Any Italian will agree that accessories can make or break an outfit: from chic leather bags and signature sunglasses to silk scarves and handcrafted shoes, Italians are masters at adding complementary details to complete their look. Take a cue from the well-heeled locals in Rome and pick up a pair of handmade or designer shoes in the capital to see you through your Roman holiday.
This historic shoe store has been handcrafting prêt-à-porter and customised shoes for fashion savvy Romans – and dozens of celebrities – since 1946. Audrey Hepburn, Robert De Niro and Kirk Douglas donned shoes from Petrocchi, which prides itself on using the finest calf leathers in its designs and exotic skins such as crocodile, ostrich and python in a number of its shoes. From Monkstraps and Derbys to Moccasins and Oxfords, Petrocchi creates a high quality, classic shoe that will never go out of style. There are also a number of female models, including ballerinas and sandals.
Michelediloco, around the corner from posh Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina, is a shoe store with a lot of personality. Michele, the owner, is passionate about selling shoes that combine beauty and style in a harmonious fashion – and everything is ultra comfortable in addition to being effortlessly chic. Think soft, just-worn-in fine leathers, braided sandals, chunky heels that will wear well on Rome’s cobblestone streets. Avant-garde fashionistas and anyone with a love for comfortable footwear will find something at Michelediloco.
Barrilà Boutique
Just steps from Piazza del Popolo, Barrilà Boutique is a gem that you wouldn’t expect to find sandwiched among designer stores on Via del Babuino. The boutique sells hundreds of affordable, well-made Italian shoes of all styles for men and women of all ages. The shoes aren’t especially trend-led but they’re great solid basics at a good price and equally comfortable. From sandals and flats to boots and heels, there’s a little bit of everything so don’t be put off by the shoes in the window. You’ll have to sort through the extensive collection but you’re bound to be rewarded with a steal. https://www.instagram.com/p/BTMlBj1Bp7q
Di San Giacomo
For a truly unique souvenir in the capital (and gift to yourself) why not pick up a pair of personalised sandals at Di San Giacomo? These leather shoes are preppy, sweet and super summery – they’ll see you through the streets of Rome and onwards to Positano and Capri. These sandals are custom made on the spot and incorporate jewels and accessories to make beautiful, unique statement pieces. With dozens of colours and leathers to choose from, not to mention an infinite combination of beads and jewels, a pair of sandals from Di San Giacomo is a chance to fashion your own wearable art. https://www.instagram.com/p/BQ95R3fBf3X
Geppy
Store
Via Nazionale is one of Rome’s greatest shopping streets and is full of cosmopolitan flair. And for shoe lovers, Geppy is an essential stop. This store stocks chic, seasonal shoes that are well-made, nicely designed and affordably priced. In the autumn and winter months you’ll find a slew of booties with cut-outs, knee-high boots with various heel heights, stilettos for holiday parties and shoes for rainy weather. In the summer, you’ll find soft sandals to pair with summer dresses, comfortable wedges and breathable ballet slippers. In short, Geppy has it all.
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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.
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