It is rarely too late to pursue your passions, particularly if you don’t let concern stand in your method. This is why, at 58, Nancy Volpe Beringer mustered up the center to return to high school and pursue her dream of changing into a dressmaker.
She really believes that each nice concept begins with a dream and that we have to discover the gumption to pursue our desires with every thing we’ve received, whatever the obstacles that all the time slide into our path.
At the time the Philadelphia-area native discovered inspiration from her two grown sons, Dan, now 44, a profitable firm president within the finance enviornment, and David, now 42, a musician, videographer and photographer.
When she utilized to varsity in vogue design, she transitioned from being a profitable educator to a management-level place as an advocate for educators.
The now 68-year-old Volpe Beringer admits, “I was lying awake feeling a bit jealous of my children who were learning so many cool things, but who gets jealous of their own kids? I guess I did.”
“This led me to ask the one question that truly changed my life — if I was young, what would I want to study? What would I want to learn? And it immediately came to me that it was fashion design.”
Volpe Beringer tried to speak herself into one thing “more practical” akin to inside design however allowed herself to fantasize about what she wished in her coronary heart of hearts. Within every week she was in New York and again residence in Philadelphia touring vogue faculties.
She determined to pursue this dream despite the truth that she couldn’t illustrate or draw. She was sure that her sister, the artwork instructor, had obtained the entire expertise within the household.
“For me, fear is my friend. I accept it, but it doesn’t stop me. I have never been afraid to receive constructive criticism during any of my pursuits; as a teacher, the editor of a monthly publication or in business,” explains Volpe Beringer. “By never letting fear stop me, I learned from every endeavor.”
‘I found my home’
A natural-born danger taker, she continued to tour native artwork and vogue faculties, together with the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and the Parsons School of Design. But as a substitute of her preliminary plan to enroll in a one-year program, with nice encouragement from Ted Beringer, her husband of 13 years, she selected a three-year grasp’s diploma program at Drexel University in Philadelphia, one of many prime vogue faculties on the planet.
“So much of what I did in the business world and the world of education involved creating new projects and programs. I didn’t realize that I needed my creativity to survive and to thrive,” she explains.
“It wasn’t until I enrolled in Drexel that I went, ‘Ahh, this is what it’s all about.’ I felt so comfortable there. I knew that I found my home,” she says of her journey. “I was already used to working many hours a day, but this required a minimum of 80 hours a week.”
She additionally didn’t care that she was practically 4 many years older than most of her friends. “I actually forgot that I looked different from the other students when I was at Drexel. I went to more 21st birthday parties than you can count, which is so great that they wanted me there.”
Her journey concerned utilizing her hard-earned financial savings for tuition, surrounding herself with supportive family and friends members, blocking out naysayers, working tirelessly and ultimately discovering her goal even when she initially didn’t know what sort of vogue she wished to create.
“I knew I wanted to be a relevant designer, whatever that looked like,” she defined every time she was requested what she deliberate to do when she graduated. “I felt like if I am getting the chance to fulfill this fantasy that I didn’t even know exists at my age then there must be a reason. The universe must be trying to tell me something.”
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Designing for a Grammy star
After graduating from Drexel, she was given the chance to promote her first vogue items at Joan Shepp, the highest boutique in Philadelphia. Her items have been prominently displayed within the window and have been styled with vogue objects from the Paris runway, which was an ideal honor.
“Joan Shepp is where the Grammy-nominated Philadelphia rapper Tierra Whack saw a big multi-colored coat that I designed for a fashion charity event, which reflected the journey to sobriety from dark to light to bright,” Volpe Beringer says.
Whack contacted her they usually had an prompt connection. She made a coordinating gown, and the rapper wore her distinctive artworks to the Grammy Awards. Volpe Beringer even paid her personal method to L.A. for a last becoming — and did every thing wanted to verify her look made it to the pink carpet. She has a cherished copy of the New York Times picture of “The 5 Most Talked About Looks at the 2019 Grammys,” which included Tierra Whack sporting Volpe Beringer’s work.
“Tierra is an artist who does her own thing,” Volpe Beringer says, “so to have her trust in me for this monumental event in her career, during my first year out of fashion school, was such an honor.”
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Third time’s the attraction on ‘Project Runway’
Nancy Volpe Beringer on “Project Runway.”
Bravo TV
While being “a relevant designer” was all the time on the prime of her thoughts, Volpe Beringer says it wasn’t till “Project Runway” that her new path really made sense.
“I had a secret fantasy about being on the show when I first saw it at age 50. I watched it with my mother and thought if I had continued studying after my first sewing class when I was 11 or 12, I could be on the show. But I didn’t tell anybody.”
Volpe Beringer graduated together with her grasp’s diploma in vogue design at age 61, and shortly after had the chance to turn into a contestant on “Project Runway.” It took her three tries however she ultimately made it on Season 18.
