BEACHWEAR SHOPPING IN ROME

Tourists in Rome sometimes forget that the Eternal City has a lot of beaches around. You can make a great beachwear shopping and easily go to Ostia (where you can get  there by subway from Piramide), Fregene and Maccarese. The region of Lazio offers also other places such as Sabaudia, Circeo and the wonderful island of Ponza.

There are different brands in the city to get bathing suits. For men in Cenci and Battistoni for example. For women if you don't want to spend too much, Calzedonia can be a good choice. In the picture below, one model of the new collection. Different shapes for bikinis and long bathing suits. Colours can range from a feminine pink to blue, white and red in a marine style. The Calzedonia stores are spread in the city especially in via del Corso, via dei Giubbonari and via Frattina. There are other easy brands that you can check like Tezenis and Intimissimi in via del Corso.

If you are looking for an artisanal bathing suit, something really special and unique you can also go to Marisa Padovan in via delle Carrozze 81. We can call them Beach Couture. She made also nice sundresses for lunch on the swimming pool. Also her daughter Flavia designed her own collection She made a nice video on youtube.

Finally I love other luxury lingerie brands that have a beachwear collection such as La Perla  with a great shop in via Bocca di Leone 28 and Brighenti in via Frattina 7 where they sell a nice collection of Erès.  La Rinascente in via del Tritone offers a wide range of bathing suits too. It is another spot that you can not miss. Enjoy your summer!

SEARCHING FOR HATS IN ROME

May and June are the classic monthes for weddings. If you are not the bride you will need a hat or as the french say "A serre tete". In April everyone admire Melania Trump's white sombrero during the visit of the french President Emmanuel Macron in Washington D.C. It was custom made, for the First Lady, by Pierre Hervé. The skirt suit was from the american designer Michael Kors.

In Italy, especially in Rome,  you will notice that Laura Biagiotti designed a very similar white sombrero. Now the brand is in the hand of her daughter Lavinia, as unfortunatly, Laura passed away last year.  Everybody misses her a lot, because She was one of the most gentle designer in the fashion business, not only in Italy but worldwide. But life must go on and Lavinia opened, around Christmas, a new boutique in Rome in via Belsiana 57. The store is quite big and gives a great experience of shopping, especially for pull over, dresses, parkas. If you go there you will notice that they have a fantastic approach to embroideries and a high level of craftmanship. In the picture below a  model from Laura Biagiotti that will be available soon. It is from the upcoming fall winter collection

If you like hats, by the way, there are in Rome different spots. One is Troncarelli near piazza Navona. They were founded in 1857. In this season lots of Panamas and straw hats. Another spot is, obviously Borsalino. The store I prefer is near the Hotel de Russie, off piazza del Popolo.

If you are looking for new upcoming designers go to Barbara Guidi. Her shop is in Prati, in via dei Gracchi 106. She has reasonable prices and lots of creativity. At the moment She is very busy designing hats for the wedding season but also for Ascott. We are very proud to say that it is one of  this precious address discovered by www.grandtourshopping.com.

A MUST HAVE TO GET IN ROME : THE BIZANTINA BAG

Craftmanship and creativity. Shopping in Rome can be an exclusive experience especially if you manage to buy a Bizantina Bag. A lovely evening pochette big enough to put inside a cell phone, keys and some make up.

The designers are mother and daughter : Benedetta Lignani and Caterina Mancinelli. Benedetta is one of the most creative woman I know. She is journalist, PR , interior decorator and designer. Her daughter Caterina has fashion in her DNA and now is a successful student at Rome University graduating in Fashion.

The Bizantina was born on a journey on the Bosphorus.The silk velvet ikat is woven on the traditional looms of Bukhara in Uzbekistan. The tortoise-shaped clip made of brass and silver, is handmade in Istanbul inspired by an ancient Ottoman design. The silk satin inner lining is made in Italy and sewed by an italian couturière. Benedetta and Caterina often go to Istanbul to choose the fabrics.

Each bag is numbered and unique. Not particularly expensive: around 250 euros. Every Bizantina has a soul and a story. It is an artisanal creation and may have minor irregularities as it is an hand-craft objets d'art.

Major italian newspapers such as Corriere della Sera and Sole 24ore wrote about it. The best way to try to have it is to get an appointment with Benedetta and Caterina writing an email to bizantinabag@gmail.com and get an appointment. Everything depends on the availability as, every collection is a capsule. 

Some of our clients from www.grandtourshopping.com had the opportunity to get a Bizantina. We organised a custom made rendez vous. Especially ladies from Australia and United States. By the way, Benedetta and Caterina know exactly where the Bizantinas are around the world. Some clients have it in Miami, New York, Gstaad, Moscow and Tel Aviv. In Italy the pochette became a status symbol owned by socialites, actresses and fashion editors. A must have in Rome, Palermo, Milan and Naples. No doubt about it.