MAMA FEATURE : LAURA + MATTEO
PHOTO BY ALEXI LUBOMIRSKI
THIS MONTH’S FEATURE IS @LAURAFERRARANYC, A STYLIST WHOM I WORKED WITH MANY MOONS AGO IN NEW YORK CITY. IT WAS AN HONOR TO RECONNECT 20 YEARS LATER & CHAT ABOUT HER ITALIAN HERITAGE, HER STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH HER MOTHER & HER OWN JOURNEY AS A MOTHER TO HER SON MATTEO.
IN WHAT FEELS LIKE ANOTHER LIFETIME (20 YEARS AGO), I WORKED FOR A FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER & WAS LUCKY TO CROSS PATHS WITH HER AND I GREW TO ADORE HER. I WAS IN MY EARLY 20’S, VERY MUCH LEARNING THE ROPES & HER DOWN-TO-EARTH PERSONALITY & TALENT GAVE ME THE FEELING I COULD FIND MY OWN WAY IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY WHERE I VERY MUCH FELT OUT OF MY LEAGUE.
I ADMIRED HER NATURAL & TIMELESS SENSE OF STYLE, WITH JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TOMBOY MIXED IN. I KNEW SHE WAS ITALIAN, LIKE MYSELF, & RAISED IN BROOKLYN (AN INSTA VIDEO OF HER DOUBLE-DUTCH ON THE SIDEWALK IN THE CITY WITH SOME HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS INSPIRED MY DAUGHTER GUS TO GIVE IT A TRY & I’VE LOVED THAT FULL-CIRCLE MOMENT).
SHE HAS AN INFECTIOUS SMILE AND EASE ABOUT HER THAT SHE BROUGHT TO EVERY SHOOT. IT’S HONESTLY AN HONOR TO FEATURE HER THIS MONTH - SHE IS SOMEONE I LOOKED UP TO WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO NY AND SHE QUIETLY ENCOURAGED ME TO FIND MY OWN SENSE OF STYLE AND FOLLOW MY OWN PATH TOWARDS WHAT I LOVE.
WHEN OUR PATHS CROSSED 20 YEARS AGO, I MET YOU AS A FAIRLY NEW MAMA TO YOUR SON MATTEO.
TALK A BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT WAS LIKE AT THE TIME, WORKING FULL-TIME IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY WHILE BALANCING NEW MOTHERHOOD.
I HAD A CONTRACT AS AN EDITOR WITH A FASHION MAGAZINE AT THAT TIME & I REALLY DEBATED TELLING THEM THAT I WAS PREGNANT AND EVEN HESITATED SIGNING THE CONTRACT. IT WAS A WOMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND WHEN I TOLD HER I WAS PREGNANT, SHE SAID YOU DON’T HAVE TO QUIT, JUST DO YOUR SHOOTS AND YOU DON’T HAVE TO COME INTO THE OFFICE ALL THE TIME. (IN THE 90’S WE WERE GOING INTO THE OFFICE 5 DAYS A WEEK, VERY DIFFERENT TIMES).
I DID 2-3 MONTHS LEAVE AND THEN STARTED BRINGING MATTEO TO SHOOTS WITH ME ALONGSIDE MY MOM AND SISTER SO THAT I COULD NURSE HIM ON BREAKS. AT THAT TIME, NOT MANY PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY HAD KIDS AND NOW IT’S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BUT FOR ME, WHEN I GOT PREGNANT I HEARD ALOT OF ‘WOW WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?’ IT WAS JUST A VERY DIFFERENT TIME IN THE INDUSTRY AND I ACTUALLY DID ALMOST QUIT BECAUSE OF THIS.
I HAD A SHOOT IN IRELAND EARLY ON AND MATTEO WAS NOT WITH ME. I BROUGHT MY PUMP WITH ME, BECAUSE AS WE ALL KNOW, BREASTMILK IS LIQUID GOLD, AND I INTENDED TO SHIP IT BACK TO NY ON DRY ICE. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PUMP BLEW UP AND WAS SMOKING AND I WAS LITERALLY IN A HOTEL ROOM IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THE WOMAN WHO OWNED THE INN CAME TO MY RESCUE, THANKFULLY SHE WAS A MOTHER OF 5, AND LOANED ME HER PUMP AND HELPED ME GET THE MILK SENT BACK HOME.
