#RedFashion | Valentina Expressions

Staying Positive With The Virus | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

27 Mar 2020 8 Comments

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #REDAVoyageIntoColors, #REDColor, #RedEnergy, #RedFashion, #RedPower

Red Barrel Purse

I found this cute barrel purse before the mess of coronavirus started all over the world. It’s made in India and it has a tag inside saying it’s vegan. OK, lately, I am finding many fashion items labeled “vegan”, we might have to get used not to have real leather anymore and that’s fine with me as long as the items are well made and don’t look “fake”. I fell in love as soon as I spotted this purse for its unusual shape. It reminds me of something I saw in fashion books featuring styles at the turn of the 19th century. I want to think of it as being an Art Deco piece but I really can’t place it in a specific period.

Pantone institute says this year’s color is blue, but I rather stay with my red color, as a conductor of power and positive energy.
This time we are living now will go down in history as a grave health/medical crisis. My friends tell me many of their friends have succumbed to coronavirus. I was in Italy working on an important project when the pandemic broke out. I made it back out of the country just on the same day the lockdown was declared leaving with a heavy heart knowing that my family is there. Upon my return, I was going to finish what I had left undone and start what I had in mind to do, but guess what? Never like this period, all my activities have come to a screeching halt. I have been silent on the social platforms, as I find myself short on words and feel at times demotivated. Being locked in the house has affected me, just like everybody else. Looking at colors helps me stay positive and active to support all my friends who are feeling depressed. I get dressed with colors every day, turn on the scented essential oil, I am working slowly on whatever I can, watch something funny on the TV and don’t slouch on the sofa all day long. I read passages from my book: RED – A Voyage Into Colors, Second Edition. Why not?

RED-A Voyage Into Colors, Second Edition

I keep telling my friends to think of the time when everything will be over and we will be able to wear the beautiful items now sleeping in our closets.
I want them to think about how colors can keep them inspired, and in a positive state. I am telling them, and I am also telling it to myself. I am not exonerated from feeling down, but as I look at this purse and I think of the many items I have to pair it with, I see a glimmer of light and hope that everything will be over soon.
How are you holding on? I am here if you want to talk about it. Ciao.
Valentina
Fashion Services
https://valentinadesigns.com/services#fashion-services

It’s my hope that through my writing and my stories I am enriching your aesthetic sensibility towards design, style and inspiring you to live in beauty. I love to encourage my clients to show their personality through their home décor, or the clothes they wear. I have loved my profession as an interior-fashion designer since 1990. I am here ready to offer consultations on-line if you need it. Check out one of my books on the subject of colors, ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors, Second Edition. Amazon and Barnes&Noble

Red Under The Rain | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

23 Feb 2019 4 Comments

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #FedoraHat, #REDColor, #RedFashion, #RedFebruary, #RedPower

It has poured down for two months straight. Rain here in California is always an event and car accidents abound during rainy days. I don’t like rain in particular, it’s wet and cold but at least I appreciate the change of season that it brings. Rain cleans spider webs around plants, everything smells fresh, and vegetation in my garden grows lush.

(Click on each photo to view it larger).

Walking in the street during rainy days I see people dressed only in grey or black, curved into themselves, hidden in their hood, as to protect themselves from getting wet. The streets are gloomy, lonely and nobody enjoys this precious gift from the sky. I remember, when I lived in a different latitude, going out under the rain in colorful clothes was fun, we went out for shopping, work or meeting friends in a cafe’ where we could sit in the warmth, enjoy a cup of hot cocoa and watch the rain falling on the cafe’ windows. We had clothes for rain and warm clothes for the winter, we wore gloves, hats, and scarves. Here in California, every day is a casual day. It is almost always sunny and mild, people don’t feel to dress for any occasion, thus when rarely the rain comes, they feel like fish out of the water.

I love to color my days, the greyer it gets, the more I burst into colors. This winter my new red Fedora has made me happy. It seems as if I bought everything to go with the red hat, no I did not, I build my wardrobe according to what I own already. It’s only a matter of remembering what is in the wardrobe and buy items which will combine well with the existent clothes. To me, this is an art.

This is the month of red, Valentine red, I chose it because I am happy to love every day and to learn new nuances from love.

Fashion offers a lot more than just an identity to society. It doesn’t have to be expensive to sharpen the image of oneself and change the way one feels in the right clothes, not just something that covers the body. Ciao,
Valentina
Fashion Services:
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.
To better help people all over the world, she offers consultations online. She is the author of four books. Get your copy of Valentina’s book on colors: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w
Her latest book, a travel narrative ©The Road To Top Of The World is here: https://tinyurl.com/y7tuyfh8

The Art Of Mixing and Matching | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

22 Jun 2018 10 Comments

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #HowToCombineColors, #HowToMixMatchClothes, #RedFashion, #RedOutfits, TheArtOfMixingClothes

Welcome to my Friday episode of fashion.
Have you found yourself in the situation of looking at your closet full of clothes and saying you have nothing to wear? It’s a common problem most women have.
The reasons for that are attributed to price of clothes being too affordable, discounts, special offers for any kind of holiday and buying on impulse.

