The Ladybug devours the Magic of Armani | Silos

The 3rd of May, two days after the opening of the EXPO 2015 in Milan, another very important expo was inaugurated: Giorgio Armani decided to celebrate 40 years of his wonderful career by offering to Milan what the New York Times defined as “the place to be” – the Armani | Silos.

This museum, located in the Tortona area, celebrates the history of “King Giorgio” by offering 4500 square meters, consisting of four floors, of amazing creations from the ’80s to now in a surreal yet enveloping atmosphere.

The mayor of Milan defined it as a gift Armani offered to the town in order to demonstrate his love for the city, and believe me it really is!

The building is an old silo used for storing food and Armani decided to leave the name as it represents the way for fashion to be “nutrient” for the soul. The architecture is spacious and the game of lights are absolutely amazing. Not to mention the music: it’s a perfect accompaniment for the visitors.

The selection of the creations exposed doesn’t have a chronological order, but it tells the story and the most representative pieces of the Italian designer. Every floor represents a leitmotif that inspired or keeps inspiring Armani’s art work.

The ground floor is dedicated to men and women daywear- with a huge selection of men and women suits, especially from his latest collections, coats and day dresses with a huge prevalence of grey and camel tones.

But the more you climb the floors, the more you will be amazed and in awe.

First floor, I guess my favorite one: it’s completely dedicated to Armani’s exoticism: it collects all his pieces inspired by faraway lands, from India to Japan, Northern Africa, to Spain and the Far East. It is a blossoming of flowers, colors, embroideries, sequins and sparkling pieces… I spent most of my time there! In the middle of the floor there were also a collection of clutches, shoes, jewelry and accessories that will make you fight the simple desire of touching them and try them on!

The second floor is dedicated to Chromatism: the colors are darker. Stripes appear on night gowns, cocktail dresses and jackets and Armani’s use of black is surprising and thrilling. Even in the dark the embroideries sparkle and the cuts are amazing. A lot of black and white, red, electric blue, navy blue and many more “vintage” pieces coming from the ’80s!

When you reach the last floor, you can really say that you have seen the light! Light is, indeed, the inspirational theme for the last floor. There, you can be overcome by the sparkling of wonderful embroidered gowns and two pieces- from gold to silver. It is a jubilation of pure ecstasy and fashion perfection!

The floor also hosts a video room and a digital archive with more than a thousand outfits selected by category and collections.  It features more than two thousand pieces and accessories, sketches, backstage and catwalk videos, photographs from the advertising campaigns.

On the ground floor you can also find a gift shop, a cafeteria and the installation “Stars,” a red carpet leading to a big screen with images of all the celebrities wearing Armani.

As for me, I wore Imperial red pleated shirt, Amelia Verona trousers and Zara flats with a vintage touch: round sunglasses by Oggetti Smarriti, red quilted bag by Frendo Vintage and headband by Traffic People London.

The Ladybug Visits Pollock and the Irascibles at Palazzo Reale, Milan

Yes, the lost folder in my computer was all about my latest visits to Palazzo Reale for the great expos of the last few months! On my last post I shared my visit to the Rodin expo, this time is my visit to the expo “Pollock e gli Irascibili” (Pollock and the Irascibles), one of the most suggestive expos held there in my history of visiting.

This visit marked my first night visit to the Palazzo Reale: as the queue was too long, I decided to go to the cinema before coming back to the museum for the late visit… what a great idea! There weren’t many people inside and there was a lot of time to enjoy this wonderful expo: that wasn’t only a Jackson Pollock expo with some amazing paintings by other American artists of the same wave (Abstract Expressionism), but also a representation of 1950’s music, culture and politics in the United States all represented in an art expo.  Miles Davis “Kind of Blue” was my leit-motiv of the expo and on my way back home I couldn’t help looking for its music on my iPod to make the sensation last outside of the museum!

Jackson Pollock was the absolute leader of the New York school which was introduced in paintings after the second war bringing the energy of the action painting created on canvas based on the floor.  Some of his greatest paintings plus other great pieces from Rothko, de Koning, Kline, Reinhardt (the Irascibles, based on an open letter, written in 1950, to the president of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, rejecting the museum’s exhibition American Painting Today – 1950 and boycotting the accompanying competition) and some other new (to me) artists like: Hans Hofman, Sam Francis, Philip Guston and Barnett Newman whom I enjoyed during this vibrant expo of about 50 pieces arriving straight from the Whitney Museum.

