Think of iconic figures like Audrey Hepburn, whose classic elegance in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” left an indelible mark on fashion history and remains a reference for many people today. Or Lady Gaga and Madonna, who used their extravagant attire to make bold and artistic statements. Fashion is undoubtedly an art form that allows each person to tell their own story.
However, with the constant bombardment of information from social media, people trying to dictate what you should or shouldn’t wear, new fashion campaigns emerging every moment, and the pressure of impulsive consumption, we often feel lost and insecure, unable to find our own style. It is easy to be seduced by fleeting trends or feel overwhelmed by the myriad of options. In this scenario, the figure of the personal stylist presents itself as an essential guide. This professional not only assists in selecting pieces that enhance individuality and the biotype of each person but also teaches how to create looks that convey the desired message, whether for a specific event or everyday life, making you feel confident and boosting your self-esteem.
A personal stylist can be hired for various occasions: recommending brands and shopping with you, renewing your wardrobe with pieces you already have, or creating looks for important events, such as celebrities appearing on red carpets. Additionally, you can become more familiar with this professional by seeing them credited in fashion editorials, where they collaborate with the production team to select the pieces that will compose the photo shoot, ensuring that the looks are in perfect harmony with the concept and message of the session.
It was in this context that I had the pleasure of discovering the work of Colomba Giacomini, a renowned personal stylist whose passion for fashion is as vibrant as her creations. Initially, it was supposed to be just an article about fashion and style tips, but her story is so admirable and delightful to hear that our chat quickly turned into an interview, along with, of course, her valuable advice for those seeking to rediscover themselves through fashion.
How Simplicity and Experience Merge in the Art of Dressing
“My most gratifying moment as a personal stylist is when someone sends me a message the next day saying how incredible they felt or that they walked into a room and everyone stopped to look at them, and several people came to ask where the look was from. They (her clients) simply feel wonderful.”
Colomba has always been passionate about fashion! When she was in school, she loved dressing everyone for any occasion. “When I was little, I used to take my mother’s silk scarves and transform them into ball gowns. So, it has always been what I really wanted to do.”
When she turned 18, after finishing her studies, she met a photographer who immediately recognized her talent and hired her as an assistant to travel around the world attending fashion shows. “I went to Paris, New York, and Milan. I worked with him for about two years and met several fashion editors during that time, starting to intern with them.” Colomba stopped working in fashion magazines shortly after when she discovered her passion for the Stylist profession. “I wanted to work with exclusive clients,” and that’s when it happened. When she was 24, she decided to work on her own as a personal stylist and embarked on a journey of incredible moments. Her authenticity naturally shines through, treating everyone with humility, regardless of her remarkable achievements, such as dressing an Oscar winner—an accomplishment she shared as one of the great moments of her career. Besides this feat, she also worked in the costume department of the film Saltburn and the series Killing Eve. “I really love what I do and I love my clients, so whenever everything goes well I feel it was a great success.”
What makes Colomba’s art so special? As we talk, Prince Igor, her little dog and the great love of her life, sleeps relaxed on her lap, undisturbed by our conversation and the voices that, to him, are unfamiliar in his environment. He feels protected and cherished by his guardian (or human mom, as I would call her), thus remaining in serene peace. This is a gift that Colomba has.
So, answering the question, her art is so special due to the combination of her unique talent with the way she speaks, calmly and softly, creating a welcoming environment that makes us feel as if we’ve known her for years. Her humility and kindness are essential for making everyone feel understood and at ease.
“Usually, when I start working with someone for the first time, we talk, have tea, I learn about their life, their routine…,” she tries to understand her clients and their wardrobes as much as possible, and if it’s really necessary to make new purchases. “I think it’s important, for example, to give a list of five things that a person needs to have for winter. But that’s all they can buy. Of course, there are clients who buy 50 things and won’t get rid of any of them because they love everything. So, I have to be very cautious about what everyone puts in their wardrobe so that there isn’t excess.”
Colomba not only welcomes people with words but also makes them feel comfortable and confident. Her approach conveys security, helping each person discover their own confidence through personal style and the right clothing choices.
“To me, your clothes are your armor. They are the first thing anyone sees about you before you open your mouth. So, they are everything before you speak. They need to say something before you speak, whether for protection or to be bold. When I meet someone, I try to understand how that person wants to project themselves to the world, what their goal is, where they are at that moment. Often, there is a difference between how they would like to be seen by the world and how they see themselves. I try to help them find the best version of themselves for the occasion. This can mean wanting to be the center of attention or preferring to stay in the background and finding the right outfit where they still feel beautiful and appropriate for what they are doing.”
Amidst the whirlwind of information from social media, where instantaneity often precedes source security, it is admirable to find professionals who stand out by operating beyond this environment. They are not influenced by content creators promoting fleeting trends, maintaining a solid focus on their expertise and authenticity. “My Instagram only has videos of dogs,” she told me, laughing (mine is like that too). “But, I always check the pages of the stores where I usually shop. Every morning, as soon as I wake up, I go on them and send out the updates to everyone.” Just as some people read newspapers, this is one of the ways she has found to stay updated on trends. “But I also read newspapers,” she adds. “I find life in general so inspiring. Today, I almost ‘froze’ in London. You know, I love observing how people are dressing. Sometimes I find it repulsive, but I also love observing it. Sometimes, I find it wonderful. So I kind of genuinely understand what’s going on. I never care so much about a bad trend because, to me, it’s much more important if the person looks good in it. At the moment (as we talk in 2023), I’m very interested in vintage, you know, I’m shopping for my own wardrobe, I’m really into vintage. Maybe I’m not shopping as much for myself as I usually do because I’ve been traveling a lot. So, it’s really about the occasion, the person, not about what’s trendy and they should wear. I will never put an outfit on someone just because it’s ‘cool’ if it doesn’t suit them. It has to match the person.”
