Before our trip, Sarah sent me a number of Instagram photos of places that she wanted to pass through while we were in Europe. She found this ballroom randomly when she was stumbling down a rabbit hole of Italian hashtags and decided for the both of us that we would be going there to shoot. The Palace of Venaria is located in a town called Turin. We were leaving Lake Como and driving to the Asti wine region in Piedmont country, so it wasn't too far out of the way to stop by for lunch, a little history, and a new fleeting adventure!
When we arrived, we felt like we were in a movie set in Hollywood. Everything was perfectly in place, the people were quiet, and the streets were completely desolate. It was all a little bit odd, but we grabbed a bite to eat at a local cafe that was the only one open during lunch time and then got our tickets to explore the museum. The museum was almost entirely empty and we had to walk about 45 minutes through the entire palace to finally find this specific ballroom, but it was well worth the trek.
Being in old parts of Europe where palaces and chateaus exist are something sort of out of a dream. It reminds me of when I was living in France. On weekends in the chateaus we would bicycle into the village, spend our days at the market buying crops that were local to the region, and hours upon hours preparing elaborate dinner parties for family and friends. There would be old record players playing tunes from Paris in the late 40s, newborn babies that were dressed in hand-woven crochet outfits, and enough wine to transport you to a bygone era. I really enjoy this kind of life. Especially on weekends when life slows down a little bit and you are able to get outside of the city and appreciate the worlds nature for what it is. I imagine that this is how life is in many areas throughout Europe... the so called simple life*, that isn't all so simple at all.
Our time at the palace was nothing short of incredible. The museum staff hardly spoke English, but in a way, that makes you charming, right? In other words, you can be charming if your English is not perfect. My mom is like that and she is the most charming person I know. Continuing on for memories that I will cherish for a lifetime, I plan on sharing with you our time in the Asti wine region.
P.S.- How absolutely perfect is his vintage dress that resembles recent collections of Dolce and Gabbana? I couldn't help myself, so I added the most ridiculous earrings I could find in my jewelry box. I do quite love the juxtaposition of the two.
Coco Wears: Vintage dress, Vintage earrings, Prada shoes. Photography: Sarah Son. Location: Palace of Venaria, Reggia di Venaria Reale, Piedmont country, Turin, northern Italy. *What is the simple life anyways? I've been hearing this phrase a lot lately. Is it a life of leisure? Is it a life in nature? Is it a life without things... or rather, a life that is curated? What do you think?