Thursday, December 4, 2014

CC The World...

I invite you to see "Reincarnation", the film premiered to accompany the collection "Métiers d'Art", presented in Austria. Pharrell Williams as Emperor Franz Joseph I and Cara Delevigne as Empress  Elizabeth, also known as Sisi ("CC"). I hope you enjoy it...

 

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Farewell Oscar de la Renta...

We have lost a great designer and a fabulous person... I'll remember him with supreme admiration. 
May he rest in peace...

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

The iconic Chanel N°5...

This is Chanel N°5's new ad, starring the beautiful Giselle Bündchen and directed by the great Baz Luhrmann... As you already know, it's my perfume...

Thursday, October 2, 2014

My style icons...

Audrey Hepburn
She is, for me, the symbol of innocence, of charme, of joy, and above all, of elegance.
It's true that she had a true magician by her side as Hubert de Givenchy. But she could most probably have been the designer's fairy godmother, because, thanks to her, he was a true genius.
The image of Audrey in New York, early in the morning, window-shopping at Tiffany's, with that black dress, that hairdo (which I've tried to copy a thousand times), eating a croissant, is irresistible. In my primitive imaginary world it remains as an erasable memory.
Audrey Hepburn is the greatest symbol of elegance because all of her segregated kindness... 
Ava Gardner 
She is exactly the opposite to Audrey: voluptuousness vs innocence, wickedness vs kindness, nastiness vs purity.
And, in spite of all that, how not to surrender to the wild elegance of this panther that danced like a gypsy and walked barefoot like a Duchess?
Ava Gardner was, without a doubt, the most beautiful woman in the world and, at the same time, the most self-destructive of all (alcohol, cigarettes, too much passion...).
And that's Ava's style lesson: beauty is fragile...
Jacqueline de Ribes
She is the only one of my muses that I know personally and love, not because of her mythical story, but because of who she is in real life.
Of her I learned (and still do) that class and allure do not depend on the clothes or the jewels. They are the result of a certain moral rigour and loyalty to principles.
Jacqueline was born an aristocrat and she lived thus every second of her life.
Queen of Jet-Set, fashion designer, friend to the arts, patron. In her salons mingled the most glamorous guests on Earth: from Jackie Kennedy to Marlon Brando, from Gianni Agnelli to Luchino Visconti.
From the eternal Gala of her life, she knew how to obtain a simple wisdom, and that's her greatest charm...
Marie Antoinette
Of course she was frivolous. Of course she was reckless when she pretended to be a peasant while the winds of revolution threatened her kingdom...
But, in spite of all this, I've always been interested in this queen, whose truest portrait can be found in  Stefan Zweig's biography and Sofia Coppola's movie.
She summed up the «doucer de vivre» before the Revolution.
Rather than remembering her eccentricities (such as requesting a dozen dresses to her taylor Mme. Bertien, in the middle of social turmoil) or her love affair with Fersen, I prefer to remember her dignity in her final hour... A great lady in the eye of the storm. 
Jane Birkin
If I still carry a fringe (and have never thought of removing it), it's because of Jane Birkin.
I discovered her when I was very young, in the movie «La Piscine» and, since then, I remember her every time I comb my hair (which is several times a day). I also like her accent, deliciously cosmopolitan, her songs with Serge Gainsbourg and I lovingly envy her for giving name to the most beautiful and coveted Hermès' handbag...

Monday, September 29, 2014

My interview to Rosella in Mustique...

Rosella x Patricia
If you could be born again, would you have the same life? 
Absolutely yes.
If you were a color, which one would it be?
Red.
And if you were a city?
London.
A smell?
That of my mother's kitchen…
A piece of art?
"The kiss" by G. Klimt.
Who is your style icon?
I don't have.
Which faults you accept with more indulgence?
Impatience and imperfection.
Is there something you carry with you everyday?
A photo of me and my daughter.
Lack of taste is…?
Excess.
Something you'll never wear?
Breachers.
Which are your favourite brands?
Valentino, Lanvin, Oscar de la renta, Prada, Emilio Pucci.
Would you rather be a man?
No.
Which is your seduction technique?
Following my sixth sense…
Your beauty tip?
My Prussian discipline.
Your secret for staying in shape?
Again, my Prussian discipline.
A gift you'd love to receive?
A surprise…
A secret you'll never confess?
it's a secret so I'll never tell!
Which animal would you like to be?
An eagle.
Who is your hero in fiction?
Ulysses.
And in real life?
My father.
Which would be your greatest pain?
Dying without saying goodbye to my daughter.
Have you fulfilled all the dreams of your childhood?
All of them and many more... 

