THE ESSENTIALS
Marco Zanini, creative director, Rochas1. Hermès bags
When travelling, you feel like a piece of your beloved home is following you. For those
in love with beauty, a Haut à Courroies or (better) a Birkin 50 is not at all a status symbol.
The pleasure inspired by the sumptuousness of the leather, the preciousness of the hand-
made quality and the affection often built over years of travelling “together”, make any
Hermès item an unmatched, almost indescribable, unique essential.
2. Books
To be surrounded by books is to be immersed in ideas, information, thoughts and in the
comforting feeling of knowledge. I collect any kind of books since I was a child, a deep passion
that has become a necessity. Books on design, interiors, fashion, art or photography, it is
impossible for me to pick one! If I have to name a couple that are essential among many others,
since I started designing at Rochas, Les Parisiens sous l’Occupation: photographies en
couleurs d’André Zucca (Ed. Gallimard, 2008) has always been on my desk. The Salivation Army
Black Book (Printed Matter, 2006) by my dear friend Scott Treleaven is a treasured object.
The Swedish Room (Frances Lincoln, 1994) is my current personal idea of chic. Irvin Penn’s
SmallTrades (Getty Publications, 2009), is a jewel and one of the most stylish books ever published.
Just Kids by Patti Smith is the book I’ve been impatiently waiting to read for years...
3. Jicky by Guerlain
The ultimate perfume created in 1889 is my all-time favourite. I wear the eau de toilette,
but I spray the eau de parfum in abundance at home. Better than any scented candle.
4. T-shirts
The older and faded, the better. Old ones from concerts of my favourite bands are especially
treasured, but white Cheap Monday new ones are good too.
5. 100% Cashmere shawls (not pashminas!)
Imported from India’s Kashmir. They’re a Linus’ security blanket.
Wherever I am, their softness is a rescue.
6. Music
Each feeling has its soundtrack and I cannot think of my life (or my profession) without music.
I have thought several times about which one song is my essential tune... Frankly I don’t know yet,
but I know that Morrissey’s Everyday Is Like Sunday left a permanent mark.
7. Early work by Robert Mapplethorpe
His white mesh underwear tightened on a wooden frame. It’s such a powerful expression of
the artist in his full, yet rough, young urge. It’s one of my very favourite pieces. The second work
that I love in my personal collection, and which I also have tattooed on my wrist,
is Blue Arrow, a sculpture dated 1983.
