As part of our trip this week in Italy we explored different regions of Lazio and Tuscany including Rome and Florence. Not only known for its cobbled streets, historic ruins, monumental buildings and great places to eat, this area is lined with quaint alleys full of vintage Italian made shops. When I say vintage, I do not just mean second-hand designer pieces, I mean full walls and shelves of rare couture and Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Cartier, Prada, MiuMiu and more. It is surprising to see how lovely these bags, silk scarves, shoes and other items of collectible clothing look.
Our first stop is Second chance in Central Rome. The owner, Alessia, is not only charming, sweet, and super friendly, she is very knowledgeable about the background, owners, and care instructions for all the couture pieces she keeps. My biggest surprise was the Pucci and Hermes selection it had. How rare to see a perfect condition, original and one owner Hermes mini for under 4000 euros! Pro-tip: Of course like many places you can haggle a bit but most significantly do not get unreasonable with your bid price! I picked up this incredible new condition Prada winter coat for 120 euros which is about $150 USD. Such a steal considering the same winter cut is on the market now for over $1500. #huge win! Store owners and partners will negotiate if they feel you value their product and process. The entire store is about 200 square feet wall-to-wall/ceiling-to-ceiling. And he, by the way, joined us for a few laughs as we asked him questions about life in Rome, love in Rome, and food in Rome! #while in Rome
We stopped at several other gems throughout the city but I believe two more stood out to me, Antique King Size And Antique Pifebo. King Vintage is full of leather leather skins! They carry luxury brands and higher quality made Italian brands. Really cool place to find leather pieces to match your wardrobe. Pfieber is in the same district as King but definitely a much higher end designer hotspot. The shop has a special Gianni Versace shoulder bag with a special stone carving on the handle. DIE FOR! They carried a little bit of Dior, Burberry, and more. You will enjoy this place for YSL and Chanel accessories. Pro-tip: Try to shop in the middle of the week or at a less busy time as the owner is more willing to negotiate prices if sales aren’t active that day.
Now, the day trips we take to Firenze (Florence) are spent shopping at Ponte Vecchio, a historic bridge in the heart of the city on two sides full of jewellery, accessories and more. We also enjoy a little bit of vintage shopping here! We stopped at several locations on our way “Antique Crawl”that is what I like to call it. Antique Epoca Firenze, owned by Maria and her beautiful family. He took me around the shop to see some incredible Gucci pieces we had never seen in the states! These pouches, furlas and more are so lovely and priced to match their perfect condition! This shop is not only an awesome stop to find great items, but a very fantastic experience meeting family and having granddaughter teach me a little Italian! Pro-tip: Enjoy meeting locals and asking about their backgrounds. Oftentimes, they want to tell you and want to get to know you too… particularly if you visit Italy often but live in Ohio like you really are.
Grateful for the shopping, the people, and most significantly, the opportunity to share a little with you! Have you ever enjoyed your version of “Vintage Crawl”? Tell us below.
