Before I begin, let me address those of you who may think that Speed-Dating is a tasteless, tawdry, shabby, shoddy, vulgar, and cheap way to meet a date….  You are 100% correct.  And, as with most things tasteless, tawdry, shabby, shoddy, vulgar, and cheap, Speed-Dating is excellent fun.

As you can see from the photos right, HOLLYWOULD & SEIZE sur VINGT’s best & the bravest took part in knee-to-knee one minute dating, and based on reports from this morning, matches were made, email addresses exchanged, and at least one kiss was swapped by our guests.

HOLLYWOULD has become known for our match-making abilities, and with two marriages and at least one child as a result from our infamous fiestas, you never know where these matches will go.

Thanks so much to everyone who came and especially our wine sponsor Rojas Wines, whose delicious wine added a bit of class to the whole affair.  Thank you!

May 19th 2008
New York City

The

Lovely HOLLYWOULD Ladies

and

Dashing Seize sur Vingt Gents

Invite You for a Night of

Wine Tasting & Speed Dating*

Thursday, May 22nd

7pm Sharp

HOLLYWOULD

198 Elizabeth Street

Nolita

RSVP is required and space is limited.

rsvp@hollywould.com or 212.343.8344 x 305

Tickets are €26,000 per person

(unless wearing HOLLYWOULD or Seize sur Vignt,

in which case they are free).

Wine generously provided by Rioja.

*Speed Dating (Speeeeed Day-ting): n. An organized method of meeting potential romantic partners in which participants evaluate each other over the course of a single event through a series of brief one-on-one meetings. Attendees must be single. Single means not married, engaged, separated, or just sick of your spouse. Speed Dating is often enhanced by adding free alcohol.

May 13th 2008
Florence, Italy

There is really no place like Florence, Italy.

This morning I was sitting at my desk drawing when the sound of orchestra music came wafting through my apartment.  I live on the top floor just behind the back of the Santo Spirito church, so I am used to the sounds associated with the cathedral, specifically the church bells that ring enthusiastically for 15 minutes straight at 6am every Saturday morning.  Even with that in mind, there was no reason an actual symphony should have been playing at 10am on a Monday morning.  I listened a bit more to see if maybe it was a recording, but it sounded too beautiful and real, so I headed downstairs to the church to see if I was losing my mind.

As I entered the back of the cathedral there was, in fact, all 75 members of the Florence Philharmonic Orchestra and their conductor playing to rows and rows of empty pews, while workers labored around them setting up chairs, climbing on ladders, and banging away hammers as if they were building a highway. 

I learned that the orchestra is prepping for a big concert tonight, but getting to see them practice in such a setting was better than any organized event.  There is something amazingly beautiful about standing in a church built in 1471 on a Monday morning and having a symphony play to an audience of busy construction workers, and you.

Lately in Florence I’ve been discovering all sorts of untouched beauty, and as the world globalizes it’s these rare gems that stand apart as things you can only find at a certain place in a certain time, and that probably won’t be around forever.  For any of you traveling to Florence anytime soon I will list a few here below, amongst other local favorites that may not be as worldly-rare, but can certainly still be enjoyed.  And if you’re not going to Florence soon, print this page & save it anyway – you’ll be glad you did:

HOLLY’S FLORENCE FAVORITES

FOOD/DRINK

·        Breakfast:  Café Giacosa, also known as the Roberto Cavalli Café, makes the best cappuccino in Florence and will show any coffee lover why Starbucks cannot compete with the real thing.  Right off Via Tornabuoni – this is the best spot to people watch in the entire city.

·        Lunch:  Olio & Convivium is a great spot for a truly gourmet Tuscan lunch with fabulous cheeses and wines.  Via Santo Spirito, 4

·        Late Lunch:  Cantinetta del Verrazzano for cheese, wine, and foccaccia.  This is a great spot to park for hours while sampling wine & cheeses.  Via dei Tavolini, 18

·        Tea:  The Hotel Lungarno serves an excellent tea in their gorgeous lobby or out on their terrace overlooking the river.  Borgo San Jacopo, 14

·        Late Afternoon Sandwich:  I Fratellini is a little hole in the wall that makes the best take-away sandwiches in Florence, and also serves excellent wine.  At 4pm you’ll see the crowds begin to form on Via dei Cimatori, 38.

·        Best Gelato in Town:  All of the guidebooks are correct, Vivoli is really the best gelato in town, if not the whole of Tuscany.  Try their Caramel Pear or Dark Chocolate, and you’ll know why the line is worth the wait.  Via Dell' Anguillara, 35

·        Pre-Dinner Cocktails:  Roof of the Hotel Continentale serves the best apertivo in town and has the best views.

·        Pre-Dinner Cocktails if it’s cold or rainy:  There is no place more chic or cozy that the Hotel JK on a rainy day.  Piazza Santa Maria Novella.

·        Dinner:  Quattro Leoni on Piazza Quattro Leoni has delicious pear, asparagus & cheese fiocchetti pasta, as well as great salads for a lighter fare. Il Parione on Via Parione has the best cheesecake dessert you will ever put in your mouth, and the dinner is excellent too.

·        Post-dinner drinks:  Harry’s Bar, Bellini mandatory.

