Shopping in Rome

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Tips for shopping in Rome

This short compendium of Roman shopping is for all shopping lovers.
A compendium for all tastes, from high fashion chic to the cheap items on the market stalls, and with a mention of the new frontier of shopping, halfway between chic and cheap: outlets. Remember that if you want to go shopping in Rome, you will need a bit of time time, so book a few nights extra in the apartment in Rome that you are staying in.
Opening Hours Shops are generally open from 9 or 9:30 to early afternoon and from 3:30 or 4 to 7 or 7:30 -- or 8 in summer. There's a tendency for shops in central districts to stay open all day, and hours are becoming more flexible throughout the city. Remember that although department stores are open Sundays, many stores are not, though this is changing, too, especially in the city center. With the exception of food stores, most stores also close on Monday morning from September to mid-June and Saturday afternoon from mid-June through August.
Sizing It Up Italian sizes are not uniform, so always try on clothing before buying, and measure gift items. Children's sizes are all over the place, and though they usually go by age, they are calibrated to Italian children. (Average size-per-age standards vary from country to country.) Check washing instruction labels on all garments (often in English as well as Italian); many are not washable, and those that are may not be preshrunk. Glove sizes are universal. In any case, remember that Italian stores generally will not give refunds and often cannot exchange goods because of limited stock.
Counterfeits The Prada, Gucci, Fendi, and Vuitton bags sold by sidewalk vendors are fakes. An underground network organizes the illegal manufacture, distribution, and sale of these seemingly perfect counterfeits of stylish status symbols. Both manufacturers and vendors are always one jump ahead of the police. If an incredibly good buy in a name-brand product of any kind is proposed to you, examine the goods carefully. Reliable stores sell at the prices indicated by the manufacturers -- so any enormous discount is suspect.
Duty-Free Shopping Value-added tax (IVA) is 20% on clothing and luxury goods, but it is already included in the amount on the price tag of consumer goods. If you are not a resident of the European Union, you may be eligible, under certain conditions, for a refund of this tax on goods purchased here -- Tax-Free for Tourists VAT tax refunds are available at most large stores for purchases of more than EUR155.
Shipping Always take your purchases with you: having them shipped home from the shop may cause major delays and grief. The mail is partly to blame; the cavalier attitude of some shop owners compounds the problem, especially if you have to correspond with them about why your package hasn't arrived. If circumstances are such that you can't take your goods with you, and if the shop seems reliable, get a written statement of what is being shipped and when and how it will be sent. It's wise when shipping to pay with a credit card.
Sales Saldi (end-of-season sales) can mean real bargains in clothing and accessories. The main sale periods are January 6 through February and late July to mid-September. Most stores adopt a no-exchange, no-return policy for sale goods. At other times of year, a liquidazione sign indicates a close-out sale, but take a hard look at the goods; they may be bottom-of-the-barrel.
Shop Rome in a day If you tire of sightseeing, it's unlikely you'll find time to rest — Rome's selection of trendy stores with the latest fashions is just too tempting. Fans of Armani, Fendi, Ferragamo, Gucci or Krizia will not be disappointed, but big-name designer boutiques are merely the tip of the iceberg. The true joy of shopping in Rome lies in discovering one-of-a-kind items in specialty shops. The city is filled with stores where custom-made goods, particularly shoes and clothing accessories, are produced on-site, often using centuries-old techniques. And each shop gives you the opportunity to take a piece of that ubiquitous Italian stylishness home with you.
Stores are open Monday-Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4:30-7:30 p.m. Most stores are closed all day Sunday, and some are closed Monday morning. The exception is the Centro Storico: Some shops there are open all day, even on Sunday. In winter, many shops have reduced hours.
Flowers and food — At Campo dei Fiori market, you'll find beautiful flowers and food delicacies. The best bread maker in all of Rome is located there — try the pizza bianca, considered by Roman cognoscenti to be the best in the city. Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Campo dei Fiori 22 (between the river and Corso Vittorio Emanuele).
Rummage to your heart's content — Piazza Fontanella Borghese, an outdoor market, specializes in prints, old books, knickknacks and Roman souvenirs. Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Via della Fontanella Borghese, west of Via del Corso.
Rome's flea market — You can find practically everything at Porta Portese, from a doghouse to an 18th-century sofa. But don't buy without bargaining, and be extremely wary of pickpockets. Sunday 7 a.m.-2 p.m. It's in a warren of streets and alleys beginning at Ponte Sublicio, on the west side of the Tiber.
Clothing galore — Via Sannio Market offers new and secondhand clothes. Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Near Porta San Giovanni.
Best's Shop
Because of the Italians' consummate skills as manufacturers and designers, it's no surprise that consumers from all over the world flock to Italy's shops, trade fairs, and design studios to see what's new, hot, and salable back home.
The most obvious draw is fashion.
Milan might be the center of the fashion industry, but Rome is a principal distribution center.
There are literally hundreds of famous designers for both men and women, most of whom make eminently stylish garments.
Materials include silks, leathers, cottons, synthetics, and wool, often of the finest quality.
Italian design influences everything from typewriter keyboards to kitchen appliances to furniture. The Italian studios of Memphis-Milan and Studio Alchimia are two of the leaders in this field, and many of their products (and rip-offs thereof) are now highly visible in machines and furnishings throughout the world.
Alessi has become a world-renowned name in witty, innovative houseware design. You can preview many of Italy's new products and designs by reading a copy of Domus, a monthly photographic magazine that reports on many different aspects of the country's design scene.
Food and wine never go out of style, and gourmets frequently bring some of Italy's bounty home with them. Many Roman shops sell chocolates, pastries, liqueurs, wines, and limited-edition olive oils. Keep in mind that there are restrictions against importing certain food products into North America, including anything fresh, such as fruit or prosciutto. Italian wines include many excellent vintages, and bottles of liqueurs (which are sometimes distilled from herbs and flowers) make unusual gifts. You can bring home only 1 liter of wine or spirits duty-free.
The glassware of Italy (and especially of Venice) is famous throughout the world and is sold all over Rome. It's fragile enough that you should look into shipping it directly home with insurance.
Italy's porcelain might be elegant and sought after, but personally we prefer the hand-painted rustic plates and bowls of thick-edged stoneware known as Laveggio.
Done in strong and clear glazes and influenced by their rural origins, the bowls and plates are often used at the most formal dinners for their originality and style.
The tiles and mosaics of Italy are filely without equal in the world, whether used individually as drink coasters or decorative ornaments, or in groups set into masonry walls.
Nuns made lace in convents for many years. Venice became the country's headquarters. Handmade Italian lace is exquisite and justifiably expensive, crafted into tablecloths, napkins, clothing, and bridal veils.
Beware of machine-made imitations; with a bit of practice, you'll soon be able to recognize the shoddy copies.
Paper goods, stationery, elegantly bound books, prints, and engravings are specialties of Italy.
The engravings you find amid stacks of dozens of others will invariably look stately when framed and hanging on a wall back home.
Fabrics, especially silk, are made near Lake Como, in the foothills of the Italian Alps. Known for their supple beauty and their ability to hold color for years (the thicker the silk, the more desirable), these silks are rivaled only by the finest of India, Thailand, and China.
Their history in Italy goes back to the era of Marco Polo, possibly much earlier.
Finally, Rome is the home to a religious objects industry.
Centered on the streets near the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva are dozens of shops selling pictures, statues, and reliefs of most of the important saints, the Madonna, Jesus, and John the Baptist. And some shops cross the line of good taste and into the realm of high camp -- we've even seen snow globes of the pope blessing Rome.
Funky Shoe Store (Trastevere)
Moving down Vicolo del Cinque, look for little known gems like Jacche Calzature, a funky shoe store offering sample shoes and those worn in fashion shows for a hard-to-believe price. Outfitting women and men, there are two locations, both in Trastevere: Vicolo del Cinque 24/b and Via Benedetta 9.
In keeping with the area's authenticity of a real neighborhood, plastic likenesses of David and glittery miniature coliseums are absent. Instead, unique shops echo the artisans of the Roman Empire. Turn right at the end of Vicolo del Cinque and make time to visit Polvere di tempo, (Via del Moro, 59) where the unifying theme is well, time.
Interesting curios include handcrafted hourglasses, sundials, globes and kaleidoscopes. The giant 18-hour hourglass alone is worth the trip. If you find yourself longing for some English-reading material, The Almost Corner Bookshop (Via del Moro, 45) carries all types of books and an especially good selection of historical and fictional titles.
(apartments in this area: Vic.Leopardo)

