The Measure of Style

Francesca is overwhelming. But not because she stabilizes or confuses you. In fact, balance, next to her, takes on a whole new meaning. Francesca is overwhelming because she is a powerful flow of ideas and suggestions, yet focused and concrete. An oxymoron of rationality and impetus, a recipe for elegance and intellect that is the heart of her personality. Her style also moves between two poles that, only on the surface, may seem opposite: feminine grace and a mannish look.

Francesca is like this: hardworking - she's a true Brianza native and proud of it - fast-paced, practical, and nonchalant like any adopted Milanese, intellectually omnivorous, curious, and passionate. Her slender physique and penchant for slim looks naturally lead her to choose soft, flowing pieces with masculine touches. For her, style is a matter of heritage. It begins with a men's jacket - her grandfather's, tailor-made from a fine wool - and translates into a way of being in the world based on restraint, essentiality, and determination. A style language built over time, not trends, where the Fortela vocabulary -based on heritage, craftsmanship, and lived authenticity - is naturally at home.

We interviewed her.

Francesca, what would you say about yourself to someone who doesn't know you?
I'd say I was born and raised in Monza, to parents and grandparents from Monza. I'm proudly a provincial girl, even though I now feel Milanese: I even bought a house in Milan, a big step in my life. I don't boast a super international family tree: my entire family is from there. I love Monza for its complex and layered history, from its Celtic and Roman origins to the Middle Ages of Theodelinda, up to the glories of Maria Theresa of Austria, Napoleon, and the royal family. The Villa Reale is a place I adore: as a girl, I used to take long walks there. It's incredibly elegant; it was designed by Piermarini, the same architect as La Scala.

What style do you have? 
I'm a classicist. I love the sense of beauty and antiquity, of materials and places. I'm a fan of the genius loci. I attended the historic Zucchi classical high school in Monza, a charming 19th-century building with a heritage that can be felt in every corner. Growing up surrounded by beauty shaped me. Even the greenery surrounding Monza - which I miss in Milan - infused me with vitality. Monza Park is the largest enclosed park in Europe. Living there gave me great beauty but also a certain drive, essential for success.

Today you're Global Brand Relationship Director for one of the most important lifestyle, interiors, and culture magazines. How did you get to this point?
My life has unfolded partly by luck and partly by chance. My father was a magistrate, and I thought I'd become a lawyer, a traditional profession. But in my senior year of high school, I realized I didn't particularly enjoy writing, and I wasn't sure I knew what career I wanted to pursue forever. I like to experiment, so I enrolled in Economics at the Catholic University of Milan to keep my options open. During the summer, I did internships in London at McArthurGlen to understand different situations and departments. There, I realized I enjoyed interacting with people.

Then came publishing.
Yes. My father read a lot and would tear newspaper articles out for me to read. One day, under one of them, I saw an ad for a talent recruiting idea in advertising and communications led by Franca Sozzani. I thought they'd never hire me, but they did. Condé Nast had an almost biblical aura for me. It was a wonderful immersion: a month of lessons with names like Franca Sozzani, Luca Dini, and Ettore Mocchetti, then meetings with the CEOs of big brands like Estée Lauder and Chanel. There, I realized I loved the interpersonal aspect and business development. Glamour doesn't happen on its own: there's a lot of work behind it. Shortly after, I joined a task force for digitalization at Condé Nast, when digital was still being built. I threw myself into it. I never had a rigid vision of my career path: I followed my intuition.

What is your relationship with fashion today?
My icon, ever since I was a young girl, has been Giorgio Armani, both as a guiding spirit of elegance and for his history. He founded the company at 41 and has remained consistent. My style is essential: I feel comfortable in a suit, a nice shirt, or a pair of nice jeans. In everyday life, I'm practical. During the day, I love a minimal style, and Fortela is perfect for me. In the shoot, I'm wearing regular-waisted, straight-leg jeans, a men's-cut denim shirt with mother-of-pearl buttons, and a ruby-colored wool and cashmere sweater over it. It's something essential that doesn't follow trends. In ten years, it will still be relevant. In the evening, I have more fun with sequins, prints, and heels. In the winter, my uniform is a cashmere sweater, a suit, and New Balance sneakers. I've always looked at the male figure.

What do you like about the Fortela style?
Effortless elegance. It's easy, chic, nonchalant. I like it because it's practical: coats, linen shirts, jeans, and shoes that I actually wear. I love the feminine woman who dresses a little like a man. I had a master of style in my family, my grandfather. He's my true icon. When he passed away, I asked for his jackets. He loved tailoring, chose Zegna or Loro Piana fabrics, and had his suits made to measure. I inherited that care and dedication. Everyone says their icon was their grandmother; I say my grandfather.

How did the meeting with Fortela come about?
I met Alessia Giacobino in Paris, in an elevator, during couture week. I was struck by her fringed jacket, and I told her. A mutual friend introduced us, and then Alessia DMed me and gave me that jacket as a gift. We met in a glittering moment, on a trip to Paris, during haute couture, when the city is buzzing with excitement.

Is there anything your work has in common with Fortela's style?
Yes. I love vintage and the way it blends with the present. As a girl, I wasn't interested in trends, but I wanted something that was uniquely mine. The history of objects is fundamental in my work. I love recovering and reusing, even at home: cutlery, trays, vases. There's a history that mustn't be lost. The same goes for family pieces: I like to say "my grandfather's leather jacket," not the brand.

What is your relationship with handcrafted items and research?
I love handmade items, even with their slight imperfections that speak to the emotion of making them. I'm not a flea market collector, but when I do, for example on vacation in Santa Margherita, I really enjoy them. I'm fascinated by the sense of identity. At Fortela, this is a value.

Are there any colors you particularly love?
I love green, hopeful green, even though it doesn't always look good on me. Perhaps the only shade that really suits me is bottle green, which I wore to graduation. I like burgundy because it brings out the eyes, and I adore blue. Among the looks chosen is a linen suit with Bermuda shorts and a burgundy blazer, with a white shirt. I like it because it's perfect for any occasion. Alessia knows women like me and knows we don't have time to change three times a day. Her fashion is always on point.

Where are you going on your next vacation and what will you pack?
Tangier is a dream. Not too far away, with an ideal climate and gardens I'd like to visit. I met Jasper Conran and can't wait to see Villa Mabrouka. I'll pack linen suits, Fortela shirts and jeans, fringed wool and cashmere jackets, and a nice belt. Flat shoes, maybe sneakers, and my Chanel jellyfish pumps. The tuxedo shoe is my signature.