MILAN — Pasquale Bruni fittingly chose the prestigious 15th-century Atellani Villa here to present its latest collection “Giardini Segreti [Secret Gardens]” on Thursday. The palazzo encloses the original vineyard planted by Leonardo da Vinci and an enchanting courtyard and garden, which served as the backdrop for the event and creative director Eugenia Bruni’s fairytale vision of the brand.
Automated harps playing and models acting as living statues welcomed guests, guiding them into the villa’s entrance hall, where five glass cubes revealed ten gold and diamond floral pendants and rings, bedded on natural pillows of grass and leaves. Kept in the typical shape of five-petal flowers, the pieces were accompanied by fashion illustrations dedicated to passion, sensuality and mystery. Special performances in the villa’s garden included a fashion show demonstrating the diverse ways on how to wear the collection, along with two nymphs in glass tubes, dancing with petals blowing in the wind. Later in the evening, models danced as if they were butterflies with illuminated wings.
The night’s special guest was Dita von Teese, who was poured into a body-hugging, strapless royal blue Alice Temperley dress, with a pair of Christian Louboutin sandals and a Swarovski clutch. “I have worn a lot of Pasquale Bruni’s jewelry back in Los Angeles, but this is the first time that I have actually met the family,” she said.
Von Teese, who has been a vintage jewelry collector since the Eighties and regularly scouts flea markets to extend her collection, is now selling off selected pieces via the Depop app. “I love collecting. I can’t help it. Every time I see something I feel like I need to buy it,” she said, laughing. “So I have too many things and I thought after all those years I should let things go to someone who would appreciate it.”