Jon's European Adventure - Part 2: How Much Wine Can A Ching Chong Chug if A Ching Chong Could Chug Wine

Fearing that I may have worn out my welcome in Florence after a week-long orgy of wine, cheese, proscuitto, salami and gelati, I, ever the intrepid hedonist, hopped on a train (a most civilised and agreeable form of transportation) and fled north to Turin where I met up with my classmate Pietro and his incredibly delightful girlfriend Francesca. I cannot even begin to describe the magnitude of their hospitality as I find myself luxuriating within the confines of a gorgeous sprawling triplex apartment in the heart of the city. I can only hope that I may one day be able to return the favor.

Compared to Florence, Turin is an altogether different beast, replete with wide imperial avenues and grand municipal buildings. I spent the afternoon wandering around the largely empty streets (this is high summer in Italy after all) with my wonderful hosts and indulging in a spot of retail therapy. After an uncharacteristic bout of indecision at the Mandarina Duck store - which i left empty handed - I managed to pick up a beautiful (and quite reasonably priced, if I were a russian oil baron) black Costume National sweater with a rather interesting shawl-like collar. Realising that I was on the verge of a cashmere induced coma following my purchase, Pietro and Francesca were wise enough to take me back home and stuff me with Pesto Lasagne and red wine.

Well thats all from me for now. One more day in Turin then im off to Paris for my birthday! Stay tuned for Part 3.

Jon´s European Adventure - Part I : Florence

In fear of burning out after enduring yet another hectic and stressful year at the hands of the merciless NYU Department of Economics, I have decided to remove myself to more salubrious surrounds, exchanging the hustle and bustle of Manhattan for the languorous European countryside.

After the obligatory nightmare of security checkpoints, flight delays, economy class air travel and one particularly mad sprint between the terminals of Charles de Gaulle, during which I inadvertantly clobbered (and quite possibly maimed) a small child with my Tumi suit bag, I find myself basking in the glorious Florentine sunlight.

As to be expected, Florence is beautiful, with its narrow medieval streets and buildings suffused with brilliant, gorgeous light that is at times, almost too much to bear. My first night was spent drinking on the banks of the Arno with my gracious host Karel (a fellow econ PhD student studying at the European University Institute). Sufficiently intoxicated, we wandered the empty streets until we came across the back entrance of a bakery a few hours before dawn where we purchased and consumed the most amazing italian pastries. Quite frankly, I could get used to this life.

Thats all from me for now! I shall remain in Florence until the 28th. Next stop Turin! Stay tuned for the next installation of Jon´s European Adventure!!

My Hero

Carine Roitfeld, editor of French Vogue

What's Wrong With American Fashion

There is little doubt that America remains the single most dominant force in the world today. In addition to being the largest and most dynamic developed economy in the world, America enjoys a political and cultural hegemony that spans politics, the sciences and popular culture. So why do I find myself so underwhelmed by American fashion despite having lived in New York for two years? Why is it that this nation, so rich and deeply committed to supporting the arts - like its universities the major museums and galleries in America are by and large privately funded and operated - has yet to produce spectacular and profound fashion design in the same way that it dominates business or academic research?