More Dinners

I continue to shop at the local market and grocery store. This dinner was comprised of pumpkin-filled ravioli, fresh tomatoes, green beans, and chicken, in a pesto sauce.

mmmm

Amazing Italian Fashion

The garments I share with you here are from images I shot on Sunday, June 14, 2009. I had walked into the city center of Verona to view a Photography exhibit before it closed. The work of young Veronese photographers was featured.

After looking at the exhibit, I decided to try out a gelati store my landlord had told me about. So, since it was a very hot day, I looked for streets that were more shaded, and in doing so, found new streets that had some amazing fashion. I wish I had the presence of mind to note the stores and designers of all the garments below, and of course the address, as I would like to go back and see more of what they have in their windows. This is Italian fashion at its best.

Below you see the images of three garments that I found amazing.

This Dress (Abito) was in a store called Newgalles Donna. The bands at the top are knit, and they interlace with each other. It was simply amazing.





The Jacket (Giacca)you see here was utterly breathtaking. The pattern was engineered in place when the jacket was cut. Then, various handwork, mostly beading was applied to the surface, following the print on the fabric. Look at the beautiful bound buttonholes.





This Blouse (Blusa)is gorgeous. Lace has been laid in place and then stitched onto the surface of the base fabric to create the scalloped look you see here.




By the way, the gelato was also very good, and a treat to the palette as opposed to the eyes.

What's Different in the Fashion Windows of Italy

I wander the streets of Verona often, window-shopping and looking at what is in-fashion here. There are two fashion items which are quite different than anything I had seen at home. So, here they are, with a brief description.

There is a style of sandal here that is popular. It is somewhat of a combination of sandal and boot. It really reminds me of footwear in the Roman and Greek eras of fashion history.



The second item that I see which is quite different is a type of pant or cropped-pant that has an extremely deep crotch. This style bases its origin in the Indian Pajama or Sirwaal (and other similar garments from other parts of the world). Below are two examples of these styles, as seen in the store windows.





Here is a drawing of an Indian Sirwaal pattern and garment. I created this drawing as part of my sabbatical research this past fall. The legs of this example are longer than the wearer, who will scrunch them up, once they are put on.

The Search for Shoes

The Search Continues...

I found my shoes in a shoe store on Via Mazzini. This is one of the fashion streets here in Verona. Surprisingly, they, and most of the shoes in the store were reasonable for dress shoes, in that they were no different in price than what I would pay at home.

The store is Martini’s Style Calzature and it is located at Via Mazzini, No. 48.








The owners are Patrizia and Allesandro (pictured below).



I had spotted the shoes a week ago, but wanted to wait until I actually had the dress in hand, so that I could confirm that the color worked well. Now, let me tell you, I think I have looked in every shoe store in Verona, as I causally stroll around. I kept hoping something would jump out at me. I had decided that I needed “heels” although I rarely wear them at home. You have to understand that every Italian woman appears to wear heels at all times. I don’t know how they manage the cobblestone streets, but they do. I also don’t know how they manage to not get tired feet, but they do not appear to do that either. So, I give them credit. Italian women (and men for that matter), always look so elegant, it is amazing.

One evening, after a classical concert, I was strolling up Via Mazzini, and happened to spot a pair of shoes that I thought would be perfect. They had a sense of being beaded, they were heels (but not too high), they were dressy, and they appeared to come in a color that should match the dress. I was excited. So, I took a picture of the shoes and the store, so I could remember where it was.

On Saturday, once I picked up my dress, I headed straight to Martini’s. Patrizia helped me and I am delighted to say not only did the shoes work, they also fit. I had to walk around in them a bit to be sure, but they will be fine.

I did look at a few shoes, just to be sure, and there was another likely candidate that you can see. But in the end, the original shoes won out, and I will be happy to wear them at the wedding. Of course, Patrizia, knowing it was for my son’s wedding, had to show me a purse or two, and there was one that fit in perfectly with the dress and shoes.

Here you can see the shoes beside the dress (along with the runner-up shoe). If you look up at the first image, you can get a peek of the little clutch-style purse on the left.


I am ready now for the big day. Knowing my excitement, I can’t imagine how the bride-to-be feels, Kendra, my future daughter-in-law.

Martini’s Style Calzature
Via Mazzini 48,
37121 Verona
Tel. 045 8007408

A Couture Wedding Gown: Part 3

This fitting was the third fitting and it took place in late April. At this point, the designer, Elena had created the entire basic dress in a silk. The shirring has been perfected, and the fit is almost perfect, although Elena ‘s standards are high, so the fitting continues.

