Breadcrumbs ![A Fashion Brand Owner Shares Her Little Black Book](https://media.sheerluxe.com/XEZjuj-UJWZ-pNKSzVk7_wSG23g=/500x221/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F04%2Fsl-site-assets-170426-hero-interview-valentina-muntoni.jpg?itok=J_ppZ9MX) ![A Fashion Brand Owner Shares Her Little Black Book](https://media.sheerluxe.com/7adHmgZHfqDVUga3_7-H838mbTI=/400x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F04%2Fsl-site-assets-170426-mobile-hero-interview-valentina-muntoni.png?itok=PUjqWPz6) [Interviews](/fashion/interviews) / 17 April 2026 # A Fashion Brand Owner Shares Her Little Black Book As the co-founder of cult label Rat & Boa, Valentina Muntoni knows a thing or two about great style. London born and Florence based, she has a passport full of stamps from fashion capitals to go with her sharp eye for vintage. These are the places she loves returning to time and again… ByNana Acheampong [ Save To My Favourites ](/user/login?destination=/markdownify/node/52094) Images: @Valentina_Muntoni; @RatAndBoa All products on this page have been selected by our editorial team, however we may make commission on some products. [ ![@Valentina_Muntoni](https://media.sheerluxe.com/avTfMLMPVHYzLNnLx02quksXdl8=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F04%2Fsl-170426-rat-boa-lbb-1.jpg?itok=P9XSY0vM) ](https://www.instagram.com/valentina_muntoni/) @Valentina_Muntoni **If I could only shop in one area,** it would be SoHo in New York. Broome Street and Spring Street – that whole area where you can just wander and get lost – have such an incredible energy, and I always stumble across the best art galleries and restaurants nearby. I lived in NYC in my early 20s for a short time and remember buying these huge platform shoes in SoHo, convinced they were the best thing ever. **The most unusual shopping destination** has to be Tokyo. [Tokyu Hands](https://info.hands.net/en/) is a huge store full of stuff you don’t need but end up buying anyway. Koenji is a whole neighbourhood full of vintage shops that you can lose a day in – [Atlantis Vintage Tokyo](https://atlantisvintagetokyo.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnibIrKWvlBpSbwzirqhRx7AG6XblMvnQASTSMZcvei9YaMBmTqoCeH3biV2I_aem_jhX-bmvetsaMpjEMJaZSzw) and [Trip Vintage](https://trip-vintage-shop.com/) are real gems. Golden Gai has over 200 tiny bars, each with around six seats and their own very specific vibe – they feel like stepping into someone’s little world. That’s Tokyo in a nutshell: every pocket of the city is doing its own thing, completely on its own terms. **The best concept store in the world** is [10 Corso Como](https://10corsocomo.com/en-gb?srsltid=AfmBOopgBmvt1RXQD3ZXt0w7JntZ6uyH6lCkhbYCrczb0kdhAoidXGb0) in Milan. The curation and atmosphere are incredible – they make shopping feel like a cultural experience rather than a transaction. I could spend hours there, wandering through the gallery, flipping through books and browsing the rails. The café and bar are also fantastic. **For independent stores,** Paris is unmatched. Each district offers its own mix of boutiques and vintage stores. It’s impossible to do it all in one trip, so I always prioritise vintage. [Nuovo](https://nuovo-paris.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGntvT0jk0e8WWxv9d_Xp-KadJzFMxgtSFvQSlG0fXRTkyUk75ymGArdcmtF7k_aem_FYzAbB5yqgZCsGHvvpK4iQ), [Les Archives](https://www.lesarchivesparis.com/), [Chez Sarah](https://chezsarah.net/) and [ReSee ](https://www.resee.com/)are my go-tos. **The best department stores** are [Le Bon Marché](https://www.lebonmarche.com/fr?srsltid=AfmBOooEjojp5tMhZ3xxnCtq9vc8Pfqphm0Se7JVApNR-OsvLoX3poW-) in Paris and [Selfridges](https://selfridges.prf.hn/click/camref:1100loTp9/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.selfridges.com%2FGB%2Fen%2F) in London. Le Bon Marché has such a strong editorial feel. it never feels overwhelming, and always offers a brilliant mix of established designers and emerging brands. Selfridges has everything you could want under one roof. Growing up in London, I spent weekends window-shopping there and exploring Portobello Market. [ ![@NuovoParis; @RatAndBoa](https://media.sheerluxe.com/sVET0BtN_8_Tt0M6n2p1jCr34TQ=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F04%2Fsl-170426-rat-boa-lbb-2.jpg?itok=pGYwv10I) ](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=etT1jgERWYw&mid=52944&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ratandboa.com%2F&LSNSUBSITE=LSNSUBSITE) @NuovoParis; @RatAndBoa **An unexpected destination for great fashion** is Berlin. It might not be entirely unexpected, but the city’s culture and counter-culture make it incredibly exciting. I lived there for a few years, and the designer vintage scene is taken seriously. [Jil Sander](https://www.jilsander.com/en-gb/), [Ann Demeulemeester](https://anndemeulemeester.com/en-gb), [Margiela](https://www.maisonmargiela.com/en-gb/) – I’d always leave feeling like I’d found something truly special. **If I could only wear one brand again,** of course it would have to be my own. [Rat & Boa](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=etT1jgERWYw&mid=52944&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ratandboa.com%2F&LSNSUBSITE=LSNSUBSITE) is a transeasonal label designed to take you through every occasion, holiday and season, so I’d be covered. **An under-the-radar brand I love** is [Ruslan Baginskiy](https://ruslanbaginskiy.com/). The creativity is so smart – hat bags you can wear as accessories, foldable hats you can throw in your bag. The design and art direction are incredibly considered. **For basics,** I always turn to [Tibi](https://tibi.com/). They do understated essentials with a twist so well – never flashy, just thoughtful, chic and slightly androgynous. Everything works seamlessly with the rest of your wardrobe. **My go-to vintage store** is [Rellik](https://relliklondon.co.uk/) on Golborne Road in West London. The best pieces go quickly, but if you time it right, you can find something amazing. **My favourite vintage piece** **I’ve ever bought** is a pair of [Chanel sunglasses](https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/389532167655) with gold stars on them. Very 90s, verging on trashy, but I love them. [ ![@Valentina_Muntoni; @RuslanBaginskiy_Hats; @IlSantoBevitoreFI; @AtlantisVintageTokyo; @10CorsoComo](https://media.sheerluxe.com/qyQ7gxXDrZodzGzr824zfxNlumw=/1920x0/smart/filters:no_upscale()/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F04%2Fsl-170426-rat-boa-lbb-3_0.jpg?itok=-tBPde2o) ](https://www.instagram.com/valentina_muntoni/) @Valentina_Muntoni; @RuslanBaginskiy_Hats; @IlSantoBevitoreFI; @AtlantisVintageTokyo; @10CorsoComo **My perfect shopping day** starts with a strong coffee outside. Ideally I’d be in a new city with a friend. I love walking everywhere, as it’s the best way to discover something new. The day is always a balance of vintage and designer, high and low. I’m either hunting for that one piece I’ll obsess over or simple basics I can layer with my existing wardrobe. If something works with what I’m wearing that day, I’ll put it on straight away. There would be lunch with wine or a cocktail, then back out again, before heading home to get ready for dinner, wearing whatever I’ve found. **For repairs and alterations,** I go to my Rat & Boa studio in London. We have a brilliant atelier team there, which I’m lucky to have on hand. Being quite petite, I almost always need things hemmed or adjusted. **A sustainable brand I’ve recently discovered** is Róhe. I picked up the most beautiful cream jacket from [Selfridges](https://selfridges.prf.hn/click/camref:1100loTp9/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.selfridges.com%2FGB%2Fen%2F). The quality is exceptional. It’s one of those pieces you buy and immediately know you’ll keep in your wardrobe forever. **The best fashion gift I’ve ever given** was a pair of [The Row](https://www.therow.com/en-gb)’s Teatime boots from Vestiaire Collective. They were unworn, in the most beautiful chocolate suede. I originally wanted them for myself, but they weren’t my size, so I bought them as a birthday gift for a friend instead. **The best fashion gift I’ve ever received** is a [Spinelli Kilcollin](https://www.spinellikilcollin.com/) ring for my 30th birthday from my friend and business partner – a forever keepsake that feels both timeless and unique. **For people-watching,** Ipanema Beach in Rio is unbeatable. You genuinely see everything – the energy, the colour, the confidence. It’s like nowhere else on Earth and never disappoints. It’s one of my all-time favourite places. [ ![Trattoria Cammillo; @MaybeRebecca_](https://media.sheerluxe.com/cn11xwQFSlgEE0sMe8V8mDHpX0c=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F04%2Fsl-170426-rat-boa-lbb-5.jpg?itok=wkvdYfMJ) ](https://www.instagram.com/valentina_muntoni/) Trattoria Cammillo; @MaybeRebecca_ [ ![Rat & Boa](https://media.sheerluxe.com/md95b5ruu5gLQSz5F8PZrtb0N0M=/800x0/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F04%2Fsl-170426-rat-boa-lbb-4.jpg?itok=ZauGQ2ma) ](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=etT1jgERWYw&mid=52944&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ratandboa.com%2F&LSNSUBSITE=LSNSUBSITE) Rat & Boa **My favourite place to get coffee** is [Pasticceria Goretta](https://www.instagram.com/pasticceriagoretta1929/) dal 1929 in Florence. It’s family run, everything is baked in-house, and the combination of sweet pastry and bitter espresso is perfect. It feels like a daily ritual. **Some of the best restaurants in the world** are in Florence. When friends or family visit, I always take them to [Trattoria Cammillo](https://www.instagram.com/trattoriacammillo/) in Santo Spirito. Unpretentious, great food, and an institution in every sense, it’s got a loud, enjoyably chaotic energy. You must book in advance. [Il Santo Bevitore](https://www.instagram.com/ilsantobevitorefi/) is another favourite. It’s a younger crowd here, great for people-watching, and on summer evenings everyone spills out onto the street **The coolest spots in Florence** are Piazzale Michelangelo – at sunset the view over the city is stunning – and [Sant’Ambrogio](https://mercatosantambrogio.it/?lang=en) market for its energy and incredible produce. **For a hotel,** I love [Numeroventi](https://numeroventi.it/) in Florence. It’s a contemporary boutique hotel and artist residency that feels like a creative community rather than just somewhere to stay. *Follow* [@VALENTINA\_MUNTONI](https://www.instagram.com/valentina_muntoni/) *& visit* [RATANDBOA.COM](https://click.linksynergy.com/deeplink?id=etT1jgERWYw&mid=52944&murl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ratandboa.com%2F&LSNSUBSITE=LSNSUBSITE) ## *more from* ### Fashion [View All Fashion](/fashion) ![What’s New In Fashion Right Now ](https://media.sheerluxe.com/_Gj4SVZlKJovjmo2gbO0olcRSU0=/200x267/smart/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Farticles%2F2026%2F03%2Ffashion-news-portrait_0.jpg?itok=W_2VFfpR) [Fashion](/fashion) / 09 March 2026 [## What’s New In Fashion Right Now ](/fashion/whats-new-in-fashion-right-now-7) ![Tibi Founder Amy Smilovic Talks The Business Of Fashion, Guiding Principles & 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