the world according to sherimaven

Good morning, Monday. Had a lovely weekend, and praying that the now hurricane known as  Irene does not come this way and wreck the next one. (Come on, Irene).

So check it- as many of you know, I've always been an avid fan of Cool Britannia, and then I moved on to all things French for a while. Though I still love them both, I am now sensing a new sort of Cool Italia thing happening- well it's always been happening really, but these days Italian style is everywhere. Don't worry, I'll fill you in.

Take Missoni's collection for Target coming this way mid September. Bringing stylish zig zags to the masses is going to be a revelation, and cement the Missoni family as one of the coolest fashion brands around, and decidedly Italian. And then Versace is doing a collection for H&M, another anticipated collab that puts the house of Versace very much in the spotlight, and maybe you've noticed a lot of bright young things rocking vintage Verrsace prints of late, which are hot off the runway and a celebration of a gilded, ornate Italian conceit as at home on the streets of Rome as the streets of New York.

There is a no apologies kind of approach to living that all Italians enjoy- and I myself admire it, as an American who is way too conscious of too much, too little, and everything in between. The Italians don't get caught up in that stuff, because too much is great and too little is not really an option. It's a state of mind, of being. PS- see that picture of Sophia Loren in a bra and underwear? That's what a woman looks like, peeps. Like, for real. Not these lollipop heads running around Hollywood eating ice chips. The Italians know this. G-d bless. And that hair in the third shot down? Yes, please. Other images of Marcello, Monica, and sick Italian poster design below as well. Bene. If the Italians are so versed in "la dolce far niente"  or the art of doing nothing, they look amazing doing it. Damn. When Americans do nothing, it really shows. I wish I was Italian, so I too could perfect the art of doing nothing, just not in sweatpants and an entire HBO season by season canon.

And I'm going out on a limb and saying Dolce & Gabbana's sexy widow thing (mentioned last week) is very in step with fashion right now- as are Miu Miu's stellar ornamental tea dresses.  I saw them in store the other night and they don't dissapoint. Trust me on that. Scheme worthy- as in- what "Italian Job" type plan can I hatch to get one?

And if we leave the world of fashion for a moment, let's go to the highway with the introduction of the Fiat 500- the Italian answer to the Mini Cooper.  It's a sporty little creature with great Italian style -witty, fun, and fully sexy for a little guy. I would also mention the Jersey Shore shooting in Florence, but does that count or take away from my point? (I'm assuming the latter). And don't get me started on guys who wear Persols- I find this a very sexy thing, and may even grab a pair for myself- they rock and that's that. Classic.

With times so tough and so many people disappointed and glum, it seems just right to embrace a bit of the dolce vita into the every day- go ahead and eat the pasta. Wear a little more lipstick. Celebrate your curves. Be loud. Live with passion.  Enjoy some PDA.  Jump in a fountain in an evening gown, preferably a tight one. Wear diamonds to breakfast. In bed. You know the deal. Go Italian and don't look back. I'm not going to...ti voglio bene Italia. Channel your inner Claudia Cardinale (pictured below). Or if you're a guy, go Marcello. I'll wait.

Cause that's what's up this shaped like a boot kind of Monday in the MIA. Arrividerci and andiamo!  XO (Oh and here's a vintage '61 Ferrari. How hot?  Italian hot).