As morning comes to the world’s most prosperous cities, you’ll see them leaving their hotels in the morning sunlight. They had a light breakfast: black coffee, maybe half a grapefruit, and whole wheat toast. They are simply dressed, often in black. Their hair is tied up so it doesn’t get ruffled during the long day ahead. In a rare concession to comfort over style, they wear flats. However, her makeup is impeccable; they carry designer handbags, and the labels on the sunglasses they wear covering most of their faces or placed high on their heads, depending on the weather, have globally recognizable labels. Late in the afternoon, they return, getting out of the taxis that drop them off outside their hotels, a little more tired but flushed with triumph and laden with designer bags. A short shower break and they head out again, this time to the most fashionable restaurants and bars in the city. Now the black clothing is gone, replaced by a rainbow assortment of the latest fashion. The look of determination is gone, too: they may even crack a smile if their partner admires a particularly stylish purchase. They’re the global shoppers: travelers who treat their vacations with a sense of serious purpose: It’s all about stocking up on the latest and most desirable fashions that the world’s style capitals have to offer.

In Milan, you’ll find serious shoppers heading to Via Montenapoleone, where luxury lingerie brand La Perla is a mecca for women seeking the most beautiful and delicate silk and lace confections, and for men who seek to treat the special. ladies who may or may not be his wives. The street is also home to Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Venezia, Gucci, Prada, Gianni Versace and Valentino, household names in the world of big-budget fashion. But Milan isn’t just for those whose platinum credit cards need some serious training. There are great bargains to be found in the city, too: try Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, where designer outlet stores stock high fashion items with prices cut to a fraction of the original cost. Or head to 10 Corso Como Outlet, where you’ll find pieces by Chloe, Helmut Lang, and Comme des Garcons at bargain prices, though of course, even at deep discounts, labels like these don’t come cheap.

Many visitors to Paris walk the streets of the French capital oblivious to the iconic Eiffel Tower looming overhead, blind to the beauty of the Seine as it meanders through the city, passing under the Arc de Triomphe with hardly any look at. They are travelers on a mission: they are not here to see the sights of the city, but to walk through the glass doors of the department stores and luxury boutiques that line the streets of Paris, to brave the scornful gaze of the shop assistants. the shops, whose unerring eyes can spot a high street purchase in seconds, but whose advice on line and fit is always on the money. Fashion lovers in Paris head to the glittering counters at Printemps, Le Bon Marche and Galleries Lafayette, where floor after floor houses a fragrant profusion of clothing, shoes, handbags and beauty products. Or there are the big international brands that have their flagship stores here: think Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior, as well as new kids in the district like Replay and Uniqlo. Wherever you go, you will surely leave the city with a much heavier suitcase and a much lighter bag.