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EuroVicki
OK, call me a crass American (and Lillie, too) but we wanted to shop. (And while the ladies shopped, the gentlemen trudged all over the colosseum with a wonderful tour guide). We started in the Monti area, right behind our hotel, but this area is a more laissez faire type of attitude ... They close for a coffee run, for a bathroom break, for a nap ... Whatever we wanted to see was closed. So we took a taxi to the Spanish Steps area of Rome (the steps are undergoing renovation by Bulgari), past the area used as a set for La Dolce Vita and spent the rest of the day walking, shopping, buying ....
We were taken to a lovely jewelry workshop owned by a famous Italian ex-model (Lucia) where we saw many red-carpet worthy pieces - Lillie purchased earrings, and I purchased a necklace. Then on to an amazing purse atelier/workshop where the artisan creates at least one line for Neiman Marcus and other high end stores. I had a couple of favorites, but at more than $1,000 per bag, I just loudly admired the merch. We also stopped at Alexander where I loved many of the silk offerings, but I couldn't see paying the prices there. The shopping guide allowed us to go upstairs to their last season's leftovers where I found a pair of black leggings at 50% off with a wonderful fabric.
The most interesting shopping experience for me was Fendi. Yes, a name brand. Where I never would have considered to shop. But our guide said we should see the architectural changes to the building, which were amazing. And yes, I was impressed with being taken through the atelier of Fendi, with a talk about how they create their fur coats with the pelts, starting with a paper rendering of the concept through to the final product. We were even taken to the private floor of Fendi to see how it has been renewed - where famous clients shopped and rested. And even the elevator and stairway were architecturally inspirations.
We didn't stop all day long, so we missed lunch. Famished, we returned to our hotel where we freshened up and met for a drink the owners of Escape Artists, the travel company who set up our tours for the 4 days in Rome. Chatting and drinking for more than an hour, we cabbed back to our hotel's neighborhood to a restaurant recommended got us, and had a lovely meal of gnocchi, pasta, scampi, wine ... A very long day.
We were taken to a lovely jewelry workshop owned by a famous Italian ex-model (Lucia) where we saw many red-carpet worthy pieces - Lillie purchased earrings, and I purchased a necklace. Then on to an amazing purse atelier/workshop where the artisan creates at least one line for Neiman Marcus and other high end stores. I had a couple of favorites, but at more than $1,000 per bag, I just loudly admired the merch. We also stopped at Alexander where I loved many of the silk offerings, but I couldn't see paying the prices there. The shopping guide allowed us to go upstairs to their last season's leftovers where I found a pair of black leggings at 50% off with a wonderful fabric.
The most interesting shopping experience for me was Fendi. Yes, a name brand. Where I never would have considered to shop. But our guide said we should see the architectural changes to the building, which were amazing. And yes, I was impressed with being taken through the atelier of Fendi, with a talk about how they create their fur coats with the pelts, starting with a paper rendering of the concept through to the final product. We were even taken to the private floor of Fendi to see how it has been renewed - where famous clients shopped and rested. And even the elevator and stairway were architecturally inspirations.
We didn't stop all day long, so we missed lunch. Famished, we returned to our hotel where we freshened up and met for a drink the owners of Escape Artists, the travel company who set up our tours for the 4 days in Rome. Chatting and drinking for more than an hour, we cabbed back to our hotel's neighborhood to a restaurant recommended got us, and had a lovely meal of gnocchi, pasta, scampi, wine ... A very long day.
- comments
Eda What a great day!!! Not just mindless shopping - which certainly has it's place - butGetting to see the architecture and how coats are made. I was so glad to go with on this adventure!!
Judith What fun! And interesting! XO
JJ Santos Always finding the best deal, good job on the leggings!