My Style: designer Carolina Cucinelli reveals her top sources of inspo

The daughter of designer Brunello Cucinelli, known as the “king of cashmere”, Carolina is the co-president and co-creative director of the fashion label her father founded in the Italian region of Umbria in 1978. Since getting more involved in the design side of the business, she has injected a dose of femininity into the label, which for years had been more popular among stylish men. That’s no longer the case, with female celebrities such as Kristen Stewart and Kim Kardashian embracing the timeless creations of Brunello Cucinelli.

Here, the fashion heiress shares a few key sources of inspo and places close to her heart, in Italy and beyond.

My ultimate style icon …

The absolute icon for me is Jackie Kennedy, she was perfect on every occasion, with a timeless elegance.

The books, films and shows I adore …

I like podcasts, those that tell stories that really happened and listening to music. I am also passionate about animated films, my favourites being those of Miyazaki and Tim Burton. I like reading poetry, such as that by Patrizia Cavalli. In particular, her latest collection of poems Vita Meravigliosa really struck me; she has a vision that fascinates me.

The Instagram accounts I follow most closely …

I follow a lot of stylists’ accounts: I like to see how others interpret and express trends. Then there are the lifestyle ones which help you discover unknown places. I really like @italysegreta and @the_globbers – they tell interesting stories, from different but engaging points of view. I follow everything to do with art, cinema, fashion, music … also the accounts of tattoo artists, a great passion of mine. I recently started tattooing myself, attending a course and drawing inspiration (and courage!) from the Instagram account of a dear friend and excellent tattoo artist.

My top beauty hacks …

Black nail polish, always. My favourite is Le Vernis by Chanel, it has a really intense, addictive colour. I like its contrast with my fair skin. I never change the colour, it’s a sort of hallmark of mine. Woody perfume, always too. I like the idea that people can link a fragrance to an individual. I use the Brunello Cucinelli perfume for men, which we recently launched, it has a strong character.

Where I grew up …

Solomeo [her home village] is my heartland. It’s where I grew up, it’s the repository of all my memories and it’s where I chose to raise my son Brando because there is a strong sense of community there, it makes you feel protected. Umbria in general is very green, there are many places where you can enjoy a nice walk breathing clean, fresh air: a sunset by Lake Trasimeno for example. There’s also lots of art and culture – wonderful cities like Perugia or Assisi.

Milan, on the other hand, is a city that inspires my creativity. It is full of museums and galleries: you can take a trip to the Pinacoteca in Brera and immerse yourself in classical painting, or walk among modern design pieces in the Rossana Orlandi Gallery. You are spoiled for choice. And finally, you can’t miss out on a drink at the storied Bar Basso.

My go to getaways …

Los Angeles is like a second home for me and my husband. When we are in town we always stay at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood, in our favourite bungalow. It is a place full of history and legends, with a fascinating touch of mystery. In other cities I always stay at Soho House. I feel at home there because there is a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere, where everyone seems like old friends who meet after a long time and have dinner together or a drink.

My travel bucket list

I would like to see the Northern Lights, I think it would be a wonderful experience, fully immersed in nature. Every now and then we have to be amazed by all the wonder that surrounds us, I see it a bit like a permanent work of art.

My favourite looks for the season

Tailoring and thus masculine taste, which we focus on in the ladies’ collection, are very important to us. A blazer and trousers matching set, which can be paired with either trainers or heeled shoes, is suitable for daytime but also for the evening, depending on the material. For example, we can opt for a light cloth for daytime and add a touch of shine for the evening.

And then knitwear – a V-neck perhaps – suitable both with denim and underneath a blazer: very versatile, a sort of passe-partout.