Ladies Italian #LeatherJacket in Monaco Blue

A new Italian #leatherjacket from #Pierotucci just in time for Summer 2013.

Our favorite lady in red wears a #leathe

Our favorite lady in red wears a #leatherjacket from Pierotucci. http://ow.ly/i/27z6I http://www.pierotucci.com/clothing/leather_coats/

All that glitters is definitely GOLD whe

All that glitters is definitely GOLD when you are talking about #Porselli Ballet Flats @Pierotucci.
http://www.pierotucci.com/clothing/shoes_ballet_flats/
http://ow.ly/i/259fO

Italian leather Shearling Day Dream?

Italian leather jackets and fur coats, just day dreams? This black shearling #leatherjacket @pierotucci is our a answer.

Nomination, Florence Italy’s trend sett

Nomination, Florence Italy’s trend setting fashion jewelry for men and women http://ow.ly/i/24dLo

Kodachrome Camera and the greens of SS 2013

Some say “vintage”, some say “so last” year but Valentino, Mulberry and Kate Spade are saying YES to mint green for SS 2013.

A color that easily lends itself to spring and summer wedding trends with its soft shades is converting into a full blown fashion statement.  Personally, I see it as a color that evokes lots of memories as well: eating Girl Scout cookies, mint chocolate chip ice cream (when they purposely made it green), rolling in the grass and smelling like the warm sweet perfume of mint leaves and of course, reading romantic novels where hot summer days were spent drinking a cool refreshing mint julep on the terrace.

The color mint offers a wide array of shades varying from the warm sultry colors to the cool crisp, almost aquamarine shades.  But whatever end of the spectrum you decide to wear, it will most certainly be a classic color for spring and summer combining well with pastels, whites, jeans and black formals.

Some of our favorite designers have decided to capture this spring summer moment using this delicious color in even more delicious leather handbag designs, here are a few of our favorites:

Kate Spade mini Clutch

Not only the mini clutch handbag, but the skirt and jewelry accessories as well. But the color is soft and doesn’t come across as overkill. What’s your guess, even the nail polish is a bit on the minty side?

Jason Wu uses mint green in a classic handbag style.

What can we say about Jason Wu, this leather handbag would look good in any color, elegant and classical!

Valentino uses a warm shade of mint green to convey elegance.

Don’t know if I am drooling more over the purse or the scalloped lace jacket adorning the models arm…Italian’s are always a step ahead of the crowd. Like these Porselli Ballet Flats in a cool fresh mint green. Perfect for strolling the boardwalk on a summer’s evening (with a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone!)  But let’s not gloss over the mint green Italian leather handbag in a soft nappa with silver colored hardware or the mint green highlights in the Campo dei fiori Italian leather handbags with tabacco colored accents.

When a description is all you got to go on

A photo is certainly what will catch your eye faster than a wordy or detailed title, but if you are going to buy you need to read in between the illusions in the title and the hype in the description.  A good product description is absolutely a must !  Of course there are those who will play with innuendos and double meanings in a description in order to hood you but then once you get your package – rip open the box and pull it out . . .  there is always that tell tale slump of the shoulders, turn at the mouth and general sense of disappointment because you “thought” you read one thing, the picture seemed to show you what you were reading yet the final product just doesn’t match up.

We were recently pulled into this drama while flipping through runway photos of the new FW 2013 lines of several top designers when we found a bag that we just adored.  Particularly appealing was the use of contrasting colors and the design was reminiscent of Bottega Veneta, Cosci (now defunct)  and Pierotucci.  We downloaded the photo to use in a blog post – similar to this one.  But then today – another photo (different angle) of the same product opened our eyes to the fundamental difference . . . and this is where a detailed ACCURATE description makes all the difference.

The second photo labeled the bag as a braided leather effect.  First off, braided leather? Is English their first language? When I checked out the Webster definition

Braided = Interlace three or more strands of (hair or other flexible material) to form a length

. . . and

Weave:   interlacing long threads passing in one direction with others at a right angle to them.  When I was 9, I would braid my hair and it in no way resembled this Givenchy pocket clutch.

Close up of the embossed leather – effect weave.

The second thing was the use of the word “effect.”

Have a look at the photo and the truth comes out.  From the point of view of the above image it appears as if there are actually two different pieces being put together.

But alas, with the wonders of modern photgraphy AND with these up close images on the web sites I was actually able to see that the word effect was just another way of saying – embossed!  It was a printed weave effect on the bag, not even a true weave.  This purchase would have 100% resulted in one very unhappy shopper.

