The Ladybug Has Fun, “The Italian Way!”

Here’s a fun and lighthearted shoot for you!

I was running errands with KNAGUI and a friend of ours when he decided that this place was perfect for shooting! We didn’t care too much about what I was wearing; we just decided to enjoy the moment, and we did (as you can see from the pictures, I can’t stop laughing!).

We were walking by and reading the Vogue Italia installation of photographs representing “The Italian Way” and “A Tribute to Italian Beauty” (amazing pictures can be found throughout this outdoor exhibit, by the way!) in Milan and decided to make mention of it on the blog.

While there I imitated Sophia Loren’s poses, jumped and twirled around, laughed and played.  It was a welcome break for my spirit after such a serious day. We loved the results and hope you appreciate our sharing them with you!

I am wearing Max & Co blouse, Zara trousers and patent flats, Massimo Rebecchi handbag (acquired by our assistant of the day – LOL) and my special handmade earrings from my beautiful and talented auntie!

(Photo credit: KNAGUI)

The Ladybug is an Intruder in Casa Azul: Frida y Diego in Milan!

You know how I am… every time it gets cold, dark and grey I take out of my magic hat, something summery and colored to help us survive winter by thinking of what happened and will happen again!

Ok; to be honest, I simply forgot to share this with you when it happened in September. I visited a small, yet lovely photography expo dedicated to Frida and Diego at Photology. This year my passion for Frida had very interesting points of satisfaction: from the amazing expo in Rome that I visited during Spring to the wonderful diary published this summer and then this very interesting small collection of photos of Diego y Frida in their Casa Azul. All the pictures are black and white, but I liked a part of the expo where part of the wall was painted in blue and the contrast with the photographs created a beautiful warm effect.

As the Photology Gallery is in a beautiful court with some very interesting old fashion, KNAGUI took some pics of my simple outfit to share on the blog.

I wore my Replay jeans and Kor@Kor white t-shirt and paired that with colored stripy accessories: this beautiful Marc by Marc Jacobs striped bag from some years ago and the lovely fish necklace that I bought at Vivere Vintage in Mantova from the lovely Pamphlet, a local artist that makes wonderful paper jewels. I particularly loved this collection called “The old man and the sea” with which pages from the Hemingway’s book were used to create it. And as all the pieces were related to the sea (fishes, boats), I added a bit of the sea on my feet with these electric blue Zara sandals.

Fresh, colorful and tanned to remember the good ol’ days!

[Photo Credit: KNAGUI]

The Ladybug’s Heavenly Trifecta: Mantova + Voglia di Vintage + Festival della Letteratura… YES!!!

I decided a while ago to head to Mantova for one of the multiple editions of Voglia di Vintage, one of the most important vintage events in Italy. I didn’t know the city, it’s not too far and the event created a good occasion to do some vintage hunting.  Unfortunately, the stars never really aligned for me to get there… until recently.

As people usually say, “everything happens for a reason;” and the reason for me to wait that long was the combination two of my passions (traveling and vintage) just wasn’t enough… the Universe wanted for me to add another one of my biggest passions – literature – and to put them all together in the same town on the same weekend! Mantova is indeed not only a lovely little town with a lot of history, a beautiful city center, delicious food and a famous vintage fair; Mantova is also the perfect venue for one of the most important literature festivals in Italy that I’ve always wanted to visit, but never managed to get to.

This is why I couldn’t deny the perfect invitation from all my passions in a same day: I decided to bring KNAGUI with me for this great adventure and I must confess that we had a lot of fun. The beauty of Mantova during these events is probably bigger than usual as it was full of people, different stalls of books, events, authors’ meetings in all the biggest places of the center and plenty of places to visit. We managed to go around all day and we enjoyed the festive atmosphere and the company of literature and vintage lovers from all over the country.

We visited monuments, bought some books and, after a good lunch in an historical “Osteria”, we sat and digested in the beautiful atmosphere of Piazza Virgiliana where the fair was held. I love the idea of open air fairs, especially on such a beautiful sunny September day when it’s not too hot and you can enjoy the last sunrays while vintage shopping! Of course, there was some shopping beyond the books… a pair of vintage frames from Punti di Vista and a lovely handmade necklace inspired by Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea from Pamphlet, a handcraft artist from Mantova who makes beautiful handmade jewels.

During this beautiful day I wore a colored vintage skirt from L Train Vintage in NYC, a striped Zara top, vintage bag and a pair of brogues I picked up from Shoegasm.  Now that I think about it, I guess I was in a New York State of Mind.

[photo credit: KNAGUI]

The Ladybug Discovers a New Magical Vintage Land: The Opening of Sofia Vintage in Como

Of all the events that I am invited to, the opening of a vintage shop always thrills me greatly.

