At the 2017 Venice Film Festival, HBO released the documentary “Agnelli”. It’s a fascinating account of the late Gianni Agnelli’s life through the 1960’s, 70s, and 80’s as he ruled the Italian economy and high society. He was part industrialist serving as the patriarch of Fiat and part style maker. Every man wanted to be Gianni and his sense of style was one that may men tried to replicate. When it came to fashion, one of his most notable trademarks was wearing a watch over the cuff of his sleeve. Even today not many men could pull off this look but Gianni Agnelli did it with ease and grace. He had an art for making the difficult look simple; Italian nonchalance, if you will.

The documentary “Agnelli” is currently being shown on HBO through January 21. If you are looking for something to do indoors this weekend then I strongly suggest that you check it out. I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I’ve already watched it 3 times and I’m sure I’ll watch it again at some point this weekend.

I couldn’t draft this post about mentioning his wife, Marella Agnelli. Afterall, as they say…behind every strong man is a stronger woman. Although Marella came from an aristocratic family (her mother was a whiskey heiress from Peoria, Illinois who married into Italian nobility), her life of grandeur really didn’t begin until she married Gianni Agnelli in 1953.

Today, Marella is well into her 90’s and back in Fall 2014, she coauthored a book, The Last Swan, with her niece and namesake Marella Caracciola published by Rizolli. It’s one of my favorite books in my collection. 

It’s a glimpse into the life of privilege that serves as part memoir and part picture book showcasing many of the beautiful homes and gardens Marella created and shared with her late husband Gianni. It’s a look into a life of unimaginable wealth that only very few people on this planet will ever experience. Indeed, la dolce vita.