To control a wardrobe is easier than you think.
1. Buy only the clothes you need.
2. Buy only items that look good on you for your shape and complexion.
3. Buy mostly solid colors and only a few items with prints.
4. Buy items that are easy to mix and match with other items in your closet.

If you master this concept, it will be so much easier to get dressed in the morning even if it is dark.

(Click on each photo to view it larger)

This red and ochre combination is easy on the eye, but vibrant for any season. The 3/4 sleeves red top is light enough for Spring, Summer and Fall. The animal print bag is red on the other side and adds a rhythm to the ensemble. With that large buckle on the bag, I would go with a golden pair of shoes and golden tone accessories.

Make it a summer combination:
change the ochre color pants for a white pants, white sandals, white sunglasses and a red hat.
Take away the birds Salvatore Ferragamo’s scarf and substitute it for a knitted net shawl like this one from Free People.

Tracy Radcliff Dreamcatcher Shawl at Free People Clothing Boutique

Make it a winter combination:
Leaving the red top and animal print bag, change the pants to a darker color, black, brown, grey or even red, wear shoes the same colors of the pants, it will visually elongate your legs, or ankle boots, add a waist length jacket with gold buttons and a red fedora hat, why not?
You will be ready, in a smart winter outfit, to go from work, to happy hours or to a restaurant.

Mixing and Matching is an art that will save you money and will always give you a smart glow.

You have looked at your clothes for a long time, a fresh eye will see different things than you do.
I am here ready to help. 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. To better help people all over the world she offers consultations online. She is the author of three books. Get your copy of Valentina’s book on colors: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors on
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Ditch The Black And Dress In Red | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

31 Dec 2015 Leave a comment

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #NewYearEve, #PropertiesOfRed, #RedDress, #RedFashion, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #ValentinaCirasolaDesigner, #WhatToWearNewYearEve

Welcome to my Friday Fashion episode.
In less than 24 hours 2016 will be here and we will celebrate the new energy of the baby year. My suggestion for this end of the year is RED.
“Red is predominantly an action color since the beginning of time. It has been found in caves of primitive people as the main color to express a desire to hunt (…). Many primordial tribes and cultures have used red as the color for body paint to express beauty or admiration and have used it for their rituals. (…)
Red is a winning color for active people who like to lead (…)
Red has the power to increase enthusiasm, to stimulate energy, to increase blood pressure and heartbeat, to encourage action and confidence.
Red demands attention and will bring out the extrovert in you (…)”. This is an excerpt from my book ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors.

With all these attributes Red is the perfect color to welcome the New Year. If you are going to a formal party with dinner and dance I suggest a layered red dress short in the front and long in the back. Anything with high-low length the rage this year.

For conservative women who want to look very chic without revealing much, one shoulder and a flowing dress is a good solution.

(Kerr, One Shoulder Red-Aliexpress)

For a less formal party wear a crisp, smart short red dress, close toes pump and a studded pave’ with pearl or glitz.

(Vuhera.com)

(GM Collection-Imelda Seashell Pave’)

I don’t believe in the perfect black dress, muffin tops and large body size will still be there. Black is slimming only for women who are already slim. If I go to a party and everybody is dressed in black, it feels more like a funeral than a party and I want to leave. Why not then stand out with originality and pick one of 5000 Pantone colors that look good on you?

However if you must wear black or beige, I suggest one of Nordstrom layered beaded fringe tops or an eyelet lace top. This year lace is allowed but no sexy transparencies.
In my country in Italy, we believe all women of all ages must wear a pair of red undies for good luck at New Year’s Eve. Go ahead, you have one more day to get that pair. Have a blast in red and a splendid 2016 all the way through. 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. To better help people in the world she offers consultations online. She is the author of three books. Get your copy of Valentina’s book on colors: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors on
Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

Valentino Red | Valentina Cirasola | Designer

21 Feb 2014 2 Comments

by Valentina in Friday Fashion Tags: #REDColor, #RedFashion, #RedOutfits, #RedVoyageIntoColors, #ValentinoRed

I am tired of seeing pictures of snow up to my eyeballs, people living in the snow with all the difficulties, ice sickles hanging on windows and fields covered in white. White is not my favorite color, I am in the mood for red!
In my Friday Fashion, I am putting Valentino Red in the spotlight.

