OK,, here is what I hope to be a fun post. We are going to Italy in a week and I am plannig on giving my 15 year old daughter an allowance to spend on souviners. We will be visiting Venice, Florence, CT, Tuscany, and Rome. She LOVES clothes, duh, but also likes artsy stuff. Definitely a Right brain kid ( apparently two lefts make a right). What are some of the specialties of these areas that a teen might seek out so that we can point her in a productive direction ( assuming she will go where we point!)
Thanks !
Posted by
Kamloops, BC, Canada
483 posts
Venice: glass bead bracelets, pendants, small leather goods (near train station you'll find lower prices on small leather purses). Florence: leather goods and stationery in outdoor markets (although lower quality than specialty shops). Low-priced goods will probably not be made in Italy, but my thinking is...if you like it and it fits, why not buy it? unless you're looking for an authentic hand-made item and prepared to pay the price!
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Having a teenage daughter of my own I can only say you'd better have a pretty hefty allowance in Venice if you plan on doing any real shopping. Venice is definitely for the Artsy - but not for the poor. Florence - lots of clothes places for a teenage girl to spend lots of money, just remember to bargain hard. CT - not so much opportunity to shop.
Posted by
OP
CA, ca
44 posts
Ha ha ! thanks Susan and Tim. Luckily she is pretty frugal (learned that from her stingy mom ) and she is vegatarian which means no leather goods. So far she is thinking a scarf and a new purse or hand bag. I am thinking the glass beads from Venice might be worthy as well. But who am I to inflict my opinion on a teenage girl.
Thanks
Posted by
TN, USA
2169 posts
Shelly, when I first saw your post a few days ago, my initial thought was scarves in Florence......but, I didn't post, not being sure if teenagers would like scarves. ........but.........since she likes them......have her hold off until you are in Florence. There is a huge outdoor market (can't recall the name of it.....but you'll find it), that has some wonderful deals on scarves. And, definitely negotiate, after walking around to scope out the general prices, etc. You'll see a lot of the same merchandise in different stalls. I purchased a scarf for E4-5 and wish I had purchased many more while there. I've since seen similar ones in the US that sell for $50+. Check the quality carefully......the vendors will tell you everything is first quality, but I noticed a few little flaws on most but picked one where the flaw was very, very minor (most are not noticeable).
Posted by
OP
CA, ca
44 posts
Wow, E 3-4 ? she better leave room in her bag. Thanks for the advice. Maybe I will too. Right now I am definetly seeing lots of summer scarves in stores like H & M and Forever 21.