Tod’s launches the ‘Miky’ bag, Jessica Alba is already a fan

It isn't news that celebrities often get to wear the season's hot items before they even hit the stores. But it is always note-worthy to comment on who is wearing what. Jessica Alba is one of my favourite celebrities and it just so happens that she is also a style icon. I am always impressed with how every season she is always one of the first people to wear the nicest bags. She must have an insane collection.
Her latest addition is Tod's 'Miky' bag, which is one of the brand's highlights foe FW12. The bag comes is four different sizes and various materials such as calf leather, crocodile and python. I personally love how subtly but unmistakably Tod's the line is. My favourite is the deep green, perfect for this season's trends. Come to think of it, a men's version in a bigger size would be a perfect travel companion. Here's wishing...

Courtesy of Tod's

Celebrate the Olympics with Tod’s My Colors Bracelets
Courtesy of Tod's

As always, Tod's has its finger on the pulse of what is going on. To celebrate the opening of the 2012 Olympics today the Italian brand has created a video using some of their more iconic accessories – the Gommino shoes, the D bag, the Greca Belt and the My Colors Bracelets. 

My absolute favour is the My Colour Bracelet. I got a brown and beige one last summer and it adds the perfect touch of Italiana to your outfits through the year. Now I'm loving this new one featuring the Italian flag colours. No matter who you are supporting red, green and white always look good!

Take a look at the Tod's video below. What are your plans for tonight's Olympic opening ceremony?

Jefferson Hack & Diego della Valle present Tod's "No_Code"
Courtesy of Tod's

With everyone in Paris for the couture shows it's difficult for brands to resist throwing events, especially for Tod's. They hardly need to look too hard for an excuse because they're one of the world's most active fashion houses. If restoring the Colosseum, redoing a film and launching a new range of accessories weren't enough now Diego della Valle has teamed up with fashion wonder boy Jefferson Hack to launch a capsule collection of footwear that transcends dress codes –hence "No_Code" as a name– and even genders. The line is unisex, and very rightly so. I doubt there is anyone who wouldn't want a pair in their wardrobe. Whether it's the classic suede plimsole, the indispensable desert boot or the practical Chelsea boot we all have our favourite (I spend my life in desert boots).
So to celebrate such an innovative idea the fashion flock was called to Hôtel Amour. Everyone from Andrea della Valle and Franca Sozzani, to Delfrina Delettrez Fendi and Livia Firth to queen of street style Anna dello Russo stopped by the party for a much needed dose of style and, of course, prosecco.

Courtesy of Tod's

* Tod's No_Code is now available at Tod's stores worldwide.

Courtesy of Tod's

The Tod's Group is probably one of the most socially and, most importantly, culturally active brands in fashion at the moment. If hosting events and launching new ranges of accessories in all the fashion capitals of the world wasn't enough, Diego della Valle and his brother Andrea are also funding the restoration of the Colosseum and they they recently sponsored the premiere of the 'Diana Vreeland: The Eye has to Travel' film.

Now, adding to the list of reasons why we should regard the della Valle's as the modern Medici, Tod's is funding the restoration of one of Italy's most iconic films from the 1940's, 'Sciuscià'. The film by Vittorio De Sica translated as 'Shoeshine' in English is regarded as one of the masterpieces of neo-realist cinema and was awarded with an Oscar in 1947.

Last night, at the iconic Cinema Barberini in Rome, Andrea della Valle was joined by Mariasole De Sica, Brando De Sica, Giorgia Wurth, Mia Zanella, Claudia Zanella and Zhang Ziyi amongst other to celebrate this project.

Courtesy of Tod's, Know Wear

Last Tuesday my friend Anna and I went down to Old Bond Street to celebrate the launch of Tod's Signature line at the brand's store.

We were welcomed by the most amazing drinks (peach bellinis!), which came in really pretty glasses. As we stood there enjoying the music from DJ André Saraiva, from Paris' Le Baron club, we nibbled on mini sardine pizzas, parmiggiano, breadsticks and cheese cakes –Harry's Bar has the best catering!

The place was really buzzing with super stylish people –Margo Stilley, Alexandra Meyers and Zoe Kuipers among others– most of which were already sporting the amazing bags and clutches from Tod's Signature collection. I especially loved Margo Stilley's very classic and feminine look and how she added a dash of colour with the red bag.

To top it all off Tod's got Dionne Bromfield to perform a short set of some of her songs. Anna and I really enjoyed all of them. They were very soul but upbeat, something in the line of Amy Winehouse.

All in all, a really fun and stylish event that put ended a work's day on a great note. There were even chocolate biscuits on the way out!

Courtesy of Tod's

It's now official, Tod's is on fire this week!

After hosting a premiere in Venice and launching their new line of accessories along with its campaign Tod's is now also selling a special edition of key rings for Fashion's Night Out.

They have created exclusive key rings with the symbols of the cities where they will be sold. I am even more happy now to popping by the Tod's event today because I can't wait to get my hands on the London one! I'd love to have Milan's as well, with the famous Duomo and the tram.

I have never been to Fashion's Night Out before and I am quite curious to see what it's all about this year. I want to make a lot of stops tonight but don't know if I'll have time. Does anyone have any advice on the best spots in London?

What are your plans for FNO tonight?

Courtesy of Tod's

It's all about Tod's this week, it seems!

