L'Italo-Americano

loosely wrapped around her neck. She looked just like her voice. Una persona solare, and had all that wonderful Italian style I had expected. Italians, she would later tell me, are born with a sense of style. "Starts at child- hood...style is a way of life," she said, noting how Italians take pride in how they look the moment they step out the door. Nadia offered me a cup of cof- fee, un espresso, which I gladly took and sat down across from me. I have, in the past, worked with fashion designers. With a flurry of assistants and staff, they THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015 www.italoamericano.org 12 L'Italo-Americano OC Fashion Designer Nadia Bozzetti: Calm, Cool and Custom Fit for Success These days, most people answer the phone in a few ways. Either with disdain or with intense caution as if ready to say the word "No," before you even say hello. But when calling fash- ion designer Nadia Bozzetti, she did neither. Instead, her voice was like pure sunshine, bubbly, speaking both in English and Italian with a graceful ease. I told her that while I could simply email the questions, I preferred to meet in person. "Oh, sì" she stated. "I want to meet you." Unlike others in the past who have had to check with their sec- retaries, their IPhones schedules, she simply agreed to a Saturday morning meeting. Easy breezy. "Starbucks," she said. "Newport Beach." Newport Beach is in many ways Orange County's Riviera. A place where old money meets new money amidst a glamorous backdrop of beachfront estates, fashionable stores and the iconic Balboa Peninsula. Next to the more artsy, surfer feel of Laguna Beach, Newport is where you can showcase your Ferrari or Lamborghini Gallardo, shop up a storm, and dine at some of the best Italian restaurants around. After a morning of hazy weather for most of Orange County, somehow the sun was shining brightly in Newport Beach. Once inside Starbucks, I waited when the door opened and a beautiful blond walked in. With long curly hair, Nadia was dressed in jeans, a delicate scarf GAYA LYNN Fashion designer Nadia Bozzetti usually have their cell phones buzzing and are always troppo busy. No eye contact, their minds miles away as they plan their next fashion show or collection. But Nadia did not look stressed. Instead, she looked calm and focused, despite the fact that leads what some would call a stressful life. For the past six years, Nadia has owned and oper- ated her own company which specializes in cashmere knits. The company is called Lunalba-- a name that symbolizing its dusk to dawn facet, cashmere that can be worn from the office to a night on the town. Wearing so many hats, Nadia has a schedule that is jam- packed. She is responsible for designing, showcasing her clothes in a showroom in New York City before distributing them around the world. But sit- ting across from her, she sat calmly drinking her caffé, con- centrating on the interview. Born in Milano Italy, Nadia grew up in the fashion industry and was influenced by designers Armani and Dolce e Gabbana. Her parents are both well known and highly respected in the busi- ness while she credits her stepfa- ther, fashion legend Mario Carradore, as her greatest mentor. "He taught me everything about fashion. I literarily ate and breathed the fashion business." At just thirteen, Nadia began to work with her father and learned the "A,B,Cs" and the ins and outs of fashion. She first attended the Marangoni school of fashion while she later went to an accounting school where she picked up its business aspects. Her big break came when she began to work for the fashion house St. John, a giant in the industry which specializes in women's knitwear and is based out in Irvine California. Back in Italy, Nadia headed their Research and Development office, and was instrumental in bringing the latest trends and ideas from Italy. She also trav- eled the world, attending fashion shows in Paris, Shanghai and of course Italy's fashion capital, Milano. "When I was twenty- five, I started to work on the St. John sports line which began to incorporate french terry." Back then, french terry was instrumen- tal in the success of its sports line as activewear became not only chic but also comfortable to wear. After working for St. John for six years in Italy, she was transferred to Orange County where she began another six year stint. In 2007, Nadia launched a company, Marlova, along with two friends, and began designing cashmere sweaters. The company did well and in 2009, she decided to go on her own and created Lunalba. She now distributes her designs globally. "How do you do everything and not look so stressed out?" I asked. Here she is working in a hugely competitive and cutthroat industry, dominated by just a handful of big names who do not necessarily roll out the welcome mat for newcomers- and yet despite all this, along with being focused and calm, Nadia is sur- prisingly sweet. Unscathed and cheerful. "I work out. I have a personal trainer," she said. She also enjoys spending time with her family, and with her dogs, Gioia and Bobby. The rest of her time is spent working. She must fly around the globe, design while keeping cus- tomers and distributors wanting more. "What do you want to do in ten years?" I then ask her. "More companies? Another fash- ion line?" "I want to spend more time in Italy," she tells me. "I want to enjoy more of la dolce vita." After spending a bit of time with her, I am almost certain that this young lady who has made her parents so proud, has indeed already experienced la dolce vita as she is living it. I love to create," she tells me as we both finish our last sips of coffee. "I love to see where life takes me." Joe Collora, Saddleback Valley Lodge trustee and former President of The Chefs de Cuisine Association of America, Inc., Professor Emeritus of Culinary Arts at New York City College of Technology of The City University of New York, and chef for over 45 years, will be giving a cooking lesson on July 10, at 6:00 p.m. to be held at the Norman Murray Senior Center 24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo, CA. The fee is $10.00 for this cooking and dining experience. Everybody welcome but reservations are a must. For further information contact Bernadine Liuzzi-Neil, Recording Secretary (714)979-2996 or bernie1339@sbcglobal.net June 4, Thurs. - Italian Movie Night at the San Juan Capistrano Regency Theater. 7:00pm screening of LA LUNA SU TORINO at the Regency Theater (26762 Verdugo Street, San Juan Capistrano, CA. 92675. Tel. 949- 661-3456). Happy Hour begins at 6:00pm in the theater's Rick's Cafe. June 9, Tues. - Italian American Lawyers of Orange County Dinner Meeting - 6:00pm at Maggiano's Little Italy. Cost is $55 for members $65 for non members. For more information http://www.ialoc.org/event- 1902686. Maggiano's Little Italy - 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, CA June 14 , Sun. - Italian Movie at Bowers Museum. 1:30pm reception/2:00pm screening of Solo Un Padre. In Italian with English sub- titles. For directions and more info go to: http://www.bowers.org/ June 20, Sat. - OCAIW luncheon meeting. 11 AM. Quinn's (405 El Camino Real, Tustin 714-731-2263). Presenting the check to Mary's Shelter OC and installing new officers Reservations: Lucy Gallo 949-472- 8218 June 26, Fri. - Peppino D'Agostino & Jeff Campitelli. Dana Point Community House 7:30 pm. The International acoustic guitar master together with one of the top 100 rated percussionist/ drummers of all time. $30 admission. For more information visit: www. lordofthestringscon- certs.com June 27, Saturday - Peppino D'Agostino & Jeff Campitelli. Mission Viejo Civic Center 7:00pm. The International acoustic guitar master together with one of the top 100 rated percussionist/ drummers of all time. $30 admission. For more information visit: www. lordofthestringsconcerts.com June 28 - Sunday Peppino D'Agostino & Jeff Campitelli, 3:00pm SOCO Costa Mesa. The International acoustic guitar master together with one of the top 100 rated percussionist/ drummers of all time. $30 admission. For more information visit: www. lordofthestringsconcerts.com

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