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cliques of instagram
September 23, 2014

Meet Grazia’s Chic Italian ‘It Girls’

By Hattie Crisell

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Photo: Elisa_Grazia_It/Instagram, Lucilla_Grazia_IT/Instagram, Ilaria_Grazia_IT/Instagram, Natalia_Grazia_IT/Instagram, Giorgia_Grazia_IT/Instagram

If you live in Italy and you’re into fashion, it’s a safe bet that you’re a Grazia reader. The weekly magazine has been embedded in Italian culture for an incredible 76 years — it launched in 1938 and has since spawned 20 international editions. But in recent years, Grazia’s big success has been of a uniquely modern nature. The team behind the magazine had created — or “curated” — an online clique of tastemakers who are admired and envied in equal measure. They are known as the “IT girls,” a hand-picked selection of Italy’s most stylish young women, who broadcast their lives on Grazia-sponsored Instagram accounts.

When the magazine’s website, Grazia.it, launched in 2011, then editor-in-chief Tamu McPherson chose the initial group of IT Girls, who were mostly local socialites and street-style stars. Each one was given an Instagram account with the extension “_grazia_it,” so her photos streamed directly onto the magazine’s website. “It was Tamu’s idea to have a page dedicated to all these special, fashionable women,” Grazia’s senior fashion editor Sara Moschini tells the Cut.

These days, the entire team looks out for new faces. They’re looking for a particular woman whom Moschini says is difficult to put into words. “First of all, all the IT Girls are Italians. They’re all different [to each other], but they all lead a ‘special’ life that they’re able to communicate through their photos. Usually they’re in the fashion circuit — stylists, photographers, models or designers — but others are self-made girls in whom we saw potential because of their attitude and style.”

And the list is ever evolving. New women are regularly added to the group, and if an IT Girl tires of working for Grazia she’s free to leave at any time. But being part of this clique is a relatively easy gig. Each woman is paid what Moschini describes as “a little monthly fee” and may also be invited to take part in special editorial or advertorial projects, for which there’s extra payment. In addition, IT Girls receive free publicity (and fashion kudos) because of their prominent position on Grazia.it — some have racked up significant Instagram followings as a result.

“They become the muses of our website,” Moschini says. “There’s a beautiful connection between us. They give us fresh content every day, they come to our events and to the events of our clients, and they’re beautiful, talented and fun. It’s like having your own models, each different from the others.”

And yet however varied the women are, there are certainly things they have in common — though perhaps that’s just the essence of being Italian. “IT Girls” are eternally sexy without ever being tacky; their photos are exquisitely chic, from family vacation snaps to dinner parties; and they could hold masterclasses in the art of the tasteful selfie. Here, the Cut’s primer on five quintessential Grazia IT Girls to follow.

