Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Marchesa Luisa Casati




One day reading an article in Vogue about the fashion label marchesa, I read how they named their line after the Marchesa Luisa Casati which prompted me to do a ton of research. I went out and bought the book, Infinite Variety, and read it in no time, I was so enthralled with this women and how she lived her life. Truly a role model for the young independent women and she lived in the early 1900's. I was reminded of her when I saw the pictures that the Paris apartment just posted. Thanks for the reminder and now, a few things about her. And if you want more, google her, you wont be disappointed.
She was born in 1881 and at the age of 15, both her parents had passed and she was the wealthiest woman in Italy.
She married the Marchese di Roma and had one child, a daughter, Marchesa Casati, she has 3 heirs, a granddaughter and 2 great grandsons. No mention of what came of her sister, but I am curious.
She served as a muse to many greats, haunted cities such as Venice where she was known to prowl the streets in a full length fur, usually with nothing under it and 2 cheetahs by her side.
She was an art and fashion muse, known for her raven locks, green eyes and black eye makeup, she even used to add some sort of poison/elixir to her eyes to make them stay open wider, for a more dramatic affect.
Due to her elaborate spending; houses, fashion, parties, she died on June 1, 1957 in London, penniless. But from what the book says, she was fabulous till the end!

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