Milano: Men's S/S 2009 - EMPORIO ARMANI

photograph courtesy Armani press

Emporio Armani Menswear Spring/Summer 2009 - a statement. A “tattoo” of the Emporio Armani eagle logo is stamped on incredibility fit bare torso.

Seen at the Emporio Armani show. Giorgio Armani poses with handsome British actor, Ben Barnes. Ben has appeared in the film Chronicles of Narnia and in Stardust directed by Matthew Vaughan. In the film The Portrait of Dorian Grey, at present in post-production, he plays the part of the eponymous hero.

Seen at the Emporio Armani show. Actor, Josh Hartnett, the new face of the Emporio Armani Diamonds advertising campaign. He is currently working on his latest film Bunraku. The Black Dahlia directed by Brian de Palma and Black Hawk Down are among his most celebrated performances.

The front row - a "stolen" photo of the front row. Gianluca Passi, Roberta Armani, Josh Hartnett, Federica Pellegrini, Ben Barnes, Francesco Facchinetti and Miguel Angel Silvestre.

Contessanally tip: click on photo to enlarge it.

photograph courtesy Armani press

Emporio Armani Menswear Spring/Summer 2009. The genetic code of this Emporio Armani collection is revealed in a palette of shades ranging from stormy hues of grey to dark variations of navy blue, possessing the plain austerity of uniforms. A mental horizon focused on the city, an atmosphere of Nordic Europe, where the contemporary meets the future, the silhouette is more streamlined, more dynamic.

Seen at the Emporio Armani show. Miguel Angel Silvestre. The Spanish actor has just finished working on two new films that will be released in 2009 The Trick in the Sheet and Reflections.

photograph courtesy Armani press

Seen at the Emporio Armani show. Australian footballer whos plays for Everton and for the Australian national team, Tim Cahill.

photograph courtesy Armani press

Seen at the Emporio Armani show. Singer TV presenter and voice of radio RTL 102.5, Francesco Facchinetti and Singer finalist in the Italian edition of X-Factor, Giusy Ferreri.

photograph courtesy Armani press

Seen at the Emporio Armani show. Giorgio Armani greets Bobby Shriver and his family. Mr. Shriver is the co-founder of (Product) Red together with Bono.

photograph courtesy Armani press

Emporio Armani Menswear Spring/Summer 2009. Reinforcing the mood of urban restraint, the sportswear foregoes the excessively techno look instead giving way to lightness and a predilection for defined shape, combining parkas and mini-trenches with drawstring Bermudas.

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Milano - ART

The sculptures of Robert Indiana in the streets of Milan. In front of the famous Milan opera house, La Scala is one of Robert Indiana’s tri-dimensional sculptures; Amor. The sculptures are billed as an antipasto for the Robert Indiana exhibition at the PAC, Padiglione di Arte Contemporanea, from July 4th to September 14th.

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Milano: Men's S/S 2009 - GIANFRANCO FERRE

Gianfranco Ferre Men’s Spring/Summer 2009 Collection. I’m sure that architetto Gianfranco Ferre would have been very happy with this impressive architectural stage set. The simple yet modern design is the perfect stage for the Gianfranco Ferre Men’s Spring/Summer 2009 Collection.

Gianfranco Ferre Men’s Spring/Summer 2009 Collection. A Collection ranging beyond fashion to capture the confident ease of a man familiar with the language of style, who plays expertly with it’s endless variations and new codes. The collection is all about research and discovery, where luxury is firstly the luxury of knowing and understanding.

Seen at Gianfranco Ferre. e-look magazine’s editor and chief, Fabiana Giacomotti and Gianfranco Ferre’s glamorous CEO, Michela Piva. The neo magazine, e-look is the first free press magazine which is printed in 245.000 copies and is distributed in 2.280 selected points in northern Italy. The ladies magazine is also “double faced” on one side, national and urban news, turn it over for the fashion/beauty and lifestyle section which is also closely connected to their Internet website - www.e-look.it.

Gianfranco Ferre – a detail. Research is visible in the unusual new pinstripes. The jackets are cut smoothly, in natural sync with the body.

Seen at Gianfranco Ferre. Corriere della Sera’s Style Magazine editor in chief, Carlo Montanaro. Carlo appreciates fine workmanship. He has been having his jackets and suits made since he was five years old. “I remember my first Jacket which was made from a leftover piece of tweed from one of my father’s jackets.” He told me. Like grandfather and father, his five-year-old son Giorgio has just had a blazer custom made. He is certainly getting onto the right track.