Gourmet Food and Wine
Backtrack a short distance to Ferrara, (Via del Moro 1/a-Piazza Trilussa 41). "Upscale" best describes this gourmet food/wine shop and restaurant. A gift-boxed, 100-year-old bottle of balsamic vinegar will set you back about e270. For the rest of us there are reasonably priced Italian specialties including capers, olives, pesto and tomato sauces. Prices range from e0.70 for a chocolate to e900 for a rare bottle of wine.
Ambling up the street behind Piazza Trilussa, be sure to stop in at Checco, (Via Benedetta, 7) a favorite coffee bar of the locals, for an espresso and cornetto or pastry. Try the pine nut torta for something special and if chocolate's your thing, you won't be disappointed with the thick and steamy chocolato caldo. Go ahead and splurge a little when asked if you want it "con panna" - with whipped cream on top.
For excellent pizza by the slice, exit Checco and turn left continuing straight to find La Boccaccia (Via di Santa.Dorotea, 2). This is more an eat-and-run type of place, but is definitely worth finding if for no other reason than to sample the potato and cheese combination. Delizioso!
For a light lunch, cafes and bars feature tramezzini. These white bread sandwiches cut crosswise, with various fillings, are delicious and economical. Pull up a chair at Caffe Settimiana, (corner of Vicolo della Scala and Via di Santa Dorotea) and enjoy lunch while taking in a close up view of Porta Settimiana, a gate in the Aurelian Wall dating back to 1498

