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fashion vs food

Fashion loves food. Two apparently different worlds which instead hide within them a universe of affinities and similarities. Fashion loves food. Haute couture and signature cuisine are definitely part of the same universe, at least creative. In fact, these are two arts, the similarity of which is all the clearer the more you look at them with the right perspective, like an impressionist painting. Fashion and cuisine, two words behind which lies all the magic and mastery of their creators. A combination which, in the Italian panorama depicted by the main excellences, turns out to be a winning choice. Cuisine, or rather the world of food, understood in its globality of expressions, can be considered in the same way as fashion, that is, as a constantly evolving world, made up of trends that change, disappear and reappear periodically. Well yes, no coincidence. At the basis of a good dish or the right combination for the perfect outfit there is a balance and, why not, a pinch of originality. The fashion world meets the restaurant business; a wave of imagination and modernity that can only do good for the world of food. A trend, that of fashion and cuisine, which continues to renew itself with great designers who meet the Italian culinary tradition, giving life to elegant restaurants, with excellent cuisine and an environment with a modern and refined design at the same time.

The appointment to enjoy good food is in the premises of the big brands such as Ceresio 7 in Via Ceresio 7 in Milan, designed by the Canadian twins Dean and Dan Caten, designers of Dsquared2 with a terrace with swimming pool that offers a breathtaking view of the city. A place suitable for any occasion, perfect not only for dinner but also for an aperitif or an exclusive drink; Emporio Armani Caffè in Via Crocerossa in Milan, the reality of Milanese nights and days. A symphony with King George, as the whole environment is basic but impactful. The menu is also a triumph of traditional dishes such as tiramisu, to be enjoyed, however, in a truly special location; Trussardi Alla Scala, the restaurant of the Maison Trussardi which offers classic Italian cuisine enriched by international influences through the use of seasonal and high quality products. Located in the heart of Milan, the restaurant offers its customers refined design, starred cuisine and a view of the historic Piazza della Scala. Food and fashion merge in a sublime interweaving, chosen to explore and enjoy this dual heritage of national culture, also recognized and appreciated on a global level. Fashion dresses the body, beautifies it, enhances it and protects it; food passes through it and nourishes it; fashion nourishes the mind, food nourishes the body. In short, if food calls, fashion responds.

w o r d s  a l e s s a n d r a  r o s c i

t r a n s l a t i o n  e u g e n i a  b o o k

long live street style

Two simple words, a world to discover: street style. Different, bold and personal, it is the coolest style of the fashion people. English term that is used to describe a mood that is inspired and appropriated by trends deriving from street clothing. It had widespread diffusion already in the 90s, becoming unmistakable and unparalleled in the new millennium, thanks to the experimentation and total creativity that distinguishes street style today as one of the most refined and fun styles. Of great importance are street photographers who play a fundamental role in the fashion business panorama; with their fleeting shots they help us discover what is in from what is absolutely out. These immortalize various subjects in their most curious styles, showing us real, sincere, free fashion that is accessible even to us mere mortals. The latest trends pass through the metropolises and become an integral part of global culture, making us true citizens of the world. Wandering around the big cities you will surely encounter different cultures and styles, but only by coming across a completely new way of living do you often feel a great desire to try, play with your own personality and transform yourself, overlapping fabrics and colours. Numerous brands including Off-White, VTMNTS, Supreme, GCDS, Palm Angels and many others have decided to take inspiration from street style and transform it into the common thread of entire collections and into the philosophical essence of the brand itself.

The message that they have decided to convey is purely realistic and concrete, where the road becomes a real catwalk. And this is where all the trends are concentrated, in which everyone is the protagonist of their own creation; authentic, snapshot images of a constantly evolving society. Street style, street fashion, urban, casual style lives on the street and so, it draws ideas and contaminations from the street. Great confirmation for the new trends are the “sporty-chic” style as well as the “ethnic” mood reinterpreted with increasingly modern and contemporary colors and cuts. But a very important element is also the presence of garments that recall vintage, all accentuated by structured clothes and neutral colours. Street style inspires the catwalk with casual looks to copy. And for the evening, sumptuous and sparkling dresses cannot be missing, with embroidery and flashes of sequins. A true must-have of the “Street Style” is the garçon style which represents a new way of being sexy even when wearing his clothes. What’s the trick? Dare, dare and dare again, perhaps with a super feminine accessory or better yet, with an unexpected detail. This way it will be practically impossible to go unnoticed. Evolution, fun and imagination are the secret to a perfect street look through which one’s identity shines through, the character of a constantly moving society, where fashion that does not arise from the street is certainly condemned to become out of fashion.

