Anything you want in Italy?

[Ryan]

A friend is getting ready to tour Italy and has offered to pick up anything I might like. Being a cap guy and new to the knowledge of Fedora's, thought I ask the forum for advice. Anyone have any recommendations on a hat that might be worth asking my friend to pick up? A nice hat that is not available or one that is difficult to get in the U.S.? Not sure if a hat here would be cheaper over there since 1 Euro is 1.5 US but who knows.
Any recommendations/suggestions appreciated.

 

[dhermann1]

Ohhhhhhhhh . . . . . . . . Just bring the whole country back, would you? Had a whole week in Italy in 2004 and it's clearly not enough. Tell your friend to enjoy!

 

[D00R]

Oh man...

If I was you I would have him bring back an open crown Borsalino Alessandria in Light Gray.
Can't get that in the US.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

Oh man...

If I was you I would have him bring back an open crown Borsalino Alessandria in Light Gray.
Can't get that in the US.

Try Peter Bros.

 

[D00R]

yeah thats the only place i can find but the price is 250 plus shipping and then a re stocking fee if it doesn't fit or if im unhappy with it or whatever...
I can get the same hat in a slight darker gray for 50 bucks cheaper and i still not sure if i want to spend that much..

 

[John in Covina]

We have a wonderful gentleman that used to post a bunch that lived in Italy and several Loungers that have visited Italy. You might like to search Italy in this here Hats section and also the steamer trunk section to see what type of recomendations come up.

Check out some Borsalinos for sure!

I was just watching Rick Steves visiting Sicily! If they go to Venice, maybe get a glass dip pen. Down by Amalfi, get some cool writing paper! Remember Italians never drink Cappachino after breakfast and don't forget to have a canoli.

 

[Mr. Lucky]

If you're really askin', I'd love a Cervo fedora - 2 1/8 brim, straight sided open crown, a chocolate brown or steel grey, size 62cm. I mean, that's if you happen across one...

 

[jeboat]

What to get in Italia

When I was there last in 2005 everything was expensive. I checked out fedoras in Montecantini (Tuscany) and I thought they were too expensive, 200 euros+ for a low end Borsie that was crap.

A local American expatriate told our tour group that clothing was always expensive in Italy and that there were no bargains. That being said, I would still look around and ask some locals where they buy things. The most visible shops are for tourists and you never see Italian shoppers in those stores.

I suggest to your lucky traveler to eat, eat and eat some more! The food is terrifiic!

jeboat

 

[besdor]

You dont want to buy a hat in Italy now. With the exchange rate of 1.42 dollars to a Euro a hat will cost a lot more there than in the states.





Steven
Selling lots of Borsalino here in NYC

 

[Fletch]

Last May in Milan I snagged a Borsalino (I believe it's the Bellagio model: 2 5/8" raw brim, taper crown and trolley cord) in a light sage green, a color I've never seen advertised in the States. It cost the equivalent of $240.

 

[carter]

Aside from fedoras, there is some mighty fine wine made in Italy as well as footwear, clothing, etc.

Perhaps your friend will chance upon a reseller or vintage shop. Who knows what treasures await.

 

[Fletch]

In a weekend market along Lake Maggiore were these loosely interpreted knockoffs of the 1920s US military A-1 flight jacket.

This is a style that was revived several years back but got very little play outside Italy (except for Polo, who had some made there).

IIRC, the knockoffs were around 180 euro. An authentic A-1 is a custom only item and at least $400 (over twice that for a fully correct reproduction).

 

[zeus36]

Bring me back Sonia Aquino.
She played Sophia Loren in "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers"

 

[cookie]

Thrifting in Italy

Is there such a thing ...I bet there is and I bet there are little hidden away stores where bargains are about...

 

[Italian-wiseguy]

I hope your friend will enjoy his italian tour!

I'd suggest to stay away from tourist-trap restaurant and pizzerias in the centre of Rome, and obviously there are many shops selling overly expensive things from firms like Armani, D&G etc., mostly remains from last season.

But, whit a little effort staying away from the main tourist route, he can find good stores at reasonable prices (ditto for restaurants).

I'd personally don't look exclusively for Borsalinos, as you can find other lesser known brands like Barbisio, Panizza etc. whose quality hasn't dropped like Borsalino did in the past decades.

