Women's day is just around the corner. And, here at VienneMilano, we think women are great. Period. As a female-led business, we can't get enough of empowerment and think every last woman should feel effortlessly beautiful as she takes on the world! As you can probably tell, we figure all-year-round celebrations are in order! But, since we can't release an article every day of the year, we've limited ourselves to four wonderful women who make Italy proud!

But first...

The art of being an Italian woman

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then surely the beholder must be an Italian woman. Or so the saying we've just made up goes. But there is a kernel of truth to our assumption.

Adhering to the concept of "la Bella figura," for many Italian women, living beautifully is a way of life.

What is la bella figura?

It is a life philosophy wherein everything is beautiful - your manners, appearance, food, friendships, etc. And, of course, it's also the foundation of that one-of-a-kind style that Italian women have mastered.

Clean cut, high-end, & minimalistic

Impeccably “put together,” faultless groomed, and entirely unblemished, Italian women stand out in a crowd. Emphasis, drama, and cool confidence all swept up into a fashionable harmony that makes Italian women the beating heart behind many timeless fashion trends.

This is the heart of balance, dignity, self-possession, confidence, and intention. All things which form an unstoppable force. Italian women have drawn upon this power, passing the torch from generation to generation, paving a path for girls and women that reaches further by the year.

Of course, the barriers that hinder women worldwide also exist in Italy. They face the glass ceiling, pay inequality, domestic violence, and prejudice, despite implementing legislation to combat such inequality.

But still, there remains a beacon of hope – the remarkable trailblazers that have gone before them and are still marching on, fighting women's rights and setting an example, just by doing what they do and being their amazing selves.

Sophia Loren

Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. - Sophia Loren.

Sophia Loren, icon, film star, trailblazer, and a list of achievements that could fill a phone book all wrapped up in classic Italian beauty, charm, and elegance. But it wasn't always glitz and glamour. Loren's childhood was marked with a turbulent family life indoors, while world war 2 waged outdoors, with Loren once being wounded by shrapnel from a nearby explosion.

At the age of 15, Loren entered her first pageant, and the rest was history. Recently deemed by the American Film Institute to be one of the greatest female stars of Classical Hollywood cinema – Loren was a trendsetter and woman of incredible talent who's still revered worldwide to these days.

Miuccia Prada

Women always try to tame themselves as they get older, but the ones who look best are often a bit wilder. – Miuccia Prada.

Miuccia Bianchi Prada is an Italian billionaire fashion designer and head designer at Prada. Inheriting the fashion institution of her namesake in 1978, aged 29, Miuccia never rested on her laurels. On the contrary, she led the company with passion, weaving intention and values into every decision and advancement, putting female empowerment at the forefront of policy.

Samantha Cristoforetti

Samantha Cristoforetti set her sights on the stars as a young girl and didn’t rest until she was among them. An Italian European Space Agency Astronaut, Cristoforetti, holds the record for the longest uninterrupted spaceflight by a European astronaut (199 days, 16 hours.) Cristoforetti also spent time as an Air Force pilot and trained engineer. As if that wasn’t enough achievements for one person, she could also speak a mind-blowing 5 languages - Italian, English, German, French, and Russian!

Rita Levi di Montalcino

Rita Levi-Montalcini born to a Jewish family in Italy began her scientific career in danger. Through numerous setbacks, including barriers to publication and general prejudice due to her gender, Montalcino ended her career triumphant, having co-discovered nerve growth factor. Often cited among the list of women who changed Science, Montalcini remained an active researcher and mentor until her death at aged 103.

Brava!

These women took on the world. Up against doubts, barriers, and inequality, they forged on, paving the way for women across several industries and in life as a whole. So, we say thank you! Thank you for pushing the limits. Thank you for securing a better future for all women just by being you.

Here at VienneMilano, we applaud any woman who dares to be herself while encouraging others to do the same. We admire your strength, determination, and beauty. We also happen to believe it’s your right as a woman to flaunt your greatness. That’s why we offer our luxury, glamorous, Italian-made stockings just for you - enjoy!