My Fashion Queen Anna Piaggi !

Back to all posts

Fashion icon and eccentric nonpareil, Anna Piaggi is, according to her good friend Manolo Blahnik, ‘the only authority on frocks left in the world’. Creative consultant to Italian Vogue since 1988, her monthly Doppie Pagine (double-page spreads) in which she offers invitations to anything fashion-related that has taken her fancy (a print, a word, some graffiti on the Paris Metro), have become an institution. This month, the V&A opens an exhibition dedicated to her life and work, including pieces drawn from her vast and off-the-wall wardrobe (Anna Piaggi: Fashion-ology, until April 23; vam.ac.uk).Â

Who are your favourite designers of the moment? I like Dolce & Gabbana and Rifat Ozbek. Also John Galliano, because he’s a designer whose clothes create their own mood. I’ve recently rediscovered Chanel, who I used to wear years ago. I particularly like the collections they make for Japan, full of such stunning patterns and colours. I’ve also rediscovered Missoni, the clothes are made with such craft. And I like the modernism and discipline of Prada. Which shoes have caught your eye recently? I always wear Manolo Blahnik.,His shoes are so artistic and friendly and always suit my mood.Â

What do you wear to work? I work from home. So either a jogging costume from Dolce & Gabbana or a ‘Gazette’ newspaper-print dressing-gown from Galliano. Who makes the best cashmere? Malo (malo.it).Â

Handbags? Chanel. Who is your favourite jeweller? Betony Vernon in Milan (paradisefound.it) and Quidam de Revel in Paris (00 33 1 42 71 37 07).Â

Where do you buy your underwear? La Samaritaine (lasamaritaine.com) in Paris and Intimo Sirena (via California1) in Milan. Who makes the best jeans? Vivienne Westwood.Â

What have been your biggest fashion indulgences? Hats (by either Philip Treacy or Stephen Jones), gloves (from Missoni Men, with cutout fingers – I wear them while I’m working and with matching nail varnish) and walking canes (from Madeleine Gély, 218 blvd St Germain, Paris). Which are your favourite shops? Corso Como 10 (10corsocomo.com) and Dolce & Gabbana in Milan.

Which are your favourite shops outside Italy? Stephen Jones (stephenjonesmillinery.com) and Manolo Blahnik (020-7352 8622) in London. Ragtime in Paris (23 rue de l’Echaude). Which are your favourite hotels? Hotel Pont Royal (hotel-pont-royal.com) in Paris. The Dorchester (dorchesterhotel.com) in London.Â

Which is your favourite restaurant? La Torre di Pisa (trattoriatorredipisa.it) in Milan. What has been your biggest beauty extravagance? Dyeing my hair blue.Â

Which cosmetics would you be lost without? Foundation. I use Estée Lauder’s Futurist.Â. Who makes the best mascara? MAC.Â

Lipstick? Chanel. Nail polish? François Nars.

Who does your facials? I get all my treatments (including massages, manicures and pedicures) from the Grotta Giusti Hotel in Montecantini Terme (grottagiustispa.com). Is there a diet that works for you? Pasta.Â

---