NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE

My new favorite accessory is... my hair.

COMPULSION?!

Today I was so out of synch. I lost track of time, got lost even with an iPhone, and was late for everything. Completely out of balance. I wonder if I just got out of bed on the wrong side, or if it was all because of the... sample sale.

I left the house in the morning to get coffee. I returned almost 2 hours later with a pair of pants, a jacket and a dress... Yes, and coffee... What happened???

Well, on my way home, I saw a sign: "sample sale”. I thought: I have plenty of time to get ready before going out, why not enjoy the morning, I'll just take a peek and see what brands they are selling.

And there I was, sucked into a timeless vortex, scouring racks, precariously holding coffee, wallet, phone in one hand, and hangers full of clothes in the other. I was nothing short of the Shopaholic book series main character. And before I knew it, here I was, bam, credit card comes out, thud, final sale red stamp on receipt, and I was out the door.

High, ecstatic, I just couldn't believe I got all that stuff for so little, I glided back to my car thinking:  I can't wait to wear this and that, and uh, really need those sandals now to complete the outfit, can't wait for fall so I can wear the dress with black stockings, oh wow, I could even try an Alexa Chung look... blah blah blah...

Until I realized I was incredibly behind schedule, rushed home, opened the white bag with the red final sale stamp and... the guilt kicked in... maybe the whole morning had been a case of pure and simple... compulsion...

Crashing from the sample sale high was not easy, and I felt out of balance all day. 

Lesson learned: I will never ever... go out for coffee in the morning again!!!!

Baci e a presto,

CPS

ANATOMY OF A DREAM

There are a few favorite fashion memories that are close to my heart and still make me smile:

 

♥ A pair of dreamy pink ballet flats I got when I was in preschool. Just like my big sister. There is a picture of us that says it all: she is looking straight at the camera... I'm staring at my shoes, completely in love.

 

♥ Buying a little wool coat in a sweet pastel color when I was 6. A dream come true, pure happiness.

♥ My high school ensemble of pink Valentino skinny jeans and bordeaux sweater, with flats. My bestfriend hated me during our freshmen year. Why? She thought I was a stuck up rich little brat. She couldn’t have been more wrong. 

 

♥ My grunge phase: suede desertboots, chunky sweaters and my beloved Levis501-cinquecentouno!!!

 

♥ My first pair of black skinny trousers, pantaloni a sigaretta. Watching the Valentino show,and realizing that grunge was out and we were on to a whole new phase in fashion. I remember my brother telling me I couldn't get away with my blue jeans anymore. The bar had been raised pretty high. Intimidating or what?? 

 

♥ My first cargo pants and the feeling of accomplishment when I bought them. Not cheap, but an integral part of the Gwen Stefani inspired outfit I wore for an entire summer, clubbing and partying hard: military cargo pants; bare mid-riff tops and wife-beaters, Adidas Gazelle (the beginning of a life-long love affair with sneakers), and dark dark dark red lipstick. Fierce! 

 

♥ My black Dr. Martens. Faithful,loyal, indestructible. The only con: I completely forgot how to wear any other type of shoe. Very very bad; 

 

♥ A Martino Midali polka dot dress that my dad bought for me. I still have it in my closet. It doesn't fit me like it did when I was 20, but I can still squeeze in it when i feel nostalgic. And it is such a wonderful memory of my dad getting it for me as a gift. Something I will always always cherish. 

... just like these sweet sweet memories...

(What are you favorite fashion memories?)

 Baci,

CPS

SHOPPING... IN MY CLOSET

This past winter I did a lot of shopping in my closet. I kind of took it as a challenge. I really wanted to see what I could find and how I could work it into my weekly routine at the office. And did I find some gems that had long been sleeping in there or had never seen the light of day.

What did I find? Anything and everything:

• button-downs
• cardigans
• soft wool sweaters
• silk tops
• neglected denim

It lasted for a little while, and everytime I scored a new piece I'd feel energized. At work people would ask if I had gone shopping. Is that new, I've never seen you wear that. It'd make me so happy.

