Latest news with #Botticelli
Vogue
20 hours ago
- Vogue
The Best Hotels in Florence Are a Slice of Tuscan Elegance
It's easy to be swept up in the romance of Florence. Whether it's a quiet stroll along the Arno River (gelato in hand, preferably) or an afternoon spent in awe of masterpieces by Botticelli and Michelangelo, the city that birthed the Renaissance has a way of seducing the senses. And after a day of sightseeing, checking into one of the best hotels in Florence is the perfect way to slip into the city's rhythm. Vogue's Favorite Hotels in Florence Accommodations in Florence are as glamorous and storied as the ancient city itself. Take your pick between centuries-old palazzos and elegant villas reimagined into modern luxury stays, each one imbued with a deep appreciation for Florentine traditions. Position yourself in the heart of the centro storico, or opt for a stay on the hillsides of Tuscany just outside of town for a quieter getaway. Ahead, 10 of the city's standouts for your next trip to Firenze.
Miami Herald
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Review: Long-missing man turns family's life upside-down in ‘The Original'
The title of "The Original" refers to: A. The painting its heroine, Grace, copies. B. Grace's cousin, Charles, who disappears and then (allegedly) returns, more than a decade later. C. The idea that we are all constantly changing and that trying to revert to a previous version of ourselves dooms us to failure. I'm sure there are more interpretations of that title in Nell Stevens' ("Briefly, a Delicious Life") tricky novel. Set in the late 19th century, it's a gothic tale that opens with a double bang: We're introduced to a family curse (because of a broken promise, Grace's family lacks male heirs) and a haunted, indestructible painting (the family burned it - only to have it "reappear" in what we know is actually Grace's re-creation). The instigating event in "The Original" is Charles' return. Is he who he claims to be or a fortune hunter, bent on claiming an inheritance? But the spine of the book is Grace's story, as she figures out what she wants in a society that forbids her to do much of anything. Grace's singular quality is that she cannot recognize faces. It's a disaster when she attempts to paint portraits but a superpower when she turns to forging great works by Vermeer, Velázquez and others. Instead of worrying over facial expressions in canvases, she simply reproduces brushstrokes and colors with a kind of paintographic memory. She does something similar with the people around her, whom she learns to recognize by voices and mannerisms. Our narrator, Grace seems able to tumble immediately to the central truths of things. Maybe it doesn't matter if Charles is an impostor if he's essentially a good person? And maybe it doesn't matter if that painting hanging in a collector's home is a real or fake Botticelli - as long as they find it beautiful? Like TV's "Mad Men‚" "The Original" exists in a between place that takes place in its own time but asks us to weigh its depiction of the past against the present. Stevens' book, divided into brief cleverly-titled chapters, is attentive to the language and manners of England's late Victorian era while also looking ahead. We're aware that bygone times can be disconcerting (expectant mothers smoking on "Mad Men," anyone?) but also that plenty of stuff happened that never made it into the novels of Thomas Hardy or Oscar Wilde, who wrote in the period when "The Original" takes place. This wouldn't have made their books, for instance, but when Grace falls for a noblewoman named Ruby, the love that dare not speak its name is depicted with restraint and secrecy: "'Are you like me?' she said. 'I nodded. 'Yes.' 'Good.'" When a century dawns, there's always talk of new ideas and trends, but Stevens knows that many of them have always been there, waiting for us to recognize them. Her Grace is a fascinating, un-self-pitying heroine, who tells us she will be ready for the world when it is ready for her: "Surely, surely something now had to change. I thought this daily. I tried to stay warm. I planned my own plans, worked on my own work secretively, as I did everything." ____ The Original By: Nell Stevens. Publisher: Norton, 328 pages. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The perfect summer weekend in Florence
