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The Salvatore Ferragamo Museum Commemorates Marilyn Monroe

Kat Tanita — Sat, 18 May 2013 13:00:47 +0000

- By Kat Tanita -

In the basement of Palazzo Spini Feroni in Florence, Italy, amongst 17th and 18th century Fiorentine masterpieces, The Museo Salvatore Ferragamo is commemorating the 50th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s death. As one of their most beloved leading ladies – as well as loyal customers – they’re celebrating her life with an exclusive book simply titled Marilyn, as well as an exhibition sure to garner the attention of Marilyn Monroe lovers the world over – and honestly, who isn’t a fan of the vivacious bombshell?

This multi-media exhibition showcases 50 of the leading lady’s most recognizable ensembles (including the iconic white dress from the “The Seven Year Itch” which just sold for $4.6 million at auction), while compelling and beautiful unseen photographs, letters, movie clips and hand written journals fill up the rooms. As Salvatore Ferragamo compared Marilyn to the Greek Goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, it’s no wonder she owned an extensive collection of Ferragamo pieces. In fact, he personally designed 40 pairs of shoes – 30 of which are featured throughout the exhibit – for his favorite blonde starlette. Unlike his notorious Vara design, he instead created a “sexy, with a high heel” shoe (4 inches to be exact) perfectly reflective of Marilyn’s persona.

Throughout the various displays, curators Stefania Ricci and Sergio Risaliti have artfully given all of us an alternate view of the ultimately short, but compelling life of Marilyn Monroe. They’ve highlighted her intelligence, passion and drive and created an intimate portrait of her talent, beauty and glamour that has truly captivated the heart and essence of this forever to be remembered Hollywood icon.

Click to view slideshow.

Kat Tanita is the founder and editor of With Love From Kat; a New York based style blog. She is also a social media consultant for luxury fashion and décor companies while also a contributing Writer for OliviaPalermo.com, @glitterguide, and @madebygirl. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram @KatTanita.

VOGUE ITALIA’s Interview with Olivia

Olivia — Mon, 13 May 2013 22:16:01 +0000

See Olivia’s interview with VOGUE ITALIA above

P.S. We Love: Diane Von Fursternberg and the tale of The Empress’s New Clothes

Sarah Bertness — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:31:40 +0000

-By Sarah Bertness-

It’s time to start stacking up on your summer reading list, and Diane von Furstenberg and the Tale of the Empress’s New Clothes – the latest in London-based Vogue voice Camilla Morton’s grown up fashion memoir series – definitely tops our (and your) reading list. DVF has defined a real life fairy tale; girl meets prince, falls in love, marries, and moves to New York City to start a fashion empire that would empower, enrapture and wrap-dress women around the world. From princess to fashion world queen to CFDA fairy godmother, DVF is the happily ever after that inspires us all, and Morton’s penned memoir is utterly enchanting. Sit back, relax, and get ready to start turning the pages.

Sarah Bertness is a freelance writer covering the arts, music, fashion and culture. She has a love for all things avant-garde, late night rock and roll, wanderlust, and a good dose of fringe and gold sequins. You can follow her musings on Twitter @sarahbertness

PUNK: Chaos to Couture

Jillian Magenheim — Fri, 10 May 2013 18:17:21 +0000

-By Jillian Magenheim-

Upon entering the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s latest fashion installation, “Punk: Chaos to Couture” one is faced with a floor to ceiling projection showing manic moshers rocking out in the late 1970′s. The video is flanked on either side by mannequins facing each other with gorgeous Guido Palou head pieces to artfully replicate the wild and crazy punk hair style we all know and love. While one of them is clad in an all red buckled Galliano ensemble the other is in head to toe Vivienne Westwood, they give not so subtle hand gestures to each other and I realize I’m about to fall down a rabbit hole into a mixed-media wonder world of punk rock.

Depending on your beliefs (and where you’re from) Punk was originated in New York City at clubs CBGB and OMFUG in the East Village in 1974 as well as in London on Kings Road in 1975. While the culture of Punk may have been created in NYC it’s style which became the expression of their attitude was created in London. Pioneers like Malcolm Mclaren, Vivienne Westwood, Blondie, The Clash, The Ramones, Richard Hell and Patti Smith lead the charge in this multi-dimensional and defiant counter culture.

