Art Deco

Art Deco is a popular art and design movement born in 1920 in France mixing all styles of the early 20th century: Modernism, Bauhaus, Cubism, Futurism, and Art Nouveau. This elegant, functional, and decorative style influenced architecture, interior design, and industrial design between the 2 wars from aviation, to skyscrapers. The principles of Art Deco were formed in 1900 when, after the Universal Exposition held in Paris, France, most French artists decided to open “La Société des artistes décorateurs” to demonstrate the French leadership in decorative arts. The name Art Deco come from the International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Art organized in 1925 in French.

Art Deco, Chrysler Building

The intense use of new materials to celebrates the industrial age such as glass, aluminum, and stainless steel and the opulent style, in reaction to the austerity after the first world war, characterize Art Deco architecture, see the Chrysler Building (1930), the Radio City Music Hall in New York, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

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New York, Radio City Music Hall

Also the shape of all objects from light to refrigerators. was influenced by aerodynamic principles design, necessary for high speed vehicles. To name just a few Art Deco painters: Santiago Martinez Delgado, Tamara de Lempicka, and the famous industrial designer Louis François Cartier (clocks and jewelry).

Tamara De Lempicka

Art Deco disappeared after reaching mass production, loosing the image of luxury during the 2nd war. We can find several surviving examples of Art Deco architecture in Havana, Cuba.

Pop Art

Pop Art is one of the major art movements of the 20th century, born in the mid 1950s in England and 2 years later, with separate origin from British Pop Art, in the United States. The term Pop Art was given by an art critic Lawrence Alloway to indicate a popular art and culture. Pop Art like pop music were art for the mass in contrast to the elitaire culture. Pop Art was a response to abstract expressionism, and like minimalism is at the beginning of the postmodern art.

Andy Warhol

Andrew Warhola (1928-1987), known as Andy Warhol, is the most influential artist in the Pop Art movement of the 20th century. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from a Catholic family of emigrants, and studied commercial art at the School of Fine Arts in Pittsburgh University. After graduating in 1949, he moved to New York to work as commercial illustrator, but became famous as a painter, author, and producer. Thanks to Warhol, advertising and cinema moved into art. In the 1960s Warhol reproduced popular American products and movie stars such as Campbell Soup, Coca-Cola, and Marilyn Monroe. His studio in New York was a mecca for most writers, musicians and movie celebrities. We can see his affection for popular culture reading what he thought about Coca Cola: if you see Coca Cola ad campaign on TV or magazines, you see that the President drinks Coca Cola, celebrities drink Coca Cola, and you also can drink Coca Cola. Coca cola is the same for everyone, rich, famous and you. America is a great country because rich buy the same goods as poor consumers. Warhol scandalized critics because he changed the culture of the art rethinking the relationship between commercial work and art. In 1964, in an art gallery in the Upper East Side, took place a show that sold art as a supermarket such as posters created by 6 pop artists representing canned goods, (famous Warhol’s painting of a can of Campbell’s soup), meat, soup etc. opening the art culture to general public.

Campbells soup by Warhol

In the 1970s Warhol spend most of his time in painting celebriety portraits: including Diana Ross, Liza Minnelli, Brigitte Bardot, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, and Mao Zedong. Warhol realized both serious and comic works, from painting a soup can to “Death and Disaster” using the same techniques. In 1973 Warhol published “The Philosophy of Andy Warhol”, his motto was: Making money is art, and working is art and good business is the best art.

The Ducati story starts in 1926 when Ducati brothers founded a company in Bologna, Italy to produce radio components. In 1935 was opened a new factory in Borgo Panigale, where is presently located the Ducati Motor Holding. During the war Ducati starts developing a small engine to be mounted on a bicycle, called Cucciolo. It was the most innovative vehicle on the market in Europe, the motor could be attached by the owner to a normal bicycle. Thanks to the success of Cucciolo, in the 1950 Ducati offered its clients a complete motorcycle based on a 60cc engine and a top speed of 64km/h (40mph).

Ducati vintage

Then the market required bigger engine motorcycles, and Ducati’s management started diversification and producing several models. In the ’60, Ducati become worldwide known for high performance motorcycles thank to the 4 stroke, 2 cylinders at 90 degree, engines with desmodromic valve design.Still today the desmodromic valve design allows Ducati motorcycles to be a leader in Moto GP race.

Ducati 2009

In all combustion engines valves are opened and closed thanks to springs. Ducati engine uses a dedicated cam lobe and lifter to open valves. The opening and closing of the valves is more quickly without the risk of floating, it allows to reach higher engine speeds (rpm) compared to traditional engines. An other big difference between Ducati engine and other engines is the “dry clutches” eliminating the loss of power due to oil viscosity, rather than wet clutches mostly used by motorcycle manufacturers. Most Ducati motorcycles were designed by Fabio Taglioni, a young designer that worked in Ducati from 1950. In 1979 he introduced a very innovative engine, nowadays still used on all Ducati Super Sport  motorcycles. In 1993 was introduced the Ducati Monster, an high performance naked bike probably the most popular Ducati round the world.

