Krizia Men's Italian Pin Stripe Blazer

Mariuccia Mandelli, worldwide known as Krizia, died on Monday at 90. She was a powerful woman in a world of men who design clothes for women, and she contributed to transforming Milan into the first capital of ready-to-wear. Strong, proud, and with a tough character, I always considered her as a symbol of the Milanese industrious and successful woman; in 1986, she was appointed as Commander of the Italian Republic along with Ferré, Valentino, Versace, and Armani (4 men). I don’t know why, but I always associated Krizia with the architect Gae Aulenti, another great independent and creative soul. Even if actually, the latter curated an exhibition on Italian creativity with a selection of the best fashion designers at the Triennale Museum in Milan and replaced Krizia with Ken Scott. Krizia did everything to discredit the exhibition in the newspapers, complaining about her absence. Even if not considered anymore as one of the main characters of the Milan Fashion Week, I always liked her independent style, linked to the 80s and 90s that she never changed and didn’t want to change. Some designers of her team once told me that she often got angry because they did not put enough “Krizia” in the collections. It must be all about high wedges; hot pants; architecture-inspired shapes; pleats; the metallic effects in gold, silver, and bronze; the zoo with tigers, panthers, and lions; and finally the experimental knitwear. Amazing designer with amazing vision.