Mannequins clad in Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm Mclaren. Photo courtesy of Betty Sze for Models.com

As you journey through the rooms, the exhibit increasingly unfolds itself to the captive viewer. Appropriately, the room set to initiate you into the punk-rock world is dedicated to Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm Mclaren – who according to Chrissie Hynde (lead singer of The Pretenders) “Punk would not exist without them.” Mannequins are clad in everything from studded leather moto jackets, safety pinned ripped mini skirts and defaced printed tees all perfectly complimented by ripped fishnets. They stand in a circle as a 360 degree cubed video display hangs above them depicting a man in a latex costume as sounds of whips play through the speakers. To top it off, there’s a replica of Westwood’s famous store, bringing us back to 430 Kings Road and allowing for the entire room to speak to the uprise of rebelling against British proper.

DIY Hardware. Left: Gianni Versace. Right: Dolce & Gabbana

Extending throughout the remainder of the exhibit, a DIY theme is expressed in four different ways. The first is DIY Hardware. It’s here we start to leave the world of punk “chaos” behind and enter into the idea of punk as couture. The first hallway is lined with designs – both gowns and separates – by Giovanni Versace, Christopher Kane and Riccardo Tisci all of which are slathered in brass metal rings, metal safety pins embellished with crystals, literal balls and chains and gold metal studs used as embellishments as well as functionality. The hall closes with a Dolce & Gabbana almost ethereal black tulle and lace gown thats cinched with a 6 inch wide silver metal plated belt complete with padlock and key.

Turning the corner, you’re faced with DIY Bricolage. As the punk culture left nothing to waste, they faceted clothing from all types of mediums elevating them into works of art. For example, crushed porcelain plates are wrapped in silver wire and turned into a vest while Gareth Pugh created voluminous garments that seemed to be made of textured leather rather than what they actually are – black plastic garbage bags. Paper mache became jackets, white plastic shopping bags are turned into bathing suits, while pressed bottle caps are exquisitely turned into pencil skirts thanks to Prada.

Left: Prada in DIY Bricolage. Right: Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel in DIY Destroy

The remaining two spaces showcase DIY Graffitti and the most punk of them all, DIY Destroy. The artful graffiti takes many forms: stamped bathing suits, printed graffiti murals that look like artful crayon drawings on Vivienne Westwood ensembles, paint splattered Ann Demeulemeester column dresses, and graffiti blasted Dior ballgowns that stole the show. All of these pieces stand out on their own and yet are relatively similar as they all don a swirling vortex of colors, shapes and prints. Lastly we come to the room of deconstruction – the ultimate emblem of punk culture, the uniform of the kids who first ventured into CBGB all those years ago. This theme of urban decay and government stagnation is loud and clear as Yohi Yamamoto, Commes des Garçons, Rodarte, even Calvin Klein and Chanel present to us wool felt and mohairs, sparingly threaded to show as much skin as possible along with classic ripped denim jeans and cotton tanks paired with combat boots and shredded wool sweaters.

The grand finale. Photo courtesy of Betty Sze for Models.com

As you come across the final mannequin in the exhibit, it sports a frontless Maison Martin Margiela “gown”. As it quite literally flips you off, how could anyone help but smile at the lifeless doll in front of them, as the images of the amazingly inventive and imaginative collection of designs they have just had the opportunity to view so up close and personally dance through their minds. While separately there is certainly chaos amongst the designs – once the pieces are put together, there is an artful cohesion to it all. A passion for the abandonment of rules, the bravery of being an individual and under no circumstances conforming to anyone else’s ideals of what is right and what is wrong.

PUNK: Chaos to Couture runs through August 14th. For more information, visit MetMuseum.org

Feature image courtesy of the MET.

Jillian Magenheim is the Editorial Coordinator for Oliviapalermo.com. She’s a New York City based editor, writer and blogger with a true love for fashion while remaining a foodie at heart. Follow her thoughts on Twitter @magenhaz

From History to Hysteria: The Traditions and Antidotes of Santa Maria Novella

Teresa — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:42:41 +0000

- By Teresa Greenfeld -

Around the corner from the famous green and white facade of Chiesa di Santa Maria Novella in Florence, lies one of the world’s oldest pharmacies (certainly the world’s oldest still operating). Bearing the same name as it’s neighbor, Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is an homage to old-world traditions; each pot, jar and bottle seeped in history. Founded in 1221 when Dominican friars from the neighboring Basilica de Santa Maria Novella began making potions, balms and herbal remedies to use in their monestary’s infirmary, one of it’s first elixirs was a distillation of rose petals to use as an antiseptic cleanser for houses post-plague. The Officina still stocks the elixir, though you may find the rose water more useful as refreshing facial toner, rather than a household cleanser.