w o r d s  a l e s s a n d r a  r o s c i

t r a n s l a t i o n  e u g e n i a  b o o k

from magazine to blog 360° revolution

The affirmation of fashion from the origins of the printed paper to the innovation of the blog has overturned the traditional communicative reality in the last century. The Internet has truly overturned some key concepts of the old way of doing journalism. The technological reality produced with the development of the digitalisation of information has generated the phenomenon of Web 2.0. What distinguishes the new paradigm is the affirmation of a culture capable of generating and conveying innovative contents and interpretative keys to reality through the internet and social media. One of the sectors that has best been able to grasp and use the impact of these tools in a productive manner is that of fashion which, thanks to the help of modern communication strategies, has managed to integrate social networks with the means of communication already existing like printed paper. With the birth of Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Tiktok, anyone can express their aesthetic point of view when it comes to fashion. In recent years there has been the birth of a new publishing system, based on the creation of web pages updated in real time, with a high level of visibility and low cost, used for sharing various types of content and which are becoming increasingly successful and global power: blogs. Born as diaries on the web, blogs have proven over time to be an effective tool for competing with traditional publishing, not only due to their immediacy but above all thanks to the ease of finding information. Furthermore, the birth of social networks, gaining an authority equal to other means of communication, has changed the way of communicating fashion, an exclusive privilege for years of the paper magazines in the sector, elevated to true institutions of the Fashion System. Analyzing the Italian side, the change starts from Vogue Italia, directed by Franca Sozzani who in February 2001 arrives on the web with the aim of creating a new sharing with readers, an original way to try to break down that wall that has always placed a clear division between those who make the magazine and those who read it. What the magazine is trying to create is a new method to make users/readers who are becoming more and more demanding and who want to be involved at 360° more involved.

 

With the birth of communities, forums and social networks that make communication increasingly participatory and open, Vogue Italia decides, through the website, to transform itself into an online editorial team, through which readers are accompanied behind the scenes: how the fashion shows are created, who takes care of the photo shoots, which models are selected, which new trends to follow; these are some of the questions that the digital version of the magazine aims to answer via the Web. From a brand reloading perspective, the first steps taken by the magazine focus on social networks, used as new communication channels that never lose sight of the style and purposes of a brand that has been regularly on newsstands for years. New technologies do not only modify social relationships, but also the method of using language. The form of writing becomes more flexible and streamlined, it loses the solemnity and rigidity to which it was linked in the past and begins to glimpse new ways of use. A phenomenon that is felt not only in the context of traditional social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, but which can also be found with the birth of blogs online. The blog revolution produces an interesting evolution in the concept of traditional journalism. Today, we are even increasingly witnessing the spread of the figure of the Fashion Blogger/Influencer, that is, he or she who uses their passion for fashion as a more direct and immediate tool of communication, allowing a vast audience from different social contexts to get to know the world of Fashion and Street Style in depth. They are surprisingly influential, they dictate the rules of fashion, they are creators of collections for the most important brands. The definition of Fashion Blogger/Influencer, however, has evolved over time, going from young people often without journalist passes to access the front rows of the most sought-after catwalks, to women, and today with great surprise also men, who immortalise their outfits in a series of shots and poses more or less likely to be shown online to the world, preferably during exclusive events organized by companies or through press offices. It is not a technological event that causes discussion in the world of research, but an event that guides the transformation of society in all its forms. Questo, rappresenta perciò, la dimostrazione che la moda per sua natura incline a dettare e seguire nuove tendenze, non può restare inerte alla rivoluzione digitale e come lei, anche i suoi lettori diventano i protagonisti di un contesto che con il tempo è riuscito a creare un universo di infinite possibilità.

w o r d s  a l e s s a n d r a  r o s c i

t r a n s l a t i o n  e u g e n i a  b o o k