Born in Finland and refined in New York, Claudia Cifu is impossible to overlook with her eye for vintage gems and dynamic, chic presence. Her style shifts with moods, seasons, and cities, always serving as an expression of self. Warm and welcoming, she greeted Silver with a radiant hug and invited him into a home filled with cozy treasures. At the heart of it all, she is a creative director, consultant, and stylist.
When did you realize that clothes matter?
I guess I’d have to say it started around when I was a teenager, and certain brands and styles became popular among my circle of friends. Unfortunately, it turned into a bit of a popularity contest at times – who had the latest cool sneakers, whose Levi’s were real or fake, and so on.
I like to pair my baggy, masculine denim Adidas x Balenciaga shorts with something softer and with a more feminine vibe. Vintage ruffle shirts – like the one in the photo – and high heels with character are great pieces to make the look feel a bit more unique while still keeping it casual. The shoes are by Hagelstam. My belt belonged to my daughter’s grandfather. It’s probably forty or more years old, and it’s still sturdy yet soft – one of my favorite belts!
Your earliest memories related to clothing?
I visited my parents’ home country, Chile, for the first time when I was three years old. South American girls' clothes were so different from what we had in Finland. I remember getting a bunch of princess-like dresses with ruffles and tiny high heels – they were the coolest pieces of clothing I had ever seen. I felt amazing and was in total awe of the clothes, especially the heels.
How did you dress in high school and university? When did your current style start to take shape? What influenced it?
In high school, I had a brief heavy metal phase, mostly because it was the trend among my peers. Then, when I visited the USA at age 13, I discovered R&B music. I bought a bunch of CDs – Brandy, Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige, TLC… When I came back to Finland, I was the only one among my friends listening to R&B. Pretty quickly, I transitioned to hip-hop, which started to influence my style. I began dressing in baggy pants, oversized T-shirts, flannel shirts, and so on.
In university, I was living in NYC, but before that, I spent a year in Miami. I had many friends from the West Indies who introduced me to reggae, dancehall, and soca music. That also influenced my style – I started to adopt more of a hippie/multiculti aesthetic, which was super trendy in the early 2000s. In New York, my style became more feminine. Before that, I only wore sneakers, but in New York, I discovered high heels and really started getting into high fashion.
I think my style has been more or less the same since I was a teenager. I don’t think I have one specific look or style – or maybe I do, but I just don’t realize it. The way I dress changes daily, depending on my mood and the season. I’m a completely different person, style-wise, in summer versus winter. Cities and cultures also influence how I dress. Bigger cities give me more freedom to express myself and inspire me more. In a nutshell, I’d say music, cultures, and the places I’ve lived have all shaped my style.
My t-shirt is by Ghetto Rodeo, a Latinx-owned streetwear brand rooted in West Los Angeles. It’s a political statement, but at the same time, I think it’s a deeply human one: that no one is illegal on stolen land. It is also a response to the ongoing ICE raids in the U.S. for deporting people. it’s a rejection of all regimes that have stripped Indigenous people of their rights, created absurd immigration policies, or practiced apartheid and genocide. My cowboy boots, belt and jeans are thrifted. Almost all of my necklaces are by Aida. Earrings are by Ildar Wafin for Kalevala and bracelets are by Keskipomppu. All of them are finnish designers, who are my friends.
Why do some people know how to dress cool and others don’t? Where does style begin?
Well, I think style is really an extension of yourself. It’s a form of expression – of your mind, personality, values, life experiences, etc. I find dressing to be very emotional as well. If I feel amazing, you’ll be able to see it in the way I dress; and on the contrary, if I feel a bit low or tired, I probably won’t put much effort into my outfit. Sooo… I guess people who dress cool use clothing as a kind of tool. It’s personal and important for them to express themselves, and I think that’s what makes someone stand out and look cool. :) As for those who don’t really care about dressing or expressing themselves through clothing – they probably just don’t look that cool, style-wise.
An ode to Martine Rose – one of my favorite British designers. My shoes and T-shirt are by M. Rose. My silk skirt is thrifted from Copenhagen, and my blazer is a six-year-old piece from Ganni. I love the silhouette the skirt and blazer create together. Necklaces are by aforementioned Aida.
Clothes as a form of communication?
Definitely. You can communicate your mood, values, taste in music, political stance, and so on through the way you dress. It’s a powerful and beautiful form of communication!
Clothes as memory keepers?
I’m very superstitious. If I’ve worn a piece and didn’t have a good night while wearing it, I might never wear it again. At the same time, I don’t like keeping clothes in my closet just for memory’s sake, even if they’re tied to a great memory. I’ve kept some of my daughter’s pieces, but honestly, just a few. I also like to pass on clothes she wore a – or ones that are special or one of a kind – because it brings me joy to see another child wear and shine in the same piece.
This is my sexy, feminine side – when I pair well-fitting vintage Levi’s with something that shows a bit of skin. The MaisonARCT lace top, peach-colored vintage velvet heels, and ONAR lamb fur jacket create a perfect mix of textures and softness.
Why do you enjoy hunting for special pieces?
Clothes you miss and wish you still had?
I think I tend to follow interesting designers, and if I come across a piece that really catches my eye – and I keep thinking about it – I’ll buy it. I also enjoy the fact that I’m supporting a smaller-scale designer and that I’ve acquired a piece I truly love.
No regrets. I don’t miss any piece after I’ve let them go.
Your everyday outfit — what matters most in it?
I have to say comfort and materials. As a stylist, I work a lot on my feet and I’m on my hands and knees a lot. Lose fitting pants and good shoes are essentials!
The pleated miniskirt is by Chopova Lowena. My cropped soccer shirt says “Deira” in Arabic – it’s dedicated to Palestinian artist Saint Levant's family-owned hotel in Gaza, which was destroyed in an Israeli bombing in January 2024. The bomber jacket is by a Finnish streetwear brand called Vitun Leija. All the cool youth – and, I guess, some middle-aged women – wear this brand. My shoes were thrifted in Copenhagen; they’re a collaboration between Jean Paul Gaultier and Jimmy Choo.
My Mexican huipil dress is by Vintage Jesus. I like clothing that brings out my South American roots – the ruffles I wore as a little girl, and the vivid colors that contrast nicely with Scandinavian minimalism. My Balenciaga “tourist bag” reminds me of my years in New York. My jeans are by Teurn Studios, and my cowboy boots are thrifted.
Whose style has caught your eye in Estonia and abroad, and why?
I would say that, in general, wherever I go, I’m really drawn to youth. I love seeing the way they express themselves through style. Most young people don’t have much money to spend on clothing, so they have to get quite creative. And of course, they’re the new ambassadors of emerging subcultures, as well as a reflection of current social movements and past trends – bringing them to life in ways that differ from how they appeared the first, second, or even third time around. I find this incredibly interesting and inspiring to witness.
This brown taffeta overall is by MaisonARCT, a Marrakech-based designer. I call it the fancy version of my Carhartt overalls – and also a throwback to my teenage years and the hip-hop era. The shoes I’m wearing are by a Finnish designer named Hagelstam. The bag is a collaboration between Finnish fashion designer Sini Saavala and Chora. My tourist cap is from this summer, when I visited Marrakech with my daughter.