Postcards from Corsica...

Congratulations...

... to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their first son! And to the British people, for their new heir to the throne!

The style of New York women...

Dear readers,

Here we post the last piece I wrote for Why Not Magazine, so you can read it with no inconveniences and without having to enlarge the image we published in the Press section. We hope you like it!

I've always loved to see how New York women get fixed and dressed.

In spite of being basically practical, they do not neglect their personal style. They may go walking to work in sneakers, but they hide their heels to use in the office in a convenient bag.

They also go to the hair salon a couple of times a week (this is why it's possible to find salons that open early in the morning and close late in the evening, with moderate pricing). And they never forget a good manicure, thanks to the many "nail centers" spread around town, where a never-ending number of Asian girls work non stop, even on Sundays and holidays.

Most Newyorkers work hard and take conscious care in a personal style to pair their job. Buying clothes is not only a pleasure but almost "mandatory."

In some cities, trends are born in the streets. New York is definitely one of them.

Walking around this cosmopolitan city is a chance to be witness of how runway fashion hits the stores and from there it gets adopted and adapted to personal style. This process is totally natural.

When I go to Barney's or Bergdorf, I always love watching the elegant newyorkers carrying the lastest Louboutins or Manolos (shoes are their obsession) and Chanel jackets, but not with jeans, as Parisian women, but with tailored skirts or pants.

At noon, the famous "ladies who lunch" make up for their fame and seeing them at Cipriani on Fifth Ave. is a pleasure for the eyes of the fashionistas. Their elegance is a mixture of American classicism  with French design and a touch of Italian fantasy.

But the place to truly see the Newyorkers at large is at the famous benefit Galas or Dinners, which are a trademark of New York's social life.

While in Paris I never know for sure the "dress code" of a party or dinner (in fact, I have decided to invent my own), in Manhattan long party dresses are a beautiful obligation. And those events are the pinnacle of the great designers, such as Oscar de la Renta (the King of the Party Dress), Carolina Herrera, Monique L'Huillier, Rem Accra or Bagdley Mischka.

Jewels are the accessory that define the status of the bearer and, above all, that of her husband. 

Since "Sex & the City," the eyes of the world have been fixed on New York. Like a giant theatre, passers-by are always alert to what others are wearing and they never miss the chance to compliment with a "nice outfit," "what a beautiful dress" or "I like your coat."

That's New York!

Photo credits: Cristian Mitrani

Robe Emilio Pucci S/S 2013...

As you can tell, this Peter Dundas for Pucci dress charmed many...

Many thanks, as usual, to Tumanas Blog Style for the collages.

16, Rue Louis Vuitton en Asnières...

With great joy I received an invitation from Ricardo Reyes and Tikka de Kapurthala to lunch at Asnières, in the antique "Maison Vuitton."

I met Ricardo in Buenos Aires when he was in charge of the Vuitton local store, but then he left for Paris. I stopped seeing him for a while when he moved to Milano. He is now back in París, still working for L. Vuitton.

The Maison Vuitton, a jewel from the Art Noveau era, has been since 1859 the workshop for the famous pieces of luggage and special orders. Nowadays, Patrick-Louis Vuitton, fifth generation, runs the place.

The lunch was held in honor of the last heir of the Maharaja of Baroda, Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, his mother Shubhangini Devi and his wife, all of them visiting from India.

The Maharajas of Baroda have been loyal customers of the Maison Vuitton for more than a century and incredible special pieces were created for them.

I've never been to India and it is my dream to go sometime and meet that culture, so different from mine but with which I have many points in common: yoga and ayurveda, among others.

It's been a great honor to meet them and I promise to pay a visit next year, at least to Rajasthan!

Thank you very much Vuitton...

Postcards from St. Tropez...

Gaultier's Haute Couture F/W 2013-14 runway show...

As usual, I went to see the runway show of Gaultier's Haute Couture Collection and I was not let down... Simply, a dream come true. Fantasy, colour, technique, the best of fabrics, original hair styling... Everything was incredible.

Nothing to be used in real life, though. And this is being said by someone how has quite an "unreal" life. Even I wouldn't know how to wear those dresses.

But Gaultier produces dreams and we are all happy to fill our eyes with his stars.
This is why fashion exists and, above all, Haute Couture. And for all this we have Paris... 

Thank you...

... Ana and Abraao, from Vogue Brazil.

Le Couturier des Reines...

I had the pleasure of meeting Edouard Vermeuelen thanks to my French best friend. And I must say he is an excellent "couturier" and a very charming handsome man. He is from Belgium.

He has been designing for years for Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium and, of course, for our beloved Queen Maxima, together with many other society ladies. His style is classic and simple.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Maison, Natan, and knowing we are in the middle of the Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris, he presented his Fall-Winter 2013/2014 collection, at the Embassy of Belgium. 

A crowded audience of many elegant women...

I found the collection extremely elegant and classic, with looks in beige for the day... 

 And black and copper for the night... 

Looks for Queens and Princesses, with exquisite finish.

In the photo, Edouard and Madame Chirac, who is congratulating him in front of the press from France and Blegium.

A nice shoe in the middle of the hectic fashion week!

Les Aventures de la Vérité (Part II)

As I've promised, let me tell you about this adventure that BHL (Bernard-Henri Levy), extremely famous French philosopher, wrapped up this Friday with the opening of the exhibition at St. Paul de Vence.

To understand properly, we must go back in time 40 years and meet André Malraux, minister of Culture of the time. In that same place (the Fondation Maeght), he wanted to coordinate an art exhibition with masterpieces from all over the world, where the painting would "converse" between them... That's how the Musée Imaginaire de Malraux was born.

Many decades later, BHL, following a unique philosophical link, made of different sequences (La Fatalité des Ombres, La Voie Royale, Le Tombeau de la Filosophie, etc.), gathered, in a two-year work, 130 masterpieces. Of course, you can imagine his many difficulties: asking the Museums and private collectors to lend the paintings, taking insurances, etc.

But he made it. And also published a book-diary of those two years of work, which is also the catalog of the exhibition, with BHL's commentaries on every work of art.

I walked the exhibition twice, because I could not exhaust myself of filling my eyes with such incredible art.

I loved most of them, I might say an 80% of the works.

Of course, Basquat, Bronzino, Anselm Kiefer, Frank Stella, Yves Klein... The shocking composition of Dines and Jake Chapman, which were breathtaking. The Picabia (two)... Contemporary Art, Modern Art, Art from the 16th, 17th, 18th Centuries... Art, at last.

The exhibit will be open till November 11th.

Simply marvellous.