Sleeveless, half-way between a poncho and a cloak, it’s one of the trends that designers have been bringing back for two years now: it makes us feel a bit like Lancelot’s Queen Guinevere, and a pinch of Middle Ages won’t do any harm! They are theatrical and mysterious-looking, mostly in dark colors and with matching hoods. To be worn with retro-style outfits and over-the-knee boots, dark lady-inspired. By Issay Miyake and Alberta Ferretti… …
Space missions on Earth. The dress? It’s sparkling: gold, bronze and silver. Strictly by night, either very long or super short, in the disco version. Fabrics are either flowing, slippery and figure-caressing or thick and stiff. By Chanel, Dries Van Noten, Moschino and Jil Sander… …
You will fall in love with the three-quarter-length and maxi dresses! Straight from the New York and London Fashion Week: floral dresses in warm and winter colors or super romantic-looking, in velvet and with feather details. By Valentino, Elie Saab, Christian Dior. The early-twentieth- century style with Art Deco details by Roberto Cavalli is simply beautiful. …
Red or rather scarlet: royal-looking, pure elegance and sensuality, for those who love not going unnoticed. Don’t overdo it: choose soft silhouettes and precious fabrics, which highlight the color’s richness and fullness. The shade verging on purple, Burgundy, is equally beautiful: it’s named after a deep-colored wine and can be worn as easily as black, while being as intense as purple and red. By Chloè, Fendi, Prada and Issay Miyake… …
Rose Noir, on Via dei Ciliani, is an unexpected treasure box: perfumes, costume jewelry, accessories and a beautiful selection of clothing. There is such a fun and colorful assortment of items that you can get lost in the shop for what seems like hours, though guided by Tina, the driving force behind the store. …
Prato City. I love the charm of its intimate historic center, dominated by the Emperor’s Castle with its green and white Carrara marble exterior, and the austere elegance of Palazzo Pretorio. The outskirts are a lively play of opposites: the green hills on one side and the contemporary architecture of the New Pecci Center on the other, at the end of the main road leading to the highway. Prato is also one of Europe’s capitals of textile manufacturing, Italy’s second most important city for the production of clothing textiles and yarns. The finest fabrics used by fashion designers all over the world are designed and produced by Prato’s textile companies. Of course, because of my personal shopper and image consultant job, but also because I really enjoy it, I love shopping in Prato and here are a few tips to welcome you into my world, starting with the Prato city. …
One of the city’s chicest and most elegant shops, opposite the Pecci Center, the newly-renovated contemporary art museum. The owner of the shop, Fabrizio Pedini, chooses both the menswear and womenswear collections, with a preference for sophisticated and offbeat brands. Highly personal, metropolitan-style and differing-from-the-usual fashion. Some brands True Tradition and L’Autrechose! …
Fur, just a pinch, to make all winter outfits warmer: above all, big hats, but also pockets and sleeve cuffs on men’s coats. Never matching, always in different styles and length: earrings split and separate. The only thing they have in common is the maxi size. Always wear a pair of fifties-style, diva-like frames or in the most eccentric shapes and small-sized. The beret is the most fashionable hat, but also Marc Jacob’s eccentric and big-sized, sixties-style headgear does not go unnoticed. Coach, Marc Jacobs for hats; earrings by Dries Van Noten and Dolce & Gabbana; Gucci and Marni frames. …
The raincoat was invented about 100 years ago by Mr. Charles Mackintosh from Glasgow, a chemist, entrepreneur and owner of the Mackintosh factory. I picked a very contemporary version of this cult piece: black-colored, nearly a down jacket with zip closure, to be paired with sporty pants with contrasting bands down the sides by Zara and a cashmere sweater by Zanone. Very French-style accessories, including a Dior-inspired hat. …
The trench-coat goes down the runway again. But in new volumes, shapes and sizes. Super oversized or pared down to the essentials, the perfect autumn coat. Wear it over whatever you like best: leggings, skirts, dresses and pants. With an extra touch: skyrocketing sandals or velvet Mary Janes with woolen socks! By Lanvin and Sportmax… …
Dark-style if the coat is long, in nappa leather and total black. It also comes in the knee-length or patent leather version reminiscent of Blade Runner atmospheres. By Lacoste, Saint Laurent, Marni Versace… …
This outfit looks simple and sophisticated in the colors of autumn. The nude knit is a plain form-fitting crew-neck sweater by Archivio B, the pants are brown and cropped and in corduroy, which was all the rage on Prada’s and Gucci’s runways. The Alberto Biani patchwork coat sports fancy lapels, blue pinstriped inlays and a beautiful animal print pattern matching my Sam Edelman booties. The handbag is by Givenchy. Shopping at Babylon Bus. …
I just spent the morning visiting the Textile Museum to see the exhibition Whimsy and Reason. Elegance in Eighteenth-Century Europe: brocades and majolica ware, chinoiserie and dentelles, a fascinating and sumptuous world, but also very inspiring. My outfit, in fact, comes in a color palette that is very similar to the textiles on show: kick flare tawny port-colored pants by Guardaroba and a ton-sur-ton Maliparmi blouse with a tiny pattern; the contrasting bow gives a fun touch to the classic ensemble. The Lost in me coat, a beautiful men’s-style salt and pepper-patterned coat, sports a tawny port fur collar. Shopping at Rose Noir. …
A few days ago, I received a package from a friend of mine who owns several boutiques of which I am a regular customer. Inside there was a beautiful tapestry jacket that he himself designed for his Babylon Bus shop. I simply adore it and I selected a few pieces that I think will best enhance it: cropped pants and contrasting burgundy-red sweatshirt and the chicest pumps that leave the foot almost completely visible. …
This look I picked out for a Sunday with my family is an explosion of colors. A plain wool and angora sweater by Alysi in different shades of purple and a flawless raw-cut jacket in a brighter and livelier purple tone over a beautifully floral-patterned divided skirt reminiscent of the Danish Marimekko patterns of the nineties, but in a more conceptual version. To add a bold touch, the faux fur handbag by Paul Smith and yellow Sebastian shoes. …