HRH Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Princess Clotilde and Family 5: May 2008-

[Tosca]

Originally Posted by Odette

Has anyone seen "La vie en rose"? Clotilde played the young Edith Piaf's mother. She also has a role on a play in Paris. They seem in love but do not always live in the same city.

I wonder what happened with the old country cottage that was being restored for them in Umbria about two or three years ago, and where they were intending to live with their to daugthers... Also wondering if Clotilde is still being attending the University for foreign students in Perugia.

Originally Posted by iceflower

Prince Emanuele at a fashion event in Florence, Italy, June 19, 2008:

He was there to launch his own new line of men's clothing called "Principe d' Italia" (Prince of Italy). Not exactly the kind of stuff everyone can afford...

[iceflower]

Clotilde Courau arrives at the Dior '09 Spring Summer
Haute Couture fashion show on June 30, 2008 in Paris, France.

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 **

[assia]

Who is she giving her hand to ? The bodyguard ?

[zarat]

I'm not a specialist of fashion but in my humble opinion the colour of her dress doesn't fit to her hair..

[Odette]

What time of the day was these photos taken? Whose hand is she holding?
The hair, the sunglasses the evening gown and those shoes???????? standing on the sidewalk?

[iceflower]

Originally Posted by Odette

What time of the day was these photos taken? Whose hand is she holding?

I would say early afternoon, as she attended another event that
evening:

Clotilde Courau at Giorgio Armani '09 Spring Summer Haute Couture
fashion show at the Chaillot Palace on June 30, 2008 in Paris, France

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 **

And here are pics from today:
Clotilde Courau attends Chanel '09 Spring Summer Haute Couture
fashion show at the Grand Palais on July 1, 2008 in Paris, France

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 **

[pamk]

My take on the above posts:

The Duke of Aosta is no saint --- yes, he has been divorced and then there is the remarriage, but there is also the illegitimate baby with the newscaster a few years ago --- the poor baby is mentally handicapped. The Duke made a big deal of the whole affair in the press.
EF --- I somewhat admire him - at least he is trying to make a career for himself. He puts himself out there and shakes hands, attends events - and yes - has opinions. He should not be judged by the actions of hes father. I will say that if EF is going into the fashion business, he needs to clean himself up - better fitting suits, better personal grooming and do not wear brown shoes with gray suits!
As for Clothilde --- designers send free clothes to the annointed few celebrities who are attending their couture shows and the celebrities wear those clothes (the newest fashion) to the shows. Usually, free airfare, hotel,
limos, etc. are also thrown in. Some celebrities may also demand an "appearance fee." So, for Clothilde to wear that crazy get-up to the Dior show - that is a look worn by a model in the Dior show. Then, at Armani, she wears Armani and at Chanel, she wears Chanel. The couture house gets lots of free press and the celebrity gets lots of freebies --- Such a hard life!

[Odette]

Originally Posted by pamk

My take on the above posts:

As for Clothilde --- designers send free clothes to the annointed few celebrities who are attending their couture shows and the celebrities wear those clothes (the newest fashion) to the shows. Usually, free airfare, hotel,
limos, etc. are also thrown in. Some celebrities may also demand an "appearance fee." So, for Clothilde to wear that crazy get-up to the Dior show - that is a look worn by a model in the Dior show. Then, at Armani, she wears Armani and at Chanel, she wears Chanel. The couture house gets lots of free press and the celebrity gets lots of freebies --- Such a hard life!

Nothing wrong with that. What I find amusing is when the royals become celebrities for a few yards of fabric and some baubles.........One is either a HRH or a celebrity. These two should not mix.

[Princess Robijn]

Originally Posted by Odette

Nothing wrong with that. What I find amusing is when the royals become celebrities for a few yards of fabric and some baubles.........One is either a HRH or a celebrity. These two should not mix.

The problem with Princess Clotilde is that she is both. And as long as Italy isn't a monarchy, I have to be honest and say I don't really see the problem.

[Odette]

I do not think it is a problem. I find it amusing that when it suits (does not apply only to her) them they are wearing their tiaras and when it does not they are hugging Armani or Valentino or whoever is the donor of the outfit......

