Clara

PPS: Clara, would you like to tell us about yourself?

Clara: I work in fashion, I'm 27 and live in Paris. I'm originally from Milan and I studied fashion marketing, but I come from a different background because I studied cinema, art, and literature first. I also studied at CSM in London and then I opened this second-hand store online called Dolce Senza. I also work in wholesale, collaborating with brands and multi-brand showrooms.

PPS: What led you to where you are now? You mentioned studying cinema among other things before shifting to fashion.

Clara: In high school, fashion in Milan seemed superficial—just about being a 'cool girl'. Gossip Girl was the reference. But studying arts helped me understand clothing as an expression of personality. I realized fashion is about how you present yourself. I started with a styling assistant job and just let life lead me, trying to balance creative fashion with mainstream perspectives.

PPS: How has your relationship with fashion changed throughout your life?

Clara: It's complicated. When you enter the fashion world, you understand why people seem snobby. Now I see more diversity, appreciate emerging brands, and recognize fashion's stronger connection with music, art, and cinema. Social media has made fashion more accessible and less elitist. My friends and boyfriend who aren't in fashion often tell me I'm becoming snobby. But I understand it's just what happens when you specialize in something.

PPS: What inspires you the most?

Clara: People. I'm a researcher who finds inspiration everywhere—walking around, traveling solo, exploring local markets in unexpected places. I love discovering cultural nuances through second-hand items and traditional clothing.

PPS: What motivates your personal purchases?

Clara: I try to buy things I would have loved as a kid.

PPS: Timeless or nostalgic?

Clara: Timeless pieces like quality cashmere. I'm not trend-driven but appreciate nostalgic elements. Now, I prioritize comfort and how clothes fit my changing body. As a teenager, clothes used to wear me. Now, I need to wear the clothes and feel comfortable.

PPS: What are some of your favorite designers?

Clara: At the moment, JW Anderson and Loewe are most interesting for my research. I love classics like Lemaire. I've been exploring brands from the 2000s in the vintage market that no longer exist. There are fascinating Italian designers from that period that are now forgotten.

PPS: How do you perceive the relationship between fashion and culture?

Clara: It's fascinating. In the past, if you were part of a cultural niche, you dressed a certain way. Now, people dress to feel part of a cultural niche—almost like a performance. It's become theatrical. People might dress like they're from the 70s without ever listening to rock music, just to embody a certain vibe.

PPS: What's your signature look?

Clara: My signature look is a tight jacket with nothing underneath, jeans, and heels. I have an Armani jacket that I inherited from my mother that I wear all the time. It's comfortable and classy, like wearing a hoodie but chic. I keep my style sexy and simple—hair tied, minimal makeup, and a nice jacket. 

PPS: Very Parisian chic of you.

Clara: It's very Parisian chic. I love jackets; my first vintage piece was a colorful jacket with patches. I fell in love with vintage at that moment.

PPS: If you had the power to influence one thing about the fashion world, what would it be?

Clara: Sizes.

PPS: Say more on that.

Clara: Sizes and the culture of cocaine in the fashion industry. Brands are still not truly inclusive, and there's a problematic expectation around body image and substance use. I've seen how these things impact self-confidence, especially among young people in fashion. In showrooms, I still hear terrible comments about models' eating habits. It's 2024, and this mindset persists. My friends who aren't confident still starve themselves before parties and use cocaine to suppress appetite. When I stopped living the Kate Moss lifestyle, I realize that I lost appeal among certain fashion circles.

PPS: That’s really sad to hear, I hope that a new order is around the corner. 

Clara: I think that with a new generation things will improve.

PPS: I hope so. What are you manifesting right now?

Clara: Peace. And finding a studio for my store in Paris, though the real estate market isn't cooperating. But mostly peace.