Giovanna Battaglia, final load

Coats & Jackets

GREAT coat! Use Giovanna as inspiration when using a statement piece of clothing: go all-black so it doesn’t look confusing or over done.
And I love the way that she always changes her hairstyle so it goes with her outfits.

I don’t like the bag and the v-neck for this outfit, but impeccable shoes, coat, and dress.

Bold and beautiful. Giovanna shows that you can wear leopard print with other colours than just black or grey. Great choice of bag too.

Of course she rocks fur too!

I don't know where this lovely coat is from, but I adore its Valentino- and Giambattista Valli-ish style.
Notice the detail between the instep and the heel on the shoe.

Signorina Battaglia, I salute your style!

Photo credits: FashionCoup.com, Swinging-Paris.com, Image74.webshots.com, Styleblog.ca, nsm02.casimages.com, 28.media.tumblr.com, Accidiosa.wordpress.com.

Giovanna Battaglia continued

Pants

Look how elegant a parka coat can be. And this shows how shoes (heels) can change an outfit. If she’d worn sneakers, the look wouldn’t have worked nearly as well.

Yes, it is possible to get away with wearing matching, bright-coloured shoes and trousers, but wear it with a subtle shirt.

I had a thing for short-sleeved coats with long gloves that season.

Cool way to use the SS09 YSL shoes in a stylish, but low-key way.

Lesson one girls: how to dress up an old pair of jeans. Easy – just look at Giovanna.

I love the bright colour of the bag with this outfit. Shoes: Miu Miu, FW09.

Photo credits: TeamSugar.com, LoveDistortion.com/styledumonde, 2.bp.blogspot.com, img.trendencias.com, media2.ykone.com, SouthernFemme.com, WhoWearsWhat.cn.

Skirts

No words needed

Flawless way to wear a white shirt. Picture from a US Vogue spread, March 2010. Left: Lauren Santo Domingo, NY socialite and contributing editor to US Vogue, wearing a Proenza Schouler dress.

Photo credits: 1.bp.blogspot.com, Refinery29.com, FashionFolio.wordpress.com, 3.bp.blogspot.com, Cherie.sk, IwanttobeaRoitfeld.com, Flickr.com.

Style Icon: Giovanna Battaglia

I must mention the (almost) always amazing Giovanna Battaglia, former model, now freelance stylist and fashion editor of L’Uomo Vogue, a men’s high fashion magazine. Besides having a goddess-like ability to style, she is the girlfriend of Carine Roitfeld’s son Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld – staying within the creative circle; Vladimir’s an art dealer.

To get Giovanna’s style: first of all, get a tiny waist and belt it. Second, get as many pairs of heels as you can. Third, overcome your fear of colours. Choose them wisely, but bravely. And finally, rock the statement accessories – shoes, necklaces, gloves, and bags are good choices.

Here are a some of signorina Battaglia’s MANY incredible outfits – I’ve divided the (load of) pictures into four categories: Dresses, Pants, Skirts, and Coats & Jackets.

Dresses

Giovanna wearing the good old Prada heels some seasons ago

I remember seeing this picture some years ago, before I knew who Giovanna was, and copy pasting it to put it on a mood board for my room.

How well can a dress and jacket fit a person? This well!
For some reason her face makes me think of an Italian Audrey Tautou.

Busy out and about with her ‘petit ami’ Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld

Look how nicely rolled up her sleeves are. It makes the dress look more casual and just plain neat!

She just made an unusable dress (or skirt?) usable. Notice the belt that creates shape, the boots that are high but discreet because of their colour, and the t-shirt that gives the look a down-to-earth-ness.

I understand the turned head from the guy on the motorbike – Giovanna looks amazing.

Ah, the Chanel gladiators. I loved those from the moment I saw this picture – still do!

Giovanna with my all-time favourite photographer: Mr. Testino

Wow!

Photo credits: LoganNeitzel.com/blog, RDuJour.com, flickr.com, 3.bp.blogspot.com, LoveDistortion.com/StyleduMonde, IwanttobeaRoitfeld.com, LizGoff.com/blog, Brusday.com, 2night.it, ObjectFashionBlog.com, i.models.com, MakeaLittleLove.wordpress.com, Jewelsnob.com, and Zimbio.com.

Photo shoot from a Central Saint Martins styling course in 2008

In 2008 I did a styling course at CSM called Fashion Styling for 16 - 18 Year Olds. At some point during the course, we were divided into groups and each group did a photo shoot. I was lucky to be put in a group with three really nice girls: Laetitia from France, Theodora from Greece, and Troy from England. We did a fashion spread called Child Gone Wild. Here are the best pictures from the spread.

Photo taken in a hotel near Piccadilly Circus. Dress: Chloé (I think), blue shoe: Topshop. Model: Letty

Models: Letty and myself

Model: Letty

Model: Letty

One of my favourite t-shirts: a caricature of Kaiser Karl with a fan in his hand. Model: Letty

Model: courageous Troy

Models: Troy and myself

Model: Troy

Our classroom at CSM (not a part of the spread)

Photo credits: Laetitia Moormann, Theodora Marlas, Troy Jamm Bohn, and me.

Favourites from the Noir-family’s SS11 collections

Bllack Noir

Even though black is a favourite colour of mine I didn’t like Bllack Noir’s collection. The cuts were off, and a bad attempt at designing the suits Frida Giannini style was simply pathetic. Which is a pity, cause I like the label’s big sister, Noir – also its SS11 collection.

To be fair, I must mention a well-cut black dress and a white (or slightly blue?) shirt from Bllack Noir. See the pictures underneath.

Shoes: no-go. Dress: okay.

A nicely cut shirt.

Noir

Muuuuch better than the Bllack collection. Noir showed black, white-, grey-, and beige-nuanced pieces, rocking its traditional leather, but also mixing in feminine lace in the SS11 collection.

Don’t forget the ethical aspect of the brand that is very aware of sustainable production and gets its fabrics from Third World countries with ethical certification. As Peter Ingwersen, the founder of Noir and Illuminati II, puts it himself: “We want to be known as the first brand to bring sophistication and sexiness to corporate social responsibility.” Source: CopenhagenFashionWeek.com.

The shape of the skirt makes me think of Giambattista Valli, a master of dress-, skirt-, and coat-shapes. No one is as good as shaping clothes as him, but Noir’s version is approved.

I like the contrast of the leather and the lace, but I wouldn’t wear this outfit myself – even if my nipples weren’t showing! Then again, I am not blessed with hips/thighs suitable for legging-tight pants unless they’re dark denim.

Almost de la Renta-esque skirt. Love it!

Photo credit: CopenhagenFashionWeek.com