So, the wife and I are going on a tour in Italy...
Any ideas on shops or brands for men’s and women’s clothing?
Going from Como to Venice to Florence and a couple of nights in Rome city center.
Thanks!

The exchange rate will likely make items more expensive. Murano glass jewelry in Venice is nice. Otherwise, I never saw anything worth buying.

Accountant

Avoid the Value Added Tax (VAT) scam. Shop owners give you a form and receipt to submit, ostensibly at the airport as you leave, to get all your sales taxes reimbursed. Problem is, you get to the airport and they tell you you have to mail the forms to a goverment agency and point to the “mailbox” to drop in the forms and receipts while lying to you stating you’ll get your money in 6-8 weeks. Problem is, the fucking tax reimbursement never comes because your paperwork is “lost” in their system. It’s a fucking scam so don’t ever buy expensive goods with the VAT promise from the retailer. Make them reduce the price of the item to the level that would compensate for the sales tax, or flip them the bird and walk away.

The open air bazarre near the Duomo in Florence has great belts, bags, leather at great prices.

Watch out for the "migrants" paintings displayed for  sale all over the plaza though.

When you walk on them they bitch, and when you tell them to get their shit off the fucking side walk, they tell you to fuck your mother.  then they walk away when you offer to beat their ass.

Also, check out this place for a drink at the roof top bar at sunset. Over looks most of the city from the south side of the river. You can our the palace/gardens (Palazzo Piti) after lunch, stop at the bar and then on to the Ponte Vecchio fro some awesome street musicians.

Hotel la Scaletta

In Venice there are actually offices where you take your receipt and the VAT form and get reimbursed on the spot.

Italy is like the Mexico of Europe

just visit, don't shop