World's 'biggest' Prada store set to open in Sandton

Be prepared to be upstaged by the sales assistant.

"Yep, our uniform is Prada. It's tailored to fit perfectly," whispered the beautiful, no-name twentysomething.

And yes, he really did look like he was straight out of a fashion spread.

The luxury Italian brand has, of course, arrived in South Africa, setting up home in Sandton City's R185-million new wing, aptly called Diamond Walk.

It is not for the faint-hearted - Prada's neighbours include a revamped Louis Vuitton megastore, Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry and Gucci.

Oh, of course, there is Jimmy Chooooo, too!

At 800m², the Prada shop is billed as the Italian fashion house's biggest in the world.

Like every other Prada store, this one - which opened its doors on Thursday - was designed by Italian architect Roberto Baciocchi.

It has the black-and-white marble chequered flooring that is the Prada signature, leading to several showroom zones.

A plush green velvet couch is on hand for weary husbands to wait while the Mrs tries on, say, the black-and-white silk polka-dot shift dress selling for only R24000.

Apart from the ready-to-wear designer clothes, there are boots, heels, pumps and handbags on glorious display on polished steel and crystal tables.

A man cave with a difference, the men's section has all you could need to pull off the off-the field look of the Italian football team. H ow about a tie for a mere R2650, or a R6100 belt?

Step into Louis Vuitton's megastore nearby and be blown away by showrooms that are more like museums to display works of art than rooms from which to sell shoes, signature handbags and luggage.

According to an LV insider, men in South Africa are huge buyers of shoes - possibly the brand's top seller in the country.

''They always want to know what's new so they can show off to their friends," said the insider.

Louis Vuitton's store opened on Friday, offering among other coveted little somethings a crocodile leather handbag selling for R400000.

Other international designer labels on Diamond Walk include Giorgio Armani, Ermenegildo Zegna, Billionaire Italian Couture and Tod's .

For the über-adventurous shopper, it looks like the time is right to dig up a remnant from that last overseas trip - perhaps a pair of designer heels - and head on over to Diamond Walk.

For the rest of us, well, there is niente wrong with just feasting the eyes.

laganparsadm@sundaytimes.co.za