Gianfranco Ferre – a detail. Gianfranco Ferre was famous for his white shirts and this men’s shirt is just detailed enough for it to be special and masculine at the same time.

Seen outside Gianfranco Ferre. The Satorialist, Scott Schuman looked nice and cool in his Bermudas in the 35-degree sweltering heat. To ‘formalize’ his outfit a cotton tartan navy jacket with a pocket hanky set off the tone.

Seen outside Gianfranco Ferre. A bicycle belonging to the Milan local police, which is going GREEN. Hats off to the Municipal Police, it is such a great initiative and good exercise too.

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Milano: Men's S/S 2009 - MISSONI

Backstage at Missoni. Mother and daughter, Angela and Margherita Missoni pose for a photo backstage at the Missoni Men’s Spring/Summer 2009 fashion show. Angela designs both the men’s and the women's Missoni collections.

Backstage – a detail. This rose gold bracelet on a silk cord, with thirty small diamonds, was conceived by Margherita Missoni to help an Orphan in Africa (OrphanAid Africa). It was designed by jewelry designer, Ileana Makri and launched by Margherita at the Cannes Film Festival.

Backstage. A group of handsome and young male models are waiting to rehearse the catwalk run-through before the Missoni Men’s Spring/Summer 2009 fashion show.

Backstage. Canadian model, Mat G. is sharing his ipod with German model, Julian, while they hang out backstage before the show, they are listening to Luniz “I got five on it”.

Backstage – the hair. Gugliemo of Paul Homlon blow-dries Travis Davenport’s hair.

Backstage – the make-up. Chief make-up artist, Hannah Murray designed the make-up for the Missoni Men’s 2009 Spring/Summer collection, photographed here with Sean. “The make-up is simple, minimal, fresh with lovely skin. A healthy look with lots of moisturizer.” She explained.

Backstage – a detail. A Detail of the men’s make-up table.

Backstage. Toms keeps his hair from sweating onto his forehead in the over 35 degrees heat with a Kleenex and bobby pins.

Teresa Missoni, Suzy Menkes and Rosita Missoni enjoy a little chat before the show.

Backstage. Tai Missoni the day before the Missoni show won two more gold medals for his vast collection, becoming the Over 85 Italian Champion in athletics in Bressanone.

Backstage. Bruno Ragazzi and his daughter, Marina.

Backstage. Austrian male model, Philipp is engrossed in Paulo Coehlo’s Eleven Minutes. “I love modeling, it’s amazing, it’s cool, the traveling allows me to see so many cities and I enjoy the shootings too.” He told me.

The Press. Italian G.Q.’s, Andrea Tenerani, Vogue Italia’s Anna Piaggi and Giovanni Scialpi.

A Detail. A detail of one of Anna’s notorious outfits. Trousers and beauty case by Dolce and Gabbana, day-glo rubber cut-off rubber gloves, sneakers by Corso Como 10 and a child’s cobalt blue walking stick.

The Catwalk. The Missoni Men’s Spring/Summer 2009 collection is ”…funny, ironic, precious, kind, meticulous, hand-made, artisan and free, evokes Alain Delon in “The Pool”, all creatures of Saint Tropez and all the other coasts of the Mediterranean.”

Missoni. Press and buyers were lucky to find a free Missoni Home cushion for a seat at the Missoni Men’s Spring/Summer 2009 fashion show at the Museo della Permanente.

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Bolzano: A NEW MUSEUM - for Modern and Contemporary Art

Bolzano: Museion. The new Museion for Modern and Contemporary Art has just opened in Bolzano. The Berlin-based architects, KSV, Kruger Schubert Vandreike, designed the glass and metal cube. The inaugural show, until September, is called Peripheral Vision and Collective Body which brings together a big selection of post World War II works, across disciplines such as, art, film, performance and text. Why not include a visit to the Museion when you do the Manifesta 7 tour.

Manifesta 7. Manifesta 7 (July 19 – November 2) is the European Biennale of Contemorary Art in the Trentino - Alto Adige and the South Tyrolean region of Northern Italy. The Biennale presents 100 days of contemporary art covering 150 km. The locations for the Manifesta 7 exhibitions are in disused industrial spaces like a former tobacco factory or the Alumix aluminum-smelting complex or a former central post office. Works by 188 artists will be presented at the four Manifesta venues, most of which have been created especially for the occasion.


Bolzano: Museion – Maurizio Cattelan. Maurizio Cattelan's Charlie Don’t Surf, 1997, is a sculpture named after a brutal dialogue in the film Apocalypse Now. Charlie is a small boy in a hooded sweatshirt sitting with his back to the viewer at a school desk.

