You may know now that I am a very curious girl. I enjoy new experiences and since I am in Milan I must say that the occasions to do something new and different have increased incredibly.

In the last few weeks I have been looking for a couple of new things to try… like yoga, or burlesque! I had been looking around until I found this very interesting advert on Facebook from the Voodoo de Luxe Agency and the burlesque teacher Milena Bisacco in Milan. It was about a two-hour workshop in Milan with… Miss Polly Rae!

I am sure many of you have already heard of her… She is one of the most talented and influential burlesque artists in the UK and when I saw her name I understood that I really needed to go there for my maiden voyage into the burlesque world! Since she was in Milan for the show Les Follies Burlesque, she was invited, for the first time, to give a short clinic on burlesque.

Milena was a wonderful host, and Miss Polly Rae was absolutely amazing! Not only is she a wonderful performer, but she is a lovely, funny and prepared teacher.

I had the chance to talk with her before the class started, about her great hairdo, her experiences and about the fact that I was a complete beginner with very poor self–confidence… a desperate case! If burlesque was about feeling fabulous and sexy I was probably the most challenging pupil in the room! I let you imagine my face when I realized that I was the only “burlesque virgin”! I felt completely out of place for a moment, but let me tell you that Miss Polly Rae did a great job even with me! After a short presentation about what she does (she is one of the most appreciated burlesque performers in the West End in London and her show “The Hurly Burly” has been touring with huge success)  and what she thinks of burlesque (every woman should try it, not only because it is sexy but mostly because it helps releasing the funny, silly, fabulous woman that is inside of us), she promised to give us two hours of real fun!

She also encouraged us to feel free, to let ourselves go, to really enjoy our bodies and our femininity with no worry about the others in the room: that was the only way for us to get what we paid for!

I decided then to follow her advice and enjoyed myself (literally!) for real: from simple burlesque tips (like eye contact, facial expression, isolating body movements and removing gloves… loved that part!) to the secrets of tease, shimming and bump and grind… those two hours passed by very quickly and with more fun than expected!

I managed to let my fears fly away and I started enjoying watching myself in the mirror and feeling great in my skin. Is it a miracle? No, just a burlesque class!

And here we are, after the class… thank you Miss Polly Rae… it was much more than dancing and routines… and you are such an inspiration!

When I started this blog last summer, one of the first people to know about it was Mammi-Ama Ofori, one of my most inspirational and stylish friends. Not only has she and her beautiful sister Nana-Adwoa supported me from the beginning, but they also shared tips with me and good advice to make it easier for a blog beginner! Mammi-Ama and I “met” online a few years ago and it has been true love at first sight! Her energy, freshness and creativity have blown my mind and we quickly became very good friends. We finally met this Spring in New York… what a joy to spend some “real time” together!  I was very excited about interviewing her for the blog mainly because I think that she has a lot to share about life, music and style but also because she is a true vintage lover!

Mammi-Ama in essence is a creative a person, a true artist: as Purple Vintage Space Princess, she is a Life and Style motivator, an amazing musician, a fashion designer with her own knitwear line Garment Colors Knitwear Accessories, she hosts the Purploptimism radio show (also available on i-Tunes) and she is a true vintage lover!

TLC: When it comes to describing who you are and what you do- I realize how incredible you are! Singer, songwriter, Life and Style motivator, editor, video producer, blogger, fashion and vintage expert… Mammi-Ama tell us more about all the projects you’re working on now!

PVSP: Thank you for asking, Angela! It’s true – I love doing all of the things that you mentioned. I like to live a lifestyle full of variety that continuously expands to where I utilize all my skills.

Right now I am working on several videography projects that involve using creative cinematography. I’m also working on a new line of accessories with a friend of mine. I’m really excited about what we are creating. Last and certainly not least – I’ve been writing new songs for my 2nd album. Stay tuned for more updates.

TLC: You also invented a new word that I adore: Purploptimism! Can you explain what it is about?