Monday, September 22, 2014

Hotel Europe...

After having enjoyed "Hotel Europe" (by Bernard-Henri Levy, starring Jacques Weber) at its première in Sarajevo, I saw it again three months later at the Theâtre de l'Atelier, here in París.
I loved it even more, if that's ever possible, and I'm happy for its success.
I heartily recommend it!

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Fundaleu 2014 Gala...

Although I'm already in Paris, here some photos of the Fundaleu 2014 Gala, held last week in Buenos Aires...
Showing my shoes and clutch for the photographer of Hola Magazine...
Fabián Perechodnik invited me to his table. Thank you so much! Here, with his family and our dear Ambassador from Italy!
Back home... really late!

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Monday, August 4, 2014

Style watch: Lanvin...

As you already know, Alber Elbaz's designs are among my favourite... Here, some examples...

Friday, July 4, 2014

Miss Sarajevo...

Last week I've been to Sarajevo, a city I've never visited before, thanks to an invitation of Bernard-Henri Levy, a close friend of mine, a French writer and philosopher, very eclectic and famous for his social and political commitments.
We went for the opening of "Hôtel Europe", a monologue with the amazing actor Jacques Weber.
With that event as an excuse, we decided to spend the entire weekend, together with a charming group of friends and journalists that travelled with us from Paris.
In addition, Saturday 28th was the 100th anniversary of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and his wife, a murder that would later lead to World War I. The city was hectic with the arrival of many presidents, such as Croatia's and Austria's, among others.
Sarajevo suffered a cruel war between 1992 and 1995, sieged and bombarded, with more than 10.000 victims.
Today, trails of that conflict can still be seen everywhere: the walls of many buildings show the impacts of bullets on their facades, as I've seen also in Beirut. But much has been re-built and the city has an undeniable charm.
A bit of modernity, a bit of Mitteleuropa, lots of green.
Bosnia's people want to become part of the European Union and are raising one million signatures for the petition. 
I truly loved the city and the friendly disposition of its people. We went to see the Brazil vs Chile soccer match in a bar downtown (we skipped Vienna's Philharmonic Concert to do so). There were no language barriers: only football as common love.
I don't know if I'll be back one day, but I definitely loved the trip and the entire experience...

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Jet-Set's not-to-be-missed events...!

Prepare your schedules! This is the A-list of annual events...
Miami: Art Basel
It's the place for lovers of contemporary art. Always around the first week of December... Lot's of show-off…

Montecarlo: Bal de la Rose
Around March 20th. With the presence of the Princes of Monaco. Gala dinner: smoking and long gowns.

Cannes: AmfAR's Party
In May and, always, on the Thursday prior to the closing of the Film Festival. Among the guests, many actors, producers and beautiful women. For some time now is held in the mythical Hotel du Cap.

Montecarlo: Gran Premio Fórmula 1
Often during the third Sunday of May (that's THE month to be at the Cote d'Azur). The Monaco race has many ups and downs, short stages and narrow roads. It's the most famous and most "dangerous" of all. Also the most glamorous.

St.Tropez: Les Voiles
It's the name given to the week of regattas, between the end of september and the first week of October. The most amazing ships in the world gather around this charming seaport in the Mediterranean. Visitors come to look, have fun and say farewell to Summer...

Punta del Este:  between December 26th and January 15th
A long time ago, only the inhabitants of the Rio de la Plata spent their vacations at this beach place in Uruguay. Now jet-setters from Milano, Paris and New York, among others, have made it THE place to be.
The Lacoste party, on December 27th at la Huella, opens the season. Although criticised by many,  no one wants to miss it. Fiat's party, on the second Sunday of January, closes the season. In between, many many other public and private events...

New York: in May and in November
The seasons in New York are defined by the great art auctions of Christie’s and Sotheby’s. In those same months, the charity balls and those organised by the most important museums.

Los Ángeles: The Oscars
It's the most followed event in the movie business. Art, fashion, beauty, power... 

Paris: Haute Couture week, in July and January
We used to have lots of runway shows. But now, with the crisis, the week has been reduced to three days only. But during those three days, clients, buyers, fashion editors and consultants, all come to Paris. To see and be seen...