On the present, Volpe Beringer created a profitable design for Tatyana McFadden, a record-breaking Paralympian, who’s the quickest feminine wheelchair racer on the planet.
At that second her mission and message clicked. “This is why I am on this reality series. I am in fashion for my voice to be heard,” says Volpe Beringer. “It’s not about creating more fashion; we have plenty of that in the world. But it’s really about sharing my voice for those who are unheard in the world of fashion.”
While Volpe Beringer didn’t win “Project Runway” that season, which concluded in March 2020, simply days earlier than the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown, as a runner-up she designed essentially the most inclusive and accessible assortment ever to be featured in a “Project Runway” finale.
Her opening look featured adaptive vogue for a mannequin in a wheelchair; showcasing make it each purposeful and modern.
Bri Scalesse wears a design by Nancy Volpe-Beringer on the season 18 finale of “Project Runway.”
Bravo TV
Jessi Ruiz, mannequin, make-up artist and ambulatory wheelchair person, has been engaged on vogue reveals and picture shoots with Volpe Beringer for the previous yr and a half and ardently helps her work ethic, unwavering focus and distinctive imaginative and prescient.
“A lot of wheelchair users don’t feel they are worth having a big wedding because the dress won’t look right or fit while the bride is sitting in the chair, and Nancy can fully adapt and customize any type of clothing from sweatpants to bridal gowns,” notes Ruiz, 34.
“What I love about Nancy is her way of thinking outside of the industry’s standard box. When they think of models or individuals, I feel that they never include the disabled or the elderly community. Her mission is to bring all of this into focus.”
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Adapting clothes and designs for all
This set the muse for her present pursuit, The Vault by Volpe Beringer, which she calls “a great example of how you take a challenge, and you don’t let it stop you, but instead allow it to guide you into where I think your heart — and the universe — wants you to go.”
She already had an in depth assortment of designer clothes and niknaks that she rescued after {an electrical} fireplace in her house constructing and determined to create a resale web site to lift cash for the ever-growing pandemic challenges.
Within days, she realized she may mix her targets to advertise sustainability and accessibility. Her ground-breaking enterprise has obtained worldwide recognition as “the world’s only luxury resale platform that offers complimentary adaptive options for the disabled.”
For instance, to maintain the integrity of a glance, she took the buttons off a Chanel jacket, sewed up the buttonholes, reapplied the buttons, and put Velcro beneath for somebody with restricted nice motor expertise. For one other look, by deconstructing a jacket with an enormous, ruffled sleeve, she preserved the identical silhouette and proportions when adapting a design for a bit individual.
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‘Fashion is about empowerment’
Looking to the longer term, Volpe Beringer desires to embark on a talking tour. Her goal: “To give a voice to fashion and to inspire people to understand that aging never has to stop you from your pursuits; it can benefit you.”
This is among the life classes that was revealed from her time on “Project Runway.”
“I had the least amount of fashion experience, but I had a lot of other skills; skills that I had gained throughout my life, through overcoming many challenges and from my work. That’s why I was able to make it to the finale and as a runner-up on the show.”
“Fashion is about much more than clothes. It is empowerment. It is a chance to express your individuality, build confidence and be able to succeed. Why shouldn’t everyone have that same opportunity with fashion, and with their lives?”
A supportive household
Volpe Beringer’s household strongly believes in her imaginative and prescient and admires her drive. They don’t see her retiring any time quickly.
“Nancy has a true zest for life. She has been through many difficult situations, yet she lets nothing deter her and just keeps moving forward no matter what obstacles are in her way,” her husband Ted says. “Being 59 years old and a college freshman says it all — it is clearly never too late to follow your dreams. We know that this is just the beginning. She will continue to add value to the disabled community and remain an inspiration to her many admirers and followers.”
“It’s honestly hard to imagine my mom ever slowing down and living the stereotypical retired life. Everyone in my family has always been in awe of her energy level, and we have no idea where it comes from,” her youthful son, Dave Barbaree, says.
“I also think she was so busy as a mom raising me and my brother while working multiple jobs and never had the chance to pursue her own dreams. When that opportunity came later in life, she didn’t take it for granted for one moment.”
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More on Nancy Volpe Beringer
- Wearable artwork and customized couture designs: nancyvolpeberinger.com
- World’s solely luxurious and adaptable resale platform: the vaultbyvolpeberinger.com
- Instagram: @nancyvolpeberinger and @thevaultbyvolpeberinger
Debra Wallace is a multi-award-winning skilled journalist, creator, editor, social media/net content material supplier, and autism advocate with 20+ years of expertise. She usually contributes to Parade.com, Orlando Family Fun, South Jersey, Monsters & Critics, Delaware Today, and a number of other different print and digital publications. Her experience consists of superstar profiles, leisure, native heroes, well being/wellness, particular wants parenting, and autism advocacy. Wallace is a loyal single mom to her 17-year-old son, Adam.
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