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Vintage Shopping in Rome
Posted on April 9th, 2009 17 commentsRome 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! 
17 responses to “Vintage Shopping in Rome”
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Thank you so much for this wonderful list. I have a post on my blog about vintage shopping in Italy. It’s a very popular post I have to say. I am going to link to your post as well!
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Keren Geraldo May 19th, 2009 at 17:26
can i please have the address to this store please throufgh my email adress!
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vintagetraveler June 12th, 2009 at 19:00
Im going to rome in a few days for just a couple of days and I hope these stores are easy to find so I could visit them.
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Rhona June 26th, 2009 at 13:20
They’re all pretty easy to find; Via del Governo Vecchio is just off Piazza Navona and it’s a pretty long street, but just keep going along it and you’ll come across a few vintage stores. They’re hard to miss because they tend to have merchandise spilling out onto the street. As for Pulp, it’s on Via del Boschetto, parallel to via dei serpenti and sandwiched between Via Nazionale and Via Cavour (closer to the Via Nazionale end). Also check out Pifebo vintage on Via dei Volsci in San Lorenzo!
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Lynell August 20th, 2009 at 18:19
My sister and I visited the Sunday street sale in Trastevere when we were in Italy and I bought this wonderful butter soft gently worn black leather jacket for $8 US. Sadly I was wearing it to help a friend move and tore a huge hole in the sleeve and underarm. I keep telling my husband I MUST go back to replace my jacket….he’s not convinced yet. He says a new one in the States would be cheaper … h doesn’t realize, it’s just not the same as finding the bargain.
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Rome is a fantastic city for shopping and unfortunately this means that my wife always spends far too much money everytime we are in Rome.
Great place for leather in particular!
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margreet August 17th, 2010 at 10:45
Thanks for this list. I am looking for the name of the vintage bookshop nearby piazza navona. It sells a lot of vintage books on film and photography. Can you please help me with this. That would be of great help…
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Veronica September 22nd, 2010 at 22:29
The name of the shop is Altroquando. The address is Via del Governo Vecchio, 80, 82 and 83.
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there is another shop in trastevere, i don’t remember the streets (in front of laundry) the name is: twice.
It’s very niceeeee xxxxxx -
Veronica January 6th, 2011 at 13:09
Twice Shop, is in via di San Francesco a Ripa 105/a. They sale vintage clothes and accessories at convenient prices.
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Does anyone were to shop for industrial vintage in Rome?
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Pifebo Vintage Shop (2 locations in Rome)
San Lorenzo: Via dei Volsci, 101/b
Monti: Via dei Serpenti, 141Good stuff with decent prices. Shoes, bags, clothes, and accessories.
Also in Monti neighborhood on some Sundays: Mercato Monti
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Laura March 2nd, 2011 at 20:07
An appointment you cannot miss then is the
Vintage and Handcraft Market
which will be held every first sunday of the month, right in the central train station Stazione Termini, in a spectacular space, an historic bar named Convoglia, in Via Giolitti, 36
From 11 am to 11 pm, live music and all… enjoy!
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Lindsay March 3rd, 2011 at 23:33
Anyone know where to find vintage wedding dresses in Rome????
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Elysse April 25th, 2011 at 18:14
Lindsay!!!! ANY LUCK? me too.
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Samara June 14th, 2011 at 16:09
Be careful when you shop at Pfibo!
I thought I was so lucky when I saw a vintage YSL and two Cartier handbags, I bought all three, I had them verified and they were all fake! -
Veronica October 8th, 2011 at 10:28
For vintage clothing and accessories I suggest to go”Frankenstein” in Via di Santa Dorotea, 22/a (Trastevere), cool. Tel. 0039065881660.
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