About time, that’s what I say!
But here are all my friends in a tizz over the fateful question: what to pack?
To offer a solution (and to stop my mobile from ringing…), here’s my selection of must-packs for summer 2010: the cult items i’ll be taking with me wherever I go (not that I’ve any idea yet, but never mind!). The main rules to follow are: light, comfortable and multi-purpose.
Let’s start with the bikini, because seaside holidays are my favourite (although at the end of August I wouldn’t mind a trip to the mountains to relax before diving back into the fray…). My favourite this year’s the striped two-piece with bows at the side – romantic ma non troppo. Over the bikini? Wraparound sunglasses and a thin-stripe caftan with a plunging neckline, which is perfect even for a quick shopping trip before aperitif time. Make sure you’re prepared for the unpredictable as far as the weather goes, with long cotton trousers and a light parka in faille, also perfect for travelling in. And don’t forget to take a rain/sun hat, which never goes amiss. Accessories: leather and canvas sneakers, comfy yet stylish. And the large bag with leather handles, which I’ll be also be using as a travel bag for shorter weekend breaks.
Packing? It’s easy when you know how!
Catch you later!!!
Emilie

What a star-studded night we’ve just spent in Los Angeles with Women in Film, the association that presents awards to women who’ve made – or are making – history in the cinema and on TV!
On 31 May and 1 June we had a major role to play in two wonderful Hollywood nights, with the dinner party in honour of the winner of the Max Mara Face of the Future Award, Zoe Saldana, followed by the Crystal+Lucy Award Gala. But let’s start with the “private” dinner party organised for the award that bears our name: two tables at the poolside outside the Sunset Tower hotel, lit up by hundreds of candles. Young Hollywood was out in force in Zoe’s honour, in a relaxed, almost chummy atmosphere, with people chatting about movie projects, sure, but also just about the weekends they’d just spent with friends. Caprese salad, sea bass with fresh baby vegetables, followed by strawberries and cream: this was the deliciously light menu conjured up so as not to pile the pounds on all those actresses looking splendid in their Max Mara or Sportmax dresses: from Lake Bell to Rose Byrne, from Gugu Mbahta Raw (currently busy on the set with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, no less…) to our very own Zoe, who was here with her partner Keith Britton, looking great in a MaxMara suit that the website www.style.com elected “Look of the Day”.

She really is the face of the future, so much so that at the 1 June event she caught the eye of Eva Marie Saint, one of Hitchcock’s icon blondes, who looked down from the stage and complimented her on the gorgeous white look she’d chosen for the season (MaxMara yet again ), as well as for the “total blue” look she showed off in Avatar, in her princess role! The Crystal+Lucy Award Gala really was an evening full of sparkle. To everyone’s astonishment, Debra Messing, the presenter for the evening, wearing MaxMara, performed a sketch: she took of the shoes with my namesake, the actress Emilie Blunt, who was on the stage to present a prize to the boss of Universal and producer of The Cell, Donna Langley (the “tsarina” of Hollywood, as she was jokingly referred to in a video-message from Zac Efron and Matt Damon).
Particularly touching were Zoe’s words of thanks to her family, to whom she owes her career and thus every accolade she’s received (she is major!). The big surprise of the evening was the unexpected visit of Jennifer Aniston, who dropped in to cheer on her friend Courtney Cox Arquette, the unforgettable Monica from the TV series Friends, who was presented with the Lucy Award for Excellence in Television.
A friendly, cheerful atmosphere, with the accent on enthusiasm and friendship. This is what our Women in Film are all about, and that’s just what we love about them!
I’ll be back soon!
Emilie

