Emanuela alfieri, nuances of delicate elegance

Elisa Nori
Jan 17, 2023
29 min read

Updated: Aug 19, 2024

What is elegance? Often people make the mistake of associating it with a dress, but it is only the container of that essence that can amplify it, certainly not give it away.

Elegance is a way of being, a set of qualities that make a person different, defined more as an attitude, an innate gift rather than the presumption linked to an item of clothing or to often forced attitudes to build a character that may seem such; worth the fact that everything becomes harlequin.

There are many women who would like to be elegant, some dare to define themselves, a reason to suspect that it is more an attempt to appear rather than be.

Yes...because elegance comes from within, not from the outside.

A person with a beautiful soul already has a different light, which will surely make them strongly magnetic regardless of aesthetic canons or how many centimeters of fabric they are wearing. Elegance doesn't necessarily need heels or deep necklines, because if possessed, it can wear any garment and know how to adapt to any place.

In my opinion, elegance is closely friends with charm, predispositions in which the way one faces life plays a decisive role, rather than how one would like to appear in everyday life; this applies to both women and men.

So are we talking about a strong personality? The origin of this word coincides with "mask",

what the actor wore on his face to represent a given part in the theater but also psychologically speaking is a way of presenting himself to the social environment in an altered way, taking into account what we would like others to perceive of us and not really see us for what we are; I therefore agree that elegance cannot be fiction or artifice.

I was enchanted by Emanuela Alfieri, a very talented fashion designer, not only for her work and for the attention to detail in proposing it to the public but as I got to know her in depth, from an interiority as infinitely elegant as the surface; it was something I picked up before even talking to him, it confirms that some sensations simply come.

Emanuela has a rather delicate, graceful way of delivering her creations that communicates fruitful imagination and inventiveness, without forcing.

The word elegance is sewn onto her garments, an intertwining of femininity and gentle courage that lead one to contemplate the woman and not simply look at her.

When a stylist like Emanuela decides that in order to distinguish one woman from the other, it is necessary to focus on the uniqueness of the single person, it means that class will envelop her figure.

Let's think of the many icons of elegance and style who have left their image impressed thanks also to the use of clothes that enhance the unique characteristics of their body; clothes that weren't necessarily elaborate on the contrary... the important thing was that they acted as an intermediary for the charm. Just think of Audrey Hepburn, enchanting and unforgettable with the Givenchy little black dress but capable of captivating with her sweet and naive image even with a simple turtleneck, capri pants and flats. Women of unforgettable elegance were Coco Chanel, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Gloria Guinness, Vivien Leigh, Evita Perón, Maria Callas, Grace Kelly, Jackie Kennedy, Romy Schneider, Diana Spencer; currently Carolina of Monaco, Cate Blanchett, Rania of Jordan, Charlize Theron, Amal Alamuddin, Natalie Portman, Kate Middleton, Olivia Palermo, Emma Watson, Anya Taylor-Joy are among the names considered most suitable when it comes to elegance and charm.

The list would be much longer, but only a few women have been able to remain indelible over time and this is the quality of those who can make a difference; hoping that even the current women considered potentially capable, continue to do it beyond their era and how not to mention the king of elegance Giorgio Armani who stated precisely: "Elegance is not getting noticed, but being remembered" .

History, even the ancient one, is full of not necessarily perfect women, but also of men, capable of attracting another individual only with their way of being which did not necessarily prelude a promise or sexual allusion, something that nowadays is easily mistaken with the ability to captivate and conquer through one's intellect, movements, charisma and energy; this too is elegance.

Let's also debunk another myth... Contrary to popular belief, it's not black that makes a dress refined, but often it's the model and fabric that control the color. Surely items that must not fail in the wardrobe in order to create an elegant look are midi dresses, shirts where silk is absolutely allowed or fabrics that recall it, suits or alternatively jacket and skirt suits; also inevitable sheath dresses, long and sparkling dresses.

Each stylist has an idea of elegance that belongs to him, currently also modernized, albeit taking inspiration from the past that he teaches and orients; a unanimous thought accompanies everyone: simplicity and no distortion, but above all no manipulative attempt...true elegance would not allow it.

Now I leave space for Emanuela to tell her story, so that you too can grasp all the passion of an extraordinary and beautiful woman, full of desire to transmit and give through herself and her experiences. I believe that the artistic environment needs women like this, who don't base everything on ephemeral competitions and banalities that are punctually forgotten in a short time. What is of value lasts over time and does not trudge with strategies that in the long run make these characters a caricature of themselves, as well as never taking them as far as they would like.