For my  visit at the expo I wore an H&M black dress, Stefanel camel coat, Marco black brogues, Louis Vuitton bag, a black snood and a wonderful vintage find: these very rare 50’s cat-eye frames from my adored Laura from Oggetti Smarriti (bought at the Vintage Mania last year).

The Ladybug at Milan Design Week 2014, pt. 3: Retro Ville by Voodoo de Luxe

On the same Sunday, last day of the Milan Design Week, I left the Vintage Week event for the Ripamonti area where Voodoo de Luxe organized an event as part of the Fuorisalone, Retro Ville.

It was announced as THE vintage event of the Design Week and, let me tell you… it was!!!

From the moment we walked in we were immediately immersed in an effortlessly cool, relaxed, rockabilly ambiance where we immediately felt at home: we enjoyed the stay, sipping a drink while talking and admiring the most well dressed women and men in Milan! Because this was the place for the real vintage people: those who live vintage and who feel it like a lifestyle and credo, I was transfixed.  I couldn’t take my eyes off the beautiful pin ups with perfect hair and make-up (I still wish that one day I’ll be able to do that myself!) and the sexy men in their perfectly tailored 1950’s suits and scented beards!

But I found out their secret: our friends from Bullfrog Milano were there in a vintage recreation of their beautiful Salon in Milan! It was great to see them and again, I spent a lot of time staring at them shaping beards and giving haircuts!

Many new stallers and art makers were present (like my lovely friend Laura from Oggetti Smarriti with my favorite frames!) and I was delighted in discovering new retro and vintage dealers that I have never met before!  My winter curves made me postpone buying a bit, but I have a mental list of all the things that I need to pick up on after my Nike+ Training Club concludes!! My first shopping will be at Bloody Edith, but my second will probably be at The Black Pinafore (they make amazing reproductions of 1940’s and 50’s clothing)… not to mention Oldress, a newly established shop in Milan (in “my” area!), that I still need to give a proper visit.

I also loved the location: it was full of vintage home-ware, furniture and all the Milano Art Makers spaces that I enjoyed so much, and of course, the green area in the middle with a little bar to enjoy the beautiful sunny day!

It was a very cool and interesting Design Week weekend… can’t wait for next year where I’m hoping to enjoy even more vintage events!

PS: if you are in Milan, follow Voodoo de Luxe: they also organize a lovely vintage market every month. We’ll talk about it soon!

The Ladybug “Does the Right Thing” at Fa’ La Cosa Giusta!

A few weeks ago I read on Internet two good articles: first thing was about one of my favorite fairs coming to town for the weekend; the second was about a new book that I wanted to get and its author presenting it in town that same weekend. Only later did I realized that the two events were actually happening at the same time/place!

I am still hanging around with my broken finger, but as I missed the “Fa’ la cosa giusta” fair last year I didn’t want to miss it again this year: if you are in Milan, I am pretty sure that you know about it as it represents the most important fair about critical consumerism and sustainable lifestyle. This was the 11^th edition and it was as successful as the others which means that maybe, people are finally becoming interested in a new way of living and consuming with a more critical eye on our daily actions and on the impacts that they can have on our environment.

I was very surprised about all that could be found there: from sustainable ways of traveling or organizing your wedding, to recycling and reusing objects by giving new life to what we don’t need to throw away and not to mention clean and healthy eating: there is a way to take care of ourselves and of others in everything that we do.

Of course I was pretty much into food: not only because I am a food lover, but mostly because I decided to start a new healthier way of eating since coming to Milan (where fruits and veggies usually don’t taste like fruits and veggies!), one that is more conscious and more critical, which is the best decision I could have ever made in my life! I am still eating meat on my path through “I am what I eat.” Still, my dietary journey is ever changing and evolving and I can’t deny that I am tempted by vegetarianism or even veganism even if I know that this kind of choice needs more time and meditation for me! I am very open and curious toward these ideas and I keep adding new elements to my diet that I discover through vegan blogs and recipes.

