Spring Shopping Diary: Three Countries, One Week
Chapitre 3: Viterbo, Italy and Rennes, France
It was difficult for Daughter Three and me to come down from the high of the flea market/vintage shopping extravaganza in Rome. Two months later, we are still talking about the excursion in reverent tones that have the rest of the family rolling their eyes.
“Remember that Jim Morrison shirt that I didn’t get?”
“How about the piles of Levis, why didn’t we buy them all?”
“I really liked that Snoopy wallet you talked me out of.”
Nothing haunts you like the vintage you didn’t buy.
And so we arrived in Viterbo, a medieval walled city about 50 miles north of Rome, where I had A Work Thing. If you find yourself planning a trip to Viterbo, we stayed at Palazzo Ubertini, which was fabulous - and had one of the best meals of the trip at Magnamagna Trattoria. I also squeezed in an early morning Mass at a medieval church which was a sensory feast. Enough business, let’s go shopping, shall we?
Our shopping expectations were low but we sniffed out the Good Stuff. It’s always there if you are willing to look. On the high street, we were enchanted by the beautifully styled and curated MaxMara and Weekend MaxMara - two separate stores. Ah, Italy. Everything was so pristine and perfect and exactly what I wanted to be wearing. The piece that stopped me in my tracks was the oversize gingham Pasticcino Bag (this thing is stop you in your tracks gigantic). It comes in leather and lots of patterns and the gingham cotton has my heart. It is currently on sale - praise be! Resale versions abound - two TRR finds here and here, and here is a mini version on Poshmark.
The pro move would have been to scour the sale racks of coats at MaxMara but ovviamente no, I’m always pulled to the of-the-moment offerings and there were so many shiny things to look at.
The high street also introduced us to Jia Li - a new to me Italian brand with a very strong point of view.
These pants came home with me as well as this necklace, because I loved how weird it all was. So many cute, unique things that nobody else will have. Italian, made in Italy - yes please.
Off the high street, tucked around the corner of a cobblestone roundabout that I can’t believe we stumbled onto, was Bevilacqua, the standout shopping experience in Viterbo. They make their own shirts (!!) from vintage Italian scarves !!!!!. Each of their blouses is one of a kind and so fabulous. Also, there is a shop dog named Gino.
Bevilacqua also stocks a curated selection new to me European brands. I brought home a dress from Spanish brand Maison Hotel . It appears that they have free shipping to the U.S. and some lovely summer items like this top and these pants . These pieces make me want to spend the summer in Europe. Alas.
After three nights, we had to shove all of our Italy purchases into our alarmingly full luggage for our jaunt to my Next Work Thing in Rennes, France. Rennes is about 200 miles west of Paris. There is a university there so lots of young people which means lots of shopping and dining. We were planning a long weekend in Paris after wrapping up the work events so the plan was Window Shopping and Restraint. We stayed at the Balthazar Hotel which was lovely and houses a Nuxe Spa - yep, a full spa dedicated to everyone’s favorite French pharmacy product. I love the Nuxe face oil in the rose scent (I have sensitive, dry skin and my skin loves it - you have to like a scent though) and this shimmery one for summer.
Whenever I visit France (as if it’s all the time), I like to pop into sessun, a French brand with similar pricing to Sezane, but in my opinion a more interesting, less boho aesthetic.
This Sessun dress came home with me - I loved the purplish/brownish Ring 3 color. It feels very French! I also bought this belt. I wanted, but did not buy these heels. Restraint.
Daughter Three sco0ped up this embroidered belt from Spanish brand Latch at a darling little boutique whose name escapes me.
Nothing haunts you like the boutiques you will never find your way back to because you did not document their name and address.
We also picked up some pretty things at Etam because when in France, you must buy some underpinnings. I bought this set and this one and Daughter Three got a pajama set.
And just like that, we were boarding the train to our last stop - Paris, but not without ducking into a little toy shop in the Rennes train station to scoop up this bag charm that I am asked about three times a day. Sadly, I have no link for it and no link for the shop. I was in fact, running for the train, cursing at my luggage, and looking for my phone, as per usual.
Spring sorority event at Daughter Two’s college. It was alarmingly chilly.
Ann Mashburn silk dress - past season, I own it in four colors/fabrics including a made to order one. I wear these dresses constantly. Here is this summer’s version, and for not much more you can just have it made in exactly the color/fabric you want. SIZE UP - I have a medium, large, and extra-large and I prefer the larger sizes!
Coat from Rome flea market - here is a potential alt.
AGL sandals - Old, I’ve never met a snakeskin block heel sandal I didn’t love and I thought it was fun to mix the print of the jacket with the heel and the preppyish dress. Here is a potential alt.
Sabina skirt via Nina Z - love that it’s 100% silk and very 90’s silhouette. SIZE UP. I’m wearing a medium and wish it were a large.
Rina Tee - LOVE IT, so soft - like Petit Bateau.
Stuart Weitzman sandals via TRR - more from TRR here and here.
Vintage 1970’s necklace handed down by mom.
Sezane pouch as bag - Old, here is one on Poshmark, here is a cute one from this season in animal print.
The Tibi Nylon Bubble Short via Future Reference made its debut - let’s goooo! I sized up to a 10 and could definitely take one size down but I like that they aren’t tight and almost look like a skirt. Success! Here is another pair on Future Reference.
H&M burgundy button up - sold out in this color, here is an alt from Quince.
Tibi Rudolph Flats via Future Reference - here is this season’s (slightly different) version on sale! I love the dusty green color.
The Arrivals
Nili Lotan protest dress via ThredUp (Found by the wonderful Zoe - thank you!). I have scoured the internet and cannot find another, but here is a Bob Dylan slip dress (!!) via Poshmark possibly from the same collection (?). Update: The mini dress is teeny tiny. It fits, sort of, as a top on me. Tbd if I will keep it.
Due to an error on my part (must wear readers when online shopping!), I am the proud owner of what seems to be a truckload of vintage 70’s decals sourced from this Ebay seller. Now I need a t-shirt press. Perhaps the truckloads of t shirts I plan to make this summer will become a gift for paid subscribers? Update: I made my first decal tee for the Bruce Springsteen concert last week and people lost their minds - success! More to come.
I’m working on a mini-post about the continuing Tibi sale - with shoes now! - so you’ll get extra content this week. Thank you for reading!
Notes:
I’m using occasional affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy something through a link I share. Thank you for your support!
If you are interested in shopping my closet, home, and office, check out my ShopMy. It’s an utterly fabulous work in progress, if I do say so myself.
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So much whimsy! Clocked (ha) your Omega Swatch and now I’m determined to wear the one my husband just got this week!