July 18, 2023

Rome, Something Else Entirely

A tour of the capital with the many-sided Slim Greige Citizen of the world, Slim is a guarantee of class, good taste and style

As an Italian living abroad, I always had an international outlook. My family and I lived, among other places, in the former British West Indies & the US before settling in England. I studied foreign languages, yet I am a creative at heart and quite independent from an early age.

In the late 1980s, I spent a few years in Rome. It was here that I developed my sartorial and haute couture interest, courtesy of some great friends who took me under their wing! Here I was able to breath and absorb the immense culture that Rome so generously offers to the world. I have always been curious and quite enthusiastic about trying out new things. Among the many work I’ve done around the world, there is one with a French fashion lifestyle start up. They asked me for help with their brand at the start of the pandemic so I took this opportunity to highlight Italy during a challenging time. I also made sure that the collection included a women’s capsule collection and a limited edition travel bag collection created in Umbria by my friend and fine leather craftsman Stefano Conticelli. I was able to use his leather bike and iconic leather-clad Vespa in many of the successful visuals I created and I produced their first professional fashion shoot in Rome as soon as the lockdown ended. The result was a fascinating story of fashion & high craftsmanship. And somehow me and my dog (for whom Slim recently created his own Instagram @mrgreigejunior, editor’s note) ended up in many of the fashion shoots, too!

I also started collaborating with The Rake (the world’s leading luxury men’s style and lifestyle magazine and the voice of clas- sic elegance). And for my first article I chose to interview one of the most elegant women in Rome, Marisela Federici, at her famous Villa Furibonda on the Appia Antica. I guess you can say, I love Rome!? Rome for me means Genius Loci. It’s the thousands of years from one civilisations to the next that has made this place so immense in terms of culture and spirituality.

Rome speaks to all of our senses, no matter where you are coming from. Rome is a luminous syncretism.

Passions

I collect antiques and vintage pieces and I like to spend Sunday mornings at the Antique market in Ponte Milvio. The Biblioteca Angelica near Piazza Navona, the oldest European public library, is another place I like to visit. Apart from the books and ambiance, I love the silence there. And I try not to miss the art exhibitions at the Cloister of Bramante, the Renaissance gem on Via della Pace. My favorite gelateria is Neve di Latte at 140 Via dei Banchi Vecchi. I love to have a Cuban cigar in the cigar lounge of the Hotel de Ricci’s Bar Charade, after lunch on weekends. And Mr Greige Junior is always welcome too!

Shopping

Bottega Piovano e Figlie at 26 Via dell’ Orso. I have much admiration for Vincenzo’s and his daughters’ traditional craftsmanship using ancient tools. They specialize in engraving, sculpture, mosaics and in gild decorations. Since the ‘90s, I have never left Rome without a PJ or socks from Schostal ( 29 Via della Fontanella di Borghese). Patrizia Fabri (34 Via dell’ Oca) is my to go place when it comes to hats. Chez Dédé on Via di Monserrato has been a favorite for some years now. Andrea Ferolla’s illustrations are so very chic !

Pet-Friendly Places

Considering by how often Mrgreigejunior and I get stopped by people in the streets who want to engage with him, I would say that Rome is definitely a pet-friendly city! I will always be grateful to the J.K. Place in Rome for allowing me to stay with Mr Greige Junior at their hotel to spend my birthday weekend. Not many hotels would have allowed this, so it was super special to us.

Aperitivo

I love Campini on Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina and Camponeschi Wine bar on Piazza Farnese.

Restaurants

Pierluigi, I always follow the host Roberto Lisis’s suggestions. Last time he introduced me to their version of cacio e pepe, sublime! Camponeschi on Piazza Farnese for the fish and elegant setting. Alfredo Alla Scrofa, whenever I want to eat great fettuccine.Trattoria Perilli for some typically Roman fare with the family.