Be Cool at Mall of Milennia

For a nice afternoon that costs you nothing unless you succumb to wiles of the retail genie, hit the gorgeous Mall of Milennia.

Park at Neiman Marcus.

Walk through the ground floor, admiring the men's and women's jewelry and then the cosmetics, shoes and fragrances. It's a short but enjoyable walk through to the mall.

If you love art and beautiful things or need to hit the restroom, take the escalator upstairs at Neiman's. The restrooms are in the back on the left, the "gallery" is on your immediate right.  The collections change seasonally, but always lots of beautiful things to inspire creativity and desire.

Once you get to the mall, head left for Bloomingdales. On the way, there are lots of nice stops, including a Pottery Barn Home store.

New at Bloomingdales, on the ground floor past cosmetics, is a Nespresso gallery. Here, handsome men will demonstrate how the machines work, making real drinks that taste like Italy. It's the best free show around.

This store has good service in all departments. Need free styling advice for an event or an interview? Want to try the latest perfumes? Just ask.

Head back to the center of the mall by leaving the second floor of Bloomingdales.  You'll pass lots of upscale labels.  Some local faves are Tiffany and Gucci. New arrivals are Juicy Couture and Michael Kors. Don't be unnerved by the security guards, just act like you belong there.

The food court is in the center of the mall on the second floor PAST where you entered through Neiman Marcus. There's a Starbucks upstairs and one downstairs.  If the lines are too long at Starbucks, head to the back of the food court for Panera Bread, where you can get very good coffee with a bagel or pastry. Note: the restrooms in the food court are extensive and clean.

The other half of the mall, while very nice, is not as upscale or entertaining.  If you need something in particular, there are lots of everyday stores that may have it- Ann Taylor, Bath and Body Works, Kenneth Cole, (a huge 3-story) Macy's, etc.  There's an Urban Outfitters and an enormous Forever 21 across from the food court.

Enjoy!

Mall of Milennia Update

If you are in Orlando on vacation, make sure you leave time for a visit to Mall of Milennia.

A favorite destination for locals and visitors alike, this is an attraction that everyone enjoys.
The anchor stores at Mall of Milennia are a huge Macys, a great Neiman Marcus and a trendy Bloomingdales.
In between, you'll find everything from a wing of luxury retailers including Tiffany, Gucci and Lous Vuitton to upscale home stores Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma to clothing boutiques like Lucky Jeans and IZOD. 
If you crave some caffeine or a snack, there are two Starbucks in the center of the mall on both levels. In the back of the food court (also located in the center of the mall on the second floor), you'll find Panera Bread, where you can get great coffee and coffee drinks as well as a bagel or sweet treat (try the sticky pecan rolls and big cookies) to go with them.
On the other side of the food court from Starbucks, you'll find the Lindt chocolate store. Buy a truffle or a dark chocolate bar to enjoy as you stroll the mall.

True Religion Outlet! New in Orlando!

The True Religion outlet has arrived in Orlando.  If you are a fan of these uber-flattering jeans, come to the Premium Outlet mall for the latest styles.

Juniors and Jeans at Vanity Fair!

Don't miss the Vanity Fair outlet in Kissimmee.  This HUGE outlet is full of surprises, including the complete line of Lee Jeans for men, women and children, Jansport backpacks and accessories and department store-style junior clothes. 

Looking for lingerie for a steal?  You'll find lots of it here.  Brands include Marilyn Monroe, Delta Burke (great quality shapers, you go girl!) and of course, Vanity Fair.  Teen alert- you can find racks and racks of cotton cuties,Victoria's Secret Pink look-alikes, here too.

Best of all, the Junior Department is awesome. LOTS of date-worthy jeans and tops and toppers for practically nothing.  The selection changes all the time so stop by often.

Location:  1567 South Apopka Vineland Road (SR 535) at the Lake Buena Vista Factory Stores. LBVFS is an easy to shop, low-stress outlet mall with small versions of many of the big guys- Gap, Reebok, Nike, etc. There is also a cute little food court with a fountain and outdoor seating.

True Religion is coming to Premium Outlets!

Desiring those $200 Billy jeans with the flap pockets, but don't want to pay the high mall price?  Starting in early May, you can score a pair at the new True Religion outlet in the Premium outlet mall.

In the meantime, try Neiman Marcus Last Call or the Saks outlet in the Prime outlet mall.