Retail

This collaboration between master cobblers Gian Luca Bocache and Roberto Salvucci has resulted in a dazzling cache of shoes in numerous shapes, styles and colours. The immaculately dressed duo focus on bespoke footwear, each pair of which takes four to six weeks to produce. During this time clients can optimise everything from the body material (stingray skin, anyone?) to the type of stitching, such as Norwegian or Goodyear, as well as specialised linings such as cashmere or linen.

When brothers Cristiano and Patrizio Perfetti set up shop close to the bottom of Via del Governo Vecchio in 1993, none of the area’s other retailers were based in these narrow alleys just a stone’s throw from Piazza Navona. Since then this has become one of Rome’s most coveted shopping strips – and the Perfettis’ space has turned from a retailer filled with an acute selection of brands to a flagship for the pair’s own designs.

Four rooms filled with 19th-century wooden shelves, cabinets and cast-iron columns showcase everything from sportswear to tailored suits. Shirts, jackets, hats, jumpers and T-shirts all share a functional, minimalist aesthetic but it is the jeans that are the star attraction here. The Perfetti brothers source their denim from Japan but all of their collections are made in Italy.

The late Guglielmo Battistoni’s studio (now run by his children Gianni and Simonetta) has been a paradigm of Roman tailoring since 1946. The courtyard studio on Via Condotti, which has served as the company’s headquarters for more than 70 years, looks more like a gentlemen’s club than a boutique. The ready-to-wear collection includes exquisitely cut shirts, colourful yet tasteful beachwear and chic suits in greys and blues, paired with a selection of silk ties and leather goods.

Battistoni’s bespoke suits garnered the studio a star-studded list of patrons including Marlon Brando, Humphrey Bogart and King Umberto, many of whom became Guglielmo Battistoni’s lifelong friends.

Due to its chic and cheerful selection, Lol puts smiles on the faces of those looking for smart womenswear in Rome. The shop is spread across two spaces: one stocks everything from casualwear and knitwear to silk dresses, whereas the other sells more formal attire.  

The inspiration for the décor is retro but brands are thoroughly modern and international, from La Coruña’s Masscob to the Netherlands’ United Nude. You’ll find plenty of Italian gems here too, including Forte Forte’s flowing skirts. Grab a seat on a pull-down chair to try on Kudetà’s ruffled shoes; once you’re done, pack your pickings into one of the roomy leather bags from the in-house line. A sister venue, B, sits round the corner near Piazza della Madonna dei Monti.

Its somewhat erratic opening hours give it a mysterious aura but this eccentric Monti shop is a haven for design lovers. Danish furniture sits next to jewellery, second-hand books, custom-made bookshelves and kitchen storage systems. Owner Eleonora Pastore also runs an interiors studio, Nora P+P Project, with architect Alessandra Proietti. The shop’s an inspiring base in which to start planning a rethink; just make sure that you book an appointment well in advance.