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Fornarina

4 star rating
based on 34 reviews

Categories: Shoe Stores, Women's Clothing  [Edit]

428 Great Mall Dr
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 945-8115
Hours:

Mon-Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Garage, Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes

34 reviews for Fornarina

Review Highlights   

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"The sales representatives couldn't have been more helpful." (in 11 reviews)
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"GREAT discounts since it is an outlet." (in 14 reviews)
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"hehehe I love the shoes because they are F'ING cute." (in 13 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of james d.

Elite '09

28

251

james d.

Sunnyvale, CA

4 star rating
9/2/2009

The sweetie and I came to Not So Great Mall looking for heels for her yesterday. First stop was Fornarina. She found some cool pairs for only $50 that originally used to cost $150, sweet.

We left to go look at some L.A.M.B. shoes at the Saks Outlet. Them being around $150 we decided Fornarina was the way better deal. Not to mention they were just as stylish and more comfortable for her feet.

Sales associates are nice, and they asked us if we needed help, but we knew what were looking for.

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Photo of Sam L.

Elite '09

58

165

Sam L.

Milpitas, CA

5 star rating
11/15/2008

I love their shoes! :) I got awesome suede flats for $20 and these sexy gold heels for forty bucks vs. the original $100+! But the shoe sizes don't run true to size, their a bit on the small side. I stick to the shoes cause the clothes are cut a bit too small and are too colorful, urban-y for me. But they do have the key pieces of clothing that are cute with a bit of flare.

Their sale reps are always nice and helpful. But its a definitely a must stop if you're heading to the great mall for super cute shoes and clothes. Its just too bad that it's such a small store :(

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Photo of Alyssa N.

Elite '09

35

85

Alyssa N.

Los Angeles, CA

4 star rating
8/10/2008

I..love..their..flats!  I'm all about flats even though I have flat feet and their bad for me but I can't get enough!

Fornarina always has final sale on their shoes but they are worth it!  Their orignal prices are usually in the $100's for their shoes but I got two really cute flats for $30 each! Their shoe sizes run a little small so if you are usually a 6 1/2, try on their 7 1/2's depending what style you want.  I was little bit flustered when I couldn't find any 6 1/2s and when I did they were too small!  The sales associate came around because I think she noticed I was little bewildered and told me they run small and to go for one size bigger or else my feet will hurt trying to squeeze into a size smaller than usual!

I browsed through the clothes but was more interested in their shoes.  They need more stores like this in the Great Mall!

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Photo of Caro M.

Elite '09

104

162

Caro M.

San Jose, CA

3 star rating
3/19/2008

I only go here for shoes. Other than that, coats are ok but I've never purchased any from here because some have those weird lookin frilly pins and extra nonsense that I don't care for.

Some of the shirts here look like they'd been wrangled by a tiger or something. It's the "high fashion" aspect I guess. But maybe, just maybe-- other customers can be more courteous and perhaps shower before trying clothes on and be a little more gentle with the garments.

The jeans here SUCK. The style gives away the fact that you bought them at the Fornarina outlet... and they're more for the flat butt body types. Not that there's anything wrong with that- work what your Momma gave you, girrrrl!

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Photo of Veronica S.

Elite '09

65

387

Veronica S.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
7/25/2008

Fornarina has been a longtime favorite brand of mine but it's hard to get their clothes and shoes because this is the ONLY "outlet" (yet it's so small, it's more like a shop) in northern California. The closest styles you'll get to FOrnarina is Miss Sixty, which is also another Italian brand for young ladies, and they have a store in Palo Alto (with poor selection), San Francisco (mediocre to good selection, but their sales are not bad) and Costa Mesa store (very large but also the most expensive).

Fornarina at Great Mall will have the best deals out of all those stores I listed (Fornarina and Miss Sixty are like Nike and Adidas- they compete in a way). I've found jeans for $20, shoes for $29.99, and shirts for $15. I've seen products I've purchased for these prices at boutiques in San Diego and L.A. for way more. Fornarina jeans at boutiques typically run at $200, and shoes and shirts will very well range in the $50-150 range.

