Luciana Pignatelli

Luciana Pignatelli (born 13 January 1935) [Mary Tannen, "Why We Love Fashion? It's a Challenge—An Unfinished Woman", The New York Times, 23 February 2003] ["Mirror, Mirror", Time, 15 March 1971] is an Italian socialite who was a writer, social arbiter, and spokesmodel for Camay soap. She is presently a jewelry designer. [Mary Tannen, "Why We Love Fashion? It's a Challenge—An Unfinished Woman", The New York Times, 23 February 2003]

Background

She was born Luciana Malgeri, a daughter of Francesco Malgeri, a journalist. She had a half-brother, Count Rodolfo Crespi. ["Burt Avedon is Fiancé of Luciana Pignatelli", The New York Times, 3 April 1970] [Mary Tannen, "Why We Love Fashion? It's a Challenge—An Unfinished Woman", The New York Times, 23 February 2003]

Books

As Princess Luciana Pignatelli, she was the author of "The Beautiful People's Beauty Book" (McCall, 1970), which was described as "a straightforward approach to narcissism". [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,904854,00.html]

As Luciana Avedon, she was the author of "The Beautiful People's Diet Book" (Bantam, 1973) and "Luciana Avedon's Body Book" (Henry Holt, 1976).

All the books were written with Jeanne Molli.

Television

In the 1970s, as Luciana Pignatelli, she became the spokesperson for the soap Camay, appearing in national and international television commercials. Her performances were called "strangely sonambulistic" by cultural critic Camille Paglia. [http://www.salon.com/opinion/paglia/2008/07/09/russert/index5.html]

Corporate career

Pignatelli was the European fashion coordinator of Eve of Roma, a cosmetics company. ["Burt Avedon is Fiancé of Luciana Pignatelli", The New York Times, 3 April 1970]

Honors

She was named to the International Best-Dressed List in 1966. ["Best-Dressed Women of the Year Named", The New York Times, 14 January 1966]

Marriages

On 20 June 1954, Luciana Malgeri married Prince Don Nicolò Maria Pignatelli Aragon Cortès, 17th Prince of Noia (born 22 May 1923), a Gulf Oil executive. He is a Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, 19th Duke of Terranova, 17th Prince of Castelvetrano, Prince of Maida, Prince of Valle, Duke of Bellosguardo, Duke of Girifalco, Duke of Orta, 19th Marquess of Cerchiara, 19th Marquess of Avola, Marquess of Favara, Marquess of Caronia, Marquess of Borghetto, Count of Celano, Baron of Casteltermini, Baron of Menfi, and Patrician of Naples. [http://www.pignatelli.org/pignatelli_aragona_cortes.htm] The marriage was annulled in 1968. The couple had two children: Princess Donna Fabrizia (born 30 January 1956, married Stephen Fiamma) and Prince Don Diego (born 21 May 1958, married Cristina Prandoni Porta), who is a managing director of Warburg Dillon Read in Italy. ["Burt Avedon is Fiancé of Luciana Pignatelli", The New York Times, 3 April 1970]

In 1970, Luciana Pignatelli married Burt Simms Avedon, then the president of Eve of Roma, who is a cousin of the photograph Richard Avedon. By this marriage she had three stepdaughters. They divorced circa 1980. ["Burt Avedon is Fiancé of Luciana Pignatelli", The New York Times, 3 April 1970]

References