Vespa Piaggio

Vespa is the most popular scooter worldwide, born in1946 by Piaggio in Pontedera, Italy, still manufactured today. During the second world war, Piaggio factory, an aircraft manufacturing company, was completely destroyed by bombing. Because of post war economic crises, Piaggio left producing airplanes and decided to manufacture a cheap vehicle for all poor Italian people that couldn’t buy a car. It was an extraordinary success, and Vespa was widely used in the ‘50s and ’60s. Vespa has a pressed steel chassis that protects rider’s legs from rain and mud.

Vespa engine

The direct drive engine placed on the right of rear wheel rather than between rider’s legs as on all motorcycles. Vespa by Piaggio revolutionized the motorcycle industry developing the vehicle of freedom for all European young people appreciated by both men, and women thanks to the pass through leg area design. Piaggio gave to Corradino D’Ascanio, an aeronautical engineer, the task to design a cheap, robust, and easy to drive for both men and women, vehicle. D’Ascanio designed a revolutionary vehicle that had nothing in common with any other motorcycles on the market. The name Vespa come from an exclamation of the president, Mr. Enrico Piaggio when he saw the first Vespa “is it a wasp?” Because of its shape and noise of the 2 stroke engine. the evident aerodynamic design, the design of body is part of chassis and come from aircraft technology.

Vespa front light

Piaggio sold 2.000 Vespa in the 1947, the first year, and more than 60.000 in 1950. In the 1952 Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck used a Vespa in the film Roman Holiday for a ride through Rome, it was the biggest ad campaign for a vehicle, Vespa sales growth to more than 100.000/year.

Vespa front wheel

Vespa was manufactured under licence in several European countries, in India and South America. The original Vespa born as utility vehicle, become a symbol of freedom, in the 1960, the original Vespa was improved introducing a rear suspension, bigger engines 125cc and 150cc, and a more comfortable saddle, and a small size frame powered by a 50cc.

Vespa 50cc 1980

The large frame Vespa is still in production while the production of small frame was stopped in ’80. In the ‘90 Vespa was in a big crisis, sold less than 1000 Vespa /year because of several reason such as high pollution of the 2 stroke engine compared to Japanese 4stroke scooters, and old desigyn and technology. In 2000 it was launched a new model, modern style, lighter frame, a 4 stroke engine, and with an automatic gearbox rather than the classic 4 speed.

Moto Morini

Moto Morini was founded by Alfonso Morini in Bologna, in 1937. He had a workshop repairing motorcycles, when a businessmam asked him to build a single cylinder 125cc 2 stroke racing bike. In 1927 the motorcycle named MM took 6 world records at Monza. In 1937 Alfonso Morini founed the Moto Morini and started producing a 350cc and a 500cc 3 wheelers. During the second war, Morini manufactured aeronautical components. Aftrer the war, in 1946 Moto Morini went back to produce motorcycles, a new single cylinder, 2 stroke 125cc, 3 speed transmission that had a great success in competitions, followed by a 125cc 4 stroke that exceed 140km/h. In 1958 it was designed a 250cc that won at Monza, with a speed of 225km/h. Moto Morini because very famous thanks to Giacomo Agostini that was Junior Champion in 1963.

Moto Morini Corsaro

In 1963 Moto Morini missed the World Championship by only 2 points. In 1970 after Alfonso Morini died, Mr. Franco Lambertini became the new manager and designer.In the ’70 Moto Morini launched a very revolutionary new 350cc V twin engine motorcycles, followed by a 500cc in 1981. All components were the best on the market, Dell’Orto carburetors, Marzocchi front fork, Grimeca discs. In the 1987 Gabriella Morini, Alfonso Morini daugther, decided to sell the firm to Cagiva Group, that after a few years sold the firm to Texas Pacific Group. In 1999 the Morini Franco Motori, a small engine manufacturing company founded by Alfonso’s nephew, became the new owner of Moto Morini.

Moto Morini 1.200cc

Now Moto Morini launched 2 new models, the Corsaro 1.200cc, and the Corsaro Veloce, naked bike both powered by an 1.200cc V twin cylinder engine that develops 140HP, designed by Franco Lambertini.

Triumph Motorcycles

Triumph began in 1884 when Mr. Siegfried Bettmann emigrated from Nuremberg, Germany to London, England and founded an imp-exp company of bicycles. After 3 years the company changed name in Triumph Co. Ltd. and became a bicycles manufacturing company opening also a subsidiary in Nuremberg. After a few years Triumph Co. Ltd. decided to start producing also motorcycles, using a bicycle frame with a engine built in Belgium. During the first world war the production of motorcycles increased to more than 30.000 pcs. In the 1920′s Triumph purchased a car factory and start producing both motorcycles and cars well appreciated also overseas. Because of great depression of 1929, Triumph had some problems, and sold the Nuremberg company that anufactured motorcycles till 1960. In 1933 the founder, Mr. Bettmann had to retire and Triumph sold the manufacturing bicycle company to Raleigh. A few years later, Triumph went bankrupt, the car company was acquired by the Standard Motor Company, and the motorcycle was acquired by Ariel Motorcycle Company.

