THEIR "CANDY" STORE

WISHFUL THINKING
there is always hope

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FASHION FOOD AND FLOWERS

Emilio Pucci Autum/Winter 2008/2009 Collection. Designer, Matthew Williamson re-imagined Emilio Pucci’s simple, minimalist cuts in a rounded silhouette for Pucci’s fall/Winter collection. Sculptured sleeves emphasize roundness to cocoon felted wool and angora coats. Skirts and dresses take on curved, egg-shape forms.

The designer: Matthew Williamson poses fora photo shot with Arabela. He has been creative director of Emilio Pucci since 2006.

Matthew’s favorite restaurant in Milan: Il Solferino.
Matthew’s favorite restaurant in London: Odette’s.

Detail. The back of the jacket. Emilio Pucci’s passion for the slopes transpires in sporty outerwear including quilted silk printed jackets and hooded wool parka with inserts of printed nylon.

The Accessories. Day-glow and bronze boots, orange tights, shocking-pink necklace and a very Emilio Pucci print clutch evening bag, sit on the floor, under the clothes rack ready to be worn on the runway.

The international PR. Karla Otto is the hottest PR on both continents; she has a waiting list of clients. All her events are guaranteed successes.

Karla’s favorite flower: Purple and blue delphiniums.

The image director. Emilio’s daughter Laudomia Pucci, just came back from China “We where running around China trying to understand when to open a store there.” She told me.

Laudomia’s favorite restaurant in Beijing: Lan ‘It’s designed by Philippe Starck, it’s fake empire style and the Chinese food and service are very good.”

The editor and the CEO. International Herald Tribune’s talented fashion journalist, Suzy Menkes talks to Emilio Pucci’s CEO Delphine Arnault. With deadlines Suzy doesn’t have time to eat when she is on the fashion circuit.

Delphine’s favorite restaurant in Milan: Il Baretto.
Delphine’s favorite flower: Orchid.

The Designer. Carla Fendi attended the Emilio Pucci show.

Carla’s favorite restaurant in Rome: Al Molo.

The dot commer. Natalie Massenet, founder and chairman of net-a-porter.com, the first global Internet luxury fashion retailer.

Natalie’s favorite restaurant in Milan: Contro Vapore.

The Marchesa. Cristina Pucci just flew in from New York.

Cristina’s favorite restaurant in New York: Le Cirque “I love the desserts.” She said.
Cristina's favorite restaurant in Florence: Camillo.

The editor. One of my favorite magazines is Vogue Living and I am very fond of its elegant editor in chief, Hamish Bowles and am also crazy for his latest book, Vogue Living Houses, Gardens, People published by Knopf .

Hamish’s favorite restaurant in Milan: Da Giacomo.
Hamish’s favorite flowers: Tuberoses.

The shoes. Roberta Polato Rossi of Rossi Moda, makes the shoes and the boots for Pucci. Rossi Moda also makes shoes for Givenchy, Lacroix and Kenzo.

Roberta’s favorite restaurant in Venice: Harry’s Bar.
Roberta’s favorite restaurant in New York: Bond Sushi Bar

Refreshments. Not surprisingly the Moet et Chandon champagne flowed after the show. Like Emilio Pucci, Moet is owned by LVMH, the world’s leading luxury goods conglomerate.

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FASHION FOOD AND FLOWERS

Food: Pane e Acqua – restaurant. Rossana Orlandi sits with her chef Francesco Passalacqua at a table in her restaurant, Pane e Acqua, which is adjacent to her concept store. “I wanted to recreate a relaxing atmosphere, a gathering spot like I have in the Spazio, next door.” She explained. Whilst the handsome chef uses only “Meat from Piedmont, fish from the Mediterranean cooked with minimal “processing” to exalt the tastes.”