A FEW MONTHS LATER, I HAD TO GO TO MILAN AND PARIS FOR SHOWS AND ONCE AGAIN MY SON WASN’T WITH ME. I WAS STILL NURSING AND I REMEMBER SITTING THERE AT ONE OF THE PARIS SHOWS LATE IN THE DAY, FEELING DRAINED AND NEEDING TO PUMP, THINKING TO MYSELF ‘WHAT ON EARTH AM I DOING?’ I JUST FELT SO EXHAUSTED & MISSED MATTEO TERRIBLY. TOWARDS THE END OF ONE OF THE SHOWS, THE LAST EXIT WAS THIS BEAUTIFUL INUIT FAMILY ALL WRAPPED IN SHEARLING AND I STARTED HYSTERICALLY CRYING WHEN I SAW THE BABY ALL WRAPPED UP. MY BOOBS WERE LEAKING AND EVERYONE THOUGHT I WAS CRYING BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SHOW (WHICH IT TRULY WAS) BUT I JUST KNEW I NEEDED TO BE HOME. SO I WENT BACK TO MY HOTEL, PACKED MY BAGS AND FLEW BACK TO NY TO BE WITH MATTEO.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PERSONAL VINTAGE PIECES THAT ARE TRULY SPECIAL TO YOU?
I HAVE MY MOTHERS SUITS THAT SHE MADE WHILE SHE WAS IN CAMPAGNE IN NAPLES. ONE IS A BEAUTIFUL BURNT ORANGE WOOL SKIRT & JACKET WITH A NAVY BLUE KNIT TANK UNDERNEATH AND THE BAG THAT GOES ALONG WITH IT. I ALSO HAVE MY FATHERS BROWN POLO FROM THE 1960’S THAT MATTEO HAS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS. THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT MEAN MORE THAN ANYTHING TO ME. BUT MY OTHER VINTAGE FAVORITES ARE MY WRANGLER JEANS & DENIM WORKWEAR/JUMPSUITS. ALONG WITH A VINTAGE FLORAL EMBROIDERED KIMONO WHICH I ADORE & SAINT LAURENT TUXEDO PANTS FROM THE 70’S.
I HAVE LOVED THE INTIMATE LOOK AT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR MOM (‘NONNA’) THAT YOU HAVE SHARED OVER THE YEARS. IT’S VERY CLEAR THAT YOUR ITALIAN HERITAGE & BEING RAISED IN BROOKLYN IS A HUGE PART OF WHO YOU ARE. CAN YOU CHAT ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR MOM & HOW THAT INFLUENCED YOUR STYLE & WHO YOU ARE.
MY MOM WAS A TAILOR & SHE MADE ALL OF OUR CLOTHES FOR US GROWING UP. THE THINGS SHE MADE FOR US WERE INCREDIBLE BUT AS A TEENAGER ALL I WANTED WAS WHAT ALL THE OTHER GIRLS WERE WEARING - SERGIO VALENTE & GLORIA VANDERBILT JEANS.
SHE TRULY EMBODIED SUSTAINABLE LIVING OUT OF NECESSITY. WE MOVED FROM ITALY WHEN I WAS 4 AND CAME RIGHT TO PARK SLOPE. THE TINY TOWN WE WERE FROM WAS VERY NOSE TO TAIL AND THERE WAS NO WASTING, WE WERE ALWAYS REUSING. SO SHE SIMPLY USED/REUSED EVERYTHING OUT OF NECESSITY BUT SHE DID SO CREATIVELY AND THAT TO ME IS AN ART FORM. SHE WAS SUCH AN INSPIRATION BECAUSE SHE COULD CREATE USING ANYTHING THAT SHE HAD ON HAND. AND EVEN IF SHE DIDN’T HAVE IT, SHE WAS ABLE TO SUBSTITUTE SOMETHING TO MAKE IT WORK.
SHE WOULD BRING BACK LEFTOVER SCRAPS FROM WOOL COATS THAT SHE WAS MAKING AND MAKE SKIRTS & COATS OUT OF THEM. AT ONE POINT SHE MADE THIS AMAZING WOOL A-LINE SKIRT THAT SHE WORE WITH LITTLE BOOTS. AT THE TIME, I WAS WORKING AT HARPER’S BAZAAR AND BUMPED INTO A COLLEAGUE WHILE I WAS OUT WITH MY MOM AND SHE WAS WEARING THIS OUTFIT SHE HAD MADE. MY COLLEAGUE LATER ASKED ME IF MY MOM’S SKIRT WAS COMME DES GARCONS. MY MOM WAS JUST INCREDIBLY STYLISH AND TALENTED.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS MY MOM THAT WAS MY STYLE INSPIRATION BUTI’VE ALWAYS ADMIRED MY FATHER’S SENSE OF ELEGANCE AND WAS ALSO A BIG INFLUENCE FOR ME. HE CAME FROM THIS TINY TOWN IN CAMPANIA OF MAYBE 200 PEOPLE AND HE WOULD WEAR SILK SCARVES, COOL SWEATERS AND CONVERSE-LIKE SNEAKERS. HE WORKED IN FABRICATION AS AN IRONWORKER, BUT HE STILL WORE A SUIT EVERYDAY AND WOULD GET HIS HAIRCUT AT MY UNCLE’S BARBERSHOP ON KING ST. HE HAD HAND-SEWN SUITS MADE BY MY UNCLE LUCA, WHO WAS A TAILOR IN NAPLES, THEN IMMIGRATED TO HELLS KITCHEN & BECAME ONE OF THE HEAD TAILORS AT BROOKS BROTHERS FOR 30 YEARS.
