RomaPolacchi

Giambattista Valli is of my favorite Italian fashion designers and his decorating style does not disappoint. He takes his influences from all parts of Asia and, of all places, Texas! Take a look at his apartment in Rome on elledecor.com .  If only it was available for vacation rentals!

Another new designer hotel has popped in Italy-this time in Milan, not far from the fashion district. The new Maison Moschino has just opened in a renovated 19th century neoclassical train station. Moschino's creative team was inspired by dreams and fairy tales to style fantasy-like rooms that start at 280 Euros. To read more about the hotel (and Milan Fashion Week) check out Contessa Nally's blog .

Garance Dore, my favorite fashion blogger/photographer, posted a video of MaxMara's show in Milan on her site the other day. See models backstage, front-row celebrities, and interviews with designers and fashion VIPs (like Anna Wintour). The clothes are beautiful and elegant, as always.

Vogue Italia's new website has just debuted and it is gorgeous. The latest stories on fashion shows, trends and shopping are all on-line for international readers. No longer do you have to pay $10.00 for Italian Vogue at the newstand (although there is something satisfying about holding that magazine in your hands!). However, it's all in Italian, so have your dictionary ready.

Fashion Week started in Milan and the bloggers are all over it-the shows AND the people on the streets. Take a look at Tommy Ton's blog on Style.com for edgy shoes and hats. Garance Dore 's observations are witty and sweet. And Scott Schuman always has classic portraits of the most stylish of the fashionable.

A recent article in Lucky magazine about the Seravalle Designer Outlet outside of Genoa got me really excited about outlet shopping in Italy. Seravalle is home to outlets for amazing brands like Blumarine, Brioni, Cocinelle, Etro, Frette, Moncler, Prada and Versace! Just a short train ride away from Genoa, the center is open from 10-8 every day (not like the rest of Italy!). Another outlet center owned by the same group is Castelromano , just outside Rome ( shuttle service from Piazza Barberini ). Dolce and Gabbana, Ferragamo, Roberto Cavalli, Valentino-and an AutoGrill for lunch! Definitely worth a trip.

You may be familiar with The Sartorialist -the street-fashion photographer (also known as Scott Schuman) on Style.com who is known for his great sense of style and ability to capture the world's beautiful people at their best-outside fashion shows in Paris, New York, London and Milan. Well, he has his own blog and loves to share photos of the fashionable in Italy, especially Florence. Who knows-maybe you could end up on his blog someday!

Yes, Capri pants really did originate on the island of Capri . Perhaps they were invented to make hopping from your yacht to the dock a little less hazardous. The place to buy them is La Parisienne in Piazza Umberto 1 (#7). Jackie Onassis bought them by the dozen here and Audrey Hepburn made La Parisienne's cropped pants part of her iconic style. Get them in classic white and wear them with big shades for that true casual Italian holiday look. (They even do custom orders!)

After months of searching, I have finally found what appears to be a calendar of Italy's summer sale season. The website which has published the calendar, pricesharing.it , claims to be an on-line consumer review organization. Where they got their information, they do not say. But so far it's the only Saldi calendar I have seen on the web, so I'll take it. Rome starts its Saldi on July 4th, Venice on July 5th, and Florence on July 12th. The discounts on this season's fashions will be considerable, so be sure to save your Euros for some stylish new Italian clothes!

Ferragamo and GlobalGiving .com have put a collection of handbags donated by celebrities (Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Eva Longoria , to name a few) on eBay . All proceeds go directly to benefit the Abruzzo region, which was devastated by an earthquake earlier this year. At last check, Madonna's Sophia bag was going for $2,235. Read more about it on eternallycool .net . Want to donate to the cause but aren't interested in fashion? GlobalGiving .com has an Italy Earthquake Relief Fund that you can donate to anytime you want.

In 1884, Bulgari opened its first store in Rome. Since then, the jeweler has been inspiring women all over the world with its creative and innovative designs. Naturally, the jewels of Bulgari are in perfect keeping with my other-life fantasy of being an Italian contessa. Now I (and dreamers like me) can get a little closer to Bulgari's works at the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome. The museum, located on the Via Nazionale, is presenting eight galleries full of jewelry created throughout the past 125 years. Don't miss the gallery devoted entirely to Elizabeth Taylor's Bulgari collection! Now through September 13th.