We need collaboration, women who are truly aware not only of what they want but also of the others around them, because we do not exist without a we and any truly successful person is always humbly aware of this.

The woman today has an evident power in our society given that compared to the past, where she often didn't have to know anything more than what was needed and struggled to be equal to the man not for ability but for opportunity, female education has been a conquest and it still is... therefore the responsibility is even greater.

I admire Emanuela who finds teaching gratifying, confirming how essential it is for someone to act as a spokesperson and be an example to form new minds, so that as many ways of thinking can positively revolutionize the world.

Video: Claudio Vitiello

I was born on January 11, 1992 in Torre del Greco, Naples. The passion for fashion was born with me. I remember my first graphic signs were clothes and accessories, while I was drawing I told stories just like stylists do through their fashion shows.

They were drawings that were born from within, spontaneously, by instinct, like an overwhelming force that wants to show itself to the world at all costs. I didn't know what I was doing, nobody in the family worked in the clothing industry. But actually talking to my mother about her story as a child, I discovered as if by magic that my great-grandmother was an excellent embroiderer and created tailored kits, among other things I have one of her creations at home, so I can say that she wasn't really born out of nowhere this passion of mine

for creating and above all for the sartorial manufacturing that I prefer above all things. My study path was born by "chance", I put it in quotation marks because in my opinion chance does not exist and every life has a destiny to go through, if one knows how to grasp the signs... After having lived for several years with the my family in Verona, we return to the city of origin where I completed the last year of middle school, Ercolano.

One day she came a teacher in my class for orientation. She brought wonderful drawings of clothes and since I used to listen to the lessons while drawing, my classmates immediately indicated me as a possible enrollment, I was actually struck by the description of that school, a school which will later be the same one where I spent 5 happy and prosperous years of study and the teacher I remember her with great affection because she followed me in the path of studying Italian.

During my high school years I started studying poise and photographic pose and so also working as a model and photo model, from there I started to get to know the sector a bit and people who knew about my studies hired me as a stylist for some sets photographers also presenting my creations.

After graduating from the high school of fashion made in Castellammare di Stabia, I decided to enroll in the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples specializing in Fashion Design,

there I obtained a three-year and specialist degree with great personal and professional satisfaction ... after many sacrifices to support my studies through ups and downs I felt on the right track ...

In the meantime that I was about to graduate from the Triennale I had my first call at the age of 21 at an important fashion high school in Naples, I was terrified of being behind a professorship since at the same time I was still a student , but I accepted the invitation to this new adventure and I must say it was a real discovery. Teaching the passion of a lifetime to other young people like me was a wonderful experience of great enrichment, obtaining great results from the pupils and at the same time discovering that I definitely had a propensity for teaching.

After the Triennale I start and I also graduate from the Masters, I am chosen to participate in the Rome Fashion Week in 2017, "AltaRoma" in the emerging stylists special training section, it was a great honor for me to present my capsule collection to other artists, enthusiasts and industry professionals.

In the meantime, several study trips around Italy but above all in Milan leave me with the curiosity of being able to experience life there in the near future, so I start going there much more often. After this wonderful experience I decided to move to Milan where I lived for almost 2 years, working for several very important fashion companies for the preparation of the Fashion Week and for the various advertising catalogues, getting to know the greatest designers, stylists, photographers and models.

It was a very intense period for my training, I met very interesting and creative people, but at the same time I understand that this would not be my world for much longer ... From there I decide to move to London where I stay for 7 months in an English family who are also passionate about fashion and workers in the sector, we are in 2018.

I collaborate with the family for some events such as the one at the Saatchi Gallery for the “Scoop International Fashion Show”, a truly incredible event.

I enroll in College to study English better where I have the opportunity to meet beautiful people including a dear friend of mine from Veneta, who I have just recently seen her dream of love come true with her boyfriend, in an exciting marriage. London is a city that I love very much, full of artistic events and different cultures, whenever I can I go to find it again. After this period of standby from teaching, a certain nostalgia returned to me, the desire to return to Italy, the end of a cycle seemed to have arrived, so I accepted a new call to the fashion high school where I have remained until today after having passed the competition for the role. I am happy to convey and share my passion and knowledge for the subject, I love sharing with my students and the continuous search for that unique and personal style of each of them. I try to convey the message of the importance of a unique, tailored garment made with love and attention to detail. I want the woman who wears my creations to feel at ease with her, unique, feminine and refined. I am a very determined and stubborn person, I have many dreams to pull out of the drawer, but I believe everything should be done naturally without forcing things. I want fashion that is tailored for women, we have reached a point where we run too much, sometimes without actually knowing where we are going. I don't prefer homogenization, diversity must be preserved.. true fashion for me is not the one that makes us all the same but maintains our diversity.

