If you have time, please visit the link! The collection is interesting and the presentation striking.
I'm moved of being among the most amazing products from EIT!
Stay tuned!
Monday, 28 March 2011
EIT Spring Catalogue
I'm glad to inform you that the Etsy Italia Spring Catalogue by Nanofactory is online at
If you have time, please visit the link! The collection is interesting and the presentation striking.
Stay tuned!
If you have time, please visit the link! The collection is interesting and the presentation striking.
Stay tuned!
Made in Italy on Louise Felice's Blog
Some days ago, Louise featured some of us on her blog, Louise Knits...and sometimes sews!.
I show up there with the others who answered to her call for Italian artisans.
...And the result is very very pleasant!
Thank you Louise!
I show up there with the others who answered to her call for Italian artisans.
...And the result is very very pleasant!
Thank you Louise!
Saturday, 26 March 2011
Committed, a Love Story.
Once, a friend of mine was insisting, "...If you want to learn a language as many-sided as only English can be, you have to read!". Great, what news! I start defending myself unwillingly, but she went on and on.... and eventually I went off: "Oh, please, I'm no longer seven years old! You can't pretend I do my homework!"
She looked at me suspiciously and fell silent. Then she suddenly disappeared within the giant store we were in. I felt a little bit guilty. After a few minutes, she came back to me with a gift. A gift I paid for, checking out.
It was Committed, by Elizabeth Gilbert. A best seller! About feelings! I was astonished: "Are you kidding me?", I asked. "You read it, then you tell me", she stated seriously.
So, now I'm telling.
My friend was right: maybe because it is a bestseller - or just fresher than Shakespeare -, its kind of English is much easier than the one I was expecting. Prose is well structured. Words are used in a way I can get, even when sometimes I ignore their precise meaning. Moreover, contents are as far away as possible from my prejudgment. The woman who wrote it... well, she is definitely smart. Her reflections are interesting. The way she strings ideas is again... plain, and effective. I don't know why, but I imagine her also as a great worker: maybe because if concepts are so striking, perhaps she spent time in refining them. I hope that's the case, otherwise there's no justice in the world.
Concluding, I was so positively impressed that I finally read my first full book in English. This fact opens to me new perspectives :) Thanks Elizabeth Gilbert, thanks a million, my dear friend.
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Long Beaded Link Chain Necklaces
They are not actually so long. Long is indeed the story of the technique I use to create these original necklaces. But I'd probably have to say "rare" rather than "original" since, at least in Florence, Italy, the loop is the first thing you learn in jewelry making and there's not necessarily any originality in my crafts. Nonetheless, I haven't seen anything similar walking around. They must be totally out of fashion. And that's probably the reason why I like them so much. It's a destiny, I'm always late.
The ones I'm going to show you here are mostly recalled as "beaded link chain necklaces". I hope that's true, or at least precise, since I'm not english mother tongue and I didn't find any other definition for the jewels nor the technique itself. They can't be classified as chain (bead, herringbone, curb) and the way you craft them is slightly different from "wire wrapping" or "chain maille".
Since I had't a clue, I did some research.
Allegedly, in Etruria (which nowadays is actually Tuscany, Italy) these necklaces were already in use, but more informations about their usage come out with latin written textes.
According to Plinio il Vecchio (23 AD -79 AD), in ancient Rome pearl necklaces were the jewels of the goddesses and, first among all, of Venus. Nowadays, thanks to archeology, we know that roman women themselves used to wear pearl necklaces made out of fake pearls enchained with gold wire, approximately one and a half feet long.
The ones I'm going to show you here are mostly recalled as "beaded link chain necklaces". I hope that's true, or at least precise, since I'm not english mother tongue and I didn't find any other definition for the jewels nor the technique itself. They can't be classified as chain (bead, herringbone, curb) and the way you craft them is slightly different from "wire wrapping" or "chain maille".
Since I had't a clue, I did some research.
***
According to Plinio il Vecchio (23 AD -79 AD), in ancient Rome pearl necklaces were the jewels of the goddesses and, first among all, of Venus. Nowadays, thanks to archeology, we know that roman women themselves used to wear pearl necklaces made out of fake pearls enchained with gold wire, approximately one and a half feet long.
Actually they are described as exactly alike the ones I make.
Since then, they show up within museum collections in a random order, and that makes me think that perhaps, as all the techniques involving beauty and decor, from time to time they have had revivals.
