This Is Rome: Uma Thurman On Trend For SS11 In Nijole Python Jac...

This Is Rome: Uma Thurman On Trend For SS11 In Nijole Python Jac...: "As one of the jury members at the Cannes Film Festival 2011, actress Uma Thurman was not just required to watch and judge the films in..."

Uma Thurman On Trend For SS11 In Nijole Python Jacket

As one of the jury members at the Cannes Film Festival 2011, actress Uma Thurman was not just required to watch and judge the films in competition she was required, as we all know, to attend a plethora of red carpet premieres, events, screenings and glamorous parties - all of which called for diverse and stylish outfits. So it was no surprise that at the end of the fortnight, her sartorial choices led fashionistas to crown her "the sexiest, most glamourous and on trend attendee of the Cannes Film Festival 2011." 

But her on trend style was not reserved solely for the red carpet as we saw when she instantly upgraded her off duty look to an elegant take on utilitarian chic when she donned this season's must have leather jacket. While last season was all about the aviator jacket SS11 is set to be the season for feminine biker grrrls and Uma was one of the few in Cannes to embrace this trend when she paired a wow-worthy Nijole super-soft and lightweight perforated, black python jacket with a delicate printed girly dress. By mixing a sumptuous feminine silhouette with exotic luxe biker chic she showed off an instinctive ability to mix and match that resulted in a fashion forward look that was also effortlessly chic.

Double points to Uma for showing the young fashionista pretenders just how it's is done!

The Oscars & TG3

So, I'm back!! I've been in Los Angeles and have to say it was the most fun I have had in ages. Hooking up with old friends, meeting new ones, hanging out at Soho House in West Hollywood and attending the Elton John Oscar Viewing Party and then popping over to the Vanity Fair made this trip absolutely awesome. Typically, I have very few photographs but you can see Jules and I posing with our parking pass Elton John's! 

It was a great couple of weeks and I want to give a shout out to American Idol, particularly Kate, Kimberly and Sheila for the fantastic party in the most incredible house in Beverly Hills, Birgit, Michelle, Jessica, Jamie, Sam at UTA, Will at WME, Alex at CAA, oh the list goes on and on!!


A couple of things I want to talk about today the first being my phone call from the taxi service in Rome 06 3570. As you will know I had the most terrifying experience of my life a couple of weeks ago when I was robbed and threatened by one of their drivers. 
Well, whilst in Los Angeles I did receive a phone call from one of the managers at 06 3570 who explained that they were taking the matter very seriously and I'm waiting to hear the outcome of the disciplinary review and the police about the criminal charges so as soon as this news is in I shall pass it on. I must say though it was reassuring to speak to someone from 06 3570 who did not treat me like the operators had when I reported the crime and he did point out something which must be said, and is true, not ALL the drivers at 06 3570 are like the one who robbed and threatened me. There are kind and sympathetic drivers there but it just takes one to ruin the reputation of the others.


Because I'm still suffering from jet-lag I've just woken up and wanted to catch up on the news. I will confess, I was trained by the BBC, I believe the news which comes into our homes and that which we read in our newspapers should be absolutely impartial and accurate but it would appear that RAI 3, the Italian State Broadcast Channel's news, does not believe in this principle! In all my years of working in news my mantra was "Every news organization has only its credibility and reputation to rely on." So I wonder why TG3 does not follow this creed?
I cannot believe that they spent 10-15 minutes out of a 30 minute programme, commenting on a protest in Rome against constitutional changes and a further 10 minutes on the sister protest in Milan on the same theme and both times the "reporter" - for me they are mere political mouth pieces and not reporters - gave political editorial comment to introduce the items. I watch the news when I am in Italy and I know that TG3's (they're left wing) counterpart is Emilio Fede and his news programme on Rete4 (they're right wing) but what I do not understand is why the Italian population put up with being treated as such idiots by the broadcasters. I do not understand why the editors of the news programmes and newspapers do not believe in news which is: 1. TRUTHFUL, 2. ACCURATE, 3. OBJECTIVE, 4. FAIR, 5. IMPARTIAL and why the Italian people continue to buy into this nonsense which claims to be news? It's true, whichever party is in political power in Italy controls the news by appointing political allies to positions of power within the media and the news is slanted to favour the party but how can a country which claims to be a democracy condone this type of behaviour? No doubt the Berlusconians will claim that TG3 is run by a bunch of commies (or 'Kabul television') - personally I'm fed up of hearing Berlusconi complaining about being "persecuted" by the magistrates, by the teachers, by the opposition by basically everyone who disagrees with him etc etc get over it, stop behaving like a victim, it goes with the turf! And I'm fed up of hearing the Lefties complaining about Berlusconi being a fascist, being a mafioso, being only interested in his own empire, get over it, try and be a decent opposition party and stop being fucking hypocrites going to your country houses in Sabaudia, living in incredible apartments in the best part of Rome and paying a pittance in rent, getting your suits handmade and staying in power, when you get there, just long enough to pick up your handsome pensions! You people are, in my opinion, morally bankrupt and you should not be throwing stones at Berlusconi as you are not actually fit to kiss his shoes. What Italy needs is a party that has no interest but that will never happen as Italy is about interest!