I love everything that is beautiful and good for you, from music that warms the heart, to a hug from a friend, to my boyfriend's hand holding me tight, my students who can't wait to create something new , my view of the house overlooking the sea and the fashion that makes a woman special for her uniqueness remains a fundamental point. I'm not one of those who obsessively follow trends, I prefer to create the timeless, in an era where time seems to never be enough, I want a break in which to stop and analyze which garment is better to wear today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow than a disposable garment. I find that we should all take a step back which doesn't literally mean step back,

but to live more what we have, a boss, an object, people. I still have so much to learn, I'm constantly growing with myself, for myself and others..!

Delicacy with a touch of class make Emanuela a mix of talents at the service of fashion; she is the only one capable of integrating color, always making it a fine sonnet, composed of fabric.

She crosses the ages taking inspiration from them, with a decisive identification of her ... without letting herself be sucked into the vortex of the mass, without having to tread her hand to emerge.

Her hand uses it to shape her thoughts, her ideas ... to give women a voice and she places herself at their service to offer an example outside and through the clothes.

Christian Dior said: "The secret of beauty consists in being interesting."

Besides being extremely interesting, Emanuela manages to arouse the right interest also through the other female figures when they seek that beauty which is not only a stereotyped quality; she embraces all the nuances of good taste that allow you to show the outside as well as the inside. If the detail is as important as the essential, let's go into detail with you.

Emanuela I understood, through your biography, that for you uniqueness starts from the dress, thus giving an identity to every woman; being special and identifiable in the crowd, often made up of "copycats" who wear a garment without feeling it is their own, remains a goal to be achieved through your work. Every fashion designer has his own creative process: what inspires you to get to the perfect dress? Studying the shapes and measurements of the body of the person in front of you is as important as understanding their way of being, which will also determine how this dress will be worn?

As the soul of a woman is unique, the dress should be too. For my inspiration there is certainly the search for beauty, which is found everywhere and above all in each of us. I try to discover the essence of my client and what she wants to be when she wears the dress. For me, the dress is like an architectural construction, it inhabits the body and vice versa. Architecture has always been a very dear theme to me. Many fashion designers have taken inspiration from it and very often great designers have been primarily architects. I cite for example the great couturier Christian Dior for whom I have a deep admiration, he showed great passion for architecture and I find her clothes to be real constructions in which the woman makes them the foundation. Everything starts from the woman, from her emotions, from her being, from her shapes, she is the loom and we are the designers, the weavers. One exists because the other exists and I think this is the basis of the laws of the universe.

Which stylists have influenced you the most in your training and which garments do you prefer to design and propose?

I start by quoting the great Paul Poiret, the first creator of fashion in the modern sense. Taking sides immediately on the front of the simplification of the female silhouette, fighting the bust and any anachronistic constraint, he proposes a new sensual and loose line. In 1911 he gave life to fashion shows, receptions and parties such as the famous La Mille et Deuxième Nuit, which was the apotheosis of Orientalism that would make him famous all over the world. Madame Grès fabric sculptor, she is the forerunner of fashion as an aesthetic research, as a process of rediscovery of ancient art and cultures that come to life in the form of a peplum, playing with volumes, lines and seamless drapes.

