ROME NEXT WEEK
 

My wife are off to Rome next week and cannot wait. We are looking to ourchase some italian leather jackets while we are there....any clues as to good stores that won't rip us off?

If you don't mind, where do you live? And what is your budget? I am asking because the days of bargain leather jackets in Italy are long gone, in my opinion, espcially if you are US or Canadian-dollar-based.
Are you looking for a fabulous jacket or a bargain leather jacket? For the former, I can recommend some shops but they will not be inexpensive.


Also realize that spring fashions will be in the stores now so the leather options might not be all that great.

Definitely looking for fabulous.

Lucky you tsean!

Regarding leather jackets and other type of goods, my Italian friends in Italy have told me one has to be careful as there are so many items made now with inferior leather and/or items were made in Asia and the quality is not the same. Along with the weak dollar I don't think you will find bargains. But if you are interested in a well made Italian leather jacket I would go to reputable shops. Look at several, talk to the owner/manager for their advice and take your time chosing the one you want. And have fun in fantastic Rome!!

tsean - First congrats on going to Rome. Second, I have a very vague answer for you on a store with good quality leather and very reputable.

There is a street called Via Sistina which is right off Piazza Barberini by Via Tritone. I'd say the store is a block or so down on the left side if you are walking toward the Spanish steps.

I do wish I could give you the name but alas I can't. They have a small selection but very good quality, they are helpful and can get inventory for you if they don't have what you want in stock. Both my friend and my sister bought jackets there, two differant times.

Good luck & hope you have a wonderful time!

I wish I had some great boutique-ey shops for you. I will tell you that I bought my partner a fabulous leather jacket at Zegna in Rome a few years ago. It happened to be on sale but even with no sale, I would tell you to look there..it is a multi-level shop featuring tons of great men's fashions:

Ermenigildo Zegna, Via Borgognona, 7e Roma

Another idea would be Davide Cenci which is a bi-level mini-department store featuring many classic top-tier Italian and foreign labels for men and women:

www.davidecenci.com

The address is Via Campo Marzio not far from the Pantheon. I suggest you take a look at the other shops nearby as well; that is a prime area for shopping and seems to draw more Italians than does the famous Via Condotti/Spanish Steps area (where Zegna is located).

Another shop with fine men and women's wear is Battistoni, also in the Via Condotti area.

www.battistoni.com

The Via della Croce is lined with small men's shops and the prices wil be lower than those at the famous name stores; take a walk along this street and do some window shopping.

Bally would be another good bet; I will add a few more when I think of them.

The address of Battistoni is Via Condotti, 61a.

I just returned from Rome, and it is my opinion that there are no bargains whatsoever. Examine carefully anything you are considering purchasing; the quality of goods is not what it was a few years ago and the prices are astronomical. Cenci is a good shop, but it's expensive, and I don't recall much leather there.

Frosty, I already mentioned that I did not think there were any bargains to be had and that the shops I listed are not inexpensive. There are dozens upon dozens of lower-priced shops along the Corso and elsewhere, but these would not offer the "fabulous" jackets the OP seems to be searching for.

The amount of leather items will vary by the season. Davide Cenci has loads of outerwear on the second floor. Another shop to peek into would be Angelo Cenci at Piazza della Rotunda a few steps from the Albergo del Senato Hotel. Again, not inexpensive but well-tailored classic clothing.

There are outlets shops outside Rome but I would not recommend these for leather jackets..too hit and miss.

While I am thinking about leather jackets, I realized I forgot to mention the most fabulous store of all: Loro Piana. Like the other stores I mentioned, this will be very expensive but their quality is absolutely fantastic and the jacket you buy there will never go out of style. A truly luxury purchase but for sheer fabulousness in classic styling, you cannot find anything better. Most have cashmere linings.

www.loropiana.com

My "civilised shoppers guide to Rome" has the following suggestions for purchasing leather:

ANNA on the via panisperna [in the Monti district, between Via nazionale and cavour

IBIZ ROMA on via dei chiavari [near campo dei fiori] - bags, not clothes

IL CUOIOCUCITOAMANO on via di s. ignazio [near the pantheon] - again, bags, not jackets.

My recollection is that the best leather jackets I saw were in the markets of Florence. Not much help, I'm afraid.

I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Don't know if it's still there but I bought a great leather jacket and leather pants 6 years ago at GAZELLE Via del Corso, 30 - it is not too far from Piazza del Popolo. It is a small store but they had beautiful leather products and the quality is very good. This was when the lira was still in effect so it was fun to shop then.
(I am also going to Rome next week.) Wherever you shop Just make sure that the leather is soft, a good quality and that the zippers and stitching is good - some of the products in Italy can be beautiful, fashionable, expensive, but shoddily made. My mantra when shopping in Europe is to only buy what is truly unique and what I couldn't find back home (in NYC) - because the exchange rate is what can be the rip off - unless it just isn't an issue for your budget then shop without stress.