Today, we’re going to explore the mathematics of spring fashion. Don’t be scared if you’re like me and are baffled by even simple equations: you’ll see, it’ll be easy enough to follow…

That’s what Viviana calls me, in her incredible Italian accent while roaring with laughter…

Translation : Tim Sullivan.

+ I have no idea what to wear anymore. It’s been more than two weeks now that I’ve been schlepping the same clothes everywhere I go. They’ve lost all their luster to me. I can’t stand them anymore! I hate them!

+ I have no idea how much I weigh. I won’t get on any scale other than the one at my house. Tomorrow, return to Paris = verdict. Two weeks of restaurants and 18 sorbets behind me… Okay, that’s enough, change the subject.

+ I have no idea what season it is. Amazing weather + sorbets on the run + summer collections = I get the urge to buy a swimsuit and wear sandals.

+ I have no idea who I am anymore. Me, who only likes grey, I want some Peter Pilotto and some Pucci. I can always dream, but right now, I want lots of colors and prints.

+ I have no idea how to speak Italian anymore but I know that here, ciao means hello AND goodbye. That’s exactly how I’ve lived this Milanese fashion week. Clic, clac! Ciao! Ciao! It’s over!

+ I hate taxis in Milan. They’re too expensive, too fast and they never take you where you want to go. I’ll never stop mouthing off at them in my amazing italian vernacular, made up from a mix of Corsican and Spanish. It makes them laugh. Bastards.

+ I hate shopping. It’s official. I never find anything that works on me, and then everything I like is WAY too expensive. I’m much better at doing it for others, terrible for myself. Anyone want to be my personal shopper?

+ I hate packing. Especially because I was already over the weight limit when I left and 3 fashion weeks have claimed victory over shopping aversion. It’s gonna be my computer or my new jacket… Or should I just pile everything on top of myself? Yeah, there ya go. Layers. Classy. I’ll do that.

+ I hate my new shoes. So beautiful, so high and so laced up. They tear up my feet so completely that when I wear them, I can’t think of anything but what’s on my feet. Fashion, it’ll drive you crazy head to…

+ I love Italy. I love the style, the refinement and the Italian bursts of laughter. I love their way of wearing color. I love their salads with orange pieces and I want to do my next fashion week on a Vespa.

+ I love taking the train. It’s long and there’s nothing to do, besides watch the blue line of the Alpes = I love it. If, on top of that, you’ve got a giant picnic with you and a cute companion and a bottle of white wine, it’s more than just a trip, it’s the art of travel. Think Orient Express, Audrey Tautou & Chanel N°5: A slightly drunken version, too perfect.

+ I love three new trends: legs coming out to breathe, flats, and layering sheer clothes.

+ I love big jewelry. I want some big jewelry and I want a clutch! My god, what kind of woman of the world in 2009 could live without a clutch?

+ I love returning to Paris. We still have one of the most beautiful, most exciting, longest, and craziest fashion weeks of all. Everyone waits for it, everyone gets everything ready, weeks of preparation, everyone… but me.

Oh shit still… What am I going to wear?!!

Raaah, my life is entirely too complicated. Big hugs, bonne journée!

Translation : Tim Sullivan

Just because we’re already systematically raiding the winter collections (Could it be possible that I already bought fur boots in July? We’ll talk about it more, Doctor) doesn’t mean we can’t still have a little fun with summer colors.

I just love beige.

But I’ve never thought of wearing it with yellow. I’m such a fan!

—-

PS: Viviana’s blouse is a Micro Giovannini. I don’t really know the designer but his site is worthy of an episode of Dynasty, it’s so kitch.  He only does knitwear, but there is a whole bunch of stuff of his that I love, especially in this winter’s collection… I want the jumpsuit! (And here we are again talking about knitted wool in July… Do you think it’s serious, Doctor?)

Big hugs, bonne journée!

Translation : Tim Sullivan

Yesterday, the greatest thing happened to me.  I have to tell you all about it.  But where to start?  Hmmm…. Alors voilà…

Aurora and Viviana are Italian.  They are friends and work together and every time I run into them, I fall under the charm of their outfits.  Always chic, always fun, often a little rock, with a bit of everything.  Some designer stuff, luxury stuff, vintage, but also some Zara, all things i love.

Little by little, we got to talking quite a bit.  I think you can see in these photos that these two girls are rays of sunlight.  They appeal to my better nature.  They told me about a sublime little restaurant in Milan, the Fioraio Bianchi Caffé.  Ah.  Marvelous.

Okay, in short, two wonderful wonderful girls.  And yesterday morning, between a Max Mara show that was breathtakingly dull, and a Dolce and Gabbana show that was outrageously glamourous, we said to each other, hey, why not go get a coffee at 10 Corso Como, where we met up with Scott.

I don’t know if you know just how I curious I get.  I love hearing people talking to me about their style, their work.  On top of that, Aurora and Viviana have a job that isn’t exactly run-of-the-mill.  They’re assistants to Anna Dello Russo.

If you read Scott’s site, you know Anna.  Anna is the fashion director of Japanese Vogue.  This incredible specimen is always incredibly put together, always sophisticated with a unique allure.  Just spectacular.  A true rock-star.  But really, at least in Japan, quite literally.

Photo : The Sartorialist for Garance Doré (!)

So they’re telling me that the started with an internship, that the admiration that had for Anna started in adolescence.  Viviana tells me that it all started with a shoot Anna did in the village she was born in, Bari, where she made all the young people in the village come and help dream up the various shots.  To have seen work like this has stayed engrained in Vivian’s memory to this day.  She’s just enchanted.

I let myself get filled by these stories, drinking my cappuccino.

And then suddenly, we’re all swept up in a whirlwind.  Anna, statuesque in Dolce & Gabbana, she’s got a last minute shopping trip to do.  She gives us all warm greetings in the most Italian way.  We exchange a few quick words.  I have to add here that she loves Scott and his photos.  She talks about how fashion changes, that is just wonderful and that he does incredible work, and then she’s gone.  We keep on talking with the girls.

I think that is an amazing and important thing to surround yourself with.  Between the three of them, it just flows.  It’s light and lively and you can just feel it.

They tell me about Anna’s incredible style, her passion for what she calls la muse.  Fashion.

And then Anna comes back and honestly, I don’t know if she heard us… But she says to us, “You want to come over to my place?  I live two steps away.”

Really, seriously, I’m not messing around here.  My heart stopped beating.

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