Hot shopping areas in Rome

Via Borgognona -- This street begins near Piazza di Spagna, and both the rents and the merchandise are chic and ultra-expensive. Like its neighbor, Via Condotti, Via Borgognona is a mecca for wealthy, well-dressed men and women from around the world. Its storefronts have retained their baroque or neoclassical facades.

Via Cola di Rienzo -- Bordering the Vatican, this long, straight street runs from the Tiber to Piazza Risorgimento. Since the street is wide and clogged with traffic, it's best to walk down one side and then up the other. Via Cola di Rienzi is known for stores selling a wide variety of merchandise at reasonable prices -- from jewelry to fashionable clothes and shoes.
(apartments in this area: Gracchi Emo Campanella)

Via Condotti -- Easy to find because it begins at the base of the Spanish Steps, this is Rome's poshest and most prominent shopping street -- the Madison Avenue of Rome. Even the recent incursion of some less elegant stores hasn't diminished the allure of Via Condotti as a consumer's playground for the rich and super-rich. For us mere mortals, it's a great place for window-shopping and people-watching.

Via del Corso -- Not attempting the stratospheric image or prices of Via Condotti or Via Borgognona, Via del Corso boasts styles aimed at younger consumers. There are, however, some gems scattered amid the shops selling jeans and sporting equipment. The most interesting stores are nearest the fashionable cafes of Piazza del Popolo.

Via Francesco Crispi -- Most shoppers reach this street by following Via Sistina 1 long block from the top of the Spanish Steps. Near the intersection of these streets are several shops well suited for unusual and less expensive gifts.

Via Frattina -- Running parallel to Via Condotti, it begins, like its more famous sibling, at Piazza di Spagna. Part of its length is closed to traffic. Here the concentration of shops is denser, although some aficionados claim that its image is slightly less chic and prices are slightly lower than at its counterparts on Via Condotti. It's usually thronged with shoppers who appreciate the lack of motor traffic.

Via Nazionale -- The layout recalls 19th-century grandeur, but the traffic is horrendous; crossing Via Nazionale requires a good sense of timing and a strong understanding of Italian driving patterns. It begins at Piazza della Repubblica and runs down almost to the 19th-century monuments of Piazza Venezia. You'll find an abundance of leather stores (more reasonable in price than those in many other parts of Rome) and a handful of stylish boutiques.

Via Sistina -- Beginning at the top of the Spanish Steps, Via Sistina runs to Piazza Barberini. The shops are small, stylish, and based on the tastes of their owners. The pedestrian traffic is less dense than on other major streets.

Via Vittorio Veneto -- Via Veneto is filled with expensive hotels and cafes and relatively expensive stores selling shoes, gloves, and leather goods.

Roman labels: from Sorelle Fontana to Gai Mattiolo

Many famous names in Made in Italy fashion from Rome and elsewhere started their careers in this city, often opening an atelier that soon began to attract the curiosity of aristocrats, politicians and film stars who then made them famous.

Sorelle Fontana – a historical label that dressed the Roman upper middle classes in the post-war period until the Dolce Vita era and then went on to the United States and Hollywood, designing and making film costumes for international stars.