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Ilaria Norsa at @ilaria_grazia_it Stylist Ilaria Norsa spends much of her time in Ibiza, hanging out with her ridiculously good-looking model fri... Ilaria Norsa at @ilaria_grazia_it Stylist Ilaria Norsa spends much of her time in Ibiza, hanging out with her ridiculously good-looking model friends. A favorite of Garance Doré’s, she’s often snapped at Fashion Week in Givenchy, Saint Laurent, or Comme des Garçons. A 2011 shoot for Grazia revealed that she has a walk-in shoe wardrobe in the center of her apartment, which includes several signed pairs from Salvatore Ferragamo, received while Norsa’s father was working for the designer. Photo: Ilaria_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Ilaria Norsa at @ilaria_grazia_it   On Instagram, her latest sneaker purchases often take the spotlight. Photo: Ilaria_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Ilaria Norsa at @ilaria_grazia_it  Natural habitat: Milan Fashion Week; behind the scenes on shoots; Ibizan beach parties. Photo: Ilaria_Graz... Ilaria Norsa at @ilaria_grazia_it  Natural habitat: Milan Fashion Week; behind the scenes on shoots; Ibizan beach parties. Photo: Ilaria_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Ilaria Norsa at @ilaria_grazia_it  Sample Instagram philosophy: “Never-ending fun.” Photo: Ilaria_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Lucilla Bonaccorsi at @lucilla_grazia_it Designer Lucilla Bonaccorsi is the creative director of her mother’s fashion brand, Luisa Beccaria. She... Lucilla Bonaccorsi at @lucilla_grazia_it Designer Lucilla Bonaccorsi is the creative director of her mother’s fashion brand, Luisa Beccaria. She hails from Sicily, where her father is an aristocrat, and when her enormous family is at home, they live in a castle known as Borgo di Castelluccio. Her life revolves around family — and of course they’re all highly photogenic. Photo: Lucilla_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Lucilla Bonaccorsi at @lucilla_grazia_it Natural habitat: Holidays in St. Tropez and Greece; parties with her five siblings; Luisa Beccaria t... Lucilla Bonaccorsi at @lucilla_grazia_it Natural habitat: Holidays in St. Tropez and Greece; parties with her five siblings; Luisa Beccaria trunk shows in London and New York. Sample Instagram philosophy: “Sweet sisters.” Photo: Lucilla_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Natalia Bonifacci at @natalia_grazia_it  Model Natalia Bonifacci lives in Los Angeles, apparently existing in a whirlwind of palm trees, mov... Natalia Bonifacci at @natalia_grazia_it  Model Natalia Bonifacci lives in Los Angeles, apparently existing in a whirlwind of palm trees, movie stills and Nick Cave quotes. She also posts selfies, laughing selfies, bikini selfies, topless selfies, and photos of needle-heeled shoes (“#walkingsex”). Photo: Natalia_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Natalia Bonifacci at @natalia_grazia_it Natural habitat: L.A. art shows and bar openings; campaign shoots; yachts. Photo: Natalia_Grazia_IT/... Natalia Bonifacci at @natalia_grazia_it Natural habitat: L.A. art shows and bar openings; campaign shoots; yachts. Photo: Natalia_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Natalia Bonifacci at @natalia_grazia_it Sample Instagram philosophy: “I like wild things.” Photo: Natalia_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Giorgia Tordini at @giorgia_grazia_it  “A real Italian beauty,” says Moschini of Giorgia Tordini, referring to her feline eyes and mane of h... Giorgia Tordini at @giorgia_grazia_it  “A real Italian beauty,” says Moschini of Giorgia Tordini, referring to her feline eyes and mane of hair. Tordini, a handbag and accessories designer based in New York, specialises in photographing the refined and sophisticated: a black coffee, a chandelier or an abstract mass of roses. Her sister Giulia Tordini, a communications manager in Milan, is also an IT Girl. Photo: Giorgia_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Giorgia Tordini at @giorgia_grazia_it Natural habitat: Holidays in New England; Paul’s Baby Grand in Tribeca; anywhere with her sister. Phot... Giorgia Tordini at @giorgia_grazia_it Natural habitat: Holidays in New England; Paul’s Baby Grand in Tribeca; anywhere with her sister. Photo: Giorgia_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Giorgia Tordini at @giorgia_grazia_it Sample Instagram philosophy: “Addicted to bodysuits.”   Photo: Giorgia_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Elisa Nalin at @elisa_grazia_it  Verona-born stylist Elisa Nalin lives in Paris, from where she tweets a relatable mishmash of fashion shows... Elisa Nalin at @elisa_grazia_it  Verona-born stylist Elisa Nalin lives in Paris, from where she tweets a relatable mishmash of fashion shows, work, and pictures of her son Lucio (“#HappyTogether”). She’s a magnet to street-style photographers, with her colorful wardrobe of prints and her huge collection of sunglasses (recent favorites: a round Miu Miu glitter pair), and has styled lookbooks and campaigns for European brands like La Perla, Benetton, and Morgan. Photo: Elisa_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Elisa Nalin at @elisa_grazia_it Natural habitat: At home with her son; in Sicily on vacation; anywhere they sell cute flat shoes. Photo: Eli... Elisa Nalin at @elisa_grazia_it Natural habitat: At home with her son; in Sicily on vacation; anywhere they sell cute flat shoes. Photo: Elisa_Grazia_IT/Instagram
Elisa Nalin at @elisa_grazia_it Sample Instagram philosophy: “#DreamWithYourEyesOpen.” Photo: Elisa_Grazia_IT/Instagram
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Tags:

  • italy blog
  • grazia
  • mfw spring 2015
  • cliques of instagram

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