Stefanel (Rome, Italy)

So, what happens when you're in a city that's predominantly filled with designer boutiques? If you're like me, you end up craving something a little simpler, slightly cheaper but hopefully still Italian. Stefanel fit the bill, which is why I found myself in this brand's retail store for the first time in approximately 8 years. This label can be found all over the world of course (ironically one of the biggest and oldest stores is located in Paris) but for some reason it's never really been on my radar.

Specialising mainly in knitwear, the Stefanel company first started producing clothes in the early 60's and thankfully all items are still made in Treviso, Italy to this day. The shop I visited - not the only one in Rome of course - probably has the best location, situated directly on Piazza Venezia overlooking the Altare della Patria. The outside reminded me of an old fort, the interior however is more modern and much more spacious than the majority of the Stefanel boutiques.

Most of my friends like describing the style as "boring". Officially the clothes are meant to be casual chic, contemporary and easy to match. This of course means you're not supposed to wear the brand head to toe (something that applies to every designer or retail label). Browsing the many racks in the first part of the store, I found a lot of simple basics which yes, could look boring, but could also be stunning if matched with the correct jewelry, accessories and shoes. A lot of the items are great for layering and even though most colors are muted, there are a few brighter pieces to be found.

(images: Stefanel)

Stefanel was smart enough to have recruited Mario Testino to shoot the last few ad campaigns featuring Gisele Bundchen - I'm guessing in an attempt to make the brand more exciting and underline the modernity of the clothes. Moving on to the slightly more elevated middle section of the store, I did see they had mastered the majority of this season's trends perfectly: beautifully slouchy jumpsuits that looked so comfortable you probably wouldn't want to ever take them off, harem pants that actually looked wearable and sheer neutral-colored tops that are guaranteed to match something you already have in your wardrobe.

If you have a guy tagging along, the last section is where you'll find the menswear. Strangely this was the busiest area of all, which implies they must be doing something right!

Like most European retail brands that aren't called H&M or Zara, the prices are slightly higher (80-350 EUR), but the clothing you buy here is well-made and meant to last. So if you're getting sick of buying your basic pieces from American Apparel, I'd say give your local Stefanel boutique a try. I was pleasantly surprised by how versatile many of the items are, making them great wardrobe staples.

(images: Stefanel)

Address: Piazza Venezia 5, 00186 Rome
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sun: 10:00-19:00
Stefanel Homepage