Giovanna Battaglia: Violets For Your Furs
jeudi 29 avril 2010 
Why is Giovanna Battaglia—aka Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld's squeeze—always featured prominently on the site? Because she evokes such a visceral response in me. When I just caught sight of this photograph, I reacted by going "ch-ch-cha" with my teeth, it was my natural reply to her fierce chic. Looks styled by Giovanna for herself in the past have elicited jazz, poetry, and other symbolic references from me, she has it. And I love it. This time it is an old lyric that I prefer to be delivered by Billie Holiday, ch-ch-cha!
It was winter in Manhattan
Falling snowflakes filled the air
The streets were covered with a film of ice
But a little simple magic that I'd heard about somewhere
Changed the weather all around, just within a trice
You bought me violets for my furs
And it was spring for a while, remember?
You bought me violets for my furs
And there was April in that December
The snow drifted on the flowers and melted where it lay
The snow looked like dew on the blossoms
As on a summer day
You bought me violets for my furs
And there was blue in the wintry sky
You pinned the violets to my furs
And gave a lift to the crowds passing by
You smiled at me so sweetly
Since then one thought occurs
That we fell in love completely
The day you bought me violets for my furs
Giovanna Battaglia photograph © 2010 life.com. All Rights Reserved.
"Violets For Your Furs" lyrics © 1941 Thomas Adair. All Rights Reserved.
Giovanna Battaglia, Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld in Fashion 
Reader Comments (12)
I love that song and have the Lady Day rendition (my other favorite Good Morning Heartache). Battaglia does nothing for me, neither her style or her looks.
the fur is so gorgeous! maybe i should include her in my personnages, no?
what could i call her? what nickname could I give her?
http://momentummode.tumblr.com
Ah well, I am glad you like the song if not Gio. (How is that possible, btw?!)
Greetings, momentummode! It is too bad that Kate is away for a few days, she excels at naming things... Gorgeous Gio? I'll think about it.
I understand why you include giovanna in your edits, she's so...AAAh,I can't find adjectives! As a teen I have collected all the photos of her.
Salut, Madame M !
It sounds as if you have quite the trove there, let us know if you ever feel like sharing...
; )
Ha, ha, ha! How about "Giovanna The Great" or "Bellisimo Gio" ?
Hi, Kate! So glad to see you are back! Ha ha, "Gio the Great" would probably fit best on the icon... or maybe "Bellissigio"?
; )
I vote in Belissima Gio! I think she always wear clothes in a different way and that's the reason who she appears with frequency. She it runs away of the obvious. I really like see her pictures. Beijos
bellissima gio sounds nice!!
maybe it should be just "Gio"... sometimes there are truly no words to describe her, don't you think?
http://momentummode.tumblr.com
Hi, Sil! Yes, Bellissima Gio is truly an original and an inspiration. Beijos
you are so right, momemtummode! she is singular, just GIO. this also pays respect to her quirky preference for the more masculine abbreviation for her name, the perfect symbol of her chic style which combines his and hers with aplomb. i cannot wait to see GIO appear on your blog...
; )