Madeleine Vionnet known for the absolute softness of her creations, the first to introduce the bias cut in couture, able to give extreme elasticity to clothes, making them more fluid and sensual. Coco Chanel is the stylist who most of all has given a recognizable footprint to the entire sector and built the figure of the career woman, even in the fashion image associated with it. Elsa Schiaparelli is art and fashion, creator of fashion shows that become entertainment, thanks to the play of light, music and special effects. Christian Dior already mentioned above, gave a unique imprint to the world of fashion and my career, revolutionizing the entire female figure, which together with him assumed the connotation of femme fatale, which until then had remained dormant in the collective imagination. How not to mention Giorgio Armani inspired by the style of black and white films and the style of America in the 20s and 30s. Surely there are other stylists who have left their mark on me. I tried to synthesize something that cannot be synthesized.. The 20th century was a rich era from all points of view, where fashion blossomed into the garments we still know today. In my style and in my research, I find something of each of these great designers, as it could not be otherwise, the great masters leave indelible marks from the moment you "meet" them. In summary, what I prefer are definitely dresses with particular cuts that reflect pure architectural lines. I create garments that rest softly on the body and fluctuate in the wind thanks to the softness and lightness of the fabrics used such as chiffon, silk cadi, gauze, macramé, etc. Intended for a classy woman, who loves to travel and absorb from other cultures all that can be an inner enrichment, but who always has her gaze and mind turned to the future.

The shape and line of the garments is the result of a process that has nothing to do with the imaginative or arbitrary, but which proceeds from choice to choice, from complexity to essentiality, up to the point where nothing can be added and nothing removed. I find myself perfectly in one of the most famous phrases of the architect and designer Mies van der Rohe -“Less is more”- beyond the banal minimalism and rationalism to which it is often reduced: simplification is not an end in itself, it is not a style nor a language, but the reduction of the complexity of the phenomena of reality to their essential quality which turns out to be timeless; the exact size, the exact proportion and the right use of the material are intrinsic characteristics of my garments.

My research is as if it were made up of a container within other containers which together appear to be in perfect harmony even though they seem apparently distant from each other, but like all things that you don't know unless you immerse yourself inside them ... you will never be able to understand its essence. An important concept is the fusion of different styles with elements of modern architecture and those from antiquity, which represents the strong link between respect for past traditions and an open vision of the future, which I hold dear.

Fashion has been linked to cinema for a long time and you believe in "creating the timeless": what do you think are the clothes and the stars who have managed to overcome it while remaining indelible?

Have you ever drawn inspiration from any film for your creations?

Let's say that it's impossible not to be influenced by the big screen, but above all by great women who have also become style icons and therefore fall within the concept of "timeless" that I love so much.

I would start from the diva Marilyn Monroe with the dress fluttering on the grilles in the air, entering the collective erotic imagination in the film "When the wife is on vacation".

Grace Kelly in “To Catch a Thief” with the strapless peplum style dress and ultra-thin waist, captivated millions of viewers. Audrey Hepburn in "Sabrina" with a real princess dress, as only she was able to wear. Always her in "Breakfast at Tiffany's", what to say about the little black dress, the diadem, the cigarette, the accessories, the perfection in the history of glam. How not to mention Twiggy in the 50s with the story of the miniskirt and its delicious A-line dresses. Elisabeth of Bavaria known as Sissi, kind, delightful, and extremely elegant, still fabulous today. Vivien Leigh in "Gone with the Wind" at Melanie's party, Rossella O'Hara shows up with a long purple dress, and it's immediately a must. Lady D. has learned to dress and becomes a fashion icon not only in the UK. After a rundown of some of the most beautiful stars of all time, I want to get to the two films that inspired me to design and make some of my clothes with their respective divas. Tilda Swinton is a continuous lesson in style, few actresses have become icons like her. She is Scottish, androgynous charm, timeless beauty (it is no coincidence that one of her most successful roles is Orlando, the young immortal), regal bearing and good taste. She dares, she experiments, she amazes every time she appears in public. The film that inspired me for a capsule collection where Tilda is the protagonist is "Only Lovers Left Alive" is a 2013 film written and directed by Jim Jarmusch. The film, starring Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton and Mia Wasikowska, was presented in competition at the 66th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. I designed a mini collection of basic minimal style total looks, jackets, shirts and trousers, with a color palette from earth to black and white. Lastly, but no less important, indeed .. she was certainly the greatest film actress ever existed: she possessed a refined beauty, combined with an innate grace and elegance, moreover she was decidedly cultured, with a free and independent character, and also endowed with a breezy irony and a great sense of humor is Katharine Hepburn. Film where she sees the protagonist of which I took inspiration is The devil is female. Sylvia, on the run because she is wanted by the police, is co forced to disguise herself as a man to hide. However, she meets a young artist with whom she falls madly in love and for whom she returns to her feminine form, not without running risks. A film with a very funny role-playing game in which I was inspired by a mannish-inspired 1920s-style capsule collection that I really love with pinstriped fabrics that are a must.

