Franca Sozzani Private Collection on Yoox: the history of fashion in some key pieces

Cappotto, Fendi, Franca Sozzani Private Collection

The initiative desired by Francesco Carrozzini has something relevant. Humanely, of course, but also culturally. The son of Franca Sozzani, photographer and director, has decided to collaborate with Federico Marchetti, patron of Yoox and number one of Ynap (Yoox net-a-porter group) to put on sale on the e-commerce a collection of clothes and accessories of his mother, the historical Vogue Italia editor in chief, who died on December 22, 2016. And all this has already been discussed extensively in the last few days, since the wardrobe is available online from Monday, February 11th. What little has been said about – returning to the introduction – is the intrinsic value of the gesture.

Pantalone, To Be Adored, Franca Sozzani Private Collection

Fundraising and breviary of fashion and style. Two seemingly different worlds but fitting in this context. In the first case, the proceeds from the sale of the garments (some already sold) is donated to support the Franca Sozzani Fund for Preventive Genomics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a foundation that promotes preventive genetic screening (FrancaFund.org). In the second, there is enclosed the whole vision of the editor’s fashion. And it is on this aspect that the reflection moves.

Cappotto, Miu Miu, Franca Sozzani Private Collection

First of all, we like to think that every dress, coat or shoe have been carefully chosen, for a very specific reason: because she had to attend a gala dinner or go to work in the office. Furthermore, brand names reveal something more, and not taste. Certainly Sozzani had it, but it is a rather obvious factor. Companies bring out a story, a story that is revealed when they are worn. Like the décolleté by Manolo Blahnik, the Gucci dress, signed by Frida Giannini, or the patent leather coat by Miu Miu. Some pieces by Gianfranco Ferré. Many are the vintage garments from the twenties and thirties, precious and able to reveal much more about the personality of the journalist. They also allow even more to understand the title of the documentary film by Carrozzini dedicated to his mother Franca, Chaos and Creation, today also a biography edited by Assouline, presented this week in the presence of Carrozzini and his wife Bee Shaffer, Marchetti, Carla Sozzani, Anna Wintour, Martine Assouline and Robert Green. The location? Obviously 10 Corso Como New York.

Décolleté, Manolo Blahnik, Franca Sozzani Private Collection

Buying one of the pieces for sale is not only a valiant gesture but also a way to extrapolate from a life path some traces, a pinch of that unique and cutting edge vision of Franca Sozzani. And no one else, because personal, without any homologating elements, which, however, are raging today in fashion shows, in shops and on the street.