My Principality

Los Angeles. [image: Henri Matisse: Open Window]
What is it about Italians that make the rest of us feel like we aren’t really tasting, seeing, experiencing what is around us? Is there something in Italian water that makes them experience the IMAX 3-D version of life? I tried to crack the case this past Friday at the Legends of La Cienega 2010 design celebration.
Wanda Jelmini, the creative director of Missoni Home, flew in from Italy to speak on the La Dolce Vita panel. It is no surprise that Wanda Jelmini lives for color; as the niece of Rosita Missoni, color obsession is in her DNA.
Wanda Jelmini’s Favorite Color: White. She needs to start every season with a clean slate to make herself open for new inspiration. Plus, white is the union of all colors. 
Most Influential Artist: Matisse. When she stands in front of Matisse’s work, she says, “[…]another side of my color vibration is claimed.”
Wanda’s Color Therapy: She prescribes healing with color. If someone comes into her office and doesn’t feel right, she will prescribe a color for the person to wear the next day. And she swears they feel better. Queen Bee suspects the remedy is as much about “the patient” being in the presence of such a vibrant, contagiously enthusiastic woman as it is about her color recommendation.