A Detail. A detail of Maurizio Cattelan’s Charlie Don’t Surf, 1997.

Bolzano: Museion – Andy Warhol. Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests, 1964-1966 were filmed in his studio, known as The Factory. Visitors with potential “star” quality would be asked to sit in front of a camera and sit still while the camera was running. Subjects included; Bob Dylan, Salvador Dali, Baby Jane Holzer to name just a few.

Bolzano: Museion – Allora and Calzadilla. The Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla sculpture entitled Sediments and Sentiments, 2007, is the last in a trilogy of works that explores the interplay between militarism and sound in the context of today’s global state of war. Singers emit operatic rap from a tape recorder hidden inside the piece.

photograph by Manfredi Bellati

Bolzano: Museion - the back. The Museion can be reached from the back by foot or by bike across two irregular, free-form curving bridges over the river Talvera. See how the modern building integrates and doesn’t disturb the surrounding buildings.

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Marrakech: interesting people, designers, craftsmens and more...

Marrakech – The Red City. What could be more appropriate as an introduction to my Marrakech: interesting people, designers, craftsmen and more… blog than the instantly recognizable red walls themselves? They are so photogenic and are made from Tabia, a mix of red mud and water from the Hazou plains. This blog is a story about the people I met while I was photographing a shopping guide to Marrakech, which will be written by Susan Simon for the American publisher, The Little Bookroom and due out next spring. The Little Bookroom specializes in the most beautiful guidebooks that go off the beaten path.

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Marrakech: interesting people, designers, craftsmens and more...

Jnane Tamsna. A camel greets you down the rosemary walk leading up to the hotel Jnane Tamsna.

Jnane Tamsna – Meryanne Loum-Martin. Senegalese Born, Paris raised, Meryanne Loum-Martin was formerly a lawyer, now turned designer. She and her husband, the ethno-botanist Gary Martin own the hotel Jnane Tamsna in the Palmeraie area of Marrakech. Meryanne designed and decorated the hotel with her furniture and objects that she created using local craftsmen and artisans. Her style is eclectic and understated Moroccan chic, just like this small cast-iron chair she is sitting on. Meryanne also represents the talented Beligian painter, Philippe Deltour, whose paintings are hung in the hotel. The busy lady also co-authored the book, New Moroccan Style: The Art of Sensual Living.

Jnane Tamsna – a detail. I loved the detail of this curtain especially the mix of fabrics and textures. Meryanne puts together different materials from her travels all over the world.

Jnane Tamsna – the sitting room. The sitting room of the Jnane Tamsna hotel is a showcase for Meryanne’s furniture. Meryanne’s style is eclectic and she works with all the best craftsmen in Morocco using local materials.

Jnane Tamsna – one of the pools. You can see the pool nearly submerged by the palm trees, the flowers and the vegetation. The rosemary bushes creep up to border of the pool and the vegetables and herbs are planted just beyond. There is no hotel garden quite like this in Marrakech.

Jnane Tamsna – the edible garden. Meryanne’s husband, Gary Martin, a well-known ethno-botanist and founder of the Global Diversity Foundation (GDF), created the garden from scratch. The land is one big vegetable garden or edible landscape. He told British House and Garden “I don’t do grass at all.”

Jnane Tamsna – the rooftop. The rooftop of one of the five houses that make up the hotel Jnane Tamsna in the Palmeraie, the oasis area just outside Marrakech. The hotel is owned and was entirely designed by Meryanne Loum-Martin, she is the pioneer of understated Moroccan style.

Note: the Moroccan inspired lantern designed by Meryanne. Pin It

Marrakech: interesting people, designers, craftsmens and more...

Le Tresor Des Normandes or Mustapha Blaoui. Mustapha Blaoui shows off antique pairs of embroidered babouches. He is a gracious host and knows All Marrakech, not only the residents but also who is visiting. It is a ritual for friends and customers to call on Mustapha around five or six o’clock and sip his sweet mint tea and chat in his store.

Le Tresor Des Normandes or Mustapha Blaoui. Unexpectedly, behind studded blank double doors there is this warehouse piled high with the most beautiful objects; candlesticks and lanterns, straw carpets trimmed in leather, frames, brightly colored leather chests, pots, bowls, table and chairs. It’s an Aladdin’s cave, it’s 1001 Nights, it’s ‘magical'.

Le Tresor Des Normandes or Mustapha Blaoui. In the whole store these silver plated metal plastic water bottle holders were my choice.

Le Tresor Des Normandes: 142 Rue Bab Doukkala - tresordesnormandes@hotmail.com Pin It