Firenze, the cradle of the Renaissance, is one of Europe 's great art cities. With frescoes by Giotto and Ghirlandaio, canvases by Botticelli and Bronzino, and sculptures by Michelangelo and Giambologna, there is so much exquisite art and architecture within its ancient walls that it's easy to become overwhelmed. But, there is more to handsome Florence than just museums and monuments. It is bursting with quirky shops and quality crafts; a living city with an eclectic cultural life that embraces opera, classical music and contemporary art. The restaurant and nightlife scene is also very much thriving. Escaping for some downtime is rather convenient, given the city's proximity to the vine-covered hills of Chianti, as well as other Tuscan art towns such as Arezzo, Siena and Lucca. Florence's diminutive size means everything is very accessible, with most of the main sights lying within walking distance of one another. All in all, this is one of Europe's most civilised long-weekend destinations. And for more Florence inspiration, turn to our guides on the city's best hotels, restaurants, nightlife, attractions and shopping. In this guide What's new in Florence this season How to spend your weekend When should I visit Florence? Where to stay in Florence What's new in Florence this summer Dance: Watch performances at Florence Dance Festival The Florence Dance Festival, which runs through June and July, is based in the atmospheric great cloister of the church of Santa Maria Novella, and in other venues around the city. It features established dancers, choreographers and dance companies, as well as young emerging talents in the world of contemporary dance. Look out for Compañía Antonio Gades' 'Carmen', among the highlights of the 2025 festival. Relax: Hang out at The Social Hub's rooftop pool The fifth floor of Florence's newly opened The Social Hub Belfiore is now the largest terrace space in the city. The 7,000sq m masterpiece has knock-out views over the city to the Duomo. It incorporates a public park and sinuous Mediterranean gardens, lots of seating and socialising spaces and a bar serving all-day drinks and snacks; morphing into a cocktail bar in the evening, with pop-ups offering street food. The USP is the 50m pool, stretching the length of the building, which is open to the public in the evenings offering swims with views. Experience: See a show in a Roman amphitheatre The spectacular 2,000-seat Roman amphitheatre in Fiesole, just to the north of Florence, is the setting for the eclectic Estate Fiesolana arts festival, from June 6 to September 11, featuring a line-up of international artists from the worlds of classical music, jazz, dance, theatre and cinema. There is even the Greek tragedy, Agamemnon, on July 13. The venue alone makes the trip worthwhile (bring a cushion – the stone seats are hard), but you could also catch the likes of Paolo Fresu and Igudesman & Joo, plus a series of sunset concerts by young musicians from the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole. How to spend your weekend Day one: morning Get an early start on your first day to tick off some of the busier sights. To get a feel for the layout of the city, tackle the 414 steps to the top of Giotto's Campanile (Piazza del Duomo). The bell tower offers magnificent views over the sea of terracotta rooftops in the centro storico, divided by the Arno River. Back on street level, size up the set piece that is Piazza San Giovanni with the vast bulk of the Duomo, the Baptistery and the Campanile – Florence's spiritual heart. The Duomo is worth visiting for the sheer size of the place and to climb inside Brunelleschi's Dome (another 463 steps). At the southern end of Via Calzaiuoli lies Piazza della Signoria, Florence's political power hub past and present, with its imposing town hall and monumental statuary. Highlights include Benvenuto Cellini's Perseus, shown brandishing the severed head of Medusa under the Loggia dei Lanzi. Take a cappuccino break on the terrace of historic Café Rivoire (recently – and controversially – revamped under new ownership) and brace yourself for what is arguably the world's greatest haul of Renaissance art at Galleria degli Uffizi. To view the entire collection at leisure, you need at least four hours. Must-sees include the three great Maestàs by Giotto, Cimabue and Duccio, Gentile da Fabbriano's Adoration of the Magi, the Botticellis and Caravaggio's Medusa. Advance booking is essential.
