In Rome a shopping tour in the revamped Ferragamo Store

Salvatore Ferragamo,is revamping its historic Rome men's store at 65 Via Condotti, one of the most prestigious shopping streets. The boutique had been closed for monthes. For the re-opening of the Salvatore Ferragamo Men's store, the Eternal City was brought to life inside the store through a kaleidoscopic digital work by artist James Dawe. The exclusive series includes a video installations and photographic fragments of the city mixed with symbols of the Ferragamo world and the fashion house's new signature bag, inspired by the colours of the Autumn/Winter 2019 collection.

A work in movement uniting reality with dreamlike visions in a digital vortex. To celebrate the store's reopening, the bag starring in the video installations - a luxury tote with contrasting double handle - has been reinvented and is offered in a limited edition of five models available exclusively from the evening of the event: the print on the bag's leather front reproduces James Dawe's light installation artwork in an explosion of colours and shapes, giving it a bold, fun look. The store is 600 square metres across two levels with a fresh contemporary look and offers the complete range of the men's collections: bags, footwear, leather goods, RTW, silk accessories, eyewear, fragrances, watches and jewellery. The combination of traditional and contemporary materials and unique lighting gives the store a cosy, welcoming feel, where the dialogue between reflections of light and prized marble sets off the house's collections. The impressive entrance opens onto the staircase leading to the top floor. Its interior is laid out in a series of rooms finished in marble and walnut, with herringbone pattern Italian travertine flooring. Combining fine wallpapers, antiqued bronze and elements in brass, the sinuous shapes of the furnishing elegantly complement the silhouettes of the garments and accessories.

The marble staircase, embellished with mirror inserts and LED lights that lend it great depth, leads up to RTW and footwear on the first floor, where there is a more refined feel, with wooden flooring and pale wood panelling on the walls. The large glass front lends an overall lightness and deliberate transparency presenting a full view of the world of Ferragamo just waiting to be discovered. With the fashion house taking an ever more sustainable approach, following on from other international boutiques the new Ferragamo Men's store in Rome will also receive LEED certification: developed to a Green Building Council protocol, the certification is awarded for efficiency of energy and water, choice of materials, management of the project site, innovation and environmental qualities. Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A. Salvatore Ferragamo S.p.A. is the parent company of the Salvatore Ferragamo Group, one of the leading players in the luxury sector with origins dating back to 1927. The Group is involved in the creation, production and sale of footwear, leather goods, clothing, silk products and other accessories, as well as men's and women's fragrances. Its range of products also includes eyewear and watches, made under third party licence.

The Group's products have always stood out for their attention to uniqueness and exclusivity, created combining style, creativity and innovation and with the characteristic Made in Italy craftsmanship. With around 4000 employees and a network of 661 single-brand sales outlets as on 30 June 2019, the Ferragamo Group is present in Italy and the world through companies that allow its presence on the European, American and Asian markets. Talking about Rome we will assure you a great exclusive moment off shopping.

In Rome shopping can be a Wave

A different shopping afternoon in Rome can be done in an artisanal fair. Through a friend of mine, Ottavia who runs a nice small company of pillows : Pois a Righe ( We already talked about it few monthes ago), I discover the Wave Market Fair. I knew the location. It is an old Bus station, an industrial big loft in the area of Prati. I already knew the place because since a couple of years, it is the main location of the Rome Fashion Week in January and July. We also talked about it a lot in previous posts.

The Wave Market Fair took place the 5th and 6th of October. The participants are mostly young artisans, perfumers, designers and small entrepreneurs. It was fun to see some skateboarders new brands, linens, different kind of honeys, some jewels made in resine or silver. Not everything is nice and the organization should make a more severe selection. Especially on clothes. On the other side we must say that the place is very big so you need to fill it up. We also love some head-bands, new lamps and a stand with stripe socks and eco-friendly scarves.

The ambition si to give inspiration. The idea is to have people meeting each other, to have artisans coming from different regions of Italy . Especially young people. The organizers encourage them to become entrepreneurs more than employees. We couldn’t agree more but burocracy in Italy is so terrible that they make everything to let you down and make you cry.

I am not so sure, by the way, that my clients from www.grandtourshopping.com will love it. We need a car to get there and often on Sundays you are not allowed to take your car because of marathon, eco-days etc… Things in Rome are never easy. Anyway I had a good time, the street food on the courtyard is delicious. You can have burgers, fried potatoes, ice creams etc… The next edition will be end of November, beginning of December.

An afternoon of shopping in Rome with a french brand

This afternoon I will go shopping in Rome with my client Heather. She is blonde, a size 4 or 6, easy to wear. I will definitly take her to visit Zadig & Voltaire, a french brand that I like and that I discovered threw a stylist called Andreas Mercante. In Rome he always invite me to the press sales, a fantastic opportunity to get new clothes. Last time I bought a gorgeous black dress.

The Zadig&Voltaire Spring Summer 2020 collection represents the union of two unique yet harmonious styles that resonate as one with Cecilia Bönström’s collaboration with Kate Moss. They showed in Paris two days ago.

This synergy started before Kate Moss became a brand icon, before she signed on to design her own line of bags. Cecilia had Kate in mind from the conception of the collection, represented in her very first sketches for the season.  Imaging not just the Kate Moss we know but the Kate of tomorrow and 2020.

The collection will be revealed amid the sumptuous décor of the Ritz in Paris, a locale favoured by the top model. The brand reveals the collection in ‘Nocturne-Chic’ style. The house’s signature suit is revisited with a touch of modernity. An array of dresses are superimposed on trousers and shorts, displaying an asymmetrical draped effect, ruffle and tie details, and a lightness that is evident even in leather.

Denim with a vintage aesthetic is accented with feminine details and mixed with Zadig & Voltaire’s signature knitwear. Cashmere is revisited from every angle: from the simplicity of a men’s sweater to a mini tied dress, and the richness of openwork stitching on romantic sweaters made from recycled yarns.

The ‘Kate’ bag completes the bold, contemporary collection.  The chic heritage, 70’s inspired saddle bag silhouette, merging with the brand’s iconic nonchalant energy.

Like kindred spirits, the top model and the label share a penchant for rock, an aesthetic free from rules where one’s clothes reveal one’s attitude. This season, the style manifests a rebellious elegance that is purer than ever.