VERSACE ACQUIRED BY MICHAEL KORS

Versace in Rome is in piazza di Spagna. Shopping there is a great moment for anyone. Last week I was in Milano. I understood that something was going on few days ago when I bumped into Santo Versace in via Montenapoleone while he was going to see his daughter Francesca who was presenting her new line of accessories called F.e.v. Santo took me there and I must say that the bags are cute. The wired thing was double: first of all that, the day of the show, Santo instead of taking care of the last minute problems of a catwalk was walking to visit Francesca. The presentation was at the Nuovo Paper Moon, a charming restaurant with a garden near by .

The other weird thing was that, when I told him that, I was not invited to the Versace show, he said something that was completely different from his style: “There is nothing I can do about it “. He repeated it twice. And it was true as we can see today. In a lot of shows there is a bad climate because often the brands prefer to invite influencers than journalists. Everybody told us that the catwalk place of Versace, in Piazza VI Febbraio was extremely big so they could fit the double of the people. But now it is considered cool to have only 3 raws of people and hundred of square meters of an empty space.

The answer of Santo was a signal to tell me that He was out of it. Today all the news are talking about it: Versace had be sold for 2 billions dollars. An extremely good price for a Maison that, especially in the last years, recoverd from difficult moments. One of the good moves of Donatella (She will be there in a vaguely creaative position) was to get Gianni’s archives and make them live again. A great idea. This last collection in Milano (that I saw on line) is very colourful and easy to wear. We hope that Michael Kors will keep an eye on it. They acquired 100 per cent of the brand. Jonathan Akeroyd will remain as the CEO.

Shopping in Rome with a new sneaker from Stella Mac Cartney and Stan Smith

STELLA McCARTNEY AND STAN SMITH CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF STELLA #STANSMITH

THE FIRST VEGAN LEATHER EDITION OF THE ICONIC ADIDAS STAN SMITH AT LONDON FASHION WEEK

 On Monday 17th of September Stella McCartney and Stan Smith celebrated the launch of Stella #stansmith, the first vegan leather edition of the iconic adidas Stan Smith.  The launch at the recently opened 23 Old Bond Street Stella McCartney store during London Fashion Week, follows in the designer’s long-term collaboration with Adidas.

Leather-free and suitable for vegans without sacrificing on style the Stella #stansmith is given a Stella twist.  Reflecting Stella’s signature details, the sneaker features stars in embossed stripes replacing the signature adidas three stripes, while her logo features on burgundy and blue stripe bands at the heel.  Staying true to the original design Stan Smith’s face remains printed on the tongue of the right shoe while Stella’s portrait and signature adorn the left foot.  Stella #stansmith is available in both men’s and women’s sizes at Stella McCartney stores worldwide, in Rome in via Borgognona, the store is gorgeous. You can get them also online at www.stellamccartney.com  and from select retail partners at a price of £235.

The designer, alongside legendary tennis player, Stan Smith, signed pairs of the vegan sneakers for guests including Madonna, Riz Ahmed, Ellie Goulding, Anna Wintour, Edward Enninful, Tigerlily Taylor, Alasdhair Willis, Radhika Jones, Imran Amed, Mary Charteris, Keith Lemon and many more.The Stella #stansmith joins the growing Stella McCartney cruelty free sneaker range which now includes; the Loop, a new innovative and sustainable sneaker with specially designed hooks instead of glue, and the Eclypse, the brand’s first fashion trainer characterised by a sculptural and pumped-up shape.

Stella McCartney is a luxury lifestyle brand that was launched under the designer’s name in 2001 and is under a 50/50 partnership with Kering until 2019. Stella’s approach to design emphasizes sharp tailoring, natural confidence with a naturally sexy attitude.  The brand is committed to ethical values, and believes the company is responsible for the resources it uses and the impact it has on the environment. It is therefore constantly exploring innovative ways to become more sustainable, from designing to store practices and product manufacturing. As a lifelong vegetarian, Stella McCartney does not use any leather or fur. The brand now offers women and menswear ready-to-wear, as well as handbags, shoes and a kid’s line. It has also developed collections under licensing agreement for eyewear, lingerie, swimwear, fragrances and a long term partnership with adidas. The collections are currently available in more than 100 countries at wholesale, and through 53 freestanding stores including London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Milan, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing.

Stan Smith is a former world No. 1 American tennis player and two-time Grand Slam singles champion. Since 1973, his name has been used for the German sportswear brand adidas’s best-selling sneaker in history—the "adidas Stan Smith shoe." In 1987, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame of which he is now President.   Today Smith lives in Hilton Head, SC with his wife Margie-a former collegiate tennis player.  He has four married children who all played college tennis.  In Hilton Head, he is a co-owner of the Smith Stearns Tennis Academy and is also the Chairman of Stan Smith Events.

Enjoy Shopping in Rome on an exclusive trip

Shopping in Rome around via Condotti, via del Corso and via Borgognona is a perfect fun experience. September is a great month because the new autumn-winter collections had just arrived. For example, yesterday I had to pick up my client at the Plaza Hotel in via del Corso and, as She had some problems walking, I pushed the wheel chair. No problem at all because my friend Andrès taught me few days before how to use it, especially how to use the break, how to lift the person (She could walk a little bit too). The best street for walking with the chair is with no doubt Via Condotti. We went to Max and Co ( She got a vanilla coat, a nice velvet purse and a pale pink pullover). Afterwards we moved to Dolce & Gabbana. The Director there, Nancy Marcucci, hosted us in the best way possible, offering us water etc… My client bought a nice, colourful flowered sweatshirt with a big W on the front. One of the picture of the collection is published below.

We then move to Ferragamo where She got a pair of green sunglasses, looking a little bit like a butterfly. They were fun and I did not push her to buy shoes because, at the end, She was not sure she could walk well with them. One in fact were slippers. I do not take any commissions from the shops so I had no problem at all to tell my view.

My client likes Escada. She was looking for a white suit there. She had a picture of it and we found it! Escada is at the Spanish steps. It is an interesting brand to watch, they just had their Spring Fashion show in New York few days ago. I saw it on Vogue Runway. This shopping morning was a good memory for me too.

Dolce & Gabbana Autumn-Winter Collection 2018-19