In September last year the search for #GemsOfItalia that share a special place in my heart was underway with one of my favourite Italian beverage brands, Peroni Nastro Azzurro *no-bias*.
Let the exploring begin!
Where better to kickstart the excited collaboration that Italy itself. Embarking on a five day journey through Italian cities, towns and villages, Zoe, Caterina, Herald and myself had the chance to begin discovering all things from food and travel to design and fashion respectively.
The Red Vespa, one of my favourite #GemsOfItalia!
Starting in Venice, Herald was in wonderland and couldn’t be stopped. Focusing on the gorgeous Italian architecture, he snapped and snapped…and snapped, capturing the century old buildings incredibly constructed within tight canals.
The canals of Venice.
Let’s just say, I have a thing for Italy!
Famous for its white truffle, we were off to Alba in the North of Italy to devour some of the countries most delicious food. While Zoe dined through a twelve course degustation, Herald and I took this time to explore the gorgeous city.
Chiese della Trasfigurazione, Alba
It was my turn to sing my teeth into the Italian heritage and deep dive into a personal favourite #GemOfItalia, craftsmanship and tailoring. Traveling to Padua, I visited an Italian tailor by the name of Marcus who would take me through the step by step process of tailor-making a shirt from scratch.
To encapsulate my entire #GemsOfItalia experience, below are three pinnacle moments I personally feel aligned with SMF:
Florence
Four years ago, when I decided to launch my blog and started to seek inspiration, images from the renowned men’s fair, Pitti Uomo, caught my attention. Staying true to the “Pitti Style”, my Florentine attire consists mostly of well-tailored suits, tassel loafers and beautifully knitted ties and pocket squares. At the end of the day, this is my trademark style and a style I will endlessly incorporate into the blog.
Florentine time-out during Pitti Uomo.
Milan
When Milan Fashion Week kicks off, you better be ready! Every season, over the course of five intense days, I am bouncing around from show to show changing outfits three to four times a day. During MFW though, I incorporate a more street-style approach to my outfits. The chinos, sneakers, bomber jackets and oversized coats come out to play.
Bringing Italy to Dubai.
Dolce & Gabbana
Having attending Pitti Uomo and Milan Fashion Week for four consecutive years now, I received the call of a lifetime just before the 2017 New Year from one of the biggest Italian fashion houses, Dolce & Gabbana. The unthinkable, the unimaginable and the unexpected would go down in January 2017…I would walk in the Dolce & Gabbana Men’s Fashion Show in Milan with the biggest smile in the world!
The hunt for #GemsOfItalia still continues 🇮🇹
Upload your favourite Italian lifestyle photo across either fashion, food, design or travel and use #GemsOfItalia & #PeroniUAE for your chance to win a trip to Italy for two, plus the goodies below!
More info on www.gemsofitalia.com