Italian style is bold, whimsical and elegant. Not only are the designers unique, but the way that Italians put themselves together is so different from the rest of the fashion world. But where can you go to get your Italian fashion fix? Sei di Moda , DWeb and Velvet are three fashion websites connected to La Repubblica , Italy's premier newspaper. They will tell you all about the latest trends in Italy, give you updates on the fashion shows in Milan, and alert you to the important fashion events in Italy (like Saldi !). They will also clue you in to Italian gossip, home design and beauty. Of course, it's all in Italian, but the pictures can tell you more than enough!

If you want to see fashion shows, artists and beautiful people up close, go to contessanally.blogspot.com. Venice resident Contessa Nally Manfredi Bellati is a photographer and stylist who has worked for Vogue and Bazaar and whose photos appear in magazines all over the world. Now you can see her candid photos of Milan (pictured), Paris and New York's Fashion Weeks and many other fashionable and fabulous events all over Italy on her blog. You will definitely be mesmerized by her beautiful world.

Recent interviews with Silvia Fendi in Elle and Valentino Garavani in Departures detail the designers' favorite places to eat and shop. On both of their lists was Trattoria Al Moro near the Trevi Fountain in Rome . Established in 1929, it has long been the favorite of Rome's literary, cinematic and fashionable crowd. Valentino recommends the pasta carbonara and of course you must have the Roman traditional antipasto, fried artichokes. Vicolo delle Bollette, 13.

"The Last Emperor, " the documentary about the life and career of Roman designer Valentino , opens in the US in March. The Film Forum in NYC on March 18th is the first venue for this exciting movie that has all the fashion world talking. The movie provides an inside look at the high fashion world and all its foibles, and most endearingly portrays Valentino Garavani's 50 year relationship with his partner Giancarlo Giammeti. If you can't get to Manhattan for the show, see it in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Dallas.

Rene Caovilla , the quintessential Italian shoe designer, is on sale at Gilt Groupe , an invitation-only designer shopping website. Rene Caovilla shoes tend to run at prices over $800 (eek!) and in this economy, that's just not practical. Gilt Groupe has dozens of styles on sale for 50% off-so hurry and find yourself an invitation to join this preferred shopping site!

Tod's , the Milanese shoe company famed for its driving loafer, recently released a film on its website starring Gwyneth Paltrow (who has her own website now-read a review here ). The film, directed by Dennis Hopper, is dedicated to a new handbag, the Pashmy , and what happens when the celebrity loses hers in Rome. Campo dei Fiori and the Villa Aldobrandini in Frascati are the featured locations in this short film. Villa Aldobrandini is an incredible 17th century palace built by the nephew of Pope Clement VIII, Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini. The Villa is famous for its commanding view of the valley leading up to Rome, as well its water theater, park and Baroque wall-paintings. The Villa and the charming town of Frascati make for an excellent daytrip from Rome- and admission is free! Watch the film here.

A new jewelry boutique has opened in Rome on the Via del Governo Vecchio . Where else would a fourth generation Fendi heir decide to sell her designs but on the most unique and eclectic shopping street in Rome? Delfina Delettrez Fendi, the daughter of Silvia Fendi, accessories designer for Fendi and Bernard Delettrez, the French jeweler, has created a modern line of jewelry inspired by Gothic themes: snakes and skulls in lots of enamel. Even if playful Goth is not your style, you should stop by and see the exquisitely designed store. The green jewel-box of a shop is located at 67 Via del Governo Vecchio. Readers: Have you been to this store? What did you think of Delfina Fendi's jewelry?

Moschino, one of Italy's more avant-garde fashion houses, has come to New York City's Meatpacking District. Moschino is known for its witty take on classic pieces. There are three brands, Moschino (the most expensive line), Moschino Cheap and Chic (not exactly cheap, but cheaper), and Love Moschino (the casual line). Moschino is definitely not for the faint of heart, but even the most traditional shopper can find something to love in their accessories lines. Their shoes are fun and fabulous! The Modern Traveler always tries to pick up a pair when she is in Rome (Via Borgogna 32/a). See the New York Times for an article on the new store in Manhattan. Readers: What do you think of Moschino? Fabulous or ridiculous?

The Venice Film Festival was the site of the premiere of a new documentary about the life of fashion designer Valentino Garavani . Valentino retired last year but his designs are still going strong-and so is his influence. Rome, of course, hosted his retirement party last summer in full glory, with a retrospective of his designs in the Ara Pacis Museum (pictured) and a stunning party at the Villa Borghese . This fall, from September 3rd through September 10, Samsung is hosting a digital exhibition of Valentino's works during New York City's Fashion Week called " The Red Thread: The Inspiration and Passion of Valentino. " There you can also see sneak preview footage of the new documentary, " Valentino: The Last Emperor."