Capucci - Capucci opened his first atelier in Paris and then finally opened one in Rome in Via Gregoriana. One of the few “independent” designers: Capucci detached himself from the traditional fashion circuits and personally organized the presentations of his collections almost as if they were art exhibitions. In 1995 he exhibited his designs at the Biennale in Venice.

Fernanda Gattinoni – She opened her Rome atelier in 1945 near Via Veneto. Her clothes were worn by famous people such as Anna Magnani, Evita Peron, Ingrid Bergman and Audrey Hepburn.

Lancetti – Roman by adoption, he opened his first atelier in Via Margutta, the famous street of artists. This was almost an omen of his fame as a designer-painter that he later obtained.

Valentino - Valentino opened his first atelier in Rome in Via Condotti, and hit success after a fashion show at Pitti Immagine in Florence. He is one of the cinema world’s famous designers: stars such as Liz Taylor, Joan Collins, Julia Roberts and Claudia Cardinale wear his creations at gala evenings such as the Night of the Oscars.

Laura Biagiotti – Renamed the “Queen of Cashmere", Laura Biagiotti is famous for her fine cashmere knitwear and for her frequent use of the color white in her creations.

Fendi - This maison was set up in 1925 in Rome as a fur coat and leather goods shop. Later, the five Fendi sisters created the label that is famous worldwide.

Brioni – Male tailored elegance. Famous worldwide for the high quality of their clothes and for being 007’s tailor, embodied by the actor Pierce Brosnan.

Battistoni – A historical, male tailors’ atelier in Rome, which was a favorite of the Duke of Windsor.

Galleria Colonna: Everything you need for your shopping

Shoppings Streets Via Condotti Top

This street is the shopping paradise if you want to buy italian style clothes.
Here you can find all the shops of the most famous brands of clothing, starting from Valentino to Armani, from Cavalli to Prada.... But the street worth a visit even if you don't want to buy anything... This is however one of the most famous streets in Rome.

Via Condotti

has very old origins: in Roman times it was one of the streets that crossed the ancient Via Flaminia and enabled people who crossed the Tiber to flow towards the Pincio hill. On the Pincio hill, Lucullo, the Roman leader famous from having brought to Rome the culture and oriental splendor from Greece, decided to build his villa after having defeated Mitridate in Asia Minor.
Via Condotti originally must have been the entrance to Lucullo's villa and remained during the Medioeval times a country road. From 1870 the street has pretty much remained the same as it was originally designed, when Rome became the capital of Italy and this area was designed to be occupied by banks and state administrative offices. Since the beginnig of 1700 the habit of meeting in Via Condotti's cafes and at the Spanish Steps has not altered in the slightest.
The names of those who met in Via Condotti are very well know and distinguished such as: Sthendal, Byron, Shelley, Goethe and D'Annunzio. . A plague still stands today to indicate where one of the most famous Italian poets, Giacomo Leopardi lived (81, via Condotti).

Caffé Greco

is perhaps the most famous cafè in the capital; estabilished in 1760 by a Greek man, remains today one of the places where, politicians, artist and writers meet.

Via del Corso: Clothes Mecca!

Via Veneto might be the more well-known shopping street in Rome, but I prefer Via del Corso. My reasons are not only that it is generally much cheaper, but you can start in my favorite piazza, Piazza del Popolo, walk the full length of the street and end up in Piazza Venezia! Sight see and shop at the same time! Every imaginable type of clothing, for all genders and ages, line the street. Of course, there are great places to eat along the road, but don't waste your money there. Just a few streets off del Corso, you can find great eateries that the locals eat at, and they are almost invariably cheaper. A histroical note; the length of Via del Corso was used for horse racing. But, not the kind we know. Leave it to the creators of gladiatorial games to invent a cruel way to treat an animal and get some laughs out of it. What they used to do was to drug the horses with a kind of hallucinagenic substance, starve them for food for days, and then put them at the end of the del Corso and let them lose down the track. Drugged, hungry, pissed off horses; hows that for entertainment? Yeah, me either...