This is why, when I read that my adored Paola Maugeri (a woman that I’ve loved since I was a teenager and MTV addict) was presenting her new book of vegan recipes Las Vegans, at Fa’ la cosa giusta, I decided to head to the fair that Sunday to have the chance to listen to her… which was a great idea!

Paola was smarter and more charming and charismatic than I expected and her fight for the social acceptance of veganism really drew me in. I bought her book (and started using the nutritional yeast that she mentioned a couple of times!).  I had the chance to talk to her about the best places to shop for healthy food in Milan and I received a great compliment from her regarding my ’80s look!

By the way… do you know that she is a vintage lover? I remember meeting her at the airport some time ago wearing an amazing vintage head-to-toe ’70s outfit!!

Here I’m wearing Replay jeans, vintage trophy jacket from Montagnola market in Bologna, Isabel Marant boots, my Pushkin bag from Saint Petersburg and vintage YSL frames from Oggetti Smarriti.

The Ladybug is a Vintage Tourist in Poland: Moja Warsaw Dzień 2

My second day in Warsaw was abit more touristic: I visited the city center and the most important monuments and museums… I didn’t get lost in the vintage shops!

I also visited a part of the town called Praha, not very famous because it is the old popular area (it’s still quite popular though), but I really enjoyed a completely different part of town, far away from the sky scrapers of the city center. I found some thrift and second hand consignment stores in area, but it was too late for me to stop!

I was practically rolling all day as I ate like a little piggy. This is the reason why I decided to rent a bike for a little something more to get my heart-rate up around town (I was feeling super guilty!!)

I am still wearing my retro houndstooth Max & Co coat, Les Lolitas green Chelsea boots, Stondo orange hat and Max & Co black bag (my trip’s essentials!).  But today I added a fairisle Norwegian style grey wool jumper from Benetton with a pair of black Zara leggings.

There was also a little sun, so I could use my adored French vintage frames from my favorite seller Laura from Oggetti Smarriti (we met in Padua when I bought these beauties). I’m also wearing a little present from my friend: a lovely bracelet that she got for me in the streets of Warsaw that same day!

Such a lovely place… I need to be back again soon!

The Ladybug is a Maniac… Maniac in Treviso: visiting “VintageMania” in Bassano del Grappa

Another weekend, another vintage fair, another tour in Veneto!

After the great experience of Arsenale Vintage Market in Verona, here I am again on my way to Bassano del Grappa heading, for the first time, to VintageMania.

As soon as I arrived I felt as if I was in Belgioso, probably because of the beautiful location of Villa Giusti (a wonderful two floor villa with an awesome patio and a huge park all around), but also because of the crowd and the very chic customs (French would say BCBG!). I must say I was quite surprised about the variety of people that I found inside, especially the range of age with particular mention of an adult band of customers that I don’t usually see in vintage fairs.

The two floors of Villa Giusti were entirely occupied by beautiful vintage clothes and accessories (including stallers I’d met in Verona and more) and handmade creations from many amazing handcrafters of the area. I like seeing more and more artisans at vintage fairs because of the uniqueness of the pieces they present- it’s a wonderful thing that they share with vintage pieces and moreover, the attention to detail and quality standards insure that one day these very things will be in someone’s vintage collection.

It was a beautiful warm day. Outside was full of people chatting, drinking and listening to live vintage music (especially rock ’n’ roll) in the amazing park surrounding the villa.

Even if it was hard to have a detailed look because of the crowd, it was also nice to meet Leonardo Chiti from Deuda Vintage and Nicola from Bidonville (a new friend from Bari that I met in Verona last weekend!). Also Dorotea Vintage was there with Michela from Lumière Bijoux and my beloved Laura from Oggetti Smarriti (yes, I bought another pair of vintage frames!).

Two interesting expos were presented at the Fair: on the first floor Elizabeth the 1^st exposed vintage tribal and ethnic pieces (this one in particular was my favorite!)

and on the 2^nd floor A.N.G.E.L.O exposed some wonderful vintage gowns and cocktail dresses (these are the ones that I loved most… especially the red Valentino!)

