By Andrew Borda.

Rome is usually a primary port of name for guests to Italy, as a result of its historical past, magnificence and local weather. I’ve had the good fortune of spending quite a lot of time there over the previous three years, and may solely agree that the moniker Roma Caput Mundi (Rome, capital of the world) is essentially deserved. 

Nonetheless, from a sartorial standpoint Rome is often overshadowed by Naples, Milan and Florence. Whereas there are definitely fewer well-known menswear manufacturers right here, I’ve found quite a lot of comparatively unknown gems and imagine that Rome can simply maintain its personal from a sartorial standpoint. 

Tailors and different artisans

As talked about above, Rome doesn’t have the identical repute as Milan, Florence or Naples as a bespoke vacation spot. That is considerably unfair, as Rome might have extra high-quality tailors and shoemakers than any of these cities. 

I imagine that is partially as a result of the truth that Rome is the capital of Italy, and institutional political and enterprise settings in Italy are nonetheless very formal; partially because of the sheer variety of well-off vacationers who come to Rome with cash to spend; and partially as a result of the truth that Rome could be very giant and so there are some neighbourhoods the place decrease rents imply artisans and impartial retail can nonetheless survive. 

Tommy and Giulio Caraceni
tommyegiuliocaraceni.com

My tailor since 2023. There may be most likely little that I can write right here about T&G Caraceni that has not been written already. For anybody who’s concerned with a deep dive, please learn the assessment published here in PS. 

A bespoke tailor of the best high quality, T&G affords a minimize that sits someplace between the robust and sq. Milanese and the smooth and rounder Neapolitan, which has modified little since Domenico Caraceni based the home virtually 100 years in the past. 

The home has dressed a number of the most well-known Italian and European actors, politicians and businessmen of the twentieth and twenty first centuries, and might be one of the best illustration left in Italy of the ‘Italian Industrialist’ look that many individuals reminiscent of me so want. 

Gaetano Aloisio
www.gaetanoaloisio.com

Aloisio is a well-known bespoke tailor reviewed in PS by Bruce Boyer here. Aloisio is without doubt one of the few high-end Roman or Milanese tailors who travels and is thought to serve a world clientele, particularly within the Center East and Asia. 

Aloisio additionally has a able to put on providing of informal clothes and niknaks product of probably the most luxurious supplies. 

Sartoria Ripense
www.sartoriaripense.com

Ripense is a bespoke tailor situated close to Piazza del Popolo, cherished by Manish Puri and my pal Paul Fournier. Readers who’re can learn a full review here. I’ve not tried something myself, however with these two vouching for his or her work I can solely belief that the product is superb. 

Stivaleria Mercurio
www.mercurio1932.it

My shoe maker since 2022. Stivaleria Mercurio is a 3rd era bespoke shoe maker run by the daddy and son crew, Antonio and Lorenzo Mercurio. 

Antonio Mercurio was educated by his father and the Roman shoemaker Angelo Gatto, and is the official bootmaker of the Italian Carabinieri’s mounted regiment and the Corazzieri honour guard of the President of the Republic. Amongst Italian lovers of bespoke footwear, Gatto’s footwear are thought of legendary and Mercurio is thought to be his rightful inheritor. 

Mercurio is the primary bespoke shoemaker I’ve discovered who manages to mix a deep data of the anatomy and physiology of the foot with an aesthetic sense of lovely footwear. They actually saved my toes and I’d not go anyplace else to have footwear made. 

The workshop is situated within the barracks of the Carabinieri mounted cavalry regiment, which is value a go to by itself. Bespoke footwear begin at €2300 plus VAT.

Marini
calzoleriamarini.com

Gianni Agnelli’s shoemaker, who has a fantastic store on By way of Francesco Crispi. I’ve not personally tried them however the product appears to be like to be of superb high quality. Marini have been talked about beforehand in PS right here. 

Bocache & Salvucci
bocachesalvucci.com

Very stunning store with areas on By way of Sistina and By way of Francesco Crispi providing RTW of the best high quality, in addition to bespoke footwear and tailoring. As a result of largely worldwide clientele, a lot of the providing received’t be what PS readers are searching for, however one can make certain that the supplies used are distinctive. B&S have been reviewed in PS here.

Teodori Brothers
teodoribrothers.it

An excellent worth, family-run shirtmaker which is favoured by Douglas Cordeaux of Fox Brothers. They carry a variety of cloths and have some nice collar kinds – all impressed by movie and TV – to selected from. Manish is at the moment in the midst of a fee with Teodori, and a assessment is anticipated later this 12 months.

Outlets

Rome, like Paris and London, is an enormous metropolis and really unfold out. Provided that dimension, it isn’t doable to listing all the attention-grabbing outlets in a single article. I’ve tried to say a couple of that are primarily clustered in a couple of areas away from the same old designer outlets on By way of Condotti and By way of del Babuino, and the excessive avenue providing of By way of del Corso.

Cruciani & Bella
www.crucianiebella.com

A stunning small store on the primary flooring of an condo constructing on By way of Bocca di Leone. Cruciani & Bella specialises in males’s equipment and has a pleasant choice of ties, socks, pocket squares, scarves and braces from English and Italian makers.

Giki
www.giki.it

The elegant Trieste-Salaria residential space has numerous good impartial menswear outlets, of which Giki is one. Most likely one of the best impartial shoe retailer in Rome, promoting manufacturers reminiscent of Edward Inexperienced, Baudoin & Lange and Alden. 

Gentleman
www.gentlemansabatello.it

A menswear store from one other period on By way of Po, providing an ideal choice of cashmere and shetland knitwear made for them in Italy and Scotland. Villa Borghese is one other attention-grabbing multi-brand store providing manufacturers reminiscent of Valstar and isn’t far-off.

