See you soon...

An apology to all readers of my blog. An unfortunate series of events has made it impossible for me to write these days.
I promise to do so as soon as possible!

"La Prima Cosa Bella"

What to do on a Sunday in March, when you are suffering from an otitis and are unable to leave your house or travel?

You can only stare at the Park through the window, finally covered with sun and blossoming trees, and watch a movie. As this was my case, I had no other choice than look through the DVDs my sister buys on the Italian Amazon, and with much much luck I found a little masterpiece... "La Prima Cosa Bella," directed by Paolo Virzì.

I've had read its critics last year, all very good, but somehow it has exceeded my expectations and filled me with emotions. Firstly because the story is set in Livorno, which is a Tuscan town where they speak the same Italian dialect than in Montepulciano, where I was born. And second, because the story of Anna, a beautiful and rather thoughtless mother, of the ups and downs of her life, always involving her two beloved kids, till the end, thirty years later... is fascinating and made me cry seas of tears!!

Amazing actors: Micaela Ramazzotti (young Anna), Stefania Sandrelli (elder Anna), Valerio Mastroandrea, Claudia Pandolfi... all of them stupendous. And that portrait of the provincial Italy from the 70s till today, so fair, so "dolce-amaro," so filled with love...

I do not want to forget the music, our music... as that of the band "I Richi e i Poveri," who sang the song that was used as title for the movie...

A visit to a past full of nostalgia...

You can watch the trailer by clicking here.

Happy 150th Anniversary, dear Italy!

Finally Paris' Fashion Week is over, the city is back to its normal self and so is the traffic.

I went to see a last runway show and, to tell you the truth, this year I went to quite many... But hey, I'm no Anna Wintour, though.

I was at the presentation of Moncler Gamme Rouge. which is a sophisticated line of jackets and coats designed by Giambattista Valli.

Giambattista Valli is a very talented Italian designer, who's been in Paris for a while (he used to design for Ungaro) and recently opened his own splendid boutique on Rue Boissy d'Anglas, which I visited yesterday.

But back to Moncler's show, I must admit it was the one I enjoyed best. The setting and the mood, at the enormous room on Rue de L'Ecole de Médicine, was impressive: it all worked around four climate phenomenons... Mist, wind (achieved through large fans that blew our hairs around), rain and, finally, snow. The first Moncler jackets were skiing ones... Models, young and beautiful, boys and girls of long untidy hair, walked around the room, holding hands, as if protecting themselves from the severe weather.

Almost a Chejov's setting.

Black jackets, short coats of neon yellow fur, others in orange... and black ensembles with plastic fringes that I found really nice.

As I sped out, I bumped once again into Anna dello Russo, Giovanna Battaglia, Franca Sozzani... and all the fashion journalists I won't be seeing again till the end of September.

Au revoir...

Yves Saint Laurent runway show...

Happy Women's day to you all!!

I wish this to you from the city of Beauty and Fashion. And do so also by the end of a hectic week full of runway shows, vanity and frivolity, which is all part of life, at least of mine...

Yesterday night I went to the runway show of Stephano Pilati's collection for YSL, at the magnificent hotel particulier Salomon Rothschild.

At 7:30 pm, on the corner of Av. Hoche and Rue Faibourg St. Honoré, the traffic was completely jammed... I had to jump out of my car and walk a 100 meters on paving stones with my marvellous Charlotte Olympia shoes (15-cm-tall heels). But I didn't care, the general mood was festive and delirious. About a hundred photographers and bloggers waited by the entrance, dreaming of getting inside. Privilege for a few...

Once inside, we were seated in different rooms, one more elegant than the other. I was seated in the same Anna Wintour was, as usual looking terribly bored... I guess I understand her: after having witness about 50 fashion shows in six days, she looked cheerful only when chatting with Mario Testino, the great photographer, who sat on her right. 

Kanye West, guest star of the show, was also in the room, and he went with his personal bodyguard, who woundn't keep an eye off of him (afraid someone might rob him?).

Also Kristin Scott Thomas, Francois Henry Pinault, President of the Group owning the brand, and many others...

With a half-hour delay, the show finally started... Thirty-eight models, very à la YSL: Prince of Wales suits, boulle-shaped coats and an all-white finale... SUBLIME!! Catsuits, smoking, dresses... white in all its variations. Beautiful show.

The models had all a tight chignon, almost no makeup and pale faces...

I went out running to reach my car and avoid the traffic jam...

Fall-Winter 2011 Runway shows in Paris (Part II)

Fall-Winter 2011 Runway shows in Paris (Part I)

Paris is hot... Infernal traffic, lots of people in shops and no places in restaurants. It's Fashion Week. Twice a year hundreds of buyers, Fashion editors, models and bloggers land in town... Even Lady Gaga was in Paris and modeled for Thierry Mugler. 

On Thursday, at 10 am (weird time for me), at the entrance of the beautiful and historic Hotel Crillon, a crowd of photographers and black limousines was enough proof that something important was about to happen. And so it was: we were all gathered there for Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga's runway show. Nicolas is considered a true artist by the press and his collections generate much expectations. 

The floor of the room, even our seats, were all full covered with white tiles, bathroom-like. Everyone was already there... Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington, Emmanuelle Alt (Vogue Paris' new Editor in Chief) and many French actresses. Balenciaga's owner had the generosity of seating myself in the "front row" and that's very important.

The show was short but intense: thirty-three looks and all models wearing a very original make-up: highlight on the eyebrows, which reminded me of the movie "Blade Runner." Many had their hair bleached, almost white.

Overall a very graphic collection, with some leather, mesh, under-the-knee length skirts, all very original and easy to wear everyday... Without a doubt, a talented collection. Even too much for me, I wouldn't know how to dress like that...

We went to congratulate Nicolas Ghesquière backstage and he was very kind, charming and serene...

No stardom à la Galliano!!

Fall-Winter 2011 Runway shows in Paris...

Invitations to runway shows are starting to arrive...