So that's it for today..I'm thinking of going into politics here in Italy as it's an incredible country with incredible people but it needs change!!

WARNING THERE IS A TAXI DRIVER IN ROME WHO ASSAULTS & ROBS SINGLE FEMALE PASSENGERS!!

ROME 06 3570 TAXIS ARE THEY SAFE FOR SINGLE FEMALE PASSENGERS?

So I haven't written anything for a while as I've been out of town but today I had to take to my keyboard to tell you about my experience with a taxi driver from the 063570 taxi service in Rome. It was the most terrifying and unpleasant journey I have ever taken and this is from a girl who went backpacking around South America on her own for a year....

This is the Italian Version:

Vorrei informarvi (06 3570) che ho appena denunciato/querelato per furto e violenza un vostro tassista associato. L'autista del taxi S**** 46 mi ha aggredito e derubata a Roma in via Panfilo Castaldi alle ore 16:00 di oggi 17 feb 2011. Per via della mia professione (sono una giornalista) il taxi e' il mezzo di trasporto che uso piu' di frequente. Tuttavia non avrei mai immaginato di vivere un'esperienza cosi' terrificante: furto e aggressione da parte di un vostro autista di taxi! Per il momento, in aggiunta alla denuncia/querela, ho intenzione di scrivere sul mio blog, su facebook e su twitter quanto e' accaduto. In particolare, dalla maniera con cui il vostro customer service mi ha trattata quest'oggi mi sento di fare la seguente considerazione: il vostro presidente, il sig. Loreno Bittarelli, non puo' dire nel sito aziendale: "siamo alla avanguardia...e diamo ai cittadini una elevata qualita". Se si riferisce alla qualita' nel rubare e nell'aggredire allora fa bene a dire quello che dice. In ogni caso, nel dubbio, credo proprio che consultero' il mio avvocato x vedere se posso estendere la denuncia anche contro di voi 3570.
Il mio blog e' http://howdirtyisrome.blogspot.com


This Is The English Version:

This entry may sound like pure fantasy but it is a tale of warning for single women using the authorised taxi service 063570 in Rome.

So, I booked a car to pick me up from the boyfriend's house to go and collect some printing materials, I know it was very extravagant of me but it was just too cold and too far to walk. So, I get in the cab and tell the driver I'm not sure of the address but I will direct him and then I want to head back to where he picked me up. He wasn't too happy about this but hey, I'm a stranger in town so a little bit of understanding would help and considering my size I was certainly no threat to him.
We get to the destination in Trastevere and, let's not forget I stated from the beginning I wanted to go back to the pick up address, and he says he's not taking me back. I point out that this was a return job and I would be 2 minutes so could he kindly wait. He jumps out of the taxi, grabs me roughly by the arm and starts threatening me with bodily harm if I do not pay him the €12.10. I was absolutely petrified, but I remained calm, after all I thought it was broad daylight, he's not really going to start hitting me in the middle of the street is he? How wrong was I? After once again explaining I was not running off, he pulled me from where I was standing, threatened me once again at which point I started screaming for the police. He then ripped my fur hat off my head, shoved me into the wall and jumped in his cab before screeching off. I was so shocked and startled that something like this could happen in broad daylight in the centre of Rome, with a person entrusted and licensed to carry the general public that it literally took me 15 minutes to regain control of my senses as it suddenly hit me that my life had been at risk for €12.10.