I’m talking about the three lucky winners of the “Vinci la Moda” competition Sportmax organised in collaboration with the monthly magazine “Glamour”, in which 4000 of you took part.
All three (I’ll tell you who they are in a moment) have won Sportmax spring/summer 2010 looks, put together by Glamour in different styles (romantic, British, casual) along with the new Sportmax Code jeans. The third name out, Elisabetta from Andria (BA), of the hat was given one look (Night&Day, you can see it in the photo), the second two, Sara from Inverigo (CO), and the first, Giada from Torino all four looks. I hope at least number one – if she’s reading this – intends to SEND ME A PHOTO OF HER WITH THE LOOKS, because fortune really did smile on her. What’s more, she got the phone call with the good news straight from Grazia Malagoli, the Creative Director of Sportmax – that’s about as exciting (and trendy) as it gets! And all she had to do was buy an adorable magazine like Glamour, fill in a card and pop it into the box in one of the shops listed in the article. Shame I can’t take part myself (staff are excluded… of course).
I’d kill for the New Romantic look with the jewel and the Casual look (with the bustier and the corset belt). This is why I’d like to invite Giada Maestro from Turin, Sara Bramani from Inverigo (Como) and Elisabetta Fusiello from Andria (Bari) to post their looks here, so we can get plenty of comments (we’re all madly jealous ) on their outfits, and also to see what we can’t do without in our wardrobes this summer.
Fashion and Fortune: a winning combination!
That’s all for now: stay in touch!
Emilie.
ps The Sportmax Code jeans are to die for…I bought a pair myself.

First off, this week (Wednesday 12), there’s an absolutely unmissable seminar on the great Cartier Bresson (N.B.: booking is compulsory – you can do so on the website) at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, on the theme “The photography object”. Meanwhile, in town, MaxMara’s headquarters (I told you it was here!), which today is home to the Maramotti Collection , will be hosting – until 31 July – the exhibition La Vie en Rose, featuring 50 shots by the African photographer Malick Sedibé. Between the 1960s and ’70s, Malick took pictures designed to portray the positive side of life in Bamako, the capital of Mali; and although taken in black and white, these images are full of fresh, vibrant colour that cannot but move visitors. And last weekend, Malick immortalised Reggio Emilia’s very own Vie en Rose, with a set created in the exhibition venue especially to take pictures of those visitors. The man’s a legend!

Anyway, there really is loads to see, so take a look and then let me know what you think. And if you fancy getting behind the lens yourself, why not take a few key shots during the exhibitions and the various events held in the city? Upload your pictures at www.u-shot.eu and then wait and see: the shots that get most votes from visitors to the site will be projected onto large screens at three different points in the city so they can be admired by passers-by, people involved in the event, photographers… from visitor to star of the show! How cool is that?
If you’d prefer to star in my blog, send me a picture of yourself dressed in MaxMara fashion. Come on, I can’t wait to see you!
Love and hugs, Emilie ))!

Well, how’s it going with the season’s cult items, then?
I’m anxious to hear your comments, girls!
While we’re on the subject, let me tell you that our MB (Mega Boss) was one of the very few Italians – together with Donatella Versace, Miuccia Prada and Margherita Missoni – to be invited by Vogue America to the ball held on May 3rd in the Metropolitan Museum in New York for the inauguration of the
American Woman exhibition. It was a dream of an occasion, with the most beautiful women on the planet in spectacular evening dress – à propos, my MB lost count of just how many trains he stood on, leaving a few tulle curls and appliqués on the carpet….anyway, we’re talking about the event of the year here. Given the brusque changes in temperature (not to mention a bit of an overdose of clubbing the night before), our MB had a stinking cold, and needed a last-minute shot of propolis, honey and aspirin to get his voice back. At his table were Bon Jovi and Mary J. Blige – no-one was going to ask him to sing, but he did need to make a little conversation
Lady Gaga took care of the singing, with a performance at the piano that was worthy of Elton John at his best – and she was just as stylish too, in a figure-hugging bodysuit with jet bead embroidery on the arms and legs. Now there’s an American Woman for you, one of those creatures born for the stage that only the USA can produce.
Also looking fabulous were the French actress Marion Cotillard and our Face of the Future, Zoe Saldana – even though she “abandoned” us for the evening and opted for a Calvin Klein dress rather than one of ours. But after all, this was a party dedicated to the American Woman and her style, and our fashion pays homage to that too. From Diane Keaton to Grace Kelly, from Ava Gardner to Lauren Hutton, the spirit of our US sisters – independent and pragmatic, glamorous and dynamic – has always provided inspiration and ideas for Italian fashion too.