Via Cola di Rienzo

You may hear about Via Cola di Rienzo being described as a major shopping street that's near to the Vatican. Certainly it's near to the Vatican but I, personaly, did not find it to be that interesting as the other shopping streets across the Tiber River. One particular street that I liked alot is the Via del Corso. Pretty much the same types of stores are on the Via Cola di Rienzo: shoe shops, food shops, clothing shops, the Coin department store, and sidewalk vendors who you can bargain with. Castroni is a world-famous food shop that has lots of Italian and imported items; this is not a huge food emporium as you may imagine-it's a fairly small shop.
If you want to do comparisons with food shops in other cities, Paris for example, I, personally, did not care for Castroni. In my opinion, Paris's food shops (La Grande Epicerie, Lafayette Gourmet, Hediard, and Fauchon to name a few) are way better than Castroni.
Via Cola di Rienzo has a variety of shops so it depends on what you're looking for.
Prices were fair in 2001 before the inception of the euro. Nowadays I'm sure prices are much higher.
(apartments in this area: Gracchi Emo Campanella)

One-of-a-Kind Shops

Alinari, Via Alibert 16A (tel. 06-6792923; Metro: Spagna), takes its name from the famed Florentine photographer of the 19th century.
Original Alinari prints are almost as prized as paintings in national galleries, and they record the Rome of a century ago.

Siragusa, Via delle Carrozze 64 (tel. 06-6797085; Metro: Spagna), is more like a museum than a shop, specializing in unusual jewelry based on ancient carved stones or archaeological pieces mounted in 24K gold. Handmade chains, for example, often hold coins and beads discovered in Asia Minor that date from the 3rd and 4th centuries B.C

Women's Clothing

Galleria Colonna now is also called Galleria Alberto Sordi (dedicated to our Roman actor. This Gallery is so great that can contains many different shops. I find there some book-shop like Feltrinelli and some well-known boutiques. Of course on X-Mas time the Gallery is absolutely full of people, but you will find it millions of lights :-)
There are many things to buy between Feltrinelli and almost 10 different boutiques of men and women's clothes.
In Front of Piazza Colonna. Cobblestone area next to the Colosseum, the Forum. What makes it special? The very good designer bag knock-offs sold by 20-30 different 'vendors.'
Looking for a very good designer knock off, then look no further.
There are Prada, Gucci, Vuitton purses, totes, wallets and back packs scattered all over the area.
The prices the vendors quote are ridiculous. They start off high and it's all about negotiating with them, until you have no dignity left. 20 euros for a small to medium size purse is fair. Colosseum, near the Vatican, Spanish Steps
There are plenty of streets to shop in Rome.
Alot of them, like Via Condotti (near the Spanish Steps) are way out of the average travellers price range.
In other areas, such as along Via del Corso, you will find more middle of the road style shops which are perfect for when you feel the need for some retail therapy.
Just remember that a lot of shops close for a couple of hours early afternoon.....this gives you the perfect excuse for a long lunch and a glass of wine or two!

Women's Clothing: First-class Leather

You can hardly go wrong shopping for a leather jacket in Rome.
There are so many leather shops that it almost makes one dizzy.
The best places to shop for some excellent yet moderately priced leather fashions are the stores located on Via del Corso. This is one of the main shopping drags in Rome.
All stores can alter your purchases such as belts and jackets.
Gazelle is a family-owned outlet store packed with leather jackets, skirts, coats, etc. on the Via del Corso.
The owners are particularly helpful and patient in assisting you in your selections.
Leather jackets, coats, wallets, handbags, and belts. Alot less than in the US for excellent quality and craftsmanship
Via del Corso, 30 - Walk through Piazza del Poppolo onto Via del Corso.
Continue on Via del Corso until you see the store.

Women's Clothing: Shop untill you drop

The area around Piazza di Spagna, Via del Corso to Piazza di Spagna, as well as the upper part of Via Veneto has the highest concentration of shops; they range from stores like Valentino, Versace, and Armani down to hip shops that sell fine Italian accessories for the home. The most exclusive street is Via Condotti, and paralllel yet not as pricey are Via Frattina and Via Borgognona on one side and Via Carrozze,Via della Croce and Via Vittoria on the other. Some of the stores and boutiques are obviously very pricey...but it's ok to window shop too.. (not!!) ; -) .
Women's Clothing: Authentic vs. Knock-off

Many of the major designers have shops near the Spanish Steps. Walking through those streets was like paging through Vogue.
You can buy very expensive clothes and bags here at these designer shops. For those of you who have to have your custom made shirts, this is the place to come. Or you could go over to Ponte S. Angelo (the bridge by the Castel S Angelo) and buy a knock-off for 1/20th of the price. (The shirt probably won't fit.)