Though word of their renowned remedies had spread world-wide, it wasn’t until 400 years later in 1612, that Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella opened its doors to the public – long after it already secured a place in the history books. Some 100 years before their grand opening, Catherine de’ Medici, just 14 years old (and a newlywed, having just married the future King of France), commissioned a signature scent from the legendary farmaceutica, thus giving birth to the first Eau de Cologne. The bergamot and citrus scented ‘Acqua della Regina’ – or ‘Water of the Queen’ was so loved by the young Queen of France that she gave it out as gifts to friends during her tenure on the throne. Using the same original formula created for Catherine de’Medici, Santa Maria Novella’s signature scent remains one of their most popular scents to this day.

The original farmaceutica in Florence, still in existence today.

Most of their incredible, beautifully wrapped potions and products date back hundreds of years; their formulas and production methods unchanged for centuries. The ‘Pasta di Mandorle‘, or ‘Almond Paste’, thought to be the first product the Dominican friars ever concocted, has amazing skin healing and rejuvenating properties. Containing sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, egg yolk, virgin beeswax, and glycerin, this hydration powerhouse also evens skin tone and diminishes age spots. Unbelievably fragrant, the world-famous Pot-Pourri has been produced using a secret formula of herbs and flowers – which are hand-picked in the Florentine hills, soaked in essence within huge terra-cotta jars, then aged for several months - since its creation in the 1200′s. Using equipment hailing from the 1800′s, the Jasmine Milk Soap is molded – one by one – aged 60 days, then gorgeously hand-wrapped. The Santa Maria Novella Water has perhaps one of the more charmingly humorous back-story. Used to relieve female hysteria due to over-zealous corset-lacing, ‘Acqua Anti-isterica‘ or ’Anti Hysteria Water’ as is was orginially known as, was created in 1614 by the Dominican friar Angiolo Marchissi. Made of essential oils known for their relaxing and calming effects, Santa Maria Novella Water is a best-selling item today, used to prevent motion sickness and aid in digestion.

Then, of course, there are the fragrances. Gardenia, Orange Blossom, Lily of the Valley, and Honeysuckle are just a few amongst the more than 40 different scents available. Many of their colognes – like Tabacco Toscano, a light tobacco scent with notes of Vanilla and Amber (trust us, it’s incredible) – are unisex; all are truly unique.

The Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella Rose Water at their Piccadilly, London shop.

Though no longer under direct monistic direction, the Officina is still run by their descendants (a nephew of the last monistic director purchased the company in the late 19th century, and four generations of his family have been at the helm ever since). Ruthless devotion to original, centuries-old recipes and production methods, combined with modern technology and innovation, Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is something extraordinary; its treasures a much needed indulgence in a world where five minutes is long enough to declare something “out”.

Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella has locations in over 20 countries world-wide. For store locations or to find an online retailer, visit SMNovella.com.

For US orders, visit SantaMariaNovellaUSA.com

P.S. We Love: Outdoor Leather Cooler

Olivia — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:49:24 +0000

- By Sarah Bertness -

Picnic weather is back, and this Spring you’ll be the envy of the whole park with Outdoor’s leather cooler. Fine crafted in luscious brown leather, and oozing French old-world appeal, packing up a selection of cheeses and chilled bottle of Pinot has never looked so chic. With plenty of interior space for all your goodies, it’s the perfect inspiration piece for planning that romantic day date, a weekend getaway, or a Pimm’s party amongst friends. So roll up a blanket, add some nibbles and bubbles, and go – we’ll see you out there in the sunshine!

