Another rule: No decoration. Mariavittoria, or Marvie, as she’s affectionately known, avoids personalizing pieces through gratuitous ornamentation, believing it’s the wearer who brings the most genuine voice to the clothes. That philosophy helps demystify the answer she gives when asked who her style icon is: “Everybody and nobody”. Resisting to define her clothes through emotion or trend keeps the aesthetic pure and immune to an expiration date, not to mention ridiculously versatile. It’s this versatility that inspires her work, which can be explored with infinite possibility through Marvielab’s family of projects –– and a cold January night found me at the designer’s intimate Paris showroom, curious to do just that. Eschewing long-standing practices and doing them as you see fit, pun intended, is one thing, but there is one tradition not even fashion’s blackest sheep will disregard: Fashion Week. Despite designing around one theme annually, Sargentini takes to Paris 4 times a year to show her work to buyers. There’s no runway show, no fancy installation –– only an old Paris apartment-turned-showroom in which to direct business. And business is getting good.

Greeted warmly by her indispensable assistant, Peter Jevnikar, I’m informed that the theme for 2011 centers around complete reversibility. The idea of doubling your wardrobe with the ability to wear it inside-out is made all the more attractive with Sargentini’s choice to contrast both the fabrics and the colors in most of this year’s selection. I’m shown the current offerings, all pristinely hung on a large, hand-hammered black iron structure resembling a sort of abstract prehistoric skeleton, also conceived by the designer. But first, I’m handed a hearty glass of red wine. Mariavittoria is, after all, Italian.