Lois_L

Where are the cool places for teens and young women to shop for clothes and shoes? What are prices like compared to US stores? Do you get tax back when you leave Italy? Where do you go for gorgeous, not too expensive, handbags? My 12-year-old is hoping to buy knockoff purses from the street vendors; where do you find the best vandors hang out? Thanks, Fodorites, for your help!

barbara33

Lois, I am also interested in answers to this question. If you put "Rome shopping" in the search box, you will find some previous posts. In particular, I found the thread "Shopping in Italy" started by Infotrack to have lots of good info.

Lois_L

ttt

taggie

Lois, you do NOT want to start another discussion about buying knock-offs. Knockoffs are illegal and encouraging your child to buy them is wrong.

See these threads:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34553621

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34467094

summersquash

Shopping in Rome is very expensive. Some of the stores around the Termini area are cheaper but there stuff looks cheap too. You can find those vendors in that area, but is is kind of creepy there. We did find some good deals on leather handbags in that area though. I'm not sure about the best places to shop but there are plenty of places around the tourist areas. If you take the On and Off bus tour (bus 110) when you get there you will know where the shops are after that.

dutyfree

Lois-as someone who goes overseas once a week and is a "shopper" I must warn you that clothing,shoes,etc. are very high in price when you change euros into dollars.(This is even at the "cheapie" places!) I have a teenage daughter myself but cannot bring myself to buy t-shirts for her that are over $30 dollars over there. I think that you will be in shock when you see some of the prices versus the quality that you get.There are alot of interesting places in Rome to go so just walk around/window shop and compare the prices before buying.Have fun and be sure to save enough money for the wine and gelato!!!!

Lois_L

I appreciate the expertise of the Fodorites on shopping, even if their best advice is not to shop. We want to bring back a few souvenirs of our trip, anyway--but I'm sure Dutyfree is right about price/quality shock in Rome.

bookchick

There are some places on via Bourgonona (sp?) near the Spanish Steps that are not too expensive, and have the Kelly bags and some nice scarves that are not outrageously expensive. Also, via del Corso has some shops that aren't tremendously expensive (for shoes and clothes, starting from around via delle Carrozze all the way down to Piazza di Popolo), as well as via del Tritone for luggage, handbags, and knick-knacks of varying kinds. There's a not terribly expensive jewelry shop on via delle Carrozze, too.

BC

Infotrack

Repeat, just for you alone, since I am so very very nice. --Marv
*************

Shopping in Italy

(General rule: when you see it, buy it, as you may not see that same thing or style again, or for the same price. Better to be "safe" about something you really want than sorry.)


ROME:

Great little shops near the Spanish Steps (Piazza di Spagna) on Via Condotti (especially shoes and boots along here), Via Frattina, & Via del Corso

Sermonetta, across from the Spanish Steps, for great leather glove selection

Rinascente, which is near Piazza Colonna (along Via del Corso and is between Piazza Navona and the Trevi Fountain), a large department store with good choice of leather, scarves, perfumes, clothes.

Shops along Via Babbuino, between the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo

Along Via Cola di Rienzo (starting at Piazza Risorgimento near the Vatican), is an excellent shopping area, especially for women's clothing and leather products

Farmacia (pharmacy) called Santa Maria Novella located in Rome and Florence. Among other things sells their own brand of excellent soaps, potpourris, lotions, cosmetics, etc., which are becoming extremely popular in the USA. They reportedly now have a store on Rodeo Drive in LA, and one in the SOHO area (Lafayette Street below Houston) of NYC.

Via delle Carozze (between the Spanish Steps and via del Corso), has some nice jewelry stores.

Mondo Cattolico near the Vatican, has very nice hand-made jewelry as well as many other things

Discount Dell'Alta Moda (on Via di Gesu' e Maria 16A) near the Spanish Steps. Discount but designer name fashions.

Great area for shopping are the stores on Via Guibbonari near the Campo Fiori.

Stores on Via D Pantheon and Via Campo Marzio.

Beautiful boutiques along Via Governo Vecchio

Artist/designer workshops on Via Boschetto.


FLORENCE (and Tuscany):

VERY good link for info on shopping in Florence: http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/florence/ck_shopping.htm

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/notes/...shops_list.htm

Leather market on Piazza del Mercato Nuovo, near Palazzo Vecchio, where you can find lots of leather things from wallets to purses etc.

In the square by Santa Croce is a leather store called "I Medici" which sells fabulous leather bags made on the premesis. The bags are well made durable but very very elegant. They also make leather gloves which are butter soft. Good prices.

Leather market by San Lorenzo - go and browse and make sure you bargain.

Stalls by Palazzo Vecchio - have great deals on silk scarves and pashminas.

Gold - For a souvenier nothing beats buying jewelery on the Ponte Vecchio the traditional site of the goldsmiths. Expensive, but lots of fun.


VENICE:

Great link for shopping in Venice: http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/notes/...nice_shops.htm

Good shopping to be had on Strada Nuova.
Leave San Marco, walk to Rialto Bridge, detour onto Strada Nuova.

POSITANO:

Ceramiche Casola
http://www.ceramicacasola.it/
I can't remember the name of the street, Via Marconi or Via Colombo? Anyhow it's the road that goes from Positano to Amalfi; store located on the edge of Positano. A short walk from the "La Fenice" bed & breakfast.

RAVELLO:

Ceramiche d'Arte
http://www.ceramichedarte.com


GENERAL:

Great links for shopping in several places in Italy:

http://www.slowtrav.com/tr/TripReport.asp?tripid=92

http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/notes/..._shopslist.htm

risab

I was in Rome with my teenage daughter in December. It is true what other poster have said regarding the exchange rate right now. My daughter saved her own money and was particular about what she bought- basically, we felt it should be unique or a be a "must have" that could not be purchased at home in NYC. I could recommend shops on Via Giubonnari-near the Campo Fiori. Also there were very nice street stalls set up in Campo Fiori with scarves, bags, and jewelry. Wool bags seemed to be the rage in the market and in small boutiques. Their are wonderful shoe stores everywhere- but prices vary greatly. She did find a pair of boots in a shoe store off of the Pantheon- they were a bit pricey but not that much more than a good pair in the US. There are a lot of cute stores in that area too that teens would like, particularly for jewelry and other inexpensive accessories. I found that Via Nazionale had a lot of reasonable shoe stores and clothing stores for teens, however, many stores carry similar merchandise. Via Del Corso has a lot of boutiques that appeal to kids and you should stop at the Galleria Colonna that has a very wild teen store (two levels) right in the front - can't remember the name- but it was expensive but had very unique things. Have fun.

MFNYC

I don't remember seeing knock-off handbag vendors in Rome, but it's been a few years. I did see them in Venice. I remember asking how much a bag cost, just because I was curious and am familiar with Canal St. prices. Everytime I said I wasn't interested, he lowered the price by about 50%. Needless to say, I didn't buy anything because I really wasn't interested but be careful if you deal with these people. Their initial intention, I think, is to rip you off, besides the fact that these bags are illegal.