Pia Baroncini, the founder and creative director of the Los Angeles clothing label LPA, has crafted a uniquely charming, creative (and delicious) life. Born and raised in Pasadena, Baroncini's designs draw inspiration from her Italian heritage and blend the romance of Italy with a Cali edge. “I grew up very American Italian,” Pia says, “a lot of red sauce and romanticizing about Italy, and so I had these very classic ideas of Italian femininity through women like Monica Bellucci and Sophia Loren, so I try to make whatever they would wear mixed with a little bit of the tomboy aesthetic I had growing up in Southern California.” In the below interview, Pia also talks about her earliest food memories, go-to comfort food and which pasta dish best describes her husband.
Describe your personal style:
- I do my best to be comfortable, it fluctuates from sporty to hyper-feminine.
What is your favorite recipe from your childhood that your mother (or mother figure) used to make?
- I loved when she would make aebleskiver, which are these little Danish pancake balls. There are many steps to make the batter, and it’s challenging to get them perfectly round and they have to be made in a special Danish pan.
What was the first meal that made you fall in love with food?
- I have no clue, my parents exposed me to every kind of food since I could eat solids. They brought me with them to every restaurant and taught me about different kinds of food, seasonings, and wine. It was just a part of our life, and still is.
What’s your go-to comfort food?
- Steak and french fries!!
If it was your last day on earth, what would your last meal be?
- Salt & Vinegar potato chips with lemon and hot sauce.
The best advice your mother gave you:
- To keep yourself special.
What advice would you give to your daughter?
- Be nice to everyone. All we care about is that she is kind and empathetic. I want her to be just like her father.
F(uck) M(arry) K(ill) - Pasta, Pizza, Sandwiches
- Marry Pizza, Fuck Pasta, Kill Sandwiches
Red or white wine?
- Red
Describe the impact motherhood has had on you:
- It’s made me understand my mother’s fear of imminent death and how much she loves me. Carmela is absolutely every hope and dream I ever could’ve manifested in the cutest little package.
Where do you feel most at peace?
- When I go to bed at night with my baby and my mom sleeping downstairs and my husband sleeping beside me.
What’s your zodiac sign?
- Scorpio
What is your favorite farmer’s market in LA?
- South Pasadena Farmer's Market
How has your Italian heritage influenced your design aesthetic?
- I grew up very American-Italian, a lot of red sauce and romanticizing about Italy, and so I had these very classic ideas of Italian femininity through women like Monica Bellucci and Sophia Loren, so I try to make whatever they would wear mixed with a little bit of the tomboy aesthetic I had growing up in Southern California.
How did food bring you and your husband closer together? What is your favorite meal to cook together? If you had to describe your husband as one dish, what would it be and why?
- He told me when we started dating, before he had ever cooked for me, that once he made me pasta I would fall in love. Pasta Pomodoro is our favorite dish to cook together, and finding the perfect tomatoes for it. I would describe Davide as Amatriciana, a traditional Italian dish that features a sauce of guanciale, tomato, pecorino romano and chiles.
