We don’t have half-seasons anymore!

This popular saying has never been as real and true to its meaning. After two months of torrential rainfalls and winter temperatures, suddenly, summer is here.

During this period, it’s hard to choose what to wear, not to feel cold or suffer from the heat throughout the day. Incidentally, due to the difficulty of finding raw materials, the deliveries of the goods were delayed, which made the selection of the stores inconsistent and incoherent with the weights of the fabrics suitable during this season. Even making our catalog took a long time because we had to wait for the seasonal selection to arrive.

Now that we’ve finally finished this task, we can offer original combinations: the periodical Mix-and-Match, where we combine the garments on our catalog in fresh and alternative ways.

Here we are with Lucia, our model, outside of the static frame of our website, on the streets of Padua, near our store, combining garments and brands to discover new dimensions, chromatic palettes, and adaptability to contexts and formal or informal situations.

Noir Kei Ninomiya realized this skirt with the typical formal exuberance of the Japanese school. Its central theme is not the feminine silhouette but its narrative potential, which reveals multiple interpretations: from the pronounced femininity with the tapered gilet in washed linen and the fitted tube top in elastic silk froissé by Marc Le Bihan…

… to a more relaxed everyday expression with the oversized sweater by Album di Famiglia…

… or a sophisticated and uncommon ensemble with the sartorial jacket, hand finished, in linen and cotton gauze by Archivio JM Ribot.

With a different gaze, we can match this blueish gilet/shirt in washed linen by Forme d’Expression with this wide trousers in tubular knit made of linen and cotton by Archivio JM Ribot.

Ultimately we close this first June Mix and Match with a made-in-Italy outfit with this paint−like silk jacket printed bt the historic company Fissore, the neutral colors of the sage shirt by Album di Famiglia and the skirt made of a light linen, cashmere, and silk knit by Boboutic.

The bags are made in Italy by Amine and Numero 10, while the shoes are the Marisa’s by Trippen for Ivo Milan.

As many of you know, IVO MILAN of Padua had the honour of hosting the first exhibition by the Friulian designer Lucia Venturini from 5 to 18 June this year.

It was an exciting experience, not just for the visionary beauty of the models on display, but also thanks to the energetic participation and the rich exchange of opinions in the lively gathering of old and newfound friends, all united by their curiosity for the event and an undeniable and deep-rooted passion for experimental clothing styles.

Here, a little late perhaps, we are pleased to feature a brief presentation of Elle Venturini‘s proposals as a small thank you to those who were kind enough to visit us and give those who could not enjoy it live a glimpse of what they missed.

Flowers and Terracotta…

Cultural encounters and events allow us to remember that IVO MILAN is more than just an online catalogue available anywhere in the world and that it is first and foremost an actual store, located in the historical centre of Padua, Italy. The store’s location makes it a highly visible meeting point that lends itself to exchanges between people from diverse backgrounds, united by a strong aesthetic sense and the desire to share their work with the public.

Here are some pictures taken last Friday evening, when a show by the sculptor Elio Armano graced the locations of ALBERO DEI FIORI, MARIJKE STUDIO – Fine jewellery and IVO MILAN.

The three different shops are not simply linked by their locations next to the intersection of Via Boccalerie and Via Santa Lucia, but mainly by their close professional affinity. MARJIKE STUDIO and its showcase display avant-garde contemporary art jewellery,

ALBERO DEI FIORI has endless and suggestive flower arrangements that colour and perfume the narrow porticoes of the street

and the shops nearby.

These three different shops are united by friendship and, on this occasion, by the works of Elio Armano. The recent birthday celebration for Simonetta (Albero dei Fiori) provided an excellent chance to get together and play host to as well as work around a shared idea of ​​beauty… a festive event that we celebrated in the style ​​that we adore and that exemplifies us the most!

Photographs by Sari Milan

The IVO MILAN shop in Padua is currently presenting an exhibition entitled:

REDEEMING VALUE

The exhibition will be on display until Wednesday, December 13, 2012. A space has been set up for the exhibition/installation of works by: Laura Stefani and Eva Franceschini.