My Goddess’ Necklace is for instance a beaded link chain necklace in pastel colors. More precisely, it is a handmade Sautoir made out of ivory crystal pearls, antique rose and grey beads, linked into a chain. This very luminous pattern is then enriched by real baroque pearls - cultured - and indigo crystals (1 cm diameter).
The Goddess’ Necklace has no clasp but due to its length (120cm / almost 4 feet) you can both wrap it around the neck twice or wear it all the way down to your chest. This is up to you!
Eventually, it is more than a necklace: it is the outcome of a laborious work and a wonderful vintage-style item: a must-have, simple, high-class style jewel!
The Retro Beaded Link Chain Blue is instead more similar to a rosary, and more precisely it is an opera- length necklace (60 cm approximately) made out of micro brass flat headpins enchaining tiny little electric blue drops.
The latter is the more eccentric beaded link chain made out of transparent and lavender crystals, crystal pearls, filigree beads and embellished by coral pink, turquoise blue, ivory white and gold beads. Moreover, many brass little roses figure as decorations.
Where I learnt how to craft, in Florence, Italy, they used to call them "Chanel necklaces" - tributing honor to the great Coco - because of the usage of chaining up the beads and the length (sautoir), which was very popular in the Belle Epoque and in the 1940's as well.
Nevertheless, if I had to consider culturally a first reference, I'd say that the technique is the same of any rosary.
I think the truth lies the way you wear them: and I'd like you to wear my beaded link chain necklaces in a Coco Chanel spirit: charming, refined, bizarre.
I think the truth lies the way you wear them: and I'd like you to wear my beaded link chain necklaces in a Coco Chanel spirit: charming, refined, bizarre.
***
My Goddess’ Necklace is for instance a beaded link chain necklace in pastel colors. More precisely, it is a handmade Sautoir made out of ivory crystal pearls, antique rose and grey beads, linked into a chain. This very luminous pattern is then enriched by real baroque pearls - cultured - and indigo crystals (1 cm diameter).
The Goddess’ Necklace has no clasp but due to its length (120cm / almost 4 feet) you can both wrap it around the neck twice or wear it all the way down to your chest. This is up to you!
Eventually, it is more than a necklace: it is the outcome of a laborious work and a wonderful vintage-style item: a must-have, simple, high-class style jewel!
Brass rings soften the classic pattern. There is no clasp. This retro beaded link chain is instead not too long and can be peacefully used as a lace for many charms, pendants, crosses or any other kind of talisman.
Differently from the others, the Blue Drops Link Chain is still made out of metal but as light as a feather: It gives you indeed a very special tactical sensation.
All the beads are different in shape and size - some faceted, some smooth, from 6 mm to 13 mm diameter.
Thanks to the usage of the brass wire, the beads and the other bright components seem actually to float: as a result, a unique 120 cm totally fancy necklace.
Paul Sika, an African Fashion Photographer
This is the story of another great artist the fashion world borrowed. His name is Paul Sika, and he is "the new African talent adopted by the West". Sika is in fact from Abidjan, Ivory Coast. He attended his studies at the french high school of Ivory Coast, the Blaise Pascal, then expatriated to the UK, and graduated at Westminster University of London in software engineering.
After graduating, he came back to his own country, and started his brillant career: but not as engineer. As artist.
3. Matrix inspired print, by Kellypaints on Etsy 4. Photoshop, by Artandsunshine on Etsy 5. Photoshop template, by JackandMolly on Etsy
He consider himself a heir of David LaChapelle, who was his first inspiration. But Sika is mostly portrayed as Andy Warhol's Grand Son after he defined himself this way some years ago.
In 2010 he published his first photo-book, At the heart of mine, an intriguing "visual rhapsody" of photos accompanied by prose. The text explains for good his mission of showing Africa's energies and hopes, and succeeds in avoiding stereotypes.
Sika mainly works with photo editing. He strengthens the colors of his shots, often reaching over-saturation. He avails himself of actors, giving birth to complex compositions, which have been said "technicolor explosions".
His pictures are much more similar to stop-motion frames rather than still lives. CNN defined them "one-frame films". And the resemblance of his work with cinema is not a random parallel: he told he was actually enlightened on his destiny when, in London, saw the poster of Matrix Reloaded on a wall.
He had just a few exhibitions before fashion industries became interested in his bold imaginary. At that time, he decided to be represented for commercial works by Josette Lata for the US market.
