Florence has the best shopping in all of Italy. There are many small boutiques throughout Florence that you will not find in the rest of Italy.

I suggest you buy Madova gloves, it is directly over the Ponte Vecchio (side of the Pitti Palace). Also when you cross the Ponte Vecchio the street directly to the right has a bunch of cute clothing stores and antique jewelry. It is the artisian side of Florence where many crafters do their work.

Via Tournaboli is all of the upscale stores, but the streets at the corner of Gucci and Roberto Cavalli have great stores.

Il Papiro is the famous paper store in Florence and they're located all over the city. Two on the street of the Arno.

I can't think of many pottery stores in Florence, or Siena for that matter. Shopping in Siena isn't that great if you are making it there.

You can find great leather anywhere in Florence. I have a coat that I live in during the Fall. There are definetely nicer places then others, as my parents spent much more on their coats then they did on us, but if you use your judgment you'll find good quality.

Cinque Terre is probably the best place for Pottery but all of the towns are really small and don't sell much. The last town which is the largest, I just remember restaurants and food stores.

Milan is the fashion capital but it's large and the stores are everywhere. I took the subway to a remote part of the city to find this great cluster of stores and one vintage store. They were gorgeous stores but pricey.

I suggest you buy the book Where to Wear, Italy Edition, it covers Milan, Florence and Rome. It's really helpful.

I just studied abroad in Florence and can literally tell you I shopped my way through it. Just wander and you'll come across everything you're looking for and everything you told yourself not to buy!

In Rome Bruno Magli, near the Spanish Steps has good leather products as well as Sermoneta and Furla which are right in the Spanish Steps Square. In Via del Corso you can find lots of clothing shops of any kind (from shoes to bags to jeans etc). Via Condotti, Via Frattina, Via del Babuino are pretty expensive, but good quality products. Try also Via Nazionale, Via Appia (there is the Coin in Piazza San Giovanni, which is similar to the Rinascente) has a good Ramirez shoe shop too, LOTS of shoes there, one of my favourite!
In Milan try the Rinascente near the Duomo and the Galleria (you can't miss it), they have a large selection of kitchen stuff, including pottery and lots of Alessi products. There is a Rinascente store in Rome too, near Piazza Colonna, on Via del Corso.

You can find pottery all over Tuscany. I went to Deruta and was almost overwhelmed with all of the shops selling pottery - some made at the store. I saw this type of pottery in all of the towns I was in - including Florence. You'll find leather goods all over Florence - quality varies as do the prices. I went to a recommended store for leather gloves - it was in the block before Ponte Vecchio. It is a factory store. Have a fun time!

Deruta is in Umbria (about 30 kms from Perugia), not in Tuscany ;-)

Not a big diffence though, as the 2 regions are next to each other, just thought to point it out as Italythistime had just mentioned Tuscany. YOu're right though, you can find pottery all over Tuscany (and Umbria).

Thanks for the clarification, BAT! I knew that, but got lost in the moment of thinking back to buying pottery in Tuscany AND Umbria!

I am really glad for this informative thread. (thanks italythistime) DH & I will be in Florence next weekend. I hate to admit it, but I am not that knowledgeable about recognizing a good bargain when it comes to buying a leather jacket. - thinking of one for myself or DH.

Could anyone out there give me a rough ballpark figure as to what might be considered a bargain? I don't want to get totally ripped off. I will keep the Leather Factory and Leather School in mind.