PVSP: I like to give the following definition: Purploptimisms are powerful affirmations of positivity gathered by The Purple Vintage Space Princess. They stem from all specific areas of life which aid growth and change in one’s journey. These specific areas (such as peace, love, truth, giving etc…) are all vital in bringing humankind together while also assisting us as individuals on our spiritual paths in life.

Purploptimisms are a collection of wise words from people of all walks of life from the past and present. We are all connected and we are one. We are all here to assist one another reach our highest potential.

TLC: As a style advisor and motivator, many people ask you how they should dress: what is the best advice you can give to those who want to find their personal style?

PVSP: Honestly, I love telling people that personal style is all about confidence. Trends can be interesting and fun to follow but ultimately YOU and only YOU can determine your unique style. Be true to who you really are even if you think other people won’t understand or like it. It’s the people who are brave enough to listen to their inner fashionista who stand apart from the crowd.

TLC: I know you have a great love for the “past:”  what is your personal definition of vintage?

PVSP: YES I DO! I think its beautiful how we can cherish items and pass them down throughout the decades and centuries. I have always been fascinated by this concept, particularly with the clothing portal. Its amazing how having the love of vintage clothing allows me to also be in a position to pay-it-forward and recycle which is better for mother nature in the long run. My personal definition of vintage is: A recycled energy in the manifested form of creative body drapery. A sustainable, one of a kind, lifestyle.

TLC: Who are the musicians from the past who inspire you most and why?

PVSP: Stevie Wonder, Ella Fitzgerald, Patti Labelle, Minnie Riperton, Manu Chao, George Benson, Tina Turner, Etta James, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, James Taylor, Roberta Flack, Laura Nyro, Jaco Pastrorius, Frank Zappa… just to name a few. I love these musicians because they all allowed their utmost creativity to flow through their musical talent. They were(are) all so brave to be who they are which resulted in some AMAZING music that people all over the world will enjoy forever. I aspire to share my music with others with the same intention: TO INSPIRE.

TLC: As a New-Yorker and a vintage lover, can you give us some great tips to buy vintage in the Big Apple?

PVSP: What a great question! I just so happen to write about vintage here in NYC! I love giving tips on where to shop for the best vintage. You can read an article or two that I have written on this very subject right here:

http://www.examiner.com/vintage-clothing-in-new-york/mammi-ama-ofori

Buying vintage in NYC can be a lot of fun. Feel free to contact me with any questions or if you seek shopping guidance. It would be my pleasure

info@purplevintagespaceprincess.com

You can check the Purple Vintage Space Princess’ site here: www.purplevintagespaceprincess.com

If any of you have been fortunate enough to be at or near a track when Ferraris are lapping, you’ll know the distinct sound of them looming around.  I liken my experience hearing them like a swarm of bees.  It was an exciting moment because, like any boy, I remember playing with my cherished red Ferrari Match-Box. But as exciting as that was, it wan’t a highlight of my life because… well, my heart had been stolen and my loyalty locked by the true love of my car life… LAMBORGHINI.

I remember the day it happened: April… or… May something… 1986.  You see, there was a new kid who came to school earlier that semester, Rob Schimmel, and I somehow became his friend.  Rob was mad cool.  By his account, he was the grandson of Arch Rizzo, the wealthy owner of the exclusive restaurant Archie’s Intown which explained why they lived in the loft above the restaurant.  His dad drove a Porsche and his older sister was a HOT punk chick (can’t remember her name and it’s a good thing because of FB – lol)!!!  She introduced me to The Cure and other punk bands like The Dead Kennedys.

