Know Your Labels: Vivetta

Sleek navy pants and a crisp white blouse might work well for many women who endeavor to feel good when they get dressed but for others, there’s a level of expression and articulation that demands more pointed personality when it comes to body-cloaking. Sure, solid colors say a lot without meaning much, but when there’s a swan strapped to your chest, or a vertically striped apron — and how about those finger collars? — there is no room for miscommunication. This, of course, presents an ironic plot twist in asking who’s clearer in conveying her vision: She who takes the minimalist route or the one with the yarn garden growing just north of her knees? In today’s edition of Know Your Labels, get to know VIVETTA of the eponymous, Florence-based label that puts the fun in funkadelicacy (and those yarn gardens above your knees).

The Italians really do have all the fun.

Why did you launch the label? I launched my label VIVETTA because I was tired of working for fashion houses. I was frustrated being an assistant to designers. It felt like the perfect time to express my own style.

Who do you perceive to be the woman for which you design? Even though I am a woman and wear some of my creations, I don’t think about myself when I am working on a collection. I draw the collection as illustrations, which inspire other designs and my ideas start to flow quickly. The woman I think of is sophisticated. She likes to wear an out-of-the-ordinary wardrobe. Each piece is still wearable with simple shapes but with precious, embroidered details.

Is there a specific reason you rely on the whimsical and jovial as opposed to making more “serious” clothing — especially in an environment where everyone is trying to adhere to the rules of “normcore“? I try to design what I like without being influenced by anything else, but the things I love always inspire — antiques, art, old illustrations, old toys, movies, etc. I was working at Roberto Cavalli when I learned everything about embroidery. My main and favorite job was to make embroidered designs directly on patterns for the show. I wanted to use what I learned for my own collections.

What is your favorite piece you’ve ever designed? I have many favorites. Since I love embroidery, one of my favorites piece is the “Eden Garden dress” from Fall 2015. It is a silk organdy dress embroidered all over with paradise birds, big flowers, naked women and fairies, elephants and other whimsical elements.

For someone who doesn’t own anything from the label, what would you recommend as a first piece? I recommend a shirt or a dress with one of my signature embroidered hands collar.

What thing do you think every woman should have? A pair of Mary Janes.

Something you never leave home without? My phone and sunglasses.

Stripes or polka dots? I really love both! At this precise moment it has to be stripes.

Who’s your style icon? Mia Farrow or Catherine Deneuve (a must see movie is Repulsion).

If your clothes could talk, what would they say? They would ask to be taken out. I can’t imagine them always hanging on a rail; they would be so frustrated and bored. So, I think they would ask me to drive them to explore the world and to have fun with me. It would be great fun if they could talk — so much personality. I love every single piece I own of my collection.

What’s your favorite thing about yourself? My tenacity.

A quality you most admire in other women? Intelligence, tenacity and ambition.

In a garment? To be well made, with a beautiful fabric and carefully considered details.

If you weren’t designing, what would you be doing? If I wasn’t designing I would be a painter. But I’m not so good at painting.

Shop Vivetta here.

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