ABOUT

Stitched with Purpose - handcrafted fashion for Life After Stilettos.

Sewing has always been part of my story.
As a child, I spent hours creating toy clowns from circles of fabric, embroidering small pictures, and making macramé plant holders. I didn’t realize it at the time, but those early, playful projects were the beginning of a lifelong relationship with designing and making things by hand.

Sewing workspace with measuring tape scissors and beaded fabric showing garment construction process

BEHIND THE SEAMS

Where the magic — and the chaos — happens.

Patterns everywhere, pins hiding in places they shouldn’t, half-finished ideas, and those moments when something finally clicks. Behind the scenes is my creative playground.

Where creativity begins—before fabric, there’s design.

As I grew older, sewing became a way to express my personal style. I made tops and shorts, dresses for my honeymoon, and even tailored suits that I proudly wore to work. Life shifted when I moved to America and began raising my children, and sewing naturally slipped into the background. It wasn’t until Covid—while casually scrolling Facebook—that a sewing video caught my attention and sparked something familiar.

That one moment led me to enroll in fashion classes at The Fashion Institute of Florida, expecting to take just one. Instead, I completed the full curriculum, studying Garment Construction, Pattern Making, Fashion History, Swimwear, Product Development, Textiles, and Adobe Illustrator.

The journey didn't stop there. I traveled to Japan to study traditional kimono making, learning centuries-old techniques. Later, I attended French couture jacket workshops in Italy, diving deep into the precision and artistry of haute couture construction. Each experience deepened my understanding of craft, quality, and what it means to make garments with intention.

Handmade white beaded jacket on dress form showing couture construction and craftsmanship

A FEW THINGS ABOUT ME

  • Sewing has always felt like home.
  • I gravitate toward neutrals, but sewing encourages me to embrace color.
  • I usually have at least two projects going — one being designed, one being sewn.
  • Pattern making and sketching designs in Illustrator are some of my favorite parts of the process.
  • Nothing compares to seeing an idea come to life in fabric for the very first time.

“Clothes should make you feel something — confidence, ease, joy.” — Nicola

  • Nicola founder of After Stilettos signature logo

This is a place where confidence is made — one stitch at a time.

Today, After Stilettos is where that rediscovered passion lives. It’s where I share my sewing projects, and everything I learn along the way, from formal training to traditional techniques. Every piece is created with intention, creativity, and a deep respect for craftsmanship

This is thoughtful design for real life — created slowly, intentionally, and by hand.

Our philosophy is rooted in comfort, confidence, and intentional design.

A mindset we call After Stilettos.

READ JOURNALS