Vogue
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Lena Dunham Is Living Her Botticelli Meets British Icon Nigella Lawson Fantasy
The cherry red dress features one draped shoulder on a strapless bodice, with draping that cascades over the hips into a train. The back is a tied corset with interweaving draping. It feels romantic, yet powerful and full of movement. Misner's sensual signature look speaks in service to the contours of the body, using draping techniques to extend and celebrate curves. 'I noticed Lena liked the corseted pieces that had drape work on top, one of my signature methods—each piece is one-of-one,' says Misner. 'This method helps me manipulate silhouette, adding volume to hips and accentuating a corseted waist. Originally, we were going to do a midi dress with a boned hoop, but switched to a full length to make it more red carpet-worthy. They really trusted me and let me do my own thing, so when it was finished, it was the first time they had seen what it would look like.' Misner prioritized both Lena's comfort and support in the dress, making an internal boned base, with a hand-sewn drape put on afterwards. 'I knew she would be wearing the dress for a whole evening, and I didn't want it to feel uncomfortable or constricted, regardless of the corsetry,' she explains. As the designer does with each custom piece, she built Dunham a mannequin to match her measurements and then worked directly off it as a body double. 'Together they made possible the most striking Botticelli fantasy; a little bit early Renaissance, a little Nigella Lawson—my curvy British icon,' says Dunham. 'It embraces what I love about my body, drapes in inventive ways, and makes me feel both powerful and innocent. It's such a gift to wear. Michael and Ellie are both so young and have such vision.' Lena's custom Ellie Misner dress fitted on a mannequin made to her measurements by the designer. 'Every piece from Ellie is truly one of a kind. Her dedication to individuality and creativity—paired with an unwavering commitment to size inclusivity—is what makes Ellie herself so unique,' says Handler. Fitting, however, had to happen digitally—with a lot of yapping and quicktime getting to know each other. Misner FaceTimed Lena, Handler, and his team in New York when the dress got to them, and a week later for her digital fitting. The dress fit perfectly, and they decided to go bolder and make a long, detachable train. Handler sourced a matching fabric and built it in New York under Misner's guidance. 'It's something that gave her that red carpet 'wow' moment,' says Handler.
Boston Globe
13-06-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Readers reflect on curvy women's struggles in clothing stores
Waitsfield, Vermont This reminded me vividly of my own experience back in 1990. I had met Mr. Right, a widower with a 15-year-old daughter. While planning our wedding, my stepdaughter-to-be asked if I could pick up some pantyhose for her, something nice to go with the dress we'd bought her for the occasion. At the store I found an extensive rack of pantyhose and went right to the plus section. I found not one item that was in any way fancy or pretty, just a very small number of the plainest stockings imaginable. I was incensed: Who decided that just because a girl is queen-size means she doesn't get to put on the ritz if she wants to? This article suggests that things might have improved a very little since then, but not nearly enough. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Louise Quigley Advertisement Braintree I am short and I always have to alter my clothes, or look like I borrowed my big sister's outfit. It's disrespectful to expect me to spend time and money fixing clothes that I just paid for. It is also hurtful to think it's OK for women to wear ill-fitting clothes. What we need is PLUS-SIZE PETITE clothing and more industry size standardization. And fewer size 12 models online when the shopper at home is a 22. Advertisement Kobi Alka Salem I am not quite in the larger sizes, in most styles, but most definitely not in the smaller sizes, either. Over the years, I have bought Kohl's (Croft and Barrow brand) elastic-waist pull-on jeans. I need more — they do get worn out — BUT they no longer have them, at all (I asked). It was hard to find them at Wal-Mart, as well. And, I don't think Target has what I want. I don't need much, clothing-wise. Retired, no need for anything dressy. But blue jeans are my usual attire. Evelyn Carver Middleborough As a lifelong curvy girl, I too have spent more time sifting through what isn't really sized for those of us with extra