Lightshades

Photographed by Marco Giuliano.

Let your mind wander, close your eyes and allow yourself to float on the waves of your daydreams. A vibrant story featuring whimsical lingerie pieces by Dolce Amore Intimo worn by muse Nasty shot by Marco Giuliano and styled by Anca Macavei.

Tell us a bit about you, your background, how did it all come about.

I’m Isabella, and I am based in Rome where I am completing my studies in Photography at the European Institute of Design. I always had an interest for sewing and for the creative arts. It was a way for me to express myself and to escape into my own reality. I was born in Perth, Australia but I grew up in a small town in Calabria, where I was surrounded by nature and old traditions that always fuelled my need of self-expression. I moved back to Australia in my early teens, and I studied Fine Art Photography in Melbourne but never completed the studies due to the pandemic, which was when I decided to materialise my passion for lingerie. I felt very disconnected with my body, and as a way of dealing with it, I decided to start sewing again. Everything I know about sewing and lingerie making is self-taught, and the time at home only allowed me to completely immerse myself in my practice. I bought some old lace and elastic from Marketplace, and I began freestyling everything. I was inspired by my heritage, the Mediterranean Sea and its mythological creatures and folk tales, to honour my roots and to interpret my sensuality into something material. I decided that this could be the beginning of everything that I always envisioned to do, something to empower both myself and the women that surrounded me. Dolce Amore interprets the female form as something precious. That is why I intend for each piece to be a piece of wearable art that celebrates beauty in all physical and abstract forms.

What is the story behind the choice of the name “Dolce Amore Intimo”?

When choosing the name for Dolce Amore, I was playing around with different words that would emanate a sensual feeling and that could entice you into knowing more. What is this ‘sweet love’? Dolce Amore is something you need to feel about yourself, it’s a celebration of your divine feminine and your true essence. It’s a love letter, reminding you that the deepest form of love comes from within. You love yourself when you feel Dolce Amore, and of course it is also all about sensuality and passion.

The lingerie design process is one of the most demanding field of fashion design, how did you end up there? Also, what does lingerie mean to you, is it an expression of body celebration and empowerment?

When I think of lingerie, I think of it as the first layer of garments that sits on your body, a visual representation of someone’s sensuality, enhancing your form and beauty. I fell in love with lingerie when I started discovering myself as a woman as I found it to be a tool that would make me empowered and confident about myself, especially on the days where I felt the opposite. Most lingerie we experience on the market is toxic and reinforces the hyper-sexualisation of clothing and of the female form. It is important that what we consume has the purpose of empowering us instead of diminishing us, celebrating without exploiting.

Lightshades

Credits:

Photography: Marco Giuliano / @marcogiulianoph
Styling: Anca Macavei / @ancamacavei
Assistant: Veronica Ferri / @_aorta__
Model: Nasty at Wolves Management / @lilnastyyyyy @thewolvesmodel

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