Marta Marzotto

The Caftan Spirit Personified

The irrepressible Marta Marzotto

In Part I of my caftan trilogy, I promised you an homage to a legendary caftan devotee. In my mind, no one embodies the caftan-wearing spirit better than Marta Marzotto. Years ago, I came across the above photo of  Marzotto and was instantly captivated. Intrigued by her exuberant smile and remarkable style, I had to know more. Quickly, I  discovered a truth is better than fiction kind of story.

Marta with her husband Count Umberto Marzotto and Doris Mayer.

Marzotto was famous for her parties and sense of fun

She is the Countess Marta Marzotto, and her story is the stuff dreams are made of.  Born in 1931 to humble beginnings in the north of Italy, she had a lust for life that she attributed to living through the bombs and horrors of World War II.  In search of a better life after the war, she became a seamstress, which led to a modeling career. Her beauty caught the attention of Count Umberto Marzotto, the heir to an Italian textile fortune. They married in 1954, and before long, the young and beautiful Countess rose to the top of Italian society with her legendary parties. Guests included world leaders, artists, designers, and film stars. Her love for life and fearless style captivated everyone. To her credit, she remained proud of her humble beginnings, never attempting to conceal it.

With her youngest son, Matteo Marzotto, who is a fashion executive and was at one time the president of Valentino

After five children and 15 years of marriage, Marzotto began to tire of her husband's philandering. She began to spend more time in their apartment overlooking the Spanish Steps in Rome, where she socialized with intellectuals, artists, and the elite of Rome. During this period, she met the neorealist painter Renato Guttuso. They fell in love and began a twenty-year affair, though she remained married. After Guttuso died in 1987, eleven love letters he wrote to her were obtained by an Italian gossip magazine, sparking a scandal.  Her husband sought a divorce. It was a difficult period for Marzotto, which she described as feeling “abandoned by everyone”.

With Renato Gattuso

Her years in Rome were productive.  Marzotto designed two clothing collections as well as jewelry. After the scandal, she went on to write two books and later a memoir, the title translates to ‘Emeralds for Breakfast’. Unfortunately, it’s only available in Italian. She remained active in philanthropy and funded research for cystic fibrosis, the disease she lost her daughter to.  Marta Marzotto died on July 29th, 2016, at the age of 85. Though it’s clear to see in the pictures, she never lost her lust for life and love of caftans, her signature look.

At the wedding of her granddaughter, Beatrice Borromeo, to Pierre Casiraghi, son of Princess Caroline of Monaco

Beatrice inherited her grandmother’s beauty and opulent sense of style

Marzotto was always photographed smiling, and not just demurely smiling for the camera but beaming and engaging with those around her, barely aware of the camera.  Her spirit is an inspiration and a road map of how to embrace life at every stage.  To say women over fifty are now refusing to be invisible is setting the bar too low. Why not be the life of the party like Marta Marzotto?  A smile and expressing your true self is the best kind of beauty at every age.

Stay tuned for Part III, where we’ll explore how and where to get your own caftan game up.

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