It was interesting to meet some local vintage dealers like L’Ottagono, where I took this funny pic with his amazing antiques piece!

As for my finds of the day, let me say that as long as Oggetti Smarriti is around I can’t help buying a new pair of vintage frames! These aluminum cat-eye beauties are to die for, aren’t they?

And since I am all about small vintage bags lately, I found this late ’70s purse from Foxy Brown, a vintage seller from Padova whose stall was definitely one of my favorites of the whole Fair!

The Ladybug Visit’s Her First Padova Vintage Festival

This year has been full of vintage firsts for me. A few weeks ago I visited the Padova Vintage Festival for the first time and much like the Summer Jamboree in Senigallia, it was full of vintage lovers and people with lots of knowledge of vintage. It was so refreshing and surprising at the same time.

I mean, it’s understandable that you meet people at the Jamboree who are deep seeded vintage aficionados because of it’s long and successful history, but I’m a bit ashamed to say that I prepared to go to Padova Vintage Festival, which began in 2010, with a bit of prejudice. But in two short years it’s amazing how profound and successful it’s become.

Padua is a wonderful town (I had time to have a look around in the city center and I really liked it!), and the location of the Festival makes it absolutely comfortable to reach. But the location itself is absolutely lovely: the agora, which sits in the center of it all, is surrounded by arches and the upper level has a lot of space and a lovely view of what’s happening in the “market’s area of the village.”

With that said, I had the chance to meet some of my favorite stallers (and to buy from them, of course!) and some new entries that I was pleased to meet. Coming into contact with familiar people and familiar items made me understand the key of their success, and it is this: their staff and their attention to marketing and details. Going to the Padova Vintage Festival was a different experience, even if the actors of the movie were the same… because of all the Chantilly cream, everything looked much more fresh. There were models dressed in vintage, a fashionable public, every genre of vintage was represented, some alternative celebrities, a beautifully well decorated location and, of course, a queue outside the doors!  It was “the place to be.”

And it worked! There was a lot of marketing and maybe a bit less spontaneity, but the result was interesting.  As for the prices I won’t complain: some exaggerations of course – as usual – but the average pricing was cool.

I was really curious about going there especially since I couldn’t go last year and, although it was a bit more commercial than my tastes usually go for, I really enjoyed my day there and my shopping of course!!

A.N.G.E.L.O, Shabby Chic, Dorotea Vintage, Oggetti Smarriti, Magnifica Preda, Stondo, Lamù Vintage and many other old “vintage friends” were there, but it was also time to meet new friends like the vintage collector Lorenzo Chiti from Deuda Vintage (from whom I bought this lovely vintage cardigan!)

If the market owned the agora, the upper level was almost completely dedicated to vintage through another wonderful expo. A.N.G.E.L.O brought his vintage Missoni collection, but there were also amazing antique suitcases and travel bags from Arte Viaggi or a real vintage barber shop (there will be a nice surprise about it soon on the blog!).

For the occasion I was almost completely dressed in vintage: vintage green silk dress from Humana Vintage, ASOS cardi and socks, lovely brogues from Shoegasm in NYC, H&M skinny belt, vintage leather bag from the Vintage Workshop in Milan the week before and a lovely fascinator from Camomilla in Milan.

Other finds of the day:  gorgeous French vintage glasses from Oggetti Smarriti

Amazing orange “witch-hat” from Stondo Firenze

And… of course… a logoed Vintage Festival canvas tote to put all my new finds in it!

The Ladybug Plays Christopher Columbus: “Discovering” Valeggio Veste il Vintage!

Another weekend, another vintage fair. … Aah, this is why I love May!!

After a lovely weekend in Reggio Emilia where my friends and I combined vintage shopping with a city tour, we decided to head to Valeggio for what was a beautiful vintage weekend!

We left Milan to reach the nice area of Garda Lake to have a nice walk along the river (and a copious typical lunch!) before going into the city center for the 9^th edition of “Valeggio Veste il Vintage.”

Like every vintage lover in Italy I heard about this event many times, but it was the first time I actually managed to get there and I must say that it was more than I expected!