Red is a color of action, the color of love, passion, romance, and lust. Wearing red visually will add some pounds to the woman figure and unless you are a slender teenager, when youth overpowers any colors, you should wear a light girdle underneath a red dress.
Wearing red on Valentine’s Day evokes a sense of urgency: Love Me.
I hope you were the cupid this past Valentine’s Day.

In the ruins of the ancient city of Pompei, we can still admire people immortalized in love-making in their red dining room and red bedroom. Ancient Pompeian knew red was the color to boost their fantasy and to help or clear the block in the red chakra (in the sex area of the body).

I have put together some ideas for dressing in RED sparingly.
If you are going to the office I envision a youthful outfit of pleated skirt with tulle trim, beige polka dots shirt, accessorized with a red Furla tote bag, a red ruffled umbrella just in case it rains and a red bow iPad case.

Pleated Jersey Skirt with Tulle Trim- Found on: https://www.gilt.com/brand/red-valentino

Furla-Gemini Medium Shopper Tote

Ruffled red umbrella- Found on: https://www.zulily.com/e/zulily-debut-leighton-244583.html

Bow iPad Case

If you are going out in the evening with your love, wear a pencil black dress, don’t forget the stockings please, they are so sexy! Accessorize it with red shoes, a cute trousse with a red bow. I think is chic to wear a black-red umbrella whether it rains or not after all is still February.

: Stretch Twill Flutter Sleeve -Maggy London illusion dress

: Black and Red Umbrella-Found on Paula Moss Via Pinterest

: Raffia Net Convertible Bow Clutch-http://us.asos.com/women/bags-purses

If you are going to have fun with girlfriends I suggest this lovely godet mini skirt, red turtleneck with puffy short sleeves, a rope belt if needed, a tote bag with a red bow and a leopard umbrella.

Wool Turtleneck Top

Rope Bow Belt

Large Straw Bow Tote

Leopard Umbrella-Found on Paula Moss Via Pinterest

(Umbrellas from My Habit)

(Jean-Paul Gaultier Vintage Hunting Style)

A red jacket comes handy in many situations and with any ensemble, I would keep it as the bone of the wardrobe.
Did you strike your cupid arrow this past Valentine’s day? Ciao,
Valentina
https://valentinadesigns.com/services#fashion-services

Valentina Cirasola is a trained Fashion and Interior Designer, working in the USA and Europe. Born in Italy and 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. She is the author of three books. Get your copy of Valentina’s book on colors: ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors on

Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w

It’s RED Hot ! | Valentina Cirasola | Interior Designer

19 Oct 2012 20 Comments

by Valentina in Home Designs Master Tags: #BlogTalkRadioREDHot, #DesigningWithRed, #REDColor, #RedFashion, #RedInteriors, #RedOutfits, #RedVoyageIntoColors, Colors

“Valentina, I’m having a lot of fun reading your book RED. I cannot refrain from marking these points that I found super original and very Valentinians! Page 28: In a highly creative country such as Italy (….) it is only normal that red traffic lights bring out a creative touch of disobedience in any driver. Page 39: Stunning effects such as these (…) try them on, walk proud (…) but before you do that, let’s have a lemon muffin (followed by recipe). Page 44: In Spritz Veritas(…) how tasty this page is!”

As I am running a promotion for my book launch, some comments are already coming in from readers who purchased the book on Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB – and this comment above is from one of the readers. I am so pleased that she is amused reading my book. That is exactly the goal of my book, to inform, entertain with wit, add some personality and allow the readers, through some story telling, to understand the process of designing on the real field, often undermined with many challenges.

Today, my BlogTalkRadio interview took place and we talked about colors in fashion we wear, color in interiors we live in, colors in food we eat and even color in astrology. It was a colorful and inspiring show. Here is the link, if you want to listen to this fun radio show. It’s about an hour-long: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/carra-riley/2012/10/18/red-hot

I am so happy to have done what I have done, this book #3 is right in line with what I am supposed to do and where I am supposed to be in my life at this time. The book is sending lot of vibrations and I am vibrating too.
I am offering – to the first 100 people who purchase ©RED-A Voyage Into Colors on Amazon: http://goo.gl/qNxXrB – One hour of design consultation, FREE of charge, through Skype line (proof of the receipt needed). Take advantage. Ciao,
Valentina
http://www.Valentinadesigns.com

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer and former Fashion Designer, working in the USA and Europe since 1990. She blends well fashion with interior and colors the world of her clients. She has been described as “the colorist” and loves to create the unusual.
Amazon: http://goo.gl/xUZfk0
Barnes&Nobles: http://goo.gl/q7dQ3w