Marchesa Luisa Casati was the first muse of all times, inspiring artists, philosophers, designers and writers with her beauty, overwhelming personality and an over the top and extravagant lifestyle. The most popular hostess in the whole continent of Europe was born in Milan in 1881 under a wealthy family of cotton entrepreneurs. Brought up with quite an engaging education for arts and crafts, her unusual physique and her spellbound Bette Davies eyes where key to a succesfull life commissioning young and unknown artists her charming and addicted charisma to be portrayed under their vision. She gained a collection of her self -imaged portraits thanks to the help of the likes of Man Ray, Cecil Beaton or Vittorio Matteo Corcos. But the most interesting chapter of her life is the pationate and lunatic things she did in her daily routine. Walking her cheetah pets with diamond cluttered leashes wearing only mink over a bare body, or organizing enchanting mascarades with gold leaf splattered naked waiters, or inviting guests to an absurd tea party with life size bizarre mannequins on both sides of the table were just a few of her favourite things to do! Obviously a life of splurge and decadence comes to an end, when her debt left her without a thing and her precious collection of portraits and sculptures were confiscated and put up for auction for bidders like Coco Chanel or Jean Conteau, her lifestyle tried to remained the same over in 32 Beaufort Gardens, London. She died at the age of seventy six in 1957, on her grave the inmortal words of Shakespeare´s Anthony and Cleopatra: "Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety" Nowadays, the marchesa keeps inspiring designers and artists all over the world. Romantic souls like John Galliano, who have used her as a starting point for Haute Couture collections or personal scented parfums . Oh Luisa, if we could only have you now showing us how to live life well and fully on the pages of gossip magazines!