Naples has always been the fulcrum of creative fervour... Many may not know that the foundations of Italian cinema reside right there... thanks to Gustavo Lombardo, an entrepreneur born in 1885

who was an authentic pioneer of Italian cinema, initially the founder of Lombardo film, which later became Titanus, the first inventor of film rental. But how can we forget Troisi, Eduardo De Filippo and Totò or stylists such as Fausto Sarli and the history of Neapolitan tailoring which has very ancient roots. The Gomorrah series was included among the five best international TV productions of the last decade by the New York Times, which also praised one of the best contemporary Italian directors, Paolo Sorrentino, with the very recent masterpiece "It was the hand of God" ...You are a bomb of artistic wealth...How does it feel to belong to these roots?

Neapolitan cinema has been an infinite stage of situations and feelings, and has fully reflected the innate charge of Neapolitan pathos. Fantasy and irony, ancient wisdom and great euphoria, but also solidarity and suffering. The pioneers of Neapolitan cinema were the founding fathers of Italian silent cinema, with the formula "nu guaglione che mmore, na madre che chiagne, nu guappo excise". An initial scheme which gave way to what was once the vastness and complexity of Neapolitan cinema, always characterized by some peculiar qualities: the poetic nature of the scripts, the variety of themes, the artisan genius, the innate and versatile art of the great performers and the indisputable spectacular nature of the Neapolitan landscapes. I am proud to inherit so much culture and I hope that with my work I can contribute, even if in a small way, to continuing and spreading Neapolitan creativity. I can certainly say that during my travels and stays in Milan and London in recent years, a certain typical charisma was attributed to me which I proudly wear. Very often fashion is associated only with Milan, forgetting the mastery of Neapolitan tailors and an immense production of what is exhibited on the Milanese catwalks comes from the city of Naples. Naples holds the record for artisan fashion, among other things the one I absolutely prefer, that of traditional tailoring. The capital of Campania is still today the home of tailor-made cut and sew, maintaining a central role for sartorial masculine elegance. Style, art and elegance have been meeting for years in the alleys of the city, handed down from generation to generation and remain the heart of Neapolitan fashion. The clothes made are real works of art, which contain the very history of the city. My path was born in Naples, the cradle of boundless culture and despite the many difficulties, a Neapolitan soul can always make it if he wants.

Just as a film requires coordinated and meticulous collaboration, the organization of a fashion event and the presentation of a collection also have a decidedly demanding behind-the-scenes process. Tell me about your experience and how it changed your way of perceiving this world.

I landed for the first time at the age of 13 in the world of fashion, in fact thanks to my studies that started in high school in Fashion Design, my teachers chose the theme of the event and we students developed the sketches and we created the most beautiful ones for the end-of-year fashion show. It was very tiring to fit everything together, but surely the arrival of the fateful day was pure magic. Seeing your boss on the catwalk is undoubtedly a moment that makes you forget all the voluntary sacrifices to make it happen. As a high school student I simultaneously dressed the role of model and photo model, and this has helped me enormously today for the organization of fashion shows and photo shoots, where I feel much more confident in being able to manage the backstage phase of the models who will pose and they will parade with my garments. One of the most emotional shows to date done under my name was for a charity event in memory of a young boy who passed away too early, which I was honored to attend to commemorate his passing; the event was held in the magnificent setting of the Reggia di Portici, the summer residence of the royalty of the Bourbon dynasty, and my former students wore the garments I made, since today I also hold the role of fashion teacher. My work experiences in Milan and London in the sector marked me particularly on a professional and personal level; living in these big cities is definitely something I recommend to all those who want to gain experience in the field, who are passionate about the fashion industry. Let's say that I was able to experience the organization of an event at 360° both in the role of a model, from those of a dresser to those of a stylist; each role has given me that something needed for a more complete insight into the industry where I love every detail.

Having traveled and had different experiences, do you think that fashion continues to adapt to equally different cultures or do people adapt to it when it comes to pure trend and marketing?