Triumph Scrambler

The name was changed into Triumph Engineering Co. Ltd, and the company began to export to the USA. During the second world war, the company moved to West Midlands in order to save factory devastation. After the war more than the half of Triumph production was exported to the USA. To satisfy the American client needs for long distance, Triumph manufactured a 650cc motorcycle named Thunderbird. Thanks to this 650cc motor, Triumph got the world’s speed record for motorcycles till 1970. Triumph became very popular after the movie “The Wild One” where Marlon Brando rode a Thunderbird. In 1959 was born the Bonneville, the most famous model by Triumph, and sales in the USA increased a lot, becoming a strong competitors for Harley Davidson. For years the half of the 500cc motorcycles USA market belong to Triumph. But in few years Triumph motorcycles became obsolete lacking electric start mechanisms, vibration, and leaked oil, compared to Japanese motorcycles that improved their bikes, adding advanced high technology solutions and electrical systems. Triumph developed a 3 cylinder engine and introduced a 5 speed gearbox to compete against Honda that launched on the market the first 750cc 4 cylinder. Despite the success of the Trident and Bonneville new design, the group made losses of 8 million pounds in 1971.

Triumph 2008

To avoid bankrupt, the government decided to create a new group named Triumph including the 3 UK motorcycle companies in 1973 was launched the new Bonneville powered by a 750cc engine. NVT stopped the Trident production in 1975, and all best engineers left the company. After 2 years the company went bankrupt, and the brand rights were sold to the Meriden Cooperative. After several years, a new investor Mr. John Bloor, re launched “Triumph Motorcycles Ltd”. In 2006 the Triumph Group announced sales of 37,400 units with a range of modern motorcycles using famous model names from the past.

• The beginning of fashion
• Fashion in 1920 – 1940
• Fashion after the second war
• 60′s fashion style
• Late 1960, a contrast between conservative and revolutionary style
• 70′s fashion style
• 80′s fashion style
• 90′s fashion style
• Fashion style at present

The beginning of fashion

The first fashion designer was Mr. Worth in the late 1800. Before him, designers at royal courts were just taylors that did what the clients said. Worth was the first to dictate to his clients what they had to wear, instead of following their thoughts. Following him, other fashion houses hired artists to design clothing, so they could present to their clients the design of a new clothes without realizing a real sample, and only if the client appreciated it, the taylor started to make a garment.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Paris was the center of fashion, Paris fashion exhibitions became very important, and all fashion magazine directors, ready to wear department store buyers, and made to measure taylors couldn’t miss the Paris shows. Fashion and beauty became to have an important role in daily life all over Europe thanks also to fashion magazines such as "La Gazette du bon ton" founded in 1912.

At the end of the 19th century, the women started to adopt a new way of dressing, easy to wear clothes without any help of an assistance. Born the era of the "Belle Epoque", the research of beauty and practical clothes, the attention to elaborated details and the importance of good couturiers. The fashion house became to launch tailored suits for women, emphasizing a slim and soft silhouette and shorter skirts.

In the 1910s there was the influence of the "Art Deco" movement with its colours silk. It was organized the first fashion show by Jeanne Paquin, a famous female couturier in Paris, who opened also a branch in London, Argentina and Spain. During the first world war clothes became more comfortable to allow women work.

Fashion in 1920 – 1940

After the war there was a great demand of luxury French fashion, but couturiers had to adopt a new style, informal clothes that had to satisfy new clients such as American actresses and wives of industrialists, and to match outdoor life needs based on cars rather than horse carriages.

In the 1920s Coco Chanel became popular to be one of the first to design a chic and informal sportswear collection for both men and women for every event, not only for dining. She introduced the “Le Petit” known as little black dress, the use of jersey and knitwear for women’s clothing, high hell and double colour shoes. Jeanne Lanvin reached the success being a 360 degrees fashion house, designing sportswear, lingerie, men’s clothes, and interior designs, and introducing trimmings, embroideries, and decorations in floral colours on her women’s collections.

In menswear there was a great demand for informal clothes that emphasized youth and relax. In a en wardrobe you could find short suit jackets, soft wool suits, and sweaters. For evening men replaced the tail coat with short tuxedo. While Paris was the heart of women’s fashion, London was the capital of men’s style, thanks to the English tailor school. Because of the crack of the New York stock market of the 1929, and following depression, Fashion designers lost a lot of clients, and specialized in haute couture rediscovering women silhouettes and sophisticated elegance, and ready to wear fashion for outdoor activities.

At the end of the 1930s appeared the first pullover knitted in black and white, and Hermes, the most luxury goods manufacturer, started selling hand made printed silk scarves, till very popular today, and introduced the zip. During the second world war, most fashion houses closed including the Maison Chanel, a few moved to New York. Because of the war, Americans introduced on their market a fashion based on men’s work clothes, introduced boots and sportswear clothes into women wardrobe as an elegant way to dress.

