"The Last Supper"

I can officially say that I have now seen the ‘Last Supper’ in person. It was a truly awe-inspiring moment that I am so glad I was able to experience. I have to say that it was nothing like what I had expected. I wasn’t aware of the size of the painting let alone the location of it. The ‘Last Supper’ is located in Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. They only let a limited number of people into the room at a time and you are only allowed to stay for about 15 minutes. As I was examining the painting closer my breath was immediately taken away by the detail that was still left in some parts of the painting. Philip’s face was unbelievable, along with some of the others hands, and even a little corner of the mountains in the background. The painting is deteriorating due to the medium that was used. Leonardo was trying to get a different texture but the use of tempera on wet plaster lead to fast deterioration. 

Leonardo Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper'

            I tried to examine the clothing worn in the painting. The history of fashion is an important aspect of the industry to be knowledgeable about. For example, nothing is new anymore every style or silhouette can be traced back hundreds of year ago. Some of the design details that I noticed in the painting were scoop necklines and faced hems. I was hoping to see more of their feet but due to the deterioration of the painting I couldn’t make out what type of shoes they were wearing. Another thing I noticed about their clothing was the colors and layers. The main colors that were included in the painting were blue, green, and orange. Another observation that I made was that all of them had multiple layers of clothing, each person with one or two main garments and then a shawl or cloak on top of that.  All of the clothing was a representation of the times. It was a once and a lifetime experience to see this painting in person and I am so glad that we were able to go!

            Tonight was our last family dinner. It was a bitter sweet dinner but full of constant laughter. The meal was at the same restaurant where we had our first family dinner. The food was delicious as usual. It was nice to spend one last night with everyone all together. I hope we all stay in touch!

Il Mia Mappa Di Milano- Dopo

Click the link below to see a map of my perceptions of Milan now that I have experienced it in person!! 

http://prezi.com/m314mwjsvpbo/il-mia-mappa-di-milano-part-ii/

"Its all coming to a close"

Wednesday was the day for catching up. We had the whole day to work on our blogs, our reflections, and art vs. fashion assignments. I spent my morning at NABA catching up on my blogs and cleaning up all of my captions on my photo’s. This afternoon I worked on my reflection and then started the long awaited packing of my suitcase. But luckily it was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be! I am almost all the way packed but the moment of truth will be weighing it Friday night with everything in it.

            Packing was a very surreal moment for me. I knew this month was going to do by fast but I didn’t know it would be this fast! It has been an amazing experience and now that it is coming to an end it has given me a chance to reflect. Not only am I reflecting on my time in Milan but my three years at Johnson & Wales University. Friday marks the last day of my college experience ever! Or at least until I go to get my masters. I am very thankful for this experience because it has opened my eyes to a world of opportunities that I never considered.  Every company visit, cultural assignment, or personal experience has all combined to one huge learning experience. I can honestly say that I am taking more than industry knowledge away from this trip. I have learned a lot about myself as well and this experience was the perfect ending to my college experience.

            A special thank you to Maria Chiara Arona, Fulvio Aniello, Elise Lefort, Elenora Monti, Vladimiro Gioia, Simona Polli and Elena Todros from White Sposa, Melanie St Jean, and Rae Caloura, for all of your time, knowledge, and generosity. Everyone has contributed to make this experience unforgettable and one I hope to soon not forget!  I am so thankful for all the experiences and memories I have had during my time in Milan. I hope to return sooner rather than later!!

"Pret- a- Porter"

Today we were invited to join our professors for a visit to Istituto Carlo Secoli Fashion School in Milano. Upon our arrival to the school, we were shown a video of the collection produced by the students last year. The designs were very unique and the different collections created great stories within themselves. For example, one of the themes (my favorite) was login nature. The collection included pastels, creams, and white. All of the clothing was flowing and resembled many objects found in nature. 

My favorite piece from the Login Nature collection.

            After watching a majority of the video, we were greeted by the president of the school, Stefano Secoli. He gave us a presentation on prêt a porter Italian fashion. He explained how it was formed and the differences between haute couture and prêt-a-porter. The majority of this information was a review from what I learned in Intro to Retailing along with information that I knew before coming to college. In the past I have considered switching to fashion design but I decided against it because of my passion for buying and event planning. Regardless, seeing the impeccable tailoring on some of the students garments was awe inspiring. It was interesting to hear that they do not have all but a couple American students at their school. They have some great connections with industry and if I were interested in fashion design that would be the school of my choice!

            Following the presidents presentation, we got a tour of the school. We were able to observe students sketching, creating patterns, and sewing together their garments. In Apparel Quality and Analysis we learned all about pattern making, quality of seams, fabric, and the construction of garments.  As we got a closer look at craftsmanship that went into the making of the senior collection presentation it was clear the level of quality that the students produce. They passed one garment around and I was able to further examine the seams. They were the straight, clean, and impeccably flat. It gave me a great appreciation for hand sewn quality. It also made me realize how the quality of my clothes can’t even compare. Overall, I enjoyed the visit to the Instituto Carlo Secoli Fashion School and I hope I get to work with some of their graduates in the future!

