In this post
10 best shops to blend in with the locals!
The Florentines may not be the most adventurous dressers, but they are certainly known for dressing up and not shying away from fashion. Both men and women put a lot of effort into and take pride in their appearance (an obsession that can be traced back to the Renaissance), where getting ready for a night out probably means a trip to the hairdresser, the sunbed and a flash of a designer logo.
That Renaissance obsession is real enough. Florence got rich making and selling cloth, wool first and then silk. Dressing well was good business here long before it was a fashion statement. The wool merchants' guild was one of the most powerful in the city. A lot of the palaces you walk past were paid for with cloth money. It's the kind of story our guides tell on a walking tour of the centre.
The essentials: shades and shoes
1.L'occhialaio, for the best collection of sleek and sexy sunglasses or eyeglasses, the Italian fashion accessory that no Florentine would be caught dead without. Via dei Servi, 55r.
And Via dei Servi has one of the best views of the Duomo in town. Brunelleschi's dome fills the whole end of the street. It's a good spot to try the new pair on.
2.Calvani, for the next most important item in a Florentine's outfit: shoes. If it's for women, heels – the taller the better – are a must, for men think leather and don't be afraid of the worn-in look. The selection at Calvani has the hottest looks around. Via degli Speziali 7r.
Via degli Speziali is basically shoe street, just off Piazza della Repubblica. You can compare half a dozen windows in five minutes. Florentines have been fussy about their feet for centuries, too. In the Middle Ages there were whole streets of cobblers on both sides of the river. We tell the whole story, Ferragamo included, in shoes in Florence.
Black, black and more black
If you want to be Italian in a hurry, buy something black. A jacket, a dress, a good pair of trousers, it doesn't matter much. Number 3 is the place for it. Number 4 is for when you've had enough of black!
3.Piedi nudi nel parco, for the covetable collection of mens and womens fashion by many of Europe's most avantgarde up and coming designers. Minimal, modern and monochrome (Florentines do love black). Two boutiques: Borgo San Jacopo, 38r and Via Proconsolo, at the corner of Via Dante Alighieri.
The Via del Proconsolo shop has a glass floor, and underneath you can see the ancient foundations of the building. Shopping on top of the ruins, very Florence.
4.Miss Trench, for the collection of flirty women's fashion – playful accessories such as hats, purses, swimsuits, and light sexy scarves match the selection of printed dresses and fun tees. Via Porta Rossa, 16r.
Over the river
Over the Ponte Vecchio, once you're past the jewellers and the crowds, the Oltrarno feels like another town. Fewer logos, more workshops, and the two shops below sit a short walk from Piazza Santo Spirito.
5.Ceri Vintage, for an understated pair of worn-in vintage leather boots, a must for any Florentine no matter what season, vintage heels or one of Ceri's screenprinted unisex tees, done by hand on a selection of unique vintage t-shirts. Via dei Serragli 26r.
6.Angela Caputi, for a showstopping pair of earrings or a chunky necklace in one of Caputi's unique resin designs, characterised by big colours and bold organic and geometric shapes. Via Santo Spirito 58r.
Caputi's resin pieces have been turning heads since 1975, and she still doesn't sketch them first. Each one is put together by hand in her workshop on Via Santo Spirito. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has shown her work. Not bad for plastic!
Labels, and the bargain version
7.Luisa Via Roma, for a designer label, which Florentines are proud of showing off. Go for locals such as Roberto Cavalli or Gucci to keep with the theme. Via Roma 19/21r
LuisaViaRoma has been on Via Roma since 1929, and most of the world knows the name as a website now. The windows are still the best show on the street, so stop and look even if you don't go in.
8.Temporary, for that perfect accessory, the handbag. Here, find a selection of leather bags and purses in neutral tones and modern styles, or for a more classic look in all colours with the right price try Roberta, across the bridge at Borgo San Jacopo 74/78. Temporary: Via della Vigna Nuova, 52r.
Roberta pops up in our leather in Florence guide as well, next to the leather school behind Santa Croce. The guide goes into Florentine gloves as well.
9.Pitti Vintage, for a designer bargain. If Luisa Via Roma is out of reach, this charming little vintage shop often has the solution, with local designer names such as Ferragamo and Gucci for a fraction of the cost. Sdrucciolo dei Pitti 19r.
The Sdrucciolo is a tiny sloping lane off Piazza Pitti. There are a couple of little workshops and a wine bar along the way. Handy if Palazzo Pitti has worn you out.
Be Italian from head to toe
10.Tie your Tie, for those who are serious about mens fashion. Designed as a one-stop-shop for men's dressing literally from head to toe, jackets, suits, shirts, printed ties, shoes and all the accessories that go with it (even their own men's fragrance) can be found in this boutique.
Florentine men dress up just as much, and twice a year the rest of the world comes to watch. Every January and June the Pitti Uomo fair takes over the Fortezza da Basso for four days. That's the big fortress the Medici built in the 1530s. Around 30,000 buyers, designers and journalists come to town for it. It's a trade fair, so you can't just walk in with a ticket. You don't really need to, though. The best part happens outside the gates. That's where the so-called Pitti peacocks dress up for the photographers. Think tailored suits, coats draped over the shoulders, a lot of colour. If your dates overlap with Pitti, book your restaurants early, because the good trattorias fill up with the fashion crowd.
Outside Pitti weeks, the local uniform is simpler. A crisp shirt, a decent jacket and clean leather shoes will do, with or without the tie.
Cover up for the Duomo
Florence won't stop you walking around in flip-flops and a vest top, although the locals will notice. The churches will, though. The Duomo and the Baptistery want shoulders and knees covered, men included.
So the cheapest way to be Italian is a light scarf in your bag. It covers your shoulders when you need it and it goes with black. The stalls around San Lorenzo sell them in every colour you can think of. Silk if you're feeling flush, cotton if you're not.
