Franca Sozzani

Today the industry lost a most iconic and inspirational woman, Franca Sozzani. 2016 took another, and I'm scared that it isn't over yet. So I'm dedicating this post to a lady who was living proof that you can never achieve or do too much in your life, that the world is truly your oyster and how diverse fashion actually is.

Sozzani was born and grew up in Northern Italy. She graduated from Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan in 1973. She was also married for 3 months at the age of 20.

She achieved many things in her life; creating the phenomenon of the supermodel in the 90's, has written both photography and art books, she gave the likes of Paolo Roversi and Bruce Weber complete freedom and the encouragement of experimentation that has gifted us with their works today. As well as her editorial writing for Condé Nast Italia in 1994, she wrote text for exhibition pieces. In 2006, she became editor of Vogue l'Uomo. In February 2011, she launched Vogue Curvy, staffed by plus-size bloggers who offer fashion tips for others of their body type.

And in September 2015, she took over editorship of Vogue Sposa and Vogue Bambini.

After reading about this woman for years, it is very hard to believe that the likes of Wikipedia have even touched on her successes, but it did help me to summarise her. She was indeed a force of nature, completely consumed by her passion for the fashion industry and writing. For nearly three decades this woman carried Vogue Italia through the years, constantly exploring the new and innovative fashion pieces, people and movements whilst also maintaining that somewhat traditional Italian feel the magazine has always had.

Her appearance not only embodies the natural, ethnic, heritage feel that the editorials she produced also illustrated, but it screams style. It screams fashionista, and when stood by the likes of Anna Wintour I feel like the world is right again.

When reading up about her acolades from fellow celebrities and fashion admirers and her actual life, I stumbled across one blog post written early this year about 'The Rules of Style' and I feel like this perfectly sums up the impact that Franca Sozzani had on the fashion world, and how she will be dearly missed by many.

(BLOG POST: http://www.manrepeller.com/2016/01/franca-sozzani-style.html)