So back to this day in April or May… I went over to Rob’s after school, as usual.  He picked up the mail as we walked in the door and in the mail was his latest issue of some car magazine.  This guy had to be rich, he was getting magazines mail to him… in his name!!! Damn, he’s cool!. LOL  So his sister made us a snack and we went up to his room to listen to music and see who could tell the most believable lies about stuff we knew nothing about (every guy reading this knows exactly what I mean).  At one point during this BS fest, I opened his new magazine and the page it landed on had a picture and caption I will never forget: ‘The Lamborghini Motorcycle: From Concept to Creation’ (…or something like that).  My head went spinning… “WHAT?!?… ROB, LAMBORGHINI MAKES MOTORCYCLES!!!” He responded, ‘I know; my dad took me on a ride of a friend of his the summer before 6th grade.’  Later I found out that was a continuation of our BS fest, but at that very moment he was the 80′s version of the Fonz.

At the time, I was into motorcycles much more than cars and Lamborghini sweet talked me into loving it by speaking my language.  There were only five made and they are now vintage (see how I just justified telling you this story? – lol)  From that day on, I stopped loving Ferrari and married my beloved Lambo… ’til death us do part.

Ferruccio Lamborghini was born in 1916 under the sign of Taurus (this explains the logo). The extraordinary history of ‘Lamborghini Automobili’ began in 1963. And just like the perfect moment when idea meets opportunity, he founded a tractor factory in the period following World War II. It was a major point of reference in this industry and other businesses followed. He amassed the bulk of his fortune before he turned 50 and set out to take on a new challenge… to build a super sports car to compete with Ferrari.
…You can read the rest of this history on the Lamborghini website in the language of your choosing. (there you’ll also see the Lamborghini off-road vehicle- just another reason for me to love them)

Fastforward to August 17, 2012… OK, maybe I need to rewind just a bit so you’ll understand.

Last year my family bought me a gift for my birthday that they were busting at the seams to give to me.  I was out of the country when my birthday rolled around so they had to wait until I got home.  The gift? A one hour drive of a Lamborghini Gallardo.  I was amazed and joyfully grateful.

Because of my travel and work schedule, I wasn’t able to find the time to commit to the drive… not to mention the booking for the car was not the most open of their selection.  Time passed and I forgot about it, but then I was coming close to the expiration- calls were placed, appointment made and I was ready for my bull ride.

The place that provides this experience is called DFW Drive Your Dream in Fort Worth, Texas – USA.  I loved learning the story of how the business came to be and they have some INCREDIBLE cars on site and beautiful museum.  You know I could have spent my morning in there looking at every detail; still, my appointment was for 10am and it started promptly.

It was an amazing experience, but there are two moment that I’ll never forget.  The first is the sound and feel of starting the engine.  Honestly, it all could have ended right there.  Let me try to explain: my high school mascot was the Bearcat.  It’s drawn fictitiously as this beast with the body of a bear and the head of a cat (mix between a tiger & bobcat).  I imagine this beast to sound scary, but the truth is- the bearcat is real and they are… small.  And the sound it makes is not very menacing at all… it’s cuuute. (LOL a bit of an inside joke between the Ladybug and me).

But the sound of this engine was like the size of the bull it bares with the body of a lion and the ferociousness of morphing these two animals into one.  My back still holds the scars of it’s claws and horns ripping through my flesh… I’m serious when I say, that really could have been the end of the ride for me, but thank God it wasn’t.

The second moment came near the end of the tour.  This ride is not on a track, it’s around the streets of downtown Ft. Worth and on the highway.  My tour guide and I had a great conversation during the entire ride, but when came the “official” time for me to open this beast up:  she simply challenged me to get it above a certain number of mph (miles per hour)- then… silence… For me, the feeling driving that fast was amazing… the sound and feel of the engine at my back, blue skies in front of me… I felt like I was flying, but the real rush hit me as I saw how quickly things were coming toward me while I was slowing down.  In the words of Mos Def on that Bilal record: “My heart rushed, my face flush, tell the driver “hit the breaks, slow the pace up…”

All in all, I would suggest anyone to take advantage of this opportunity.  Search online for exotic car tours in your area.  And if you’re in the D.F. Dub., give the fine people at Drive Your Dream a call… you will not be disappointed. And like me, you’ll schedule your next drive nearly immediately.

