Italian Fashion Newsletter - November 1999
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You are here: MIIOL--> Fashion--> Newsletter--> November 1999--> Pins and Needles I
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"Needles & Pins Part I
Love him or hate him, photographer Helmut Newton has created his own style and influenced fashion photography during the last half of this century. To make sure he leaves his mark, and a heavy one at that, he has just published what he calls "The Biggest Book of the Century." Weighing over 27 pounds, with dimensions of 20 by 27 inches, "Sumo" contains 480 photographs, many of them the Newton distinctive, aggressive nudes, one per page. The book is published by Taschen and was presented to the public in Basel, Switzerland. Newton turned 70 this past Halloween but the years haven't slowed him down one bit: He recently did an ad to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Mont Blanc's Meisterstuck fountain pen showing a woman's hand holding a pen writing "I love you" on the naked top of a female model.
Say it isn't so. Barbie can't be 40 years old. Designers far and wide have created outfits for the fashionable miss to wear, from outlandish to elegant. To celebrate her birthday Swiss jeweler Piaget created a diamond ring set in white gold for Barbie to wear with a high-fashion dress by Ted Lapidus. The one-of-a-kind creation was sold at auction in Paris Nov. 24 for World Association of Friends of Children, one of Princess Caroline of Monaco's favorite charities.
Benetton entered the field of high finance some time ago, and just took over controlling interest in the Societa' Autostrade which runs Italy's toll highways. But they still found time to reach an agreement with Rosenthal to create a line of tableware that includes plates, glasses, placemats (called American towels in Italy), fabric and paper tablecloths, flatware, candles, and kitchen accessories. Bright colors and geometric themes are featured - what else did you expect from Benetton?
Unfortunately the film that Sophia Loren and Naomi Campbell hoped to make with master director Michelangelo Antonioni will not be made. Too bad, the combination alone of the veteran Italian diva and the British top model, known for her colorful personality and collection of boyfriends, held great promise! Producer Felice Laudadio explained that although the script of "Destination Verna" had been completed, and location scouting was completed last spring, "last summer was hard on Antonioni's physique. He just wasn't ready to start shooting this fall so the film has been shelved for the moment," he told the reporter for Rome's daily newspaper, "Il Messagero."
Super-shopper Madonna hit the boutiques in Milan recently after vacationing with Donatella Versace at her lakeside villa in Como. She picked up leather coats lined in colorful silk prints from Versace, as well as a black sheepskin coat and six handbags with matching shoes. Little Lourdes Maria, affectionately called "Lola" by her mom, was outfitted with a blue blazer and gray pleated skirt for her first day at kindergarten.
Dogs are wonderful. People write beautiful letters after seeing the tribute to my late Yorkies Tazio and Fangio on my website. Many fashion people are also dedicated to man and woman's best friend. Super-model Eva Herzigova totes her white toy poodle Angel Lee in her very own Louis Vuitton pooch carrier and calls a dog-sitter when she has to leave her in the hotel. Rome couturier Valentino Garavani even named a line of clothes after a favorite pug, Oliver. Another pug-lover is a Rome designer of the new generation, Gai Mattiolo, who considers Brutus and Poppea his "brother and sister." Gucci's Tom Ford dotes on a terrier named John. Saying goodbye to a beloved dog is one of the most difficult things in the world, but I was very lucky and able to bury mine next to my adored "Tac" who died many years ago, at the villa of relatives in the hills overlooking Rome and Anzio.
Logan Bentley Lessona