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!
Read MoreA still from Netflix’ ‘Unorthodox’ available now
Clip Eight of the Minimalist Fashionista on Lockdown: 'The Graduate', American fashion and regarding acquaintances in a pandemic
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.
Read More
A still from ‘Yeh Ballet’ photo courtesy of Netflix
Clip Seven of the Minimalist Fashionista on Lockdown: From India 'Yeh Ballet' on Netflix, chai and dress by Matta
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.
Read More
Clip Six of the Minimalist Fashionista on Lockdown: Film from Saudi, fashions from Jordan and Bahrain, plus a Turkish coffee
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.
Read More
Matteo Garrone, right, with his ‘Dogman’ star Marcello Fonte
Day Five of the Minimalist Fashionista on Lockdown: Matteo Garrone's films, Antica Sartoria at S*auce and a cup of Espresso
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.
Read More
Francesco Carrozzini and Franca Sozzani
Clip Four of the Minimalist Fashionista on Lockdown: 'Franca', Eduard Erlikh and Free People
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.
Read More
Clip Three of a New Adventure: The Minimalist Fashionista on Lockdown: Earth Hour, Tribeca Film Festival online and Zara
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.
Read More
Clip Two of a New Adventure: The Minimalist Fashionista on Lockdown: 'The Bad Batch', Twitter handles to follow and herbal tea
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.
Read More
Clip One of a new adventure: The Minimalist Fashionista is stuck inside
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!
Read More
Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in ‘My Fair Lady’ | Photograph: Allstar/WARNER BROS/Sportsphoto Ltd.
The Minimalist Fashionista: Three Holiday movies to fill your heart with joy
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.
Read More
The Minimalist Fashionista: Act like a cowboy, think like a lady
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.
Read More
Three generations wear Eton tuxedo shirts perfectly! Photo courtesy of Eton
The Minimalist Fashionista: The perfect tuxedo shirt from Eton for the Holidays
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.
Read More
I’m Maad about these products!
The Minimalist Fashionista: I'm Maad about the boy (read: hairdresser)
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.
Read More
Image courtesy of the United Nations
Women's rights -- and wrongs -- explored at Cairo Film Fest
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.
Read More
The Minimalist Fashionista: Fix your posture in two quick steps
OK, so you’re wondering why the alignment of your hips makes any difference to a Minimalist Fashionista. Well, if you don’t look good and feel good in your undies and bra, you won’t look that great dressed in your minimalist fabulous wardrobe either. And you won’t feel good inside your skin, because at all times, you’ll be walking around loop-sided. That adds years to your beautiful self and wreaks havoc with your stride.
Read More
The original Barbie as she was sold circa 1970s
Why I am the woman I am thanks to Barbie -- who turns 60 today!
As the iconic Mattel doll turns 60 on March 9th, which is quite a milestone, I thought about my own relationship with Barbie and even her boyfriend Ken.
Read More
Fifty Shades of Grief: Coping with mourning at midlife
They say when you lose a loved one, you go through five stages of mourning: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. When I lost my best friend, just over a month ago, I went through those five stages in the first 24 hours — and about forty-five more since then. Despair, gratefulness, love, sadness, fury, loneliness, fight, empowerment — they have all been part of my grieving process.
Read More
How Filorga saved my face -- AKA a Venice Film Fest Tale of Midlife Success!
Every once in a while, I do look in the mirror and see a tired, sallow face staring back at me, complete with dark under eye circles and sagging skin. It’s not often, but particularly at the end of a jam packed day at a gem-packed film festival like this year’s Venice International Film Festival, it happens.
Read More
Sofia Loren in 'Two Women' by Vittorio De Sica
More midlife success secrets: Big girls DO cry!
As we travel together on this journey to steer clear of a midlife crisis by feeling instead our midlife success, I wanted to share another secret to growing older gracefully. The power of tears.
We all remember Sofia Loren's perfect quote "If you haven't cried, your eyes can't be beautiful" but I'll take it one step further, by saying that the tears I've shed in my life have kept me young at heart.
Read More
With Meg Ryan, at this year's Locarno Festival, photo by Lukas Osiecki
Here we are, Meg Ryan and I: the modern face of middle age
Yup, you read it right. It's not a typo. Both Hollywood's sweetheart and I are now traveling through the second half of our lives. And you know what? We look and feel damn great.
As I sat across from and next to Ryan in Locarno for a couple of hours, I couldn't help but think, like a perfect mantra playing in my head, how beautiful and perfectly grown up she looks. At times, I know she could tell I was elsewhere mentally during our talk. So yes, Meg you were right, I was thinking about how damn great you look and sound, up close and personal.
Read More