Listen to the interview here!
Toni Reece: Hi there. This is Toni Reece. Welcome to the Get Inspired! Project for Berks County Living Magazine. Today I have Elaine Fioravanti. How are you?
Elaine Fioravanti: I’m very good.
Toni: Elaine, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Elaine: I grew up in Berks County, and I went to college in New York City for fashion design, FIT and Parsons. Now I am a fashion stylist, a freelance writer, and I write my own fashion blog called www.bestdressedginger.com.
Toni: Let’s go into the first question of the Project. What does inspiration mean to you?
Elaine: Inspiration I think comes in many forms. In my line of work, I’m of course inspired by beautiful things, art and fashion. Some of my biggest inspiration comes from Barbie.
Toni: Really?
Elaine: Yes. I’m a collector, and I’ve always loved her. I think that I really learned how to dress as a little girl by playing with Barbie. I’m crazy for Audrey Hepburn, Sarah Jessica Parker and Carrie Donovan, who used to be the former editor of Vogue. I actually had the opportunity to meet her in the early 1990s at a trend event. I think my true inspiration definitely comes from my mother, my grandmother and my husband. I have never seen so much love and generosity being given to me. I’m so fortunate to have that in my life.
Toni: When you think about all of these people that you have just mentioned as far as who inspires you – and we’ll get more into that in the interview – but when I talk about what it means to you, if you could pinpoint what they might all have in common, that may be what inspiration means to you, what would you say that is?
Elaine: I think when you wake up in the morning and you know that those people are behind you 100% and maybe you’re not having a great day, you can always think of that. In terms of what inspiration means, it can be different to everyone, but I think it’s that ‘ah-ha’ moment you have when perhaps you might be doubting yourself and you have them to remind you that there’s no doubt.
Toni: So when you take all of that, whether it was Barbies as you were growing up or Sarah Jessica Parker or Vogue or whatever, how would you take all of that inspiration and how do you put that into practice here in Berks County?
Elaine: I try and lend my styling services whenever possible to Berks County Living Magazine. I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve met some really great Berks Countians that allow me to help style their customers, or friends of mine. For instance, Juli Cleaver, the owner of Bella Jules Boutique, I’ve worked on several styling projects with her. It’s great, because I get to meet people that come into the store that really have no idea what they want, but they know that they’re looking for something.
I’ve also worked closely with Tania Colamarino from Ama Photography, and we have done some great photo shoots. In fact, one of the most recent ones that we did, which was a little ago, was a 12-year-old cancer survivor. Tania just did it because she wanted to make the little girl feel special. She had really gone through something. I was able to lend all the clothing. We dolled her all up. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life.
To me, that’s how I try and give back a little bit. I try and give back my inspiration to inspire others that way.
Toni: That’s what I’m hearing is that these people that you mentioned in the very beginning of the interview who have inspired you in the fashion world for whatever reasons – their creativity, their talent, the spirit that they use to do their work. It sounds as though you also apply what you’ve learned from them to your experience with others.
Elaine: Yes, absolutely. I think everybody deserves to have a Carrie Bradshaw moment when she’s posing for Vogue magazine in all the wedding gowns. Do we need an Alexander McQueen? No. We’ve got Bella Jules. We have Sweethearts Bridal. There are great resources in the area that we don’t need those things, but you can still feel like a princess for a day.
My hope is that the more that I do this and the more that I establish the business that I will get clients that perhaps need a job and I can really make a difference that way, or speak to the Vo-tech schools when they’re coming out of school and they’re getting ready for interviews. I would be so fortunate if I were able to help them.
Toni: Who in Berks County inspires you?
Elaine: That’s a good one. There are a ton of people; however, I would have to say that Eric Savage, his message is so great and he truly cares about people. He knows that it’s the factor that you need to succeed in life, and that’s not even why he does it. He does it because he cares. I was fortunate enough to be along for a few of the deliveries during the Holiday Helpers one year, and it is very inspiring to see these children that thought they weren’t going to have any Christmas gifts, let alone they get a full meal and they have food for days. It was one of the best experiences ever.
I would also have to say, if I can say one more person, Sandy Green from Kutztown. She is the Mayor of Kutztown, and she is the bomb. She works so hard for the community and the township she works with, the police department to keep the streets safe, and she also helps keep them flourishing and moving forward.
Toni: So again, it’s the theme from you, for me, is those who have learned from others who are giving back using that teaching they inspire you.
Elaine: Absolutely.
Toni: What would you like to your legacy to be?
Elaine: Besides being the Best Dressed Ginger in Berks County, I think that I would like my friends and family to look back and think of me as a compassionate person, for sure. I would like to be thought of as a good wife and a good daughter, and someone that always tried to encourage others to get dressed, and how getting dressed can really change your mood, and not to be afraid to feel different and encourage women. And of course, a diehard and a lover of all things fashion.
Toni: I’ll tell you what, Elaine, I also think that possibly your living legacy is that you do create that Carrie Bradshaw moment.
Elaine: Thank you!
Toni: Thank you so much for being part of the Get Inspired! Project.
Elaine: Thank you, Toni.
