This Italian fashion duo founded their Dolce & Gabbana brand in 1985 and variously have been an on-off couple in the time since. Sentenced to 20 months in jail each in Milan in June 2013 for tax evasion, they closed nine of their stores and papered the windows with signs declaring: “CLOSED FOR INDIGNATION”. Their estimated worth still stands at £1.3 billion each nonetheless and an appeal is pending. When asked if he’d like to dress the Obamas in 2009, Dolce replied: “We don’t do politics”. They may, now, have changed their minds.
Tag: Italy
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Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana
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Picture of the Week: Lapo’s Houndstooth
Fiat’s latest creative campaigns show pure marketing genius
Lapo Elkann is regularly described as “Fiat’s own fashion icon” and yet again recently he pulled off a coup when he was photographed in Milan in a striking black and white 500 Arbarth.
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Chronicling a Masterpiece
A portrait of Albert Vickers by John Singer Sargent
Vickers is undoubtedly one of the best known names in British engineering and it is indeed sad that their final remaining plant will close at the end of this year following the company having been absorbed into BAE Systems.
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Anne Dunhill
This Roman Catholic novelist and Italian translator’s works have included A Darker Shade of Love, Web of Passion and Anita: A Memoir. A former debutante and model, Dunhill also writes about love, life and lunches on the site Angela Darling’s Blog and is a granddaughter of the luxury goods titan Alfred Dunhill. -
Ezio Arceri: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times asks The Palm’s supervisor Ezio Arceri: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
My family and girlfriend.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Let’s do it”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?
Who is Kerry Katona? That the average life is just 90 years. People should live longer.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
My family as I am far away from them.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
I’m happy as I am.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
I hope to be saved.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“As soon as possible”.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I think charity is the bloodline of the community and I support the Red Cross.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
They are useful but they are like the demon in that they are intrusive.
Ezio Arceri pictured at The Palm London If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Friends, family and my girlfriend.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
A 30oz prime USDA New York strip steak from The Palm. I would eat it in the bedroom I had as a teenager.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
It depends on what time you wake up.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A Negroni.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
When they are unexpected.
Who is the most positive person you know?
My mama.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
I don’t know. I’m a good guy.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
I have a tattoo and I designed it myself. It is full of meanings relating to letters, faces, butterflies, spirals, happy faces, sad faces and jackals. It is about freedom.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A Mercedes-Benz. I own a left-hand drive C-class with a British plate. I imported it to the UK.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I’m always happy.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
I don’t have one but if I did, pictures of my family.
Ezio Arceri is the supervisor at The Palm, 1 – 3 Pont Street, London, SW1X 9EJ. Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7201 0710. Website: http://www.thepalm.com/London
Follow him on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/Arcezioo
Follow The Palm London on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/PalmLondon
Subscribe to our free once daily email newsletter at: http://thesteepletimes.com/subscribe
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Giulio Andreotti (1919 – 2013)
“He condensed good and evil. An extraordinary personality” was Pier Ferdinando Casini, head of the Italian centrist Democratic Center Union party’s description of this seven times Prime Minister of Italy. Andreotti was given many nicknames by his detractors. Amongst them were the monikers of Beelzebub, The Hunchbank, The Black Pope and Divo Giulio (after Julius Caesar). Andreotti, famed for ambushing Margaret Thatcher at a 1990 summit on the single European currency, once stated: “Power wears out those who don’t have it” and he certainly was accused of using his to maximum effect in support of the Mafia. -
John Challis: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times asks actor John Challis, best known for playing Boycie in “Only Fools and Horses”: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Marlene is my guiding force at all times. Listen to your wife. She knows best.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“Never lose that bitterness”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?
Wind turbines.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
The energy of my youth.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
Life in a warm climate.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
Bloody capitalists!
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“Gobsmacked”.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I support animal charities especially Tusk Trust. They are fighting to save rhinos and elephants from extinction as a result of poaching. Ronnie Wood and I are the oldest and longest serving patrons of Tusk.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
Mobile phones are a bloody nuisance, especially on public transport. I have got into fights in the silent carriages of trains. Can’t live with them, can’t live without them. I resisted a mobile for years.
John Challis and friends If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Marlon Brando, James Stewart, Kim Novak, Prince Rupert of the Rhine, Tom Graveney, the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, Jacques Tati, Marg Helgenberger and Paul Guilfoyle.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Gorgonzola cheese with fresh figs and a glass of vintage port on the terrace of the Hotel Splendido in Portofino, Italy.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
6pm unless out to lunch.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A martini, stirred not shaken, with a twist of lemon and an olive for my heartburn.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
I don’t do parties anymore. My 60th finished me off.
Who is the most positive person you know?
My brother-in-law, Johnny Palmer.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
ABBA.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
A man with a cricket bat striking a cover drive.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
An Aston Martin DB4.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I wear Converse trainers.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
Abby Bobblehead (NCIS), a miniature Trotter yellow van and a packet of lupin seeds sent to me from a Twitter follower in Texas.
John Challis is an English actor best known for his role as Terrance Aubrey “Boycie” Boyce in the long running BBC television comedy series Only Fools and Horses and its spin-off, The Green Green Grass.
To order signed copies of John Challis’ autobiography, Being Boycie and Boycie & Beyond, and to view the list of venues for his show on tour, go to: http://www.wigmorebooks.com
Follow him on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/BeingBoycie
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Amanda Knox
Whether innocent or guilty of the murder she’s repeatedly been accused of, this American has made $4 million from her memoir deal with HarperCollins. The family of Meredith Kercher, the true victim in all of this, have rightly stated that they “do not believe anyone should profit from the murder” but Knox, whose conviction for calunnia stands, is therefore indeed proof that crime can indeed pay. -
For the love of Alfa
£1.8 million Alfa Romeo to be auctioned at the Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed sale
The Bonhams auction that coincides with the Goodwood Festival of Speed always features rare and impressive vehicles, but a 1934 Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 ‘Le Mans’ tourer that will be sold there is truly spectacular.