Fashion after the second war

After the second world war, there were a lot of changes in the fashion industry. Fashion became increasingly popular also among middle class, the young generation wanted to reach all benefits of the booming, the difference between high society and workers, and the external marks of distinction such as clothing disappeared. Because of more and more people were looking for fashion clothing, fashion houses introduced the ready to wear collections, based also on light fabrics, and also synthetic fabrics in order to cut raw material costs.

The success of fashion marked the decline of Paris as capital of fashion due to the great change in producing huge quantities of clothes, from hand made clothes to industrial factories. To do that, the haute couture had to design and launch collections 1 year in advance. Guess what customers wanted was no easy for old couturiers in Paris, non used to market research.

In 1947 Christian Dior launched his first collection reintroducing the sophisticated style of the Belle Epoque. The luxury style of the 1920s came back but more practical clothes to match everyday women needs such as clothes to work and to drive their car. We could find several designers who take popularity from TV and magazines.

In the 1950s Balenciaga removed the waist line, and widened shoulders, changing women silhouette. Hubert de Givenchy, one of the most elegant fashion designers, opened his first couture house in 1952 in Paris, followed by boutiques in Rome, Zurich, and Argentina.

In the 1954, Coco Chanel, over 70, came back into fashion scenes (she closed her fashion house during the war) launched a new way of clothing including the famous little braided suit with gold chain, jewelry, monogrammed buttons, bags with chains, and informal evening clothes.

60′s fashion style

The early 60s was the era of fashion houses and movie stars such as Audrey Hepburn with Givenchy. People began to be influenced by celebrities such as Jacqueline Kennedy, Marlene Dietrich, and Rita Hayworth, and American market began to be the most important market for haute couture.

Audrey Hepburn

A dress weared by an actress in a movie, could have a terrific return in terms of visibility, more than any ad campaign in a fashion magazines. Clothes had to emphasize the luxury world of Hollywood, also a simply cut dress had to be coupled with sophisticated details, luxury fabrics and raw materials, including chiffon and fur.

Late ’60, a contrast between conservative and revolutionary style

The 1960s was a decade that broke with many fashion traditions of the past with several extreme trends. Paris was the center of fashion till the ’60s. Then there was a change in fashion world, the era of someone that enforces his style is ended, and start the era of a fashion influenced by different styles round the world, and for the first time in the fashion history from young people, that had a great impact on the fashion industry. Single personal freedom became more important than any conventional style.

In the 1960s in contrast to their mothers, young girls began to wear short skirts with a look at the past (1920s) that slowly became mini skirts in 1965 thanks to a revolutionary designer, Mary Quant. In the 1963 also an other new item was launched, the bikini. In the ’60 most of changes developed in London that began to compete with Paris in the fashion world for a few years, with a fashion street style that took place of the fashion created in a couture house.

In Paris we had a big contrast between new designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, that produced some of the most elegant clothes of all times, Pierre Cardin, and Emanuel Ungaro, and the old fashion designers including Chanel and Balenciaga that continued to produce collections based on old style.

Chanel Bag with classic logo

The basic new style of the ’60 was based on a simple cut, bright colours, and the disappearance of hats widely used in the past. In the ’60s we cannot miss 2 fashion designers that more than others launched innovative clothes for carefree girls, Emilio Pucci and Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo, known as Paco Rabanne, the first to use black models. For men in the ’60s, the basic change was the use of a lighter fabrics for suits, that allows a different design of suits, emphasizing the natural shape of the body, and an informal style based on blue jeans coupled to a coloured polo neck, rather than white collar and ties.

70′s fashion style

In the ’70s, we assist to the hippie look with Indian scarves, flower print shirts, and unisex look. Most described this style as the end of good taste, combining informal clothes to soul music from Africa culture. The most innovative fashion designers of the 1970s were Kenzo, and Vivienne Westwood that in 1971 opened her boutique “Sex”, the temple for punks. London was the city that influenced fashion of the ’70s round the world. Laura Ashley that re introduced long skirts looking to the past fashions of the 1920s and ’30s. In America, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren began to design unstructured style clothes for both men and women, and tailors tried to match made to measure suits for dining with comfort, and relaxation. In 1977 the most famous disco opened in New York, the Studio 54.

In the 1970s, Italy began to be important for international fashion, Milan for ready to wear collections, second only to Paris, and Rome for high hand made fashion thanks to Valentino and Capucci. While London was the capital of no fashion style, Italian fashion developed luxury easy to wear collections including Giorgio Armani and Nino Cerruti in Milan. Giorgio Armani produced his first collection for women in 1975 and opened his first boutique Emporio Armani in 1981. In 1957 Nino Cerruti opened the boutique for men, and a few years later a collection for women.

80′s fashion style

At the end of the century, Western fashion was adopted all over the world, the ’80s was very good for the fashion industry. To appear became more important than to be, appearance in whole aspects, from good shape to well dressing, was all for young urban professionals (yuppies took place of hippies of the ’70s). Fashion shows influenced every day life of a lot of people, and several magazines began to write about fashion.

Some new designers redefined the look of the period, combining retro and futurism, with unstructured silhouettes and wider shoulders. Japanese designers became to inflence fashion world offering a complete different image of the woman.

