GIO'S JOURNAL

On the Waterfront

For W‘s glamorous globe-trotter it’s a fab, fab world.


Giovanna Battaglia Venice
1

“I was in Venice for work recently, and I desperately wanted a gondolier hat—a real one, not one of those souvenirs they sell on the street corners. I went to Giuliana Longo, a store that makes them, and bought four. I wore them the whole time I was there. Maybe I can persuade Mayor Bloomberg to put a gondola in the Central Park reservoir so I’ll have an excuse to wear them in New York, too!”

2

“While in Venice, I went to the Palazzo Ducale and was blown away by the beautiful ceiling. It looks like embroidery. I wish I could wear it as a dress.”

3

“The famous Italian writer Gabriele D’Annunzio lived on Lake Garda, and his house, Il Vittoriale degli Italiani, is now a museum. He was a big playboy and one of the first dandies in Italy, so of course he had an amazing shoe collection.”

4

“My mom came to visit me in New York, and I took her to Top of the Rock. I wore an Andrea Incontri dress to feel like a chic tourist.”

5

“I’ve always liked parrots—they’re so funny and bizarre. A real life one would never work in my life, but these prints from an old book are great in my bathroom.”

6

“After seeing the Claes Oldenburg show at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, I fell in love with the hot dog pencil cases and peanut butter and jelly wallets at the museum shop. I can’t wait to use the hot dog as a clutch during Fashion Week!”

7

“In D’Annunzio’s unfinished bedroom, there’s an embroidered sign that says I DON’T GIVE A FUCK in Italian. I think everybody should have one.”