Forget Lady Gaga. If fashion history has a truly fearless, eccentric style icon, it is Italian fashion doyenne Anna Piaggi, who sadly passed away today at the age of 81.

Image source: www.style.com

At Caradiaz, we always admired her irreverent yet refreshing individuality, from her trademark curled blue hair to her extravagant make-up and the many, many hats she so distinctively wore over the years.

Photographed in 2004 selecting images for Vogue Italia,
wearing her 'Exvoto' necklace by Givenchy
Images courtesy of Rocaille

Originally a translator for Italian publishing house Mondadori, Piaggi made her name writing for Italian Vogue and the 1980s avant-garde magazine Vanity. Her creativity had no limits and she was given free rein to produce the double-spread editorials she would become renowned for.

Image source: www.style.com

She was a close friend and associate of the likes of Karl Lagerfeld and Manolo Blahnik (who designed many of her shoes), and well as muse to British milliner Stephen Jones.

With Karl Lagerfeld in 1977, 1978 and 2007
Images courtesy of www.style.com and Miista

Piaggi leaves behind an extraordinary wardrobe, including almost 3000 thousand dresses and 265 pairs of shoes – Anna dello Russo, eat your heart out! –, as well as countless tailor-made accessories and her bright red manual Olivetti valentine typewriter, which she had used since 1969.

A unique character with an unmissable presence, Anna Piaggi will indisputably be remembered as a true fashion icon.

Image source: www.style.com