The whole city center is an open air vintage market, where the stalls, inside events and open air bars are coordinated to create a lovely atmosphere: the vintage clothing and accessories selection was very interesting (A.N.G.E.L.O., Oggetti Smarriti, Camden Town, Lamù Vintage, Superfly & Punti di Vista- just to name a few) along with an array of home-ware stallers with some very rare pieces, many from the 1980s.

The square was full of people. I really appreciate seeing this growing interest for vintage at each of these fairs. I only hope that the “vintage market” will keep itself safe from mass marketing! Being a kind of a niche is what makes us special, right?

I’d be remissed if I talked about the event without sharing a bit about the city of Valeggio. The atmosphere there was really friendly and bubbly… going from one stall to another while listening to good live music and sipping a drink made me feel more like I was at a party than a fair! It was really fun to exchange words with stallers and visitors in this very outgoing frame.

There was not only live music but also vintage hairdos and makeup from Ketty Vintage, vintage cars, a real Shoeshine, typical products tests and a beautiful expo around the art of hats (“Viaggio intorno al Cappello”). Being a lover of hats I really enjoyed this expo of different hats from different eras and styles; moreover, I was amazed by the collection of vintage hatboxes and original tools coming from closed hat factories. And to take it a step further, it was more than a hat expo: I’d call it a hat making art expo because the artistic work of the milliners was very well represented. Honestly; I prefer a well handmade hat to something mass produced, it is an accessory that adds something to your style and not just a way to cover your head from sun or cold.

The weather was… nice (except for little rain and some wind). I couldn’t resist a bit of vintage shopping in the sun:

I found this lovely tropical floral long skirt from the ’80s, perfect for the upcoming summer

And these ’80s earrings from Viola Vintage were my find of the day, especially if you consider that I’ve been looking for a pair like these for ages!

The Ladybug Shops Like It’s 1999: “Vintage – La Moda Che Vive Due Volte” in Reggio Emilia

I know I’ve been very quiet lately… but you know why? I have been crazy busy with some great events (oh yes, work too!) that I’ve barely had the time to write about them. But I am here and you will know all about it!

I left you in Belgioioso, end of April, for the Next Vintage event and I announced a series of vintage fairs that I was planning to attend. The weekend after, indeed, I was heading with some friends to the area of Reggio Emilia to spend a lovely weekend of sport, shopping and tourism!

Romagna Fiere (the organizer of the Forlì Vintage Fair that you may remember because I’ve been there a couple of times) decided to add some more dates to the regular fair in Forlì (probably one of the most famous Italian vintage fairs) and the first weekend of May Reggio Emilia was the center of Italian vintage and retro dealers.

If you’ve been, least once, to the Forlì vintage Fair- it is easy to recognize the familiar atmosphere and style, which I like a lot. The Fair is maybe more sober compared to others (where the location adds a lot to the event), but sometimes I like the typical fair event!

It was an occasion to meet old and new friends: I finally met with Laura from Oggetti Smarriti (one of my favorite vintage eyewear sellers), and with the guys from L’Opposto in Forlì (it was time for my sweet college memories!) and with the amazing hat artist of Stondo from Florence. But I met some new friends and made some good discoveries like: Tabata’, Magnifica Preda or the Silk Ribbon Sisters, an awesome and funny group of burlesque performers with a love for history, cabaret, dance and beauty!

Let me say that I was particularly in the mood for shopping that Sunday… especially because this was the eyewear edition and you know how much I love glasses!

Punti di Vista proposed a very interesting expo on the history of eyewear, presenting some wonderful pieces by decades and I was, as usual, amazed by the ’50s and ’60s frames.

In addition to this beautiful handmade straw hat from Stondo Firenze, I got 4 pair of glasses!!

From L’Opposto, I picked up these vintage inspired frames

and found an amazing Yves Saint Laurent piece from  the ’80s sold by Oggetti Smarriti

and what about these pure 1950s beauties from Tabata’?

It’s obvious my shopping day theme song was “Insatiable” by Prince because I continued my spree during our city tour in the center of Reggio Emilia There I found a quaint vintage shop (“Un altro giro di giostra”) with a lovely owner (Ledi) where I got this TO-DIE-FOR navy leather handbag.

