Curated Art and Style with Elisa Valenti
Not only do we go in the art studio with Elisa Valenti, but now you can shop her closet. Vintage and modern pieces personally selected ranging from size 12 to size 22 (L to 3XL) and includes clothing, outerwear and formal wear. Each item reflects a moment and tells the stories from an art shows, to photoshoots, celebrations and trips to favorite places and inspirations.
Shop My Closet sale starts today, July 21st!
A free gift with all fashion hauls. Free US shipping on art and closet hauls of 350 or more. Use code SHOP
“Like the art you choose to put on your walls, fashion is the art you put on your body. Both reflect your personality, and if you are comfortable and feel confident with what you are wearing, you’ll look radiant and ready to face the world. Doing it with stye doesn’t hurt either. ”
The Lace Armor
I grew up in a time when eating in public was shameful, stomach rolls made you unworthy, and shopping for clothes was traumatic. I grew up before being plus size was mainstream. When I was a teenager I would invent my own outfits and make things from what I could find because my size was often not available in major retailers. I was often the friend looking at accessories and shoes when we went shopping as a group.
My mom worked in the Fashion world so I was surrounded by that culture. “Don’t eat that— you won’t be able to go shopping- you won’t be able to fit into any clothes”. These comments lead to a painful relationship with food.
Walking up to a store clerk to ask if they carried size 14 and be told, “no we don’t make big sizes” lead to suppressed feelings of otherness and shame— a powerful feeling of shame, about a body I didn’t choose, sculpted my reality for the first 30 years of my life.
What I wore was so important to me because when dressed well, I’d hear affirmations like, “You dress so nice Elisa— you don’t even look fat” or “even though you’re plus size, you dress so well and you don’t even look it”.
My clothing was my armor and masked my insecurities— they made my fatness “invisible”. I carefully curated my wardrobe to ensure I always looked “flattered”. As I matured and formed my true sense of identity, I became more comfortable in my fashion choices— crop top back then? NEVER— Now- hell yes.
As long as I constantly looked perfectly put together, my fatness wouldn’t be the forefront of discussion. I deluded myself. Now I dress with what I like and what makes me feel good without needing the affirmations of others to sculpt my self esteem.
I enjoy fashion, always have and am really happy to share many of my favorite pieces with you. I hope you choose a piece you may have thought you could never pull off and wear it now with a new found sense of confidence.
In this painting, The Lace Armor that took 37 years to paint, the armor is transparent and exposes the realization that this body, never needed to be hidden in order to feel—-worthy.
-Elisa
“Style is a silent language that speaks volumes about your confidence and creativity.”