Interviewed Dariga Masenova Sicily is a land where poverty and luxury, passion and religion, beauty and cruel mafia coexist.
Fortunately, the Sicilian designer Fausto Puglisi is combined with the inveterate “Cosa Nostra” only by inspiration by force and consanguinity. Cheerful, with a twinkle in his eyes and a vocabulary, full of words “wonderful,” “love” and “adore,” Puglisi openly promotes “rampant hedonism” in his collections. Bright color block, black and white symmetry, gold embroidery, painted silk and metal applications earned him the love of mega stars - Madonna, Jay Lo and Beyoncé. After the catwalk in Bloomingdale's boutique, the designer told us about his feelings for Anna Delo Russo, the Russian mafia and nostalgia for Sicily.
Fausto, is this your first time in Dubai?
Yes, and I really like it here, really! I love Dubai! Here I see not only the superficial beauty, but also the traditions that are preserved in this society. It is, in fact, wonderful. By the way, I even managed to go on a jeep safari!
And during the trip you did not try on traditional Arab clothing for an hour?
Of course! I tried on a man’s white “dress”. Comfortable and elegant.
I like Arab culture since childhood - in Sicily, Arab influence is very strong. Our country has absorbed a little from every civilization: Normans, Romans, Greeks and Spaniards.
Tell us a little about the Sicilian period.
Then I was immensely happy. I have a wonderful family, and all my childhood passed in Sicily. My grandfather and grandmother were very fond of beautiful clothes and high-quality shoes, they were real aesthetics. From them I learned to appreciate the level of sewing clothes, the grace of noble textiles, costumes, handicrafts ...
Sicily is a very picturesque place where I grew up under the sun, surrounded by the sea and palm trees. He was an ordinary guy, studied, listened to Madonna and loved to dance. And I always knew that I would become a designer. Sometimes I get nostalgia.
Who has had the greatest influence on shaping your design taste?
The most wonderful person, my grandfather. He was obsessed with costumes - I still have his magnificent collection. When I was little, my grandfather often took me with him, we went to textile shops, chose fabrics, then went to the tailor. For me, he remains the most stylish man. And, of course, beautiful women, both of my grandmothers. Always well-groomed, in luxurious outfits. They were extremely attentive to jewelry and small details.
Sicilians must be very stylish people.
Yes, we are. Since childhood, we have been instilled with a love of beautiful things. If you don’t have money for a good outfit, you are killing someone to get it. See what Dolce and Gabbana are doing in their collections on Sicily!
Do you have elements in your work that you would associate with the mafia?
The mafia is power. I think that it is strength that is felt in my collections. I use a lot of gold, perhaps for someone it gives rise to an association with a mafia theme.
What kind of woman do you see in front of you when you are working on a collection?
Free. She does everything she wants, wears what she loves. She is free and strong, and at the same time she is attentive to her makeup, hairstyle, everything. She is obsessed with beauty.
Who is your muse?
Anna Dello Russo, my sister. I love her.
It is probably fair to say that she helped you?
Absolutely. When Anna saw what I was doing, she decided to showcase my works in New York, as well as during Paris Fashion Week. Of course, everyone knows her, there was a stir, everyone was interested in who the designer of these wonderful outfits was.
What features can you note in your Spring-Summer collection?
First of all, it is, of course, a spark of color. I combine a black and white pattern on a fabric with a gold ornament to create a 30-effect. Other features of the collection are a trapeze skirt, I really like this cut, and "bambolina" is a "doll" dress, sexy and at the same time romantic. I know the girls will like it. Key elements are a loose cloak jacket, vest and pink a-line skirt.
What color scheme do you adhere to and why?
I love the basic colors - red, yellow, green. Of course, I love black and white. I also love turquoise, but even more - aquamarine, the color of the sea wave and yellow lime. I’m also a big fan of all shades of orchids, from pale pink to purple.
Which collections inspire you?
American designer Halston, Versace, Dolce and Gabbana. Their creations are fantastic.
How many hours do you spend in the studio?
From morning to morning: work, work, work.
What kind of music do you listen to?
Any. I like everything. I really love commercial pop, disco. In general, everything is easy and fun. Another classic, Pavarotti, for example. I love rock and roll: Guns and Roses and ACDC.
Which city do you consider the most stylish?
The combination of New York and Istanbul. I love Istanbul. I once lived in Nishan-Tash. I am fascinated by poor neighborhoods, with a deep history and dignity. It is in these contrasts of the poor and rich areas that you can feel the essence of style, traditions, beauty.
How would you describe your style?
Let me think ... You know, I am very free in terms of clothes. I like to sew things to order and go to my tailor, choose textiles, details and so on. Sometimes I want to wear a simple sweater, shorts or jeans - and that’s it. Very simple! But one thing I love for sure is gold. Everywhere I go, diamonds or rubies, gold and watches always complement my look. Everything must be combined with stones. Imagine, Miami, 40-degree heat, and my required accessories are tan and gold. For me, jewelry is a must. I love the “mix” of street style and expensive jewelry.
Did you like it in Russia?
I had a very short trip. Two years ago there was a film about gangsters, sorry, I don’t remember the name, and so there the main character was mafiosi, all in Russian tattoos. I am inspired by a beautiful movie ... I love Russians, but, of course, not all. Your men definitely have a style, and women, as everyone knows, are the most beautiful in the world. Almost all the key top models at the moment are Russian. Although, you know, beauties can be found in any country, it is much more difficult to find stylish ones. I notice that Russians are sometimes even more sophisticated than we Europeans, because they know that it will look expensive and elegant, and not vulgar.
But, of course, the most important thing that I love in Russian is the love of the Italian style! So, our love is mutual ...
