Traveling in Style WRITTEN AND PHOTOS BY Darci Hansen
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opportunity From an early age, Alicia Richmond loved fashion and considered herself a fashion guru. Whether it was selecting prom dresses for her friends or maximizing her back-to-school budget, she was sure to be up-to-date on the latest trends and doing so “on a dime.” After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Clothing and Textiles and in Business, she began her career in the fashion office for Nordstrom. It was a big break indeed for a new graduate to join the fashion show, personal styling and events team for one of the country’s leading specialty retailers. Her experience at Nordstrom led her to a position on the lifestyle talk show, “Good Things Utah.” The ABC affiliate in Salt Lake City hired Alicia to be the fashion expert and present affordable styles for Utah women. Her company, Chic on a Shoestring, emerged out of the show’s success. While working on “Good Things Utah,” Alicia was approached to combine her loves of bargain shopping, styling women and traveling for a new adventure. The result: Shopping Tours! She found herself leading a tour to China with 50 women and men. They went sightseeing by day and bargain hunting in the markets by night. “You never know what life has in store for you,” says Alicia. “If someone would have told me that I would be able to carve out a career for myself where I would work as a fashion stylist, TV host and tour guide … I would have said ‘don’t wake me up from this dream.’” At the beginning of 2012, Alicia said goodbye to “Good Things Utah” after a nine-year run and accepted a position with KUTV for the network’s daytime talk show, “Fresh Living.” As the show’s fashion and travel editor, she’s still shopping – only she’s not just hitting the markets of China. This Chic on a Shoestring stylist is also taking her tours to Italy, France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and New York City. Traveling with Alicia is a guarantee that there will be some serious shopping opportunities. With that in mind, Carmen Snow pulled together a group of 15 mothers and daughters from Southern Utah for Alicia’s 2011 Fall trip to Italy. When my phone rang with the invitation to go, my response had spaghetti written all over it - Viva l’Italia! My bags were packed and my Euro’s were purchased before someone could say ‘gelato’ correctly.
Alicia Richmond
The ages of the mothers and daughters in our group ranged from 74 to 21. These women held nothing back in their willingness to explore all that Italy had to offer. From bus rides, tramways, and boat excursions, to the exploration of the underground catacombs and a climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower, we tried it all. The tour allowed the women to experience open-air markets and back-alley boutiques, as well as artisan villages whose historic culture dictated their chosen art form. While some women stuck to the obvious, others ventured out to discover the hidden treasures within the cities such as a leather school and potters square. All of the travel could work up an appetite and Italy delivered. The adventuresome travelers enjoyed the picturesque sidewalk cafes as well as traditional, family owned restaurants, all of which served rich portions of true Italian favorites. Alicia’s favorite part of leading this group was watching these women indulge in the Italian culture, history, breathtaking landscape and, of course, cutting-edge fashion – not to mention the hilarious antics and vivacious personalities of this ageless group. “Not only did these ladies know how to have a good time, they also knew how to shop!” Although a ‘buying frenzie’ was optional each day, I found my money to be best spent saved and my time occupied capturing the sights and sounds of Italy. It was my first vacation alone with my mother whose 74-year-old legs clocked about 5 miles a day if not more. What a gift it was to see her wide-eyed in awe of the art, the history, and the country. The following photos are the moments made possible by a stylist, a dear friend, and the spontaneity to not pass up the sale of a lifetime.
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It has been said that all roads lead to Rome. I would have been content if our road ended there. Amo l’Roma! Rome is more than a fascinating European capital city; it is a spectacular Wikipedia of living history. The city is vast, although the historic center is quite small. The whole experience of Rome was powerful, even emotionally overwhelming at times.
We made a brief stop in Pisa to witness its famous leaning tower. I have to say that to see The Tower of Pisa in person is an awesomely peculiar sight. Construction began on the structure in 1173. Due to unstable soil, it truly leans precariously more than 14 feet out of line. I stared in wonder and thought it profound to be savoring gelato while standing in the shadows of one of the most recognizable buildings in the world.
