Shopping for women's clothing in Rome or Siena

I can't name any specific favorites, but here are a few suggestions for planning your shopping.

Siena being a small town that's extremely popular with tourists, expect to find mostly merchandise intended for tourists (i.e., I wouldn't spend much time looking for everyday clothing there). Florence and Rome are major cities with many thousands of women who live there and need clothing, so your choices will be much better. If you're only interested in clothing made in Italy, expect to pay more, because Italian stores tend to carry things made in low-wage countries just as we have here in the USA.

Shops usually close during the afternoon siesta period, which can vary from one merchant to another, but in Rome and Florence they may stay open through the day. Most are closed Sundays and some also Mondays. Some close for a couple of weeks of "ferie" (vacation) in August.

Sizes: women's dress size, add 30 (US size 10 = continental size 40) and women's shoe size, add about 30-31 (US size 8 = continental size 38 or 39).

Here is an article about shopping in Rome http://www.10best.com/destinations/italy/rome/shopping/womens-clothing/

And here are some traveler suggestions for Florence https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187895-i68-k3445946-Recommended_clothing_stores_where_Italians_buy_their_clothes-Florence_Tuscany.html

Or just buy scarves ... and then study how the fashionable locals manage to tie them.

Big sales in January and July.

You can find many department stores (Coin, La Rinascente), in every city you mention, and there are some outlet stores in malls on the outskirts of towns.

epltd: though not being an expert I think that the stores described in your link would not carry "every-day casual clothing".

I think it would be smarter to move away from the center and perhaps visit a market.

Italy is a land of small boutiques. I found shopping for clothing there very tiring as one has to go to many stores. I learned that if I saw something I liked in a window, to pursue it immediately because when you are actually looking for a specific item (black pants, summer dress) it took hours of searching.

Zoe mentioned Coin and La Rinascente, which are excellent department stores. You might also cruise the shops on Via Tritone, Cola Di Rienzo, the area around Galleria Alberto Sordi, and north of there (slightly) around Via Frattini. You can use Google maps to zoom in on these areas to look for possibilities.

When we were in Venice, I asked this question of the B&B owner's wife - I didn't want designer, I just wanted a nice sweater or top that I would remember I bought there. She sent me over to the Cannaregio district and I never would've found this place with all the stores we passed on our visit. I think it's worth asking someone at the hotel/B&B you are staying at in those locations on where they might recommend you shop.

OVS stores in Rome, many locations, try them all for the full range of fashion style and sizes! OVS is noted for offering many different styles, sizes, and cuts. OVS has beautiful flattering fashion clothes for every woman. They have a regular size section and a grande section, and smart shoppers shop in both because you will find amazing fashion that fits in both sections!

When you see an item you like, be sure to try on all the sizes because the various cuts and styles available make sizes run very different here in Italy.

And OVS is super affordable, you will be amazed at how beautifully fashionable you look at such reasonable prices! So check the internet and copy down as many OVS locations you'd like to visit and go shoooooppppping! OVS is online too so you can get exciting ideas for your wardrobe right now while you're still at home! OVS is so much FUN!

For a shopping trip to the Mall, take Bus 38 from Piazza dei Cinquecento at Roma Termini station to Porta di Roma, a 45 minute trip for a beautiful and fun ride to a fantastic Mall with more great shooooopppping! You will see the Mall before the exit stop.

Becky,

I agree with Sandra, OVS stores are very affordable.

When I was in Italy a couple of months ago, I was waiting for the bus in Intra/Verbania and I saw the window display of an OVS store and I thought to myself, it's probably another expensive clothing shop, but then I checked the prices and was surprised by the quality.
I ended up buying two beautiful long sleeve cotton tops for less than €20! I'm sure I could have bought more clothes but didn't have much room in my small carry-on.
Next time I will pack half as much and buy new clothes there! ;-)

There's an OVS Store in Siena near Piazza Matteotti.

Enjoy shopping in Italy!

Thank you all for your suggestions. With all of these choices, I am sure I will find what I am looking for.

Happy New Year everyone!

Women’s sizes for clothing (not shoes) in Europe vary by country. I think this chart is more accurate and comports with my own shopping experience in Norway, Germany, and France.

https://www.net-a-porter.com/am/sizechart.nap

More on the "just add 30" to your US size:

I just looked at my NYDJ jeans. They are labeled for different countries, and all theEuro sizes are different. In other words, there is no "Continental" size standard. The jeans are labeled

US size O
UK size 4
DE size 30
FR size 32
ES size 34
IT size 36

So the only place the "add 30" trick works is Germany (DE). (Also Denmark and Norway, in my experience).