But here I am now, it's summer time, and my summer closet has never been my strongest. I don't think shopping in my closet can really be an option... unless I take out ALL the dresses that have been retired with the tag still on... mainly because they are ALL black and, as much as I love the color, it just doesn't go with my pale pale legs...

so here is the dilemma:

• keep the dresses for mid-season, when I can wear them with stockings;
• get a spray-tan (really considering this... I guess LA is really getting to me)
• take out my wallet and refresh my closet with some healthy shopping...

Hmmm, what would you do?!!

PRODUCTIVITY

Today, like many other days, I wished I had a camera with me. So many great outfits, so many interesting characters. All I wanted to do was to snap pictures for you.

Location: Larchmont Village

Why: Business meeting (hence the lack of camera and inability to take street style shots)

Leitmotiv: Monochromaticism

My streetstyle shots:

All white- white linen dress and sneakers

All black- black silk sleeveless blousy top-black wide leg trousers-leopard platform sandals-dark long black hair.

All lilac (my favorite)- lilac suit-lilac tie-purple shirt (man in his 60's)

(Please note All Black and All Lilac were a couple. Amazing!!)

All blue- neon blue denim, blue quartersleeve top and cream sabot (a.k.a. mules... seen them on the runways last fall, thought “really?! why are they back”, and haven't seen them on people's feet that much. Have you?).

All gray- gray v-neck t-shirt and gray skinny jeans with strappy flat sandals.

All in all, a pretty good meeting.

Reporting live from LA, yours truly CPS

A ROYAL KIND OF POST - PART 2

I was recently reading the advice column of a famous magazine. A reader was asking about wearing the same outfit to different weddings, just like we have seen Kate (Pippa and their mom too!!) do over and over again. The columnist's answer was something along these lines:

 "It's a European thing that Americans haven't caught up to yet..."

Wait a minute. Double take. What what what?? A European what?

Dear fashion columnist, have you ever been to Italy? Or talked to any Italian woman/girl/infant? I officially invite you to have lunch with my friends and I. We'll be more than happy to elucidate you on the subject. Let me break this down for you:

Fashion recycling is a crime. Better said, it is humiliating!!

First of all, Italians (I cannot speak for all Europeans, as we are so different from each other-but I can of course speak for an entire nation...) would rather die than being seen wearing the same outfit twice. I'm not just talking about special occasions. I'm talking about every-day-life. Going to school, the office, the supermarket!!! Let alone going to weddings where guests may overlap. It's a big big no-no. You may turn into a social outcast... if you dare.

Also, psychologically, even when you're sure no one will actually know you've already wore that outfit, deep in your heart YOU know it, and that's all that matters. I guess something goes off in our brain, a primordial instinct of survival, and we just can't bring ourselves to do it.

And that is why, my dear columnist, my closet (much like that of many other Italian women) is filled with dresses and clothes that have only been worn once... yep. Which makes for a sad bank account, happy retailers, and a confused husband.

What do you think about fashion recycling? A go or a NO??

Baci e a presto,

CPS

A ROYAL KIND OF POST

Since England in celebrating the Queen, I thought I would take this post out of the drawer and share it with you all.

In the last couple of years I have been learning about projections, as used in the field of psychology. What does that mean? Here is the definition:

1. The attribution of one's own attitudes, feelings, or suppositions to others: "Even trained anthropologists have been guilty of unconscious projection-of clothing the subjects of their research in theories brought with them into the field" (Alex Shoumatoff).
2. The attribution of one's own attitudes, feelings, or desires to someone or something as a naive or unconscious defense against anxiety or guilt.
   

In other words, when we look at someone and we judge him/her or make assumptions, we are really just recognizing something that we are:

a. capable of;

b. judging ourselves for/as;

c. not accepting about ourselves.

So, little did I know that this could also apply to the realm of fashion. How? Well let me explain (serious academic tone here):

I've been getting increasingly annoyed by all the attention that Kate Middleton has been getting since the wedding (I know, it's been a while, I know, I know). Yes, the wedding dress was beautiful (McQueen after all), yes she is pretty... but no, if you ask me, she is NO fashion icon. 

