Rome Department Stores

Everyone needs a department store to stock the basics, whether that means Gucci underwear at discounted prices or jeans and a sweater to cover up at the Vatican. Expect to find everything from makeup to household products to entire clothing wardrobes at most stores.

La Rinascente, P. Colonna 195/199 (☎06 67 84 209; www.rinascente.it), Glamorous, big, and well stocked, La Rinascente allows you to save a couple of euro by offering those coveted designer brands from around the block on V. dei Condotti on their discounted clothes racks. A good selection of makeup and accessories on the first floor makes way for clothing upstairs and down. With the designer selection of lingerie, you could be spending three times the money on one third the material. The store also has a tax refund office. Bus #116. Open daily 10am-9pm. Takes credit cards. No wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
COIN, V. Cola di Rienzo 173 (☎06 36 00 42 98; www.coin.it), With a generous selection of everything you might need in both designer and basic varieties, COIN is a good place to come for hours of rack-sorting, bargain-hunting, euro-dropping, and, if that line at the Vatican has left you in need of a restroom, peeing. A: Ottaviano. Head down V. Ottaviano and turn onto V. Cola di Rienzo from P. Risorgimento. Open M-Sa 10am-8pm, Su 10:30am-8pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
UPIM, V. Gioberti 64 (☎06 44 65 579; www.upim.it), Come here to dress your house rather than your bod. A well-priced selection of furniture, cookware, bedding, and toys outdoes the basic clothing, most of which is seasonal. Dress up the simple lines of the store's garments with some makeup, which has taken over the first floor in full force. Near Termini, across from Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore. Open M-Sa 9am-8:30pm, Su 9:30am-8:30pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.
OVIESSE, Vle. Trastevere 62 (☎06 58 33 36 33; www.oviesse.com), Oviesse stocks a somewhat small collection of cheap, seasonal clothes for women and men: it's nothing special, but hey, you're wearing something, right? You might smell better than you look—the adjoining perfumerie's collection is comparable in size. There are also plenty of clothes for children and babies in case their fashion is more important than yours. Custom tailoring available. Tram #8 down Vle. Trastevere. Huge BILLA supermarket downstairs with great prices. Open M-Sa 8:30am-8pm, Su 9:30am-1:30pm and 4-8pm. Takes credit cards. Wheelchair access. Has air conditioning.