Giovanna Battaglia: Roman Goddess

Giovanna Battaglia photograph courtesy of twitter.com/VeljkoGavril

Giovanna Battaglia À La Vitti

Readers, I have a special treat for you today: our extraordinary editor-at-large Gala looks at two icons of Italian style, Giovanna Battaglia and Monica Vitti. Gala is passionate about both women and her analysis is a sheer pleasure to read. Molto grazie, Gala, for your wonderful words, and Isabelle, for your lovely translation. Apprezzare la lettura!

Giovanna Battaglia À La Vitti
By Gala

Durante la settimana della moda milanese, appena ho visto la foto che ritraeva Giovanna Battaglia attraversare la strada con la sua elegante falcata e con addosso un’esotica Banana-skirt di Prada, oramai eletto must-have dalle fashion-insiders che contano, mi è subito balenato in mente un malizioso motivetto da avanspettacolo, "Ma ‘ndo Hawaii”, divertente colonna sonora di un mitico film del 1973, Polvere di stelle, diretto da un Alberto Sordi che lo vede, anche, come attore protagonista, insieme a Monica Vitti. Questo mi ha fatto poi pensare che, in un’ intervista esclusiva per Swide Magazine, il “blog” di Dolce & Gabbana, Giovanna Battaglia aveva rivelato di non avere delle icone di riferimento particolari, ma che comunque amava particolarmente, come attrici, Monica Vitti e Audrey Hepburn.

Se si pensa, poi, che per l’immaginario di Stefano Gabbana, Monica Vitti è una figura predominante tale da influenzare le sue scelte stilistiche, e che Giovanna Battaglia è stata per Dolce & Gabbana “mannequin Maison” e con, addirittura, l’affettuoso appellativo di “la Musina”, ti viene spontaneo mettere a confronto queste due donne così affascinanti, anche se poi così distanti. E con quale sorpresa! L’una è bionda, l’altra è bruna, origini, esperienze, epoche diverse, ma per quale strana magia, tra le immagini che le ritraggono, separatamente divise da anni-luce, si scoprono notevoli similitudini: gesti e pose, un certo colore nei vestiti, una fantasia o un accessorio che rimanda la modernità di Giovanna all’algida allure in bianco e nero di una Monica neorealista. Entrambe eleganti testimoni del loro tempo: se Monica stupisce per l’attualità dei suoi ritratti che continueranno ancora ad influenzare le fantasie di molti creativi, Giovanna proprio quando lascia predominare le sue scelte “classic” diventa immediatamente una “indimenticabile Musa”.

During Milan Fashion Week, I had just seen the photo showing Giovanna Battaglia cross the street with her elegant stride wearing an exotic Prada banana skirt, now the must-have item for influential fashion insiders, suddenly came to mind the artful curtain call tune, “Ma ‘ndo Hawaii,” the amusing soundtrack from a fantastic film from 1973, Polvere di stele (Stardust), directed by Alberto Sordi, who is seen also as the protagonist alongside Monica Vitti. This then made me recall that in an exclusive interview with Swide Magazine, the Dolce & Gabbana blog, Giovanna Battaglia had revealed that although she does not have any icons of particular reference, she nevertheless particularly likes the actresses Monica Vitti and Audrey Hepburn.

If one thinks, then, that in the imagination of Stefano Gabbana, Monica Vitti is a predominant figure such that she influences his stylistic choices, and that Giovanna Battaglia was for Dolce & Gabbana their “model Muse” with, no really, the affectionate name of la Musina (the Little Muse), one comes spontaneously to compare these two women that are so fascinating, even if so different. And what a surprise! One is blond, the other brunette, original, experiences, different eras, but by some strange magic, between the images that depict them, separated by light years, one discovers noteworthy similarities: gestures and poses, a certain color in the clothes, a pattern or an accessory that refers Giovanna’s modernity to the cold allure in white and black of a neorealist Monica. Both elegant testimonials of their time: if Monica amazes because of the reality of her portraits that continue to influence the imagination of many creative people, Giovanna especially when she lets her “classic” choices predominate becomes immediately an “unforgettable Muse.”

Translation from Italian to English by Isabelle Reford

Giovanna Battaglia and Monica Vitti photographs courtesy of maydele.blogspot.com, Fashion Spot, and PurseForum

Giovanna Battaglia In Vogue Turkey

In the April issue, Vogue Turkey features various Vogue personalities, including Giovanna Battaglia, wearing looks by the best Turkish designers. Very special thanks to Alper Yilmaz for his translation of the Turkish text to English for us to enjoy. Gio is ethereal in Hakaan Yildirim, looking quite like Monica Vitti... More on that soon!