I own two Borsalinos: a vintage one that belonged to my uncle, and it's superb, and another that my brother bought in the '90s which is completely unimpressive (none of them fits my head :eusa_doh: );
on the other hand, I got some Barbisio and Panizza (sources are another uncle and my father ) and these seem to be of good quality (and my size! ) even they are quite "younger" than the vintage Borsalino.

Obviously you arent't going to see many people wearing hats in Italy, which is quite sad.

I'd stay away from these A1's knock off!
They really have a "grandad's vibe" in Italy.
If interested in an airfighter impression, I'd rather search for a repros of the old Italian Airforce jackets of WWII, something I'd thing would be rarely seen in the USA!
Unfortunately, I don't remember at this moment the name of the brand that's doing this; they're quite uncommon in Italy too (while G1s of every quality had their moment of "TopGun" popularity and still can be seen around in winter).

Ciao!!

 

[Fletch]

You have a good point about the A-1. It's a hardcore, specialist item - it just doesn't say "American Icon" like a wartime A-2 or moto jacket.

One is surprised it ever got revived at all...you did mention granddads...maybe because it's a kind of cardigan?

Gen. Carl "Tooey" Spaatz, USAAC. He's thinking, "Does this jacket make me look old?"

 

[Italian-wiseguy]

Well, just today I passed in front of shop in my town - obviously it sells clothes... almost all my foreign friends wonder about how many clothing shops there are here -
well, this one usually sells that kind of thing that young "fashionista" guys, a common species in my town, use to wear;
and, oddly enough, today it displayed one A1 knock-off!
In a fitted (maybe even too much) size, it didn't look "grandaddish" at all.

But, now that you mention it, you're right: many older guys in Italy uses to wear them in comfortable sizes, more or less like a cardigan".

Ciao!!

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

Ohhhhhhhhh . . . . . . . . Just bring the whole country back, would you? Had a whole week in Italy in 2004 and it's clearly not enough. Tell your friend to enjoy!

I had 2 whole weeks in Italia last November, and that wasn't enough.
I don't know about fedoras, but Hemingway Jones got a great 8 panel (?) newsboy at a little tiny hat shop right next to the Trevi Fountain. If your friend is facing the fountain it will be on his left. About 3 doors down from that shoppe is a great Gelataria. Tell him to bring me home some from there. The red apple/green apple is to die for!!
Ahhh, Italia!! That country had such an affect on me. I think about it every day. I actually long for it......

 

[XPLSV]

Oh man...

If I was you I would have him bring back an open crown Borsalino Alessandria in Light Gray.
Can't get that in the US.

I'm pretty sure I saw this exact hat on the Peter Bros website: http://www.petersbros.com/BORSALINO_FELT/Default.htm

Bernie

 

[jaco]

Italian experience for all of you Americans

Hi All

Unfortunly I read late this post.
I can give you some good indication on what and where to buy.
Some of you said "stay away from turist trap": it's not so simple to do because some shop are "masked" and some times italians too were confused.
My home country is simultaneously hell and heaven so you MUST be smart.lol
First of all although is a small country (compared to US) it's more varied: that means that something typical you can find in a place (Rome for example) is totally different from the equivalent in other place (Milan).
Many things to buy and bring: wines (red, white, sparkling or not, sweet or bitter, to drink with sweetness and so on) in many different kinds and absolutely different in price from less than 10 euros from over 1000 euros, candy (every region as a different set), food specialities (as above extremely different from one place to another even if you are in the same region), dresses, shoes, fine jewellery and (last but not least) hat.
Every city (expecially Rome, Milan, Florence, Genova, Turin, Naples, Palermo, Catania) has some or a lot (in Milan something like 10) of good hat shops in which you can rest in peace for ever and ever (in Milan there is a 3 floors shop in which I can spend whole days).
So, for the next time, if someone of you, dear friends, needs some indication just ask, I'll answer.

P.S.: I know very well my country because I always believe that only knowing very well the home country you can know wel other country so I passed 15 years of vacation times travelling across each and every small part of Italy.

Salutiamo a vossia (sicilian proverb that means: Regards to all you valued friend)