Among so many fashion personalities, Pierre Paolo (Valentino’s designer) is the most inspiring person for her in the fashion world. “Okay, I have a huge crush on him! Like, a huge crush! Actually, I saw him today and he is incredibly kind. I would wear everything he makes. I think he really understands women. He really understands the concept of dressing women. I think it’s always elegant. I think it’s always chic. It can be sexy, it can be subtle, it can be exaggerated, it can be modest. He just understands my versatile style because he offers everything. So, I think he’s probably my biggest passion.” And I remember in another conversation we had, Colomba mentioned to me her admiration for Pierre Paolo, “I just want to be the girl who wears a Valentino cream coat in winter and doesn’t get it dirty (but that’s not me).” and for other fashion designers, “I love meeting different people and understanding why they do things and what motivates them. I find it fascinating to discover how to put these pieces together and know what works for one person and not necessarily for another.”
Colomba defines her style as eclectic, usually in daily life, you can find her wearing jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt; because most of the time she is always on the “go.” When she has an event or a party, for example, she goes to her wardrobe and tries to put together a new look with an old piece. “I have an old Burberry dress, which I probably haven’t worn in about 10 years. I’ll take it out of the closet and see if I can put together a new look with it. With chunky boots, to be modern.” That sounds like a great look! “Fingers crossed it still fits,” she says, laughing.
To wrap up our conversation, I asked for advice for girls dreaming of being stylists or working in fashion.
“No matter how hard you have to work, it’s about dedicating the necessary time and not expecting things to be handed to you. And you know, not every day will be fun. I have good days and bad days. I’m genuinely a very positive person. But when you’re dressing other people and dealing with their psychology and emotions, you’ll have days when you feel like a pincushion, like someone attacked you. And you have to remember it’s not about you. It’s all about them. You just have to do a good job and always be polite. There’s no point in yelling at the doorman or the person who forgot to send something of yours. There’s always a solution to stay calm and be polite. I can’t stand anyone who is rude. It takes more time to be rude to someone than to be polite, so just stay quiet and be polite to people. You know what I mean? You’re not the queen (of England). And even the queen (Elizabeth) has always been polite, you know?”
You must work on your mental health to stay well in this world, right?
“Yes. And I always think I have some kind of force field around me and that other people’s stuff can’t get in. You know, there are days when this is really hard, but, you know, take a little time. If I’ve been with a client for a long time, I need an hour where I don’t talk to anyone. Because I think if I talk to someone immediately afterward, I get drained. Because when you’re reassuring someone, let’s say, for hours, about everything related to them and your complete focus is on them, and everything around them and their psychology, making sure they feel comfortable and safe. And that you understand their needs, it’s really quite exhausting for you. So, often, I need an hour to cuddle with my dog and be quiet. And I usually put on a TV show, I disconnect, and then I can come back to the world.”
STYLING TIPS: How to have a smart wardrobe?
Instead of having a large number of clothes that can only be worn on specific occasions, a smart wardrobe consists of pieces that can be combined in various ways to create different looks suitable for different situations, encouraging conscious and sustainable consumption.
Colomba said that this advice basically applies to everything:
“My secret is that, no matter the cost, if you can afford it, you should adjust your clothes to fit you well. Whether it’s the length of the piece or the length of the sleeve. Don’t leave something that’s too long or too big because I really think that destroys any good look. So, if you buy a blazer, but the sleeve is wrong, shorten it. Whether with your tailor or a sewing service, shorten it. Because if you adjust the clothes to the right length, they will look infinitely better than if you just buy and wear them.”
Quality clothing:
“That’s very important to me. I think, if you don’t have a budget to spend a lot, the simplest version of any clothing will always be the best. If it’s a black blazer, a white t-shirt, jeans, and black boots, you will never be underdressed. It’s simply not possible to look underdressed with that. So, if you can’t follow trends and don’t want to adhere to fast fashion, which I really hope people avoid, stick to simple classics: a little black dress, a great blazer, a pair of well-fitted jeans, a good sweater, you know, in simple colors, a great scarf, those things.”
How to choose pieces:
“Keep it simple and keep it clean. If you have a larger budget, add fun things: things with feathers, for example. I like embroidery, I like things that you can keep the silhouette clean and make it bold in the pattern. Or you can add feathers and things like that, but then maybe keep the bottom part simple. For me, it’s really about your image. Find what’s flattering for you and what makes you feel good. If you feel good in a piece of clothing, nine times out of ten, you’ll look good in it, you know?
And you’ll walk into the room and people will think you look beautiful. It’s about your own confidence, you need to own it. You need to embrace what God gave you and move forward. Don’t be afraid. And if you want to be bold and wild, be bold and wild. I never regret a bad look. Maybe I won’t wear it again, but don’t stress about it. It’s not the end of the world. There are much more important things happening. Many people will really dwell on something bad they wore. I think that’s a total waste of time, just move on and find something better.
And, whether you’re a man or a woman, find what makes you feel sexy. If it’s a tight dress that makes you feel sexy, go for it. If it’s a powerful suit that makes you feel sexy, go for it. Whatever it is, it doesn’t have to be someone else’s idea of sexy; it needs to be what’s sexy for you.”
Colomba shows us that it’s possible to create something extraordinary with authenticity, simplicity, and kindness. Whether it’s reviving a classic piece, guiding someone to discover their best version through fashion, or even putting on a cream coat from Valentino in winter, her approach is always to make each person feel wonderful, welcomed, and confident. This is Colomba’s true magic: transforming lives, one outfit at a time.