Food – Pane e Acqua. Rossana Orlandi’s Pane e Acqua restaurant, next to her concept store, was designed by architect, Paola Navone. Very cleverly, Navone has mixed styles and periods, mix matching contemporary and vintage furniture, giving the space a cozy atmosphere. I loved the details; the menus are hidden inside best sellers. The central heating downstairs is a coil of stainless steel hose and hangs on a hook. The floors are a patchwork of old cement tiles, the hand basin resembles a flan case and the multicolored coffee cups sit in full view on top of the espresso machine.

Food – detail. The candle-holders at Pane e Acqua were especially designed, using forks, by young Dutch designer Sander Lucas.

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FASHION FOOD AND FLOWERS

Spazio Rosanna Orlandi - table settings # 1: For a picnic or for a party, how about this baroque disposable colorful plastic cutlery set, entitled Deluxe and designed by Donata Paruccini and Fabio Bortolani for Pandora Design. They are sitting in an antique Tuscan cast iron urn in Rossana Orlandi’s captivating courtyard. Also in the picture two armchairs made out of African fishing wire, designed and made by Dominique Petot in Senegal. Though, if you can’t make Rossana Orlandi’s concept store in Milan, you can buy the cutlery at the Moma store in New York.

Table settings # 2: Renew your plain white boring tableware with this modern ceramic set created by the Dutch designer, Piet Hein Eek. Piet is better know for his furniture made out of scrap wood, like this table on which the ceramics are sitting.

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FASHION FOOD AND FLOWERS

Flowers – Radaelli. Radaelli is the most traditional florist in Milan. If you want to do “bella figura” this is the place to go. It is conveniently situated in front of the Grand Hotel et de Milan on Via Manzoni. And, look what they have in the window, Lily of the Valley and Sweet Peas.

Contessanally’s favorite flowers: Sweet Peas.

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FASHION FOOD AND FLOWhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifERS

Fashion: The Fiera – Luisa Beccaria. Luisa Beccaria came out onto the runway at the end of her Autunm/Winter 2008/2009 Collection with her daughter Lucilla, whois working with her. Mother and daughter looked radiant and chic after a beautiful collection.

Luisa’s favorite restaurante: La Torre di Pisa.
Lucilla’s favorite food: “Pasta alla Norma, because it’s Sicilian, like I am.” She explained.

The models # 1. It was the first time that Luisa Beccaria showed at the Fiera. As always her beautifully made, almost couture collection, was romantic and elegant.

The models # 2. Luisa Beccaria’s daughter Luna, opened and closed the runway show, modeling Luisa’s successful children’s clothes collection.

Luna’s favorite food: Home made gnocchi with butter.

Family. Luisa Beccaria’s husband, Lucio Bonaccorsi di Reburdone and son Lucchino smile with family friend, art critic and author, Ralph Toledano.

Lucio’s favorite restaurant: La Torre di Pisa.
Ralph’s favorite restaurant: La Latteria di San Marco.
Lucchino’s favorite food: Gnocchi, lasagne and spaghetti. Pin It

FASHION FOOD AND FLOWERS

Fashion: Palazzo Visconti – Maliparmi. L’Amoire (The wardrobe), is the name of the new Malparmi Autumn/Winter Collection 2008/2009, presented in a surprising and evocative setting. Guests are drawn into the grand eighteenth century Milanese Palazzo Visconti with frescoed ceilings only to discover an enchanted wood inside, conceived by set designers, Beatrice Rossetti and Elena Caponi. A winding path takes you to five separate wardrobes each one defining a type of woman, her way of being, her personality, and her objects of desire. A moment of her day.

The spokesmodel for Maliparmi. The face of the Maliparmi Spring/Summer advertising campaign is the emerging Italian actress, Ana Caterina Morariu seen here with her agent, Francesca Antinori. Ana’s debut on the international big screen, was a cameo role in the film Ocean’s Twelve, directed by Steven Soderbergh.

Flowers - detail. A detail of the glass-cases of Palazzo Visconti, which were filled with daffodils, hyacinths and moss. You can just glimpse through the door, the enchanted wood created in the grand salone, where the Maliparmi collection was presented.