Enjoy the video.

See you “next Sunday.”

Nearly one year ago I started The Ladybug Chronicles blog (don’t worry there will be proper celebration!) and I was totally unaware of what was going to happen and how this was going to change my life.

I don’t mean economically or practically because I still have my job and earn the same money- I mean more intrinsically. Yes, many things have changed in this last year even if everything still looks the same.

The Ladybug Chronicles opened me up to the world (as if it was needed!!) just by sitting at my table and typing on my computer- like I’m doing now!

A few weeks ago somebody asked me how vintage changed my life: well; to answer your question, this is how it’s changed my life! There are tons of people all over the world that share my same passion and most of them are amazing! They’ve taught and continue to teach me a bunch of things.  And in a certain way, they have inspired me to plan trips just to meet them (like my last trip to London) or to include them in my itinerary (like the recent trips to Florence & New York). Vintage has also introduced me to the real meaning of “6 degrees of separation” by constantly putting new people in my path.  Many of them have or will become friends with whom I share life, lessons, smiles and thoughts. This is a gift, probably the most precious gift, that The Ladybug Chronicles offered to me.

The person who asked me this question and with whom I’ve shared in the reality of my response with is… Sammy!

I simply say Sammy because I’m pretty sure most of you know exactly who I am talking about.

Sammy Davis is the lovely vintage writer of Sammy Davis Vintage (www.sammydvintage.com): expert of vintage style and fashion and manager of the adorable boutique “A little Wicked” on Houston Street in New York City.

Well before starting my own, I’d been an avid reader of her blog. There I find great information on vintage clothing and inspiration on wearing vintage and thrift finds, and when I decided to contact her and share my thoughts and passion about vintage- I found her to be well-disposed and quite the Guru.

A few months after initiating these friendly correspondences; I was in New York, and stopped by the shop for this culminative meeting we’ve been talking about since we first connected!

We did a lot of chatting. She styled me is some amazing vintage outfits… and of course, I bought some great vintage stuff!
(See above my “try before you buy” pic of the lovely vintage red dress from Saks 5^th Avenue I posted about wearing to my friend’s wedding and these amazing tan cowboy boots below)

But the greatest moment I shared with Sammy was when we chilled outside of the store for a nice chat on vintage, New York and thrifting.

…And there’s even better news… it was all caught on film! – or digital …what would you call that?  Anyway, enjoy it as much as we enjoyed the moment!

It was early in my life that I developed a mad love for poetry. I can remember exactly the first time I truly read a poem (Eugenio Montale’s “La casa dei doganieri”) and the feeling that it gave me. Since then I decided to create my own “poetry moment:” a few minutes of my day when I stop, I abandon the world, I take one of my books (my poetry shelf is now a poetry library) and I read a poem. The feeling is still the same, even if my interpretations may have changed over time. This is one of the things that I like about poetry… it’s a pure art, that can change every time you look at it.
When I lived in London, I discovered a new generation of poets. I was introduced to amazing live performances here and there and really plugged myself into the words and sounds of the city, but it wasn’t until I returned to Italy that I heard about Andreas Grant. What I espied wasn’t enough, so I did some research: I read some of his poems and I saw some videos of him performing his own lines… I was absolutely shocked and amazed by his visionary poetry and his incredible performances. I found his art surprisingly dynamic and many of his unexpected lines are still in my mind. I can’t wait to see him during my next visit to London at “THISISNOTABAR” where he runs his performances nights.
Also, I found out that he is a vintage lover… and that’s when I decided to ask him for an interview to talk poetry and vintage!

TLC:  Andreas, on my wish list of places I want to visit on my next trip to London there is THISISNOTABAR: you are the CEO of this ‘enchanted place’…can you try to explain why is it such an inexplicable place?

