I will be in Rome soon, and I am looking for some unique gifts to buy my 20 and 16 year old daughters. The older one likes the good stuff like Prada, Gucci. LV, but that stuff in not in my price range. The younger one is a little punkier and likes silver, if it is jewelry. I'm not looking to spend more than $100-150 per daughter, unless it is something that she could have forever. Any unique products a young adult might appreciate that is specially from Italy? Last time I was in Italy I bought them bags from the flea market in Florence (they didn't like them) and pashmina scarves. Any suggestions appreciated. Lisa

I usually bought gloves in Rome. Let me tell you, I have an 18 year old and I cannot pick out her taste at all. You are taking a real chance as to whether they will like it or not. Our neighbor brought back designer sunglasses. She said it was a great place for sunglasses. Good luck.

Get a selection of beauty products from the Farmacia Santa Maria Novella; they have a shop in Rome. You can take a look at the recent long thread on this place to get an idea of what they offer. If they are really into the designer stuff, you should be able to buy something very small in Prada for that amount. Vuitton is French, however, so Italy is not a good place to buy from them.

You are right Heavens, I can't pick out their tastes at all. I was recently in Milan, so I went to Prada. A Prada keychain is 125 Euros. I had to look at the price several times to see if I was seeing it correctly. Yup, 125 Euros for a keychain. As for sunglasses, my daughter has a pair of those oversized designer sunglasses, which I hate. I don't find them attractive at all, even though they are all the rage. I will look at the beauty products at the Farmacia,Ekscrunshy. Can anyone recommend a cool Italian jewelry designer that's popular. Thanks.

Once there your only problem will be how to stop buying them gifts. My feeling is that you can get designer things here, but you will never find the beautiful items from the small Italian boutiques in the US. If I remember silver seemed more expensive than here.

Lisa,

My daughters always request SMN as well..they love the shampoos and the bubble bath..and just about anything else from the shop I can carry...also suggest stopping in at Furla, known for leather goods, but now carrying jewelry as well..I found several things there and loved the wrapping...the small boutiques carry lots of fun earrings, some not expensive at all...whatever you buy, ask for a gift wrap..never a charge, and in many places really lovely and a gift in itself..

Thanks Traviata for your advice. I think I will definitely buy them something from SMN, and definitely something for myself! Also Furla is a great idea. I will look for some interesting earrings from a boutique. Maybe Trastevere will have some nice shops. Regards, Lisa

When we were in Rome several years ago, I found beautiful copies of Etruscan (sp?) jewlery in a shop several blocks from our hotel. We stayed at the Hotel Portugesie (sp?) not far from the Pantheon. The Jewlery was sort of like what Museum shops carry.

My daughter is a wallet freak. Furla is a good idea -you should be able to find a nice one in your price range. When we were in Paris last year, I was faced with the same dilemma. I ended up buying her a gorgeous leather embossed jewelry box from the Louvre Museum store (there has to be an equivelent in a Rome museum) and at another store I bought her a leather passport cover for her future adventures abroad. My daughter, the jewelry box and passport cover are all now in Cannes studying for a semester.

I bought myself a Murano glass pendant on a black rubber "chain" in Rome, and my 15-year-old cousin would kill me for it. She tells me I'm far too old for it. It only cost me about $30, and unfortunately I can't remember where I bought it. Just a nice gift store.

Italy06 I had to laugh when you mentioned the leather passport holder, as my 20 year old bought me for the holidays a gorgeous red passport holder from Abas, the Monticantini collection. In fact, when I went through Customs a few weeks ago, the gentleman there made a big fuss over it. A leather jewelry box is also a nice suggestion. How lucky for your daughter to be in Cannes studying. I also like the idea of looking at the Estruscan jewelry, kleroux. I will definitely look for that since I will be staying right by the Pantheon. And Ann41 I was looking at the Murano bead necklaces in Venice a few weeks ago for my 16 year old, but couldn't make a decision..if I find one in Rome I will buy it, because I am getting sick of seeing a green guitar pick hanging around her neck! Thanks all, Lisa

Oldmyst-
Yes, my daughter is very lucky to be studying abroad -- I have to hide my envy when she tells me about the afternoon cheese course in the cafeteria or making her own perfume in Grasse. Oh, and she goes to class...
Another idea, actually cheaper is to go to any funky clothing store - and buy them cool t-shirts with Italian writing on them. You know, the kind Abercrombie and Fitch rips off so well.

Definitely Furla. their store is at the bottom of the Spanish Steps.

If you know their shoe size and can get a sales clerk of the appropriate age/style to help, maybe you can get some great Italian shoes: they still do the most stlish stuff first in shoeware...

Oldmyst, do your daughters live with you? Maybe you could buy a couple of european fashion magazines or a Vogue and get them to point out which items they really like and which they really hate. This could give you a heads up on their tastes at least. You could even rip some pages out and take them with you to try and match the "choices" when you get to Rome. Schnauzer

We have never had trouble finding things to buy for our daughter in Rome. If anything, we see too many things that she would like. We always buy her tops... Rome is full of the most gorgeous little sweaters and other tops for young girls.

She likes everything we buy her. She even wears the belt we bought her husband that turned out to be way too small. But she wears it over a long top...sort of on the hips of her jeans. Very cute.

Purses, hats, gloves, make up, underwear, socks, stockings... oh my... there is so much to buy and everything is so cute.

I guess I'm lucky in that I understand her taste; if I am much too old for it, then it is right for her. I don't buy her anything that would suit me. My own mother makes this mistake all the time: she buys me things that she likes. I don't think clothing really transcends generational differences. ;-)

Good ideas everyone. I was recently in Venice, Como and Milan (see my post, I had a great time), and kept seeing a lot of interesting things. Of course there are the upscale, ridiculously expensive shops in the Galleria in Milan. But that stuff can be bought here in NY. Actually I called a local Prada store here in NY and spoke to a salesperson. She said she didn't know if you get a better buy in Europe, but she said some customers say they did. And, she said you might be able to get things there that they don't carry in the U.S.

Both my daughters live with me right now. I think the idea of having them look at a Vogue before I leave is a great idea, Schnauzer. I also like the idea of something from a funky shop. My youngest likes Converse sneakers, I wonder if they have an equivalent Italian brand? LJ, my oldest would definitely be into the stylish shoes. Kids today seem to know their brands...things I never heard of. Thanks, Lisa

I'll e-mail my daughter in France right now - she's a Converse afficionado as well and has done some shopping since she's been there. She's also going to Italy this weekend - I'll tell her to look for stuff she likes and report back.

Thanks Italy06! I'm leaving next Monday, so if you don't hear back before, email me at [email protected]. I'll check my email from the hotel. Is your daughter away for a semester? My daughter wanted to go to Rome, but never got a chance to go. Regards, Lisa

My aunt got me a nightgown from La Perla in either Rome or Paris when I was 18 and I have never felt more special. It was also sort of a rite of passage. . . I was finally old enough for lingerie!

Claire