Hairstyles from Paris to Milan – Fall Winter 2007-2008

The hairstylist at Jean Louis David and their art director Franck Pérez came to Milan to prepare five hairstyles representing this year’s hottest cuts. The models are five normal women. Beautiful ladies who study, work, and live normal lives. They are not professional models. Franck Perez talked with each woman to find out who she is and where she wants to go in life. He then adapted the current fashion cuts to represent the image that each woman desired to present. This is one of the secrets of fashion, great food, or great wine, an experienced artisan adding his fantasy and imagination to make something unique.

Loretta (lead photo) is one of the millions of women who you would find in your office. Not one you would say is a stunning beauty but a pretty girl. As happens with many women her normal care does not accentuate her physical qualities. Franck Perez set her up with hair extensions and just a bit of color. The look is successful. A few hours with a professional who cares about his work really makes a difference turning this normal co-worker into a pretty hot babe.

Lucia is the youngest of the bunch. Her big brown eyes make you think she is somehow timid or quiet. The opposite is true. She is full of energy and fight. She is a small girl and her dark black full-bodied head of hair makes her look even smaller. The art designer decided a cut that would frame her face and accent her eyes. To lengthen her figure he added highlights.

Maria is a middle aged woman in her early fifties. She is full of energy and wants to look her best. For her, a short and sassy look was the choice. Time takes its toll on the face but that does not mean that a woman cannot play this to her advantage. The difference between old and mysterious may be simply hair color. Too light and it will tend toward gray while too dark might evidence skin imperfections. Dishwater blond seems to work well.

Lucia Pia is the girl you would never think about. She lives in a small town, works as a paralegal, is highly involved in her church activities and would love to be a kindergarten teacher. She wants to live a fantasy, at least for one day, of the sensual vamp all men notice. The style is wild, big curls softly unwinding in a certain disorder.

Patrizia is a university student studying to be a pharmacist. Her friends think she is the image of Mediterranean beauty comparing her with a young Monica Bellucci. She comes from a traditional family and they want her to forget these worldly things and concentrate on her studies. For her an aggressive look from the fashion shows of Milan. It suites her young style well.

This experiment, sponsored by an Italian women’s magazine and the coiffeurs from Jean Louis David, shows that a little attention to detail and a couple of hours a month can allow any woman to express the best of who she really is.

Tags: Italian Culture Italian Hairstyles Milan Womens Fashion Fall Fashion Italy

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Emanuel Ungaro Italian Women’s Fashion Fall/Winter 2007/2008 – This is Hot!

Emanuel Ungaro has always been a tad aggressive in his designs. This year is no different. He pushes the sensuality and femininity buttons with an interesting combination of leather and bright, slinky, synthetic blends. I would think of sequins and shiny fabrics as evening outfits. The 2007/2009 Fall Winter line successfully combines the “I am in a festive mood” with the soft feminine contours of Italian design. The result is the embodiment of desire. No man, who is still a man, stands a chance when the Ungaro Femme Fatale enters the room.

The leather outfits are aggressive, a bit of sweat may cross my brow, but I will most likely maintain my composure. The designer jacket would set me back a bit but I could still talk with compound sentences. Even this little black dress would leave me some level of dignity.

As the colors start to arrive, subtly flowing across those dangerous curves that deserve flashing yellow lights and signs placed at least 120 feet before hand, my concentration would surely break. Quiet candlelight dinners on the porch of some beach house with the sound of waves crashing would be stepping all over any intelligent small talk I might attempt.

The Colpo di Grazie would arrive when my lady arrived in one of these. These should be covered under Bush’s antiterrorist torture methods. My fingers are shaking from the adrenaline rush just imagining Raffaella walking into the room. Ladies, do not buy these outfits. They should not be legal. Have pity on us poor men. Do not attract the ire of every woman that happens to see you. Leave this numbers in the store window. The imagination can be powerful but the real thing is a whole different story.

Tags: Italian Fashion Italian Designers Fall Fashion Ungaro Womens Fashion Travel Italy

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Just Cavalli Women’s Fashion Fall/Winter 2007/2008 – How not to design Women’s Clothes

I usually do not write about things I do not like but two designers caught my attention. This season’s most horrendous goes to John Galliano. I think he was trying for the aggressive gothic look and got outfits for Halloween’s worst Horror House. Not to be outdone by the Spanish designer Just Cavalli decided to test the confines of taste. If it were not for the fur boots or collars I would have thought about this as a summer line. Some outfits tend more toward baby doll pajamas than something that should be worn outside the home. Sometimes a designer accentuates the colors or the fabrics but both are dreary in this line. Perhaps cost cutting resulted in a brain drain.

Nice outfit but didn’t we did say this is the Fall Winter collection?

I guess the fluffed corduroy makes it winter wear.

The blimp nighty-night look.

Please do not wear these.

Ok, not all is bad. I really like the slinky pants with the silk combo fabrics. Check out the boots. The shoes are all pretty hot, perhaps the best things in the collection.

