Going to Florence...

If you like hats, check out the Borsalino boutique. Ten years ago, I was impressed by a little haberdasher called Lorenzetti. I remember a thread here about a bespoke shoemaker named Roberto Ugolini, but I have no firsthand experience.

There is a nice place that carries Kiton and Isaia right next to the Savoy hotel; they also do couture for women. Don't forget to make sure you eat some Chinghiale (wild boar).

Find the neighborhood where the fashion boutique stores are -- Armani, Gucci, Prada, etc. Avoid those stores (except perhaps the Zegna store), but that's a great neighborhood for other good shopping. If you need any non-clothes textile items, such as bedspreads and tableclothes, there are some amazing stores in Florence (including some in the neighborhood mentioned above), with simply incredible fabrics and designs. You can find some of the same stuff on Madison Avenue in NYC, but at 3 or 4-times the price (so, a spectacular king size bedspread is $300+ rather than $1,000+). Be forewarned though, those items are very heavy and take up lots of space in suitcases. Also, if you've got children, there are some unreal stores in Florence for ultra-high-end kids clothes....

I haven't been there myself, but if I were visiting, Calzoleria Harris would definitely be on my list of places to see - I've been meaning to write to them and get a feel for their work for a while. They have a website here - Harris Shoes 1913

I found a pretty nice store for leather goods near the Santa Croce... don't remember the name of it though.

I haven't been there, but Loro Piana and Marinella have their stores in Florence I think. That would be definitely worthwhile visiting.

Strawberry risotto sounds very strange to an italian eye. Marinella I'm sorry but has only two shops, in Milano e in Napoli.

Go to Vivoli.

Oh, but it is approaching winter.... 1) Will it be open? 2) Cold on top of cold.  

Well... Sunday in Firenza it was COLD and very windy so bring a coat ...temp was probably 50 but felt a LOT colder with drizzle and heavy wind. The leather market was open anyway - they sell regardless of weather over there and they were more ready to deal than usual since it was a slow day. Again - dress right, the wind was a real @$@#&@. Advice - eat at Zaza - very authentic food, not touristy stuff. Jill swears by the ravioli with walnut cream sauce - all the sauces are good really. Piazza Del Mercato Centrale, kinda tucked in the corner. The Uffitzi museum was shockingly gorgeous, suffice it to say that the artwork in Florence does not suck. Finally - this is no town to wear expensive shoes in, wear comfortable ones or you will probably cry after 4-5 hours. If you are taking the train use the Eurostar, not the intercity unless you are a smoker. Evidently the cigarette with a red circle and line through it means "Chain smoke and blow it into my compartment for three hours" ...wish i had video of Jill tossing that guy out the window. Seriously - the first and last car are the only no smoking ones, the symbols evidently mean diddly squat on the intercity trains, Eurostar is faster/cleaner/smokeless.

Originally posted by Carlo: Quite right about the "no smoking" signs meaning nada. Koji, you are going to the Bargello right? Make sure you don't miss the gallery around the courtyard, especially the bronze "fishing boy", it is astonishing.