Junefinnigan's Weblog

Welcome and Benvenuti to all my Lovely Followers around the World,

Yes, it has been Milan fashion week and as my man and I enjoy coffee in our local village of Fiano, the papers & magazines we are reading, are full of it.  As you know I love clothes, but this year I am even more convinced that ninety percent of designers are on speed.  The bulk of the designs are any old bits of mismatched stuff, draped over or stuck to miserable looking models desperately trying to hide their embarrassment.  Basically, the outfits are unwearable.  I will not give up on the belief that it is possible to buy wearable clothes and still be fashionable.  Now, as many of you know, I am a bit of a rock chick, so I am keen on black.  However, I also love Autumn colours, so I have included an Etro picture, which is a compromise and also satisfies the gypsy in me.  The models at least look at ease, despite the fact they are not quite smiling.  Now, I took it upon myself, to go onto Etro’s website and I was impressed.   To see a video of the whole range, mostly stunning, despite the long faces and presented in Milan, go to Website

Another of my loves is chunky Jewellery.  To go with your autumn wardrobe, this lovely design by Angela Caputi is right up my street.  You can visit her site at Website

OK, now you are decked out in beautiful autumn clothes and jewellery why not pop down to a local bar for an Autumn cocktail.  Now here’s a great idea, fresh strawberry juice with Prosecco and topped with whipped cream and blueberries!  Mmmmm.  Foto La Repubblica Mag.

And, so to one of our favourite restaurants, Osteria La Gramola in Tavernelle, where yesterday’s menu included Spaghetti con pesto di Barbabietole Rosse e Mandorle, that’s spaghetti with Red Beetroot & Almond Pesto to you and me.  Foto J Finnigan.  It was a flavour so exquisite I scoffed the lot, despite having had a filling antipasto beforehand!  Visit La Gramola at Website

Whilst there, we bumped into our lovely artist friend Patrizio Landolfi, who has his studio just down the road.  He has just recently sold a huge abstract painting of David Bowie to a Canadian billionaire for sixty thousand euros!  Very impressive.  And, to think we were considering buying it ourselves……!  Well done to him and you can see more of his paintings in La Gramola restaurant.   Foto from his book Antologica & cutting from the magazine Panorama.  Visit his website at Website

I was asked the other day, what are the Autumn smells in Tuscany?  Well, right now the air is full of the smell of crushed red grapes that have left dark stains across the local tracks.  You could get quite tipsy on the smell alone!  Then of course the smell of roasting chestnuts will be with us soon and the glorious smell of white truffles (Tartufo Bianco) grated over eggs, pasta and other dishes.  And, the countryside generally smells glorious.  We are desperate for some rain, so the smell of dried grasses still fills the air.  Sadly, sitting outside is still restrictive due to the mosquitos (zanzari) that will eventually go in late October.  But it’s lovely for strolling around in the unseasonable hot September sunshine, with ones arms and legs protected!

Anyway, here is some good news.  With all the fashion fotos around, I have found us the September Hunk of the Month!  Now I may be a Rock Chick, but I do love the Italian classic look and a handsome clean-shaven face.  This is not so trendy here in Italy.  Younger men are tattooed and bearded, somehow I find this unattractive, I know that most Italian women under forty will disagree, but there you go.  I hope you like my chosen man and you can visit the designer Tagliatore at Website

OK, enough already.  Do drop me a line, I love to hear from my readers.  Oh, and do visit my Official Author Site at June’s site

Salute June x