About “The secret weapon” behind the well-dressed man
Los Angeles creative Penelope Francis lives and works between the best of both worlds, Miami, and Los Angeles.
As a men’s stylist and advisor, her innovative approach to dressing men like modern gentlemen is firmly rooted in her fashion background. Penelope’s first rigorous career path was groomed in T.V. and Film production as a successful Hollywood stylist and costume designer dressing actors and captains of industry alike. She was also the imaginative visionary behind her former luxury fashion brand, Fifi & Romeo. The global lifestyle brand was Los Angeles-based and sold worldwide: Barneys New York, Neiman-Marcus, Kirna Zabête – (SoHo shop-in-shop), Fred Segal, Browns in London, Quartier 206 in Berlin, and F&R mono-brand fashion boutiques across Japan! Her iconic dog collection, celebrated in “Legally Blonde,” became a worldwide sensation, and she appeared as a guest on the “Oprah’s Christmas Show” – this was the ultimate milestone for the designer.
“My gift of dressing men in the classic era for the modern age is deeply influenced by watching vintage films with my mom starting at the age of 5. She would comment and educate me on the countless design details on the screen. Today, I still watch films studying how beautifully dressed Cary Grant and all the James Bond actors were—the details of their clothing, the fit, and the accessories. Film fashion has informed my acute sensibilities, aesthetics, and discerning style. From everyday casual to red-carpet ready, those well-dressed principles in vintage films are still relevant today, and for me, classics are just that – classic.”
The story behind Date Night Ready
Mr. M + my mom, little Dottie
“It’s kind of a sweet story that I always love sharing. My late mom’s fiancé, let’s call him Mr. M, had stayed in my life even after her passing. He’s an adorable, gentle soul and I could see that he was a bit lost.
During the difficult five months of my mom’s illness and her non-stop hospitalization, each night, he would attend her bedside – every day, for five months straight till the end of her life! I watched how she lit up when he entered her room. That gift he gave her was something to witness; it was beautiful and spoke volumes of their connection. When they met, they were both in their 70’s, new widows, and somehow found that magical love again!
Before my mom, he had a successful marriage of 40+ years before losing his wife to cancer; then, he met my beautiful, devilishly charming, spunky mom – I always described her as ½ “Bewitched” + ½ “I love Lucy”… She and Mr. M were happy until the end. I was heartbroken, and so was he when she joined the other ice cream angels.
I found out that several months after my mom’s passing, he began spending time with a fantastic woman. Then after a short relationship with her, she too unexpectedly passed. Three right in a row! I couldn’t imagine how anyone would endure such tremendous loss in a short period of years.
Over a breakfast meeting, I asked him what he wanted, and he said he wished to meet someone and travel. I quipped to him, “Let me get you Date Night Ready.” Being a pro stylist from Hollywood, I snapped into action and developed a look for him. I had a very detailed game plan for his new polished look. With each store we went into, I would tell his charming story to the salespeople about getting him Date Night Ready. Each time I shared the story, I felt something intuitive in my gut… and voilà, Date Night Ready was born!
You see, Date Night Ready began because of a need, and Mr. M was like many men of all ages that have gotten a little dusty. Men often forget themselves because of life happenstances, and the Covid-blur seems to have gotten the best of masses of people. How one presents themselves is important, but life gets in the way, and often self-care details may fall a little lax too. I know that busy, successful men often don’t know how to navigate what to buy or what looks good on them. All details matter, and the smallest of details are sometimes the most significant That’s where I step in; consider me your secret weapon!
Today, Mr. M is now Date Night Ready! He is on the road to a new, refreshed life, which makes me beam with pride seeing him sparkle. His fresh look is modern yet with classic styling – I’ve noticed that it makes him stand taller with pride. With his new look, I have seen the difference in how he turns women’s heads when walking into a room. He looks like the elegant, polished gentleman my mother and I always knew him to be.
A rejuvenated life and love are both possible at any age!