About simplicity and beauty in life with Irina Morosanu
When I first discoverd the universe of Les vacances d’Irina, I was facinated by the simplicity, the uniqueness and the authenticity of the wearable poems she creates. It was coup de foudre. I imagined myself wearing one of her dresses and walking barefoot on a Greek island. She gave me a timeless feeling so I decided to invite her to talk to us about the story behind her clothing brand, about feminity and beauty, about her daily routines, vulerabilities and the simplicity of being.
Irina is a Mediterranean muse who created an authentical clothing brand that pays homage to the art of holidaying around the Mediterranean, as it once was... A time of simple glamour, when attitude mattered more then who you were. A time when people would still write postcards and wallow in simplicity – as Irina says. Her Instagram page is a delight for the eyes and you may think she is always in vacantion. But when she’s not in vacantion, she spends time in her atelier - I love mornings in Bucharest. They can be really peaceful and when it is sunny they are perfect. I will stay in the atelier for a few hours - I love being there and working on new collections or creative work in general. I love doing what I do. –
We have more than something in common with Irina: a sense of beauty, the love for simplicity and uniqueness, an attraction for the timeless feeling and stories that empowers women to be and to feel beautiful in their own poems/skin.
Who is Irina and what inspired you to create Les Vacances d’Irina?
Les vacances d’Irina was inspired by the relaxed spirit of Mediterranean summers.
I identify myself with the brand and I think I allow this to be seen by others quite often.
All my vulnerabilities, my fears, my profound thoughts and my dreams can be seen in my creations. It’s hard for me to talk about myself from the outside. I wrote a lot of things but I deleted them because I didn’t like how they sound when I am the one who is telling them. I am quite modest and shy and I generally find it hard to talk about myself.
What does the expression that appears on the wrapping paper – wear your poems – mean to you and how do you wear your poems?
“Wear your poems” means the freedom that comes from within and from the piece of cloth that you are wearing. All the items I create are connected to the inner free self of each woman and I call this poetry. Everything is possible when you wear Les vacances d’Irina. I truly believe that sometimes clothes give you power and confidence and I experimented this a lot in the last years when I would wear LVI.
Tell us the story of Les Vacances d’Irina from the very beginning till now.
Les Vacances d’Irina was founded in 2017 in homage to the relaxed spirit of Mediterranean summers. Originally inspired by a wicker basket found in a French flea market, the designs are anchored in simplicity and authenticity, uniting the romance of voluminous silhouettes and exaggerated proportions with the elegance of smart collars and cuffs, all handcrafted with longevity in mind.
Les vacances d'Irina is a brand that pays homage to the art of holidaying around the Mediterranean, as it once was... A time of simple glamour, when attitude mattered more then who you were. A time when people would still write postcards and wallow in simplicity. A time of simple ideas, honest materials and clean, timeless design. Les Vacances d’Irina slowly grew, in the rhythm and the style we wanted. Unhurried, like those lingering summers. We focus on sustainable items designed to last a lifetime. Both in the design and the quality of the materials. We choose to work with linen, silk, cotton and wool - all hand worked by Romanian craftsmen, as they've been for centuries. Les vacances d'Irina is about simplicity and authenticity.
What is Irina’s definition of beauty?
I don’t have a simple definition to beauty. I think beauty is in small gestures and daily activities as much as it is in great art works, movies, music, etc. I have a very simple and abstract perception of beauty. I fall in love with light, for example. I think that light can make things beautiful. Naturalness is beautiful. Authenticity is beautiful. Vulnerability is beautiful. Freedom is beautiful. I believe in that quote that tells that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Such truth!
What does a day in Irina’s life look like?