The DJ – Kleopatra Jones. Elegant DJ, Juliana Osei, alias, Kleopatra Jones, who plays 360 degrees of funky and erotica music, takes her artistic name from the black actress and model, Tamara Dobson, who stared as the super agent in the film Cleopatra Jones. It was because of her 6’2 agile frame, striking dark brown face, and ultra glam 70s wardrobe complete with animal print furs, turbans, wide brimmed hats and silk pantsuits that made Dobson a super heroine and a cultural icon of the ‘70s new woman that inspired Juliana to take on the name.

Food – Pantagruel Banqueting. The catering for the Maliparmi all day event was done by Pantagruel Banqueting. They are known for their Mediterranean style food, using fresh good quality ingredients. Pantagruel caters to most fashion houses, design companies, as well as, private clients. Look at these divine looking and delicious tasting “Millefoglie” salads, created especially for Maliparmi.

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FASHION FOOD AND FLOWERS

Fashion – Prada. Miuccia Prada always surprises us with her shows. See through lace was the theme for the Prada Autumn/Winter 2008/2009 Collection, but it was not used in the traditional sense of childhood, marriage or being a widow, but more in an austere sexual way. As Suzy Menkes wrote in the International Herald Tribune, the show was “…above all, inspiring and intensely Prada in a mix of the prim and the perverse.”

The VIP photographer and the editor in chief. Photographer, Mario Testino and French Vogue’s trendy editor in chief Carine Roitfeld chat backstage after the Prada show.

Mario’s favorite restaurant in Milano. “I would love to open a chain of Maria and Arturo’s La Latteria di San Marco restaurant’s all over the world. “ he said. Whilst, Carine, stated “I don’t have time to eat in Milan.”

The international stylist. Mick Jagger’s girlfriend, international stylist, L’Wren Scott. She designed the 1,399-carat diamond necklace that Nicole Kidman wore to the Oscar’s.

L’Wren’s favorite restaurant in Milan. Da Giacomo

The VIP concept stor owner. 10 Corso Como’s, Carla Sozzani elegantly arrives at the Prada show.

Carla’s favorite Restaurant in Milan. Antica Trattoria della Pesa.

The PR and the Artist. Prada’s Pr, Verde Visconti gets a hug from ”the naughty boy” of Italian art, Francesco Vezzoli.

Francesco’s favorite food: My grandmother’s Tortellini in broth.

Food - nibbles. Prada always serves some delicious nibbles with champagne backstage after the second show. Above, some Cacciacavallo cheese and pea mini sandwiches served on a slick Alessi black tray. It is food consultant and caterer, Corrado Calza who looks after all the Prada refreshments. He also consults with Gucci and Burberry.

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FASHION FOOD AND FLOWERS

Fashion: Museo di Storia Contemporanea – Christian Weber. For his Collection No. 3, entitled, Hollywood: City of Broken Dream, Christian Weber, found inspiration in the L.A. of the 1940’s and was especially influenced by the firm characters and ambiguous charms of American film director, Maya Deren and Marlene Dietrich. The collection pivots on opposing shapes: shrunk and wide, soft and clean-cut, - yet opposites blend as the faces of the same image. The shirts are matched with a thin black tie with Marlene’s famous statement “Glamour is what I sell, it’s my stock in trade.” which is also the common denominator of the whole collection.

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FASHION FOOD AND FLOWERS

Fashion, food and flowers. – Caterina Zangrando. Treviso based, jet-setter, jewelry designer, Caterina Zangrando, showed her latest collection at the Four Seasons Hotel. Better known for her playful Disney characters and toy inspired pieces, Caterina’s new hand embroidered collection is all about flowers “With my new gypsy folk flower bibs, I want to prolong summer into winter.” She explained. The showroom was “dressed” with garden furniture and fresh flowers, which gave out a heavenly scent. Collectors of Caterina’s bijoux are Kate Moss, Lizzy Jagger, Monica Bellucci and Scarlet Johanson.

Food – the refreshments. True to her Veneto heritage and her playful spirit, Caterina offers her clients Arrigo Cipriani's Bellini in pink cups, her favorite color, as well as, fantasy home-make cupcakes topped with swirls of colored meringue.

