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“There is a theatricality at Salone more aptly comparable to a fashion show than a furniture fair,” says Lauren Santo Domingo. As the founder of Moda Operandi, she is a stranger to neither. From the early days of her career spent as a Vogue editor, she sat the many fashion runways from New York to Paris and Milan. Now that Moda Operandi is venturing further into design, she attends furniture fairs around the world with equal fervor. Her favorite: Salone del Mobile in Milan.
“Moda’s goal is to connect customers to designers directly wherever they may be,” explains Santo Domingo. “Launching Trunkshows from Design Week is a natural extension of what we do with traditional fashion designers,” she told Domino. When the entrepreneur launched Trunkshows on Moda Operandi, it was to allow style enthusiasts to shop a limited quantity of runway items right after fashion week—not months later when the collections finally hit stores. Now, she is extending this model to the home industry, which also requires long lead times incompatible with today’s instantly gratifying consumerism.
After Milan Design Week, we asked her to share her favorite design picks from the show. “Does the entire Arjumund’s World and Laguna B collection count?” she joked. Bianca Brandolini, who is related to the Laguna B founder, Marie Brandolini, is Santo Domingo’s dear friend, but she assures us it’s the unstuffy exuberance of the pieces that really speaks to her personal hosting style. “Think: barefoot in a ballgown,” she muses. Ahead, she shares the items she loved from Milan this year.
If your mood is “alfresco lunch”…
Idarica Gazzoni’s Arjumund World’s capsule collection pays tribute to my friend and Laguna B founder Marie Brandolini and the brand’s Goto glasses. It pulls from the original murrine design, vibrant colors, and patterns from the glasses.
If you’re in need of a little privacy…
The Paravento mirror screen is stunning in its geometric shapes that are both deco and modern.
If you believe in multiuse vessels…
Dimore Studio’s Posacenere ashtray is not the most obvious choice, but it’s arguably a compelling enough ashtray, even for a nonsmoker like me.
If you adhere to an Italian way of life…
Coralla Maiuri’s plates would be as appropriate in the Villa Borghese as it would in New York’s Upper East Side.
If there isn’t enough pasta in the world…
From Laboratorio Paravicini’s newest collection, the “Italian Views” motif is sure to become a perennial favorite.
If even your trash is chic…
Ghidini 1961’s Tip Top bin, plated in 24k, is ridiculous enough for me, thank you very much.
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