Among the most recent brands he worked with as fashion photographer, Fouka Riddim and Macaci - which is the largest manufacturer in Ivory Coast.
Among the most recent brands he worked with as fashion photographer, Fouka Riddim and Macaci - which is the largest manufacturer in Ivory Coast.
It is said he is now looking for a partner to enter the world of video games. In the meantime, enjoy his YouTube Channel.
Stay tuned!
Monday, 21 March 2011
The Etsy EURO WEEK
The EURO WEEK 2011 is starting today!
In order to find out European shops - and especially the ones which apply discounts -, the editorial staff suggests that you may search for items using the "ETSYEURO" tag.
Besides, you can save time also with the "SHOP LOCAL" search engine option.
As you know, my shop and I offer FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!!!
Enjoy!!!!
Saturday, 19 March 2011
Fashion Photographer on Sale
On November 20, 2010, during Paris Photo, a stunning international photography fair, Christie’s put up for auction more than sixty lots consisting of Richard Avedon’s most known pictures, so far belonging to the Foundation Richard Avedon. The news attracted me because this was both one of a kind auction in Europe and a very rare monographic sale. But it has to be considered that in America a Avedon's work - the Beatles psychedelic portraits - was sold for a crazy amount of money, totally estimated as 464.000 dollars (Christie’s, New York, 2005).
Richard Avedon (NY, 1923-2004) was maybe the most influential photographer ever within fashion. Briefly: in 1946, when he set up his studio in NY, he started providing pictures for magazines such as Vogue and Life. He was hired and soon became chief photographer for Harper’s Bazaar. In 1966, he left that position to work for Vogue, where he had a fast career (from 1973 to 1988 he signs most of the covers). From 1992 until he died in 2004, he was staff photographer for the New Yorker.
During his impressive career, Richard Avedon photographed American powerful men (i.e. Kissinger), rock stars (i.e. Electric Light Orchestra), and so many artists, musicians, writers I won't even try to list. Nevertheless, he’s probably well known mostly for unforgettable pictures such as Dovima with Elephants (Cirque d’hiver, Paris, August 1955) or the “sad” Marilyn Monroe (New York, May 6, 1957). He actually became famed catching beautiful women wearing Dior and Cardin in a totally new way.
An enlightening comment by himself on his path can be this:
“ I was overwhelmed. Mrs. Vreeland kept calling me Aberdeen and asking me if a wedding dress didn’t make me want to cry. They’re all serious, hardworking people – they just speak a different language. So I took my own models out to the beach. I photographed them barefoot, without gloves, running along the beach on stilts, playing leapfrog. When the pictures came in, Brodovitch laid them out on the table and fashion editor said, ‘these can be published. These girls are barefoot.’ Brodovitch printed them. After that, I was launched very quickly.”
(R.Avedon, 1965)
And he has never stopped being fresh and revolutionary in his fashion work. Later, for a Calvin Klein jeans campaign, he chose to work again with Brook Shields, who was in her fifteen, stating that she "focuses the inarticulate rage people feel about the decline in contemporary morality".
Andy Grundberg said that Avedon's work “helped define America’s image of style, beauty and culture” (October 1 2004, The New York Times).
Although he became renowned as fashion photographer, Avedon was a complete professional and he can be recalled for many other projects, among which the six-years lasting In the American West, on behalf of the Amon Carter Museum, Texas (1979-1984).
Original photos from this latter are among the Parisian lots, while there aren’t any from An autobiography, a three-year project made out of photographs he took with a Leica at the East Louisiana State Mental Hospital, Jackson, Louisiana, where his beloved sister died.
His extreme sensitivity can perhaps explain a fact, reported as curious by his assistant and author of Avedon at Work Laura Wilson: Avedon used to treat his subjects “with the attention and dignity usually reserved for celebrities”.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
Japan
The Way of the Samurai is found in death. Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily. Every day when one's body and mind are at peace, one should meditate upon being ripped apart by arrows, rifles, spears and swords, being carried away by surging waves, being thrown into the midst of a great fire, being struck by lightning, being shaken to death by a great earthquake, falling from thousand-foot cliffs, dying of disease or committing seppuku at the death of one's master. And every day without fail one should consider himself as dead. This is the substance of the way of the samurai.