AG: What I’m trying to do is inspire people to break rules. At TINAB you are supposed to disobey and I think, at the best of times, people feel and respond to that. It started as a protest against the smoking ban and grew from that. Anarchy is a way of life, not a political statement. We are social animals, yes, but first and foremost there’s always going to be a little voice in our heads that says: ‘no’ and that’s more important than the voice of reason

TLC: What does it mean being a poet in the XXI century?

 AG: ‘Nothing to say, no means by which to say it, still you must’

 TLC: You give a lot of importance to poem’s performance: what does performance add to the word?

 AG: I performed at a night called: ‘Fetish Aid’ once.  A friend was there; who’d never heard me perform before. She said it made her want to puke. She was bulimic so not sure what that meant…all joking aside, there’s great poetry that works as text and there’s great performance poetry. I want to be somewhere in the middle. When you read it, you can hopefully hear the rhythm and when I perform it, hopefully it adds an edge. I like idiosyncratic performances myself and it’s got to feel real, even if you have to fake it…there’s clever poetry, as in all art, but I like to see some blood

TLC: What is your relationship with the past eras? What do you think we are missing today? 

AG: I think we live in stupid times. We’re not in touch with our natural selves and devoid of our traditions and history. Take drugs – we used to know why we took them. Look at Native Americans and other indigenous people who use them for guided spiritual rituals. And sex. We live in the prudest of times and yet we talk more about sex than ever before. We’ve stopped believing in true values. Everything’s become some ironic mash. I can’t begin to tell you how much I despise postmodernism

TLC: Who are your favourite writers/poets of the past? 

AG: The Russian revolutionary poet Majkowski is GOD. The stuff about the revolution is of course crap, but his other poems, inspired by a love for a married woman he can’t have (which I totally can relate to) are astounding. Dylan is a great poet and the Beat poets for attitude. And of course the original beat – Whitman

TLC:  Do you like music? Is it inspirational for your writing?

AG: I don’t listen to music. I find it disturbing. I mean I rarely listen to music at home. I usually get inspired when I’m in a bar dancing though, which is very annoying. I have to stop dancing, run up to the bartender, and ask for pen and paper 

TLC: Let’s talk about fashion:  your style is effortlessly cool! How do you define yourself through the clothes that you wear?

AG: Someone once said to me: ‘a Jamaican man is only truly happy once he’s well dressed’ and there’s some truth to that.  I don’t have A style; I dress as I feel for the day. For me, it’s important to express yourself trough your clothes, which doesn’t mean to say that clothes are important

TLC: You know that I write about vintage: do you wear it? Do you think it’s just a trend of the last decade or there’s something more in this discovery of the past?

AG: I come from a city that use trends as a way to hide insecurities and used to spend a fortune on having more and better brands then anyone else. I couldn’t spend all my money on drinking, which was a shame…that’s one of the reasons I love London: vintage. Here I only buy vintage and hope the trend never dies. Londoners seem very inspired by their proudest moments: the 40’s and Victorian times, so I think for them, it definitely has inclinations. But vintage clothes do carry a story; they have character, something new clothes lack. Being fresh is fun but having character is better

This is definitely my favorite poem of his so far:

“I’ve Abandoned Blood”

I have abandoned shoes
I can still walk
No need to complicate matters further
I have abandoned
Clothes
They never kept the cold away
I have abandoned hope
Stung a bit, yeah
But still
Less baggage
Fear
That’s a tricky one
It’s in the bones, you see
So I have abandoned bones
Food
The fun never lasts
So I have abandoned fun
Drugs
Sex
Sleep
You
Now that’s a different story
I’m not still bleeding
I have abandoned blood

Want to know more about Andreas? You can find his bio and his poems here

“The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier” premiered at the Dallas Museum of Art (DMA), on November 13, 2001 and ran through February 12, 2012.  This was the DMAs inauguration into the art of contemporary fashion, which featured a multimedia exhibition of one of the world’s most celebrated couturiers.