In recent years, influencer culture has helped to empower certain groups typically discriminated against through fashion. Clothing trends have made it possible to create virtual umbrellas under which many people who have suffered discrimination due to their ethnicity, gender, sexuality or religion have been able to find refuge. One of the most striking examples is the “Art Hoe” aesthetic, which arose among the younger generation of African-American women. Through color, creativity and love of art, many black women have managed to find a community on the internet where they can feel at ease and express their opinions, desires and aspirations, outside of a system that for centuries it has silenced the voice of women and, in particular, women who were not white and affluent. As the topic of cultural appropriation is more in vogue than ever, younger members of different communities have developed a strong desire to champion elements of their culture's clothing. Recently I have seen more and more influencers looking for ways to incorporate traditional elements of clothing into contemporary looks. In this way, culture survives without needing to appear outdated. I believe that peoples must save their traditions and culture in order not to fall into the cauldron of globalization where people lose their roots, their identity, their diversity which is an absolutely added value in fashion. There is marketing and it will certainly always be there, but if it "exploits" fashion to communicate a good message, why not.

Illustrations by Emanuela Alfieri

Rebellious, unconventional and provocative par excellence, fashion often breaks rules and schemes; many generations have expressed themselves through it, with a clear message written with materials, fabrics and colors.

The boundary between excess and freedom of expression is decidedly subjective, also dictated by the culture, the education received, habits and the vision of life ... It is therefore difficult to define what is right or wrong, we can certainly understand what is more suitable for we... as in all things. Do you think that fashion continues not only to amaze and seduce, but also to communicate a message that can at least be socially useful?

The fashion system – extensively analyzed by the French linguist and semiologist Roland Barthes – has undergone profound transformations over time, passing from the haute couture of the second half of the 1800s to the prêt-à-porter of the end of the last century. This evolution took place on the impetus of some great stylists – primarily Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent – who were able to grasp and interpret the changes of their time and the new needs of the public, starting a revolution that redefined the very concept of fashion: from the dress as an exhibition of social status, typical of elite tailoring, to fashion accessible to all, an expression of the phenomena of democratization of society. As a result, the way of communicating fashion has also changed, especially through advertising. More precisely, the way of understanding fashion has changed which, from an object of communication, has become a real language and form of communication. I think that today fashion is divided into several branches. Very often I recognize that today's fashion has become a matter of mere marketing for the purpose of exclusive sales, which, for heaven's sake, is absolutely right for working purposes, but which has distorted its original characteristics of creativity and originality, often exploiting the same workers to produce continuous goods in ever shorter times. In summary, for me fashion can still communicate, indeed it must communicate socially useful messages such as the fight against body shaming. The fashion industry has always been among the main responsible for the construction of unattainable aesthetic stereotypes, which claim to codify a "perfect" physical condition. In reality, more than perfection, it is a question of compliance with requirements decided at the table. Requirements that in any case do not converge towards a universal and timeless aesthetic code. In fact, each era has promoted its own aesthetic canons, which often presented themselves as a break with the previous and subsequent eras. This testifies how beauty and the so-called "perfection" are more an interpretation than an irrefutable fact. Perfection, or rather what is defined as such by insiders, encourages homologation and an aesthetic flattening towards the same model. So for years fashion shows have been dominated by the same type of models, who we couldn't even distinguish from each other so much their features were similar. Uniformity and repetition. This is what this phantom perfection eventually became. Nothing original, unique or unrepeatable. In short, "perfection" requires us to be interchangeable and identical to a paper model and as I have said several times, fashion must be unique.

Even fashion is trying to meet the protection of the environment by making it eco-sustainable, donating its contribution through recycling, reuse, no to disposable purchases; the stages of idea, production, distribution, sale and disposal head towards a hopeful green color. What do you think about it?

A new wave of content creators has shown that fashion is more political than ever. The fashion messages that each person sends with their way of dressing are increasingly customizable; and social networks have helped millions of people to use fashion as a form of expression, beyond its practical function. It's the most literal form of expression through fashion, but no less effective. The inspirational phrases have been recurring for years, especially on clothing items such as t-shirts and sweatshirts. The "fast fashion" industry has appropriated these types of protest messages, in an attempt to join a trend with which it is not compatible. Numerous scandals have surrounded several fashion companies after they decided to print feminist phrases on their T-shirts; they did it on the same T-shirts that were produced under conditions that exploit women and perpetuate their inequality with other groups in society. It is important not to get carried away by an inspiring phrase and to verify that the brand that produces it has in its production ideology an important effort to move towards sustainability in fashion. Among other things, globalization and fast fashion tend to want us all to be the same, so the upcycling of garments is welcome, one of the sustainability trends in fashion that has acquired greater importance in recent times. Youtubers, instagramers and tiktokers serve as inspiration to give a new life to clothes that have fallen out of use or have become too old; in doing so, they have managed to create a more sustainable and much more accessible wardrobe for everyone. It's also a great way to express and send messages through fashion. I find that fashion has a duty to be ethical and sustainable even if it will take time for the whole system to transform itself in this sense; we absolutely need to speed up the pace because it is a duty, for the planet and for us who live on it, to safeguard it and certainly have dozens and dozens of garments that we very often do not wear, that do not give value to our lives in a qualitative sense.