The Ladybug lands on Memory Lane at the Forlì Vintage Fair

Vintage is all about memories, whether you’re recycling your own style with a renewed class or invoking the memories of others through your finds or creating your own memories by redesigning and defining your ideal style… Vintage IS memorable!

When I was 18 I left Sicily to go to college: I loved foreign languages and decided that I wanted to be a translator (don’t ask me what happened to that dream!). At the time one of the best colleges for Interpreters and Translators was the SSLMIT in Forlì – a lovely town between Bologna and the Riviera Romagnola where I spent the most amazing and happiest years of my life! Forlì was, and still is, a quiet and calm town where people prefer their bikes over their cars. It’s full of students from everywhere in Italy and abroad. Being situated near big cities like Bologna and great clubbing centers as Rimini and Riccione made it the perfect place to have fun, meet new friends and enjoy my first experience out of my hometown! This is why I hold great and happy memories of this place. It’s also why I was so excited to go there for the Forlì Vintage Fair which is probably the most important vintage event in Italy (they count about 15 thousand visitors every year, in two semiannual events). It also boasts as one of the oldest (the first edition was in 2008) ongoing Italian vintage fairs.

I took the train from Naples and met my friend in Bologna.  We then headed to Forlì by car.  With a full weekend ahead of us, we scheduled to only attend the event on Friday afternoon (the 23^rd of September, opening day). I won’t explain here the emotions of that day (a great surprise in Bologna and all the feelings of my “homecoming!”), but I’ll try to share with you that afternoon of fun!

Basically the Fair was divided in 3 big areas: the proper vintage area, the biggest one, with many stands of vintage clothes and accessories from the ’40s to the ’80s; the design-remake area, a very interesting bunch of stalls where new designers exposed their retro inspired creations, using old recycled materials and creating new forms of art from the past; and the collectibles area, where it was possible to find any kind of antique object, from toys to perfumes to small furniture.

In the main vintage area I could find some of my favorite sellers and discover some more or even meet those with whom I’ve been in virtual contact, but had never met for real! A special mention goes to Tara Vintage, honestly the best designer vintage seller around with great clothing and accessories pieces from Chanel (I fell in love with a very expensive black pleated dress from Chanel! Sigh!), Hermès or Vuitton; to Opherty & Ciocci (I finally met my virtual friend Marco!) with the most amazing ’70s handbags (yes, I bought one!) and some great Gucci vintage pieces; and of course A.N.G.E.L.O. Vintage Palace, who is the ‘author’ of the beautiful vintage Issey Miyake itinerant museum. Then there’s Lamù Vintage (a new friend!), personally one of my favorite stalls for sunglasses (yes, I got a pair too….a fantastic Dior!) with Oggetti Smarriti, and to Boutique Nadine, on my top list of vintage and retro shops if you ever go to Florence (don’t miss it, as they added a new store recently!).

Also many events were planned during the Fair like burlesque classes, American bar and retro music artists playing live… I was tempted to attend a burlesque class, but I really didn’t have time because a long car trip to Milan was waiting for us that same night!

To be fair I also have to put my attention on two negative facts: first of all, the complete lack of air conditioning. It was freaking hot inside (and outside!) and we even left earlier because of that: it was impossible to try fur coats or wool hats and I guess this problem affected not only the visitors but also the sellers. Secondly, a negative mention to Di Renzo Vintage, a stall with cool vintage hats but very unfriendly owners. I was asked not to take pictures (erm….why?? They couldn’t say…crazy!) and when I said I was a blogger- they said I should have told that… Really?!?! So….we left there two hats we wanted to buy and put a cross on them! (Of course, no pictures of their stuff either! Lol) *note to owners: If they see it, they will come. Word of mouth is the best publicity.

Here are some of my pictures of the event. The Ladybug’s vintage finds of the day – Forlì Vintage Fair coming soon!

The Issey Miyake vintage collection from A.N.G.E.L.O.

A lovely burlesque performer

Some shots from the great Tara Vintage collection

Cute vintage inspired head-pieces

Cuteness!

A.N.G.E.L.O., of course!

Cute white glasses from Oggetti Smarriti (so stupid I didn’t buy them….pfff)

With Marco from Opherty & Ciocci

J’adore….

Rocking the 80’s…

Animal prints forever!