Buenos Aires: the Polo Open in November-December
For Polo lovers this is THE championship to see and places Buenos Aires on the world map of events. The spring weather, the high handicap players and the best horses in the world... Many attractions to justify the trip to the beautiful capital city of Argentina!

Have you got more events to suggest?

Friday, May 30, 2014

Mustique - Fall 2014

Dear readers:
I post here one of the pieces I wrote for the fall issue of Mustique magazine... I hope you like it!
Selfportrait
Patricia della Giovampaola asks and answers about life, art, fashion and beauty... 

If you could be born again, would you have the same life?
The truth? I wouldn't change a thing. But thinking it better, I wouldn't mind if in my (imaginary, of course) life I'd be a rock-star or a ballerina. A Broadway casting, why not?
If you were a color, which one would it be?
It all depends of the time of day...  In the morning, a fuchsia pink. In the afternoon, an emerald green and, at night, the "color of the moon". 
 And if you were a city?
Ideally, I'd like to be Paris: beautiful, calm, elegant... But, in fact, I'm more like New York: nervous, modern, dashing...
A smell?
Many: that of my favorite flowers, tuberoses and roses. That of croissants near the boulangeries Paul, in Paris. That of freshly-cut grass...
An artwork?
Rodin's "Thinking man".
My fashion icon?
Diana Vreeland, unique. My mother, for her oh-so-chic way of dressing and living... "Never go out with no make-up" was her moto.
Which are the faults I accept with more indulgence?
Delays. I understand those who always arrive "a bit" late... Narcissism.
Something I always carry with me?
Some parures, to always see life in pink...
Total lack of taste is…?
Apart from coordinating shoes with bag (horror!), definitely bad breath!!!
Something I'd never wear?
Derby shoes. A red vinyl skirt (in fact, I hate anything vinyl!), polka dots, fakes and copies! 
My favourite labels?
Oscar de la Renta, Prada, Lanvin, Hermès… The list is very long…
Would you have preferred to be born a man?
Impossible. I am the epitome of femininity...  But, in certain circumstances, I would very much like it… for example, when I don't feel like using make-up!
My seduction technique?
A short, sleeve-less, little black dress, as Anouk Aimée's in «La Dolce Vita».
My beauty tactics?
Enhancing my eyes with make-up. Being always «groomed». Impeccable hair.
My secret for staying in shape?
Sleep, sleep, sleep... Having a glass of hot water with lemon juice before breakfast. An immersion bath with Chanel N°5 oil.
A gift I'd love to receive?
One of Elizabeth Taylor's jewels, my idol and a Piscis, like myself.
Which is my shameful secret ?
When I'm alone, I watch «Keeping Up With The Kardashians». I've seen all episodes and I know each member of the family. It's my very guilty pleasure. I do know it's just stupid reality TV, however... Do not tell my boyfriend!
Which animal would you rather be?
A unicornio, because it exists only in fairytales.
Who is my fictional hero?
A bit banal, but definitely Scarlett O’Hara. Spoiled and generous at the same time. A true woman.
And in real life?
Rita Levi Montalcini, Medicine Nobel Prize.
Which one would be your greatest pain?
Losing my memory…
Have you achieved the dreams you had in your teens?
I've achieved them all, but there's new ones coming up all the time...

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Wedding at L'Abbaye de Vaux le Cernay...


In the car, ready for the church. It was a lovely and sunny day...
The bride, stunning, with an Haute Couture Giambattista Valli dress.
In the party, with my friends...
The table, in total-green...
PS: My looks were both by Oscar de la Renta, of past seasons.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

My YES and NO from the Met Gala...

My YES...
Sarah Jessica Parker, by Oscar de la Renta
Charlize Theron, by Dior Haute Couture (and holding hands with Sean Penn...)
Giselle Bündchen, by Balenciaga
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, by Balmain (my favourite)
Johnny Depp (by Ralph Lauren) and his girlfriend Amber Heard, by Giambattista Valli Haute Couture
Beyoncé, by Givenchy Haute Couture (Stunning!)
 My NO...
Kim Kardashian, by Lanvin (those legs look like hams!)
Victoria Beckham, with her own design (boring...)
Naomi Watts, by Givenchy Haute Couture
Monica Belluci, by Dolce & Gabbana (very matronly)
Lupita Nyong'o, by Prada (awful...)
Lily Allen, by Chanel Haute Couture (Also awful..)
And, in general, pretty much everybody else...