Shop where the popes do

Now that you can pretty much find anything anywhere, it's not so easy to find a unique gift to bring home from your travels. If you're going to Rome, however, you're in luck. Located just behind the Pantheon is a tiny treasure of a shop: Ditta A. Gammarelli's. The Gammarelli's, tailors since 1790,  have outfitted popes, bishop, and cardinals since the 1850s.

Assuming that you don't need the full papal garb, I recommend their beautifully made socks--my favorite are the red cardinals socks, though the purple bishop socks are nice too. I once asked the salesman if it was sacrilegious to wear them, as I'm not  exactly a cardinal (although I am originally from St. Louis). He laughed and said that fortunately it was not, pointing out that his clientele is a little limited.

For those not planning to go to Rome anytime soon, check out:

http://www.meschaussettesrouges.com/19-chaussettes-gammarelli-rouges.htm...