I was getting frustrated with people defining her as elegant, fashionable, stylish... to me she is just as bland as bland can be. I kept seeing pictures of her and Pippa, and just yawn. Wow, how groundbreaking, matching boots and bag, a red coat, nude pumps, shift dresses...desperately needing an espresso stat.. falling asleep here.

Soooo, how does this relate to the whole projection thing? Well, I was minding my own business the other day when I had a revelation. All of a sudden, I realized that last year, when I went to my bff's wedding, I wore a VERY KateMiddleton's outfit. OMG!!! Navy blue shift dress, nude platform peep-toe pumps, little cream purse, pearl necklace, a cute blue and beige coat... the only thing missing was... a fascinator!!!! (Yes, I even wore nude stockings... cringing.. but hey, it was COLD!!).

So yes, here it is, the truth. I am just like Kate Middleton. I play it safe, I wear classics, I am not huge on accessories, I'm not a trendsetter... and judging her is "a naive or unconscious defense against anxiety or guilt". The anxiety of being "as bland as bland can be." 

Now tell me, what is YOUR fashion projection? : P

 Baci e a presto,

CPS

A VISION IN MINT

Two of my favorite things: Diane Kruger + Mint - at the Cannes Film Festival - dreamy

www.vogue.it

THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH

I had the time of my life at Richard Simmons' class this morning. I finally went, after almost 5 years in LA and after having heard so much about it. The great excuse was a friend leaving town for good. And here we were in class, jumping, dancing, sweating like crazy and having a ball. It is SO SO SO much fun!! How can I describe it? I can't, you just have to try it! But just to give you an idea, it's like going back to being a kid.

Richard is awesome. That is the only word that can truly convey his essence. He is:

♥ Incredibly funny
♥ Outrageous
♥ Fit beyond belief
♥ Kind
♥ Inspiring
♥ Generous

We all got to take pictures with him afterwords. When he heard my accent, he asked where I was from, and immediately started speaking Italian and sharing how much he loved Italy when he lived there. He gives hugs and kisses left and right, is cheeky and also very humble. His whole message is “be yourself, and love your body”.

I left feeling like this was the best day of my life. I know it may sound crazy. But it's the truth. He creates such a safe and welcoming place for people of all sizes, shapes, ages and fitness levels to be themselves, goof off, and work out. It was so refreshing to see so many different people, and not the usual crowd of lululemon-clad perfectly prim-and-proper robots I'm used to.

So, I will tell what I wish my friends had told when I moved here:

Don't waste any more time, you HAVE to go to a Richard Simmons' class. It is just that amazing!!!

Baci
CPS

CALIFORNIA GIRL

Today I checked all the boxes on the LA-girl-cliché list:

♥ I worked until 1PM
♥ had juice for lunch
♥ I got juice from a juice bar in a trendy health food store
♥ While waiting for my "lunch" I consulted the tarots and asked the Fairies about my future
♥ The Fairies told me “ change of location” (man, now that I finally have this LA thing down, they tell me to move!!!)
♥ I wore my Toms with yoga pants and
♥ worked out in the middle of the day, after which
♥ I drove all the way to the other side of town in rush-hour-traffic for a vegan dinner with my girlfriends

It has only taken 5 years but, as you can see, I am now officially an Angelina!!

And to celebrate that, let's watch this short clip that exemplifies it all:

Also, you may want to listen to this song as you read this post (well, at least this is what's playing in my head right now):

Baci, 

CPS

IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

Today someone told me my look was very Banana Republic... She meant it as a compliment... but how do I really feel about it?

OUT OF PLACE

Another lovely day in the City of Angels. The sky is blue, the sun is shining. Around me an explosion of colors. Floral mini-dresses, red espadrilles, tribal print tops, neon everything - socks, sunnies, jeans, lace - hot pink flats, green nail polish... and then there is me... a spot of black... Darth Vader's daughter: 

black jeans

black cardigan

black scarf

black boots...

… you can take a girl out of Milan, but you can't take Milan out of a girl.

