SOTTILE FASHIONS :
SOTTILE FASHIONS :
Form and Function Inspire Unique Fashions
By Jen Forsyth
Some concepts are born in the middle of a city . Some ideas are born literally inside a closet , and they are just as wonderful as any idea born in a fairytale place .
Jennifer Mendicino of Sottile Fashions is a West Virginia girl who has battled her way to a place of beauty and contentment , and she is ready to burst onto the fashion scene in a big way with her line of fun and fashionable clothing that all women can wear anywhere they like .
Life has not always been easy for Mendicino , and health issues are a big reason why . At age 16 , the seemingly healthy high school cheerleader collapsed on the football field in extreme pain . After several hospital trips and surgeries to remove a kidney , Mendicino was diagnosed with Crohn ’ s Disease . She had one surgery for a Crohn ’ s-related bowel obstruction at age 19 and later combatted endometriosis and had surgery on her ovaries . She pushed through the pain long enough after she got married so she could have two children , but soon after , she required a partial hysterectomy at age 27 and a full hysterectomy in 2015 .
“ I feel like in some way , shape or form , it ’ s all connected ,” Mendicino says . “ And it ’ s probably by something very small that ’ s causing all of this . Some say diet ; some say don ’ t eat out of plastics . I say you just do the very best you can . I just try to take care of myself and eat as healthy as I can just to take care of myself and my kids . If I can ’ t take care of my kids , then there is a problem .”
So how did the idea of Sottile come into play ? Like many things , out of need . Mendicino ’ s marriage ended , and she had to find a way to take care of her children . She had always been into fashion , but life as a single mom was definitely the turning point .
“ After I got divorced , I just felt terrible about myself . I had lost myself somewhere in the midst of being a stay-at-home-mom , and I just didn ’ t know who I was anymore . And I was thrown into a position where I had to be able to take care of these kids and take care of myself , so I knew once I stopped feeling sorry for myself that I had to get it together .”
“( The Blazer Shaper ) was my first piece . I wanted something I could mold together that would suck me in in all the right places without having to wear 20 different pieces of Spanx . I had so much Shapewear I was sick ! But I could piece them all together and make one shirt , that was a combination shapewear and shirt . I didn ’ t have to wear anything else ! And that ’ s where it all started .”
The Blazer Shaper is Mendicino ’ s patented piece and the center of Sottile . Originally designed as a tank top , arms were added to have the effect of a full-on professional blouse that fit comfortably under a blazer . The one-piece bodysuit covers problem areas in the arms , back , backside , and belly , giving a great form to the body .
And it literally all started in Mendicino ’ s closet , where she pulled apart whatever clothes she had ( and shapewear ) and put them together to her liking . From there a Kickstarter ( https :// goo . gl / MngDj8 ) was fulfilled in early 2016 , and Sottile Fashions was born .
The line of clothing for Sottile expands beyond the Blazer Shaper , however . Mendicino ’ s winter line is now available via Facebook and Instagram and also by PopUp parties and invites . What kind of feel does the line give ? “ I want it to be comfortable . I like to be comfortable , and I like to be sexy at the same time ,” Mendicino says . “ I like to feel feminine
96 INSPIRING LIVES WINTER 2017