In America Ralph Lauren after the opening in 1971 of his boutique for both men and women in Beverly Hills, became in the ’80s, the the number one of American ready to wear sportswear clothes. In 1984, Donna Karan launched a collection of luxury clothes for New York professional women who was immediately appreciated from all urban women, not only in New York. Manolo Blahnik trend shoes became a dream for all urban women.

90′s fashion style

The economic crises had a great influence on fashion trends of ’90s style. With the end of yuppies way of living, the fashion designers moved towards a minimalist and simply dresses, leaving the sexy and luxury styles of the ’80s. While some ready to wear fashion brands such as Gap and Banana Republic launched comfortable cheap clothes, others specialized in luxury and expensive clothes for an elite.

In the early ’90s, fashion was inflenced by rap music, followed by hip hop, and young people used to wear baggy jeans. One was Gucci, the famous fashion house based in Italy created in 1921 by Guccio Gucci for luxury leather goods. In the ’90s Gucci became one of the biggest selling fashion brand, producing clothes, shoes, jewelry, perfumes designed by Tom Ford.

Gucci Bag

An other Italian old brand became popular in the ’90s: Prada was established in 1923 in Milan, and thanks to Miuccia Prada the old high quality shoes manufacturer changed into the most appreciated ready to wear fashion house for young women, the number one in Japan. The 1990s were the golden age for Italian designers, Gianni Versace launched sexy and coloured clothes for young women, Dolce & Gabbana with a total black look, Moschino.

In America we noticed Marc Jacobs, a young talented designmer that Louis Vuitton group hired for the new collections, and Calvin Klein that was the first designer to develop fashion clothes and acccessories for a global markets, from USA to Asia.

Fashion style at present

Fashion designers looked to the past for inspiration, not only for clothes, re launching cars and motorcycles famous in the ’60s: Vespa scooter, Mini car BMW, Fiat 500 and vintage clothing. In the early 2000s money became more important than talent, and designers had to join investment groups to have survive.

The sportswear brand Nike took place of Adidas in popularity and sales of sports clothes and shoes.

Why exercise

Exercise moderate or intense is good for you and reduce the risk of disease. For sedentary people even climbing stairs will improve cardiovascular health, and improve cholesterol level. There is also a link between intense exercise and bone strength.

Just walking

A high impact exercise aerobic will increase both your muscles mass and bone density, but a 30 minutes daily walk is enough to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis, and improve cardiovascular health.

Moderate activity or vigorous exercise?

Moderate physical activity such as walking or biking is ok. Usually people who exercises vigorously for short time, will spend a lot of time relaxing on the sofa, and at the end of the day the total calories burned result the same. Intense exercise is good to build strong muscles. We recommend you follow a training that combines both aerobic activity and weight exercise, but f you don’t like to join a gym club, mind that also a low impact activities are good to increases bone mass, and to improve cholesterol level. An high impact exercise is necessary to build your muscles.

Aqua Beauty : thermal waters have always been used thanks to their theurapeutic properties since Roman Empire 2.000 years ago. If you happen to visit Italy, you can see the ruins of ancient SPA. Thermal baths and mud massages are easy and efficient beauty treatments, keeping your body beautiful in time giving not only skin elasticity, but also muscular tone.

Water Shiatsu : is a massage given in climatized water, your body will be waved and caressed by the water that amplifiy all movements, and the sense of floating will relax your body and your mind. It is highly recommended to everyone.

Swimming : is an easy sport recommended to everyone preventing curvature and back malformations. It’s good for the whole body that involves all muscles. Ideal for children giving a sense of satisfaction.

Aquagym : similar to ground gymnastics but thanks to the water resistance, the exercise is more efficient and tones all muscles, helping to fight stress and relaxing. You can do any exercises without injuries, thanks to the absense of gravity. Acquagym is recomened to prevent cardiovascular problems. Aquagym is recommended for pregnant women and even for elderly people. Also the water gives a beneficial massage, and it isn’t necessary to be a swimmer to practice aquagym.

SPA Hotel and Beauty Farm

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HOTEL SAN PIETRO : Via Laurito 2, Positano, Costiera Amalfitana, Salerno, Italy – Hydromassage, Spa.
CAPRI PALACE HOTEL : Via Capodimonte 2/b, Capri, Napoli, Italy – ask for Megaron Suite, a spectacular apartment featuring hanging garden, private swimming pool, and a lovely view of the Mediterrean Sea. Roman Emperors have been to Capri 2.000 years ago, and … what are you waiting for? – Spa Treatments, Massages, Electrostimulation, Thalassotherapy.
BURJ AL ARAB : Jumeirah Dubai Dubai, Arabian Emirates – the hotel that became an international landmark before being completed. The sail shaped structure, offering a spectacular view of the Arabian Gulf symbolizes the very essence of Dubai, the best of the new coupled to the past. – Beauty farm, Hydromassage, Beauty body and facial massage, Sauna, Solarium, Health & beauty therapy treatments, Hydrotherapy, Massotherapy, Aromatherapy, Lymphatic drainage.