Finally to end on a frivolous note, it may be my male mindset set but doesn’t this outfit have a phallic something about it?

Tags: Italian Fashion Italian Designers Fall Fashion Cavalli Womens Fashion Travel Italy

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Women’s Accessories Fall/Winter 2007/2008 Italian Shoes – Retro Peter Pan Boots

Fashion on the streets often surprises the experts. Without a doubt most designs by the established stylists are successes. This only accounts for about 10% of the fashion scene. The other 90% decides what will be hot and what is not. Fashion in the street, many years, is just outside of my capabilities to comprehend. As a mortal man I subject my opinion to my goddess. If she says it is a must have I can only agree. I think over the years she has learned how not to hurt my feelings. She knows what I like and what I abhor. She will find what she likes and not express a strong opinion.

This is the case with the Retro Peter Pan boots making their appearance in the offices. The only things missing from these babies are the floppy wings that make the collar. What I find most interesting is that the designers consider this style “masculine!” Perhaps in the days of Men at Work someone would have considered these masculine but “not on my watch, Mr. Tibbs.”

I usually do not include prices but with the Internet you may be able to find some of these boots online or in your local store. In Italy, all prices include a 20% Ad Valorum Tax. The price you see is the price you pay.

The shoes in lead photograph are Lea Foscati. Polished leather, buttons, belt and 9 centimeter spikes are the characteristics. Currently you can find them in Milan for 159 Euro.

Furla also includes the side buttons. Patent leather, in various primary colors and 10 centimeter square spikes define these shoes. They are more expensive at 340 Euro.

Janet & Janet makes the Peter Pan par excellence. They are round top cut with a frontal zipper to avoid slipping on the 8 centimeter heels. They can be picked up for just 155 Euro.

Kalliste’ also uses the front zipper. They are also interesting because of the patent leather with suede insets. The 9 centimeter spikes are nice. The colors offered are quite unique. In the photograph the shoes are between Acqua Marine and Forest Green. They can be picked up for 274 Euro.

Roberto De Carlo must have been doing something or someone when he chose the colors for this one. I am not sure if it is Hot Pink or Blood Purple. Either way you can find these expressions of the imaginary mind for 290 Euro.

Tags: Italian Fashion Italian Designers Fall Fashion Shoes Womens Fashion Travel Italy

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Women’s Accessories Fall/Winter 2007/2008 Italian Boots

Micam, the Shoe Fair in Milan, has barely closed its doors. Women in Milan are sporting their Fall/Winter foot apparel. Several tendencies seem to be winning the hearts and feet of women everywhere. They are boots, retro Peter Pan and Lifted Décolleté. The passion of my soul prefers the retro Peter Pan boots. I prefer the boots. As long as the boots are not of the goulash variety, boots add a naughty hint of playfulness.

The lead photo are polished leather with suede inserts. They can be found at Pollini.

Roberto de Carlo presents soft suede and 8 centimeter heels.

Suede is also the material of choice for Cesare Paciotti. Finishing touches are patent leather belt and 11 centimeter spikes.

The Les Tropeziennes are my least favourite but I find the wrapped string an interesting touch.

Polished leather, ankle belt, 8 centimeter heels and a 1 centimeter platform are the traits of Angela Inqueti.

If you cannot find them at your local store and Milan is too far away try my sponsor Forzieri. While these boots may not be immediately available they may have them later in the year.

Tags: Italian Fashion Italian Shoes Italian Boots Italian Designers Fall Fashion Ferre Womens Fashion Travel Italy

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Lorenzo Riva – Italian Women’s Fashion Fall/Winter 2007/2008

Lorenzo Riva’s 2007/2008 Fall/Winter Women’s collection is a combination of 1960s styles and fabrics accompanied by a contemporary clean line. The Scottish tweed is an interesting fabric choice that seems to be gaining space on the streets of Milan. The summer temperatures are starting to give way to the fall evenings. The Scottish tweed just seems appropriately warm for the cooler days and dropping temperatures.

For those who do not appreciate the tweed Lorenzo Riva does not disappoint. Bright red cotton-wool fabrics are the basis for evening feminine and slightly sensual office and evening wear. The cut is clean but does not exactly follow the curves. Instead they create the professional pressed look that makes these dresses perfect, and appreciated, in almost any office environment. They are perfect under the overcoat or fur while hinting at that “I am beautiful” attitude.

No line would be complete without a few pieces that wrap the body accentuating a woman’s femininity. Available in both the lighter pearl gray and the eye catching red without a doubt these outfits will be a hit both in the office and perfect for dinner and dancing. The embroidered dress is my favorite. I become melted butter when in the presence of a beautiful women who dresses well.

The evening gowns are sensual. I would venture to say more than evening gowns these are evening, into the night, the best is yet to come gowns. You must have the appropriate occasion to wear these but just think about one of these beauties draped around your marvelous curves.

Tags: Italian Fashion Italian Designers Fall Fashion Lorenzo Riva Womens Fashion Travel Italy

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