FASHION Magazine

Even if you only glanced at a picture in passing, the image of Anna Piaggi would have undoubtedly left an imprint in your memory: her blue marcel curls, rouge-dotted cheeks, flamboyant hats and colourful, pattern-clashing clothes were an unmistakable fixture on the front row, one that will be sorely missed as the fashion world learns today of the 81-year-old’s passing.

Piaggi was born in Milan in 1931, and broke into the editorial world as a translator at the Mondadori publishing house. She moved into fashion journalism as the fashion editor of Italy’s first women’s magazine Arianna in the ‘60s, and began contributing to Vogue Italia in the ‘70s. She’s began writing for everything from Vanity Fair to L’Espresso, and as her editorial page count grew, so did her eccentric wardrobe. Her 2865 dresses and 265 pairs of shoes were celebrated in a Topshop-sponsored, Victoria & Albert Museum exhibit entitled “Fashion-ology” in 2006, while friend and admirer Karl Lagerfeld documented over 250 sketches of her many looks in Lagerfeld’s Sketchbook.

Miuccia Prada isn’t exactly known for being all that press-friendly, and a rare interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica may shed some light on why the legendary designer hasn’t warmed to the media in the same way chatterboxes Karl Lagerfeld and Roberto Cavalli have.

In a translation by WWD, Prada’s feature in La Repubblica details all her concerns about the flagging Italian fashion industry. More than any other nation, Italy has the most family-owned luxury fashion houses: Prada, Gucci, Missoni and Fendi are just a few brands that still have an active voice from the founding designers’ families. But with more and more Italian fashion houses looking to sell (Valentino sold to Qatar’s royal family for over $850 million) or to expand by going public with IPOs, Prada is worried Italian fashion may become “second league.”

“[…] If our brands cross our borders, the credit, glamour, fame and decision making is in the hands of others, and we are abandoned, downgraded,” she cautioned.

Prada doesn’t fault the designers themselves; after all, she shows Miu Miu in Paris because of the city’s “attraction that is called glamour,” and Raf Simons’ move from Jil Sander (which shows in Milan) to Parisian fashion house Dior will mean “his value will further be emphasized.”

According to Prada, the real culprits are the Italian media and left-leaning intellectuals. Journalists’ treatment of their nation’s fashion industry as “frivolous” instead of a relevant industry contributes to the view that Italy is seen as a place with “less resources, culture, protagonists, ideas, vitality and money,” meaning that like Simons, “fashion goes elsewhere, looking for the best.”

Drink in the magic of Fall 2012 with FASHION’s first look at the hottest shows, most bewitching sets, best new trends and more.

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Ed Westwick walked Philipp Plein’s runway in Milan this weekend, proving once and for all that it’s not just the Gossip Girl ladies who get all the fashion industry love. Channeling a withering Blue Steel look that even rivals its creator’s (Derek Zoolander, obviously), the Gossip Girl actor opened and closed the designer’s menswear show, […]

The post Chuck Bass does Paris: We’ve got the scoop on Ed Westwick’s runway debut! appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

When it comes to pairing prints and patterns, our fashion director, Susie Sheffman, is the resident mixologist. She’s also Marni-obsessed: “When I discovered the outlet in Milan, it was game over,” she says. “Cardigans, sexless sandals and printed sweet nothings have been making their way into my suitcase on my twice-yearly pilgrimages to Milan fashion week ever since.” Two weeks ahead of the Marni at H&M collection (launching on March 8), she shares her tips on mastering this spring trend.

3 tips on how to wear prints »

From ladylike lace to colourful clashing prints, we present your complete guide to Spring 2012’s freshest new runway looks.

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VIEW BY TREND: SUGAR HIGH | WATER WORLD | GOOD SPORT | FULL BLOOM | CONCRETE JUNGLE | MIX MASTER | GRAPHIC CONTENT | ORANGE CRUSH | WAISTLAND | FINISHING TOUCHES

From Prada’s flame shoes to Marc Jacobs flapper girls, we’re giving you a sneak peek at what’s hot for Spring 2012. NEW YORK LONDON MILAN PARIS

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We round up the best in show, best finale and top invitation designs of Milan fashion week.

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View our favourite moments from the Fall 2011 Milan collections now »

Your all-access pass to the Fall 2011 collections—the gossip, new obsessions, parties, famous faces, and more.

View our favourite moments from the Fall 2011 collections now »

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Check out our Milan fall 2011 fashion week photo gallery »

New York! Milan! Paris! Oh, my! FASHION editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra sits down with fashion director Susie Sheffman and senior editor, fashion news Sarah Casselman to discuss the hottest trends, moments and runways of the spring 2011 season. Complete with runway footage of the shows, we present our ultimate primer for the freshest season.

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