Shopping in Rome

The eternal city of Rome has a number of desirable high street shopping areas and designer boutiques and If you want to spend time shopping in Rome, there is an endless choice of places for you to choose in the old center.

Throughout the city of Rome, the city’s shops and stores are very attractive with their elaborate window displays of colourful fashion items and numerous interesting oddities. In the old center all the streets are always over-flowing with shoppers from around the globe looking for their own version of Italian style.
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Winter Sales in Rome

Dear Shoppers,
be ready, winter sales will begin in Rome soon.

Winter sales 2010 have been in principle scheduled for January the 2nd and should last for six weeks. This date however is not 100% sure as the Retailers Association is trying to postpone the date at January the 16th. Christmas sales could be in fact seriously affected by the early date of January the 2nd. THE STARTING DATE IS NOW SURE: BE READY TO BARGAIN FOR JANUARY THE 2ND!

Don’t miss to find your bargain in medieval and cobblestoned Roman streets. The “Made in Italy” is waiting for you!

Count down for traditional winter sales in Rome! Soon the most awaited event of the year will start! Hundreds of eager shoppers will line up and “box”outside the stores in the hope of finding the ultimate bargain.

Hundreds the place to go! All the big-name fashion designers can be found in the Quadrilatero, close to Spanish Steps in Via Condotti, Via Frattina and Via del Babuino. If you prefer equally elegant shops, on a smaller scale, head for Via del Governo Vecchio and surroundings amongst the most fashionable shopping streets in Rome.

Many stores will start the day with queues of bargain hunters.

Should winter sales begin January the 2nd, when the Romans are usually out of town, many clients in the more expensive areas will be bargaining  from Russia, Japan and the Middle East. Read the rest of this entry »

What to do in San Lorenzo

Just a few minutes from Termini station, the San Lorenzo neighborhood is the location of La Sapienza University’s largest campus. The neighborhood’s character is largely coloured by the sizable student population, which means that there are plenty of bars and music venues with a more alternative feel, numerous cheap restaurants and a number of used book and clothing stores. Historically a working class area, San Lorenzo has consequently long been off the traditional tourist route. Bombed by the Allied forces during WWII, damaging Basilica San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura, the railway station and a steel factory, much of San Lorenzo was rebuilt after the war. While it may still look a little more run-down than Trastevere, San Lorenzo is fast becoming a popular place to go out. Read the rest of this entry »

Vintage Shopping in Rome

Rome may be famous for its designer stores, but for thriftier shoppers and those looking for unusual and original pieces, the city has a variety of places to buy vintage clothing. Although the offerings aren’t quite as comprehensive as those in New York or London, the vintage clothing scene in Italy is slowly gathering momentum and in the last couple of years the capital’s vintage stores have become popular with crafty fashionistas.

Via del Governo Vecchio

Tucked away behind Piazza Navona, Via del Governo Vecchio is the heart of    the capital’s antiques and used clothing scene. There are several smallish vintage clothing stores dotted along this winding street, each identifiable by the colourful clothing displays spilling out onto the road.

The stores are fairly similar in terms of merchandise, stocking mostly 60s, 70s and 80s apparel for both men and women. They also carry a good range of accessories and you can find some fantastic designer sunglasses, although they won’t necessarily be cheap. However, as with most vintage outlets, you get what you pay for when it comes to quality. Women’s dresses range from about 30 to 100 euros.

The atmosphere in the stores tends to be relaxed; store clerks are often smoking inside and the occasional dog may appear from behind a rack of clothes. Despite their surroundings, the clothes are generally in good condition. After a long day’s shopping, the neighborhood is a perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine or grab a bite to eat.

There are a number of good restaurants and enoteche (winebars) in the surrounding streets -  among them, Cul de Sac, a cosy winebar in the nearby Piazza di Pasquino with an extensive wine list and an excellent selection of classic Italian dishes with a twist.

Pulp

Located only a few minutes from the Via Cavour metro station, parallel to Via dei Serpenti, Pulp is a popular haunt for designer aficionados. If you’re looking for high quality, high end clothing at lower prices, Pulp offers a more tranquil  – and more organized – environment to browse vintage classics from Chanel and Versace.

Primitivi

Primitivi is one of a handful of vintage boutiques in the Trastevere area and probably the best selection of clothing among them. Just a few steps from Piazza San Cosimato, the store carries a sizeable collection of costume jewellery and an extensive range of women’s dresses and coats. The men’s clothing section is small, but of impressive quality. In January and August Primitivo has a sale, with all merchandise from 40% off. Go early during the sales season to get first dibs!

Rome may be famous for its designer stores, but for thriftier shoppers and those looking for unusual and original pieces, the city has a variety of places to buy vintage clothing. Although the offerings aren’t quite as comprehensive as those in New York or London, the vintage clothing scene in Italy is slowly gathering momentum and in the last couple of years the capital’s vintage stores have become popular with crafty fashionistas.

di San Giacomo – bespoke handmade sandals and accessories from Claudio

One minute from Piazza Navona and Piazza della Pace, precisely in Via di Tor Millina, 10/11 (tel.0039-06-96847938, web-site www.disangiacomo.com), is this special shop / workshop, heaven for Italian and foreigner fashionistas and celebrities… 

Handmade jewels for handmade sandals! You cannot ask for more uniqueness, elegance and luxe…

Hand-sewn soles for the bottom of the sandals as well as stripes for the upper part of them are made by using best quality Italian leather.

Costume jewellery (mostly inspired from antique and vintage jewels) – also produced by Claudio in his workshop – gives then the truly amazing touch to the sandal.

Unique pieces in a mass-production world! Enjoy the fact you’ll be the only one to wear it and… don’t forget to ask Claudio for the matching earrings, necklace or bracelet!