I immediately went into an office and called the controller of 063570 to explain what had happened and to ask for help. And, do you want to know what their response was? Well, I'll tell you...it was, "it couldn't have been one of our drivers""!! Like WHAT? I called 06 3570, they sent a driver, their driver threatened, physically abused and then robbed me but he's not one of their drivers? Low and behold they could not find the job in their system and I was told to send them an email...Now, that is what you call service...NOT! In a state of continued shock I realised 063570 intended to protect their own, even though one of their drivers had committed several crimes, and ignore a woman in obvious distress.
I do not think in any other 1st world country would it be possible for a licensed public carriage company to allow this type of behaviour and then condone it but sometimes I forget, we are talking about Italy where treating women as second class citizens is par for the course from politicians down to public carriage offices.
I have just returned from the Carabinieri, in Trastevere and I have to say that the Maresciallo who took my complaint was wonderful. He checked that I was OK, he was very patient with my bad Italian and he was just so professional I do not know why Italians take the piss out of them. These are the type of men and women I want protecting my streets and I only wish we had them in London.
I therefore want to warn all women, not just tourists, that you really must avoid, at all costs, the authorised taxi service 06 3570 as should something serious happen to you they will ignore your complaint and tell you to send an email.
The president of Rome 06 3570 is someone called LORENO BITTARELLI, he's been in the job for 12 years, and he is actually quoted as saying "We are at the cutting edge of public transport and we offer a superior service to our customers". If MR BITTARELLI means they provide the best thugs, and thieves to drive customers..then I agree with him wholeheartedly. If, on the other hand Mr BITTARELLI means customer service and safety of passengers then he is sadly mistaken! Mr BITTARELLI, either you live in cloud cuckoo land or you do not know how to do your job because it is obvious you have not instilled basic customer service to your telephone operators, you employ thugs as drivers and your company culture is one of no interest in protecting the people you "claim" you serve. YOUR TYPE OF BEHAVIOUR is a DISGRACE and if work like this YOUR company is a DISGRACE and YOU should be ASHAMED that you, and YOU must take RESPONSIBILITY for what happens in Rome 06 3570, allow vulnerable, single females to be physically threatened, robbed and abused and then try to cover it up.
One thing I have is patience and I intend to take every step possible to have the perpetrators of this CRIME PUNISHED!

Ladies, if you must use taxis in Rome PLEASE DO NOT USE 06 3570 here are some alternatives which are SAFER.
06 8822
06 6645
06 5551
06 4994

I shall keep you posted but remember ladies PERSONAL SAFETY means NOT USING 06 3570 no matter how tempting as this could happen to you!

Human Waste On The Streets Of Rome To Cause Epidemic

THIS IS ROME 

HUMAN FECES & DOG SHIT ON THE STREETS OF ROME AND IT'S OK!

This is via Giulia in the historic centre of Rome:

It was one of the first important urban projects undertaken in Rome during the Renaissance and today it is one of Rome's elite shopping streets, (think Mayfair or Upper East Side NY), and it is, unfortunately, one of the streets where you CANNOT walk with your head high admiring ancient churches, gardens, antique shops or the architecture as you will invariably step into a sea of dog shit from one end to the other. It's a kilometre long and I have decided that it should be renamed "Shit Mile" (OK, so I'm being a little footloose with the metric system here but give me a break it sounds good in Italian "via Caccamiglio). 

Human Excrement Outside The Boyfriend's Window

Human Waste On The Streets Of Rome Is OK According To Italian Law

So, last week I phoned the vigili again, this is the third time, and I said they really needed to do something about the homeless man shitting outside the window. You may recall from an earlier post that I said I would keep an eye on it? Well, the situation hasn't changed and the homeless man who lives on the church wall by Largo dei Fiorentini is still going to the loo under the window and the vigili are still saying unless they catch him "red handed' all they can do is give him a fine. Yeah, like a homeless person can pay a fine - what are they gonna do, take his begging bowl? 

I'm sorry to say, I do not believe this! Where on earth, well first world countries anyway, is it possible for someone to openly and daily shit on the cobblestones to their hearts content without fear of prosecution, where people say "poverino" (which translate as "poor thing" - poor thing my arse what about my bloody health?) and 'What can you do?' Well, let me help you out here Romans...First, Mr Vigili send someone along to give him a severe talking to, he's not hard to miss and he's in his spot every day and if that fails then you need to lock him up or get him a porta-loo; Second every single dog-owner you see needs to be stopped and you need to check that they are carrying a pooper-scooper and if not then give them a fine; Thirdly diseases associated with human excrement include Hepatitis A, Cholera as well as respiratory and eye infections and should any of these conditions come to pass in anyone in my boyfriend's building I am going to suggest a class action against Rome City Council.

It's funny, I was invited to visit Sicily when one of my friends was dating the Mayor of Catania. We landed late and by the time we got in to the centre of town options for where we could go and eat were pretty limited so we ended up in a bar which served food jus off the main drag. It was a lovely summer evening with a gentle breeze ruffling our hair but the night air was slightly spoilt by the catcalls of the working girls outside the bar plying their trade to passersby. Obviously they didn't recognise the Mayor as he, being the good citizen, proceeded to call the carabinieri who came squealing and lights flashing around the corner in a matter of minutes and moved the ladies along...I bet if Rome's Mayor Alemanno had a street person shitting under his window something would be done...then again, I've passed his abode and he's got no shit outside either!