During the war, Audrey suffered from malnutrition and anemia. After the war, Audrey took dancing lessons in Amsterdam first, and few years later in London. Her teacher said Audrey that she was a good dancer, but never could become a prima ballerina because of her tall 1,67m ( 5’7″ ).

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s

So Audrey decided to stop dancing and started a career as actress. Audrey’s first role in a movie was a hotel receptionist in a British movie. In the 1953 “Roman Holiday” made her a star, gettig also the cover of Time. It was her first American movie and first starring role.

Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holidays

The role was designed for Elizabeth Taylor, but the director William Wyler was so impressed by Audrey Hepburn charm and innocence that said: that’s the girl. !He was right. Audrey Hepburn won the Oscar for Best Actress, a celebrity after just 1 movie.

Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina

Her next movie, “Sabrina” with Humphrey Bogart and William Holden, allowed Audrey Hepburn became a fashion icon. The producer invited the fashion designer Hubert de Givenchy to design Audrey wardrobe for the movie, and they became good friends. In 1954, Audrey Hepburn was awarded the Golden Globe for “Best Motion Picture Actress” and the Academy Award, both for Roman Holiday. Audrey Hepburn work with major actors of the time such as: George Peppard (Breakfast at Tiffany’s), Cary Grant (Charade), Rex Harrison (My Fair Lady), Fred Astaire (Funny Face), Peter O Toole (How to Steal a Million).

• Sabrina in 1954 – Academy Award nomination: Best Actress. BAFTA nomination: Best Actress
• War and Peace in 1956 – Golden Globe nomination: Best Drama Actress. BAFTA nomintion: Best Actress
• Breakfast at Tiffany’s in 1960 – Academy Award nomination: Best Actress)
• Charade in 1963 – Golden Globe nomination: Best Musical/Comedy Actress. BAFTA win: Best Actress
• My Fair Lady in 1964 – Golden Globe nomination: Best Musical/Comedy Actress

It was very hard for an introvert girl as Audrey to play the extroverted girl in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. She loved gardening and quiet living with family and nature. In the 1967, after 15 years of succesfull carrer, Audrey spent most of her time with family. She loved gardening and quiet living with family and nature. In the 1968 Hepburn divorced from Mel Ferrer (an American actor) her first husband, and in the 1969 married an Italian psychiatrist, Andrea Dotti.

Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Hepburn returned to cinema in 1979, and .her last film was “Always” by Steven Spielber 1988. In 1992, Hepburn received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work in UNICEF. Audrey Hepburn died of the cancer in the 1993 at the age of 63 years in Switzerland, and was interred there. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1652 Vine Street.

10 Fashion Tips to be like Audrey Hepburn in the Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Beautiful, nice, confident, cheery, style icon, intelligent are the most common words to describe Audrey Hepburn. Many girls have been inspired by her unique character and style.

The Audrey Hepburn wardrobe: the Audrey Hepburn style became such an influence that her style is common nowadays. The typical Audrey Hepburn style is based on:

• The little black dress
• Pearls
• Slim trousers
• Capri pants
• A black turtleneck
• Ballet flats
• Evening gown (breathtaking, but simple)

The Audrey Hepburn attitude : Audrey Hepburn’s style isn’t based only on clothing. It isn’t enough to go on a fashion shop and buy clothing similar to Audrey Hepburn wardrobe. It is important to adopt the right style for your body and lifestyle.

Follow your body : Audrey Hepburn wardrobe was very innovative, but she always weared clothing that suited her body type. She created her own look, far from the standards of feminine beauty of her time such as Marilyn Monroe. Hubert de Givenchy designed clothes for her starring role in Sabrina basing the designs on her body. Look at your body shape, and know what clothing and cut are good for you and start buying the basic wardrobe following your body. If your body shape is like a sexy bomb, avoid to wear the white button down shirt.

Comfortable clothing : always select the right clothing for each occasions. Audrey Hepburn’s ballet flats are as practical as sophisticated. Avoid to wear a 12 cm heels if you feel that you could have a pain with every step.

Good shape and a well balanced diet : Audrey Hepburn never had large meals and followed a well balanced diet coupled with long walks and biking. Before becoming an actress, Audrey Hepburn was a ballet dancer, and it gave her the right posture.

Light makeup : Audrey Hepburn used a very simple makeup based on natural lipstick and blush tones. Emphasize only the best of your face, maybe lips or maybe eyes, and keep the rest as light as possible.

Smiling : Audrey Hepburn was always confident, and a genuine smile is essential to be described as a nice girl. She knew that beauty starts from within.

Wardrobe Essentials

The Basics, build a strong foundation with a selection of some strategic staples that will mix with almost everything in your closet.
Black tank : white tank is good for gym and for casual outings, black tank can be ok also for a cocktail party.
Crewneck sweater : in cotton or wool.
Jeans : avoid extra size, prefer fit jeans with attractive cut, the fabric will follow your curves and keep its shape (stretch denim with no more than 2% Lycra).
Long sleeve white T-shirt : prefer a slim fit T-shirt that skims over your body. Only if you are in shape, buy a T-shirt that cling a little. perfect coupled with jeans.
Long sleeve black T-Shirt : perfect under a dress.
Cashmere black or blue turtleneck sweater
White button down cotton shirt : the fabric must follow your curves.
Denim jacket : elegant slim fit jacket.

