Luisaviaroma for Unicef presents "Pug dogs for happy kids"
Courtesy of Luisaviaroma

Italy's most fashionable retailer LuisaViaRoma has teamed up with toymaker Steiff and Unicef to create a collection of cute toy pugs dressed by some of the best fashion designers out there. The one of a kind collection includes designs by Roberto Cavalli, Francesco Scognamiglio, Giambattista Valli, Versace and Emilio Pucci among others.
Starting today auctions for the fashionable pugs will take place every week for the next 6 weeks with all proceedings going to Unicef to support disadvantaged children.

Kicking off this amazing initiative are the pugs wearing Balmain, Mary Katrantzou and Valentino. Click HERE to bid for this week and see the rest of the incredible collection Steiff and LuisaViaRoma have put together!

pick your Battaglia

"Did you know Giovanna Battaglia's sister designs bags?", I recently asked Giulia. She replied in the shape of enthusiastic gesticulation and gasps that simply meant: "Duh-uh!!". It has taken me seasons and seasons of Fashion Week to notice what Giulia had noticed long ago —Giovanna, more often than not, carries a frilled leather bag in different shapes and colours. As it turns out these really cool bags are designed by her sister Sara Bataglia.

Giulia and I have become obsessed with Sara Bataglia's bags because they have this really classic aspect to them but the applique on the frills and the bold and metallic colours they come in give them an awesome edge. You would think Giovanna only wears them because they're siblings but someone of such a high fashion profile wouldn't do such a thing. She also has that 'classic with an edge' thing going on, so the bags only add up to this. The best thing about them is they retail at a very good price, something between 800€ and 400€ (about £600 and £300) depending on the size.

Personally, I find the bags fascinating because they remind me of the old leather and metallic skirts Roman soldiers wore as the bottom of their armours (a little ironic, as 'battaglia' means battle in Italian). Sara Battaglia's bags really capture their essence making them current. Just as Miuccia did for Prada in FW09. Stunning. Click here to see Sara Battaglia's blog (keep an eye on her website, coming soon) and check out the rest of her collection and here to get your own from Luisaviaroma.

I'm off.

[Pictures: Style.com, SarasFashionWorld.blogspot.com, JakandJil.com, theSartorialist.blogspot.com]