VACATION DIARIES
Emi Mess in Venice
Creative Director Emilie Messal on her summer stroll throughout the streets of Venice.
Discover her travel guide as she walks us through where to stay, visit and eat, as well as her favourite designs for a summertime getaway on the island.
Emilie wears the ODILE Caraco, FIRMIN Bag, and the HOPE Culottes
What would be your preferred looks for during your stay at the island of Venice?
Emilie: Definitely the Odile Caraco in black with the Hope Culottes, easy to wear and very comfortable. This combo gives the illusion of a black jumpsuit emphasizing the waist with the beautiful satin elastic waistband of our Hope Culottes. Tested and 1000% approved from the very beginning.
I worn also the Victoire Jumpsuit, elegant, fluid and also very comfortable to visit and to stroll in the lovely streets of Venice.
Each look is completed with the Firmin Bag in ivory or black to be elegant and to stay comfortable, free hand or shoulder. As I always say, I am not a handbag woman. I don’t like to have something to bear all the day and I love the sensation to be free hand with this beautiful chest pocket. I can put inside my phone, lipstick and sunglasses and that’s absolutely enough and perfect for me.
During the evening, wearing the Celeste Dress to go to the restaurant is just magical. Effortless chic, comfortable, this design received so many compliments there. What I absolutely love in the Emi Mess wardrobe, is that each design is enough versatile to be worn from day to evening easily. This is priceless for me.
“I love the sensation to be free hand with this beautiful chest pocket.
What I absolutely love in the Emi Mess wardrobe, is that each design is enough versatile to be worn from day to evening easily. This is priceless for me.”
Emilie Messal
Which signature pieces typically feature in your holiday suitcase?
Emilie: I really don’t like to prepare my suitcase since Emi Mess, it is easier for me. My ritual is the same wherever I go including the Odile Caraco, Hope Culottes, Ali Bra, the Edwin cropped T-shirt in each color, Augier Pants, Lancelot Belt, always the Hema Shirt in cotton poplin and definitely the Firmin Bag and Lucien Blazer Coat in black.
Emi Mess Wardrobe
Peggy Guggenheim Museum
Are there any special places that fascinate or inspire you?
Emilie: I absolutely loved the Peggy Guggenheim Museum. I was fascinated and soo inspired there. We visited the temporary exhibition “The Juggler’s Revenge” by Jean Cocteau and I was like a child, impressed by the beauty of each artwork. I discovered the fascinating Peggy’s Collection, filled of masterpieces and I felt myself so connected with her sentence “I dedicated myself to my collection. A collection means hard work. It was what I wanted to do and I made it my life’s work.” I totally forgot the time pressure and I didn’t want to leave (laugh).
Photography Peggy Guggenheim Museum
“I was like a child, impressed by the beauty of each artwork. I discovered the fascinating Peggy’s Collection, filled of masterpieces and I felt myself so connected with her sentence
“I dedicated myself to my collection. It was what I wanted to do and I made it my life’s work.” ”
Emilie Messal
Emilie wears the VICTOIRE Jumpsuit and the FIRMIN Bag
What would be your personal favourite artwork from the Peggy Guggenheim Collection?
Emilie: Maiastra from Constantin Brancusi. I loved the set of shapes, the polished brass. This sculpture represents the Maiastra bird with pure lines, sign of fly and at Brancusi, the flight symbolises the ascent to the spiritual synonym oh happiness. I can imagine a sense of freedom and the accomplishment of self. Through his creative way, he tried to find the essence of flight and this emphasizes that each creative soul tries to find the essence of something through its life.
Through The Juggler’s Revenge, I loved the Imprint of the Jean Cocteau’s Hand.
Maiastra, Constantin Brancusi
Imprint of the Jean Cocteau’s Hand
The Juggler’s Revenge, Jean Cocteau
Palazzo Fortuny
Which of the areas should you visit to feed the senses?
Emilie: Each area in Venice is truly a source of inspiration.
I discovered the Palazzo Grassi, the Doge’s Palace and I was completely fascinated by Palazzo Fortuny, intimist and a pure travel through the heritage of this family. At the same time, house museum, atelier, this beautiful place is filled of creativity and passion for the photography, painting, craftsmanship.
Palazzo Fortuny
Palazzo Fortuny
Might there be any hidden jewels in Venice that everyone who occurs should uncover?
Emilie: Un Jardin à Venise by La Maison de Famille, a true secret garden !
A beautiful house to stay with a lovely terrace and garden where you can meet Romeo & Juliette, the lovely guardian turtles. We stayed there and everything was perfect in every detail. The location in Palanca Giudecca is absolutely perfect to visit and to have at the same time some rest and moments of peace at place. The embarcadaire was just at the door of the house, so easy and practical. We went to our fishmonger’s neighbour and the grocery to make dinners delight, fresh with local products. It was absolutely amazing to be in Venice and to have a terrace and garden taking the time with a book, turtles and the cries of the seagulls.
The furniture were vintage and some as beautiful as others, sourced directly in Venice. I absolutely loved this place and will go back there for sure.
Un Jardin à Venise, La Maison de Famille
Un Jardin à Venise, La Maison de Famille
Un Jardin à Venise, La Maison de Famille
Un Jardin à Venise, La Maison de Famille
Un Jardin à Venise, La Maison de Famille
Emilie in Un Jardin à Venise
How did you find this hidden jewel ?
Emilie: The owners of this beautiful place are my friend, Camille Lhomme and her mum Dominique. In 2013, they founded La Maison de Famille which is packed with treasures in Venice, La Ciotat and Normandy. A total of 7 accommodation sites, each as beautiful as the next. By the way, we shot the very first Emi Mess collections in La Ciotat in one of their showcases.
Un Jardin à Venise, La Maison de Famille
Un Jardin à Venise, La Maison de Famille
Where do you go for a moment of peace?
Il Palazzo Experimental is a lovely place when you can drink a glass of rosé or prosecco with a beautiful view or to stay in the garden terrace inside for a moment of peace.
Venice Venice Hotel is also perfect for a moment of peace. The terrace is on the canal face to the Rialto bridge, so lovely for a self reset !
And definitely Le Jardin à Venise by La Maison de Famille where we stayed.
Un Jardin à Venise, La Maison de Famille
Il Palazzo Experimental Ristorante Adriatica
Which place are you going to at night for an evening delight?
Il Palazzo Experimental Ristorante Adriatica was a magical moment with a lovely place and garden inside for the dinner. Quiet and intimist, everything was perfect and romantic.
Majer de Giudecca was also an incredible experience. This lovely place is opened from day to evening and changes for each time of the day : bakery the morning, lunch or coffee shop for noon and afternoon and restaurant for the evening. We stayed at 1 minute walking and each time I pass by, it was different.
Emilie wears the CELESTE Dress
“It is a beautiful city, romantic and intimist which truly inspired myself.”
Emilie Messal
Who or what inspires you the most after your visit to Venice or at this moment in time?
Definitely the Peggy Guggenheim Collection ! Mentally I am still there !
Emilie wears the VICTOIRE Jumpsuit & the FIRMIN Bag
Beautiful Venise
What would you consider the most fulfilling or enriching component about experiencing Venice?
The beauty of the architecture, the cultural heritage. It is a beautiful city, romantic and intimist which truly inspired myself.