[giov]

Thanks for all the pics Iceflower!

Originally Posted by Odette

I wonder too about their plans to settle in Italy.

A few months ago, I saw an interview to Clotilde on a show called "La vita in diretta".
They asked her: "When will you move to Italy?" , and she answered "mai", that means "never". It was funny because they had asked the same question to EF ,one minute before, and his answer was: " in a few months"!

Originally Posted by pamk

I will say that if EF is going into the fashion business, he needs to clean himself up - better fitting suits, better personal grooming and do not wear brown shoes with gray suits!

I don't see him like a future succesful fashion businessman, in Italy at least.
Pamk, men can wear brown shoes and gray suits, in Europe at least. It is considered a right choice.

Originally Posted by Princess Robijn

The problem with Princess Clotilde is that she is both. And as long as Italy isn't a monarchie, I have to be honest and say I don't really see the problem.

Totally right!

[Count]

Originally Posted by Odette

You are not the only one who feels this way and this is not only for Italy. A lot of deposed monarchs kept their mouths shut and their dignity intact, then their children became or married celebrities who "compete" for magazine covers with the starlets.

Exactly! There are many, they are rich and want to be every week of point de vue, for example...

[Odette]

In most cases they bought the title and they want everyone to know they got their money's worth. Although Clotilde had no money that I know of.
PDV was pushing her as a daughter of an aristocratic mother though......

[pamk]

Originally Posted by Odette

Nothing wrong with that. What I find amusing is when the royals become celebrities for a few yards of fabric and some baubles.........One is either a HRH or a celebrity. These two should not mix.

I understand - but some of these HRH are not wealthy and cannot lead the lavish lifestyle of their non-royal friends and they want to. So, they sell themselves out as "ambassadors" of a fashion house (or a car manufacturer,
luxury watch company, etc.) - they get lots of free clothes or goodies, lots of invites to society events, free "this" and free "that"
In today's culture, HRH ARE celecrities - they sell lots of magazines when their photo is on the cover.
I agree with you that they should not mix, but such is life today.

[Odette]

True, very true and still sad. Many old aristocrats lived in almost empty houses and sold the family silver to keep up appearances......and their "reputations" intact. Well it is a changing world that is for certain.

[giov]

You are right, but Clotilde, Princess Caroline or Marie Chantal of Greece, for example, they all are very rich and they could afford any dress, but still they are "ambassadors" of fashion house!

[Odette]

Originally Posted by giov

You are right, but Clotilde, Princess Caroline or Marie Chantal of Greece, for example, they all are very rich and they could afford any dress, but still they are "ambassadors" of fashion house!

I do not believe Clotilde is rich. I may be wrong.
However I highly doubt P Caroline or MC are borrowing clothes or accept free stuff. There are a lot of others I would believe they are but the conversation would belong to another thread.

[giov]

As fas as I know, the Savoias are still very rich. All of them! The only "poor" ones are their distant cousins Savoia-Aosta.
As far as it regards the other two Princesses, though I can't obviously be sure, I doubt that Caroline pay for the Chanel dresses or that Marie Chantal used to pay for the Valentino ones. Caroline is not only one of Lagerfeld's best friends, but she is also a sort of muse for Lagerfeld! I think that is also the reason why she only wears Chanel!

[Tosca]

Originally Posted by Odette

True, very true and still sad. Many old aristocrats lived in almost empty houses and sold the family silver to keep up appearances......and their "reputations" intact. Well it is a changing world that is for certain.

I know of a Prince, living not far from my home, whose family is older than the Grimaldis or the Hanoverians, that often sell his family silver or pretends that it's been stolen..., and also sell interviews to a couple of mags. I often happen to see him, but won't tell who he is, of course.

Originally Posted by Odette

I do not believe Clotilde is rich.

As far as I know, her family owns a beautiful castle in France.

Giov, according to "Striscia la notizia", a satyrical TV show, Prince Carlo Giovanelli is Europe's poorest prince.

Here's the clip (it starts automatically)

[Warren]

The clip is worth looking at to see (near the start) a glimpse of Prince Giovanelli's fabulous garden.