………………..In 1970 I was 22 years old. I was designing for a company named Giorgini. I had already started to travel to Italy developing sweaters with a fabulous young woman named Giovanna Ciampini, who I am still close with today……On one of those trips, during the spring/summer, I traveled with another designer named Ed Carracci. He designed for another of the divisions called Ginori. We were the same age. Ed was a character! He had the most beautiful green eyes with the longest lashes I had ever seen, and everyone told him so. He also had peaches and cream skin so he was quite good looking. He had blond hair, but his hairline was receding which drove him crazy….ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAD A FULL HEAD OF DARK HAIR….It was his personality that won everyone over. He was gregarious, friendly with everyone and made friends with everyone too. When I traveled to Italy, even at 22, it was all about work….but not Ed. He found out about every club in Florence, and made sure we went to every one! He befriended many art students who lived in Sante Croce [pictures above]. At the time the rents there were inexpensive and three or four students lived together in a walk up apartment. We spent many a night “hanging” with our new friends. On one of these evenings, after spending some time at a club, we hit the empty quiet streets of Florence. We ended up on the Ponte Vecchio Bridge right in the center where it was all open. We had many bottles of cheap wine, and frankly we were pretty drunk! We had been there a good 40 minutes, drinking, singing and dancing when three police men showed up! Oh oh…were we going to be arrested in Florence for disturbing the peace and being drunk? They wanted to see all of our papers. There were probably 8 of us, and no one had papers….Italian was being bantered so Ed and I hadn’t a clue what was going on. They told the police they were students just having a good time. When they got to us we just said we don’t speak Italian and that we were American. They made some hand gestures and told us all to leave which we did……but it was a night I will always remember, and I will always remember Ed…that wild and crazy guy. When I moved on to Anne Klein a year later I lost touch with Ed. I never partied like that again! I heard many years later that he had passed away. RIP dear Ed.
Dear Louis, I was assistant to you and Ed Carracci at Giorgini and Ginori. Do you remember Jean? Ed and I use to hang out together with my husband charlie. Anyway, you are the one that taught me how to be a sweater designer which led me to 20 years of fun and travel. When Charlie became sick I left the industry and became an art teacher . I just retired from a district on Long Island. I see you on qvc all the time and still wear your clothes! I was sorry to hear about Ed. I lost touch with him over the years and never knew what happened. For old times sake, I just wanted to say hello!
Dear Jean…..I do remember you. We didn’t work together very long, but I do remember you with Ed. Hope all is well.
Could this perhaps be a photo of your friend Ed? https://m.facebook.com/102245773168899/photos/1970s-fashion-designer-perry-ellis-with-designer-friends-chester-weinberg-edward/1174530829273716/
Dear Louis, Your stories are priceless. The easy natural flow of your words whisks us up in your yarn and carries us along with you.
Aren’t you glad you lived it up when you were young? I know I am. I worked hard and I played hard and now I have lovely memories of friends and fun places…..all blessings.
But more to come!!! We are planning to go to Italy next year and Linea by Louis Dell’Olio and my husband will be my companions! We are spending time in and around Florence. I have already been imagining myself in one of your LBD’s on the Ponte Vecchio!
I hope you have a wonderful day!🍁🍂🌻
I had so many trips to Florence I knew it so well. Of course it hasn’t changed, but I think I’d get lost today. Don’t forget to rub the bronze Boar’s nose in the straw market if you want to return! I rubbed it every time I was there.