Here you can see Elena standing beside the gown, as we found it when we walked into her studio.









Various additional pinnings were made to finess the fit.





There was discussion on embellishment, if it should be used, and how. You can see here how Elena would hold lace and embellishment samples up for Kendra to see in the large mirror. Placement, and style were considered. In the end, Kendra favored the long strip of beaded embellishment.



The next fitting took place in early June. I was not able to attend, but I imagine that basically, the dress is complete at this point, with only minor alteration to occur. I will keep you posted.

The Search for “The Dress”: Part 2

Found it!

I found my dress in a wonderful boutique called Lion’s Road (an English name)on Via Leoni. It is owned by Teresa Rettondini. In Italian she would be the Titolare, meaning “owner” . The lovely woman who helped me was Flora Desgrazi. Her title is Collaboratrice meaning “assistant or help”, I believe. The business is 30 years old, and carries all Italian design.

Here you can meet Teresa (on the left) and Flora (on the right).



I have walked by Lion’s Road many times in past, and browsed the downstairs a little in October when I was here doing research for my sabbatical. I had no idea, however, that there was a large upstairs floor that has a large selection of better dresses, casual dresses, sportswear and a category called Transitio (which I’m not sure what that is, but Flora told me (in Italian), that this is part of their focus.

I explained to Flora that I was looking for “un abito speciale, per the matrimone del mio figlio” (a special dress for the marriage of my son). She understood, and began to show me dresses she thought would be appropriate. This was a one-on-one service, and I felt like I was in the movie Pretty Woman. Once we chose a few dresses to try, I went to the change room and began the process. She attended to me with every question and need. She made comments as to the style, fit and color. Surprisingly, every dress she selected fit fairly well, which I don’t often have happen at home. Of course, there are the usual things with some styles (I am a petite size, with a shorter back waist and narrower shoulders), but I was very surprised, that I couldn’t eliminate some of the dresses due to fit.

I tried on dresses that were a bit funky, some that were chic, and some that simply didn’t do a thing for me. Flora would let me know if the dress was a ‘no’, and as always, I appreciate that kind of honesty. Then, I came to “the dress”. I was a little unsure of the color, (I can only wear certain shades of light brown/tan). The style suits my personality perfectly, as it reminisces the 1920’s, and I teach Fashion History, and love this decade.



My dress (notice that now it is ‘mine’) is made of silk and nylon. The silk is used as the under-dress, that is overlaid with nylon tulle. It has a surplice front, a dropped waist, and four tiers of tulle netting, each in a different color. These are beaded at the bottom, with complementing beads. A beaded sash of tulle is attached to the lowered waist panel, and ties at the side.


Flora convinced me that the tulle dress was the best choice, as c’e molta elegante. (It is very elegant). So, given all the words I had been thinking of (funky, unique, chic, etc., ) the one I ended up with was elegant, and that suits me just fine. If there is one time I want to be elegant, it is at the wedding of one of my children.



We needed to have the shoulders pulled up (as I often do), so Flora pinned these for me, and told me the dress would be ready in 10 days.

I picked my dress up on the weekend, and it is beautiful. Now for the shoes.

Lion'S Road Di Rettondini Maria Teresa
Via Leoni, 3
37121 Verona (VR), Italy
+39 045 591420

The Search for “The Dress”

If you follow this blog, you will know that my son is getting married in July. So, that would make me the mother-of-the-groom. So, as you can guess, the search for the dress had started. In late May, after the college semester ended, I began my search. I had toyed with the idea of making my own dress, and there is still an appeal in that idea., but I have so many things on my plate, including five weeks away from my sewing machine, that I decided that it would be best to purchase one.

I did find a few dresses at home in the San Diego area, and brought a few home (they were on sale). Yet, I wasn’t 100% sold on any of them for the wedding. Vanity would have it, that I would like not to see myself at the wedding, so purchasing a dress from a popular store, was probably not a great idea.

I decided I would see if I could find something while here in Italy. I feared this would be a bit of a challenge, as Italian women tend to be tall and slender. I, on the other hand am petite and deal with being two different sizes, top and bottom.

The search began here in Verona, by casually going into some stores and looking around. I couldn’t decide what look I wanted… I always like something different, so, did I want to be funky, chic, unusual, … I wasn’t sure. I just hoped I would know the dress when I found it. I got brave one day, and tried on a Valentino (just for fun) and a Sonia Rykiel, but they were way beyond my reach. Yet, it was an experience.

So.. read on, and you will see that I did find “the dress”, and of course, the shoes and purse to go with.