Sass, Smarts, and Stilettos

Ah, that inimitable Italian style. It's embedded in an Italian woman's DNA. Fashion doesn't define her. She defines herself. She knows that an extraordinary life is not about status, money, or achievement. The only mastery it requires is one her heritage has given her, the irrepressible passion to make art of life itself. She doesn't follow trends and she doesn't follow rules. She embraces tradition and rejects convention. For her life is a gift. Everything is a reason for wonder. The hard stuff is just a provocation to shake things up.Ask an Italian woman where she gets her sense of style and she will tell you it's not about labels. It's tethered to humble roots; humanity, community, conscious consumerism, and a profound appreciation for art in all its forms.Sass, Smarts, and Stilettos takes the reader on a journey from the humble hill towns of Abruzzo to the revered fashion capitals of Milan and Rome, into the artisan workshops of Florence, and the humanistic business practices of Luisa Spagnoli, Brunello Cuccinelli, and Alberta Ferretti, from the emergence of Italy's fashion industry after WWII, to slow food and sustainable fashion initiatives taking root around the world.Life lessons echo in the words of the author's mother and grandmother, in the voices of Italian film divas, designers, tastemakers, writers, and artisans across generations, from the first Sala Bianca in Florence to the game changing design ethic of Franca Sozzani, Miuccia Prada, and Donatella Versace.Learn how to live fully within your own philosophy of living. Say good-bye to mindless consumerism, emotional clutter, and others' expectations. Create a personal style that fits like a custom blazer by Ferrè and enchants like the colors of a Sicilian sunset. Then go on to craft an extraordinary and empowering life made-to-measure for you alone.