Italy (Milan, Venice, Florence, Rome, etc) revisited

[LaymanX]

Hi folks!

I'm visiting Italy later this year and am interested in some sartorial items that would be unique to the region. In particular, some leather goods (gloves, bags, jackets), shirting and shoes.

After some searches through the SF archives, I've come up
- Madova gloves. I've heard that the quality has gone south recently, but there hasn't been any recent posts
- Avoid the leather bazaar, attend the leather working school instead (Scuola del Cuoio)
- Try Enzo Bonafe for some RTW shoes
- Try Simone Abbarchi for shirting (I believe it's MTM?)
- Try Ottino for briefcases, bags

Apologies if I'm dredging up this region again, there hasn't been a recent post and some of the threads don't even load anymore with the new site.

Thanks

 

[Kosta007]

After studying abroad in Italy and traveling all around from January-May, I would say my overall favorite store was Battistoni in Rome. It's tucked into a small area off Via Condotti (block leading to the Spanish Steps). If you have time for a day trip to Naples, you should check out Chiaia which is the luxury end of the city along the water. It's where the Rubinacci flagship is and their stores are really nice to check out.

 

[Petepan]

Hi folks!

I'm visiting Italy later this year and am interested in some sartorial items that would be unique to the region. In particular, some leather goods (gloves, bags, jackets), shirting and shoes.

After some searches through the SF archives, I've come up
- Madova gloves. I've heard that the quality has gone south recently, but there hasn't been any recent posts
- Avoid the leather bazaar, attend the leather working school instead (Scuola del Cuoio)
- Try Enzo Bonafe for some RTW shoes
- Try Simone Abbarchi for shirting (I believe it's MTM?)
- Try Ottino for briefcases, bags

Apologies if I'm dredging up this region again, there hasn't been a recent post and some of the threads don't even load anymore with the new site.

Thanks

Off the top of my head:

For Florence, Luciano is not bad for gloves. Casini has some interesting leather jackets. Principe is a nice traditional menswear shop- I picked up a grenadine tie there. Mannina for bespoke and RTW, Otisopse for affordable good quality RTW, Bemer for the top stuff. Liverano or hunt down a local tailor shop. Luisaviaroma sometimes throws up interesting things- I picked up a Sassetti shell cordovan longwings there for under Euro300. There are some local outlets around in the historical centre where you can get good stuff for Yoox prices- picked up Incotex chinos for Euro55. You can get your own leather bag made up at some shops along the Porta Rossa or south of the Arno, or just choose from their available range.

Rome is not bad too, but I did not have enough time. Ripense for suits. There is a tailor 5-10 minutes walk south of the Spanish Steps- they even have Loro Piana Vicuna. Try on some Borrelli and Barba for shirts.

I did not like Milan, but again not much time there. The outlets have some interesting stuff.

 

[LaymanX]

This is amazing, thank you both very much!

 

[emptym]

In Florence I like Luciano for ties too, particularly their fleur-de-lis ones. Would like to try the small tailor shop of Mario Martinelli called La Bottega Del Cuito on Via Ghibellina.
If you find a good custom bag place like Petepan suggests, pls let us know. I like my Ottino bag a lot and it's held up well, I'd have liked a more natural leather.

In Milan, check out Via Cerva, just east of the Duomo. It has a great shoe repair and supplies shop, the Valextra outlet, a store called Capalbio that sells inexpensive, traditional Tuscan country clothes of heavy linen, canvas, tweed, and corduroy with interesting designs (now upstairs while leather jackets are downstairs), and a good, non-touristy restaurant called Trattoria da Pino.

Btw, do you want fabric from Simone Abbarchi or shirts? "Shirting" technically means the fabric to make shirts, not shirts themselves (one of my pet peeves that many online retailers get wrong, along with suiting).

 

[LaymanX]

In Florence I like Luciano for ties too, particularly their fleur-de-lis ones. Would like to try the small tailor shop of Mario Martinelli called La Bottega Del Cuito on Via Ghibellina.
If you find a good custom bag place like Petepan suggests, pls let us know. I like my Ottino bag a lot and it's held up well, I'd have liked a more natural leather.

In Milan, check out Via Cerva, just east of the Duomo. It has a great shoe repair and supplies shop, the Valextra outlet, a store called Capalbio that sells inexpensive, traditional Tuscan country clothes of heavy linen, canvas, tweed, and corduroy with interesting designs (now upstairs while leather jackets are downstairs), and a good, non-touristy restaurant called Trattoria da Pino.

Btw, do you want fabric from Simone Abbarchi or shirts? "Shirting" technically means the fabric to make shirts, not shirts themselves (one of my pet peeves that many online retailers get wrong, along with suiting).

Shirts actually! Apologies for the mixup. Thanks for the suggestions, adding them to my list.

 

[comrade]

I agree that Battistoni is a must for Rome. It is such a beautiful
store. The couple of times I've been there I've found the staff
a bit pushy.