped in Style, The Original Way
After perusing around a bit in each section, I was instructed by the saleswoman to take a seat on a green velvet couch in the checkout waiting area, which felt very homey, almost akin to a living room, as she prepared my handbag. There were coffee tables in front of both couches with Prada fashion books as the only decor. She returned with a large white shopping bag that she explained had the original Prada logo on it - a shopping bag you can only get at this store. The wrapping paper for the handbag inside the box is also adorned with the original logo.
She took a few photos of me on the couch with the shopping bag. I was the happiest girl in the world. Not only did I have a new handbag but a new core memory in my lifelong love for handbags - exploring the store where it all began. European fashion houses in their birthplace are such a unique and unforgettable experience. Whether you’re a lover of handbags or fashion more generally, you should visit the stores where it all began in their native cities. You may leave with a greater love for the brand or even better – a new handbag.
A Love Letter to My New Prada Purse
To my newest beauty,
Thank you for taking my love for handbags to a whole new dimension and for reigniting the pure joy I felt as a little girl with my very first purse.
You will be styled effortlessly – the pop of color for simple achromatic looks or the perfect eye catcher for a baby blue monochromatic moment.
You will be cherished endlessly. Your origin story is the most iconic in my entire collection – the “original handbag” from the original Prada.
I promise to give you all the love and care you deserve.
A timeless treasure, a coveted classic, a prized possession - but most importantly, mine.
With love,
Ciao!
Final oversight & edits by Amarissa.
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