Europe• Style• Travel

Vintage in Bologna

If there’s one place I’ve always been keen to explore more and more of (after visiting Lake Garda a few years ago with family)- it’s been Italy. I know it would be easy (and extremely cliché) to say Italian food is my numero uno (which it is)- but I’ve always been desperate to explore it’s broad (and stunning) culture, beautiful historic architecture- with the prospect of pizza and pasta never going amiss either… of course. So, after being invited with McArthurGlen– last week myself, Carrie, Rosalind and Monica headed on a short flight to Bologna, to visit the incredible vintage archive and palace of extraordinary collector (and curator) Angelo Caroli– which, was pretty unbelievable indeed- put it this way, there’s over 180,000 items in the company. Yup.

There’s something incredibly special about seeing pieces archived over 30 years (he began collecting in 1978, at the age of 17)- to see slithers of decades gone by encapsulated in design, the history of the top fashion houses delicately organised in the attic of an Italian four story, disguised by rows of terracotta buildings and busy passers by. Nothing could have prepared me for such a day- and I can honestly say I’ve never been to a vintage emporium with pieces so well organised and selected- from the private archive (which is still visited by creative directors for inspiration, and curated for exhibitions) and public shop (which, worryingly, was so well organised that it was far too easy to do a bit of a ‘Supermarket Sweep’).

(Have you ever seen such a look of happiness whilst with a BAG SHAPED LIKE A BAGUETTE?!)

But why the visit?! McArthurGlen have been working with Angelo for the past couple of years, holding pop up vintage markets across Europe allowing his extensive collection of beautiful pieces to travel- to allow more people to see, shop and experience his treasure trove of vintage. This year it’ll be coming to the UK for the first ever vintage fashion festival called ‘Timeless Style’ (exciting!) so we’ll all be able to pay a visit too (#excitedSOexcited). The pop ups will be in both Swindon and York, gracing the U.K from 30 April – 17 May at Swindon, and then York’s outlet from 21 May- 7 June. The collection will carry an edit of designs worn by idols such as Jane Fonda, a certain Ms Monroe and the original Birkin bag- as well as the chance to unearth pieces from the likes of Chanel, Dior and Céline- not bad, right? I’ll be keeping you all updated as and when- but stay tuned!