“THE MUSE” CAMPAIGN WITH FRANCO SARTO
We like to say, “We create the shoe. You create the style. ”How do you bring your own sense of art and style to your favorite looks?
If I start from scratch and style around a certain piece of clothing, accessory or, as in this case, footwear, I usually create a visual mood board in my head, but it’s more about the character rather than the location, lighting, or “feeling”. Then I ask myself the questions - “Who’s the person who wears this? What do they like doing? Where would they want to go?”. And I don’t overthink it, too - usually the image pops up pretty quickly. For this shoot I’ve imagined a young woman on her leaf peeping weekend trip.
Why is fashion an important tool for self-expression? How does it help you find your identity and share it with the world?
If I create a certain character when I style, it then often changes the way I walk, act or even feel about things. It’s as if a certain look makes you assume a new role sometimes, it’s a bit like acting, and I love the way it makes me feel.
What fall trends are you most excited about this season?
I love all the chunky and oversized sweaters and jackets - so practical and at the same time a great fashion statement. Very versatile, too. Also the utilitarian and camping influences - I love that the fashion trends replicate the needs and the state of the world now and not the other way around. You know, all those really cool airbnb weekend rentals that are booked out for the next 6 months almost anywhere? Those people create the trends now.
What fueled your move to upstate NewYork? How has it changed your lifestyle and day-to-day perspective?
A moment has come when I realized that some things are of a much greater value to me than the other. The need for a more calm and relaxed environment that allows for concentration and reflection, the desire to have more space to live and roam free, spend time outdoors alone and with the family, not having to stress about where to park, and about lots of other little things that tend to disrupt your flow. That’s on one side, and the other side there’s been this general shift in our social perception, almost on a cultural level, to less in-person interactions. Zoom meetings, online shopping and faster internet speeds made it more realistic than even just a few years ago, too. I still love the city, I just feel less need for it in this new normal we live in