Admission is free.

Below is a brief presentation of the event, the two artists and news from the event’s inauguration on Wednesday, December 5

Padua, the world capital of contemporary art jewelry, is home to a continuum of creative personalities who interact with and influence each other, giving rise to friendships and frequent rivalries among the many different artists in this very special artistic segment. It is truly a Renaissance-like atmosphere, where competition spurs experimentation with new, and often completely unfamiliar, expressive forms ​​and materials. Jewels are no longer only items to be laid up in sumptuous royal treasuries full of precious goods of inestimable value.

Padua possesses the freedom of imagination and technical skills to endow objects with value.

Without going into lengthy detail about things that have already been widely discussed elsewhere and certainly with greater insight by other writers, we are now pleased to present in our space the paradox of these jewels from Laura Stefani and Eva Franceschini. Why the paradox? Because what one usually finds in jewelry is precious metal acting as a support to a stone of greater value, which is the real investment that determines the final price of the object.

In our case, Laura is the person who processes the “gems”, and cuts the “diamonds” that shape and colour these extremely light creations. The refined material would meet a very different fate without her, because the processing and cleverly intertwined embroidery are nothing more than thin strips of plastic bottles, the kinds that contain mineral water.

True, the material used to support these “gems” is silver, but Eva‘s simulation work renders the material unimportant by changing its appearance through oxidation or reflections to reduce it to a simple base that brings out the “stones” in all their [shameless] opulence.

Laura Stefani - was born in Padua, where she graduated from the university with a degree in General Linguistics, and where she still lives and works.
She is self-taught and, since discovering the potential uses of plastic waste materials in 2007, she has taken part in several exhibitions. Among some of the most recent: “Tosco Veneto” exhibition of jewelry and objects by Giampaolo Babetto (Arquà Petrarca, PD, May 28, 2011), “I colori delle donne” (two person show, Marco Querin/Laura Stefani, Padua, Ars Now Serragiotto Gallery, September 27 – October 2011), “Un pomeriggio dedicato al gioello contemporaneo” (Genoa, Guidi & Schoen Gallery of Contemporary Art, December 3, 2011).

Eva Franceschini – was born in Padua, since 2000 she has been a teacher of Sculpture at the Pietro Selvatico Art Institute of Padua. She graduated with a degree in Chemistry of Art Restoration from the Ca ‘Foscari University of Venice in 2010.

In 2004 she studied under Lucia Davanzo, who was in turn a pupil of Francesco Pavan.

She has participated in several selections and competitions, including: The Game Show, Lucca Preziosa Young in 2008, Filo Rosso and Schmuck 2009. Her jewelry is on display in the permanent collections of different European art galleries.

And if anyone has been wondering what happened to our clothes, don’t worry, you can still see them at our store or in our catalogue…enjoy!

Photographs by Sari Milan

This title serves as a perfect introduction to the meeting between the shots taken by the young photographer from Padua, Giulia Magnaguagno, and the offerings for autumn from the store IVO MILAN.

The concept of ‘outside the neighbourhood’ refers to the external perspective, and from certain viewpoints, also refers to being outside the boutique in Padua, which usually shows its range inside the spaces that have now become familiar to public online.

But it is also an indication of the subject around which Giulia shoots her photographs, in other words, a journey. With the focus centred increasingly on the strong scenic and aesthetic presence of the female form, the dimension that moves is suggested by minimal touches: luggage, roads and changing backgrounds. The elsewhere is intentionally presented and is based on the models themselves. They interpret the clothing designed in different places and cultures, immortalised in set contexts; which are easily recognisable for anyone that knows Padua … from the historic centre, the famous university observatory of Galileo Galilei in the vicinity of Specola, on the Ponte Molino and Ponte di Ferro bridges, to the countryside surrounding the town centre.

