ITALIAN FLAIR
Lila Castellaneta, wife of Italian Ambassador, Giovanni
Castellaneta, interviews her favorite designer, Michele
Miglionico, internationally known for his sophisticated
and classic style.
LILA CASTELLANETA: How did you get started in the fashion industry?
MICHELE MIGLIONICO:While I was still attending high school specializing
in geometry, I wanted to enroll at the Academy of Fashion to study to become
a designer. My father told me with determination that the world of fashion
would not provide me with the securities in life that other types of careers
would have, but it was my mother who encouraged me. I inherited from
her a sense of aesthetic and a love for beautiful things.
LC:What was your first piece?
MM: I remember designing a long white ball gown with an embroidered
coral pink and red dècolletè for a friend of mine on her 18th birthday.
White is a color I love very much; it's always present in my collections.
LC.When and where was your first fashion show?
MM: I created my first collection in 1991, but my first fashion show, the
most important one of my career, was many years after that in Rome.
On January 2000, my debut was at the Italian Chamber of Fashion,
whose president, Mr. Giuseppe della Schiava, believed in me and included
my collection in the show.
LC: What role do you think fashion plays in politics, and vice versa?
MM: Fashion is always the mirror of the times we live in; it reflects
the status of society. When peaceful lives are being lived, fashion is
experienced in a luxurious way; when you live with problems and
uncertainties, you will always return to minimalism.
LC: What influences your work? And who inspires you?
MM: I am influenced by all that surrounds me. A piece of art, music, a
town, a photo, a perfume - anything that creates an emotion for me.
LC: What is the inspiration behind your Fall 06/Winter 07 collection?
MM: I am currently inspired by 1950's fashion and its icons. I have
imagined dressing divas like Lana Turner, Cyd Charisse and Lauren Bacall
in cashmere, silk and taffeta.
LC: What is your perception of fashion in Washington, DC?
MM: The women of Washington that I have met give a lot of attention
to detail and originality. They have an elegant taste in fashion, classic and
understated with the glamour of Jackie O. All of this is magnificent, but
it needs to be fast-paced and fresh.
LC: Who are your favorite couture designers?
MM: My points of reference, the fashion icons that come close to my
clean sense of fashion and my designer identity, are, for example, Oscar
de la Renta for his American glamour and Giorgio Armani for his uses
of everyday luxury and his soft forms. Overall for me, Valentino is the
master of elegance and femininity.
LC: If you could design one last piece, what would it be and for
whom would you design it?
MM: I would love to design a petite robe noire but très haute couture
for Caroline of Monaco, a woman that I admire very much for her
style and elegance.
LC: I was hoping you would say a dress for me...
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