HOUSE OF CURATED HANGOUTS SESSION 03: CARLOTA MORAIS PIRES
Welcome to Hangouts Session 03 with Carlota Morais Pires!
With over twelve years of work experience in Communication and Media, Carlota Morais Pires has worked as a journalist for Vogue and learned from different experiences in high fashion brands. With a strong editorial and writing background, focused in Fashion, design and lifestyle, she started to develop communication strategy for brands and projects in 2018.
In 2021 she founded The Communication Studio, a press office and creative agency based in Lisbon and aligned with the world’s fast pace, working with emerging designers and established premium brands.
Carlota is wearing Sous Unique Jacket, The Silted Company's Honker trousers in white corduroy, Shinkokyu Funky Lemon Sneakers and Beatriz Jardinha Jewellery.
HOC: Describe a typical day in your life:
Carlota: During the week I am working all day and spend the evening with my daughter, Benedita. Usually we have breakfast together at 8 am; I drop her off in school before 9 am and then I can go to my office or I can be working from home; it depends on which meetings I have and where. Usually I will have lunch with a client, a contributor or with a friend. If I am in a busy week I often have events at the end of the day... if not I will come home and play with Benedita, have dinner with her and watch a movie or read a book before going to bed.
HOC: What are you currently fascinated by?
HOC: Can you share your guilty pleasure?
Carlota: The thing about pleasure is not feeling guilty about it...
HOC: How do you describe your personal style?
Carlota: Minimal, with a lot of oversized pieces. I like to play with textures and layers. What I wear always reflects my mood. I can wear all black or colorful clothes; jeans or trousers and a coat. Office vibe or boyish clothes. I have been into fashion since I remember so I have an extensive closet with a lot of different pieces.
HOC: If you could raid any celebrity closet, who would it be?
Carlota: I wouldn't raid a celebrity's closet but there are some women that are a style reference for me, from Charlotte Rampling to Carolyn Bessette. I like to dive into the 90's nostalgia archives for inspiration.
HOC: Name three must-have items in your wardrobe:
Carlota: The most special ones at this moment are a pair of Jil Sander's black leather flats with a golden bracelet; a Vivienne Westwood pearl necklace; a Saint Laurent blue leather bag, that was a very special present from someone that worked with me for a long time.
HOC: Tell us a bit about "The Communication Studio". What it is, how did it start and where do you wanna take it?
Carlota: I started as a journalist, writing for Vogue and also worked for different fashion brands in London. This background and knowledge gave me the possibility to work as a freelancer and in 2020 I founded The Communication Studio, after creating a solid portfolio of clients. The concept of the studio is evolving as communication is a really wide sphere and includes everything, from press to events. My ambition is to create a consistent work based on irreproachable quality, originality, creativity.
HOC: What do you think are the biggest challenges of being a small business/brand/designer in the fashion industry?
Carlota: My challenge at this moment is creating a great team, so I can take more projects and new clients.
HOC: Balancing an entrepreneurial career with motherhood requires unique skills. How has being a mother influenced your approach to work?
Carlota: Being a mother changed me a lot as a person, as it forced me to work on myself so I could take good care of another human being and be a good reference for this person that means the world to me. I am more grounded and empathic. It was a difficult experience and I had a hard time to conciliate everything on my own, so I feel more powerful and confident. I hesitante less and don't feel as overwhelmed by work or stressful situations.
HOC: As you know, at HOC we only have small and independent designers/brands. Are there any emerging designers or brands that you are keeping an eye on?
Carlota: My favorites are Beatriz Jardinha and Sous, two very talented artists. Their creativity and originality is out of this world - and this reflects on their pieces.
You can follow Carlota (@carlota_mp) and The Communication Studio (@the communicationstudio) on Instagram.
All photos and videos were shot by Tiago Pestana. Follow him on Instagram @tiagobpestana.
Stay tuned for more hangouts with very special guests soon.