Schostal
www.schostalroma.com

Schostal wants no introduction for PS readers, because it was reviewed here previously. The perfect location within the metropolis for socks, pyjamas, underwear and different fundamentals. There are different Schostal companies in Rome, however the location on By way of della Fontanella di Borghese is one of the best and most central for guests.

Eurotex
www.eurotex-rome.com

Eurotex is a material service provider that’s comparatively unknown to tailors exterior Italy, situated a brief stroll from the Vatican. Their vary is small in comparison with bigger retailers reminiscent of Harrison’s or Drapers, however a couple of of their bunches reminiscent of cashmere jacketings, cotton drill and worsted cashmere suiting are distinctive. 

Typical of many extra conventional Italians, they’ve a desire for English wool and Scottish cashmere and far of their choice is made to their very own designs. 

Huit Cinq
huitcinq1988.bigcartel.com

Huit Cinq is a bespoke maker of watch straps and different small leather-based items, owned by Federico De Peppo. I’ve had a couple of straps made by him in a broad vary of extra and fewer unique leathers and have been very glad. Huit Cinq works with purchasers around the globe and ships globally. 

Gammarelli
gammarelli.com

An ecclesiastical tailor and the supplier of socks to members of the clergy, Gammarelli is a beautiful little store and price a visit. They make beautiful cotton lisle socks in many colors, apart from the pink, black and purple they’re most well-known for.

LGR
www.lgrworld.com

LGR is an Italian eyewear model based in Rome with outlets in Milan, Florence and Venice. Whereas the standard will not be on the ranges of bespoke artisans reminiscent of Maison Bonnet or EB Meyrowitz, most of the designs are attention-grabbing and LGR gives a pleasant, discreet different to ubiquitous luxurious branded sun shades.

Atelier Bomba
atelierbomba.com

Atelier Bomba is a beautiful store close to the Piazza del Popolo making handcrafted knitwear and tailoring for women and men onsite. It’s a true artisanal store, an exquisite place to spend time and a bunch of people who find themselves actually enthusiastic about small-scale manufacturing. Simon coated them previously in PS here.

Chez Dedé
www.chezdede.com

Chez Dedé is a multibrand store on By way of Monseratto promoting equipment, books, and furnishings. It has actual character – as one of the best multibrand at all times do – and it’s the type of place that makes you’re feeling such as you’re a part of another person’s world. Additionally a pleasant avenue to get lost from the crowds. It was coated in additional depth on PS here.

Ottica Astrologo
otticastrologo.com

Ottica Astrologo is an impartial optician on By way of della Fontanella di Borghese, nearly subsequent door to Schostal and LGR. Manish featured three pairs of sun shades really helpful by Astrologo in his article in PS. Astrologo additionally has a location on By way of Po, very close to to Gentleman and Villa Borghese, for readers who enterprise in that path.

Giuliva Heritage
www.giulivaheritage.com

Giuliva Heritage is a really attention-grabbing model making males’s and ladies’s tailoring based by Margherita Cardelli and Gerardo Cavaliere that was featured in PS here. The look is a bit stronger than many PS readers would naturally gravitate to, however is definitely very cool. Giuliva has an atelier than will be visited on appointment on By way of Monserrato, near Chez Dedé.

A Sartorial Roman Vacation

For readers who need an alternative choice to visiting the same old websites in Rome, I’ve supplied some strategies under for a sartorial ‘Roman Vacation’. I assume that many who don’t stay in Rome will keep someplace within the centre and my Vacation has been designed for all the things to be inside straightforward strolling distance from Piazza del Popolo or Piazza di Spagna.

Breakfast at Rosati

For me, the easiest way to start out the day in Rome is with espresso at Rosati, ideally early earlier than the Piazza del Popolo begins to refill with individuals. Wanting in the direction of the Pincio from the Tiber aspect of the piazza on a sunny day by no means ceases to place me in a superb temper.

Earlier than Lunch

From Piazza del Popolo, most of the outlets and ateliers talked about above are inside a straightforward stroll. I’d recommend specializing in a couple of streets which have a excessive focus of impartial retail and artisans, reminiscent of By way of Ripetta (Sartoria Ripense), By way of dell’Oca (Atelier Bomba), and By way of della Fontanella di Borghese (Schostal, Ottica Astrologo, LGR). 

Lunch at Settimio all’Arancio

In any case that strolling, readers may have labored up an urge for food. Settimio all’Arancio on By way of dell’Arancio is a family-owned restaurant serving a primarily Italian clientele of politicians and businessmen that’s arduous to beat. 

After Lunch

With a view to work off the energy ingested at lunch, I’d recommend readers keep on in the direction of the Regola neighbourhood, which has a excessive focus of attention-grabbing impartial retail. By way of Monseratto is especially attention-grabbing, with Chez Dedé, Giuliva Heritage and Le Tre Sarte (https://www.letresarte.com/, for PS readers’ other halves) representing highlights.

The Aperitivo

The aperitivo earlier than dinner is an establishment in Rome. It’s value noting that meal instances in Rome are later than Northern Europe and even Northern Italy, with most locals not assembly for the aperitivo earlier than 7pm or dinner earlier than 8.30pm. 

A few of my favorite locations for the aperitivo are Salotto 42 in Piazza di Pietra, which is especially stunning when the bougainvillaea are blooming, or the roof terrace of the Resort Locarno, the resort which is alleged to have supplied inspiration for Wes Anderson’s movie the Grand Budapest Resort. If readers are searching for one thing a bit extra laid again, Enotoca Buccone on By way of Ripetta is a really good wine bar.

Dinner

If any readers are nonetheless hungry in spite of everything of that strolling, one can’t go incorrect with dinner at Al San Lorenzo, which affords a number of the greatest fish in Rome.