GIADA MARIANI

Giada Mariani on the under-rated pleasure of homemade bread and learning to be happy with less.

Giada Mariani has been sparking inspiration at D&D since the beginning with her creative vision and unquenchable thirst for exploration. The mind behind our Sunday Paper, Giada has worked as an art director, film director and photographer for little-known brands like Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Missoni, and her pictures have popped up in Vogue, Elle Decor and Architectural Digest. To name but a few...

Giada is currently living in Italy, working alongside the CEO of “Italy’s most fabled” Pellicano Hotels on interior design projects, branding and design. So if you do ever find yourself lounging on the jetty at the Tuscan location, or sipping cocktails at their 16th-century watchtower in the twinkling Gulf of Naples, the chances are Giada had something to do with the magic of it all.

Over lockdown, Giada has stayed in Italy with her boyfriend Guido (that’s right, Giada and Guido - so Italian). Though she found the time strange and tinged with anxiety, she allowed herself to embrace the pause in time, discovering a slower pace of life that she continued to embrace after lockdown eased - even on a road trip around Southern Italy. Here, she tells us all about celebrating her beloved ‘small, messy and soulful’ Italy, letting go of fear and the game-changing ritual of homemade bread. 

Lockdown is mostly over for you in Italy. How does it feel to be “free” again?

It feels good that the general tension is over and that we are free to travel around the country again. I’m on a road trip right now, travelling to the south of Italy, and it’s really a unique moment to be able to see the country with fewer tourists. Italy’s in its most pure beauty right now. That said, there are parts of quarantine that I still practice such as cooking a lot at home, being less social, chatting long hours after dinner on the sofa in my PJs...

What was the first thing you did when businesses, shops and restaurants started opened up?

We went to get a cappuccino and cornetto (croissant) at a café! Missed that a lot after two months of not having cafés open. Guido was as happy as a kid!

Can you tell us a little bit about how you spent your time in isolation? How did you feel about it to begin with, and how did your experience of it change as you became used to it? 

At the beginning, I was pretty anxious - waking up every morning counting the days and reading the news. In Italy, it all went so quickly and so abruptly, and none of us could have expected it. Then I started letting go, accepting and embracing this unique time and sensibility that we were given. I was lucky enough to be with my boyfriend and this time together brought us even closer. I observed my perspective on some things changing and discovered new sides of myself. This was the biggest achievement: I always thought I was so definite and knew what I needed to be happy - we follow trends and moods but only in these situations do we rediscover our true values. 

Working as a creative in the hotel business, things must have been very challenging with everyone stuck at home, but how did you overcome these obstacles? 

I focused all my work on Italy. Our work is focused on providing an experience of Italy through our own eyes. I have been trying to deepen this even more, to communicate this even stronger and really share a love, not just a business purpose. Italy is such a soulful and extraordinary country, despite its many flaws.. 

How did you keep yourself inspired? 

Immersing myself in the infinite wonders of Italian culture. It’s a small and messy country but its soul is so contagious and deep! 

Can you recommend a book, film, recipe, and artist that you enjoyed or discovered during your months at home? 

“Il Barone Rampante” by Italo Calvino, “The last honey hunter” documentary, buffalo ricotta on homemade toast with honey and thyme. Fortunato Depero’s illustrations of Italy posters. 

Which rituals became especially important? And which ones will you be carrying on now that life is returning to normal? 

Making homemade bread and granola. Spending more time in the countryside. Eating homemade bread is a unique experience I underestimated! It’s such a morning changer. 

What is the most important lesson you learnt about yourself from this time?

That I need much less than I thought to be happy.