The good rating is for their good sale prices on select goods, however, their staff in the long run all have bad attitudes except for a mere few...

I'd recommend this store though if you like spunky, fashion forward finds from Italy. I see people from Asia come here sometimes and make expensive purchases because of the good sales they have every season.

(Of course, they have a lot of stuff that is also at retail prices just like the boutiques, go to the back for the good sales!)

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Photo of Jaye C.

Elite '09

351

141

Jaye C.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
6/21/2007

I looove this place!

Awesome sales associates, great styles, cheap (compared to original) prices, and the shoes are some of the best I've seen, very unique!

I recently bought this sweater that USED TO BE $238 and dropped down to $40. Holy shit! I can't pass that up! I bought a pair of jeans here for $35 that used to be $150, best deal ever!!!

They have a lot of really well-put together tops that fit me perfectly and they don't break apart after a couple of uses. Some styles are a bit questionable though but that's probably because it takes a certain someone to really play off that style, know what I mean? Or maybe the style is the reason why it's on sale for such a cheap price :-P

You be the judge!

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Photo of Aileen A.

Elite '09

618

167

Aileen A.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
11/22/2007

Come in for the unique fashion and fabulous shoes. (Most of their shoes run half a size big by the way.) I always get compliments whenever I'm out and about in one of their footwear. I'd wait awhile for prices to go down, unless it's something I expect not to see again.

As for the clothing, some of their concepts have called to me. They have cute pieces and sometimes some really off the wall ones.

I loved the past seasons' jeans, but I guess the whole designer denim boom just killed it for them. Too much overkill on some of their styles. I  love the embellishments they put sometimes-cute pins and accessories, it's like another bonus.

The sale back circular racks near the fitting rooms sometimes get marked down to as low as $10.

The reason why Fornarina is in such a random area is because it's a concept store.

EVERYTHING IS FINAL SALE by the way. You won't forget that, because they're smart enough to remind you.

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Photo of MIA N.

Elite '09

232

372

MIA N.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
6/30/2007

I have a couple pairs of their jeans. Great fit but they run a little smaller than the regular sizes (Sevens, Joe's). They are only about 50-60 for a normal pair and a little more for the newer ones. GREAT discounts since it is an outlet.

Interesting funky tops. Some are hit or miss. Depends on what your style is. Cute little shoes.

Always drop in, you might find something cute.

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Photo of Yvonne C.

Elite '09

703

636

Yvonne C.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
8/1/2008

There are so many cute, interesting, unique shoe styles here that I could not  justify buying unless I already have an outfit for! With these prices, I really don't HAVE to! I picked up the cutest pair of wooden platforms for $10! No- I didn't forget a zero- you read it correctly! The sales representatives couldn't have been more helpful! I was greeted warmly and informed about the latest mark downs soon after I walked in. The clothing is pretty cute, but  since they seem to be cut for the skinny bitches- I will stick to the shoes.

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Photo of Melisser E.

 

102

174

Melisser E.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
3/29/2006

If you like fun, funky Italian fashion come to the Fornarina Outlet! The shoes are gorgeous & the denim is comfy, yet stylish. They also have some clothing that is so weird &/or boxy that you just can't wear it.. nope, can't do it.
For the most part, the sales people have been cool to me here. They certainly think highly of themselves, but they haven't given me major attitude.

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Photo of soy y.

 

4

126

soy y.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
2/15/2008

How much service do you really expect when you're shopping at a MALL. Come on.
Okay. So, I did a review for my favorite t-shirt/sweatshirt place so now I'll do my favorite jacket/jeans.

Fornarina outlet, I love you.  I don't think I could shop at your mother store, (she's probably too expensive for my taste,) but I can hang with you.  I'm still kicking my ass for not getting a jacket 4 years ago?? I've since learned that jackets from this place are a GREAT investment. Totally unique and high quality.

