Estefania Lacayo originally from Nicaragua is a true New York “fashionista”.

After working for five years in the buying and public relations department at Vivre, a luxury catalogue,(www.vivre.com) she decided to go on her own as a fashion consultant and luxury brand manager . Her concept is finding new talents and positioning them in the luxury world. Her clientele is made up of various brands for the home, in jewelry and fashion. She also contributes as a buyer for the new website, Ideeli, (www.ideeli.com).

Favorite luxury brands and why ?

• Hermes definitely has positioned itself as the most luxurious brand in the world. It’s consistency, innovation and hand made craftsmanship is what luxury is all about.
• Bottega Veneta for being such a classic brand and always having the highest quality. This premiere Italian leather goods house approach to fashion is refined and understated dispensing of logos and flash.

Favorite online stores?

• www.ideeli.com
• www.amazon.com
• www.netaporter.com

What is a typical day for you like Estefania?

I usually wake up at 7:30 am and check emails , have a cappuccino as I read WWD, NY Times, La Prensa and of course check Facebook!!!( this is someone who refused to get on facebook for the longest time and is now a complete addict). After a gym class my day is followed by a breakfast meeting with a client, buyer or an editor that I am working on a story with. Then I rotate my visits to my different clients showrooms/offices and work with different designers on branding. My favorite part of the day is planning dinner with friends, I always go out for dinner. This is a “must” for me.

Best magazines and why?

• Italian Vogue because it really is about true fashion and style.
• NY Magazine because it keeps me up to date on whats going on in the city,
• and of course I read Ninu nina.

Interesting stores around the world that you love?

• Beymen – Istanbul
• Daslu – Sao Paulo
• Mercado Managua Nicaragua
• Nuyorica Rome

Challenges of freelancing in fashion

After giving this question some thought, I realize there really hasn’t been any “challenges” per se, the freedom and spontaneity I have is priceless!

Most elegant girls in New york?

I believe any woman with personal style is elegant. I also think that if you go downtown in this city, and you look around, women here are setting the trends rather than following them.

Favorite places to eat in NY and why?

• Sur Evolution Showroom ( organic, homemade , and the funnest conversations)
• Il Bucco – just around the corner, always consistent and delicious

Best places to go for drinks?

• Rosebar
• All my friends apartments

What cant you live without?
GOOGLE

Who are your favorite artists?

Francisco Goya which opened new ways and helped art break free from religious imagery. He broke barriers and is the father of modern art.
Brazilian artist Vik Muniz-I am drawn into his Chocolate series.
As a contemporary artist I really admire the works of Cyndy Sherman. Sherman brings extraordinary changes on the idea of self portraiture as she disappears behind the guises of movie stars and characters she impersonates ..
She is a master for turning the camera on herself.
Favorite quote

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become.”
Gautama Siddharta
Hobbies?
traveling, reading, organizing dinners and finding new interesting things

Who are your favorite fashion icons?

• Andy Warhol-For everything he represented. For creating ” Factory” a studio were artists, painters, musicians, writers, sculptors could all work and gather around him. Also for having created the sexiest albums ever .
• Edith Piaf-She was a character not just an image. The way she presented herself on stage is iconic; she was a woman who led her own way.

Best ad campaign?

• Coca Cola in the early nineties with Cindy Crawford for it’s sensuality
• Mario Testino’s ad campaigns for Burberry – I love the way he tells the story.