I was really excited about going to this event.  I actually received the promotion for the show just before it opened and shared it with The Ladybug.  My excitement grew when she (obviously) knew who I was talking about.  I knew nothing about him… Still, I told her I would go, but I knew I wasn’t going to have any time available until February.  That time came on the last day of the exhibit.

Let me admit something… This turned out to not be KNAGUI’s “idea of a good time.”  It may have been better with The Ladybug as my guide to understand exactly what the hell couture is and it’s purpose in the world, but we’ll never know.  There were things I really dug about it, but I’m not a “costume”/”couture” (really don’t know what the difference or line is after seeing this show) wearer, so I couldn’t sink my teeth into his world of fashion.  I did, however, see his philosophy to showcase “the strength of women and the frailty of men” threaded throughout the exhibit.

The exhibition included pieces as recent as his Corcirico ensemble for men featuring black fox, feathers and lamé from the Haute Couture Fall Winter 2011/2012 collection and as vintage as his Sainte Nitouche Cow-Style Gown which was the first piece he created in 1971 (for Pierre Cardin, I think). Described by the Jean Paul as, “my biggest show ever [in] my life,” the more or less 500 works comprising the exhibition illustrate the technical virtuosity, unbridled joie de vivre, and daring flare that I’ve learned can only be Gaultier.

Stage outfits worn by Madonna (including two of the iconic cone bras worn during the 1990 Blond Ambition Tour), and Kylie Minogue are just a few of the 130 couture and ready-to-wear ensembles showcased for men and women spanning from 1976 to 2011.

More than midway through,  I felt like the guy dragged to the museum by his girlfriend, but this time… the girlfriend was me. LOL “I AM A BOY, DAMON!!!” (sorry, it was a movie line that popped in my mind)

Speaking of movies- excerpts from films, concerts, videos and dance performances give insight to Gaultier’s idiosyncratic connections with the worlds of art, music, film, and dance.  I found interesting how these multidisciplinary influences formed his eclectic and global creative vision.  As a wannabe photographer, I was drawn most to the photography.  There were loads of prints from renowned photographers and contemporary artists including Richard Avedon, Nathan Goldberg, Steven Klein,  David LaChapelle, Steven Meisel, Cindy Sherman, Mario Testino, Andy Warhol and more.  I was surprised when I rounded a corner into my favorite room of the exhibit to see the album cover for Cameo’s Word Up! album which was styled by Toyce Anderson.  Seeing it and the rest of the pieces and media in this room was like a much needed caffè Italiano. Buon Giorno!!!

According to Exhibition Curator and Catalogue Editor, Thierry-Maxime Loriot, “When you see the craftsmanship and all the work and how imaginative Gaultier is, I consider him a real artist. He designed more than 150 collections for himself, 15 for Hermès, countless collaborations with movie directors from Peter Greenaway to Luc Besson, dance choreographers, pop stars and all the videos he collaborated on, no other designer has ever achieved that much, but what is most fascinating is that it is always innovative, always new, never boring, which is exceptional. He initiates the trends rather than following them, which explains why he is still here after 35 years.” Adds exhibition catalogue contributor Suzy Menkes, Fashion Critic and Editor at the International Herald Tribune, “He is not just a fashion designer, he has created kind of modern art that should be in a museum.”

This may not have turned out to be my favorite assignment, but I did walk away with a refreshing prospect of how to open myself up for both my life and my art. Gaultier said two things that I’m keeping with me.  He said, “we must be proud to be different.” This is something that I’ve always embraced, but sometimes I need a reminder of accepting others’ differences.  This  evening helped.  He also said, “In life, I like the blemishes, scars, emotions of the skin, of the flesh of the moment.” To me, it was a testament of how soft his skin might be to absorb so much from the world around him and then squeeze out something so different yet similar …but beautiful (…But Beautiful is an awesome Shirley Horn compilation. I couldn’t help adding this because she’s such a big influence of mine). I’ve been wanting to make myself more absorbent to the world around me.  I think this helped me understand a bit more about how to do that. So to answer my question, a corset for my thoughts… NEVER! …but I can think of a wonderful being to put a corset on. lol

The exhibit is accompanied by the English publication of a 424-page exhibition catalogue. It features interviews with Gaultier friends, colleagues, and muses including Madonna, Pedro Almodóvar, Carla Bruni Sarkozy, Catherine Deneuve, Carine Roitfeld, Boy George, Marion Cotillard, Pierre et Gilles, Helen Mirren, Dita Von Teese, Tom Ford, and Victoria Abril, among others.

