Fashion at the Emmy Awards...

Nothing attracts me more than watching Film and TV award shows, specially those from the US. I never miss the Golden Globes, the Oscars (my favorites... there was a time when I even held dinners at home with friends to watch them together) and the Emmys. Ever since I've became addicted to certain TV series, starting with Sex & the City to be honest, but then with Desperate Housewives, Nip Tuck, Dirty Sexy Money, Grey's Anatomy, In Treatment, and lately Mad Men (I have all the seasons in DVDs and I keep copies in all my houses, in case I feel like watching an episode from time to time...), I follow the Emmys with interest...

And tonight, from my beloved and unreachable Los Angeles, we receive the first images of the 62nd Emmy Awards, from the Nokia Theatre in Hollywood. As usual, Americans are UNBEATABLE (caps are on purpose) when it comes to glamour. For American actresses going to an award show is part of their job, image is important and they work on it with care. Impeccable skins, perfect make-ups (never too much nor too little...), professional hairdos, jewels, the best American and European designers and a battalion of stylist put in service by the main Studios to their key stars... Not a detail is left unattended: shoes, bags, even the pose (left arm on the waist, body lightly moved towards the right...). And such display begins as early as 2 pm, under an intense sun!

This year's looks showed many strapless gowns, mainly in neutrals or beige, dark or lighter blues, some reds (they feel like too much in broad daylight), embroidered golds or sequined blacks. There was also some grey dresses, one of the hues that look worst in parties. Of course, the best piece of jewelry to pair with a strapless dress are long, important and shinny earrings. There were many by Cartier, Fred Leighton (a jeweler from Los Angeles), Lorraine Schwartz (who's a friend of mine and very talented indeed), Bulgari and Boucheron. Bags with crystals, as those by Judith Leiber, were definitely the most popular.

I also noted that many stars wore dark nail polish, like Chanel's Black Satin.

Among the most seen designers were, of course, Oscar de la Renta (a classic option that never fails), Carolina Herrera, Armani, Versace (awful was the dress of my favorite actress, January Jones, Mad Men's Batty Draper... a blue disaster with a short hem that turned behind in a longer train... Anyway, nothing can diminish her beauty) and Marchesa... Marchesa's designer, Georgina Chapman, is Miramax's CEO, Harvey Weinstein's wife... many contacts for a clientele!! Jokes aside, her collections are really wonderful and I have many dresses from her label. The one that wore Kim Kardashian tonight (a white dress with Greek inspirations) was very flattering. I did not like Heidi Klum's minidress because, for me, Award shows deserve long dresses. Tina Fey, the most talented and famous comedic actress of the moment, looked good on her Oscar de la Renta... Kyra Sedgwick, Kevin Bacon's wife (the more he ages, the better he looks), on the other hand, was awful: a too-untidy hairdo and a bordeaux dress that wasn't at all interesting. At least she got the Best Leading Actress Award...

As for the men... many smoking or black suits, white shirts and black ties... It's so easy for them!!! As French writer Sacha Guitry once said, men wear black to be a backdrop curtain for the ladies...

Jimmy Fallon was great as the host of the night and, as most American artists, he knows how to act, sing and dance.

A special note on Sofía Vergara, a former Colombian model that became famous for having an affaire with singer Luis Miguel, who was nominated tonight as Best Supporting Actress for her role in Modern Family. Good Girl, you've made a long way...

Frankly, a lovely Hollywood night...

January Jones (grr!) / Kim Kardashian (!!)

Our blog's first anniversary...

Exactly a year ago, on August 27th 2009, around 3 pm, I was at home with Carla Mitrani, a young (just 30) radio producer, with whom I've been working for the past three years as a columnist in "El Toque," a radio program, hosted by Mario Mactas. 

Carla had contacted me on September 2006 because she wanted me to talk on Mario's show about the movie "The Devil wears Prada," a huge success around that time... And as I've been wearing Prada for years, she thought I could explain the importance of the label... She did reach me on my mobile, while I was walking around San Gimignano, in Tuscany. Since then, I became a constant collaborator in Mario's program, going live from which ever part of the world I was...

However, in August 2009, Mario decided to take a year off, and the two of us were left without his show. I missed my columns...

So, as I was telling you, that afternoon of August 27th, while we were at home, Carla suddenly said: "Why don't you start a blog?"

I hardly knew what a blog was, but I answered: "If you teach me how..."

And that's how this magnificent adventure began, an adventure that has done me so well, that has repositioned me in the world after a couple of tough years and that has actually became my therapy... Communicating with my readers fills me with joy and has changed the way I think. Now, every time I go somewhere, read something, see something, "think of" something... I just want to share it with you!!

Thanks to Carla and to her enthusiasm and energy, which have been important.

And above all, thanks to my followers...

Thanks from the bottom of my heart.

And for many many years of posts...!!!

The end of the European holidays...

And so we have reached the final days of the holidays...

After a last week in Toscana, I find myself again in a fresh and sunny Paris, with 19°C, with everyone getting ready for the rentrée: the arrival of those who were on vacation, the back-to-school preparations and the return to work. Yesterday I did some window-shopping around Faubourg-St. Honoré and the Fall-Winter 2010/2011 collections are ready in store!

But before flying to Buenos Aires for a couple of weeks, I would like to suggest to you the best addresses and spots in my hometown and beloved Toscana, specially those of Montepulciano, which has lately become a trendy and touristic destination.

There are few hotels around and many "agriturimos," which are a whole new concept. They are basically old country houses, restored into farm hotels or Bed&Breakfast. The best one is definitely Dionora. Giulio is its manager and will gladly attend any request. Other options, midway between Montepulciano and Pienza, are La Saracina and Villa Poggiano. Around the area of the Cortona, another jewel of Tuscany, is Il Falconiere.

