“OUR name, Sweetie”- A Lesson in Italian Retail Therapy

Channel Patrizia Reggiani’s energy the next time you’re shopping in Italy.

Milan might get all the hype when it comes to fashion and couture, but Italy is in no short supply of style. I swear, Italians are genetically gifted when it comes to custom tailoring, accessorizing, and personal style; it’s distinct and effortless. This is where trend originates. Which is why I spent a good portion of my recent trip to Rome and Florence people watching. I clocked multiple outfits, accessories, bags, shoes that I want to add to my spring wardrobe. I wasn’t just observing the pieces themselves. It’s the way they are styled, the combination of colors, patterns, fabrics, and brands. I promised myself I’d do more than just shopping in Italy, but I took so much inspiration from the streetwear, I didn’t have a choice.

These observations went beyond curated personal style. Hotel lobbies, Airbnb bedrooms, cafes, bookstores, even the farmer’s markets proved to be sources of inspiration. My home will be adorned with Italian-inspired art and pottery, as long as my budget allows it.

In case you also feel inspired by La Dolce Vita and are looking for new sources of creative inspiration, I figured I would recap some of my spots for shopping in Italy. And before you let buyer’s guilt creep in, remember, Italy is shaped as a boot for a reason. That reason being bring home as much footwear as your checked baggage will allow!

CandleStore – Rome

This was one of the last stores I visited on my trip, but it’s the first one I’ll share for a reason. CandleStore made my neck snap. On my way to the Colosseum, I took a random side road and wandered past their storefront. I made it about 50 feet beyond the door when I stopped dead in my tracks and returned back. Was is the scents wafting into the tightly packed alley? Possibly. Was is the pastels and bright colors that caught my eye? Almost certainly. Do I have any regrets about how much money I spent in here? Not one.

CandleStore handmakes… you guess it. Candles. But it’s the unique scents and shapes that made me pull the trigger and purchase. They have multiple signature lines: their wax bowls, which act as more of a vessel for burning votives, their eggs, which come in three different sizes and inspire fertility and humility, even their custom lamps. I would have loved to bring one of them home, but I was nervous how the electric work would travel. It’s a good thing they ship internationally, because I will absolutely purchase one for my home and have it shipped. You better believe I’m including extra votives for the wax bowl I bought while there. I love when shopping in Italy becomes shopping from my own couch. And with scents like tobacco & wood, heart of lime and eucalyptus, Tahitian vanilla, and Acqua di Sicilia, who wouldn’t constantly purchase?

Gucci Flagship – Florence

If I’m going abroad, you know I’m going to allow myself one splurge (or maybe a couple, but whose counting). Florence is a leather capital of the world, so naturally, I’m getting a handbag, and since Florence is also home to the original Gucci, well, take a guess. Only a couple blocks from the Duomo di Firenze you’ll find the most premier luxury shopping in Italy. Each designer has their own energy and clientele, so even if Gucci isn’t what you’re after, there’s plenty of other luxury names or eccentric boutiques for you to browse. After watching House of Gucci on the plane to get in the proper mindset, I scheduled an appointment.

There are certain shopping adventures where I wing it, swiping my credit card whenever the vibe calls for it. Other times, I walk in having done hours of research on what item I’m looking for. Such was this trip. I informed my sales associate, Christina, who was absolutely wonderful and I cannot recommend enough, that I was after the signature Jackie in Rosso Ancora, a color I affectionately refer to as cherry cola. It was the ultimate luxury shopping experience. I was offered prosecco and a private room to view the different styles and sizes. After expressing genuine interest , Christina showed me the more precious and rare materials used in Gucci’s bags: ostrich, python, crocodile. All the while, I was surrounded by the signature periwinkle velour walls. Patrizia Gucci, indeed.

After coming home with my newly purchased Jackie, and having drank a bottle of Vermentino solo, I cosplayed Lady Gaga cosplaying Patrizia Gucci née Reggiani. I put on M.A.C.’s Viva Heart lipstick (to match the Rosso Ancora, duh) and screamed “OUR name, sweetie!” for approximately 45 minutes. It was the best night of my trip.

Cinema Odeon – Florence

Is it a proper Bookmarq recap if I don’t include a bookstore? No, it’s not. And Cinema Odeon is not your typical bookstore. Once a motion picture theater, Cinema Odeon is now a full-fledged bookstore. To read more about its history and the lengths Florentines went to to preserve a stunning and instrumental piece of the city’s architecture, you can read my blog post here.

But don’t you worry, Cinema Odeon hasn’t strayed too far from it’s cinematic roots. They still screen kids’ movies during the bookstore’s operating hours, where guests are encouraged to retreat to the preserved balcony seating, read their latest purchase and watch 101 Dalmatians or whatever Disney classic is playing. At night, the bookstore closes and Cinema Odeon screens whatever new release it playing in theaters. When I visited, I had the option of Dune 2 or Oppenheimer. Even if you have no desire to pick up a book on your travels, the architecture alone is worth the visit. Plus, it’s the perfect (read: free) place to take a load off after pounding the cobblestone pavements.

Grosso – Florence

Some of the best stops on a trip are the most unepected, and Grosso was exactly that. This trip abroad was the first in all my travels where the weather dictated the itinerary. Rain and wind threatened a good time, but per usual, we audible, even if that means getting caught in a downpour and running into the nearest open shop. This is how I literally stumbled into Grosso, a curated accessories store near the Ponte Vecchio.

One practice I’ve adopted throughout my travels is ring collecting. I was in Peru hiking Machu Picchu when I came across street vendors selling indigenous pink quartz rings. I splurged and bought one for my mom, sister, and me. Even though they couldn’t go on the trip with me, we bonded over having a keepsake from it. This turned into a very expensive practice, and now any time I’m in a new city, domestic trips included, I’ll look for a set of 3 matching rings. Grosso had so many to choose from. They were all in the most ornate, over the top designs. Big Donatella Versace energy.

Instead of buying three identical, I bought three that fit each of our personalities. I could have easily spent thousands of dollars in there. Hell, I tried to buy art right off the wall (and I would have too, if the rain didn’t prevent me from getting it to a post office). But everything was appropriately priced, costing no more than $125 for each ring, and for the size and intricate brocade detail on my emerald ring, I’d say that’s a steal.