{ An Eye Toward Eternity }

My first proper introduction to the Trussardi brand came in the Fall of 2011, during the Spring 2012 ready-to-wear shows in Milan. They were celebrating both their centennial anniversary and the welcoming of a new creative director, Umit Benan, so they’d pulled out all the stops. The show was held in the center courtyard of the Castello Sforzesco, one of Europe’s biggest citadels. The clothes were designed with a modern Annie Hall in mind ~ albeit one with an over-stamped passport and an inclination toward adventure. I was incredibly impressed.Since the line was founded in 1911, Trussardi leather goods have been a symbol of understated sophistication. As they’ve expanded over the years, they’ve earned a parallel reputation for their ready-to-wear, consistently producing clothing and accessory lines marked by strong, sharp tailoring. It’s this fuss-free approach to design that really resonates with me these days.We’ve been talking about things like investment dressing and conscientious living around here lately, as I’ve been thinking more about ideas like legacy and longevity. As I write this post from my parents’ house, where I’m visiting for a few days’ stay, I’m surrounded by photos of my past fashion experiments, including far too many phases I’d like to erase from history. Oh, there were doozies. These days, I find myself inspired by women like my sister, Erin Framel, and my friend Jamie Beck ~ gals who have long adopted a classic approach to dress, one that can be subtly tweaked with the changing seasons and shifts in fashion ~ but without any sort of seismic readjustments. Theirs is a strategy that comes with less risk of future mortification, and I like it.Many of you have told me that bags are one of the main areas where you like to focus your fashion investments, and I think it’s a smart policy. A well-made, elegantly-designed bag is something that can last a lifetime, and even be passed down to the next generation. With that in mind, I think it’s important to look for models made of great leathers with clean lines ~ purses without a lot of bells and whistles. Remember just a few years ago, when the craze for ever-more-elaborate bags was all the rage? Those things were back-breakingly heavy before you’d even put a single thing into them! I for one am thrilled to watch that trend fall by the wayside.Thus, over the next few weeks, I’ll be working with Trussardi to show you why I think their designs are so well-suited to our busy, modern lives ~ as well as continuing to showcase other brands, collections, and styles that I believe are beautifully executed and effortlessly elegant ~ in the hopes that one day, future generations may use the same sort of adjectives to describe both your style and mine.

|IN THIS POST| all bags available at www.trussardi.com |PHOTOS| by Mark Iantosca