Marta Ferri, born and based in Milan, meticulously creates her collection of custom-made dresses, alongside jewelry and handbags, from her couture atelier tucked away in a Brera palazzo. Her dresses are individually handcrafted for her clients, with the help of her master seamstresses, using romantic and feminine prints from her beloved treasure trove of one-of-a-kind and antique fabrics. Her designs are a beloved secret of the chicest women in Italy who covet them for weddings and social events. Already a hard-working mother, she posed in her Armani tuxedo three months pregnant and ready for her second child.
Mr. Armani and I are island buddies. We’ve both been vacationing on Pantelleria since I was a small child.
I love a man’s wardrobe. I borrow my husband’s shirts all the time. I never wear women’s shirts, only men’s.
Timeless fashion is a jacket or a pair of pants from Armani; they will never be out of style. They’re garments that are made to be a part of your wardrobe forever.
I never wear black but I made an exception for the tux I’m wearing for the shoot because a tux has to be black. And the tux is as classic as it gets. Anything better would be impossible.
I design my own dress line because I’m free to do what I love, and that thrills me. The upside and the downside to being independent? I manage my own time. I can always decide to do less, but I’m the engine of this project, and the project is my passion, so I have to keep up the pace.
I never stopped working even when my son was born. I was afraid of losing momentum. Working on an appointment basis allowed me the freedom to make it work, but I’ve got another baby on the way, so we’ll see how it goes the second time around.
Next up for my line, I’m organizing trunk shows to bring my dress atelier around the world. I’ll set up in London first, bringing my staff, my fabrics, my samples– everything– to have a weeklong studio for custom orders. I’m ready to go international.
Mr. Armani is a legend, a vero signore, a true gentleman of class and style. He’s a wonderful representative for our country– we’re lucky to have him.
-Laura Rysman
