“What is elegance? Soap and water!” - Cecil Beaton
Jake Gyllenhaal at the Dubai International Film Festival
While in self isolation, on this worldwide — well almost, hello New Zealand and Sweden — lockdown due to a tiny virus with a potent plan, I’ve been thinking a lot about my favorite things. And persons. Among my most beloved actors Jake Gyllenhaal always tops the list.
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A still from ‘Ciao Professore’ by Lina Wertmüller
Today, I wanted to share with you via YouTube an armchair voyage to my childhood. I believe more than where we come from, our heritage is what we watch, read and experience as children that makes us who we are as adults.
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Alice & Olivia face mask, can be pre-ordered at $10
Slap on some face cream, a little eyebrow pencil, pull on the face mask and go.
That’s our beauty routine these days, but are the masks here to stay? And how will you choose yours?
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A still and quote from ‘The Circle’
Yesterday’s rain brought with it some gloom. And gloom with me always leads to contemplative times. So this clip is all about seeing this too up-close to realize that something may be not quite right. Or “drinking the Kool Aid” as I often like to say, referring to the Jonestown massacre by cult followers of Jim Jones who poisoned themselves and their kids with cyanide mixed in the punch.
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On this clip, I wanted to go to Paris. I’d never been when I visited it two summers ago, with my beloved late friend Richard. I had always held out to see with someone special and they didn’t get any more special than he! I doubt I’ll go back to Paris now, too many memories at every corner. In 48 hours, Richard showed me everything around his beautiful adoptive city. Truly magical.
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A still from Netflix’ ‘Unorthodox’ available now
Tonight at sundown is the start of Passover and I wanted to share some ideas that have to do with this celebration of liberation. We need that ourselves after all these days!
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Today’s clip is all about our great U.S. of A. I miss my adoptive country and feel sad for the news coming out of America regarding this virus. I dedicate my thoughts and well wishes to all affected, and infected, though I’ll keep my reservations about the medical authorities in the US and around the world.
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A still from ‘Yeh Ballet’ photo courtesy of Netflix
On this armchair travel adventure I wanted to venture back to India. It’s the one country on earth that provided the most inspiration for little Nina and also grown-up Nina. My parents talked of a magical place that mixed chaos and exceptional beauty and when I finally went there with my mom, in my early twenties, I was mesmerized.
I love Indian food, grew up on Hindi cinema and dressed in kurtas and salwar kameez for most of my teenage years and twenties — even dated an Indian man I met on the NYC subway thinking he was the one. He wasn’t.
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With the weather outside turning cold again in Italy, I wanted to take you, and myself on a trip to warmer shores.
On today’s clip we’re going to the Gulf, and in particular Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and Dubai. With a hint of Turkey on the way home.
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Matteo Garrone, right, with his ‘Dogman’ star Marcello Fonte
These times are bringing out the best, and the worst, in all of us. But more on this later.
So where would you like to go? I mean when you are first let out of this endless inferno of solitary confinement — I meant “Social Distancing” of course! I’d love to catch a film in a cinema, share a pizza with friends and get my nails done. I’d love to hear your picks.
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Francesco Carrozzini and Franca Sozzani
On today’s clip I talked about ‘Franca: Chaos & Creation’ the documentary about Franca Sozzani by her son, photographer Francesco Carrozzini. You can view the film on Netflix and find more info here. Her work tackled the Gulf Oil spill, as well as domestic violence while she was alive and EIC of Vogue Italia. If she were here today she’d definitely devote an issue to the Coronavirus emergency.
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So I’ve said, give me two minutes and I’ll give you films, fashion and fun. Here are today’s picks.
Today is Earth Day — or rather tonight is “Earth Hour”. I don’t know about you but this lockdown has made me realize even more than ever before that every hour of every day should be Earth day. Anyway, at 8.30 p.m. of whichever time zone you find yourselves in, switch it all off. And look at the stars. They are more free than we are at the moment and oftentimes remind us of those who have gone.
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Today the sun is shining here, and it’s been eighteen days since all Italians were “forbidden” to go outside — only for food, medicines and essential work — by their leaders. From where I’m sitting, it’s a little too reminiscent of the Fascist movement, especially since there are still at least 8,000 people arriving each day at Fiumicino airport and not being put into quarantine. Makes us feel like fools, just a little bit, I tell you. Anyway, lets turn to entertainment.
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It’s difficult to feel particularly stylish when all you get to do is go to the supermarket and pharmacy while on country-wide lockdown.
So, I’ve decided to visit my closet and find oldies but goodies there, while also having a nice conversation with you, my readers and friends.
Following is the first YouTube video of this adventure, “Two Minutes with the Minimalist Fashionista” a daily meeting, where I’ll share my favorite film, fashion and fun — a beverage is essential!
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Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in ‘My Fair Lady’ | Photograph: Allstar/WARNER BROS/Sportsphoto Ltd.
Nothing says Holidays to me more than sitting in front of the warming TV set, with toasted chestnuts on lap, wrapped in a blanket and watching a fantastic old movie. This year I’ve been lucky enough to catch three gems which I’d like to pass to you.
Oh, if you’re wondering, Xmas becomes a minimalist fashionista’s best friend when you steer away from the shopping and concentrate on good food, great company and some classic movies. Very little money is spent in the process and some great memories are made indeed.
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When my family was getting ready to move to the US from Italy, back in the early 80s, my parents took me to celebrate Christmas at the home of a famous Italian writer and journalist, in the countryside of Chianti in Tuscany. We spent a few days there, surrounded by the natural beauty of the place and Oriana Fallaci’s (our host) wit and argumentative spirit. She taught me to drink strong cocktails (I was twelve at the time) in preparation for being “a cool American girl” she said and she thought I’d make a good fashion model because of my thin ankles. She later retracted the statement, saying my imposing nose would not make me a good beauty candidate. Not exactly the perfect role model for a pre-teenage girl, but that’s a whole other blog post for a different day.
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Three generations wear Eton tuxedo shirts perfectly! Photo courtesy of Eton
The wonderful thing about a tuxedo shirt is that when you Google “tuxedo shirt for women” you’ll get a selection that includes Ralph Lauren and H & M. There is no price range, no budget, no customer that cannot afford a simple, crisp, elegant tuxedo shirt. Everyone should own one, to wear with a pair of classic black pants, or a pencil skirt, or even a black suit. It’s The Minimalist Fashionista’s best friend, the tuxedo shirt!
And just in time for the Holiday season, wondrous Swedish shirt company Eton has come up with the perfect — I mean, THE shirt to end all your shirt searches — tuxedo shirt.
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I’m Maad about these products!
No I didn’t misspell the title of this blog post. I will tell you what it means a little later. Meanwhile, here is a little secret about me and going to the hairdresser.
I feel utterly and positively vulnerable, whenever I get my hair done.
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Image courtesy of the United Nations
Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a global initiative by the United Nations. Although this is a yearly occurrence taking place every November 25th, it really should be a year-round initiative, an effort in our everyday life to avoid the pitfalls of violence but also help eradicate the behavior around it.
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