Yesterday they announced Anne Hathaway is the new face of their Signature Collection. Even though I don't quite get why Anne is lying on a Ferrari or why the car is even there I do love how she looks on the ad shot by Mert & Marcus and styled by Karl Templer under the creative direction of Fabien Baron.

The collection is called Signature because the leather has been given the texture of Tod's famous pebble motif, which has made their 'gommini' shoes so famous. They come in red, black, electric blue, fuchsia and shades of lavender, beige and cream. It seems like the brand is positioning themselves up there with the likes of Louis Vuitton and Gucci to become iconic.

The collection will be available at Tod's stores form October.

Courtesy of Tod's

Courtesy of Tod's

Yesterday Diego della Valle and Franca Sozzani hosted a lunch at Harry's Bar in Venice to celebrate the premiere of "Diana Vreeland: The Eye has to Travel", the documentary about the life of legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland.
Shala Monroque, Carolina Crescentini, Bianca Brandolini, Bar Rafaeli and Andrea della Valle were amongst the very stylish guests who attended the event, joined also by style icon Robert Rabensteiner and Fiona Scarry.

I am very much hoping for the film to be released world wide so we all get to watch it as well. Vreeland, who was Editor-in-Chief of Harper's Bazaar for 25 years and held the same position later on at Vogue for 8 years, is also known for her work for Metropolitan Museum of Art and for discovering 60's style icon Edie Sedgwick.
Only Anna Wintour could ever be compared with Vreeland, who was born in Paris and emigrated to New York during World War I, where she died the 22nd of August 1989.

This morning I had an email from Tod's telling me about their Madrid store reopening, which made me quite happy. I remember walking past their shop on Calle Ortega y Gasset when I was a kid and asking my mum if I could have those shoes in the window. My mum, of course, didn't find very practical for a 6 or 7 year old to wear suede "gomini" so the shoes became a sort of beacon of what I wanted to get to.
Now, I don't mean to say Tod's changed my life or anything cheesy like that. But it's one of those fashion-related childhood memories that makes me happy. Almost as happy as the fact that the new design of the shop matches that of the brand's chic Old Bond Street store. Della Valle dragged out the coolest faces. My favourite Spanish designer, David Delfín, the most beautiful woman in the country, model Nieves Álvarez, and Quim Guitérrez, one of the most stylish Spanish actors around.

[Pictures courtesy of Tod's]

An Italian with good sole

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Even though you have probably read about it somewhere else because the news spread out last January 21st I wanted to take notice of the event on soVIPzone. It was then when the city of Rome officially accepted Diego Della Valle's offer to fun the restoration of the Colosseum. The Italian mogul, chairman and CEO of the Tod's group, will face the cost of the works estimated at about 25million Euros. I was incredibly happy to hear this because as much as I loved Rome on my first visit I couldn't help wishing I could see things the way Marcus Aurelius saw them before the pollution and the stone robbers did their job halving the iconic piece. And I was even happier to hear that it was someone from the fashion industry who was responsible for it. Proving that we care about culture, art and heritage very deeply. The restoration is set to commence at the end of the year and it's estimated to take between two years and two years and a half (personally, I'd say 4), during which the Colosseum will remain open to the public. I honestly can't wait for the moment when I return to Rome and I find a picture similar to the one at the bottom.

I'm off.

Thinking ahead: Tod's SS11

A couple of weeks ago Giulia and I were lucky enough to preview what the Italian staple Tod's will make us want to wear next season. We were warmly welcomed at their Old Bond Street store where we enjoyed Prosecco in an amazing sea of shoes. They are best known for their "gommini", the suede and leather loafers that any woman wears across the world from Milan to New York, passing Barcelona and London, of course. Giulia an I were gladly surprised by the range of accessories that they offer on top of shoes. G absolutely "died" over the leather detailed cuffs, their suede lace-up heels and the incredibly light and soft croc bags.

We tried to edit down the choice of our favourite pieces but having so many beautiful colours and materials made this really hard. Would we go for the fuchsia croc loafers or for the python ones? Maybe the yellow suede? So we ended up making a short video so you can choose for yourself. If it were up to us we'd have them all in our wardrobe!

I also recommend you to pay a visit to their website. They have celebrated their collaboration with Milan's Teatro alla Scala with an unbelievable video. It is a dance allegory of the making of their famous "gommini". You'd think this is another of those nonsense fashion videos but you'd be missing out. I was in absolute awe of the impressive choreography, which perfectly represents every step of the creation process from the pebble fitting to the trimming.

I'm off.

[Pictures: soVIPzone, Tod's]

GLADIATOR

It has been a while since gladiators made their debut on the runway and, most importantly, on the streets. They were a big hit, specially last Summer, when all kinds of highs and designs appeared everywhere. I have to say I was very fond of Mary-Kate's knee length ones.

This season I was happy to find a very refreshing version. Phillip Lim associated with Tatami Birkenstock (whose models were also spotted on celebrities last year) to create a beautiful collection of über-comfortable and fashionable yet simple gladiators for S/S 2008. The trendiest versions include fringes in suede and patent leather or cheetah prints à la Dell'Acqua'07. Men's follow the more traditional designs but can also be found in the funky cheetah print or this season's red.

women's

men's

While having a look at Lim and Tatami's collaboration I came across two more chic views of the gladiator sandal by Tod's; they add leather in different colours and some metal and plastic to elevate the sandal to an uptown category.

All of them can be found in more colours and meterials and are available online at eLuxury.

What's your opinion on gladiators?

[Pictures credit: eLuxury]

I'm off.