#AnimalPrint | Valentina Expressions

The Feline In Me | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

24 Sep 2021 5 Comments

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #AnimalierStyle, #AnimalPrint, #FallFashion, #SequinsandAnimalier, #ShoppingYourCloset

It seems that as soon as Autumn comes I want to get into animal prints. I feel like I’ve been hiding in a tree and suddenly I see the prey I want to capture. Does it sound pretty mean? Perhaps it is. Animal prints make me feel a bit more aggressive than usual. In fact, in my wardrobe there is at least one piece of any items in any animal print, down to my knickers and intimate apparel, even in my kitchen there are many pieces of animalier.

I have seen women dressed with many different style prints mixed all together, the zebra with leopard and cheetah, in all colors as well. As much as I like animalier style, I will never cover my body from head to toes with it. I use it sensibly as an accent to embellish something plain, or if I want to strike an emotion.

Let’s say I have a coat with a blue animal print, blue or white are the only two colors I would use for the rest of the garment and would accessorize it with silver and pearls or crystals. I would not attempt to add any other animal print or colors other than blue and white. I want to avoid the kitsch and garish look animal prints create naturally.

During lockdown I shopped in my closet a lot to kill boredom, but I also studied my clothes and all the possible ways I could wear them that I had never done before. I discovered something new. I now like to dare with animal print and metal/sequins clothes, I think combining these two elements add light to the face, it is vibrant and unusual. I can now wear this aubergine short dress for an early afternoon cocktail with aubergine stocking, aubergine suede shoes and a beautiful zebra print scarf. Of course with the brown tone animalier, I would wear golden jewelry.
BTW, look at the glitzy clothes made for the younger crowd, t-shirts, pants, ball caps and more, it’s OK today to wear sequins during the daytime, they are no longer relegated to evening affairs and I do wear them profusely.

I also discovered that I can wear this loose tunic with a white shirt, white jeans, a white jacket and the same zebra scarf as in the previous photo above.
I have created new ensembles and I haven’t even gone to a store. Anybody can shop in their own wardrobe to find new solutions, but when in doubt, call the expert. Ciao.
Valentina
https://valentinadesigns.com/services#fashion-services

Valentina Cirasola is a trained Fashion and Interior Designer, born in Italy in a family of artists. Style surrounded her since the beginning of her life. Her many years of experience led her to offer consultations in both specializations and now she can remodel homes as well as personal images. She is passionate about colors and encourages her clients to express their individual style in their homes and with the clothes they wear. She produces her own line of clothing and accessories and designs custom outfits for special occasions when her clients requested it.

To better help people all over the world, she offers online consultations. She is the author of six books. Get your copy of Valentina’s book on colors: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors, Second Edition on Amazon and Barnes&Noble

Wild Elegance | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

25 Jul 2020 2 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #AnimalierStyle, #AnimalPrint, #AnimalPrintAccessories, #AnimalPrintCoffeeCups, #AnimalPrintHomeDecor

I remember not too long ago, visiting wealthy people’s homes, where the main attraction in the living room was the floor covered with a leopard or a tiger skin, the whole head attached, glass eyes, mouth open and sometimes even the paws were still attached. It was the trophy of their hunting games, the golden glory of past customs. Fortunately, people’s taste has changed, being aware of our natural environment, and caring for the wildlife have raised our conscience to leave nature alone as it was created.

I don’t know when I started to love animalier style, I know it started with fashion, then that attraction got transferred to home goods and home décor. I do find a certain beauty in a home that shows some wild elegance in a more modern, eco-friendly way. I would gladly walk on this rug without the guilt of having killed a beautiful animal. Add a low pile, synthetic zebra rug in a room decorated with white or cream furniture for everything to lose starkness and pick up a little wild effect.

(Click on each photo to view it larger).

Wayfair Rug

Thinking of making a great impact effect in the room? This 3D wallpaper will do it. I can’t take my eyes off of this photo, it looks so real, the leopard is resting in the water and looks as if he is listening to the conversation.