***
La via del samurai e' trovata nella morte. La meditazione sulla inevitabilita' della morte dovrebbe essere praticata ogni giorno. Ogni giorno, quando il corpo e la mente sono in pace, si dovrebbe meditare sull'essere sventrati da frecce, fucili, lance e lame, sull'esser trascinati via dall'onda che cresce, sull'esser gettati nel mezzo di un grande rogo, sull'esser colpiti dal fulmine, sull'esser scossi a morte da un grosso terremoto, sul precipitare da scogliere alte centinaia di metri, sul morire di malattia o commettere seppuku alla morte del proprio maestro. E ogni giorno senza fallo uno dovrebbe considerarsi morto. Questa e' la sostanza della via del samurai.
Magic Turquoise.
Need to cut a fine figure? This is an amazing set of necklace and earrings made out of filigree and turquoise marbles.
As coral, this magnificent greenish-sky-blue gemstone is believed to have magical powers and a specific good influence on the wearer. More precisely already 5000 years ago turquoise necklaces were worn as protection against unnatural death. Legend claims that if the necklace changed color, it is warning the approach of doom. With the passing of time, it has been discovered that the turquoise can change color because of the light, chemical reaction brought about by cosmetics, dust or the acidity of the skin. I've read it on Wikipedia.
Turquoise as gem is historically tied to nobility and wealthy classes and it is used in italian jewelry as a mark of sophistication. Nonetheless, for in many cultures of the Old and New Worlds this gemstone has been esteemed for thousands of years as a holy stone, a bringer of good fortune or a talisman, it does have the right to be called a 'gemstone of the peoples'. Wikipedia, again.
The gray veins on the turquoise marbles are not to be considered a bad sign: they are due to pyrite or limonite, minor components of turquoise. They testify its natural origin. You can guess: where did I get these informations?
The retro, classic style of my Turquoise Parure is thought to be perfect in all kind of mannered situation but remember that brass filigree can be very shining and does not fit with double boring context.
The fashion aphorism: "The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you!", Coco Chanel.
When you visit my shop and purchase the Turquoise Parure you are going to receive both necklace and earrings with a reasonable discount, but if you are interested in save some money buying only one of them you can contact me.
The gray veins on the turquoise marbles are not to be considered a bad sign: they are due to pyrite or limonite, minor components of turquoise. They testify its natural origin. You can guess: where did I get these informations?
The retro, classic style of my Turquoise Parure is thought to be perfect in all kind of mannered situation but remember that brass filigree can be very shining and does not fit with double boring context.
The fashion aphorism: "The best color in the whole world is the one that looks good on you!", Coco Chanel.
Ironically Etsy.
(Italian version below/Segue versione in italiano)
Friends of mine showed to me this post on Urlesque. It's very funny, so in your spare time please just have a look.
But that's nothing.
As soon as I start publishing on Etsy I found out about Regretsy.
If you didn't know Regretsy, you should definitely visit this "widely funny" website (Los Angeles Times, editorial review).
The author, April Winchell, posts and comments on Etsy "handcrafts gone wrong" and much more. By categories.
Regretsy it's a place of interest for every Etsy addicted. On the one hand, it makes you laugh - deadly. On the other, it may prevent you from being unreasonable etsy-enthusiast.
The crafters/artists featured on Regretsy generally do not take it personally.
There are many reasons why, among which:
1. It is the best form of advertising ever. And Regretsy followers generally buy the featured items.
2.The Regretsy Alchemy Fund hires Etsy crafters to create handmade products for various charities.
3. In some occasions, Regretsy helps artists in need.
It is not that bad.
Friends of mine showed to me this post on Urlesque. It's very funny, so in your spare time please just have a look.
But that's nothing.
As soon as I start publishing on Etsy I found out about Regretsy.
If you didn't know Regretsy, you should definitely visit this "widely funny" website (Los Angeles Times, editorial review).
The author, April Winchell, posts and comments on Etsy "handcrafts gone wrong" and much more. By categories.
Regretsy it's a place of interest for every Etsy addicted. On the one hand, it makes you laugh - deadly. On the other, it may prevent you from being unreasonable etsy-enthusiast.
The crafters/artists featured on Regretsy generally do not take it personally.
There are many reasons why, among which:
1. It is the best form of advertising ever. And Regretsy followers generally buy the featured items.
2.The Regretsy Alchemy Fund hires Etsy crafters to create handmade products for various charities.
3. In some occasions, Regretsy helps artists in need.
It is not that bad.