ANYTHING THAT MY PARENTS BOUGHT WAS THOUGHTFUL - NOT LIKE THE AMERICAN WAY WHERE YOU JUST BUY A BUNCH OF THINGS…AND THAT’S WHY THE VINTAGE PIECES I HAVE FROM THEM ARE NOT TRENDY. THEY BOUGHT A SWEATER BECAUSE THEY KNEW THEY WANTED THAT SPECIFIC COLOR, IT WAS VERY INTENTIONAL. IT’S FUNNY THEY WERE SO CONSCIOUS OF WHAT THEY WERE WEARING AND EATING AS A NORMAL AND NATURAL WAY OF LIFE & IN ORDER TO NOT BE WASTEFUL - BEFORE IT WAS ACTUALLY A ‘THING’.
MY MOM WOULD CROCHET AND MADE A BEAUTIFUL HAND-EMBROIDERED BLANKET FOR ME WHEN I GOT MARRIED AND NOW THAT SHE HAS PASSED I HAVE IT ON MY BED AS A SPECIAL PIECE. IT WAS JUST HER WAY OF BEING ARTISTIC AND IT CAME SO NATURALLY TO HER. SHE WOULD EVEN MAKE HER OWN PATTERNS. SHE WOULD DRAW AND OUTLINE A PATTERN ON BROWN PAPER BAGS AND CUT IT OUT - EVERYTHING WAS USED AND I WISH MORE THAN ANYTHING I HAD SOME OF THOSE PAPER BAGS TODAY BECAUSE THEY WERE TRULY PIECES OF ART.
YOUR SON HAS GROWN UP SURROUNDED BY THE POWERFUL, LOVING ITALIAN WOMEN IN YOUR FAMILY. CHAT WITH US ABOUT LEGACY & TRADITIONS FROM YOUR OWN CHILDHOOD & HOW THAT HAS SHAPED WHO MATTEO HAS BECOME?
WHEN WE IMMIGRATED FROM ITALY TO PARK SLOPE, MY PAPA MADE SURE MY SIBLINGS & I EMBRACED OUR SOUTHERN ITALIAN TRADITIONS, CULTURE & VERNACULAR DIALECT WHILE BUILDING A LOVE FOR OUR NEW HOME. THIS WAS NOT ALWAYS EASY AS MANY PEOPLE WANTED US TO CONFORM TO THE AMERICAN WAYS…INCLUDING MYSELF. HIS LOVE OF FAMILY, WORK ETHIC, MUSIC & RESILIENCE TAUGHT US TO BE INDEPENDENT BY GATHERING INNER STRENGTH TO NOT JUST FIT IN. MY PAPA ALWAYS VALUED FAMILY, COURAGEOUS SACRIFICES, INTEGRITY, GRACE & BEAUTIFUL DREAMS.
MATTEO WAS LUCKY BECAUSE HE WAS RAISED BY SUCH GIVING WOMEN INCLUDING MY MOTHER AND MY AUNTS CATERINA & MARIA . THEY SPOKE TO HIM IN DIALECT & HE TRIED HIS BEST TO UNDERSTAND AND COMMUNICATE BACK TO THEM EVEN IF NOT PERFECTLY. THEY ADORED HIM BECAUSE WHILE HIS KNOWLEDGE OF THE NEOPOLITAN DIALECT IS NOT FLUENT, THEY LOVED HIM FOR TRYING TO UNDERSTAND - WHICH IN ITSELF MADE IT FUNNY. EVEN WITH MY MOTHER’S DEMENTIA, ANYTIME HE CALLED OR CAME TO SEE HER, SHE KNEW WHO HE WAS. THEY HAD SUCH AN AMAZING RELATIONSHIP & LOVED EACH OTHER BEYOND.
WE HAD 2 BROWNSTONES NEXT TO EACH OTHER AND MY FAMILY WOULD GROW EVERYTHING IN THE BACKYARD. I HAVE MEMORIES OF BRINGING MORTADELLA SANDWICHES TO SCHOOL FOR LUNCH IN THE 70’S AND GETTING MADE FUN OF. MY MOM MADE EVERY KIND OF OLIVE OIL CAKE, ALL BEFORE THESE THINGS WERE ‘TRENDY’ AND WHEN THEY WERE STILL CONSIDERED A BIT FOREIGN.
MATTEO IS NOW A PRETTY GOOD COOK IN ALL KINDS OF ITALIAN COOKING & STILL LEARNING. HE NEVER REALLY COOKED WITH ME BUT HE HAS BEEN WATCHING ME ALL ALONG. NOW AS AN ADULT, HE FACETIMES ME FROM LA WHILE HE’S MAKING MEATBALLS. I AM SO HAPPY THAT HE CALLS ME IN THOSE MOMENTS. IT’S THESE LITTLE PHONECALLS FOR NO REASON AT ALL THAT MEAN EVERYTHING TO ME AS A MAMA.