Depends if you have to have the real thing.

In Spanish Steps neighborhood

Women's Clothing: Famous Italian Handbags

For the most chic ladies in town, this is the place for handbags, scarves, and belts at reasonable prices. Founded in Bologna, Furla has been known for both its feminine and functional designs. Every Furla collection is the result of research and interpretation, which takes account of the past and observes the present, with the future in mind. According to the designer it is because the true virtue of elegance lies not in its power to amaze, but to interpret what is new and translate it into a style.
The handbags and belts will be at a fraction of the price that you will find them in the States (sold at Bloomingdales). Plus some of the styles available never make it to the US. Around $100 US Piazza di Spagna 22
www.furla.com

Women's Clothing: Discount Shopping in Rome

As it's name suggests, its a discount store!! It is a reputable discount store in Rome that sells high end label goods at reduced prices. When you walk into the store, it is very much like a shop. Clothing, shoes, and accessories are nicely displayed. Some of the accessories are behind glass cabinets and such (to deter theft I suppose). It is adequately lit and the staff are pleasant enough. However, in the true Italian shopping style, better dress to impress. The sales personnel can be a bit on the snobbish side. You can buy anything that you want (or what it is that you can afford rather).
They have all the big name labels, depending on what comes in. You can find Armani, Versace, Ferre, etc. 50% off retail or more depending
Via di Gesù e Maria 16A - Near Spanish Steps; south of Piazza del Populo between Via del Corso and Via del Babuino.

Women's Clothing: Great Italian gifts

Most things for sale here are women's clothes but they also have a section with very nice gifts. For you mother or girlfriend/wife you can buy a beautiful shawl and for your father or boyfriend/husband you can buy espresso cups and beautiful mugs. Of course there are many other things, so take a good look around. Fantastic staff.
There weren't enough espresso cups, so they called to the other OMAI shop in Rome and asked if they still had the cups, and they did. We thought we had to get the cups ourselves in the other shop, but one employee went on his scooter to bring us the cups, now that's what I call good service!! If you want to laugh ask them to wrap the cups and saucers as a present :D It takes ages but is really funny indeed!!! Shawls are 20 or 32 euro and the espresso cups with saucer are 7 euro. Via del Corso 243
http://www.omai.it/

Women's Clothing: Shopping for Italian Designer Clothings

My favorite boutiques in Rome are: Salvatore Ferragamo at: Via de Condotti 73, Rome.
Ferragamo also have a smaller boutique right at the foot of the Spanish Steps.
Their shoes are simply to-die for! And they are almost 40% to 50% cheaper than if you were to buy them in Asia! If I can't carry too many boxes of shoes back to Singapore, I'll get them to ship it instead. The sales assistants are friendly and if you buy a few pairs of shoes, they'll even give you a discount (that is, if you manage to charm them enough). La Perla at: Via De Condotti 79, Rome Wearing La Perla lingerie would make any woman feel sexy.
But most importantly, it costs 40% cheaper to buy here vis-a-vis shopping in Asia (the worst country to shop in Asia is Japan. Everything is so expensive there!). Missoni at: Via del Babuino 102, Rome I love, love, love Missoni! And the boutique is conveniently located right across the Spanish Steps. If you come from Asia (like me), most Italian designer clothings and shoes cost almost 50% more than what you would pay if you were to buy it in Italy.
I am referring to big designer brands like Gucci, Ferragamo, Gianfranco Ferre, Gianni Versace et al. So, if you ever see an Asian (Japanese or Chinese) shopping at Via Condotti or at Via Veneto like there is no tomorrow... you now know the reason why! ;-)
I usually bring along a half-filled luggage so that I can replenish most of my clothes and shoes when I'm in Italy. Sometimes, my girlfriends give me a list of their shopping to do. That's fine for me.
I don't mind shopping for them because I enjoy more discounts at these boutiques if I were to buy in bulk.

Theme: Women's Clothes
Address: Via Condotti, Via Veneto... & Spanish Steps Women's Clothing: My Favorite Department Store In Rome!

La Rinascente

La Rinascente is one of the most famous department stores in Italy and one of my favorite places to shop when I'm in Rome. Usually I'll come to replenish my Princess Marcella Borghese face products and make-up. Yes, I am currently using this Italian brand and I must admit, I love their eye-mask best! Molto buono! Shoes, Women's and Men's clothes, Cosmetics.... Household products, designer wear etc. They sell everything here! Expect to pay department store prices and more (for designer products)... http://www.rinascente.it/

Women's Clothing: I could have spend a fortune ...