ITALIAN VERSION/VERSIONE IN ITALIANO
Alcuni miei amici mi hanno fatto vedere questo post su Urlesque. E' molto divertente, quindi se potete dateci un'occhiata nel vostro tempo libero.
Ma questo e' niente.
Se non conoscete Regretsy, dovreste assolutamente visitare questo sito "selvaggiamente divertente" (Los Angeles Times, recensione del libro).
L'autrice, April Winchell, publica e commenta "prodotti artigianali non andati a buon fine".
Per categorie.
Regretsy e' un luogo d'interesse per ogni Etsy-dipendente. Da un lato, fa ridere da morire. Dall'altro, puo' prevenire dall'essere irragionevolmente entusiasti di Etsy.
Gli artigiani/artisti che compaiono su Regretsy di solito non la prendono sul personale.
Ci sono diverse ragioni, tra cui:
1. E' la miglior forma pubblicitaria di sempre. Ed i fan di Regretsy di solito comprano i pezzi segnalati.
2. La Regretsy Alchemy Fund assume artigiani di Etsy per creare prodotti fatti a mano per varie organizzazioni di beneficenza.
3. In alcuni casi, Regretsy aiuta gli artisti bisognosi.
Non e' poi cosi' male.
Friday, 11 March 2011
Techie Stuff
(Italian version below/segue versione in italiano)
Surfing the web, have you ever met this disclaimer?
Surfing the web, have you ever met this disclaimer?
This brief legal note often appears on peer to peer websites, private blogs and on more "official" html pages. Though, it is clearly a masterpiece of nonsense.
If you are affiliated with any government, anti-piracy group or any other related group, or were formally a worker of one you CANNOT enter this web site, cannot access any of its files and you cannot view any of the HTML files. If you enter this site you are not agreeing to these terms and you are violating code 431.322.12 of the Internet Privacy Act signed by Bill Clinton in 1995 and that means that you CANNOT threaten our ISP(s) or any person(s) or company storing these files, and cannot prosecute any person(s) affiliated with this page which includes family, friends or individuals who run or enter this web site
Being curious, I googled it.
It came out that, according to Wikipedia, “the Internet Privacy Act is a non-existent law cited in order to deter” who prosecutes illegal activities such as file sharing, hot stuff and copyright covered materials.
The false act began to show up in the late 1990s on websites which distributed illegally “boot-legged” materials. As a consequence, nowadays this “disclaimer” can be used as a key word to find out pirate contents.
Having all the characters of a mason secret word, since it sounds right but it is clearly stating nonsenses, I'd like to think of it as a code among pirates.
Ps. The only website reporting the information is Snopes, the definitive Internet source for urban legends, folklore, rumors and misinformation!
ITALIAN VERSION/VERSIONE IN ITALIANO
Navigando in rete, avete mai incontrato questo disclaimer?
Se fai parte di associazioni governative, o gruppi ANTI-pirateria od qualsiasi altra associazione collegata a queste, oppure se hai lavorato precedentemente per una di queste NON PUOI scaricare nessuno di questi file. Scaricandoli non concordi con queste condizioni d’uso e commetti volontariamente la violazione al codice 431.322.12 dell’Internet Privacy Act firmato da Bill Clinton nel 1995 e questo significa che NON PUOI minacciare il/i nostri ISP od ogni altra persona o azienda che detiene questi file, e non puoi perseguire alcuna persona affiliata a queste pagine web, includendo familiari, amici od altri individui che visitino queste pagine web.
ITALIAN VERSION/VERSIONE IN ITALIANO
Navigando in rete, avete mai incontrato questo disclaimer?
Se fai parte di associazioni governative, o gruppi ANTI-pirateria od qualsiasi altra associazione collegata a queste, oppure se hai lavorato precedentemente per una di queste NON PUOI scaricare nessuno di questi file. Scaricandoli non concordi con queste condizioni d’uso e commetti volontariamente la violazione al codice 431.322.12 dell’Internet Privacy Act firmato da Bill Clinton nel 1995 e questo significa che NON PUOI minacciare il/i nostri ISP od ogni altra persona o azienda che detiene questi file, e non puoi perseguire alcuna persona affiliata a queste pagine web, includendo familiari, amici od altri individui che visitino queste pagine web.
Questa breve nota legale appare spesso su siti di condivisione, blog di privati e anche su pagine web ben piu' "ufficiali". Tuttavia, e' chiaramente un capolavoro di non senso.
