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Giacinta Frisillo

Hey giacinta!

What are you wearing today?

Figuring out what to wear for this shoot was one of the most difficult things I’ve had to do in a while! Eventually, I landed on an oversized vintage men’s pink cotton shirt I found at Barnardo’s, a pair of unexpectedly comfortable bright turquoise Swedish clogs that I got on the Brilliant Bartering Facebook group for a bottle of wine, and the first ever piece of clothing I made from scratch – a 1” pleated skirt I sewed by hand. I got the fabric for free from Materials for the Arts in Queens, New York. A local Dominican tailor in Brooklyn gifted me a zipper because I spoke Spanish to him. I don’t actually wear it that often, but it was one of the articles of clothing that came with me in the move from New York because it holds a lot of memories for me and I’m pretty proud of it. Of course, I’ve also got on a black turtleneck and tights – my daily standard in perpetually chilly Scotland.

I love your chunky jewellery, are you a big accessories fan?

I do love accessories and have probably far too many. It’s a bad day when I’ve forgotten to put on earrings and it’s always a better day when I’ve chosen some rings, a bracelet and a necklace. Don’t even get me started on badges and brooches!

Where do you find your clothes?

I love vintage clothes and have been almost exclusively shopping at thrift shops since high school, when I began to have the confidence to dress in the older styles I loved. Since moving to Govanhill, I can be found perusing Barnardo’s on Victoria Road several times a week.

I also like to raid my mom’s closet and jewellery boxes when back home and never say no to a hand-me-down. My dear friend Rosie has given me some beautiful things. It’s become easier to wear a lot of this stuff since I’ve gotten more comfortable tailoring my clothes and I’ve taken to doing so with nearly every piece. A bit of tailoring can go a long way.

Interview by Jack Howse Portrait by Eoin Carey

What’s been your best secondhand find?

This is such a difficult question! I don’t think I can answer this with complete confidence, but one of my favourite finds is a pink and orange shimmery brocade 1970s formal dress I found at a vintage shop in Dublin. I like to buy clothing when I travel because when I wear it, it brings back happy memories.

Another very special find that comes to mind is the set of golden vintage knotted metal buttons I got to replace the cheap brown plastic buttons on my winter coat (also vintage, from Berlin). There’s a shop in New York called Tender Buttons that specialises in vintage buttons and cufflinks, some of which are extraordinarily expensive. It’s a very quiet archival treasure trove and I love it.

Have you got a style icon or a favourite era?

Bowie is my biggest icon – not only because of the outfits he wore, but because he pushed boundaries, borrowed influences from everywhere, and took changes in his stride. Otherwise, I watch a lot of old films and get a bunch of style concepts there. I love so very many styles within eras from the past, but my favourites are the 30s for formal wear, the 40s for women’s workwear, and the 70s for both everyday and nights out.

You usually do our style icon interviews. Any tips you’ve picked up from your predecessors?

I have been in awe of everyone who has participated in this section and have loved having the opportunity to chat with them about their style and how it’s intertwined with their lives. That said, I think it’s a sort of “I-don’t-mind-pushing-others-into-itbut-I’m-scared-stiff-when-I-get-anywhereclose-to-it-myself” kind of thing and being this issue’s style icon has been both exciting and terrifying! I suppose my main take away is to exude confidence – not just in photos, which I don’t have an easy time doing – but in life. Wear your clothes with pride. Be noticed by people for your choices. Don’t follow trends; make them.

Interview by Marzanna Antoniak