... for shoes! But as I don't have the Italian standard size (I guess 41 is much to large for female Italian feet) I have saved lots of money. Many shoe shops were along the Via Nazionale.

Men's Clothing Top

Men's Clothing: SHIRTS ON ROME You can find quality shirts, tailor maded too, and quite low prices. There a lot of ties too and other accessories. Yuo will meet kindly people who could help you to choose your own shirt or your present for a friend. The shirts and the ties are really fantastic, you can choose a standard or a tailored-made shirt selected from a variety of collars , fabrics and colors. The shirts are manufactured using the finest fabrics from some of Italy's finest textile companies: Monti and Canclini. Every fine details is taken into account from the buttons to the collar sticks. The ties are so beautiful and you can find colors and models for every day time. You can buy a fantastic shirt with a tie for about one hundred Euro.
Men's Clothes
Via Margutta 3 (first floor) - In the centre of Rome, near Piazza di Spagna
Borsalino: The Best Name in Hats There is no better name for quality hats than Borsalino.
Since 1857, the name is synonymous with an elegant style that is purely southern European.
The family owned company uses their own felt from the finest Belgian lapin fur at their factory in Alessandria in Piemonte to make their signature fedora.
The felt Borsalino hats are still produced today just as they were 150 years ago. Depends on the lining (satin or silk), a quality fedora starts at about € 125.
Cloth and wool berets or caps may be less expensive.
Piazza del Popolo 20
COIN
If La Rinascente is a moderate to high-end department store chain, then COIN is similar.
The offerings are pretty typical of any department store: shoes, clothing, fragrances, etc.
As with La Rinascente, I didn't think COIN was all that impressive. Again I feel that the variety and selections are not the same as what other cities' department stores offer. There is no comparison with Paris's grands magasins for example. Depends on what you buy Via Cola di Rienzo 173
Market of Via Sannio: Casual clothes kingdom Here you can find a wide variety of new and second hand clothes, jeans and shoes. Very good also for camping and outdoor equipment. Open every morning except Sunday. Prices are quite low... and you can always bargain.
Via Sannio is located next to Piazza S. Giovanni in Laterano.
Metro A stop S. GIOVANNI.
Men's Clothing: Benetton Benetton is everywhere, and is pretty reasonable price-wise. If you have a 'clothing emergency' due to weather, or you are understandably embarrassed by your sweatpants-based wardrobe, stop by benetton to blend in with the locals.
Theme: Men's Clothes
Address: Every ten feet.
Directions: Campo de' Fiori Brioni There's a fine thread that weaves together certain exclusive ways of living, an affinity in taste and elegance, a constant search for armony and attention to details. That thread has always guided those who are accustomed to looking for the best, in places where the best is naturally expressed. Via barberini 79

Antiques

Some visitors to Italy consider the many antiques for sale the country's greatest treasure. But prices have risen to alarming levels as increasingly wealthy Europeans outbid one another in a frenzy. Any antiques dealer who risks the high rents of central Rome is acutely aware of valuations.
So while you might find gorgeous pieces, you're not likely to find any bargains.
Beware of fakes, remember to insure anything you have shipped home, and for larger purchases -- anything more than 150€ ($173) at any one store -- keep your paperwork in order to obtain your tax refund.
Via dei Coronari is buried in a colorful section of the Campo Marzio.
To find the street's entrance, turn left out of the north end of Piazza Navona and pass the excavated ruins of Domitian's Stadium -- it will be just ahead.
There are more than 40 antiques stores in the next 4 blocks, offering inlaid secretaries, gilded consoles, vases, urns, chandeliers, marble pedestals, chaises, refectory tables -- you name it. Bring your pocket calculator and keep in mind that stores are frequently closed between 1 and 4pm. Via del Babuino is another major street for antiques in Rome, with some of the most prestigious stores found here, including Alberto di Castro (our favorite store for prints), but many others as well. A few minutes south of Piazza del Popolo, via Laurina lies midway between via del Corso and via del Babuino.
It is filled with beautiful stores where you can find anything from an antique print to a 17th-century chandelier.
Via dei Coronari: A Street of Antiques
Via dei Coronari is a narrow pedestrianised street located close to Piazza Navona. Both side of the street are lined with antique stores and galleries. When we were there in October, we happened across the antique fair that is held here twice a year (in Oct & May).
The street (which is about 500 metres long) was lined with a green carpet and as the sun set, torches mounted up high on the walls were lit outside each shop, making for a very interesting wander and window shop.
Twice a year, mid-end of October and mid-end of May, an antique fair is held in this street which become full of lights with the shops opened during the whole day. Antiques of course! And art. We didn't buy anything....not that into antiques...and no room in the suitcase!!
E.x.p.e.n.s.i.v.e.
Via dei Coronari, Rome - Just off Piazza Navona, towards the River Tiber

