Italian Fashion Accessories: Fantasy and Durability

Italian Fashion Accessories: Fantasy and Durability


Italian Accessories: Valentino 2009
Italy is known for its big Fashion Houses, for the brands that are conquering the world, one country at a time. Designer shoes and handbags made in Italy are all the rage, they can be seen on any and all kinds of celebrities. And this trend is not new.
The Italian accessories brand Gucci first became famous for its Constance bags, with a hobo shape, double strap, and a big H clasp, which was carried by Jacqueline Onnassis in the 60’s. Gucci renamed the bag the Jackie-O or more recently, the Gucci Bouvier bag, which is still a hot-sell item at upmarket fashion stores.
Other Italian designer handbag brands like Bottega Veneta and Fendi are also spoken of in hushed tones by fashionistas from Tokyo to New York.
When it comes to shoes, Salvatore Ferragamo has it covered. From Dame Judy Dench to Madonna, all women in entertainment and high society, would give a lot to see their feet clad in a Ferragamo creation. Other brands are not far behind, practically all the Italian Fashion Houses that create clothing collections also produce shoe lines each season.
Leather craftsmanship has always been an Italian strength, some of the factories in the Le Marche region of Italy bear testimony to that. In this region, artisans custom-handcraft shoes for the customer, and often create shoes for the renowned Italian shoe brands.
Any discussion of Italian accessories is incomplete without the mention of Italian jewelry. Names like Bvlgari and Damiani come to mind, but they are by no means the only Italian jewelry brands of renown. The Murano beads and glass jewelry from Venice may not be in the same price league as Damiani pearls, for instance, but they lack nothing in beauty and casual, colorful chic.

Italian Accessories: Prada 2009
Scarves by brands like Fendi, Prada, and Cavalli have become fashion collectibles. They add that particular accent to an outfit that lifts it from the realms of the ordinary to the truly special.
The appeal of fashion accessories lies in the fact that one does not have to have the perfect face or body to carry them off, and Italian fashion accessories have the added advantage of being meticulously crafted for the beauty of form and function. Moreover, if you take care of the them, good quality Italian fashion accessories would probably last much longer than the rest of your wardrobe.

Italian Accessories: Sharon Stone in Damiani
A Valentino or Cavalli handbag or a pair of Damiani ear rings would look as good on a large figure as it would on a trim silhoutte. Splurging on a pair of Versace shoes can be downright therapeutic, a pair of intriguing gloves from Prada can work wonders for any ensemble, and a colorful scarf from Missoni can keep you warm as well as provide the right dash of life to your get-up.
In this section, Life in Italy is going to bring you a flavour of Italian Fashion Accessories, their history, and what they can do for your wardrobe.

5 Top Trends: Milan Fashion Week - Fall 2011

What's Hot for Fall 2011/Winter 2012

 Look at the Top 5 Trends from Fall 2011 Fashion Week in Milan

Salvatore Ferragamo Fall 2011 - Photo by Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com via Style.com

A Few Good Men

There was a definite Victor/Victoria vibe that permeated Milan's recent Fashion Week. Fashion houses from Dolce and Gabbana to Moschino all mixed masculine in with the feminine. The result? A rash of severe lines, heavy fabrics, dark colors, pantsuits and shoe styles like the Oxford. Not to mention the military-inspired caps seen with many of these looks and their decidedly 80s, Madonna-esque vibe. If you're looking to be on trend for Fall 2011 be sure to add a few menswear-inspired items to your wardrobe, whether it be a chic blazer or fall's popular cropped pant, like the one shown here (the Ferragamo look also features another trend from the Milan runways: belts--and cummerbunds!) The best part? These pieces don't just offer style, but comfort too.

Aquilano.Rimondi Fall 2011 - Photo by Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com via Style.com

60s Ladylike Chic

Almost across the board the Italian fashion houses served up a version of 60s Mod-inspired ladylike style. From Bottega Veneta's Tippi Hedren looks to the restrained elegance at Aquilano.Rimondi, boxy jackets, shift dresses and bouffants were everywhere. Also seen were graphic 1960s prints that showed up on runways like Prada and Alberta Ferretti. Just as menswear is a big influence for fall so are ladylike looks, including frame bags, tailored jackets and below-the-knee skirts. Think streamlined, minimal and feminine. Think Jackie in the White House years.

