Elegant, with a sweet face and a model's bearing. Álex Riviére is the spitting image of sophistication. He has inherited it from his mother, Mer Creus, with whom he shares great complicity and his passion for fashion. The 31-year-old designer and art director shies away from the term influencer despite the fact that her love for her good clothes has led her to become a style benchmark in Spain and accumulate more than a million followers on Instagram. Recently married to Austrian businessman Christian Sieber, the creative divides her time between her clothing brand Alex Riviere Studio, photo shoots for firms like Dior and, above all, her family.
What is fashion for you?
It is a form of art, of expression, both for the creative and for the consumer. There are people who may think that fashion is something superficial but in reality there is something intrinsic in each garment. The act of dressing says something about each one of us, consciously or unconsciously.
What about Instagram?
It is solely and exclusively a communication tool. It is not a way of life, it is a visual speaker to convey a message.
Tell us something about yourself that you don't show on social media?
Apart from fashion and my dog, I am passionate about the motor world. They put me on a motorcycle when I was 3 years old and it is something that I love, I enjoy speed. I come from a very biker family, my father was a Formula 3 racer, and I plan to return to motocross and communicate it on Instagram.
Elegance, is one born with it or is it cultivated?
It all depends. On the one hand, each person has intrinsic things that come naturally to them, such as a sophisticated gesture or a certain grace when walking, and that is difficult to replicate or learn. It is true that based on seeing parades and having good references you can refine your taste. However, for me there is a lot of truth in the expression "even if the monkey dresses in silk, the monkey stays".
You inherited your taste for fashion from your mother, Mer Creus. What is your first memory with her related to the world of fashion?
My mother and I used to love flipping through fashion magazines together. We made cutouts and kept the photos in large folders and folders, a kind of homemade Pinterest from yesteryear. It was something we always did together. I also remember that, when I was very little, I was fascinated by my mother's closet. She would sit on the sofa and I would parade for her in her clothes. She tied one of her scarves for me as a dress and she put on her heels, which were huge for me.
You often work together, is there usually friction?
MI mother is my best friend. We adore each other and always act the same on camera and off camera. We almost never fight, we try to avoid it, but if we do -which is usually every so often- then we are exhausted for days. There is a lot of dialogue between us.
An advice that your mother has given you and follow to the letter.
Less is always more. It's like a dogma to me.
An important piece of clothing that you were particularly excited to buy?
I remember that I was about 14 years old. She was obsessed with some Yves Saint Laurent shoes that Kate Moss wore, the Tribute. At that time I collected clippings from the magazines where she appeared. They were super tall and round toed. She was obsessed. I saved and got them based on effort. I still have them and they are very precious to me. A designer I admire. I am a big fan of Anthony Vacarello on an aesthetic level, he fascinates me with what he does. As a person, I admire Maria Grazia Chiuri for her involvement in all the firm's processes and how she soaks up culture and historical events to later design her creations.
The most special jewel in your jewelery box?
You will never see me without my yellow gold seal on my little finger. I designed it with my father and he gave it to me for the last birthday I spent with him. He has a drawing that symbolizes our intertwined initials and inside it has an inscription that says "from your daddy."
You can tell that family is important to you. How do you balance so many trips with your personal life?
'Family is the most important'. My father tattooed this phrase on my head and I never forget it. If I can return home a day earlier, I will, if my nephew is excited to see Formula 1 I will do the impossible to go with him. Small efforts make a difference and generate those memories and strong relationships that at the end of the day are what really matters in life. When you work in the world of fashion, which can be cold and unreal at times, it's important to keep that in mind and always keep your feet on the ground.
Children in sight?
I would love to have two but not in the short term. I think you have to enjoy each stage and I just got married, I want to be able to enjoy time as a couple.