And I LOVE the jeans.  I don't think everybody can rock them though... As in, I don't think they're made for the big booty h... women. :)

Some of the stuff is a little out there for me but everything I own from this place, I absolutely adore.

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Photo of sam t.

Elite '09

24

130

sam t.

Santa Clara, CA

4 star rating
9/19/2008

Love their shoes! They have tons of cute stuff here & it seems as though the people who work here are live mannequins, because they're too cute! I got a pair of cute plaid shorts that looked vintage and victorian, great deal only 20somethin bucks! I dont go here often, because the oh so "GREAT" mall is pretty lame, but when I do this is one of the stores I have to stop by. Worth stopping by, great deals and great clothes!

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Photo of Jenny K.

Elite '09

129

225

Jenny K.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
5/13/2008

I LOVE their shoes....LOVE.  A little bit of funk, a lot of comfort....for half the retail at the outlet.  The only thing that sucks, for me, is driving here.  I HATE driving....HATE.

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Photo of Madelyn Y.

 

37

163

Madelyn Y.

Los Altos, CA

5 star rating
9/28/2006

Love their shoes and cute clothes!  Italian quality and style with affordability...[DROOL!]

NOTE: I've worked retail for 8 years and you can't expect top dollar service at ANY outlet in the Great Mall...not even at Off 5th!  Imagine how many people must haggle you to double/triple check on if an item is on clearance.  Beside, everytime I've gone to Fornarina, the workers are always dressed CUTE and they're nice to me cause I treat them with respect.

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Photo of jessica n.

Elite '09

77

114

jessica n.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
6/23/2008

I am a big fan of pretty much everything in here.  Regardless of what season fashion is in, their styles are always cute and sophisticated.  I buy most of my work clothes here because they sell a lot of conventional styled clothes (collared blouses, pencil skirts, knee length skirts, sweaters) but with extra flare so I don't look like a boring librarian when I go to work.  Plus it is an outlet so all the items are affordable!

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Photo of Joanne V.

Elite '09

490

524

Joanne V.

San Jose, CA

5 star rating
12/4/2006 2 photos

I don't know if it's because I'm a regular at this place, but first of all I don't interact with snooty salesladies when I come into this place.  They always greet me with warm smiles and are constantly showing me the newest and hottest shoes.  I love this shoe place, if anyone has ever seen my shoe closet the will notice that all my shoe boxes happen to be pink or red with a lovely white or silver writing that happens to say "FORNARINA" on it.  hehehe I love the shoes because they are F'ING cute.  They happen to be one of the hottest stores in the bay area and what a wrong location are they in.  The great mall.  They should be in Santana Row or Valley Fair, but if they were there, then us southbay shoppers would have to be paying for non "outlet prices".  Yes it is an outlet store and yes some of the items there are from previous seasons, BUT if you shop around you will find that Nordstrom has the same shoes that they have.  Is Nordstrom becoming a place that has last season's items?  Or is Fornarina giving the southbay shoppers a break on the hottest in season items?  I have found shoes on http://Zappos.com that Fornarina has at a fraction of the cost.  

I've walked out of Fornarina spending a $150 on three pairs of ITALIAN shoes.  

For some of you who don't know.  Fornarina is an Italian brand, thats why you will find that some of the clothing will look a little bit like Diesel and Miss Sixty.  

This store also has great sales, so always check in on the store visit them or  you can even just give them a call and they'll let you know if they've got anything for you.

The one word that I can describe the style of this store:  UNIQUE.

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Photo of Daniela A.

Elite '09

277

370

Daniela A.

