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Lands End do mail order to Italy, buy your staple clothes from them, leave in Umbria then find yourself a boutique which suits your size and style, understand there is a designer mall near Firenze...Hopefully some girls will reply with more useful advice :)

Sorry, I cannot give any suggestions for your area, but can sympathise as I have exactly the same problem. Despite living in a country renowned for its fashion I find clothes shopping a nightmare. For me, the shapes are all wrong, as you say too short in the arm or just simply too fitted, a sizing system known only to itself and as for some of the materials! UK mail order companies do deliver here but this may not be much help if you are only here for short periods. Near to us there are several Oviesse, occasionally I can pick up things there, prices are reasonable, quality okish and they do usually have things in natural materials. There may be one near to you, the website is [url]www.oviesse.it[/url]
Good luck
Anne2

good luck with your search.whenever i visit italy i am always intriqued by the ability of italian women to look incredibly chic and just right whatever they are doing.i was discussing this with a friend who is off to venice next week and she told me that when she visits italy she pays far more attention to her appearance than when she is at home and still ends up feeling scruffy-i know what she means.

i am also having real problems finding decent and affordable clothes.
And I am amazed at how smart most of the ladies look. I am size 20 and 5 foot 7in and i have noticed that a lot of the ladies in Puglia are on the large size as well ( but a lot shorter !!!) and when I have asked most seem to say they buy in the market....well i can't find anything decent in the market ( looks same as UK markets ....cheap tatt !!!) I just don't know how they manage to do it !

I did find a 'larger ladies' shop in San Vito but it seemed to have only smart suits and wedding type wear....and nothing under about 150 Euros for a blouse(which wasn't that great !!) Had enough of wearing that sort of stuff when I was at work !

It hasn't helped that I've left most of my winter clothes at my sons' in England, which he is bringing over at Christmas(didn't expect it to be so cold just yet !!!) !
Have resorted to a few choice bits on e-bay to keep me going but miss wandering round the shops for clothes !

If any one finds anywhere in Puglia , let me know a.s.a.p.

Thanks everyone,

Yes, Lands End mail order works very efficiently in Italy and I use that for my everyday stuff. I have trudged round Oviesse muttering to myself and had a few encouraging but ultimatley ripping-it-off-and jumping-on-it moments!
Keep thinking everyone - there seems to be a niche-opportunity here somewhere.

Fortunately Viterbo/Vetralla area is well covered with retail outlets and have found no problems buying clothes.
Are there any branches of Conbipel in Umbria, as you may find them suitable.. Surely there is a reasonable sized town near you? Lots of the fashion companies seem to have large outlets in the industrial areas of towns. Not where us Brits would expect to look for clothes!
Good Luck sure you will find outlets where you least expect to!

Dear David and Linda

Yes, we are near Perugia but as I say everything is either personalised boutique (which I really can't be fussed with) or Polyester Heaven - there seems no mid-ground. Local knowledge (and believe me, I ask) reveals no 'fashion outlets' although I think you could find 'label' shops possibly, Valentino etc. Conbipel I have never noticed but will look out for. Thanks for your thought.

As I started all this, thought I should tell everyone who tried to help me sartorially that there is a new outlet village off autostrada A1 at the valdichiana exit for Siena and Perugia. It has loads of clothes shops for you young dudes (no, I didn't find anything for me!), perfume etc boutiques, C Klein, etc. It feels v. American - a bit windswept - and, I'm told, gets v. busy on Sundays. Oh, website: [url]www.valdichianaoutlet.it[/url]. Happy shopping a tutti!

I live in Italy and am quite comfortable sizewise and am vertically challenged so looking svelte and smart is an uphill battle.
I shop at Oviesse frequently and select mix and match styles.
The sizes are very inconsistent and make no sense, you need to try on everything even if you are browsing, but the styles are smart and the quality not top but not bad. You get what you pay for.

I find that popping in freqently I have built up a suitable wardrobe.

The other advice is to always dress as if you are off to a cocktail party and then you'll feel more italian.

try Oviesse in the [url]www.PagineGialle.it[/url] (yellow pages) for your neartest store.

Why not pick up a copy of Dutch expat Theodora van Meur's "Scoprioccasioni" with over 2000 addresses for designer bargains. The new English edition is just coming out, "Designer Bargains in Italy".
It was fun to help scout and write for it, I discovered many great places to buy and save. Insider info covers from-the-producer shops selling wine, cheese, etc. Its a book to keep in the car . [url]www.scoprioccasioni.it[/url]
One address for Viterbo/Vetralla/Lazio/southern Tuscany people is Gae Scuderi in Cura di Vetralla. Mens' suits are made there. Womens' high fashion, teens, with good prices at the January & July sales.