Start with materials to recognise how an object is made. Use the buying guides to choose a fragrance or accessory, and the shopping guides to plan which workshops and shops to visit.
Style in Italy
Explore the people, houses, objects and ideas that shape Italian style.
Read: How Florence and Milan shaped postwar Italian fashion
Pieces worth knowing
B&B Italia Camaleonda: The 2020 Edition
Mario Bellini’s 1970 modular system returns in a distinct 2020 edition, with a current construction of its own.
Fendi Baguette
An underarm silhouette built to change with its materials
Prada Galleria: a guide to the handbag family
The name’s history, the range of versions and the details that help compare Galleria models.
Gucci Horsebit 1955
An equestrian emblem, a contemporary handbag family
Scents
Teint de Neige Eau de Parfum by Lorenzo Villoresi
Jasmine and rose recur through the Eau de Parfum’s published powdery floral pyramid, joined by ylang-ylang, tonka, heliotrope and musk.
Carthusia Fiori di Capri Eau de Parfum
Lily of the valley, wild carnation and a distinctly floral profile.
Arancia di Capri: Acqua di Parma Eau de Toilette
Italian citrus, petit grain and cardamom shape Acqua di Parma’s Blu Mediterraneo Arancia di Capri.
Mediterraneo Eau de Parfum by Carthusia
Lemon leaf and green tea lead Carthusia’s Capri-framed Eau de Parfum; white musk and cardamom complete the maker’s description.
Models
- Pagani ZondaThe 1999 C12 debut, a cockpit-forward design and a lineage of distinct versions
Shopping in Florence
Four addresses connect leatherwork, made-to-measure shoemaking and a historic perfumery.
Read more
More to explore
Italian Design in Everyday Objects
A practical reading path through light, materials and familiar objects for the home.
Shopping in Naples
From Chiaia tailoring and leather to Pignasecca’s market streets, choose a neighbourhood and a material; Marcianise is a separate outlet excursion.
Made in Italy: Origin, Design and Manufacture Explained
How to sample perfume before buying a bottle
The verdict
Researched assessmentCarthusia Mediterraneo: what the listing tells you
Carthusia makes the exact Eau de Parfum and its two bottle sizes easy to identify, and documents Mediterraneo within Sea Around’s three-fragrance 10 ml set. A separate Samples Kit names the same trio in 2 ml samples. The listings differ in format and volume, not in the named fragrances; they support a practical comparison of package formats, but disclose no concentrate percentage or wearer’s sensory experience.
Read the assessment