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FASHION FOOD AND FLOWERS

L’Oro dei Farlocchi. – “Fashion”. On my way home, I stopped to see my friend, Maurizio Epifani, a man of good taste with a little bit of kitsch, as Diana Vreeland said “A little bit of bad taste is needed sometimes, it’s NO taste that’s truly revolting.” His antique shop of unusual objects, L’Oro dei Farlocchi, in on another planet, it is out of this world. This Louis XIV original armchair is dressed with an antique silk kimono. Devine.

L’Oro dei farlocchi - “Food”. They do look appetizing, but these Japanese dummy dishes of food are made of plastic.

L’Oro dei farlocchi – Table settings. Why not dress the table with this outrageous surrealist bronze cutlery set designed by Parisian decorative artists, Claude and Francois-Xavier Lalanne?

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FASHION FOOD AND FLOWERS

The Gianfranco Ferre Autumn/Winter 2008/2009 Collection. Huge panels, reproductions of Gianfranco Ferre’s original sketches, serve as backdrops to the U shaped runway for the Gianfranco Ferre Autumn/Winter 2008/2009. How I miss him.

The runway at the Gianfranco Ferre show. A model on the runway evokes memories of Gianfranco Ferre.


Backstage at Ferre – accessories. A tray of bright silk cravats. Very Gianfranco Ferre.


At the Gianfranco Ferre show. American Vogue’s editor in chief Anna Wintour is being interviewed for RAI Tre news.
Anna’s favorite restaurant. Her hotel, The Four Seasons.

At the Gianfranco Ferre show. Vogue Italia’s editor in chief Franca Sozzani and fashion icon Anna Piaggi.

Franca’s favorite restaurant in Milan. Ristorante Da Giacomo.
Anna’s favorite restaurant in Milan. Il Baretto.


At the Gianfranco Ferre show. Italian TV personality Elenoire Casalegno shares a joke with Italy’s Patrick McMullen, Stefano Guindani who owns the largest photography agency in Milan.

Elenoire’s favorite restaurants. Le Calandre near Padova. Ristorante dal Pescatore, near Mantova. Ristorante Miramonti near Brescia. Don Alfonso near Napoli.

At the Gianfranco Ferre show. Gianfranco Ferre’s neo external art director, responsible for overseeing the brand’s identity, Fabien Baron sits next to Ferre’ CEO, Michela Piva.

Fabien’s favorite restaurants in Milan. La Torre di Pisa and Alla cucina delle Langhe.

At the Gianfranco Ferre show. Italian actress, Rosalinda Celentano, who received international attention for her portrayal of Satan in the movie The Passion of Christ chat’s with actress Anita Caprioli whose latest film, The Demon of Saint Petersburg directed by Giuliano Montaldo is due out in April.

Rosalinda’s favorite food. “Just like children, I love cotolette, mashed potatoes and French fries.” she confessed.

Backstage at Ferre. It’s tea time for Magdalena, she told me “My driver usually brings my food to the shows.”

Backstage at Ferre. The mood board is always a source of inspiration.

Backstage at Ferre. Freja sips green tea.

Backstage at Ferre – accessories. Note the beige patent leather clutch bag and all the rings. In the foreground, a refined version of knuckle-dusters.

Backstage at Ferre. The checklist, tells you which model has been through with hair and make-up.

Backstage at Ferre – make-up. The make-up for the Ferre Autumn/Winter 2008/2009 collection was created by Linda Cantello for Mac. Linda works between Paris and New York. “I have created an extremely natural and chic mood. It’s the Epiphany of Ferre.” She explained. Cantello’s influence in the make-up world has a broad and impressive reach. Her make-up regularly appears in all the major international fashion publications.

Backstage at Ferre. Mac’s senior make-up artist Liz is applying foundation to Olga, who comes from Russia.
Food. Olga usually brings fruit, nuts, chocolate and water to work in her bag.

Backstage at Ferre. A models “rations” sit on the make-up table.

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