Italians are known the world over for their sophisticated and apparently effortless style. Not everyone here accessorizes designer garb with an espresso and a cigarette, but this Italian cliché has more than a grain of truth in it. Looking good matters here, and achieving la bella figura goes deeper than just the clothes you wear. […]
Unique, intricate, and dazzling are just a few words to describe the works of master goldsmith Gerardo Sacco. His passion for jewelry started at the tender age of 10 and provided him the opportunity to better his life. Forced to drop out of school and work to help support himself and his family, Sacco soon […]
“2016 is the 110th Anniversary of our Maison. We will celebrate this important birthday looking forward to maintaining the pioneering spirit that has pushed us from 1906 till today.” —-Christian Rauch, CEO of Montblanc, world renowned German manufacturer of luxury writing instruments, watches, jewelry, and leather goods. I pay a visit to their store to […]
The only sound I hear is the distant trickle of a small waterfall. Cool light shines up through the slats of the cedar bench. The sauna is quiet, silent enough to hear the inner voice that is too subtle to be heard out in the rodeo that is the real world. I check the sand […]
Billowing leather skirts and culottes, midi-length dresses of layered ruffles, and loose-fitting frocks adorned with bows and feathers define Salvatore Ferragamo’s spring/summer 2016 collection. “Although the name may be synonymous with impeccably crafted shoes, this latest ready-to-wear collection proves the Italian label can deliver the whole package.” –Moda Operandi. The collection represents the fashion house’s […]
“The jeweler of kings and the king of jewelers” – King Edward VII of England It is a beautiful spring day as I head down Via dei Condotti towards Rome’s Cartier Boutique. As I approach, the sun hits the window such that I cannot help to stop and marvel at the grandeur of the necklaces on […]
For more than 150 years Frette has served the most illustrious of customers, including many European royal dynasties. Originally based in France, the company became enchanted by the unmatched expertise in textile manufacturing exhibited by the northern Italians in the 1870s, and so they relocated to Milan where they have been based ever since. Today […]
The clop of heels on stones and the laughter of a passing crowd are abruptly silenced as the automatic revolving door transmits me into the lobby of the Parco Dei Principi Grand Hotel. I ride the elevator down and step out into the reception area. It seems clear that the spa’s designer cares very […]
The Waldorf Hotel looks out over the city from the top of one of Rome’s surrounding hills. The main complex is set in a large park amid lush vegetation. Palm and cypress trees stretch upward, while majestic Italian stone pines spread their parasols over wide expanses of well-tended grounds maintained by diligent attendants. I enter […]
In the 1960s, the Jet-Set Era was in full swing. The luxurious lifestyles of Bardot, Hepburn, Sinatra, and the like were broadcast to the world. Everyone wanted to know where they were vacationing, what cars they were driving, and what clothes they were wearing. Enter Gianni Angelli, head of Fiat Motors. Often called “The Godfather […]