I am a vintage fan, of course, but the charge of all that’s happening around a vintage shop opening: first of all I feel blessed because in my country the culture of vintage is becoming more and more popular, and with this I already seeing and further hope that it will forge forward from what it is now and permeate people’s understanding of what wearing vintage means. Secondly, I know that every time I’m involved in the “discovery” of a magical new world, I’ll be sure to find a little piece of history and love for the past that will always surprise me. And this is what happened when I stepped into Sofia Vintage in Como: I felt as if I had gone into someone’s home from the warmth and the beauty of the place: wonderful location with old flavor, vintage floors, beautiful retro details, amazing clothes and accessories, vintage furniture and a real Singer sewing machine (still in use) for your vintage stitches and repairs. Roberta, the founder, is a real vintage addict and her passion and research can be tasted in the very air of her shop.

I first came to know her from her beautiful shop called Glook in the center of Como. But with her new shop Sofia, she now has the space to present in greater depth her knowledge and passion for vintage. The pieces that she brought into her shop are accurately chosen and well displayed. I fell in love with the style and with her impeccable taste. When we talked about her love for vintage and how she started selecting clothes from all over the world, I felt as if we were Carrie and Samantha sharing stories over a cosmo, the conversation was just that intimate and I was amazed by her love for detail and quality.

The masterpieces in her shop were multiple: from the houndstooth vinyl jacket, to the black and white ankle boots, and her amazing collection of perfectly cared for soft wool and cashmere jumpers (sweaters). Plus there were beautiful wool coats and shirts of amazing quality, sunglasses and a love for simple yet impressive lines.

I also appreciated the honest and spot-on pricing, one of my biggest complaints in the pricey Italian vintage market. Honest pricing is a rare quality and I’ve always appreciated it because it is a clear sign of pure love and knowledge of the sector.

So whether you’re a vintage lover or not, if  ever you’re in Como, you must visit Sofia Vintage. I am sure that you will love it and you will also grab a quality bargain.

It was also a pleasure meeting some of my fellow bloggers and to finally bring KNAGUI with me during this vintage excursion! It was a lovely event too, perfectly organized by News Eventi Como PR, with nice people, healthy drinks, popcorn and the elegance of Roberta, the founder of Sofia Vintage! Plus a beautiful goodie-bag with a vintage handbag that I am going to wear on the blog soon!

I wore a retro inspired outfit with a Miss Selfridge silk dungaree, charity shop silk blouse, retro t-bars from New York and a vintage handbag from Foxy Brown. I added Punti di Vista vintage cat-eye frames and Lazzari headband.

[photo credit: KNAGUI]

Soul Sunday with KNAGUI: Passing the Torch is in Good Hands…

One of my favorite things to watch when I was a kid was a game show called Wheel of Fortune and on the show from time to time the category would be “Before and After.”  The challenge was to complete two phrases that they’d put together using one word as the segue.  This is what I walked away thinking as I left Mitchumm Industries new flagship store in Como, Italy yesterday.

I had the pleasure of being invited to the one year anniversary event of, what I found to be, an extraordinary brand of mens’ clothing.  But even more intoxicating than the clothes, accessories and the ambiance was the cool powerful personality of the man at the helm, Mr. Alex Mitchumm.

Alex grew up under the creative eye of his father, Daniele Tino, the founder of Mitchumm Industries.  The brand was founded in 1976 on Manhattan Beach near LA, nearly 10 years before Alex was born, but the seeds of fashion and entrepreneurship were fused into his DNA.

With this store Alex has managed to create two separate but equal ambiances.  A tranquil, mature downstairs with hip grown man fashion.  I’m not talking about your daddy’s tailor, but more like the neighbor’s dad who rides to his office job on his Harley.

Then there’s the second level which is the “Keep Out” Animal House frat party floor.  Super macho, but comfortable enough for the ladies to chill with a drink.

This frenetic energy could very well come from his humble beginning.  You see, in the early 2000s he opened his first shop with an interior measuring only 12 meters square (14.35 square yards).  After displaying the clothes and placing some furniture, the space dwindled down to allow only about 4 people in the store at a time.  But the excitement that it created for Alex and the fans he and his designs were generating was nothing less than noteworthy.

I really enjoyed getting to know the brand and talking to both Alex and Daniele.

They have stores in the States up and down the East Coast and many more throughout Europe, Japan and Korea.

I couldn’t help buying this dandy pair of cufflinks and checking out these rings (they only manufacture 30/run).

Check out their digs and if you see something you like, use their online shop. Easy to find at www.mitchumm.com.

 

See you “next” Sunday!

The Ladybug Chronicles Turns 3!

One of the best days of the year has once again arrived: today is The Ladybug Chronicles’ third birthday!

It’s so hard for us to imagine that it has been three years, yet we cannot remember what life was like before!

It is not an easy job: it takes a lot of time, passion, dedication and effort, but we are here and we’re still enjoying it as we did on day one. And to be honest, even more. But there’s only one reason for this- you Lovebugs, you are the best readers ever!

Thank you for your continued support over the years and for bringing your friends and family to our little vintage world! We’ve met new friends, traveled around the world, started new exciting adventures and collaborations, but… we aren’t satisfied!!!

The best is yet to come: we have a lot of pictures to take and even more words to write.

Thank you for staying with us.