Essendo curiosa, l'ho googlizzato.
E' venuto fuori che, secondo Wikipedia, " L'Internet Privacy Act e' una legge non esistente citata come deterrente contro chi perseguita attivita' illegali tipo la condivisione di file, contenuti vietati ai minori e materiali coperti dal diritto d'autore".
La falsa legge ha fatto la sua comparsa per la prima volta alla fine degli anni novanta sui siti che distribuivano illegalmente i bootleg. Come conseguenza, oggi questi "disclaimer" possono praticamente essere usati come parole chiavi per trovare contenuti pirata.
Di questi disclaimer mi piace pensare che siano quindi un codice tra pirati, perche' mostrano tutti i caratteri di una parola d'ordine, suonando corretti, ma essendo chiaramente insensati.
Ps. L'unico sito che riporta questa informazione e' Snopes, la fonte web definitiva su leggende urbane, folklore, dicerie e disinformazione.
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Florence!
Venerdì 11 Marzo, ore 21.00
al primo piano della Biblioteca, sala contemporanea.
To whom it may concern, i.e. travelling and Florence-based Etsians!
"Tonight we are going to talk about the violated body of women.
Starting from the philosophical notions of the body coming from Leib and Körper - and more generally the ones belonging to the phenomenological tradition of thought (Husserl) -, we are going to face with some specific forms of violation of the woman's body.
The topic will be considered on the basis of its cultural and religious aspects just to land at the psychological one. There is indeed the purpose of building a more effective reflection on this issue, existing for society and for individuals as well, by means of concepts generally lying beyond the horizon of the preposed institutions."
(Humana.mente, Journal of Philosophical Studies, press release)
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Irish Treasury on Crafty Blog
Today my irish team treasury shows up on the Crafty Ireland Team blog, etsyireland.blogspot.com!
And it just makes me happy!
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Lost Girls.
Again about fashion-fascism: I really love Dublin and I respect its history, but sometimes I think it is aesthetically unreasonable.
For instance, last week my model and I were walking downtown to take pictures of her wearing my jewelry.
We started looking around to find a nice scenario. After many attempts, we decided to give up with this hard task and wait for the next trip outside the city, or directly until springtime.
While we were trying to get rid of our feeling of discomfort, we noticed that there is a general lack of straight lines in Dublin. Sidewalks, doors, steps, gates: all the structural elements seems to refuse stillness, although the region is not exactly subject to earthquakes.
There is plenty of Palladian houses, a chaotic melting pot of renaissance jars, greek columns and gables mixed up with colored doors, liberty stain glasses and meaningless freemason geometries.
We were on our way back home when speaking about our idol Walter Pater we finally get it. It's the mysterious British Isles' fusion-imaginary that make the city so weird to us.
I've already posted the amazing words from Walter Peter on Mona Lisa, where there are both the idea of living a thousand different lives and the idea of the human kind as keen to all philosophical influences.
Differently from the continental inhabitants, the British aesthetes coming to Italy and France to actually meet our culture - perhaps during a sentimental journey (what a great tradition!) -, used to mixed up all the tendencies despite of the place and the age they belong: Walter Pater wrote an ode to the portrait of a XVI century bourgeois woman of Florence, associating it to the new-gothic vampire vogue, the Far East cultures, Ancient Greece and Imperial Rome.
I also found out his mood made of renaissance echoes, baroque, goth, orientalist stuff, historicism, neoclassicism, romanticism et cetera was very common among artists, collectors, and scholars 'fin de siecle'.
So Walter Pater belong to a imaginary which could actually be the common root of the curious architecture of Dublin, the Isles' fashion trends, and a sense of beauty that feels so exotic to us.
Fashion Fascist and Fashion Victim
(Italian version below/Segue versione in italiano)
A friend of mine recently told me that we Italian and French people are considered fashion-fascists.
And that's probably true. At least, we like to judge a lot. By my side, I like very much the British Isles' and American tastefulness. I really appreciate - I'm not joking - all the pink hearts, blooming gardens, colorful stripes, swallows and bird related, obsessive design.
I like the complete lack of rules in color matching that nonetheless gives good results. Moreover, I've always loved bows, weaving embroidery and lace, although we use them in a slightly different way.
I even start understanding what knitted coasters and teapot cozies are for. Nonetheless, everything I like, I like it because it remains exotic to me, I guess.