Cinema is intrinsic to psychology because, with a wise use of emotions, the audience is reached through the interpretations of the actors, the situations they find themselves living but also how they present themselves is an extremely important business card... The question that I'm about to make you can therefore reveal a lot about you... If your dearest designed garments were from well-known films, what titles would you give them?

The title of the film that could represent the ideals of my dearest bosses would certainly be "Mrs. Harris goes to Paris", the film directed by Anthony Fabia; it is the adaptation of the homonymous novel by Paul Gallico. It is set in London in the 1950s and tells the story of a widowed cleaning lady who ends up falling in love with a Dior couture dress until she becomes obsessed with it.Resolved to have one just like it, she sets out for Paris. This journey will not only change his view of the world, but also the very future of the House of Dior.

The protagonist, thanks to the interpretation of Lesley Manville, is the embodiment of healthy values and balance, in a romantic and idyllic way. A discourse on the evolution of fashion and the mass market in the late 1950s provides valuable historical context. Ada abandons herself to one of her dreams, theoretically incompatible with her social background. She wants to buy a dress from the Christian Dior maison in Paris: her willpower, her ability to win over the hearts of friends, allow her to make the expensive trip to the French capital, but the difficulties are not over. I fell in love with the character because she's so kind, but also strong, vulnerable, a very authentic person, very honest. The poetics that guided Anthony is optimism: the film is a message about restarts. We need dreams now more than ever, because there are so many challenges for us. What happens now won't last forever: nothing is forever, if you can imagine positivity, it becomes possible. Without optimism, you cannot create a better future for yourself.

Beyond the idea of the clash between different cultures, the British and the French, "Mrs. Harris goes to Paris" seems more between social classes: "In England we are obsessed with the division into classes, something that is in other cultures. It has always fascinated me to show who in society is not visible."

The theme of visibility, real or presumed, runs throughout the film: "There is the Dior model who is constantly seen but would not like to, while on the contrary the aspiring actress in London finds herself in the opposite situation. [...] We quote Sartre's philosophy: appearances, truths, the outside and the inside of a person, we put all these ideas into the story Isabelle Huppert's character asks Mrs. Harris: where will she ever wear this dress? see?" The representation of Mrs. Harris' best friend, a black woman, is part of this theme: "We did not force our hand to be inclusive or politically correct. These friendships really existed. These people were invisible others, many came from Jamaica and worked in the war industry, they were actually part of society. But we tend not to show them." I love the scene where she comes in to get her dress measured and everyone applauds, because it's her first win. There begins a new chapter in her life. It's a moment all about her, her victory is having finally found something for herself. This film very much embodies the philosophy of my garments, I would like to dress courageous women, women who are not afraid to show themselves for who they are and reach their dreams at any cost despite the sorrows that life can make us experience, the lightness of being beyond anything to live a dream. My dresses are dresses that embody the dreams of women who want to take part in a dream that of realizing their own life which is unique and inimitable.

Does Emanuela have any work in progress collections that are eager to hit the scene?

Are there any top secret projects or secret dreams at the moment that you would like to tell us about?

I see you left the most burning question for last.. Let's say that there are many projects I'm working on, surely the path of personal and inner growth that I've been following for some years has brought about many transformations in me and a way of seeing me and fashion differently, certainly in a more sustainable and ethical sense.

In fact, in the last period more than on a collection of several garments, I have been dedicating myself to creating customized tailored garments for my clients individually for certain events always following my "fil rouge" of the timeless, i.e. clothes that can be worn again whenever you want without being out of trend, since my research is unrelated to fashion closely linked to the themes of the catwalk seasons. I love creating garments that can be worn forever or at least that's what I set out to do and not create garments that will then have to be locked away in the closet forever. Among other things, I am more and more immersed in the world of teaching, I love to transmit and share my passion for creating and realizing with my students who give me so much satisfaction. There are many dreams but I prefer to show them directly in realized mode. I can say I'm grateful to life for what I've lived and accomplished up to now and I'm ready to create more and more from every point of view. Thank you so much dear Elisa... for dedicating this space to me to give a voice to my person.

