by InTrieste
On February 28, the Attilio Hortis Civic Library will host the presentation of Femme Fatale, a new book by Italian author and fashion historian Fabrizio Casu. The event, set to begin at 5:00 p.m., will feature a discussion between Casu and Gabriella Norio, head of the library’s Diplomatic Archive and Archival Collections.
The book examines the origins and evolution of the femme fatale archetype in Western culture, tracing its presence in art, literature, film, fashion, and sociology from the 19th century to the present. Casu explores how the Belle Époque era, marked by the rise of the bourgeoisie, reinforced two contrasting portrayals of women: the idealized domestic figure and the alluring, transgressive femme fatale—a label often used to stigmatize women who defied traditional gender roles.
Casu, born in Sassari in 1980, studied fashion design at Milan’s NABA and has taught costume history and fashion design in both public and private institutions. His previous works include Novecento: Il secolo della moda and Madonna, Vampira Postmoderna.
The event is free and open to the public, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.