MY TRIBE

Last night I was in shock when Becks told me she was thinking about getting green ombré hair. First I said NO, no way, you can't do that. And 30 seconds later I jumped on the bandwagon and was totally for it. Yes yes yes!!! Why? Well, first of all because it would look amazing on her blonde bob. Second, I am in an aqua phase and can't act on it, since it doesn't go with my complexion (it makes me look like a walking dead, seriously). Last but not least, I live vicariously through others when it comes to hair. Why? Well, you have been reading some of my hair dilemmaS. I've been wearing my hair the same way for a few years now and I've been holding on really tight to my comfort zone. I can debate on bangs for months, consider going darker, obsess over ombré, but won't go for any it. I often think my hair is incredibly dull and that I should be more adventurous. I judge it harshly. I obsess over it. I over-analyze it. Am I boring? Am I lacking style? Am I too conservative?

Hm, wait a minute, now that I think about it there's plenty of women who are geniuses and leaders in the fashion world and sport the most classic, conservative or totally-wrong-for-them hairstyles. Just to name a few:

♥ Anna Wintour - has had the same bob for what seems like a lifetime. Yet again she IS Anna Wintour. Period.
♥ Franca Sozzani- An incredible woman, who has just today been awarded the Légion d' Honneur . Innovative and generous, but man do I wish I could take her to a salon and give her a make over!! (perdoni l'onesta', Direttrice, la stimo molto per altri motivi);
♥ Carine Roitfeld - amazing style, so cool and edgy, yet she always seems to suffer from a bad hair day;
♥ Grace Coddigton - frizzy red hair - not a style that I think suits her that well - in spite of having one of the most amazing eyes in fashion.

So what can this mean? What if instead of being boring, I am just part of a group of amazing, talented, creative, smart, sophisticated women who find other ways to express themselves that do not necessarily involve their hair... ??!!!

Already feeling better. I can now live vicariously through Becks and her aqua ombré,keep my hair just the same and live happily ever after. Glad this conundrum is over!

Baci e a presto,

CPS

P.S.:  Hmm I wonder how pink ombréwould look on me... oh no, here I go again... help!!

UNDER THE WEATHER

What to do when one (me) is at home sick? Here are some ideas:

♥ Watch the whole first season of Downton Abbey. (Develop an obsession for the show (it is, I would say, superb-British accent here please-) only to find out that there is a “very long wait” on Netflix for season 2... Argh)

♥ Indulge in coconut popsicles. Gluten-free, dairy-free and guilt-free!

♥ Read the same magazine a million times, even the ads (very interesting).

♥ Stare at a picture of Angelina Jolie on the cover of an old magazine and wonder how someone can be so incredibly beautiful and wish that Photoshop had something (everything) to do with it (especially when sick and feeling more like the beast than the beauty, if you know what I mean).

♥ Watch Beginners, fall in love with Ewan McGregor, Arthur the Jack Russel Terrier, Christopher Plummer (well deserved Oscar for this performance), rollerskating at the Biltmore Hotel, and the painful poetry and beauty of this movie. Here is my favorite frame:

 

I officially want a Jack Russel Terrier right now!!

♥ Hangout in pj's, no make-up, the most unglamorous yet liberating thing I have done in a while.

♥ Complain to no end and have my lovely hubby take care of me (he is a star!!).

♥ Watch some more TV just because I'm bored of reading magazine ads and my head hurts too much to do anything else. And finally deciding to watch Friday Night Lights. Some friends had told me I should watch it. But what they really should have said is: "You HAVE TO watch this show, it's THAT good”. The music, the photography, the acting, the characters. Simple dialogues that say so much. I'm hooked.

♥ Virtual window shopping. Fantasizing about my summer attire (well it is 85outside after all) and deciding what I'll wear at the beach in Italy in, let's see... 4 months or so. Gotta start planning.

♥ UpdatePinterest and feel completely brainless as I pin and re-pin obsessively for hours.

So, these are some ideas, shall you find yourself sick in bed like me. What is on your list?

Bacie a presto,

 CPS