Welcome and Benvenuti to all my Lovely Followers around the World,
Yes, it’s Milan Fashion Week and one of my favourite designers, Luisa Spagnoli, has done it again. Just wh
en you think a fashion designer has reached her zenith, she goes to even greater heights! I have just watched the video of her latest collection and just drooled over the beautiful flowing and very wearable outfits. Somehow, she manages to turn beautiful fabrics into clothes that are comfortable yet gorgeous and sexy. Here she is surrounded by her celebrity friends and fashionisti. Look for yourselves and let me know what you think! magazine + video
Meanwhile, that other great Italian beauty and brilliant actress Sophia Loren, has been celebrating her 85th! Can you believe it? she still scrubs up very well indeed and why not I hear you say. For me Sophia will always be the most iconic Italian actress of all time. She was so good at serious and funny parts, playing opposite the likes of Peter Sellers and Marciello Mastroianni. I have a whole collection of DVD’s and, dare I say, old videos of her films that I will watch again at Christmas! Just noticed in the paper that she accompanied eight-five year old Valentino to his Green Carpet Fashion Award ceremony! Rock on Sophia!
Back in our local village of Fiano, my man and I take our morning coffee and read the newspapers at La Dispensa. By the way, La Dispensa translates to The Larder. An English friend thought it was a little confusing because it sounds like Dispensary, which is normally found in Chemists. So here you are, the true meaning is correct as it is a grocers, butchers and bar combined. Back to yesterday’s paper and I noticed an advert for a new Festive Art Exhibiton at the famous Palazzo Strozzi in Florence. This one I must attend as it brings together the likes of Gauguin, Matisse and Picasso! It starts on 28 September and runs until 12 January. Yes, I know, yet another excuse to have lunch in Florence!
Meanwhile, September is the month for the Annual Slow Travel Fest, which is hugely popular and takes walkers slowly and gently through the Tuscan countryside whilst stopping off for wine and food tastings, Art and Music. What a lovely way to spend three days. Go to Travel Fest
Roberto Manetti, our lovely sculptor friend and all round nice man, has donated a sculpture to Fiano, but oh no, heavy rain has postponed the unveiling so make sure you are there next Sunday 29 September at 7pm instead! The sculpture will be unveiled in the Communual Gardens behind the apartment block opposite La Dispensa. My man and I visited Roberto’s studios a couple of years ago, his characters seem to be part of their own world of little people and, most of his works have a little dog or cat looking out. I just love them. See next week’s blog for pictures of the actual event!
Well, must get this posted and get on with my current novel! I love to hear from my readers, so do drop me a line.
Salute June x
PS Both Italy and England have won their first round Rugby matches! Hurrah!
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OK, let’s get Mick Jagger sorted, then we can return to what else is happening in Tuscany and further afield in Italy. Mick aged seventy-four, the Stones (or should we say the stoned) and entourage arrived at Pisa airport in their own fast jet, emblazoned with their red lipped logo. In Lucca, just north of Pisa, outside the ancient walls of the city, fifty-six thousand fans roared their approval, whilst clutching probably the most sought after concert tickets of 2017. It seems Mick also made a private visit to see the original statue of David at La Galleria dell’Accedemia prior to the concert and he ate a gelato on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, as did the other English visitor of note this week, Theresa May. Well, that was exciting! Foto La Nazione.
OK, enough of that, what you really want to read about is Italian Fashion, don’t you? Well, you could hardly ignore the fact that we have just had Milan Fashion Week. Now, I take a serious interest in Italian fashion, as you know, and I can honestly say that the most beautiful clothes will not be found there.
Reading the national and local papers every day, I come across many small fashion designers who produce the most gorgeous clothes that are actually wearable! The only well-known name I really like is Prada, particularly for handbags and shoes. So here are a couple of really nice outfits that I found this week. Don’t you just love these Autumn colours? Fotos La Repubblica.
And, as I mentioned Prada handbags, here is a seasonal one to fawn over! Foto La Repubblica.
Meanwhile, back in the glorious Tuscan countryside, we are enjoying a return to lush greenery after lots of rain, cooler weather and sunshine. What a relief. And it is that time of year when the enthusiasts head off on foot or bicycle, for a three-day wine and food Slow Travel Fest. I love this idea and if my little legs were stronger, I would be there with them. It started yesterday, the 22nd from San Gimignano, past Abbadia Isola and Monteriggioni and covers thirty kilometres with fabulous views all the way; you might like to look out for next year’s event! Foto copyright Easyvoyage.
But for me, the real event this week was my plate of pasta with freshly grated Tartufo Bianco (white truffle) over the top. This is food to die for. The pasta is lightly tossed in a little butter and nothing else but the Tartufo is needed. That was Friday evening and Paolo at Ristorante C’era una Volta wasn’t sure if he would have any more this weekend. Well, I think my man and I will pop over for lunch today, just in case! If not, there are plenty of Porcini mushrooms available. Yummy! Foto J Finnigan
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