Fendi Fall 2011 - Photo by Yannis Vlamos / GoRunway.com via Style.com

(Fur)ther Along

Whether or not you like or agree with wearing fur, its back in a big way on the fashion runways. Designers from Gucci to Marco de Vincenzo, and of course Fendi, showed it in all sorts of different ways--long, short, as trim or in fall's uber popular chubby look. This year fur will also be available in a variety of different patterns and colors too.

Gucci Fall 2011 - Photo by Photo: Monica Feudi / Feudiguaineri.com via Style.com

Jewel Tones are a Girls' Best Friend

Wondering what color will be big for fall? The answer is there are a few big hues to keep an eye out fot. While dark neutrals like blacks and greys will always be in vogue, the hot hues for Fall 2011 are gemstone inspired. Gorgeous jewel tones like teal and purple made the runways at Gucci, Pucci and Versace pop with life. This is one trend we just can't get enough of.

Prada Fall 2011 - Photo by Gianni Pucci / GoRunway.com via Style.com

Italian Women's Fashion

A Soiree Through the Decades

Sunday, September 26th, 2010

Italian women have long led the world of fashion, their obsession with la bella figura second to none. Though 


Italy has had a strong reputation of luxury goods and garments since the 11th century, modern Italian 


women's fashion only took off in the 1900s with designers like Sorelle Fontana and then Elsa Schiaparelli.

While Sorelle Fontana became the couturier to the stars, Schiaparelli went on to become one of the most influential 

designers of the 20th century, with the help of her shocking designs created under the influence of her Surrealist 

friends and acquaintances.

The atelier Sorelle Fontana made its way into the hearts of Italian aristocracy and the rich and famous all over the 

world through a groundbreaking fashion show in 1951 held in a palace by Count Giorgini. After this, the Fontana 

sisters went on to dress Anita Ekberg in Fellini's film, La Dolce Vita, which portrayed the decadent lifestyle of the 

high-living, rich and idle 'jet set'.

The young and gracious Audrey Hepburn wore their clothes in Roman Holiday, making Sorelle Fontana the 

dressmakers for royalty all over the world. It also set the easy grace of Italian women's fashion as a viable alternative 

to the constricted lines from Paris at the time.

Italian women's fashion continued to do well into the 60s, promoting a sort of leisure chic in America, and throughout 

Europe. Eveningwear got a new look thanks to Valentino, who dressed Jacqueline Onassis for her wedding in 1968, 

making Italian fashion a household name across the continents.

In the 1970's, women's fashion in Italy took a turn towards prêt-à-porter, because fashion had to be made available 

to the masses if money was to be made from the business of dressing people.

Designers like Armani, Versace, and Missoni created and followed the trends. Through advertising and 


promotion, they were able to sell the Italian fashion image to Italian women and women worldwide.

In the 1980's, power suits, pioneered by Armani but later adopted all over the world, gave rise to unisex fashion. 

Dolce e Gabbana broke into the "Made in Italy" band of designers at this time, taking sexy edginess to the next level, 

both in their evening and casual collections. the 1990's brought the sportswear and casual chic of Italian fashion 

houses like Diesel and Benetton to the fore. At the same time Tom Ford at Gucci called high-octane sexuality 

and luxury back into Italian women's fashion. Miuccia Prada, meanwhile, turned the staid Prada brand into awomen's 

fashion powerhouse after her first prêt-à-porter collection hit the ramps in 1989. Italian women suddenly had too many 

gorgeous clothes to choose from. In the first decade of the 21st century, Italian women's fashion has become a leader, 

be it couture, high street, rich glamour, smart casual, or sporty chic wardrobe.

In this section on Italian women's fashion, Life in Italy focuses on the various parts of a fashionable Italian woman's