The Ladybug Chronicles

The Ladybug Shares Her “Just-For-Me” ’70s Outfit Shoot

Don’t ask me why, but I found it hard to release these pictures to the public: they were “mine” and I loved them so much… maybe it was the dress, the hat or just the lovely atmosphere of the day. Some time ago KNAGUI and I walked past this street art and decided to stop for a couple of pictures, even though it was quite windy!

I’m also particularly in love with all the things that I coordinated to put this outfit together: in part because they came from some lovely trips and partly because I just love them for being really good pieces!

First the dress: it’s a wonderful long silky vintage dress in amazing condition from the late ’70s- I consider it one of my favorite pieces ever. I got in London last year when my friends took me to Retromania, a vintage charity shop that I fell in love with for their wonderful pieces at generally affordable prices.  I love the material, the colors, the shape… everything about this dress makes me feel good!

The hat is a vintage find from Humana Vintage in Milan: it is a bit small, but I liked it so much for the color and the feathers that I decided to buy it anyway (the price was very tempting too!).

The shoes are Jeffrey Campbell (purchased in Naples some years ago) and the lovely Chanel necklace is a find from a quaint vintage shop in Florence, Boutique Nadine, that I discovered during a beautiful walk along the Arno river, a few years ago.

[Photo Credit: KNAGUI]

 

The Ladybug is a Butterfly in the World’s Best Cocoon: A Wonderful Change Has Come Over Mi – lan!

Yes, this is another “lost folder” post… more particularly an outfit “lost folder.”  I took these pictures almost a year ago, in an area of Milan that is constantly changing: here I was in Corso Como and Piazza XXV Aprile, before the arrival of Eataly and before many changes had happened there. I love seeing how it evolves and I like discovering new things every time that I take a tour around the area.

I’ve changed too, apparently: I had longer hair and… well, let’s just leave it at longer hair!

I enjoyed a sunny spring day walking around with KNAGUI and I wore one of my favorite vintage pieces:  my “carpet doctor bag”, a real bargain from Humana Vintage in Milan!

I made it the accent piece of a H&M jumper, American Apparel long skirt, Marc by Marc Jacobs mouse ballet flats and H&M necklace (red lipstick and nails by Kiko).

[Photo Credit: KNAGUI]

The Ladybug’s Colorful Bullfighting Adventure: The Bull, The Cape and Kandisnky

 A more recent museum story is about my visit to the Vassily Kandinsky expo in Milan at the Palazzo Reale. I was very excited about this expo as I am a huge fan of Kandinsky’s work and let me tell you- I wasn’t disappointed at all.

As the father of Abstraction, the feeling expressed through colors is absolutely amazing! It was a “long” visit, not only because more than eighty pieces arrived from the Centre Pompidou, but also because the best experience about his work is stopping in front of each painting and allowing the colors to move and involve you. It’s a unique and suggestive experience!

Walking away from this expo I felt my artistic soul had been well fed, but still able to digest more… I didn’t have enough! (I am already planning a trip to Vercelli to see another Kandinsky expo!) All the pieces are exposed in chronological order, defining the different eras of his career and different painting influences. But believe me when I tell you that almost every piece is a surreal experience that touches all your senses.

For the occasion I wore a very special vintage piece: it is a military green cape that my lovely boss offered me as she didn’t use it anymore. It came from her family collection, so it was important to her. No need to tell you that the cape found a nice new home where it is beloved by its new owner! I paired it with & Other Stories hat, Sam Edelman ankle boots (my new favorite!), small Balenciaga bag and dotted tights from Topshop.

PS: Believe it or not, this was my first turn on the famous bull of the Vittorio Emanuele Gallery in Milan! LOL

[Photo Credit: KNAGUI]

The Ladybug Visits the Rodin Sculptures at Palazzo Reale, Milan

Another lost folder in my computer (my gosh, there are so many!) with a set of great pictures… not too old this time, but not too recent either- had these!

Last December, when KNAGUI arrived in Milan for his winter tour, we decided to see what was at the Palazzo Reale and we were quite confused as many interesting expos were held there all at one time. For a strange reason we both decided to go for Rodin’s sculptures. I say strange because neither of us is a sculpture lover, especially KNAGUI. But I was attracted to the name and he trusted me… plus he owed me for his never-ending trip to the Star Wars Expo (he’ll always owe me for that, fyi LOL).

It was for sure, to our big surprise, one of the most beautiful expos we’ve visited: sixty masterpieces arriving from the Musée Rodin in Paris, exposed in the very suggestive Caryatid’s Hall.  I studied Rodin’s sculptures at school and I saw some of them in the past, but having them all together in that wonderful sequence and atmosphere was really a huge experience. One of my favorites pieces was the The Kiss and KNAGUI could not move away from The Hand of God.  I also discovered more interesting pieces where the artist gave soul to the marble.

 

As it was a festive period, so I went all red with my Patrizia Pepe red coat, Zara black jumper and trousers, vintage red hat from Humana Vintage; I added Marco brogues, Topshop lace tights, Vic Matié bag and H&M lips scarf.

(Photo Credit: KNAGUI)