Style on Repeat

Today’s post is an ode to this incredible hand made artisan rucksack, that I haven’t taken off! If you haven’t entered the giveaway yet for your chance to win one for yourself, now is THE TIME!! The giveaway ends in a few short days.

Style on Repeat – The Rucksack I will Always Wear

a Rafflecopter giveaway
This bag was created by the artisan Omar Baraldi, owner of one of Modena, Italy’s most historic and beautiful bottega’s La Vacchetta Grassa, who I’ve featured in this post. I’m so proud to say, that since that article was published they’ve received numerous accolades in the Italian Media, including this article from a major newspaper Il Sole 24!! If you still believe that Made in Italy is worth something, than you will love this brand, and the other artisans I feature as part of my new series HAND MADE, dedicated to the artisans of Italy. Last week I wrote about another boutique, La Gioja by Susanna Martini, one of the MOST DARING murano glass jewellery artisans in Italy, you can read the article here, and next week I will be hosting a fantastic giveaway for a few of her pieces.

Artisans of La Vacchetta Grassa working on some hand made python leather pochettes for their bottega in Modena.

I’ve mentioned before on this blog that my personal style involves a few key pieces that I style and re-style over and over again. I don’t have a very large closet (a typical Italian problem), and I don’t have a huge budget for my clothes, so I try to focus on well made items that I wear over and over again and supplement with a few good deals that are trending.

Everything I’m wearing you’ve seen before. I wore this coat here, these boots here, this hat here. My belt was made by my husband’s company La Pelletteria TES, who will be launching their own brand this summer. It is because of him and his family that I’ve learned to appreciate the true value of hand made items in Italy. I see the plan, culture, research and skill that goes into every single good that they produce. A few year’s back there was an article in a major fashion magazine about Who is Behind the Fashion World. The article mentioned designers, stylists, merchandisers ….everyone that is, aside from the ARTISANS. They are the last people that are considered and the word “produttore” – “producer” in Italian, is met with a negative connotation.

With the Spring Comes Change

Spring is almost here, I can feel the sun changing, the days are getting longer and along with it my desire to stay outside as much as possible. Our afternoon walks turn into early evening strolls with no rush to get home. I turn 35 years old this year and I can feel my style changing, coming into my own with much more confidence and sureness. An overwhelming rush of positivity that life will bring good things to me and everyone I know. I think that in 2015 fashion will return back to basics, putting more emphasis on well made, vintage and reused and quality as opposed to fast fashion and cheap and chic. I think that Italian artisans will make a come back this year and that the market will become a healthy place to buy and sell. We don’t need to be afraid of wearing the same thing twice, we need to be proud that it has lasted more than one wear!