• [Readers without Borders] Check out my mini-review of John Maeda’s Laws of Simplicity at RWB since I attended his talk this week in Milan.
• [Umbria Jazz] Starting lineup for this year’s festival in July is out now on their site.

Innovation in Italy has a Name……and thy name is Carnevale.

Continuing my coverage on Carnevale in Manfredonia, I was blown away by the amount of variety and level of detail that the costumes went into, knowing that each was created locally. There were very few “store-bought” costumes that are popular for Halloween back home. Manfredonia is a relatively small town (almost 60,000 people) so it has limited resources but obviously there’s a huge warehouse somewhere full of random fabric and piping and materials that can be manipulated into bright, fun costumes! I assume the tailors work enough during the months of January and February to do nothing the rest of the year.

I think this is more important than the Fashion week in progress in Milan – some real innovation in Italy regarding fashion!

The headpieces were some of the best pieces of the costumes.

Carnevale in Italy is a little different than Mardi Gras in New Orleans or similar celebrations that I was used to back in the States. There’s no one throwing beads or asking you to show your t%($%ts to “earn” them, and many celebrations happen during the day which I think is nice for small children to participate without the threat of darkness.

Romano Prodi, Italy’s (ex) Prime Minister, was the subject of several of the floats, but these floats may be collectors’ items now, since Prodi has stepped down as head of the government this week. I was so used to Berlusconi being Prime Minister since I’ve been living here that I thought that since Prodi had won the election, he would continue to be prime minister as long as they needed him. But it’s “common” for a PM to step down, and things are going on as usual as they “reorganize” an interim head of government prior to the next elections, which may well be Prodi. Confused?

Don’t be. Most of my colleagues weren’t that surprised or concerned about the change in government (but remember, I am in Milan).

Here Prodi is with the cast of Striscia La Notizia, a popular satire-news-comedy show. You can see the scantily-clad ladies on either side, which are the veline, showgirls.

You can see how true to life this depiction of her is, and which of her “assets” are most valued in her job. Che peccato for her. She’ll probably have her own calendar next year.

Prodi is riding on Mortadella, a nod to his place of residence, Bologna, where mortadella comes from.

A few last looks at Carnevale, and you can view my set on Flickr of Carnevale at Manfredonia which includes also some pictures I didn’t post and also those from yesterday’s post on the children’s costumes.

I hope to see you next year!