Illustrations by Emanuela Alfieri

Deep words and deep roots in a woman whose artistic sensibility shines through not only in her creations that embellish the body...but that don't leave the heart out.

Emanuela showed us how one can love a profession and a sector, how fashion can be, but at the same time recognize the critical points for which society and those who work within this world must work and apply themselves.

Any art has the duty to evolve at the service of all, without divisions or exclusions.

The thought according to which the culture of each population must be safeguarded to remember its customs and habits, the aspects that diversify it with respect to another, is absolutely acceptable; if this emerges through mastery and talent, it must be an added reason for respect and honour.

A more accessible fashion, a fashion that incorporates diversity, peculiarity, uniqueness, which respects the body whatever it is. Fashion beyond the catwalks dresses anyone and everywhere...whether it's a newly launched garment or an older one; in fashion, everything comes back in the end...so hold on to the items that aren't necessarily trendy...if well done, they will definitely come in handy.

A person can make fashion knowing the clear distinction between quality and quantity, between unrepeatability and duplication, between tradition and flattening.

Healthy production ideology, capable of meeting the needs of the consumer but also respecting the surrounding environment, in which we live and whose resources we unfortunately exploit in a self-destructive way. Yet Dior always said: "If you take nature as an example you will never be wrong."

This happens because you never think about the future... It's right to live in the here and now, but that it's not a mere selfish choice without any regard for what we leave and will leave to others; the right word is consistency.

Fashion hasn't always been, victim and perpetrator at the same time of scandals from which it often seems unable to stay away... but we must however recognize that like all the most used means to communicate one's social status, one's own thought, one's his own choice, his own identity... this is a risk he has always known how to accept.

Exposing yourself usually leads to being liked or disliked, to be loved or hated, to be supported or excluded...especially based on the historical period in which you find yourself...and if fashion is always one step ahead, to understand it many they took their time.

A step forward are also the Neapolitan women, so intense and true; we have the best example with the Godmother of Naples who certainly remains the seductive Sophia Loren, perhaps the most famous and successful Neapolitan film actress ever; Neapolitan carousel, Naples gold, Italian wedding, Yesterday, today and tomorrow are just a few masterpieces that contain the beauty of Emanuela's land, that same intrinsic beauty of traditions of which she is a supporter.

Any strong and authentic woman needs to wear garments that distinguish her and in creating a work, we also need to imagine the innumerable ways in which it could be created; Emanuela with architectural purity and linearity, she makes us fly on soft fabrics that recall a dream with solid foundations but which dares and rises ... to see everything clearer from above.

Thank you for reminding yourself that fashion is nothing more than architecture adapted to the body and that many stylists have been and are, even before that, architects.

I'm not surprised that you mentioned the first designer of modernity and sensitive dreamer, which was Paul Piret; liberator of rather scandalously free women's fashion, his fabrics played around the body like a light wave.

The woman shouldn't feel like a slave to her clothes, but she should be the owner of her: life should be understood as a big party.

The dress has always represented the spirit of those who make it, the dress is a business card that tells how the perception of reality and the dimension of the creator develops and unfolds.

I perceived Emanuela's dimension even when she mentioned Only lovers survive, a film which inspired her in her creations... it was enough for me to understand her love for cultured figures full of knowledge of dozens of lives and eras different, as in this case, which symbolically represent a unique and rare love, almost marginalized ... in a world made of "zombies".

You return the search for uniqueness, to preserve a feeling, an idea, a value, a diversity. I would describe Emanuela as pure passion... so deep that you can only see the tip of the iceberg; her teaching will give her the opportunity to make people who will be lucky enough to find her on their path discover the means necessary to make life a pure creative act in constant progress. The wonderful work of educating and passing on one's experience becomes pure poetry with her.

You just have to read it in her creations.

Illustrations by Emanuela Alfieri

Silk Skin Goddess Diamonds - SPRING/SUMMER 2024 Collection

Untied by trends but powerful in the concept of uniqueness, this new collection by Emanuela Alfieri follows the trend of the timeless... giving women a second skin as precious as silk, which envelops them, transforming them into divine creatures, unique and as such worthy of shining.

The nuances chosen are the touch of light that every goddess would like to wear... colors so vivid that every woman is ready to enter Olympus.

Model: Justine De Angelis

Ph: Christian Ascione

Mua: Dafne Makeup Artist