COFFEE WITH
GLORIA SALDARRIAGA: “DON’T LET LIFE BECOME AUTOMATIC”
Name: Gloria Saldarriaga
Profession: Creative
Nationality: Colombian
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Instagram: @gloriasald
This Cafecito Con is an adaptation of Episode 16 of The Latinness Podcast featuring Colombian creative Gloria Saldarriaga. The interview is the second in a trilogy presented by Cartier, celebrating 100 years of the iconic Trinity collection—a lasting symbol of love, friendship, and fidelity. In this series, we explore the stories of three extraordinary creatives whose work and lives embody these values.
The following is an excerpt from our conversation with Gloria, where she shares her beauty secrets, reflections on aging, humor, and love. She also talks about her belief in celebrating the beauty of the everyday.
Images by Andres Oyuela
On authenticity and saying no.
GLORIA: Authenticity is being at peace with yourself. The only person you need to answer to is yourself. For example, if you feel uncomfortable, you must learn to express it in the best way possible; of course, that requires a lot of creativity—finding a way to say, “not this.” Saying no and facing uncomfortable situations strengthens the mental flexibility we all need.
When you make that choice, it feels like sinking into your pillows at night—peace. That peace comes from doing what truly convinces you, and that involves self-love. And there’s nothing better than looking at yourself and loving yourself.
To be authentic, you also have to avoid routine, which can be boring and limit your creativity. In my case, I have a thing for toothpaste—I keep ten to twelve open at a time so I can choose.
Being able to choose is a luxury because it keeps life from becoming automatic. Otherwise—how dull!
On being generous with information, engaging in conversations, and avoiding gatekeeping.
GLORIA: I believe it’s important to be generous with information. I talk about this a lot with brands—if you receive a piece of clothing from a brand, you often feel pressured to post about it, as if that’s the only way to validate it. But what about word-of-mouth?
For example, I know I’ll wear this shirt to a meeting and other occasions, and chances are, people will ask me about it, and I’ll tell them about the brand. That’s word-of-mouth. I don’t have to post it or take a forced photo just because I feel obligated by the gift. But why should I? The key is to understand that there are other ways to validate and promote brands.
I feel that people my age are more used to having conversations than taking pictures. When we go to an event, we share anecdotes or make an effort to connect with others. I think brands should value this, especially when working with people who have more social lifestyles. They need to understand that conversation is also valuable—not just posting or taking a picture.
Personally, I love saying that what I’m wearing is Colombian. This shirt, for example, is from Johanna Ortiz’s first collection—I hadn’t worn it in a long time. This is especially relevant abroad, where it almost becomes a conversation piece. You can have incredible conversations simply because someone admires the necklace you’re wearing. That moment is an organic opportunity to say, “This is by Paula Mendoza,” and talk about the brand or designer. I love sharing that kind of information.
I think that when you live in a capital city like Bogotá and weren’t raised there, you don’t have a built-in group of childhood friends from school or university. You have to make the effort to engage in conversations and build relationships. You don’t stay within the same circles, like in smaller cities. When you live in big cities, you truly need people and connections.
The love of your life should be yourself.
GLORIA: First, you have to love yourself. I’m a widow; I’m currently 55 years old, and I lost my husband when I was 40. At that point in life, you realize you can say no to many things—you can do whatever you want. I think it was a very special moment in my life. And yes, I’ve found many kinds of love, but the most important one is me.
I remember that right after I became a widow, people would ask me, “And what about you?” And I would reply, “I’m madly in love.” Then they’d ask, “With whom?” My answer? “With myself. I’m fascinated by myself, I’m happy with myself.” That’s why I say the love of your life should be yourself. You have to be your best company, your best companion. Many people need others, but even then, I believe the best company you can have is yourself.
Love evolves. For example, I’ve worked in the art world for a long time—I had my own gallery—and because of that, people sometimes ask me, “What piece of art would you love to have in your life?” Now, my answer is, “How wonderful would it be to have a century-old tree!” Do you see what I mean? This is another kind of art. In fact, I think a giant tree in your home is far more magnificent than owning a Damien Hirst or any other artist’s work.
To listen to the full conversation, click here.
