„Self-confidence, freedom and elegance. With that you can get anything in your life.“ Meet a French designer Yoka Sola, who loves to bring beauty and confidence to women´s lives.
Yoka, I had a chance to try your lingerie on my own skin. I must admit it is very sophisticated. What makes it unique?
Thank you Natalie, it is a real compliment for me because I really love sophistication. This is something I like in fashion, all those small details; originality that makes a piece so special. I use tulle, French and Italian lace on my lingerie and applied stones on the cups and interesting details on the straps. I also create exclusive jewellery matching the lingerie collection. When I look for a color for my collection it is difficult because I always look for a special red, special pink, special violet etc. I think that all those characteristics make my brand unique.
When you design, do you have in mind a particular type of woman?
When I design, the type of woman I have in mind loves to feel beautiful and sexy. She has a certain vision of freedom and loves to take new challenges in her life. I grew up in the 90s, at the time when the Top Models started ruling the planet of fashion. I really admired all those ladies: Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford. For their beauty, of course, but not only for that. They looked so strong and self -confident, it looked like everything was possible in their life. They became top models because they were determinated.
This is the vision of an ideal woman for me: if you feel beautiful and self-confident you can take any challenge in your life and succeed in so many things.
French women are very elegant and feminine. What difference do you see between how beauty is perceived in France and here?
Yes that is true. Some french ladies are very beautiful and elegant but not all of them. Some of them do not care at all! I think the biggest difference is the unlimited choice in regards of fashion in France, the freedom of style but also the culture of elegance and appreciation of nice things. What is great in fashion is the possibility you can have to express your creativity and personality in your daily life and this is really part of French culture and also the know-how. Here in the Czech Republic, the people didn’t have the choice of clothes and the culture of fashion for decades but it is changing, of course. For the last 10 – 15 years and more and more today with the influence of lifestyle and fashion magazines. I remember I once saw a Czech movie on TV which was directed in Prague in the 1930s and I was so supprised to see how elegantly the people, both ladies and men, were dressed! We should rather point out the fact that Fashion had some place in the Czech Republic before the 1950s rather than speaking constantly about communism, which is not the period that characterized Czech history.
We should rather point out the fact that Fashion had some place in the Czech Republic before the 1950s rather than speaking constantly about communism, which is not the period that characterized Czech history.
Some people say that colours we wear may very much influence the way how we feel. What role do colours play in your collection?
I really love colors and believe a lot in karma, espacially for interior design: blue is a brain stimulator, pink is girly and sweet, red is agressive, violet represents spirituality, green hope etc. In my collection I work more with colors that suit any skin color. I don’t think like: ‚If I use this color, people will think this or that.‘ When I find some interesting and flaterring shade I work with it.
In my latest Valentine´s collection I launched a set called A dream night in Dubai made of a mix of gold silk with black and violet tulle. It was inspired by the trip I made to Dubai last Christmas. Everything was shinning gold and violet there, espacially the lighting at night. I found this combination of colors very interesting but quite risky. I wasn’t sure if people would like it. At the end it was really successful, which I did not expect. You never know… I really think that ladies should wear more different colors of lingerie, it makes life more beautiful.
Can you name three things which in your opinion make a real lady?
Self confidence, freedom and elegance. With that you can get anything in your life, even men.
I am sure lots of our female readers are going to fall in love with your collection. Where can they find it?
They can contact me directly on my facebook page Lingerie Yoka Sola or on my eshop.
As I am based in Prague and organize private shows, I can meet ladies at home in their environement for private fittings so that they know the exact size they need. If they invite friends I offer them a 10 % discount on each lingerie set sold. It is usually a great deal, which they appreciate.
What message would you like to send to the women reading this?
Feel beautiful and live for yourself according to your own feelings and values.
Yoka, thank you very much for your time and I wish you many happy clients.
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The title photo by Lovogue