(apartments in this area: Pace Pellegrinp 1P Pellegrino 3P Malpasso)

Ad Antiqua Domus
This shop practically feels like a museum of Italian furniture design through the ages. You'll find Italian furniture from the days of Caesar through the 19th century for sale here.
Via dei Coronari 41

ArtImport
An antiques shopper's dream, this bazaar always has something for sale that's intriguing and tasteful -- that is, if you can agree on a price.
The store's motto is "In the service of the table," so there's an emphasis on silver, although the objects run the gamut. The goblets, elegant bowls, candlesticks, and candelabra sold here are almost without equal in Rome. Via Del Babuino 150 Spanish Stesp Amati & Amati This intimate shop sells antique jewelry, high-fashion clothing, and exotic handcrafts.
Good examples include mirrors framed in assorted seashells and lavishly carved chests from North Africa. If you're on the hunt for exotic fashion accessories, this is the place for you.
Via dei Pianellari - spanish steps

Rome secondhands Top

L'Usato - Piazza Campo Dei Fiori, 14
This secondhand shop stocks all three of the legendary American brands, namely Levi;s, Lee and Wrangler. Seconda Mano - Via del Governo Vecchio, 85, Rome
The smartest of teh secondhand clothes shops. A sewing machine in the corner tells you that clothes here are often alteres, probably essential to give them a more contemporary look.
- Via della Lungara, 14, Rome
Despite having the same name, this shop has a totalydifferent atmosphere. It sells all shorts, genuine and false Lacostes, stripy shirts, polo shirts with no label, collarless shirts, and more. Sempre Verde Via del Governo Vecchio, 26, Rome
The window is cracked, the door broken and dummies have their heads covered in sheets of newspaper. But it's all part of the intended effect in this 'shabby-chic' shop. Abiti Usati - Via del Governo Vecchio, 35, Rome
This is the queen of all the secondhands clothes shops. Among the mountains of clothes from all eras and who knows where, you might find, if you've time, the perfect 1960s mini-skirt, but be prepared to rummage. Mado - Via del Governo Vecchio, 89A, Rome
This is the place to come to find out about fashion in the 1930s.With a cosy by gone decore, this shop sells the clothes and accessories that today's italian grandmothers might have worn.

Discount Alta Moda Gucci - Via gesu e Maria, 16, Rome
Bags by Gucci and Chanel, as well as a new designer, Venturi, who is much appreciated by all fashionable Roman ladies.

David Cenci - Via Campo Marzio 1-7, Tel:06/6990681
If you came to Rome looking for a suit or jacket, this is the one stop you should make.
This enormous store has both men's and woman's fashion with brand names like Burberry, Tod's, and Pucci as well as their own well designed & high quality items. Doesn't fit quite right? Their reliable tailors will fix it and have the item brought to your hotel before your departure! La Perla This big name brand is now available in many cities in the U.S., but nothing compares to shopping in their store in Rome. The helpful staff makes all the difference. Ignore the window displays and talk to one of the salespeople about what you want.
She'll open a drawer or run in the back room and find a perfect handful of items for you to try among hundreds of dizzying choices.

Antica Norcineria - Via Della Scrofa, 100 Tel:06/68801074
This homey little shop, established in 1886 is the perfect place to sample some prosciutto, salumi, and cheese and stock up on Italian regional products to take home for yourself or as gifts. On my last visit, I couldn't resist the honeys, truffle products, jams, and nut butters from different regions. You won't have any difficulty finding something you can't wait to get home and open.

The Lion Bookshop - Via dei Greci 33/36 Tel:06/32654007-0437
If you ran through all your reading material on the plane, this small English language bookstore is a great place to pick up something for the flight home.
There's a nice selection of both classics and modern literature all imported from England. For more info please take a look at Fodors.com