THE NEW PRINCESSES OF FASHION

A lady of fashion’s new order, we idolize the stylist’s ability to blog, instagram and amaze our editorial sensibilities all at the same time. We traveled to New York to meet her.

The rules have changed. And they are the first or even the last word. Giovanna Battaglia belongs to a new aristocracy. An untitled nobility or acquired rights. This Italian has earned her status to pulse. She is fashion editor at various publications, freelance stylist in many others, in the usual fashion weeks, assiduous blogger, designer and sporadic it girl of the fashion industry. “How many hours work? A lot. During fashion week, 20 a day. Do not stop. New York has forced me to my dancers occasionally. Thankfully that are trend, “says Battaglia, who receives S Moda team in his exclusive apartment on the Upper East Side (New York).

Many of you do not know. But those who have heard it will not dare part with the dancers this fall. Because what says Battaglia (well, more so it looks) going to church. And on to the street. 34 The Milanese is an authority on trends and name generates millions of results on Google Images. His style is photographed, envied and copied. “The fashion editors and stylists are famous thanks to the Internet. The 90s were the decade of big names, Grace Coddington and Camilla Nickerson, but if you worked in the industry, did not know them. The pages of street style popularized us’ grants. Giovanna is an old acquaintance of the websites that discussed street outfits, the audience of The Sartorialist and Jak & Jil adores. Why? “I use as wrist and I am lucky to have a large closet. I enjoy creating looks, and I love to mix pieces that people react and comment. It’s funny, but the more I enjoy better styling goes, “he confesses.

Perhaps it is this philosophy that engaging the masses. Their ability to reinterpret fashion and convert some eccentricities gateway suitable for lead parts. “My motto is” Too much is never enough. ” I am not in favor of minimalism. Not to be obvious: I love funny shoes out. That said, I do not recommend getting a pair just because I just bought. We must be consistent.”

Share this relaxed attitude to codes with her mentor, Anna Dello Russo. Giovanna, or Gio is not as crazy and outlandish as the creative director of Vogue Japan. But also cultivates the playful side of the profession. “Fashion is not just art, it’s fun. It is important to have both ingredients. If you can not go crazy. This work requires dedication: this is a serious and demanding, full of unexpected work. Things have to be humorous because in the end everything is simple: my mission is to create beautiful outfits and beautiful images. “

As the directors of the magazines, is capable of putting a brand or fashion trend. But unlike most editors, you just gestured: clothing. An example of Aquazzura shoes and put on his signature off thanks to the viral Internet. “I also: Network catapulted me. Had eight years working at Condé Nast, no one knew me. But The Sartorialist took my picture and I became ubiquitous. ” Before, only the Japanese portrayed. “The editors and stylists dressed in black fashion weeks. When I started, I wanted to belong. So I went to a store and bought clothes that color. But that tone saddened me, so I said, “To hell” and started out lively clothes. A Nipponese liked and photographed me nonstop. I became famous in Japan. ” Although sometimes frustrates her virtual celebrity. “It’s kind of rage … People only know you by your outfits, not your work. And it is not aware that you spend many hours to magazine publishers. But there is room for all: are teenagers who write to me and tell me how much love my looks and those who know me in the guild for my work. “

Not in favor of intellectual fashion, but to categorize it: it looks like a library. “When I like something, I obsess me want to know everything. I know the lines, seasons, type of heel, the model who wore a lot of data. My visual memory is good. A friend called me Giopedia ‘.

If your aesthetic decisions generate admiration Epata your life. It is very well written. Battaglia was born at number one on the Via Monte Napoleone, the epicenter of luxury Italian fashion capital. His parents are artists: his mother, Calabria, and his father is a sculptor, painter and Sicilian. “As a child designing for my dolls and paraded. Then gateways organized with my brothers. ” It has four, two boys and two girls.

“I wanted to work in fashion but knew it was a closed world. No family was in the circuit. At 16 I chanced as dummy. I knew it was not pretty. It was Claudia Schiffer and Linda Evangelista, knew my limitations. But I tried and ended up posing for Dolce & Gabbana. ” And he did something else to work for Domenico and Stefano. It became his muse and friend. It still is. Luce their designs, go to parties, work as her stylist behind the scenes of parades and allowed call Musina.

Alta, fibrous, dark, slim and very Italian, as much as to say, yes da Battaglia to model. “But he spoke and thought and that was not too good. Appreciated more the creative side: designs, accessories and styling. Even then such work was not recognized, there was no star stylists in 1998. But that was my calling. I liked the music, art and film, but did not want to work on that. Then I discovered that I could play all my hobbies on a photo. I liked to send pictures, think about them, dress the models, choose clothes. At 21 I started working as a stylist. ” And after a year, I gave the stroke. “He was on a ship en route to Puglia. I was on holiday and had decided to go to see my grandmother. ” And who was on the ferry? Anna Dello Russo. “We had agreed in Vogue Italia, where Isabeli Fontana, my sister and I had perched. We got to talking. We were talking about work but suddenly she blurted: “So, Gio, you want to be a stylist.” And asked me if I would want to work in menswear [Dello Russo was the editor of L'Uomo Vogue]. I replied: “As long as you follow, Dogs work in Vogue.”

Stage New York did not have to put dogs cancans: Vogue China and Germany and Vanity Fair were among his clients. The next call was immediate. Franca Sozzani, Vogue Italia director, offered him the post of Director of Fashion at the relaunch of Pelle Gioiello and supplements. He accepted. “For two years I went to the office. I had fun and learned. But it was not my thing. I prefer to be autonomous. In addition, Milan I was small. ” So he resigned. Do I spend next? New York and W magazine (with whom he has a contract as a freelance editor and starring in a page each month). And there is two years with Vladimir Restoin Roitfeld, her boyfriend. Vladimir, incidentally, is the son of another empress of fashion, Carine Roitfeld, the former director of Vogue Paris (inbreeding is imposed on aesthetic aristocracy).

His voice is male, guttural. Imposed. One imagines taming and subduing the beasts. How to make sure when the photo shoot is complete for S Moda. Your partner, collector and curator, has organized an exhibition at home. “Art has always been part of my life.” And what differentiates the New York circuit of Milan? “In New York everything is bigger. In Milan there are amazing works, but everything is static. Italy movements emerge, but there is not sold as in the U.S., where it sells best. Behind a work is a great exhibition, great ad, great marketing. So there are many more samples. “

Retains his apartment in Milan. “I share with my sister, has two floors. I try to go every month and a half. ” And do not miss part of your clothing? “Yes, but my sister sent me photos wearing it occasionally.” It hardly comes as much in the cupboards. Your favorite? “It is difficult to choose. Perhaps the Stephen Sprouse vintage dress I wore in Cannes [2011]. Operates at night, it’s fun … I love it. “

And is that Gio is the daughter of 90. “I even had my day hip hop. With 15 years male and wearing only baggy clothes. The phase lasted two years. Then I went back to wearing tight signorina. And 16, I started out at night with plastic tops and miniskirts. Luckily there were no street style sites to immortalize!. ” Is your favorite decade? “The 60. It was the Renaissance fashion. “

To Battaglia, trends are therapy. “One of my favorite expressions is a friend. He said, “Your image is prozac to behold.” It is the nicest compliment I’ve ever heard. ” He adds: “The fashion determines us: If you carry a sixties dress and stilettos, act gracefully. But if you wear a rocker outfit, you’ll be more blatant. The image shapes the personality and gait. So I did not choose the black soil. I’m Italian and reminds me of the mourning and funerals.”