If I am in Bucharest at the atelier, I wake up quite early, do some stretching and drink my green tea or matcha lately. I stopped drinking coffee a few months ago so the green tea moment took the place of the coffee moment in the morning. I like to start the day listening to a song I like and usually I walk to the atelier. I love mornings in Bucharest. They can be really peaceful and when it is sunny they are perfect. I will stay in the atelier for a few hours - I love being there and working on new collections or creative work in general. I love doing what I do and I feel lucky! (smiles)
After the office work, I will do some things for myself - usually yoga or pilates. I try to do them every day. I am in a phase where I am taking more care of myself , my physical and my mental health so I am meditating more than usual. In the evening, I write in my journal, watch a movie, cook something or see friends. I like to keep things simple and I’ve created my life in such a manner that I am really grateful for it.
I have also really bad days when I feel anxious and depressed and when everything is really difficult and I can’t find the strength in myself. I have days when I cry for hours and days where I feel really lost. I have days when creativity is at zero but I am starting to learn that everything is ok and I accept what comes.
When I am traveling which is quite often, I am trying to keep the routine - I work remotely and I can do this easily because I have a very good assistant at the office. I am doing yoga or pilates every day and I try to fully enjoy my vacation days. I combine traveling with work quite a lot and I am very good at it! (smiles)
You are like a Greek muse with tanned skin, walking barefoot and always wearing a white dress. What is your favourite clothing piece and how would you describe your fashion style?
Thank you for your compliments! (Blushing)
It’s funny how I am not feeling well in my skin often and I want to say something for the first time: I was diagnosed with body dysmorphya recently and I am fighting with this thing a lot. It is a tough road and I wanted to talk about this because I know that when you look at my Instagram you would think that I feel very good in my own skin and that I am confident and that I love my body. Actually, it is the opposite. I have days in row when I hate every centimeter of my body and when I cover myself from top to toe and when I am not going out because of the fact that I feel fat or that I feel that I am ugly. I have days when I am starving myself and I am not happy or proud about it. I am going through a tough process but I am optimistic and I am willing to work a lot on this matter.
And now, to answer to your question - I love all my dresses, of course, (smiles), but my favourite is A bigger splash dress. It is one of the first items I made and I remember it took me some time to fall in love with this dress. It happened later but I think it will be forever… It is hard to put a name on my style. But If I had to, the word would be “sophistication”. I dress as I feel. I dress as I live. I think that the simpler you dress, the more beautiful and sophisticated you are. Of course, I believe a lot of this comes from the inside. My style is a permanent flow, a sexy mood, a state of mind.
I propose you an exercise of imagination: if you would be a jewellery piece, what would you like to be and why?
I would love to be a beautiful coral necklace. Why - because I find the natural materials very exquisite and luxurious when they are well chosen and well designed. I love the naturalness and the normality of a coral jewel. It's like a part of your collarbones.
What is your relationship with jewellery and which are your top three favourite jewellery pieces from The Sense of Beauty gallery?
I wear a very small gold cross pendent every day. This piece has become part of me. I like silver pieces more than gold ones. I like to wear rings more than earrings although I was a big fan of earrings in the past. I have quite a big collection of voluminous colorful necklaces, though I wear them rarely. I love to collect them more than to wear them but I know that their time will come (smiles)
From The Sense of Beauty gallery I like the Triple Geometrical Ring Concord Silver and the Screwdriver Bracelet Silver.
If you were not be Irina - here and now- who, where and how would you like to be?
I would be a singer. Somewhere in Italy. Maybe Rome. I would like to be exactly as I am now. Ok, maybe more daring (smiles)
What do Les Vacances d’Irina look and taste like? What is your favourite destination?
Les vacances d’Irina look like a summer morning on a beach with blue, clear and crisp water. It tastes like a peach clafoutis.
I have so many favourite destinations! It is very hard for me to choose just one. I love the simplicity, the minimalism and the whiteness with a touch of blue of Greek seaside. But I adore the Italian colorful beaches and the seaside life that is very playful and alive. If I were to move somewhere and to live around 6 months per year, that would be maybe Hydra in Greece.
