Summary
Highlights
Pilar reflects on her mother, Gloria Valencia, whom she describes as real and organic. Gloria's pioneering work in television, a new medium at the time, brought her into Colombian homes. Pilar grew up in a vibrant household filled with influential figures in art, literature, and politics, shaping her perspective on life and career.
Pilar attributes her early awareness of health to her mother's delicate health. She adopted a disciplined lifestyle, including healthy eating and exercise from a young age. She recounts an early, unsuccessful venture into a natural food restaurant called 'Naturalia', which was ahead of its time, offering healthy options when such concepts were considered radical.
Pilar recalls her first love and marriage to Felipe López, a visionary in media. Their relationship, which lasted 15 years, led to the birth of her daughter, María. She describes motherhood as a beautiful journey and how she balanced her career with raising her child, believing that 'the more things I do, the more time I have'.
Pilar argues that superficial judgments about appearance persist, using humor to illustrate how a well-maintained image can influence social interactions. She differentiates between 'narcoculture' aesthetics, which promote an unrealistic and objectifying image, and tribal, counter-cultural expressions like tattoos and piercings, which signify belonging and identity.
Pilar opens up about her personal life, describing her divorce as profoundly difficult. She talks about finding love again with her second husband, a tranquil man who introduced her family to sailing. She views love as an active process that requires daily nurturing and creativity, much like cooking a meal.
Pilar discusses her career in television news, including presenting the 'Noticiero de las 7' and the National Beauty Contest. She explains her transition from hard news to fashion journalism, influenced by her mother, after experiencing profound emotional distress from covering violence and tragic events like the assassination of Jaime Garzón. Her passion for fashion was ignited by her grandmother's craft and her father's historical insights.
Pilar emphasizes the importance of coherence in her life and career. She sees fashion not as elitist but as a powerful tool for social expression and economic development. She highlights her work with local entrepreneurs in San Victorino, aiming to make fashion accessible and showcase Colombian talent on international platforms.
Pilar shares her philosophy on living life fully, emphasizing the importance of appreciating every moment as if it were the last. She embraces aging, viewing it as a gift. She concludes by expressing her desire to be remembered as a woman who loved deeply and lived authentically, always staying true to herself despite societal pressures.
Pilar Castaño, known as Colombia's first lady of fashion, discusses her upbringing, influenced by her grandmother and her parents, Gloria Valencia de Castaño and Alvaro Castaño. She shares how this environment led her to journalism and later specializing in fashion due to her grandmother's profession as a dressmaker.