Retail Remedy: Venice Window Shopping, Italian Summer Style

Retail remedy, what’s better then that, holiday or not?

This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Venice Window Shopping…

Or, how I spent my summer vacation, Part Uno:

The family and I (pooch included) were lollygagging about in Venice for a bit. In true Italian style– as I know it– everything is beautiful but doesn’t necessarily work as expected.

The loft apartment we rented was amazing: Brand new renovation in an Old Venice building with a fab rooftop deck and view, super clean and modern Italian style with attention to every detail, except completion.

Wow, that sounds like our construction projects sans the view!

As the first renters after the total renovation we had the pleasure of experiencing the joys of Italian home repair, which was quite lovely but not what we planned for as part of our vacation! Once the air conditioners (yes, I have been to Italy enough to know that working “climatizzatori d’aria” are key to not schvitzing your petunias off in summer) had their installation completed and the tech genius discovered that the WIFI wasn’t working because no one registered it, we were good to go. Only days later we realized that the washer wasn’t working because although it was positioned and hidden in the most stylish fashion, some connection to water was necessary for operation. We passed on the plumber.

However, it is a fantastic time to explore the magic of Venice. The 53rd Venice Biennale of Art Exhibition is open in the Giardini and the Arsenale. Expect to spend a good part of a day in each to view some international cutting edge contemporary art installations besides the random installations throughout Venice falling under the Making Worlds theme. The Punta della Dogana Art Museum just opened and it features the not-to-be-missed personal contemporary art collection of Francois Pinault, his PPR group owns Gucci, Yves St. Laurent, Stella McCartney, Puma, Ballenciaga, Alexander McQueen, and more. Of course, you don’t want to miss The Peggy Guggenheim Collection which is located in Peggy Guggenheim’s former home on the Grand Canal.

There is so much unique and exceptional art in Venice that shopping almost plays second fiddle. Summer sales are starting, early fall is dribbling in. Here’s a look at the best of what’s in the store windows in Venice, Italy.

Take a look at what I saw for summer fashion…

_{(Please click on images in photo gallery to enlarge)}