The Italian Way of Life - Italy - page 1826

FASHION FAMILY SAGAS
Tight as they may be, Italian families are not always examples of heart-warming domesticity. Indeed,
some of Italy's most fashionable famiglie (families) prove that every clan has its problems, some
small, some extra, extra large.
Consider the Versace bunch, fashion's favourite catwalking Calabrians. One of Italy's greatest ex-
ports, the familial dynasty was founded by Gianni, celebrity BFF and the man who single-handedly
made bling chic. But not even the fashion gods could save the bearded genius, inexplicably shot dead
outside his Miami mansion by serial killer Andrew Cunanan in 1997. With Gianni gone, creative con-
trol was passed to Donatella, Gianni's larger-than-life little sister. The subject of Anna Wintour's most
unusual fashion memory - full-body spandex on horseback - the former coke-addled party queen flew
herself to rehab on daughter Allegra's 18th birthday.
Then there are the Florentine fashion rivals, the Gucci clan. Established by Guccio Gucci in 1904,
the family firm reads like a bad Brazilian soap - power struggles between Rodolfo and Aldo (Guccio's
sons) in the 1950s; assault charges by Paolo (Aldo's son) against siblings Roberto and Giorgio, and
cousin Maurizio Gucci, in 1982; and a major fallout between Paolo and father Aldo over the offshore
siphoning of profits.
The last Gucci to run the company was Maurizio, who finally sold his share to Bahrain investment
bank Investcorp in 1993 for a healthy US$170 million. Two years later, Maurizio was dead, gunned
down outside his Milan office on the order of ex-wife, Patrizia Reggiani. Not only had Reggiani failed
to forgive her husband's infidelity, she was far from impressed with her US$500,000 annual allow-
ance. After all, this was the woman who famously quipped that she'd rather cry in a Rolls Royce than
be happy on a bicycle. Offered parole in 2011 on condition of finding employment, Reggiani stayed
true to form, stating she'd rather water the plants in her cell than go out and find a job.
Hotel Mamma
If you're between the ages of 18 and 29, there's a 60.7% chance that's not a roommate in
the kitchen making your morning coffee: it's mum or dad. Tick the 30-to-44 age box and
your chance is 25.3%. This is not because Italy is a nation of pampered bamboccioni (big
babies) - at least, not entirely. With a general unemployment rate of 11.5% and a youth
unemployment rate of 38.4% in early 2013, it's no wonder that so many refuse to cut
those apron strings.