In a new book, Tod&rsquo;s celebrates the contemporary Italian lifestyle.

What defines Italian culture? Is it food? Architecture? Language? Art? In truth, it&rsquo;s a combination of these things, all embodied by the Italian people&mdash;something <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/art/tods-aria-ditalia-italian-culture-artists" title="Tod's" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tod&rsquo;s</a> recognizes and celebrates in its new book <a href="https://www.rizzoliusa.com/book/9788891835147/" title="Aria d&rsquo;Italia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aria d&rsquo;Italia</a>. With such a rich, multi-millennial history, the very idea of &ldquo;Italianness&rdquo; has become a complex and organic concept. To pinpoint a beginning would seem, for many, futile. Yet, in convening a curation of Italian creatives&mdash;from entrepreneurs to artists to chefs&mdash;about the connections they have with their country and the special places they find comfort within its borders, <a href="https://www.tods.com/ww-en/tods-world/Tods-Aria-di-Italia/chapters-three-four/" title="Aria d&rsquo;Italia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aria d&rsquo;Italia</a> synthesizes Italian values down to eight keywords: pleasure, timelessness, imagination, joy, craftsman&shy;ship, passion, heritage, and boldness.
Through a series of quotes and visuals, the book, published by <a href="https://www.rizzoliusa.com/" title="Rizzoli" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rizzoli</a> and out February 2023, certainly illustrates these eight guiding concepts: bright portraits and landscape photos are inviting and bold, while images of friends gathering and laughing depict an ages-old conviviality. Among them, distinct works of art highlight a sense of dedication to craft.

However, it&rsquo;s not just the content of the book that shows us what it means to be Italian. The subjects themselves embody the same energy.
Some have a clear connection to Italian life: <a href="http://www.sofiacacciapaglia.com/" title="Sofia Cacciapaglia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sofia Cacciapaglia</a> is the youngest artist to present at the Venice Biennale; chef <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marco_baldeschi/?hl=en" title="Marco Baldeschi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Marco Baldeschi</a> incorporates his local Tuscan community into his farm-to-table restaurant, <a href="https://www.citygirlcooks.com/post/the-chefs-of-villa-lena" title="Villa Lena" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Villa Lena</a>; <a href="https://joannalyle.com/journal-new/" title="Gemma Richards">Gemma Richards</a> and <a href="https://celebratedexperiences.com/homes/la-foleia/" title="Niccol&ograve; Rignano" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Niccol&ograve; Rignano</a> have refurbished two neighboring villas just outside of Milan that they now run as the hotel <a href="https://lafoleia.com/en/home/" title="La Foleia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">La Foleia</a>. Others have embraced a less tangible connection to their roots, like<a href="https://www.instagram.com/marcello_mereu/?hl=en" title=" Marcello Mereu" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Marcello Mereu</a>, who turned his passion for detailing vintage cars into a profession, or the model Matilde Rastelli, who explains, &ldquo;I have an Italian heart that fills me with joy.&rdquo;

"Aria d&rsquo;Italia synthesizes Italian values down to eight keywords: pleasure, timelessness, imagination, joy, craftsman&shy;ship, passion, heritage, and boldness."

These are only some of the stories that Aria d&rsquo;Italia highlights in its quest to showcase both the vastness and simplicity of the Italian identity. So that, centuries from now, when new Italian generations start to want to understand their heritage, they&rsquo;ll only have to remember those eight keywords. The volume, written by <a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Paola-Jacobbi/32335577" title="Paola Jacobbi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Paola Jacobbi</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.businessoffashion.com/community/people/stefano-tonchi" title="Stefano Tonchi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stefano Tonchi</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/micaelasessa/?hl=en" title="Michaela Sessa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michaela Sessa</a>, features photography from noted photographer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/guidotaroniphotographer/?hl=en" title="Guido Taroni" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Guido Taroni</a>.

In celebration of Aria d'Italia, Tod's brought the elegance and opulence of Italy to New York with an exclusive dinner at Sant Ambroeus SoHo on December 13. Guests included Tonchi, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/katie-holmes-new-york-fashion-week-style-tips-iris-apfel-hm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Katie Holmes</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/gossip-girl-reboot-hbo-max-back-to-school-fall-style-inspiration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thomas Doherty</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/and-just-like-that-season-2-sex-and-the-city-reboot-cast-trailer-details" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kristin Davis</a>, Sarita Choudhury, Nicole Ari Parker, Willa Fitzgerald, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/karlie-kloss-styling-tricks-fashion-age-instagram" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Karlie Kloss</a>, Derek Blasberg, Lily Allen, Violetta Komyshan, Princess Marie-Chantal, Prince Pavlos, and more.

Tod's 'Aria d'Italia' Emphasizes the Italian Spirit

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