The Staples

The secret to maximize versatility is having few colours and classic cuts.
Lack mini skirt
Black dress – can be worn every day, every season.
Black trousers
White silk shirt – leave the lace trim for your lingerie.

The Statement Pieces, you must have a few signature pieces to attract notice when you wear them.
Flowered or graphic dress : high quality fabrics that follow your curves, and short cut
Jacket : always show off your shape with a short cut and fit style.
Printed shirt : wearing with blue jeans.

The Evening Standards even if you don’t have a frequent nightlife, you need to have 2-3 pieces for cocktail or dining. Mind, the difference between day and evening style, is in the details: bags, shoes, accessories.
Dining skirt : black mini skirt.
Branded fit jeans
Cocktail classic style jacket
High hell shoes

The Showstoppers to guarantee a grand entrance your dress must wear perfectly, prefer classic design and top quality fabrics. Formal events happens 1-2 times a year, but you cannot save money when buy a party dress.
Long dress colour black or red if you are really in shape.
High hell shoes.

Red Wine Brunello di Montalcino, Italy

Grape varieties: Sangiovese Grosso 100% from the vineyards on Montalcino hill.
Production techniques: fermentation in 100hl stainless steel tanks, 20 days long maceration at controlled temperature of 30° degrees. Aged for 24 months in 300lt. French oak barrels. Bottle refinement min. 24 months.
Tasting notes: Colour – deep ruby red with garnet hues. Aroma – very rich and complex, with scents of wild berries, balsamic hints, further enriched by spicy and toasted notes. Taste – powerful yet very elegant, with impressive aromatic persistence. Food pairing – ideal with game, grilled and roasted meats and medium seasoned cheeses.

Chianti red wine, Italy

Production Zone: Comune of Castellina in Chianti, area of San Leonino
Grape varieties: Sangiovese 90%, Cabernet Sauvignon 10%
Vineyards facing and altitude: North – South / 300 metres
Training System: Cordone Speronato
Average age of vines in production: 10 years
Harvest period: Early October
Vinification: in stailess steel vats of 100 ht, 15-18 days of maceration at the controlled temperature of 30°C.
Ageing: 18 months in new French oak barrel
Bottle Ageing: 12 months before the release on the market.

Limoncello, Italy

The limoncello liquor was born at the beginning of 1900, in Amalfi, Capri and Sorrento, in the South of Italy. In 1988, Massimo Canale started a small handmade production of limoncello in Capri, registering the trademark for this traditional yellow liquor ready to taste as an aperitif or digestive, from lemons enriched by water, alcohol and sugar. The yellow and wrinkled lemon skin is the essential ingredient of its lucky production. Only the Mediterranean climate of the Sorrento and Amalfi coast can guarantee the large and perfumed peel of lemon. You can find many sweet artificial liquor labeled lemoncello world wide, but if you don’t see Limoncello from Italy from IGP lemon, it is better you make at home. It’s easy to make, and homemade limoncello is always better than any lemoncello copy:
- 1 liter of alcohol
- 1/2 cups water
- 5 lemons from Sorrento and Amalfi coast if possible, not lemon juice
- 2 cups sugar
After washing of the fruit in warm water and brushing in order to clean it from eventual residual of insecticides, cut them, and squeeze out the juice. Pour the alcohol into a large glass jar, add the lemons, seal the jar, and put it in a dark cool place for 6 days. After 6 days, put the water in a pot, add the sugar and bring to a boil. Keep at low boil for 5 minutes, stirring often. Cool to room temperature. Stir in the alcohol and lemons, wait an hour. Remove the lemon pieces. Stir. Pour the mixture into glass bottles and make airtight. Put the bottles in your freezer overnight. Store in freezer until your next dinner or cocktail party.

Grappa, Italy

Grappa is a distilled beverage made in Bassano del Grappa, a small town in Italy, in the Middle Ages. It is from this town that Grappa gets its name. Similar to France’s brandies and Cognac, and Portugal’s Sherry, Grappa is a mixture of grape pieces and alcohol is heated gently, allowing much of the mixture to evaporate, and leaving about 42% alcohol concentration. After distillation, Grappa is stored in glass bottles for 6 months. In the past, Grappa was a poor beverage, but in the 1960s Mrs. Giannola Nonino started producing a higher quality Grappa and offering to journalists, restaurateurs, and commercial dinners for free. Grappa became popular all around the world. Traditionally, Grappa is served chilled in small glasses and served after the meal.

Business Fashion

It is no hard to find good cloths for business days, just going to any fashion brand shop downtown and looking for classic suites. The problem start when you are asked to be a little relaxed, when the dark grey suit is too formal.

Casual Friday

It is a style of dress that’s elegant enough for business, but casual, comfortable and easy. It takes name from cloths dresses by workers on Fridays, when are ready for leaving town for the week end. Comfortable and chic at the same time. Less formality, but always in style.