The next stop for the exhibit is: de Young-Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco; March 24 – Aug 19, 2012.  http://www.famsf.org

The Italian director Dino Risi many years ago described the famous Austrian actress Romy Schneider as “a butterfly who can become a tiger.” With this he was referring to her incredible ability to be a chameleon. She started acting when she was 15 and her talent and radiant beauty made her a real star in 1955 when at 17 she acted in the first movie of the famous trilogy “Sissi.”

It was during the filming of “Christine” that she fell in love with French actor Alain Delon, who co-starred in the movie. She left Germany to join him in Paris and they announced their engagement in 1959.  Even if she got married twice [with the German director Harry Mayen (father of her son David) and then with Daniel Biasini (father of her daughter Sara) and her last partner was Laurent Petain] it seems that Alain Delon has always been her true and greatest passion. He left her with a card in 1963 announcing that he was in Mexico with another woman. They acted together again in 1968 (“The Swimming Pool”) and in 1972 (“The assassination of Trotsky”) and he read a beautiful story at her funeral, in 1982, when she died at 44.

She met Coco Chanel in 1962, but the French designer didn’t like her too much. When she was asked to dress Romy for the movie “Boccaccio ’70,” Coco Chanel said that the actress was “a bit too fat and had short legs!”

Now, to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of her death, the Espace Landowski in Boulogne-Billancourt (near Paris) organized a big expo from the 4^th of November to the 22^nd of February, curated by Jean-Pierre Lavoignat. Archive documents, unpublished pictures, movies, clothes, and jewels- the expo tells the history of this fragile woman with an iron will, who has always touched the limits in both her professional and private life… and always, with no regrets.

She used to say, “life is too short to live passion only once.”

Well???…

I was wrong! First of all I found out a lot of things about here… She’s a cultivated women with a great love for vintage; she is a photographer and at the person who inspirits her most when she gets dressed is her grandmother – can you believe it? Most of all I found out she is an incredible designer. I almost fell out of my chair with orgasmic enthusiasm after looking at the look-book of the Fall-Winter 2011!

She has a vintage inspired collection, with echoes of my beloved 40s and memories 50s Russian era, amazing accessories and to-die-for shoes! Perfect waved hair, coral red lips and vintage wallpaper give even more charm to this glamorous and very ladylike collection!

Don’t trust me? Have a look yourself and let me know what you think!

One of the feelings that I have most since having this blog is the feeling of being late. …Yes …late. I read things that I find interesting, and I think: Wow, I should write about it for the blog! Then I look for more information on the subject so that I can start writing about it, but sometimes the subjects are many, my daily life and work things to do get me so absorbed and it happens that I … (breath) … just forget!

This is what happened with Paloma Faith’s first lingerie collection for La Senza UK! The news was circulating on the net since late summer (when I read it!) and the release date being the 1^st of October was also sure so I was waiting to see the pieces to share them here. Today, quite two months later and only after talking about two interesting vintage lingerie and corsets’ expos in Italy, THIS came to my mind again!

As the collection is still on line and in stores and as it still for a very good cause (October was the month of Breast Cancer Awareness and about 10% of every item sold is devolved to Breast Cancer Care), I decided to post about it anyway.

Paloma, whose mother was affected by breast cancer, is not new to this kind of support: she has previously supported the Breast Cancer Care’s Pink Friday Campaign (http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/fundraising-events/events/pink-fridays)

The range of the collection includes bras, french knickers, playsuits and sleepwear and is available in 30 of La Senza’s top stores and on its website (www.lasenza.co.uk). She designed a glamorous emerald green silk playsuit for £30, and a black halterneck bra and French knickers set, for £30 and £16 respectively.