P.s. I heard the cupcakes at the dinner were to die for….
Talk to you all soon,
Emilie

Hi there Cherie
you asked me what this season’s must-haves are, to save you time trend-spotting around shop windows. Here’s my selection (all our brands, of course!) – hope they’re to your liking.

1. Lingerie effect bustier top. Flesh-coloured background with black lace and a heart-shaped neckline. Lingerie (feminine yet delicate) is this season’s real cult item. The top can be worn under a shirt or on its own, with a skirt, or maybe a pair of boyfriend-cut jeans to create a contrast. Sportmax

2. Shirt dress. In mint green pure silk, oversize in shape, with a military look that’s feminine at the same time. Easy to wear in all sorts of situations (all it needs is a piece of jewellery to dress it up, without agonising over what to wear it with). Max Mara

3. Pearl necklace (but in nappa leather). This really is a must-have. Wear it over a t-shirt to give an extra-special touch to even the most basic of looks, or with a low-neck dress to draw attention to your neckline. In braided nappa leather, with pearls and leather origami-style flowers. Sportmax

4. Shirt and tube skirt set. If you’re more the two-piece than the dress type, I can warmly recommend the cotton and silk poplin shirt, worn open at the front, with the straight linen skirt. Colours: white and natural. An ultra-feminine, yet army-style look that’s set to be the star of the summer. Max Mara

Let me know what you think!!!
Talk to you soon,
Emilie.

a. after our fashion shows at the end of February, I headed out to New York to thrash things out with Giacomo. It took us a week to reach the conclusion that…. it was better to take a break from each other for a while (i.e. for good – but we’re always wary about saying “forever”). His life over there is so fast and furious, and so far removed from mine; and I guess – okay, I know – I need someone here by my side, which means not only my darling little ball of fluff (i.e. my cat, Ellery…).

b. precisely for Ellery’s sake, and also because I felt the need to make a clean break, I decided to move house; I wanted to find a nice cosy place with a little terrace for Ellery. Apart from the time I spent house-hunting, which took up every spare moment I had, the actual move was the year’s most disastrous experience. I guess I filled about 50 boxes just with my clothes and detective novels, and since I’ve no desire whatsoever to open them up again, they’re still sitting there (and I had to take a week off, but don’t let my boss know I haven’t finished sorting everything out. It’s just that every time I opened a box and found something that reminded me of Giacomo I burst into tears, so after a while I gave up and went to the cinema…).

c.    when I came back full of good intentions and ready to update the blog, I found the technical office had planned a restyling operation – as you can see – so that meant I had to wait days and days still. Until now.

But here I am at last – with more time and loads of ideas – so don’t miss the next few posts.
See you all soon!
Emilie

Hey guys, I’ve got a top-secret exclusive for you…..before the press gets hold of it and everyone finds out…a real insider scoop!
Are you sitting down? Okay, here it is: Zoe Saldana’s going to be at our Max Mara fashion show on 27 February.

The American actress (well, actually she’s from Santo Domingo) that plays Princess Neytiri in Avatar will be sitting right in the front row! You’re thinking Wow!? So am I – until I remember that on top of all the chaos the shows entail, all the stuff I’ve got to do, there’ll be the big star, with her publicist (i.e. her agent), boyfriend and stylist in tow.
Never mind, I’m happy all the same, because I just adore Zoe Saldana, and of course a celebrity never does any harm to the cause (not to mention the fact that now I can get my own back on all my PR pals that are always saying no-one ever comes to our shows, that they’ve got to work sooo hard while we’ve got an easy life… in your face, guys!). But perhaps a little explanation is in order: what’s an actress like her doing here with us, since we never have celebrities of the like at our shows? I’ll tell you what. Our brand’s the sponsor of a cinema award called Women in Film and held – where else? – in Los Angeles. Max Mara also puts up an award for new, up-and-coming actresses, the Max Mara Face of the Future award. And the winner just happens to be the gorgeous Zoe Saldana… anyway, I’m dying to see the dress she’ll choose for the occasion.
I’ve got a few ideas. Which do you like best?