P.S. We Love: EATWHATEVER

Jillian Magenheim — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:43:55 +0000

-By Jillian Magenheim-

With just two steps to kissable breath, how could we not love EATWHATEVER? Started by a smarty-pants Aussie, Jacqui Rosshandler created the product after a not so fresh New Years Day morning. This entirely vegan, gluten and sugar free breath freshening product works from the inside out. The first step, swallow the gel capsule that immediately disolves in your stomach giving you fresh breath from the inside that you can feel. The second step is a quick mint to suck on to give your mouth a minty taste. Super simple and easy to use – go ahead and “Eatwhatever” you want without a care in the world about what your breath will be like after.

P.S. We Love: Arclyte Ultra Light Battery Charger

Dana Randall — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 19:26:25 +0000

- By Dana Randall -

With Springtime here, so is festival season! Whether its Bonaroo, Sónar, Creamfields, Lovebox, Glastonbury, Pitchfork or Made in America Festival, it’s time to get outdoors and enjoy everything Spring/Summer has to offer. You’re most likely already planning your festival fashion along with an assortment of grassy-field friendly flats, yet one of our favorite parts of these festivals is snapping photos and videos of all the fun. Your cell phones are now your own personal AV Production team capturing the highlights for your blog, Facebook page or Instagram account. The problem is, all of that photo taking and video recording will be a major drain on your battery life, and while many events have charging stations, why wait in line for a power boost when you can gear up with your own personal charger? This Arclyte Ultra Light Battery Charger is the perfect answer to your power-up needs and a great conversation starter with its apple shape design. This way, no matter where you are, you’ll always be at 100%.

Based out of New York City, Dana Randall is the CEO of Built by the Factory. As a woman in technology Dana is an entrepreneur with a love for fashion & beauty. You can follow her on Twitter @BBTF_Dana

Charity Spotlight: Pikolinos

Jillian Magenheim — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:11:43 +0000

- By Jillian Magenheim -

“Fashion and development, cooperation and fashion, fashion and Free Trade – this combination is possible.” Listening to Olivia, ambassador of the Maasai Project for Pikolinos, describe the incredible work and opportunities that are being provided through this amazing organization, we can’t help but feel endlessly inspired.

Launched in 2008, “The Masaai Project” was created thanks to the collaborative effort of Spanish footwear brand, Pikolinos, non-profit company, ADCAM and of course William, the Maasai leader who initiated all of this through his persistant effort and determination to better the quality of life for his tribe. By combining forces, these progressively eco and socially responsible companies have created a footwear line that earns profits intended to further women development and additional projects in the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

The process entails leather pieces cut and packaged with beads in Spain, and shipped to be distributed throughout the Maasai tribes so they can be embroidered into handmade, one of a kind murals of design. As a result, this project has allowed these women to earn their own paycheck for the first time in their lives which in-turn, has allowed over 1,600 families the opportunity to send their children to school and purchase goods such as livestock, clothing and medicine, (now that’s what we call ’girl power’!)

Currently releasing their fourth collection, Pikolinos is full-steam ahead, launching a two-floor pop-up shop (opening April 16th) in the heart of the Meatpacking District in New York City. Full of eco-friendly wood and sustainable materials, the store will be open for business over the next three months and will feature the beautifully embroidered and beaded designs from the women of the Kenya tribe. Following-up the store opening, on Wednesday, April 17th, Pikolinos is hosting a black tie gala at the United Nations to benefit the Maasai tribe through ADVAM NGO and BBALP. It’s through these efforts and so much more that Pikolinos has created a cohesive bond between fashion and fair trade presenting a brighter future for those in need, one shoe at a time.

Top & bottom: The Pikolinos pop-up shop in NYC’s Meatpacking district.

Last October, Olivia traveled to Africa to visit the Maasai tribe and shoot the Summer 2013 campaign for Pikolinos. The video below is Olivia’s recap of her trip along with the inspirational back-story of this amazing organization.

P.S. We Love: Well-Kept

Dana Randall — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:59:26 +0000

- By Dana Randall -

We’ve told you which tech gadgets and gizmos are amongst our essentials, but this one may be at the top of our list. The Well-Kept Screen Cleansing Towelettes are a must have solution to screen scum! The resealable closure does actually reseal, this means you won’t reach for a towelette only to find a stack of dried out wipes. The wipes are large enough to tackle your phone, laptop screen & sunglasses in one shot. Yes, you almost forgot about how often you are found cleaning your shades on your shirt. The wipes are a practical solution in a chic package, what more do you need?