Firenze4ever: Directions for use

Firenze4ever is a party organized by Andrea Panconesi, the man behind Luisa Via Roma, one of the biggest luxury brand retailers of Italy. Twice a year, he organizes this party which is an opportunity to gather bloggers from all other the world and present the new collections available in his shop.

I know that amongst our readers we have fashion and Italy lovers, that is why I thought about you. To whoever wants to participate to this event (and other) here is my little guide !

Practical Instructions : 

When is Firenze4ever and how to participate ? To know when the party will be held you just need to follow Luisa Via Roma on Facebook or Twitter. Usually the event takes place just before the Pitti Immagine: at the beginning of January and on mid-June.

To participate you just have to send an email to Luisa Via Roma stating your first name, name, address, mail and blog.

  

Where Firenze4ever takes place ? The party is held in Florence, Tuscany. The city of Dante has an airport but I never heard of low-costs flights directly arriving there. So you'll better take a flight to Bologna or Pisa* and from there take a train to Florence.

If you have questions about train prices from Bologna to Florence, they vary between 9 and 36 € for a one way, but everything depends on the seats available. Florence is a VERY touristic town so I advise you to take your ticket beforehand.

Where to stay ? Florence being very touristic, it is plenty of hotels, but it also means that prices are quite high.  Last January I paid 49 € for one night and it was thanks to  hostelworld, a site enabling you to find a hotel and make a reservation, that I finally found my room. You will also find travelers comments about the place where you are about to stay.

An other solution, that I used this time is couchsurfing. A more economical and above all  sympathetic solution because it enables you to make new friends, save money and visit the town not in a touristic way (obviously the last detail depends on your host).

Some tips to spend a nice night out : 

Worried about the dress code ? Luisa Via Roma always has a dress code. It's up to you to follow it...or not. This year two themes were particularly difficult to adapt for me : Pink Party and Fashion Super Heroes. During these two parties I have really seen the unbelievable. From those who bought clothes only for this one party and as a consequence burnt their credit card to those who absolutely want to be seen hence some Anna Dello Russo-esque or Bryan Boy-esque outfits. Dear people, to wear your craziest clothes is your own choice but do it with style, think about how to highlight your personality instead of absolutely want to be seen. 

Shall we take a picture ? Take your camera with you and photograph people whose style is interesting. Let people take photos of you, obviously this is the hardest part as everything relies on your originality. We are back to the worries about the dress code, be or not to be Anna Dello Russo, difficult choice ! In any case photos are not just here for a question of appearance, it is also a way to mingle. Between two photos, chat, make new friends and exchange business cards, and on this point I am categorical make you business cards !  What if you spoke to Giuseppe Zanotti and he has no means to contact you afterhand ? 

Among fellow bloggers. If you know other bloggers going to the party, contact them and organize yourselves for a dinner or to share a room. This enables you to make new friends, speak about blogging, fashion, studies, work etc..In short it will make you feel that you belong to a community.

I enjoyed going back to this event to meet up with my italian blogger friends Greta, Sara, Camilla and Carolina. The party seemed better organized than the last one eventhough the gap between famous and non famous bloggers is still present. However I think that it is still a great opportunity to meet great people.   

Nancy Zhang of the blog The Sea of Fertility and Aimee Song from the blog Song of Style  were part of the bloggers invited. I partitcularly appreciate the work of these two girls.

I really like Nancy's illustrations and her vision of fashion. She always gives content worthy of reflection and that opens my mind.

I didn't speak that much with Nancy as she seems to be a quite shy person but it didn't stop me from telling her how much I enjoy her blog.

Nancy Zhang

The day after the party, I stumbled upon  Aimee Song while strolling Luisa Via Roma shop. Before I could even open my mouth to tell her something she was already smiling to me and complimenting me about my outfit. Our chatting was the one I enjoyed the most because it came naturally and I didn't feel this distance between famous and non famous bloggers. We were just two girls chatting.

Aimee Song

My last thought goes to Luisa Via Roma selection system that I don't understand. No specific criterion is required to participate if not having a blog. But in this case I am wondering if they really pay attention to our blogs content. If it is so (and I so hope it) I'd find more interesting that the Style Labs that are reserved to famous bloggers would also be open to us but with always in mind a selection. The Style Labs are the occasion to meet designers that have their collections selling at Luisa Via Roma and to create with these collections, great outfits. I think that it could be a means to give more visibility to emergent bloggers instead of always giving the spotlight to those who already have a confirmed fame. After all we also have our taste and fashion conception. Being hosted in a 5 stars hotel, eating in renowned restaurants and feeling like a privileged person is totally uninteresting to me, but the Style Labs definitely not !

ps*: My friend Camilla just informed me about the possibility to get a flight to Pisa and from there get a train to Florence  and guess what, your ticket will only cost you 7,10 € ! So from wherever you are check if you are able to book a flight for Pisa if you ever want to come to Florence.

Shug'A'Very