Q&A with Carmen Marc Valvo

Source: AARP.org

Carmen Marc Valvo is an American designer of Spanish and Italian descent whose sumptuous dress designs have been a favorite among celebrities for more than 15 years. Although his father, a doctor, wanted him to become a plastic surgeon, Valvo used his needle and thread for another purpose—to fashion fabrics to make women look beautiful. After earning a degree in fine arts from Manhattanville College, traveling in Europe, and enrolling in the Parsons School of Design, he designed for Nina Ricci and Christian Dior in Paris before going solo. Valvo also designs furs, limited-edition jewelry, and swimwear. As a colon cancer survivor, he is a tireless ambassador for funding research on and raising awareness of the disease.

1. You've been known to admit that, starting out, you didn't realize fashion design could be a profession. When was the moment you realized you had found your life's calling?

I toyed with fine arts and architecture for awhile when studying in Europe for several years. But I realized that fashion was always my first love and what I wanted to pursue, so I returned to New York City to attend Parsons School of Design.

2. Your designs are sought after by such celebrities as Eva Longoria Parker, Queen Latifah, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Vanessa Williams. What is it about your designs that makes them different from the competition's?

I would like to think that what sets my designs apart from the rest is incredible attention to detail and, most importantly, my commitment to fit.

3. Your dresses are known to make women of all shapes and sizes feel like stars on the red carpet. What goes through your mind as you set out to design a new dress?

Every time I set out to design a new collection or a new dress, I challenge myself by working with new materials and techniques that I haven't worked with in the past. In doing so, I push myself to create something new and exciting that my customers will want to wear.

4. Couture is your specialty, yet you also have successful eyewear, sportswear, and handbag collections, as well as a popular line of Victoria's Secret swimwear. How do you switch gears among these "genres" and still maintain quality and beauty?

I never switch gears. I think the DNA of my brand permeates through everything I do, and I keep true to my design aesthetic. Good design can and should translate through whatever genre or medium one works in.

5. Your father was an anesthesiologist and your mother a nurse. They expected you to go into the medical field, but instead you turned to fashion. How critical was family support in your career choice?

My parents were very supportive and wanted me to pursue whatever I desired, though they would have preferred that I become a plastic surgeon, and in hindsight, sometimes I do, too!

6. You are a survivor of colorectal cancer. What gave you the strength to overcome a deadly disease?

A positive attitude is paramount when confronting any adversity in life, so I maintain a healthy attitude on life and was very positive regardless of the potential outcome.

7. Only 37 percent of Hispanic Americans undergo colorectal screenings within the recommended time frame—every 10 years for healthy adults over 50. That is compared with 57 percent of white non-Hispanics, according to a 2008 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. In addition, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Hispanic men and the third leading cause among Latinas. How are you working to change these statistics for the better?

I find these figures to be very upsetting, and I don't know why there should be such a large discrepancy. I think it has to do with the Latin machismo, which needs to be overcome.

I am working very hard to change these statistics for the better by having open dialogue and talking about this issue wherever I can to make it more fashionable to discuss openly. Hopefully the stigma will not be such a difficult thing to accept.  Furthermore, if you cannot overcome the idea of getting a colonoscopy, I'm also advocating the FIT test (fecal immunochemical test), which is an easily administered test that you can do in the privacy of your own home. If your insurance won't cover a colonoscopy, this is a way to get an early read that can lead to a fully covered colonoscopy, which can save your life.

8. You only discovered that you had cancer after insisting on a second opinion. What prompted you to seek further answers?

I didn't insist on a second opinion with another doctor; I insisted on a colonoscopy, because I worked closely with my doctor. After discarding many possibilities, I insisted, and he concurred, that I should undergo a colonoscopy, even though I was under the recommended age of 50 at the time and would not be covered by my insurance. Luckily I had the means to undergo the test, but not everyone does, and this has got to change.

9. What have you found about your 50s to be the most surprising? The most enjoyable? The most challenging?

The most surprising? I still feel like I am in my 30s. I have the energy and the drive to tackle new projects, but with the experience to make it attainable. The most enjoyable? It's the fact that after a long and happy career I have the means to enjoy my life more so then when I was in my 30s. The most challenging part of being in my 50s is nothing at all. If you have good health and state of mind, there's nothing challenging about being in your 50s.

10. What tips do you have for women age 50+ who want to look and feel beautiful and fashionable? What are some fashion "don'ts" for women age 50+?

I would give the women in their 50s the same advice I'd give to any women. I think one of the biggest issues with aging is the feeling that something is not age-appropriate. How short can my skirt go? Can I go sleeveless? Strapless? There are many questions that arise as to what is appropriate. I think it's really on an individual basis, how fit and comfortable you are with your own body has nothing to do with age.

There are no rules—style comes from within! It's more important about making yourself feel beautiful, wonderful, and gorgeous. I like to concentrate on the positive. I think it's about the fashion dos: Do dress up for those special occasions, do take the time to look great for your significant other, and do not worry about the don'ts!