Posts Tagged: Italy
GIO_GRAPHY: GIOVANNA BATTAGLIA AT BERGDORF GOODMAN
“Being cool is a BORE. Being fun is GLAMORE!” – Giovanna Battaglia
How could you not love someone who lives by this motto and whose favorite colors are Rainbow, Sparkle and Shine, Animalia, Flower, Travel and Print? This is precisely why fashionista, stylist, globetrotter, and icon Giovanna Battaglia Engelbert has such an incredilbly loyal and growing following. Her joie de vivre and fearless fashion choices exemplify her refreshing attitude of not taking herself too seriously and savoring every moment. Giovanna took NYC by storm this week revealing her incredible windows at Bergdorf Goodman along with her book debut and pop up shop. These may be the best Bergdorf windows yet! Her book Gio_Graphy chronicles her fun in the wild world of fashion. The pop-up shop includes her collaborations brilliantly curated mix of new and established Italian designers with some of her own creations.
INSPIRATIONAL ICON: PEGGY GUGGENHEIM (PART 2)
“I look back on my life with great joy. I think it was a very successful life. I always did what I wanted and never cared what anyone thought. Women’s lib? I was a liberated woman long before there was a name for it.” -Peggy Guggenheim
In looking for images of Peggy Guggenheim, I came across this entertaining article about the “Mistress of Modernism.” Click HERE to read Part 1 of my homage to my favorite art addict and to see her amazing art collection.
INSPIRATIONAL ICON: PEGGY GUGGENHEIM (PART 1)
“I dedicated myself to my collection. I made it my life’s work. I am not an art collector. I am a museum.”-Peggy Guggenheim
Channeling our inner Peggy with Billy Ceglia and Amanda Reynal
Ever since I read Confessions of an Art Addict on my honeymoon nearly 20 years ago, I have been fascinated with the American heiress Peggy Guggenheim. Peggy was a former wife of artist Max Ernst and the niece of the mining magnate, Solomon R. Guggenheim. She collected artworks mostly between 1938 and 1946, buying works in Europe as World War II began, and later in America, where she discovered the talent of Jackson Pollock, among others. In addition to being one of modern art’s biggest patrons, she was also quite the character surrounding herself with the greatest minds and talents of the 20th century.
FASHIONISTA: LA DOUBLE J IN MILAN
One of favorite visits during Milan Design Week was the showroom of La Double J, founded by fashion and design editor, stylist, and journalist JJ Martin in 2015. Before we arrived, Instagram was buzzing with her newly launched tabletop collection in addition to her amazing vintage finds and sought after La Double J Editions clothing line. Known as a creative force, JJ has perfectly merged the worlds of fashion and design with her collections. The new clothing made from vintage prints debuted with 8 historic prints hand-picked from Mantero Seta, a 114 year old silk manufacturer on Lake Como who created silks for Chanel. The line has blossomed into 25 vintage patterns offered in a limited edition program that drops new models and prints every two months.
TRAVEL DIARY: THE GRITTI PALACE IN VENICE
“Live the full life of the mind, exhilarated by new ideas, intoxicated by the romance of the unusual.” – Ernest Hemingway
I am not sure where Ernest Hemingway wrote this, but I would like to think it was on his terrace overlooking the Grand Canal while staying at the legendary Gritti Palace in Venice. We were fortunate enough to stay in this beautiful palace on our recent trip to Venice with the Rubelli Group who had supplied many of the fabrics for the restoration overseen by Donghia’s creative director Chuck Chewning in 2013. My pictures and words did not do this masterpiece justice so I found these wonderful articles from Architectural Digest detailing the process. My own candids follow at the end.
THE MAJESTY OF ITALIAN MANUFACTURING WITH RUBELLI AND DONGHIA
“I’ll tell you a Venetian story spanning two centuries. Five generations, six brands, five continents: our history, yesterday, today and tomorrow.” – Alessandro Favaretto Rubelli
View from The Gritti Palace, Venice
There is nothing better than experiencing a culture through the eyes of locals. I just returned from an incredible journey with the Rubelli family discovering the majesty of Italian manufacturing seeing their showrooms, mills, projects and archives from Milan to Venice. In between our tours looking at Italian textiles, leather, glass, art, and architecture, they graciously treated us to the most incredible meals, fellowship, and education that makes their Venetian heritage so unique. The Rubelli passion, generosity and hospitality were beyond extraordinary.