Valentina Expressions

Welcome to my Fashion Friday episode.
My parents and their siblings were in their late teens when WWII broke out. After the liberation by the hands of American troupes, the entire Europe fell in love with everything American, products, fashion, cars, food and English language took over the world. Roll time forward, Italy, many years later, there I was watching American films with my fashionable aunts who, like everybody else in Italy, loved Hollywood. (Click on each photo to view it larger).

We admired the class of American actresses, dressed impeccably, hats & gloves, their hair always in place, nails always painted red and that infamous cigarette holder forever between their red lips. They exploded elegance with body language, through their clothes and in the expressions they used. Never, I heard blasphemy and vulgar words out of their mouth. The actors were not far behind, charming in their manners and so well-groomed. I believe,  back then, people centered life around looking perfect in every moment of the day; even homes showed in films, often set in California, were so elegantly decorated.

Roll time again, forward it many more years later, I moved from Italy, now living in California. I came here and didn’t find all that elegance I saw in American films. California is still under the influence of hippies and bohemian free people, casual is the style. There is nothing wrong with casual, but when being casual borders untidiness, then it’s a different story, we can call it slovenly, or lack of self-respect. At times, I feel people go out in their pajamas and don’t even bother to wash or dress. Californians live in flip-flops and sweat suits every day. Stores sell cheap merchandise with high price, fashion choices are awful for both men and women.

Hollywood today,…..well…. it is not an exemplary place, it’s only a platform for venom and vulgarity.

One day, I was walking in a posh area, elegant stores all around and very casual people walking in the streets. Something caught my eyes. Returned on my steps and saw original men shoes artistically displayed in the window. It was the store of Donald J. Pliner. I asked a woman working there, if she knew who is the typical client buying these shoes. She couldn’t say, probably thought I was a weirdo. I asked for permission to take photos and left, irritated by her lack of interest.

(Photos taken inside the store Donald J. Pliner -https://www.donaldjpliner.com)

Shoes tell a lot about us. It’s encouraging to know someone still cares for personal image.  I like to understand where are the men wearing these shoes, because out there, feet are wrapped in UGLY.
Thank you Donald J. Pliner for designing for men who care to look good for themselves first. Ciao,
Valentina
https://valentinadesigns.com/services#fashion-services

Copyright © 2017 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

I am Valentina, a trained Fashion and Interior Designer, born in Italy in a family of artists. Style has surrounded me since the very beginning of my life. My many years of experience in design business led me to offer consultations in both fashion and interiors, so much so that I can remodel homes as well as personal images. I am passionate about colors and I encourage my clients to express their individual style in their homes and with the clothes they wear. I am the author of three books, one of which is a book on color theory: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors available on Amazon and Barnes & Nobles.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w