style story

Without those small-town folks with big city dreams, the world would lack a certain charm.

Magnetically charged to life in New York City, I set sail on my fashion venture at the age of eighteen, checking into the Fashion Institute at 27th Street and 7th Avenue (that's Fashion Avenue to those of you unfamiliar to New York). With a childhood of pale yellow sundresses and fashion do's and dont's at my back, I followed my dream of becoming a fashion designer in the big city.

Whether it was volunteering with 7th on 6th at Bryant Park, late nights at Kinko's to perfect a portfolio, or running cross-town for fabric samples for eveningwear designer, Victor Costa, I learned about the fashion industry.

And in my opinion, I had arrived.

cue sunset and fade music....

Wait, stop the Vespa.

September 3, 2001

Unaware of the looming tragedy on my beloved big city, I watched out the window of the plane at Manhattan as I departed for Italy on a journey that would have lasting impressions,
to say the least....

At the prestigious campus of Polimoda in Florence, Italy, I learned not only the consequences of eating pasta twice daily, but more importantly, a true sense and understanding of Italian fashion. Ok, and the intrigue of one italian boy in particular.

The four years to follow were filled with the drama of visas and long distances, but perseverance soon landed myself in a designer position at a company in Bologna, Italy designing embroideries for Blugirl, the second line of Blumarine by Anna Molinari.

In my spare time, I designed, sewed and sold a small collection of youthful and unique dresses to TARTS, a boutique outside London.

One sunny thursday morning in Italy, the opportunity to try-out for Project Runway appeared. I jumped at the chance to chase a dream of showing my designs at the same tents at Bryant Park where years earlier I had volunteered as a student. In less than five days, running solely on espresso and biscotti, I prepared three garments inspired by french chocolates to show Tim Gunn and the producers of the show. I rushed back to Manhattan to audition, creations in hand. Even jetlag couldn't stop me, and I was chosen as a semi-finalist for the show.

These days, I can be found back in Italy, sometimes riding my old bike with a red wicker basket through the tuscan vineyards, but always designing and dreaming (just this time in a small town in Florence). And although my heels get stuck in cobblestones thousands of miles away from home and my love affair with New York, I always have my shared passion with my granny for bird figurines, and memories of hot summer nights walking up and down the avenues in New York to keep my dreams going.

My Style Story