A true icon of fashion and style, perhaps the last remaining from the heyday of the 20th century, passed away earlier this month, on August 7th.
Anna Piaggi was a true original. I wanted to take an opportunity to pay homage to her.
Anna was Italian, a writer and translator who understood the nuances of making fashion accessible and consumable for the masses. She applied her creativity with notable publications such as Vogue Italia. She was noted for her double-page spreads featuring montages of text and imagery which reflected her fashion sense. She quickly became a sought-after authority in European fashion.
Piaggi became infamous for her vast collection of clothing, rumored to have over 2800 dresses and 260 pairs of shoes. It is said that she was never seen in public wearing a repeat of the same outfit. She was a walking work of art - bold, creative and absolutely exciting to follow. She held company with some of the greats of fashion, from Karl Lagerfeld to Manolo Blahnik - who were all enamoured by her sense of style and beauty. Taking residence in New York periodically since the 1950s, Anna became a favorite subject of another one of my icons - legendary high fashion street photographer Bill Cunningham. She will be missed by many.
Carole
I have always been particularly obsessed with the segment of my collection that features purses and clutches from the 1920s Art Deco period to the '50s.
One of my favorite aspects of these pieces is their variety of shapes and silhouettes. Each design is original, and add an interesting aspect to current-day accessorizing.
The hardware on these pieces are often made from bakelite, marcasite, and lucite, adding a unique feature of days gone by.
Whenever I wear them, people stop me on the street to ask - where they are from, and where they can find them.
Do you share my obsession for these classic vintage purses? If you happen to know a bit more about their interesting history, we always welcome feedback!
Stay Fabulous,
Carole
In the wake of the 2012 Summer Olympics, London-town is still absolutely rocking in Grazia Magazine's latest edition!
They have featured a stunning Alan Anderson collar necklace from our collection (second from the top), and we could not be happier to have worked with this banner British publication. Special thanks to Kitch + Honey, our PR firm on the British side of the pond, as well as to the ever-lovely Noelle Reno, Kabiri, and Rous Iland.
Enjoy!
Stay Fabulous,
Carole
Bill Cunningham is one of my all-time faves, one of the most iconic photographers in fashion history and of course known for his raw street style. So whenever I do get to catch his column "On The Street"in the New York Times, it is always a treat.
This past Sunday he featured the art adorning the facade of Louis Vuitton's Fifth Avenue store in New York City. LV has been collaborating as of late with the mercurial Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who is renown for the heavy emphasis on polka dots in her work. The Whitney Museum also launched a retrospective featuring Kusama to coincide with the Louis Vuitton unveiling. Notably, another Japanese designer, Rei Kawakubo showed a collection heavily laden with huge polka dots last spring.
So apparently its now officially a love affair again, but I did want to show you some beautiful bakelite bangles from the 1930s and 1940s that featured inlaid polka dot designs. There has long been a fascination with this geometrical shape, especially when it can be used to complement and to contrast. Bakelite jewelry in general enjoys a cult-like devotion among vintage connoisseurs today, and we are proud to have some great pieces in our collection here at CTVC.
I do however also share a love for polka dots, so yes, if I do get down to New York City in the coming weeks, I will be sure to stop by the Whitney Museum to take in what should be a very interesting exhibit!
Stay Fabulous, Carole
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