This Is 10 Yards From The Boyfriend's Front Door

This Is Outside The Boyfriend's Front Door

HOLLYWOOD BUYS PRESTON/SPEZZI "The Monster of Florence" Clooney Likely To Star!

As you may have heard Hollywood has bought the rights to the Douglas Preston/Mario Spezzi book "The Monster of Florence"....If you have any moral fibre and believe in right and wrong you would NEVER EVER BUY any books written by Michele Giuttari again..I purchased one once; it was badly written, the pace was so slow it put me to sleep - no, literally, I never finished the book it was too mind-boggolingly boring, the speech was stilted and the characterisation was so superficial I had to wonder if the man had any imagination or knew anyone. All in all the only Italian I have ever come across who does not know how to entertain! If anyone is looking for Italian crime books you need to check out Inspectors Zen and Brunetti because they rock!

So, I've been a little lax recently due to my being home, this long distant relationships can be ever so tiring, so bear with me as I bring you up to date. Here are some pictures of my friend Dana wearing MET jeans and MET's Green Leather Jacket from the AW10 collection. I think she looks awesome!

My Friend Dana In MET Jeans At Piazza di Spagna

AMA Ama Roma!

OK, fairs fair...yesterday I was complaining about the rubbish on the streets of Rome and I have to say a big Thank You to AMA as they really did take my woes to heart and came over to clean up the offending trash. I doubt a British or American counterpart would have been so conscientious and if you don't believe me ask the citizens of New York who don't live on Mayor Bloomberg's street!

As you may know I come from a journalism background but I now sort of work with fashion brands. So, having come from a sector as far removed from fashion as possible I had the usual preconceptions about the fashion world and I have to say I have come across some really smart and talented cookies, such as the fashion team at Cosmopolitan UK. But thanks to the way the industry now works and the obligation that the public be fed "newness" these talented individuals make our monthly fashion reads accessible and enjoyable while they as people truly shine in private. Once in a while though someone does come along who openly forces us to think about the hype we buy in to without sermonising but by using gentle irony so hats off to IhurtIaminFashion...a welcome, thought provoking look at those trendy, high caliber magazine shoots!

This Is Rome

Today's Post Is About Rubbish & Shit In Rome!

So, what I want to ask is why is Italian bureaucracy so cavalier in terms of respecting everyone's rights to live in a clean and healthy environment? My boyfriend is fortunate, (or unfortunate), to live in the centre of Rome on one of the most well known street's in the centro storico. One of his less salubrious neighbours is a homeless person who sleeps outside the church on the corner, yes there are thousands of churches on corners in Rome but this one is not particularly attractive so I will not give it a name-check...and for the past week the accumulated rubbish of this street person,  yes, he has tons of it!, has been left undisturbed beside the church by the authority in charge of cleaning the streets, AMA, so I decided to call them and ask, "why has no one cleaned up the rubbish this person is discarding?" The response was "What do you mean! Take his rubbish away? Oh No, we can't do that he has every right to leave his rubbish and possessions where he wants?" Obviously, I was flabbergasted as the local authority have imposed recycling on households in the centro storico, finally!, and will fine us if we don't (good idea but highly unlikely to work given the lack of governability here), yet they are perfectly happy to create a dump on a main tourist through-fare in the middle of Rome? Needless to say I insisted the rubbish should be moved and was finally given a reference number for my complaint '1481264' which I shall keep an eye on to see what this number actually means in terms of my complaint and let you know and of course if AMA is not going to collect the rubbish then perhaps my boyfriend should not be paying his AMA taxes:-)

My second complaint today was to the Vigile Urbano, the equivalent of the local police who generally deal with parking infractions but also look after other local law enforcement issues, are you recognising a pattern here?, to complain about said homeless person shitting beneath my window to the point that you can no longer open the windows in the sitting room lest you want the aromatic smells or shit wafting through the house. Their response to my complaint was, unless they see him committing the act of shitting beneath my window they can do nothing about it but if they do see him then they can give him a fine. Finally, I thought someone who is prepared to do his job but hang on a sec, if the person shitting under my window doesn't work, how will he pay a fine? 

So everyone, if you want to dump your rubbish where you fancy you don't have to head to Naples just head to the most well known tourists streets in Rome and leave it and if you feel like a shit while you're at it go for it as no one's going to get their knickers in a twist about it!