Hidden Powers
Translated from Turkish to English by Alper Yilmaz

Millions of fashionistas read everything that they have written, word by word, and are inspired by their fashion shots. Vogue International’s publishing representatives are photographed in clothing by Turkish designers for Vogue Turkey.

Giovanna Battaglia is one of the best representatives of the elegant Italian style. She began her publishing career as a stylist in 2000 and later continued as a fashion editor at L’Uomo Vogue. Her first job was for L’Uomo Vogue, a shot taken with five models. Recently, she styled the April cover of Vogue Gioiello. Giovanna continues to produce creative works for Vogue China and Vogue Germany as well as for other Condé Nast magazines such as Vanity Fair. One can catch up with her on Scott Schuman’s blog, The Sartorialist, where you find a variety of interpretations on clothing or can see her walking the streets of Milan with her Fendi Peekabo bag and her sexy stilettos. For her, there are three things that will never be out of fashion: diamonds, a vintage blouse from Yves Saint Laurent, and high heels. She can’t wait to visit Istanbul, although she has not had such an opportunity so far, “I have no doubt that it is an enjoyable city where culture and history meet,” she says. Giovanna Battaglia posed with her pearl-colored dress, signed by Hakaan Yildirim. “Hakaan’s dresses have a very modern cut. Maintaining elegance, he succeeds in being sexy as well.”

Vogue Turkey editorial image © 2011 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved.

Giovanna Battaglia's Masquerade Costume

Grazie di cuore a Gala, our editor-at-large in Italy for her analysis of Giovanna Battaglia's gorgeous costume for the recent Save Venice Un Ballo in Maschera — Valentino head to toe! In fact, she is following in the fashion of her friend Anna Dello Russo by wearing the look straight off the runway. If anyone has details about the exquisite mask Gio is wearing, I would love to hear from you. Grazie tanto to Isabelle Reford for her translation.

Ancora una volta Giovanna Battaglia sceglie un abito Valentino per un ballo in maschera. Se per l'indimenticabile festa in maschera, organizzata da Carine Roitfeld per festeggiare, in grande stile, il 90° Anniversario di Vogue Paris, la sua scelta fu per un abito nero della collezione Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2010/11, per il ballo in maschera di beneficienza organizzato il 15 marzo al Plaza Hotel di New York da Save Venice Inc. per festeggiare il 40° anniversario dell'organizzazione che raccoglie fondi per la salvaguardia dei beni artistici del nostro gioiello dell'Adriatico, unico al mondo, questa volta ha scelto di indossare un chemisier lungo "rosso Valentino" di Valentino Collection S/S 2011 e dei sandali ultra-flat in pelle con delle microborchie dorate della stessa collezione.

Once again Giovanna Battaglia chooses a Valentino dress for a masquerade ball. If for the unforgettable masquerade party organized by Carine Roitfeld to celebrate the 90th Anniversary of Vogue Paris in great style, her choice was a black dress from the Valentino Haute Couture collection for Fall/Winter 2010/2011; for the masquerade charity ball organized March 15 at the Plaza Hotel in New York by Save Venice Inc. to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the organization that works to preserve the artistic assets of our jewel of the Adriatic, unique in the world, this time she chose to wear a long Valentino red chemisier from the Valentino Spring/Summer 2011 collection and ultra-flat sandals in leather with golden micro studs from the same collection.

Translation from Italian to English by Isabelle Reford

Giovanna Battaglia and Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld photographs ©  2011 Condé Nast. All Rights Reserved. Valentino product images courtesy of valentino.com.

Giovanna Battaglia: Brasiliana

Giovanna Battaglia spent a few days in São Paulo recently for the launch of Brasiliana, a new collection of jewelry by Carla Amorim inspired by Giovanna, and Glamurama caught the event on video. The designer explains the concept behind Brasiliana thusly: "It is the meeting of our Brazilian DNA with her Italian sophistication, hence the name." What does Giovanna think of the line of classic yet modern pieces she has inspired? "They're good to go with more casual clothes and go out during the day. Late at night, do exactly the opposite: choose a powerful piece and reassemble the look out of it " Gio reflects on her time in São Paulo in the video, she loves the energy and the glamour of the city and she hopes to return in June for Fashion Week.

Giovanna Battaglia film still courtesy of glamurama.com.