floof, feeling ridiculously lucky when I would happen upon something correctly proportioned, comfortable, and of quality. That is, until I discovered one of New England's hidden gems: Botticelli, in Smithfield, Rhode Island. This packed-to-the-edges shop is full of clothing that is flattering, fun, and affordable for women from mid to plus sizes. You can find everything from outerwear to special occasion showstoppers to everyday jeans. Regardless of what some New Englanders say, Rhode Island is not 'that far' and if you are a curvaceous woman, you will never regret a trip to Botticelli! Brenda Crawshaw Kingston Across the Aisles The message in this Connections by Wafa Unus, Advertisement M. Teresa Mascarenhas Abington I too see grocery shopping as an adventure. I enjoy checking our shopping list before I leave on my mission. First I go to the local warehouse-style grocery store, then to the larger chain grocery store for the items the first one doesn't have. I always bargain hunt and enjoy the calculus of shopping for needs vs. wants. I prefer going through the lines with cashiers because it's nice to see familiar faces. However, even before my weekend shopping, I shop for fish, fruits, and vegetables at Haymarket, something I have done for decades. I have the chance to be outside and see more familiar faces. Sitting behind a computer can't measure up to human interactions and the thrill of the chase of food shopping in person. Edwin Andrews Malden What a wonderful piece about the value of even the smallest human connection. It reminds me of a trip to my local grocery store. It was 7:55 a.m. One cashier stood, arms crossed. I said, 'Would you please check me through?' She answered, 'Use the self check-out.' I said I was unfamiliar with that. Her answer, 'My shift starts in five minutes.' I left my cart and did not go back. Another store became my go-to. Why? Because they bend over backward to anticipate customers needs, including this one: For many elderly, that early a.m. errand may be the only chance they have for a friendly smile and brief conversation, all day. Managers would do well to not only teach cashiers how to ring up groceries, but how to be pleasant and welcoming. Advertisement Barbara Harting Framingham This piece expresses a quintessential key to world peace, in my opinion. I know that sounds grand, but human connection as described here is, or needs to be, our bedrock of being. Jeanette Ruyle Medfield I took my 85-year-old husband to Market Basket to do our shopping. He remarked, 'Oh, this place is so big, I've never been here before!' For him, it's always new: He has Alzheimer's so many routine things often seem wondrous. Together we happily picked up a few items (he loves to push the cart and put things in) and headed to the 20 items or less check-out. As we unloaded, I realized that we might have more, so I apologized to the cashier. That's when the young man bagging our things lunged for me. A bit startled, I pulled back. Then I realized he was trying to give me a hug. 'It's OK,' he said kindly, 'we won't arrest you.' 'Well thank goodness for that,' I responded with a laugh. He gave me a hug and we laughed together. Yes, I too need more trips to the grocery store. Susan Winthrop Ipswich Full English A spectacular account of a spectacular adventure ( Advertisement LuckHelpsAlot posted on Cornwall, England, was also the home of novelist Daphne Du Maurier, and she set many of her famous novels there. ForeverInCollege posted on My husband and I were married in Bamberg, Germany, in 1968, and returned as often as we could. The custom in a German Gasthaus is often to share tables. On one of our trips we were sitting at a table when a couple asked if they could join us. Soon we discovered that they were English, and conversation began. A few minutes later, my husband said to the man, 'Are you John LeCarré?' to which the gentleman replied, 'Yes, I am, but my real name is David Cornwell.' My husband had read all of his books and recognized him. We had a very enjoyable conversation and it ended with David saying he'd send us his latest book. Later, my husband said how great the evening had been, but that he really didn't expect to get a book. Imagine our surprise a few weeks later when a package arrived from England with a book signed by David 'in memory of a pleasant evening in Bamberg.' It remains a prized possession, with a memory of a very nice English gentleman. Eileen Kelley South Dennis CONTACT US: W rite to magazine@ or The Boston Globe Magazine/Comments, 1 Exchange Place, Suite 201, Boston, MA 02109-2132. Comments are subject to editing. Advertisement