We toured the Vatican City, which surprisingly is its own independent city/state. No words can describe the magnificent art within the Vatican, each piece revealing a small token of the mysterious and sacred history that exists within the walls. The Colosseum is a work of architectural wonder and one of Rome’s most enduring monuments to the culture of the ancient Romans. Its construction was initiated by the Emperor Vespasian in 70 A.D. Upon its completion the enormous amphitheater held up to 55,000 people. It’s most remembered as being the scene of hundreds of bloody gladiator and wild animal fights. It was The Roman Forum that took my breath away. The Forum was the communal hearth of the city around which ancient Rome developed. It is here that commerce, the administration of justice, religious activities, and public speeches took place. The Forum was a spectacular showcase of the Roman Empire filled with beautiful statues and architecture. During the time of Julius Ceasar, The Forum was the place for celebrations. I took a moment to kneel in the street where I felt the marks of the chariot tires deeply etched on the cobblestones from centuries ago. Modern Rome still represents the ancient hustle in the city. The shopping district on Via del Corso was spectacular as was the outdoor market. From the Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain, there was everything to love about Rome.
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orvietto A trip to Orvietto requires one to ride the aerial tram up the mountainside to get there. This hilltop community has a pervasive feeling of family. Many of the quaint shops have been handed down for generations. Here we purchased some of Italy’s finest olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Orvietto is also well known for its handmade ceramic pottery in bright, bold Italian patterns. A few of us toured the catacombs whose honeycomb tunnels create a labyrinth hidden underneath the city. This was a fascinating experience and hard to imagine a few thousand people working and living underground.
montecatini Nestled outside of Florence is a picturesque little town that is lined with boutiques, incredible restaurants and historic Roman baths. Climbing the winding roads in the motorcoach was an experience in itself. Such was the case as we climbed on a single lane road to a tiny, historic village perched atop a hill. Breathtaking even at night, our entire group experienced an authentic, family-style Italian dinner in a restaurant that had remained in the same family for well over 100 years.
florence Florence, the “Jewel of the Renaissance,” was founded in 59 BC as a Roman colony and built on top of the site of an Etruscan settlement. In the 15th century, the city reached its height of artistic dominance with the presence of such geniuses as the architects Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti, painters Masaccio, Paolo Uccello and Sandro Botticelli, and sculptors Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti and Luca della Robbia. But probably the most unforgettable names to have lived in Florence were Michelangelo Buonarotti and Leonardo da Vinci. Our group never tired of witnessing the masterpieces left behind by these artists, including the moment that took our breath away…standing at the feet of the David. Aside from the art, the cobblestone roads lined with fabulous boutique shops as well as internationally known brands intermingled with the open-air markets. It is also in Florence where many leather artisans reside. I arranged to tour the leather school where the finest students showed me the process of making one-of-a-kind bags and shoes. woman
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venice The charm of Venice is present in every shop and restaurant in this city built on the water. Our gondola ride through the canals of Venice provided intrigue and mystery. The streets are extremely narrow and somewhat dark, making the history of the Venetian masks even more alluring. Masks served an important purpose of keeping every citizen on an equal playing field. Masked, a servant could be mistaken for a nobleman - or vice versa. With no faces, everyone had voices…and a secret life. Almost every boutique in Venice carried masks for sale. While in Venice we experienced a demonstration of handblown Murano glass. I marveled at the ornate chandeliers, art, jewelry, and stemware.
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burano Our group took a water taxi to experience the tiny fishing village and island of Burano. Burano is known for its exquisite lace, boldcolored buildings and seafood. The ladies loved shopping in the family-owned boutiques that carry handmade lace scarves, skirts, dresses, handkerchiefs and other linens. The beautiful bright-colored buildings were different from any other buildings we had seen in Italy. Together we enjoyed yet another family-style Italian meal at a small seafood restaurant. The chef prepared a variety of incredible seafood dishes for us to sample. There really was no other city to compare to the unique style and history of Burano.
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