Anna Piaggi , doyenne and Grande Dame of Fashion has died at the age of 81. Sometime Journalist, Stylist and muse. famous for her electric blue hair and show stopping outfits, she has been described as Italy's/the worlds most eccentric dresser.
Born in 1931 she worked as a translator for Italian publishing company Mondadori, then as a journalist/stylist for Vogue Italia. she was known especially for her double page spreads, where her artistic flair was give free expression in a montage of images and text.
Piaggi's fame also rested on her status as muse to designers Karl Lagerfeld and British Milliner Stephen Jones. She was also a great admirer of Vivenne Westwood and Manolo Blahnik made her shoes.
Her wardrobe was colossal and in 2006 when the V&A exhibited "Anna Piaggi Fashion-ology", her collection of vintage couture and designer clothing, garments by Balenciaga, Fendi, Galliano and Poiret, she had 265 shoes, 932 hats, 3000 dresses and 31 feather boas.
Anna herself dressed to entertain and was known to bring several trunks of fantastic clothing for one weekend. At Paloma Picasso's wedding in 1978, her feathered hat burst into flames as she walked past a lit candelabra.
"I never go out of my bedroom without make-up," she said in 2006. "i never wear the same thing twice in public. i love hats and I love little canes and binoculars. It looks like everything is just put together in a haphazard way, but no, it is very carefully planned."
At fashion shows she was often more outlandishly dressed that the runway models. Dolce & Gabbana loved her. "She is a true style icon," they said, "a woman who has a personal and recognisable style.
Piaggi made frequent appearances on the international best dressed list and was inducted into its hall of fame in 2007.
TRIBUTES
Manolo Blahnik
"one of the reasons for me being where I am today was Signora Piaggi," "she was a guiding light in my life and a great friend. she redefined clothes as an art form on herself. I am devastated she is no longer with us and she will be forever missed."
Stephen Jones
"it was with great sadness that i learned of the death of Annas Piaggi," said the milliner Stephen Jones. "from the beginning of my career- when we met on a shoot of Manolo's shoes and my hats for her magazine, Vanity - she has been a guiding light and an inspiration. Her effervescence and inventiveness was unequalled in everything she did; writing, styling and of course, how she looked. She was not only my muse, but a talisman for all those around the world who believe that fashion is way of life and that freedom of expression should manifest itself in what we wear."
Anna Piaggi & Stephen Jones
Giorgio Armani
"The world of fashion has lost one of its most original and subtly critical figures, Giorgio Armani told WWD. "Anna knew how to take a very Italian way of living and thinking fashion and make it international, turning it into the highest expression of art and culture. I will miss her unmistakable presence."
Donatella Versace
"I am truely saddened by the passing of Anna Piaggi", "She was a visionary with a heart of gold. The world is a little less colourful without her."
Judith Clark ; Fashion Curator V&A
"Anna Piaggi's double pages in Vogue Italia, were always to me like a fabulous 2-d exhibition." While working so closely with her for the V&A show, she taught me that clothes have nothing to do with dates- only allusions, endlessly re-designed by their wearers and redescribed during each outing."
R I P ANNA PIAGGI
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