Daily Front Row

2010 March 1

Legend of Sole

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Ilaria Ferragamo, Alain Elkann, Franca Sozzani, Ferruccio Ferragamo
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(MILAN) With a new women's ready-to-wear designer in Massimiliano Giornetti, all eyes are on Salvatore Ferragamo. What better time, then, to underwrite an exhibition on one of fashion's ultimate style icons? As of today, Ferragamo's Greta Garbo: The Mystery of Style exhibition will be open to the public at La Triennalle di Milano. On Saturday night in Milan, the Ferragamo family (including Wanda, Ferruccio, Leonardo, James, Ilaria, Fulvia Visconti, Giovanna Gentile) hosted an opening party alongside Coco Brandolini, Maggie Q, Lapo Elkann, and more. 

Designed by set designer and architect Maurizio Balo, it focuses on both film costumes as well as Garbo's personal pieces of clothing and shoes. A black beaded gown, worn by the actress in Inspiration, is seen alongside robes from the likes of Queen Christina. There is an entire section devoted simply to Garbo's face, as seen in film and in photographs—even her passport photo. A longtime friend of Salvatore Ferragamo, Garbo met the famed shoemaker in 1927 in Hollywood; their collaboration lasted throughout their lifetimes. During Garbo's trips to Florence, she notoriously visited the Ferragamo salon and bought dozens of paris on each visit; she preferred low or medium heels.

To celebrate the occasion, Ferragamo is launching four new models of shoes as part of the Ferragamo's Creations collection, which recreates the house's historic styles. The Attica was designed in 1942, and features a brown suede upper and cork wedge. The Cistia is a round-toe, mesh-rope sandal, that was created around 1950. The Darana is an evening slipper made of vilet velvet and sequins. The Ravello is a lace-up ballerina style. The shoes are currently available in select Ferragamo boutiques worldwide; the exhibition will be open at La Triennalle di Milano through April 4, 2010.
ASHLEY BAKER