QDH-Wallpaper

I believe every home needs to have an element of quirkiness. This funky high heel chair comes with useful storage. This type of accessories fills up an empty corner and makes a playful statement.

Overstock-High Heel Storage Chair

These zebras are on a wall decal, they decorate a wall today and gone when one gets tired of them. It’s an easy solution to decorate with whimsy.

Wayfair-Wall Decal

The lion finial holds the curtain and the rod in a fierce way. I will buy myself a pair of this finial for my studio, I think they are so cute and will match my switch plate I already have.

Touch of Class – Lion Finial

Cheetah Print Light Switch-Etsy

Even in the morning, I treat myself with animal print espresso coffee cups and my muffins, strickly made by me with ricotta and espresso coffee.

Muffins Ricotta Espresso Coffee

Animal print is fun when is limited to one or two accents, just don’t overdo it. With this, I leave you to feel a bit of that wild elegance I like so much. Ciao,
Valentina
https://valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola has been a lifetime designer in interiors and fashion. Her extensive training and knowledge in both fields led her in both directions successfully. She is well-known for designing custom furniture and personalized interiors without the “cookie-cutter” look. She cares to make spacious and functional pieces, but she doesn’t forget to introduce the element of surprise, whimsy, sinuous lines, attractive shapes, and colors in the style fit for each of her special clients. She also focuses on color psychology to transform people’s life. She is the author of ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors, Second Edition. Check out her books on Amazon and Barnes&Nobles

The Animal In A Pool Of White | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

14 Jan 2016 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #AnimalPrint, #AnimalPrintAccessories, #AnimalPrintFurniture, #MonochromaticWhiteInteriors, #ValentinaInteriorsDesigns, #WhiteInteriors

Fashionable white interiors look clean, spacious, larger, pristine and they seem to give out more light than any other colors. Many people I know love to live in contemporary white, flat, no depth, or in shabby chic white where a bit of antique patina is playful. However beautiful in some people’s eye, white is a tiring color. Our eyes to feel comfortable need to find a resting point on shadows and colors, otherwise will wander aimlessly.

(Photo: Oscar de la Renta Collection Leopard bombé chest of drawers)

I am not particularly fond of a white interior, it doesn’t speak nor does appeal to me. I am realizing that my clients who have lived for long time in a white walls house with white or beige furniture are calling to change their colors. White is bright and creates no interesting games, that’s why is tiring and after a while people hoped to have used colors from the start. Nowadays to help patients heal faster in a cheerful environment even hospitals paint colors on the walls and nurses wear colorful uniforms.

A monochromatic white colored interior works well if it can be broken with textured walls, or contrasting accent walls, colorful art and interesting fireplaces, geometric mirrors with different frames and various warm metals, a well-designed hardwood floor or even all these items together.

Found on: matt.ahomestools.com

Guild Master

Happywall.com

Hemphill’s Rugs & Carpets

(All photos credits given to the respective owners)

I love the rhythm that animal prints create. If you like all white walls with white furniture and don’t want to change anything, at least introduce colorful and lively animal prints in a few accessories such as lamps, pillows, a throw cover, a carpet especially on stairs or a stand alone dresser, maybe some candles or dinner plates. I am not saying to cover your home in animal prints, do it with taste, sparingly, add some greenery, some live plants in corners, then all will appear chic and more cheerful.

Once you get into colors, it’s hard to get out. Colors are contagious for your happiness.
If in doubt on the color to choose, please contact me, I can arrange an interesting palette of colors for your personality. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.valentinadesigns.com

As a designer in business since 1990, I am interested in helping people designing their interior and exterior spaces with an overall feeling of peace, relaxation and harmony that will draw them home eagerly. I am always looking to add that special touch with original findings to the spaces I design. Featured on Vogue Italia magazine, Gentry and many prominent magazines in California. Appeared on RAI, Italian National T.V. Find copies of my three books on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w