Roman Holiday
The Eternal City proved a delightfully befitting destination to celebrate the longstanding partnership between Aquazzura and Mytheresa, and to mark the release of their latest capsule collection, in early July. A guestlist,comprised of royals, international celebrities, influencers and friends of the brand, descended on the Roman capital for a two-day experience beginning with an al fresco dinner at Cinecittà Studios – the iconic home of Italian cinema.
Edgardo Osorio, Founder and Creative Director of Aquazzura, and Michael Kliger, CEO of Mytheresa, welcomed the likes of Diane Kruger, Stella Maxwell, Lady Kitty Spencer, Marchioness Emma Thynn, Princess Eugenia of Hannover, Lady Lola Bute, Countesses Sarah, Victoria and Melissa von Faber-Castell, Princess Antonella D'Orleans-Bourbon, Begum Khan, Bethy Lagardère, Alex Rivière, Jessica Kahawaty, Tamara Kalinic, Eugenia Silva, Nieves Alvarez, Victoria Iglesias, and Harper's Bazaar amongst many others, for a two-day celebration that proved as fantastical as its Roman host venue.
Home to such epics as Ben-Hur, La Dolce Vita, Roman Holiday, and Cleopatra, Cinecittà set the scene for an opening night of revelry, and one in which beauty and theatricality took centre stage. Guests meandered down a pathway of bold red and white stripes; surrounded by a film set featuring grand colonnades of an ancient Roman temple, against a soundscape of rousing cinematic scores, providing a heady mix of glorious gravitas and modern day magic. A striking installation, Aquazzura's first retrospective (but not its last, Edgardo promises Bazaar), featuring 300 pairs of archival shoes in a cacophony of colours, stretching out like a rainbow meadow under the gaze of a Roman temple, was dazzling.
The epic nature of the venue manifested itself in a plethora of leading lady worthy silhouettes and styles, all capped off with Aquazzura shoes and bags, with several guests also donning sunglasses from Aquazzura's newly released inaugural eyewear collection; the latest chapter in its craftsmanship-driven, sun-drenched universe.
At dinner, guests were greeted by a dreamy Riviera Aquazzura Casa table setting resplendent with pink and fuchsia peonies, jatropha, and celosia, alive with refined textures and vibrant shades, capturing the best kind of Mediterranean outdoor dining experience; complete with a handheld fan to keep the heat at bay. The cinematic venue, buzzing with notions of fantasy turned reality, truth and fiction, paved the way for philosophical musings over supper, before a live DJ transformed the historic setting into a dance floor— hair down, fans raised, feet poised, in a dizzying display of sequins, feathers, and cascading laughter that might have been scripted by F. Scott Fitzgerald and directed by Federico Fellini himself. Osorio, having arrived from a wedding in Comporta via a birthday party in Italy and ahead of a holiday in Saint-Tropez, danced the night away in Aquazzura loafers. His secret to staying fresh on a demanding schedule? 'Ice baths.'
The following morning saw guests reconvene at the newly opened Aquazzura Bar in the midst of the enchanting garden of the Hotel de Russie — marking the closing chapter of a whirlwind Roman novella. Capturing the essence of La Dolce Vita, the secret oasis, inspired by the Aquazzura Casa Secret Garden tableware collection, proved the perfect setting for flowing conversation and a veritable smorgasbord of Italian delicacies punctuated with Aquazzura x MyTheresa branded lemons; a beautifully chic touch. Guests took shade from the blistering sun under the iconic black and white striped umbrellas lining the exterior, and Secret Garden themed custom awnings on the interior, flanked by bespoke Portuguese tiles, hand-painted with delicate lemon motifs. Hearts full, memories made, we departed for Fiumicino airport – with more than one guest contemplating an Osorio-endorsed ice bath.
Photography by Lucas Possiede
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