Clara Centinaro

Chiarina Moglia, better known as Clara Centinaro, was a pioneer in Italian fashion. She was among the first to take the “Made in Italy” label all over the world.

She was twenty years old when she arrived in Rome from her birthplace Bedona, in the province of Parma. Her work and her name grew at the same pace as the name and prestige Italian fashion attained in the world, with constant and decisive contribution. Since the start of the High Fashion shows in Rome, she has always been present with her collections.

Clara ideas were new and innovative. In 1956 she presented a dress in wool and silk that had the shape of an umbrella. In the Sixties one of her most famous creations made its appearance on the catwalk: a flared minidress made of transparent plastic and fun fur. It soon became the symbol of her groundbreaking spirit, capable of shocking the whole fashion world, fascinating and charming everyone.

They say that behind every strong man there is an even stronger woman. Many of these women have worn Clara Centinaro’s creations. From Miss Universe to Evita Peron, who had Clara dress her more than once in Argentina, as well as wives of Venezuelan presidents, of ambassadors or prominent Italian government figures and members of the Roman aristocracy?

It was creating outfits for the countess Marta Marzotto that Clara Centinaro noted the talent of the young noble woman for the fashion world, being the first one to launch the stylist on the runway in the Fifties. She was not only a designer but a great talent scout too.

Clara Centinaro was the first to present her fashion in Poland with the wife of General Jaruleski presiding at her fashion shows. Clara particularly liked and gave careful attention to wedding dresses and those for debutantes, with the romantic, dreamy and fairy-tale style that marked her creations.

With the 1990 spring-summer collection Clara Centinaro launched her perfume: a very refined new fragrance that bears her name. She also prepared the costumes for the ballet “Swan Lake” which was staged during the 1990-91 season at the Rome Opera House. For Clara, the theatrical experience was fantastic, so much so, that the designer wants to draw inspiring from the Russian opera and ballet for her new autumn-winter collection.

The great quantity of journalists that have written about Clara bares witness to her activity as a creator of fashion. The most famous and prestigious fashion magazines have widely illustrated her activity and importance, covering her collections regularly.

She also gained many prizes. In 1970, as recognition of her work in this field, so important for our country, she was awarded the title of “Cavaliere della Repubblica” by the then president Giuseppe Saragat. In 1986 for the same reason President Cossiga named her “Ufficiale”, and in 1992 “Commendatore”. In 2002 her native town Bedona dedicated her a piazza, to commemorate her name and thank her for the contribution she had in spreading Italian fashion industry in the whole world.

The Italian stylist died in 1994 at the age of 81, just after leaving her brand to the Litrico group, specialized in men’s classical fashion since the 20’s.

Clara Centinaro