Looking at the detail you can even see that the paint job was a little haphazard – only making you really wonder how long the color would last with continual use of the bag.

From the photo I would have thought that the final product was closer to a Cosci leather handbag.  If you lool at the photo of the designer handbag below you can actually see the two different pieces.

Last year Toscanella Italian leather accessories came to the market with a weave using three different colors  in a weave to create a unique one of a kind image.  There are four different color patterns, using a terracotta chamios intertwined with 2 of the seven main colors of vegetable tanned leather.  Now this is a true weave and one where the colors will truly stand up to the test of time.

Close up view of the Toscanella three color weave.

One small error for Tuscany becomes one lasting memory for fashion

Only the innovative nature of the Italians can turn inexperience and a huge miscalculation into a fashion statement. And only those Italians from Tuscany knew how to make it a statement that would last through the test of time.

Wool has been a constant, thriving economic force in Italy as far back as the Etruscans, Romans and the Medici Family. It is a well known fact that the banking houses in Florence built their wealth on the wool industry. The Casentino Valley, where the Arno river starts its trek to Florence, was perhaps one of the largest suppliers of high quality woolen products in Tuscany.

In the late 1800’s they sought to further commercialize their natural resource, and a “mantelline per cavalcature” was introduced to the Florentine market. This was basically a thick, water resistant blanket used to cover, keep warm and protect work animals that hauled large loads.

Traditionally, this cover was made in a deep red – but due to an error when they mixed the chemicals to soften the wool, the color came out a vivid orange. Like most trends, it was a twist of fate that turned this rough cloth with its unique color, fashionable.

The “panno Casentino” was admired by illustrious names such as Baron Ricasoli and the opera composers Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini. The result was that this brightly colored felted wool was fashioned into a double breasted jacket complete with a fox fur collar which became a very Italian symbol of wealth and prestige of the upper echelon.

A reputation that is still widely recognized in Italy today.

Close up of the panno Casentino with Italian leather accents

Pierotucci <3 the Mediterranean Diet for #goredforwomen

For more than one reason February is associated with red and hearts – Pierotucci is embracing the challenge to show you something red every day. Just a little reminder to Go Red for Women and take care of your heart.

It’s not summer yet – in fact here in Florence Italy we are surrounded by snow capped mountains. BUT. That doesn’t stop us from enjoying the delights of the Mediterranean diet of lots of fresh veggies, cheese, red wine and fresh baked bread.  It’s not easy to find a red, ripe tomato with crisp basil leaves to go on top … that will probably have to wait for the summer months but there is no end to the green veggies available in the wintertime here in Tuscany.  It seems like everyone’s garden is bursting with life even in the coldest months of the year.

Even the Mayo-Clinic staff have indicated that the Mediterranean Diet has some excellent side effects and not only for your heart.

Mediterranean diet was associated with a reduced risk of overall and cardiovascular mortality, a reduced incidence of cancer and cancer mortality, and a reduced incidence of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mediterranean-diet/CL00011

Modern society has become so used to fast food alternatives, snacks filled with calories and unhealthy fats that fit into your leather handbag or leather messenger bag, sugar filled drinks . . . and let’s not forget  a lack of healthy exercise.  However it has been rightly said that the Mediterranean Diet is not a “diet” but

Rather, it is a lifestyle – including foods, activities, meals with friends and family, and wine in moderation with meals.  http://oldwayspt.org/programs/mediterranean-foods-alliance/what-mediterranean-diet

For over 20 years I have been living this lifestyle and what strikes me the most is that where in Italy eating, relaxing and being with family friends is natural and unforced – where sometimes it appears that in other zones of the world it is a struggle to make space for the private and personal side of life.  The people in the Mediterranean don’t have to think twice about taking care of themselves – it has been ingrained in their lifestyle since there were children.

What’s your favorite Mediterranean meal?

Become aware, check out the site http://www.goredforwomen.org to learn more about heart disease and symptoms of a heart attack.

Armani is Red Hot with its Spring Couture 2013

For more than one reason February is associated with red and hearts – Pierotucci is embracing the challenge to show you something red every day. Just a little reminder to Go Red for Women and take care of your heart.

As beautiful and enchanting as a red Italian leather handbag is, we want to share the red hot spot light with this dazzling display from Armani!

To see the full collection you can visit one of our favorite fashion information sites:  http://www.wwd.com/runway/spring-couture-2013/review/armani-prive/

Become aware, check out the site http://www.goredforwomen.org to learn more about heart disease and symptoms of a heart attack.