White Sposa Magazine - "Less is More"

Monday was our company visit with White Sposa Magazine and it was everything that I hoped it would be. We got a tour of their offices and were able to meet a majority of their employees. White Sposa is only responsible for the White magazine publication. Due to their small size, they only hire freelance employees during their busy times.

Following our tour we got to learn more about the magazines future plans and how they set themselves apart from their competition. White produces one issue every four months, which equals three magazines a year. In the future they hope to expand to different markets, preferably Brazil. White also hopes to expand their internet presence through social media outlets including Facebook and Twitter. In many of my classes we have talked about the use of social media and its growing presence in our industry. The editor in chief also informed us that they will never become a strictly online magazine. As many are trying to predict the future of magazines (books, newspapers, etc), part of White Sposa’s charm is the quality of the magazine they produce. They put a lot of emphasis on the paper texture, weight, and color. This attention to detail and quality is part of what sets them apart from their competition. White prides itself on treating their magazine more like a book than a magazine. Through this elegance, sophistication, and less is more attitude they are able to fill a void in the market. One of the greatest challenges they are facing right now is maintaining that same standard of performance but with less money. But what inspired me was how they think of this a positive thing because it forces them to become more creative, innovative, and modify what they have done in the past.

Issue that was included in our gift bag!

I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to White Sposa Magazine. A special thanks to Simona Polli and Elena Todros for your generosity with your time, gifts, and knowledge. The visit opened my eyes to the fashion editor position. I was so intrigued on what Elena Todros job entails and how much creativity she is able to express in the fashion editorials. I never considered working for a magazine until after visiting Vogue Italia and now White Sposa. Being able to plan events for the magazine and the companies it works with would be ideal. I love the creativity linked with the fashion editor position but I feel that my qualifications and strengths would better link me with the event and marketing positions within a magazine.

Art vs. Fashion - Palazzo Reale Photography Exhibit

"Parole al Vento" by Bob Krieger

Walter Van Beirendonck’s Fall/Winter 2011

 Artifact:

            I saw the photograph about at a photography exhibit within the Palazzo Reale in Milano. The photograph above was created by Bob Krieger (an Italian artist) and is called “Parole al Vento”. This photograph is under the category of mixed media on canvas because of the 3D elements that are incorportated. The style of his work is very contemporary and unique.  

Fashion:

            The body jewelry that is shown above is from Walter Van Beirendonck’s Fall/Winter 2011 collection. The inspiration for his collection was contrast. He paired wild colors and patterns with traditional materials. Above he paired the futuristic look of oversized jewelry with a classic suit (new vs. old).

Art vs. Fashion:

            The connection between the art and the fashion is the texture of the metal circles, the round shape, and the overlapping pattern. The body jewelry is a blown up version of the metal 3D element that was incorporated on Bob Krieger’s photograph.

Works Cited

"Bob Krieger - Parole Al Vento." Artnet. Artnet Corporation Worldwide, 2011. Web. 28 June       2011. <http://www.artnet.com/artwork/426098264/425931382/bob-krieger-parole-al-      vento.html>.

"Bob Krieger." KRGR. Bob Krieger, 2011. Web. 28 June 2011.             <http://www.bobkrieger.com/KRGR/profile.php>.

Kan, Eugene. "Walter Van Beirendonck 2011 Fall/Winter Collection." Hypebeast. 101 Media       Lab, 22 Jan. 2011. Web. 28 June 2011. <http://hypebeast.com/2011/01/walter-van-       beirendonck-2011-fallwinter-collection/>.

Cultural Assignment #3 - Four Stores

Outside of Angela Caputi Giuggiu

The purpose of being sent to all four stores was to experience the different types of retail stores that Italy has to offer. We were sent to a textile store (Lisa Corti), a home goods store (Bellora), a jewelry boutique (Angela Caputi), and a high-end glass boutique (Venini). We felt that all of the stores are considered specialty shops that you wouldn’t go to unless you knew of them. They may have a few other stores in different areas but they all gave off the feeling of a specialty boutique. Another commonality between the stores was their use of all hand-crafted merchandise using natural materials. In addition the stores were green companies.

Outside of Lisa Corti

 

            With the trend of going green, these stores would most definitely fit into the American culture. Through their use of natural materials and limited production, they offer an exclusive product. In order for these stores to move into the American culture they would need to pay special attention to the location of their store and the market of the area. The demographic of the area needs to have the average income of a consumer who is able to buy the merchandise offered. Upon entering the US market these stores need to stay consistent with their appearance of a boutique, their standard of quality, and Italian culture.

Outside of Venini

            The impact on the industry is mainly coming from the traditional production method of their goods. Not only is the emphasis based on the quality, but on the visual presentation of the merchandise. Lisa Corti did not only offer quality merchandise in her textile emporium, but also in her high quality showroom. Within this showroom she allows up and coming designers to show their work.   All of the locations were created in minimalistic way to further allow the emphasis to be placed on the merchandise.

Outside of Bellora

            All of the stores were unique in their own way. We were glad that we got the opportunity to visit all of them and learn more about the quality standards that are offered in Italy.

   -Christine Wallace, Brittany Benham, Kim Deignan, Bobbie Pelegano, Quateshia Marigny