To try the wonders of the Tuscan cuisine, mi favorite restaurant is "La Grotta," just in front of the Church of San Biagio, work of Il Sangallo... a true must, specially during sunset.

In town, if you want to taste the "pici," Montepulciano's typical pasta, the "Trattoria Diva" will not disappoint. 

For a lunch with the best view on Earth, go to "Pulcino," which is a Polizian classic, where you'll find the best Italian "cantuccini" and Gabriella's unique panello...

As for dinner, don't miss "La Porta" in Monticchiello, a few miles from Montepulciano and in front of the Val d'Orcia, an amazing landscape... at least for me!

If you are looking for something more sophisticated, but still true to the essence of Tuscany, "La Chiusa" in Monteffolonico is perfect.

Ciao, Toscana...

The Dionora

Some answers...

This is for that reader who asked me to suggest some cool places in Mykonos...

Restaurants:

- Kalita, divine, my favorite, right in the middle of Hora (or Chora), which is the main town in the Island.

- Matsuhisa Nobu, at the Belvedere Hotel, excellent food and atmosphere.

- Gola, with an incredible view and a refined cuisine.

- Interni, also in Hora, a sophisticated place with a charming garden to dine under the stars.

If you are looking for something simpler and typically greek, go to the taverns at Ano Mera, a small town just a few km away, on the route to the beaches of Elia.

For lunch, the IT beach is that of Psarrou, which is rather similar to those in St. Tropez...

As for hotels, here are some options: first, those in town, as the Belvedere, very near to the seaport, or the Cavo Tagoo. I personally prefer those with private beaches, as the Royal Myconian, Kivotos or Mykonos Blu.

And if you are visiting, don't forget to stop by the boutiques, as SohoSoho or Juicy Couture. There's even a La Martina store!

And to the reader asking me about the nail color on my feet, I tell you that I always use Chanel's Black Satin. My gladiators are precisely from Mykonos. However, know that the best gladiators are those from Rondini, in St. Tropez!

Gladiators... yes or no?

Christian Louboutin / Balmain

Summer in Europe is reaching its peak. We are on the eve of August 15th, the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, and the middle of the vacations. On Monday 16th, people will slowly begin their return to their jobs and obligations and Fall will slowly start to reveal itself...

Anyway, let's enjoy the last remains of summer, heat and trends...

And it cannot be denied that the Queens of Glamour this season have been the gladiator sandals, or spartiates as they are called in French, or i sandali a la schiava in Italian. Available in every imaginable color, mainly flat, now you can also find embellished designs with really high heels, as those by Balmain, Gucci, Pucci, Giuseppe Zanotti or Christian Louboutin.

I have not seen anything else on the streets of the various places in the Mediterranean that I've visited this summer... exit the espadrilles and the clogs, which everyone said would be the hit of the season... well, they were nowhere to be seen.

Paired with shorts (another summer 2010 trend), gladiators provide that "casual chic" touch that looks so good on everyone... I've seen them on teenagers and forty-year-olds, on actresses and international models...

And of course, I had to get a pair myself... The issue here, when buying the classic ones, is tying them on... it just takes too much time!

But they are worth it...

Here, a picture of them for you to see... tell me what you think...

My gladiators...

A Mediterranean Summer

It's been a while since I've last spent an entire summer in Europe. Finally, in 2010, I've decided to stay by the Mediterranean Sea and visit places I've never been before.

To begin with, I went to Greece, which, in spite of having been born in Italy -such a close country-, I didn't know. And what a surprise it was to discover such a beautiful place, so full of History, Mythology and Art... And also of entertainment and incredible landscapes, with a warm and transparent sea, as that of the Caribbean.

I've been to Mykonos, the glamour island par excellance: the St. Tropez of Greece. A true show in itself, with beaches, nightclubs, lots of young people and joy!

But... beware! If you, heel-lover-women, are thinking about going... well, forget it! It is impossible to walk the streets of Hora (or Chora, as you wish to pronounce it), Mykonos' main town, with heels... Even a true fan as myself had to store them away and move around with basic Havaianas flip-flops. Several local shops sell the classic gladiator sandals, which are a must in the European Summer. They are flat and with straps tying around the ankles, very similar to those worn by Russell Crowe in Gladiator... They look amazing with a mini skirt or mini short, as long as they don't visually shorten the leg...

Another thing to consider about the Greek Islands is the wind, or meltemi, as locals call it. Forget about going to a Hair salon and go for a comfortable ponytail. When the wind blows, it really does blow, but however it is useful to make the air breathable, because if not, the Sun of Greece would feel too strong and hot.

I've also been to Santorini, another of the Cyclades Islands, but located to the south of Mykonos. 

Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion, which destroyed the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island, and leading to the creation of the current geological caldera. Its spectacular beauty, together with its busy nightlife, has made of Santorini one of the main vacation destination in Europe. It also has a giant central lagoon, more or less rectangular, and measuring about 12 by 7 km, which is surrounded by 300-mts-high steep hills on three of its sides. The island slopes down to the surrounded Aegean Sea. On the fourth side, the lagoon is separated from the sea by a smaller island called Therasia; thus the lagoon merges with the sea in two places, in the northwest and southwest. As you can imagine, a unique landscape!

Oh, and I forgot to tell you that I fell in love with the excellent Greek cuisine: fishes, feta cheese, vegetables and, above all, their white yogurt, the famous Greek yogurt, that I ate to excess, always with a spoonful of Greek honey. The best of desserts. And one that won't make you fat!!!