Go to the contemporary art gallery site Spazio Anna Breda in Padua, to learn more about the talent and biography of Giulia Magnaguagno.

Set 1, in the countryside surrounding Padua, starting from the left, the girls are wearing:

Haat garment, knitted stripes overlaid with cotton, polyester and alpaca

Yesey hat, in mat wool jersey

Daniela Gregis shirt, printed Liberty design cotton shirt

Daniela Gregis pants, in washed cotton with a micro-check design, and natural leather belt

“Archive” short Trippen boots, in soft elk leather

Set 2, on Ponte Molino, starting from the left:

Y’s Yohji Yamamoto top, asymmetrical, in cotton and angora jersey, with satin applications at the bottom and on the cuff

Y’s Yohji Yamamoto scarf, with two woollen Scotch plaid panels

Yohji Yamamoto pants, in wool viyella jersey

“Archive” short Trippen boots, in soft elk leather

Sacai garment, cotton jersey cardigan shirt with attached wool cardigan

Bao Bao Issey Miyake shoulder bag, in origami PVC triangular panels

Short Trippen boots, in vintage cowhide leather

Set 3, on Ponte di Ferro, starting from the left:

Forme d’Expression jacket, in crushed wool with a dotted print giving the effect of ‘corrosion’

Asymmetrical Forme d’Expression t-shirt, in a Prince of Wales wool and cotton knit

Rick Owens pants, in brush-back crushed wool flannel

Marsèll “goccia” ankle boots, in leather, and part of the heel in white rubber

Y’s Yohji Yamamoto jacket, in heavy “weave” type drape in wool and polyamide with unfinished edging

Junya Watanabe, bermuda garment with high waist and braces, in soft virgin wool

hat with broad ‘Hamish’ brim, Comme des Garçons-Comme des Garçons, in stiff woollen felt

boot in treated cowhide leather, with rubber under sole and heel in bubble rubber, Marsèll “goccia”

Set 4, narrow street near Specola, the Galilelo Galilei observatory, starting from the left:

Rick Owens caban, in wool, silk and cupro fabric

Rick Owens garment, in viscose and acrylic caddis

“Archive” short Martin Margiela boots

long Yohji Yamamoto stole, in felt wool combined with wool gauze

Rick Owens pants, in brush-back flannel of crushed wool

Triangular shoulder bag, Jaana Parkkila, in sheepskin and Nickel-free metal cord (soon available in the catalogue under code 20814)

Marsèll “goccia” ankle boots, in leather, and part of the heel in white rubber

Because most of the shooting was done entirely in public places, the footwear worn by the models was kindly lent by Sari. Most of the footwear is still available in the IVO MILAN catalogue.

The staff, in order of appearance: Sari stylist, Anna make-up artist, Annachiara assistant photographer, Irina and Giulia models; Giulia photographer

This piece was thinked to be published in a kind of magazine such as ELLE UK, one of the best fashion magazine, where articles used to talk about fashion differently from the ordinary publications. It is a magazine that keeps an eye on the most innovative trends and on the most particulare personalities.

This piece could be relevant for the reader to see how in Italy the attention is not focused only on the Italian fashion that everybody knows, but it is possible to find “fashion researchers” that really believe that fashion is not only buisness but, first of all, a non-stop innovation-seeking.

The Radical Fashion Shop

by Francesca Ferlin

Orlando Milan has always believed that, in order to dress someone’s body, you first have to dress his mind. This is one of the first things you should know when you visit his shop in Padua. IVO MILAN is located in the central Via Santa Lucia in a striking Romanesque house, currently the oldest civil standing building in town; even a quick first glance at the window reveals that this is no ordinary shop: dim lights illuminate a precious dress and suddenly it feels like being in a museum admiring a scuplture in a casket. The way that the windows are settled, the use of the lights, the mixture of the colours for the background, used to enhance the shapes and the shades of fabrics, are all clues that this is no mere fashion, as the attention is drawn to the art that springs from fashion.