FLORENCE SHOPPING

·         Atelier – Florence is known for leather jackets, but over the years the original Italian leather makers have been replaced by fakes who source low quality wares from China & India, and sell them as “Made in Italy”.  Atelier, on the other hand, makes only made-to-measure real Italian leather jackets, which can be co-designed by the buyer and turned around in 2-3 days.  I own at least four of these fabulous frocks and you won’t find better quality or design anywhere else in Florence.  Via Torta, 16 (near Gelateria Vivoli)

·         Flair - This home store on Lungarno Guiarcciardini recently opened a sister store in Soho, NYC, but this one is my favorite.

·         Luisa Via Roma - This is Florence’s “Colette” and has a great mix of designer shoes & clothing.

·         Gerard - Great for edgier stuff like Balenciaga, Sea by Chloe, and Marc Jacobs, but all merchandised with Italian flair.

·         Patrizia Pepe - This is Florence’s BCBG, but much cooler.

·         The Piazza Santo Spirito weekend markets are also always good for vintage jewelry and local organic cheeses & produce.

·         Bizzarri is one of my favorite shops in Florence, and is by far one of the strangest.  The shop was founded in 1842 as a seller of chemicals and herbs used for everything from health remedies to fine art paints.  Their store remains exactly as it was back then, and is frequented by artists who wish to make their own paint in the tradition of the Renaissance originals.  Definitely worth a visit (http://www.bizzarri-fi.biz/).

·         Roberta di Camerino is one of those rare underexposed Italian gems of a brand, with printed clothing so original you’re sure to become a collector.  Via del Parione, 16. 

·         Ermano Scervino is a Florentine brand known for fabulous shearling coats and down jackets you wont’ find anywhere else.  Piazza Antinori 10.

·         Michele Negri is a small but chic multi-brand shop with a great selection of stylish items from Italy and abroad.  If there were Rive Gauche girls in Italy, this is where they would shop.  Via Degli Agli, 3.

·         Principe is not only a word used to describe a certain type of Aristo-Italian man, but is also the store where he shops.  My favorite stop for Italian prep fashion.  Via Sole, 2.

BEAUTY

·         “Gabrio Staff” is the best in town spa, with everything from massages to waxing to mani/pedis that last forever.  Via De’ Tornabuoni 5

·         “Coppolla” is the best hair salon, and Matteo is the salon master.  Via del Parione, 62r.

·         “Farmacia Santa Maria Novella” is the amazing monastery-turned-pharmacy that has been around for over a century.  The products are still made by monks and the pharmacy location is magnificently beautiful.  I especially like the rose breath mints.  Via della Spiga, Piazza Santa Maria Novella.

·         “Farmacia Munstermann” is a great little spot on the corner of Piazza Goldoni, where they have also made their own beauty products and perfumes since 1897.  My favorite product here is the Fior D’Angelo eau de toilette, which smells like orange blossoms.

IN TOWN HIKES

• Piazza Michelangelo and the Florence Rose Gardens (only open May-July)

NEAR FLORENCE …

·        Villa San Michele is the most romantic hotel near Florence, and is located in the hills of Fiesole just 15 minutes out of town.  Highly recommended for honeymoons, this is a great spot to watch the sun set while sipping a local vino.  Via Doccia, 4

·        Corti Montecchi Sartoria is the kind of shop you simply won’t find anywhere else, and is located just a short bus ride from the center of town near the Certosa convent and photography museum (also worth a trip!).  The shop was founded by one of Florence’s youngest tailors, Sara Checcucci, who makes custom made clothing for men & women using the techniques of the old world tailors of Florence.  You’ll need to be in town for a while to place an order, as Sara’s suits take no less than 30 days to make.  Via Senese, 118r (bus 36, 37, or 68 to Via Senese 16).  Closed during lunch.

·        While visiting Corti Montecchi Sartoria listed above, don’t miss Pasticceria Morandi, which is next door and features some of the best homemade pastries in Tuscany, including their inventive pastries of the day.

·        The Mall – This is where you’ll find all of the outlets including Pucci, Valentino, Gucci, Tods, McQueen, Loro Piana, etc, etc, etc.  Is about 30 min south of Florence off A1 autostrada going to Rome.  Exit is “Incisa” and there are signs from there.

·        Forte dei Marmi beach is the Hamptons equivalent for Florentines, and definitely worth a trip in your Ferrari.  

·        Lucca is the best non-touristy town in Tuscany and a walk around the top of the city wall is breathtaking.

May 1st 2008
Florence, Italy

Stylists, editors, and our favorite starlet customers have been emailing me non-stop about the rotation of beautiful photos of the HOLLYWOULD Spring 2008 Collection which are featured on our home page.  They all want to know (a) Who is the amazing photographer, (b) Who is gorgeous model, (c) Where on earth is that fabulous beach, and (d) Where can I get me some of those hot outfits?

To answer your questions… 

The photos were taken by the renowned photographer Annabel Mehran, who is pure genius and is destined to be the next Patrick Demarchelier.  Our gorgeous model is Italian sensation Alessia Piovan, who is also an actress and starred in the Italian hit La Ragazza del Lago, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year.  The photos were shot on the beaches of Forte dei Marmi, Italy, where I spend much of my summers and get endless inspiration from the colorful beach clubs and cabanas.  Those hot outfits are 100% HOLLYWOULD, of course, and everything from the foxy clothing to the smokin' shoes to the fabulous handbags can be bought on this very site, or in our Nolita store.

I’ve put a few of my favorite photos up to the right, and keep and eye out for Annabel Mehran’s new photos of the HOLLYWOULD Fall 2008 Collection, which will premiere on this site in August. 

Stay tuned…