Italian leadership in fashion – Italian fashion is not just a matter of “creating excitement” on the runways, explains The Wall Street Journal (March 1 – Milan’s Fashion Leadership*). It is also the “country’s number-two industry,” a “dream” – adds Financial Times – that brings art and business together (February 29 – In Milan, the fashion ‘dream’ lives on*). The leading international dailies are still devoting coverage to Italian fashion: in particular, websites and press agencies have concentrated their stories on the collections presented at Milan Fashion Week: The New York Times recounts and comments upon shows by Emporio Armani, Versace, Diesel, and Etro (February 26 – Emporio Armani, Versace, Diesel Headline Milan Fashion Day 3; New Pop at Emporio Armani, Practical Wardrobe From Etro in Milan); the same stylists also find space in The Washington Post, joined by Dolce&Gabbana, Missoni and Ferragamo (February 29 – Emporio Armani, Versace, Diesel headline Milan fashion Day 3; February 28 – Dolce&Gabbana, Missoni, Ferragamo headline Day 5 in Milan; February 29- Armani, DSquared2 and Arbesser close out Milan Fashion Week). Reuters, on the other hand, focuses on Prada (February 26 – Prada offers ‘see now, buy now’ bags straight off the Milan catwalk), while El Pais dedicates a long article to the success of Max Mara, made possible thanks to “quality fabrics and made-in-Italy design” (February 27 – El abrigo de Italia).
And while some articles concentrate on the designers emerging at the Milan shows (Le Monde, February 29 – La mode italienne s’offre une cure de jouvence*; The New York Times, February 25 – Sara Maino at Italian Vogue: ‘Highlighting’ Emerging Designers*), there’s also room for the history of Italian fashion, with the show “Bellissima: Italy and High Fashion 1945-1968,” opening in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (New York Times, February 29 – The Birth of Postwar Italian Style*).
Cooking & lifestyle – Fashion is keeping pace with reporting on the world of wine and food – a bedrock element of Italian lifestyle. The New York Times writes about how “panini” from the Florentine shop Antico Noè have come to the Big Apple (February 29 – Antico Noè Panini From Florence Now Sold in New York*). Also, along with Reuters, the American newspaper has published the yearly results of Campari, the Italian spirits brand that has beaten analysts’ expectations thanks to higher sales (March 1 and 2 – Campari Sales Beat Forecasts, Rising 3 Percent in 2015; Campari reports higher sales and margins in 2015). There is also room for some Italian recipes, with The Washington Post offering tips on how to make “spaghetti alla chitarra” (March 3 – Spaghetti Alla Chitarra).
Automobile design is another element of Italian style. This is why the presentation of Alfa Romeo’s restyled Giulietta is covered both by the German Sueddeutsche Zeitung (March 1 – Alfa Romeo verpasst der Giulietta neue Schminke) and Morocco’s Le Matin (March 1 – La nouvelle Giuliette révélée en grande pompe).
People – This week saw a number of reports on Italian public figures. While space is still being devoted to commemorating the life of Umberto Eco (Les Echos, February 26 – Trois leçons d’Umberto*) and Ettore Scola (The Times, February 27 – Ettore Scola), The Wall Street Journal has an article on Carlo Rovelli, whose “poetic contemplation” of science has made his book “Seven Brief Lessons on physics” a best-seller in various countries (March 1 – Carlo Rovelli’s Poetic Contemplation of Physics*). The Washington Post, on the other hand, has published an interview with Claudio Bisogniero, the outgoing Ambassador to Washington and future Italian Ambassador to NATO (February 29 – Exit Interview with Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero).
Tourism – Tourism is also making the news, with the artist Christo’s installation on Lake Iseo (New York Times, February 26 – Tour and Resort News: Christo in Italy; Sharks in La Jolla*), and with the landscape of the Langhe, “one of the country’s loveliest” according to The Times (February 28 – Roll out the Barolo*). The British daily also visits Romagna for the women’s edition of the Strade Bianche road bicycle race (March 1 – Women receive equal billing on Strade Bianche*).
*Article available for pay/with registration