In 1945 Ivo Milan, Orlando’s father, following his family tradition, opened his fabrics shop, manufactured clothes and named it after himself to distinguish it from his brothers’ businesses which bore the same family name. In 1967 Orlando joined the father’s company as a co-worker, and after his death, started the long work that made IVO MILAN the shop that is known nowadays. So this is supposed to be a traditional family-run business, where family values have gone from generation to generation and time seems to stand still. But Orlando Milan is not of this opinion: “Through these years we have always tried to maintain the values that my father taught me, the importance of the manufacture and the indispensable quality of the fabrics, but nowadays the guidelines of the shop are something new that I have built during this forty years of experience inside the fashion industry.”

Milan’s experience is a long path that has experimented various forms of fashion and arts, through the first Versace and Armani collections at the end of the 70′s (IVO MILAN was one of the first shops in Italy that started to sell these brands) to Japanese fashion, which in the last twenty years has distinguished this retailer from the others. Key brands that make this shop unique in its kind are Yohji Yamamoto, Junya Watanabe, Issey Miyake, Rick Owens, Martin Margiela, Shu Moriyama, Jun Takhashi and Comme des Garçons, the brand that best embodies the philosophy of the shop. Rei Kawakubo is a fervid supporter of trying to know what “has never been seen before”, and this is the most important guideline that Mr Milan wants his shop to follow: nothing must be mass-produced and everything must be different from what one usually sees. This principle is applied to everything that concerns the shop, from its furniture to the selection process that goes on behind the displaying of clothes. In fact, the limited production and circulation of the labels sold in the shop exists alongside a specific principle which determines how to choose everything that will be sold. “This principle is one which takes into account the requirements of a very well-educated, niche Paduan clientele, whose taste has not been shaped by the influences of media and television, and whose interests lie in those very special purchases – in authentically creative ones, if not in ones with a strong artistic value” says the shop owner.

So the customers have to be open-minded and be endowed with a marked inclination for artistic values to understand IVO MILAN’s fashion. Radical Fashion, as Mr Milan used to call it. This name has been adopted after the Radical Fashion Exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 2002, where the designers that Orlando Milan loves the most and has chosen to sell, were displayed in a collective exhibition, from Yohji Yamamoto to Comme des Garçons. “This exhibition really reflects my idea of fashion and these designers are, to me, the real essence of this concept.” he states. “They are “radical” in the full sense of the word: they are “revolutionary” and they are “rooted” in the art. They cut through ideas as well as fabric. Challenging established views, they have committed their lives to seeking ever more demanding expressions of “beauty”, with diverse and often provocative results”.

But which is his conception of beauty? Again, the inspiration comes from Japan: “The guideline that always has inspired me comes from the Japanese concept of beauty, that is “the aesthetics of imperfection” (wabi-sabi). I am against the logic of homologation and of display of wealth that inspires great European fashion, especially in these last years. I prefer to give my customers the possibility to portray themselves through an “understatement style” or with an idea-dress that draws the attention to the originality and to the independent spirit of the person wearing it.”

For IVO MILAN, fashion is something far from the conventional concept that everybody is accustomed to. First and foremost, fashion is research, is an exploration of the unknown. Here ideas come first, the most interesting part of a dress is not how it was made but why. What is it that lays behind the creation? How can a designer elaborate an idea and transform it into something that everybody can wear? These are only a few of the questions that Mr Milan wants customers to ask themselves as they wander around the shop. Because the most important thing is not to sell a dress but to make customers aware of what they are going to buy, something that stands over the trends, something that will rest forever as a unique work of art. And how is it possible to make the right choice, to find the piece that will fit perfectly and will be always with you? “Know yourself and let the dress be simply a continuation of your person”.

Glimpses of everyday life, of a job where the relationship with people is joined by a shared love for clothes, arts and words.

A constantly changing environment, with weekly installations and shop windows, that change to show how different suppliers can be combined and matched according to the most various taste, style and needs.