A Guide To Shopping Around Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is a focal point of Rome’s historic center and boasts a plethora of cultural sites and monuments, delicious restaurants and cool bars in its vicinity. Of course, it also has great shopping, particularly along the photogenic Via del Governo Vecchio which begins just steps from the piazza. If you’re looking for unique wares, trendy designs and vintage finds, don’t miss picking up a few items at these great shops and boutiques.

Degli Effetti

Store

Touting wares by in vogue design labels such as Comme des Garçons, Viktor & Rolf, and Celine and Lanvin, Degli Effetti is where the trendsetters in Rome shop for their fashion-forward frocks and hip kicks. Just steps from the Pantheon, Degli Effetti is a surprisingly well-kept secret with a low-key vibe, stocking clothes that are truly unusual and blur the boundaries of fashion and art. Established in 1987, the boutique was ahead of its time and has maintained its identity as a revolutionary shopping experience in the capital.

Alessandra Giannetti

Right beside Degli Effetti lies another noteworthy address: Alessandra Giannetti. This chic boutique effortlessly espouses the elegance of minimalist through designer Alessandra Giannetti’s intuition and vision. She drew inspiration from London and Tokyo to create her understated pieces that blend tradition with urban flair, capturing the impalpable atmosphere of contemporary life. Exclusively Made In Italy, the fabrics and cuts are top-knotch and are great closet staples that will last for years and can be worn in a myriad of ways, a testament to eternal style. https://instagram.com/p/BDDKA-kNf08/

Kolby

With its tonal autumn hues, revisited classic designs and quality fabrics, Kolby should be an essential stop for the style-conscious man who enjoys wearing easy clothes that make a good impression. Run by a brother-sister duo who blend her design expertise with his business smarts, it stocks clothes inspired by turn-of-the-century military wares in a variety of sumptuous shades of browns, greens, blues and grays in refined, modern cuts. The materials rotate seasonally – crisp linen for summer, corduroy for winter – and only a small number of each item is produced, making these clothes all the more unique. There is a small selection of items for women, though its the menswear that is really worth the trip.

Kolby: Via del Governo Vecchio, 63/64/65, Rome, Italy, +39 06 6880 3732

Toko

Just around the corner from one of Rome’s most famous little piazzas (well-known for its popular Bar del Fico) lies Toko, a treasure trove of vintage-inspired clothes for men and women that will resonate with fans of the indie aesthetic. Here you’ll find blouses with tiny bird motifs, worn leather bags, eclectic jewelry and lots of hats to complete your look. The owner, Marco, is a talented jewelry designer who spends half the year in Rome and the other half manning another store in Formentera, and you’ll usually find him behind the counter working away at custom-made jewelry for clients. Choose your size, design, material and style and Marco will have a personalized piece back to you in two weeks.
Toko: Via del Corallo, 33, Rome, Italy, +39 06 6821 0780
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Dafano Omero

Via del Governo Vecchio is full of quaint boutiques, charming eateries, and a half dozen vintage shops, of which Dafano Omero is the best. Leather jackets in numerous styles and shades, well-loved knapsacks and fringed purses, and kaleidoscopic Hawaiian shirts greet you at the doorway to this cavern of delightful finds of all kinds. Michele, the owner, was one of the first Romans on the scene to believe in vintage renewal and opened his shop in the 1970s. Over the decades he has honed his careful eye and stocks his shop with hundreds of interesting pieces that are sure to pique the fancy of any vintage enthusiast. Stop by for one-of-a-kind clothes you won’t find anywhere else.

Dafano Omero: Via del Governo Vecchio, 110, Rome, Italy, +39 06 683 3506

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About the author

Livia Hengel

Livia Hengel is an Italian-American writer, photographer and traveler with a penchant for la dolce vita and a severe case of wanderlust. Originally born in Rome, she spent her life living around the world in Peru, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey and the US before moving back to her city of birth. She is passionate about all things cultural, existential, stirring and beautiful and is happiest when she is contemplating human nature over a glass of wine or wandering off-the-beaten-path in a new city. When she's not traveling around Italy, you can find Livia eating her way through the best restaurants in Rome or keeping up with Instagram. Livia is the author of The HUNT Guide for Rome and also contributes to Spotted by Locals.