Mariana’s Small Italian Kingdom

I. A. (July 06, 2013)

A special place with fashionable treasures from all over Italy. Original high end Italian shoes, handbags, jewelry and accessories. Nice things you won't find elsewhere in New York. Meet Miss Antinori, responsible for creating this little paradise for women who love fashion and who want to stand out from the crowd. A passion for hats and shoes. Unique just like jewels. “I want many hats in my shop for next winter, ones that stop traffic, because of their great design. Look at these jewels. Unique. They are pieces of art. Resin with 24-karat gold.... And these shoes? They cost $120. Made in Italy and they are so comfortable. It’s like being barefoot. One client told me: I will buy them and wear them on the airplane.”

Our continuous search for all things Italian in New York City has brought us to a haven that is even difficult to find in Italy. It’s a special boutique, almost an art gallery, where we found carefully chosen fashion accessories and small treasures from all over Italy.

Here you will not find the usual, known brands, but this does not mean that the items sold here are not sophisticated or precious. The shop carries hats, shoes, jewelry, scarves, belts, and bags that are not mass-produced, but the result of painstaking craftsmanship designed for a select few.

Mariana Antinori is responsible for creating this little paradise for women who love fashion and who want to stand out from the crowd.

Born in Argentina to Italian parents, a Tuscan father and a Franco-Piedmontese mother, Mariana went to Florence after finishing college and worked for Ferragamo for two years. Back in Argentina, she and her sister dress label, and later Mariana successfully launched a line of children’s clothes. Her life changed when she met her American husband.

She moved to New York City in 1996 and here she has been able to focus on her true passion: product design.

Mariana comes out to meet us and moves about her little kingdom like a princess. She shows us some pieces from her collection; they’re very simple but at the same time extraordinarily beautiful.

She opened this shop only a few months ago and it has already become a mecca for women who love Italian fashion. The boutique focuses on small Italian companies, which provide the world with meticulously crafted, creative, and innovative products.

“I was tired of doing shows and carrying around these pieces. I said to myself: I’m ready to open a boutique; these things are not easily found. I want it to be original and I want all Italian things.” Thanks to friendships formed over the years and during her travels throughout Italy, Antinori is able to gather objects that are hard to find. “Finding well-made Italian luxury objects that are also clean and classic is not easy in New York City. I have exclusive accessories. I love design and I have a taste for detail. It’s like being a curator. Italian designers are true artists.” She is also very proud of the objects in the collection that she herself designed. “I made these myself. A crazy success. They are beautiful. I chose my logo. It’s small and there is no name on it.”

We asked her how she chooses the products she sells. “I follow my taste. I like fashion design that is simple and timeless.”

Mariana Antinori
1242 Madison Ave New York, NY 10128 >>> [2]