Fremont, CA

5 star rating
1/4/2007

I love Fornarina, especially their shoes! This is a Tokyo-inspired Italian clothing line that only has a few stores in the US, and fortunately for us in the Bay Area, they have outlet store here!!! They carry some regular-priced items, but most of what they have there is extremely marked down, especially the shoes. I found a pair of cool, red pumps that were on sale on zappos (marked down to $60) at this Fornarina store in the Great Mall for....... *drum roll*......... $10!!!! Most of the shoes run between $30 and $50, but they do have a section of extreme mark-downs. I definitely recommend to check it out because everything they carry is high-quality, unique and seriously cute.

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Photo of Dorothy N.

 

3

174

Dorothy N.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
7/7/2008

Everything's always on sale and their sample sale bins are always brimming with stuff.  Although, often times they're questionable.

The girls are usually pretty nice and helpful. They'll always ask you if you need help, and start a room for you. But they could be nicer, many of them look like they're above "it". I don't know what the "it" is exactly, but sometimes you just have the urge to slap them.

I actually prefer their shoes to their clothes, because they're high quality and EXTREMELY comfortable. Well worth it!

BUT, Fornarina's clothes are hit or miss. They sometimes don't look right, fit oddly, are poorly made, and just look cheap.

In those rare instances, you really do find a couple of pieces that you truly love.  But those pieces are usually A LOT pricier. There was this dress that I just had to have and it was $120, which isn't too bad. Come to think of it, that was probably the most I ever spent  at Fornarina on one piece of clothing before and this has been my fashion staple since high school.

You usually get what you pay for.

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Photo of anonymous i.

 

11

129

anonymous i.

Hayward, CA

3 star rating
1/29/2009

this place has great pieces and is affordable compared to the original prices..if your looking for that unique pair of shoes..this might be the place for you..i always find something here. however, its pretty much hit or miss when it comes to sizes, especially for the shoes..not only that..the service from their employees could be better..

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Photo of Andrea G.

 

52

127

Andrea G.

San Jose, CA

5 star rating
8/3/2007

i love love love the shoes here.  some of the shoes i bought from here are my most comfortable shoes everrr.   I can wear their cute looking courtney pumps for 8+ hours.  no kidding.  The sales ladies are always nice!

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Photo of Judy L.

 

29

135

Judy L.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
6/20/2006

i can only do this place justice by describing my last 2 purchases:
- snakeskin stilettos w/a 3+ inch heel
- red leather 3+inch stillettos w/salmon and pale pink accents

i've died and gone to hooker shoe heaven.

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Photo of marevie t.

Elite '09

131

282

marevie t.

San Jose, CA

2 star rating
12/21/2007

Snooty employees! Geeze! What can a girl do to get some help with a shoe size? Especiially in European sizes! GOsh, horrible customer service. So what if I come in my sweats and not in my "I got money in the bank" attire. Geeze. I would not like to shop here again.

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Photo of Cynthia C.

Elite '09

284

1150

Cynthia C.

Union City, CA

4 star rating
4/11/2006

Yes!  I'm glad that I'm not the only one that feels the frigid draft wafting through the tiny store situated at the Great Mall.  The girls seriously have superiority complexes, thank goodness the fantastic shoes and prices detract from their snooty demeanors.

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Photo of Rinne R.

 

112

382

Rinne R.

Union City, CA

5 star rating
4/19/2006

If you wanna find funky shoes or unique clothes, go to Fornarina!!  Or as my boyfriend calls it, "Fornification."  HAha!!  But seriously, they have great shoes for as little as $20.  You won't find clothes like theirs anywhere else, but they tend to be a little pricey.  But hey, my philosiphy is if you wear the clothes a lot, expensive ones go a long way!!!

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Photo of Elise D.

 

10

67

Elise D.

San Jose, CA

2 star rating
6/20/2006

I have bought a few things from here .. one top which is my favorite thing to wear out for all night clubbing.. the others, i am still wondering What was I thinking?? But overall, I don't think the clothes are worth the price. And the selections just seem like they are trying too hard to be edgy .. let's ge real here .. they are at the Great Mall in Milpitas ... as for the salespeople .. i have no comment cos they have never helped me with anything!!! they are usually hanging out behind the cash register and lost in their own little world, i guess. sometimes i see them stock the shoes - which by the way are hideous. but some see garlic and some see a stinking rose, as they say.