I love Paloma’s music and I love her as an artist; I also love her very personal sense of style: she’s a hungry buyer of vintage clothes and she often features original and absolutely unique vintage pieces. I also spotted her once in London while buying in a lovely tiny vintage shop on Church Street (“The Girl Can’t Help It”, it is really worth a visit!). So when I read that she was preparing a vintage inspired collection I got so excited (yes, even if I forgot later! Lol) and expected to see some marvelous lingerie and loungewear pieces.

I must say that when I finally saw it I was a bit disappointed… Maybe I expected more (I mean, she was a sales assistant for the gorgeous lingerie label Agent Provocateur!) or I just expected something different, but this still lovely silky 40s inspired collection is just a bit too anonymous for someone like Paloma who’s not afraid of standing out in a crowd! Only positive point: the choice of emerald green as a lingerie color (very unusual, I love it!); this is the set that I prefer!

Anyway, this is what she said about the collection: “I’m really excited about my range of lingerie that I’ve designed for Breast Cancer Care this year. I’ve gone for a luxurious 1940s style and I can’t wait for you all to see it! It’s going to hit La Senza stores in October and every penny we raise will be used to help people affected by breast cancer. My Mum had breast cancer so this is a cause I am very passionate about. Without Breast Cancer Care some women would have nowhere to turn to. With one person diagnosed with breast cancer every 10 minutes, many of us will sadly know of someone dealing with the disease right now. Breast Cancer Care will use the money we raise together to ensure none of them face it alone.”

6 out of 10 for the collection, 10 out of 10 for the supporting cause (we love when our shopping is not that selfish, don’t we?)

Exactly 50 years ago the unforgettable Audrey was showing her beauty, talent and class to the whole world with the movie that made her a style icon, “Breakfast at Tyffany’s” (1961).

Today and until the 4^th of December, “her”city, where she shot the movie that made her famous, “Roman Holiday” (1953) celebrates her at the Ara Pacis with an expo on her roman age.

The relationship between Audrey and Italy, Rome in particular, was very strong: not only did she shoot two movies there (the other was “The Nun’s story” in 1959), but she lived in the Eternal city after marrying the Italian psychologist Andrea Dotti in 1970 for about 30 years. She had a son with him, Luca, who is also the organizer of this fantastic expo “Audrey a Roma. Esterno, giorno”. The British actress lived there as an actress of course, as a wife and mother, and also as a goodwill ambassador for Unicef (which will receive part of the funds raised through ticket sales for the exposition -2,50 euros of the 10 euros entry ticket).

This is one of the most complete and interesting expos ever organized on Audrey. Many moments of her life in Rome can be admired as unseen pictures of her, videos and also personal objects of the actress. For example you can see images shot during her travels as ambassador for Unicef meeting kids in Somalia, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Sudan and Latin America. Also many unseen pictures of her daily life in Rome and a video where you get a glimpse of how Audrey lived when she was far from jet-setting and the movie lights!

Of course there will be a section related to Audrey’s great sense of style: Valentino, Givenchy and many others will exhibit beautiful dresses created for her that best represents her natural sense of fashion that made her the most famous style icon of all time, along with the dresses that she usually wore in her everyday life.

Comparing this expo to the one in New York on the same subject we can say, “if that one celebrated the Style Icon, the symbol of fashion and elegance during the 50s, this one allows us to get into Audrey’s private life and more intimate moments.”

If you want to take with you some of her “roman souvenirs” you can find the book in the bookstores now “Audrey a Roma” (Mondadori, 24,90 euros) where you can find some of her most interesting pictures.

Open every day except Mondays until the 4^th of December, from 9am to 7pm, more info at www.audreyhepburn.com or www.unicef.it/web/audrey