In

• Cashmere sweater instead of a formal jacket is acceptable
• Wool in winter or linen in summer trousers but classic silhouette
• A navy blazer jacket with 2 bottoms and blue jeans trousers leather brown shoes
• Heels for ladies can be ok, but be careful that total look wouldn’t be too sexy

Out

• Scratch jeans are too informal
• Short skirts could be too sexy for business meetings
• Dirty or non pressed shirts
• Sneakers shoes

The most important part of style is you, find your exclusive look rather than following trends.

Timeless wardrobe

• Always choose clothes that emphasize your body and femininity
• The make up must bring attention to your face
• Dark colors let you look slimmer, black is good for about all occasions but wedding
• Wearing black to get a chic effect
• Shoes with heel and pearls for evening
• Sneakers only for daytime
• Monochromatic look eliminates the problem to mix different colours of clothing and accessories
• Simple elegant collections taking into great consideration your comfort
• Put most of your money into shoes and trendy accessories
• Chic style includes red lipstick and pearls for evening party and sunglasses for daytime

Travelling in style

Feel good and relaxed while travelling, comfortable cloths and shoes allowed you to be seat on plane, train, car for hours without problems
Minimum accessories
Light makeup for ladies

Jet Charter Brokerage Company:

• Blue Star Jets, 885 Second Ave, 16th. Floor, New York, NY 10017
• New Flight Charters, PMB 4067, Jackson Hole, WY 83001
• Chief Executive Air, 1400 Broadway, 36th floor, New York, NY 10018
• Corporate Jet Leasing, 1678 Rustling Drive, Orange Park, FL 32003

Executive Jets Manufacturers:

Gulfstream executive jet
Bombardier executive jet
Learjet executive jet

Gulfstream executive jet

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation is a manufacturer of small medium jet aircrafts located in Savannah, Georgia, US now is a subsidiary of General Dynamics. The Gulfstream was founded in 1957, when completed the design of the for the Gulfstream I, a turboprop aircraft that became one of the most popular for corporate, government, and military aircraft.

Gulfstream I

• Wingspan: 23,9 m
• Length: 19,4 m
• Wing area: 56,7 m2
• Max speed: 648 km/h
• Range: 3780 km
• Crew: 2
• Payload: 12 – 24 seat
• Engines: 2xRolls Royce turboprop 2.000 HP each

In the 1970s was launched the Gulftsream II, a large twin engine business jet succeded by the Gulfstream III, IV and in the 1997 the Gulfstream V, the longest range business jet, flying up to 7.500 miles (12.000 km).

Gulfstream V

Bombardier executive jet

Bombardier is a Canadian group founded by Joseph Armand Bombardier in 1942 at Valcourt Quebec. In 1937 Joseph Armand Bombardier was a mechanic who manufactured the first snowmobile changing the way of traveling in snow. At first snowmobiles were vehicles designed to take children to school, deliver groceries, in Quebec during winter. During the 2nd world war Armand opened a new factory to supply also vehicles for the military. In the 1950, when all roads had to be cleared of snow, according to new safety regulations, snowmobile became an obsolete vehicles, and Armand became to produce all terrain vehicles for mining industries. In 1959 Armand launched on the market a mini 2 seat snowmobile, called Ski dog (known as sky doo) because this vehicle could replace the dogs in snow mobility. Running on the snow at high speed was very funny, and there was a great demand for this vehicle, and was launched a new sport. In 2006, the ATV brand name changed from Bombardier ATV to Can Am.

Jet Bombardier

In 1964 Armand Bombardier died at age 56, and his sons reorganized the company improving distribution networks and market strategy. In 1969 the company became public and was listed on the Montreal – Toronto Stock Exchanges. Bombardier acquired Canadair and became to develop aircraft industries with the brand Bombardier Aerospace acquiring also de Havilland Canada, and Learjet. In 1970 Bombardier acquired in Austria the Rotax company, a manufacturer of motorcycle engines and tramways, adding also the rail business line to vehicles and aircraft business. Then Bombardier acquired the American Locomotive Company, ADtranz, producing express trains and propulsion systems for many passenger trains and locomotive fleets, became shareholder of the British Rail, was one of the companies that built the Eurotunnel.

Learjet executive jet

Learjet was founded in the late 1950s by William Powell Lear, now a subsidiary of Bombardier. In 1952 a Swiss aircraft company decide to manufacture a revolutionary fighter aircraft and after 8 years the jet was completed. After moving factory to Wichita, Kansas, US, and a few changes of the original basic structure, Learjet became to build the Learjet 23, an 8 seat jets.

Learjet 23

• Wingspan: 13,18 m
• Length: 10,84 m
• Wing area: 21.5 m2
• Max speed: 900 km/h
• Cruise speed: 580 km
• Range: 1.600 km
• Crew: 2
• Payload: 6 – 8 seat
• Engines: 2xGeneral Electric CJ610-4 turbojets

In the 1970s was launched the successful Learjet 35, a turbofan with a range of 3.600 km and 8 seat.