Meet Madeline Sarracini, one of Toronto’s hidden best-dressed women. Her unique style marries classic elegance with a touch of glam and a little funk. One thing is for sure: you will never see Madeline walk into a room in which someone has donned the same ensemble. Madeline’s outfits stand out from the rest of the crowd owing to a secret style weapon of which most girls can only dream.
This style weapon is Madeline’s lively and talented Nonna, Loreta, who sparked Madeline’s love for fashion, and continues to influence her style to this day. Born in Italy, Loreta is one of seven sisters, five of whom are trained seamstresses. Like many women of her era, Loreta learned the art of dressmaking at the green age of fourteen from her older sister, Nina. Nina studied classic couture tailoring at Napoli’s Artigianato Artistico school, and lovingly passed on her techniques to her younger sisters.
With the help of her grandmother’s impeccable seamstressing, Madeline is able to dream up looks in her mind, and then work with her grandmother to design sketches and create moodboards that would fit the specific occasion she is attending. Whether it’s a casual birthday party or grand wedding, your eye will always be drawn to Madeline’s consistently striking outfits.
One of these eye-catching outfits, and one of Madeline’s favourite pieces, was a shirt dress made for a three-day wedding in France, made using Dolce & Gabbana floral fabric. Most recently, Madeline’s sister, Kate, celebrated a micro-wedding, at which both Madeline and Kate wore outfits made by their grandmother. Just as Madeline and Kate are able to reap the benefits of having bespoke pieces made for them, Loreta sewed for her own daughters in the past as well, and those pieces have now become vintage staples in Madeline’s closet.
When asked if Madeline has always had a bespoke sense of style: “Absolutely. I believe style is very personal and highly subjective – its value cannot be assessed against a set of guidelines or rules. Aesthetic, lifestyle, cultural heritage, comfort level, and confidence lay the foundation for my bespoke sense of style. Evolving over the years, my style has been a fluid process. I am constantly researching, thrifting, upcycling, designing, creating and hunting for new pieces that I can add to my wardrobe and reflect who I am as an individual.”
Madeline has been able to deeply appreciate the art of dressmaking, and the craftsmanship and skill required to create beautiful pieces. Her fondest memories growing up, and to this day, are when Loreta would pick up her and her sister from school and take them to fabric stores. It was in the midst of these fabric shops, surrounded by prints, patterns and fine imported textiles, that she was introduced to the world of fashion. By exposing Madeline to this world of art, Loreta gave her granddaughter the gift of being able to envision what a lovely piece of fabric could become.
The process of creating each piece is the opposite to the world of fast fashion. Madeline is able to truly appreciate the benefits of investing in high-quality, long-lasting pieces that are tailored to her perfectly and that capture her style. On the top of her list, Madeline loves the Italian luxury fashion house Missoni, “If I could wear one designer exclusively, it would be Missoni. I think the Missoni family has totally challenged the traditional identity of knitwear. Missoni fabric sometimes has a hint of shimmer or sparkle in it that gives it just enough flare, while still appearing elegant and modern.” Luckily, Madeline has had the privilege of sourcing Missoni fabric from Italy, from which her grandmother has created simple dresses. Much like her description of the fabric, Madeline is just that– a sparkly personality, whilst always appearing modern and elegant.
The relationship between Loreta and her granddaughter(s) is one that is deep, loving, and layered. Loreta has literally sewn her love into their lives, not only through clothing, but through her incredible life story. Madeline’s favourite days are spent with Loreta collaborating on looks. Loreta has enormous pride seeing her wear the bespoke pieces that she has created for her. Both Madeline and her grandmother cherish the unique quality time that comes from sitting in Loreta’s sewing room, looking through fashion magazines, and dreaming up timeless pieces that Madeline will be able to keep forever. It is not lost on Madeline, how special it is to have a growing collection of bespoke pieces made with love by Nonna. These clothes will live through Madeline, and hopefully the next generation to come.
Creative Directors: Madeline Sarracini & Estelle Zentil
Model: Madeline Sarracini
Makeup: Alex Walderman Cole
Photographer: Kieran Darcy