Back to our "fashion-fascism"... As the bon mot which sees us associated with spaghetti and pizza, the myth following which Italians are fashion victims is a Boogeyman you can use against your children when they don't want to dress up: “if you don't wear immediately this checked skirt, Armani will come and bring you away!”.
For instance, in Italy women are generally wrapped in mortifying black down jackets, more similar to a duvet than to the cheap Penneys/Primark fancy coats I've seen here around and in London. I'm very envious of your basic wearing.
They also wear tennis shoes more often, anonymous boots or ballerinas rather than stiletto heels, that here are a must - and not only for hanging out at night.
In Italy, again, I see a lot of very short haircuts, the ones that the hair stylist sells you as "easy manageable", while the truth is that he doesn't know what he is doing. Here instead, I've rarely seen a girl without a fine hair head.
So, as foreigner, I probably can't see the greater picture.
Is all this talk about fashion our fault?
ITALIAN VERSION/VERSIONE IN ITALIANO
Fascisti della Moda e Vittime della Moda.
Recentemente, un'amica mi ha detto che noi Italiani e Francesi siamo considerati i "fascisti della moda". Ed e' probabilmente vero. Quantomeno, ci piace molto giudicare. Per quanto mi riguarda, trovo davvero gradevole il buon gusto delle Isole Britanniche e americano.
Apprezzo – e non sto scherzando – l'ossessivo design di cuoricini rosa, giardini in fiore, strisce coloratissime, rondini ed uccellini di varia specie. Mi piace la completa mancanza di regole nell'accostamento dei colori – che nonostante tutto da' buoni risultati.
Inoltre, ho sempre amato fiocchi, trine, ricami e pizzi, anche se noi li usiamo in un modo leggermente diverso.
Ho perfino cominciato a capire a cosa servano i sottobicchieri e i copriteiera fatti a maglia.
Ciononostante, immagino che queste cose mi piacciano perché, per me, restano abbastanza esotiche.
Torniamo ora al nostro "fashion-fascismo"...Come il bon mot che ci vede associati a spaghetti e pizza, il mito secondo cui gli Italiani sono vittime della moda e' giusto un Babau che potete usare contro i vostri bambini quando non vogliono vestirsi: "Se non ti metti subito questa gonna a quadretti, viene Armani e ti porta via!"
Tanto per spiegarsi, in Italia le donne sono generalmente avvolte in mortificanti piumini neri più simili a una coperta che ai cappotti di Pennyes/Primark economici ma ricercati che ho visto qui e a Londra. Sono davvero invidiosa del vostro abbigliamento di base.
Le donne italiane indossano anche piu' spesso scarpe da ginnastica, stivali qualsiasi o ballerine invece dei tacchi a spillo - che qui sono d'obbligo, e non solo per andare in giro la sera.
In Italia, ancora, vedo molti tagli di capelli cortissimi, quelli che il parrucchiere ti vende come "facili da gestire", mentre la verità e' che non ha idea di cosa stia facendo. Qui, ho raramente visto una ragazza senza la sua folta e curata capigliatura.
E' quindi possibile che, da straniera, mi sfugga il quadro generale.
Tutto questo parlare di moda e' forse colpa nostra?
***This post has been featured in the Etsy Italia Team blog***
http://etsyitaliateam.blogspot.com/2011/03/fashion-fascist-and-fashion-victim.html
***This post has been featured in the Etsy Italia Team blog***
http://etsyitaliateam.blogspot.com/2011/03/fashion-fascist-and-fashion-victim.html
Sunday, 6 March 2011
Dalla parte delle bambine.
Italian version below/ Segue versione in italiano.
As Italians, we recently reflect a lot on the usage of women's body.
Underneath, the problem of stolen infancy
and of the gender education women still receive, as stated by many books such as
"By the side of the girls" (1973) and "Again by the side of the girls " (2007).
ITALIAN VERSION/VERSIONE IN ITALIANO
Le immagini che seguono vengono dal mio ultimo Treasury, Dalla parte delle bambine.
Come italiani, ultimamente riflettiamo a fondo e molto sull'uso del corpo della donna.
Al cuore, il problema dell'infanzia rubata
e dell'educazione di genere che ancora le donne ricevono, come spiegato dai libri
"Dalla parte delle bambine" (1973) e "Ancora dalla parte delle bambine" (2007).
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