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Photo of Orie M.

 

37

198

Orie M.

Palo Alto, CA

4 star rating
12/4/2006

Their shoes are cute and comfy!! Too bad I had just bought two pairs of shoes elsewhere and couldn't buy anymore :( .. well, maybe next season. Their clothes are a little wacky, but there are some cute pieces. Some of their stuff is really pricey (a t-shirt for $200 some dollars?!) and some are quite afforadable (a jacket for $120).

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Photo of A L.

 

8

221

A L.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
1/12/2008

It's an outlet mall (essentially)!  Don't expect great service (you won't get it) and certainly don't expect this season's shoes (you definitely won't get that).  I actually don't find that their shoes run small or big, just perfect.  Oh, and the shoes they have are obviously the ones where they said, oops, guess THAT color/style didn't sell too well!Oh, and they also have clothes too.

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Photo of mike s.

 

47

102

mike s.

Sunnyvale, CA

5 star rating
3/29/2006 1 photo

Okay, I've never actually bought anything here, but when my pockets aren't so slim I definitely will.  Plus, think I've been there enough to write a review on it.   Double plus, I know fine denim when I see it & they got a slew of it here.  Plus some of the shoes  make me wanna be like "Ay gurl! Do you guys have these in a size 13?!"

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Photo of Mikey N.

 

30

23

Mikey N.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
5/31/2006

The service here is equivalent to the Ritz Carlton!

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Photo of V ..

 

0

20

V ..

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
8/15/2005

Love this place!  Besides shoes, they also sell women's clothing similar to the styles of Miss Sixty and Diesel.  This is an outlet, so the prices are reasonable.  They usually have samples that are dirt cheap (I bought some nice $20 jeans that retail for much more).  Last time I was here, I came across a snooty saleslady, but the hot pair of boots I bought for $30 that retail for $200 made me forget about her.  There's decent stuff in the sales racks too.  Just hope that the samples are in your size.

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Photo of Sharon T.

Elite '09

151

292

Sharon T.

Santa Clara, CA

4 star rating
5/23/2007

my first REAL job was at fornarina when they first opened their location in the mall back in 2000... then they closed down to later relocate in the mall to another suite.  i loved their clothes... expensive because they were italian run-way fashions... and the items found in the store are either sample pieces or discontinued fashions for outlet.  unfortunately, i never much liked the italian cut jeans they offerred, but i did love their shoes back then... and even though at the age of 15-16, thats where most of my paycheck went back to... i didnt care.  i looked damned good in highschool with the gear i rocked... now - its a little bit more colorful than id have liked it to be, but maybe thats just because ive probably grown out of the crazy new fashions youngins are wearing nowadays...

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Photo of Andee A.

Elite '09

28

252

Andee A.

Cupertino, CA

3 star rating
10/13/2005

i agree with anne and vanessa.  snooooty salespeople. . . but i've been there a few times just to shop their sales rack --and i came out a winner both times.  i got some pretty funky (but cute) for  $20!

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Photo of Geena T.

 

1

9

Geena T.

San Jose, CA

5 star rating
4/14/2006

I love the stuff here.. I go to this mall only because of this store.   They've got great shoes and clothes what more can a girl ask for.  It seems like everyone has been baggin on the sales staff and I completely disagree.  I go in there once in awhile and the girls that work there are really nice and helpful.  One time I was looking for some jeans and one of the sales girls totally helped me find a pair that fit perfectly.  It took a couple of pairs before I found them though.  If you're looking for some reasonably priced designer jeans you should check it out.

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Photo of Jason M.

 

1

7

Jason M.

Milpitas, CA

3 star rating
6/13/2006

nice place cool workers.

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