16 Jun

15th of June, Florence, Italy – Deities in ancient mythology may have resided on Mount Olympus, but tonight in Florence, a gamut of goddesses touched down on the Italian city’s historic Piazzale Michelangelo. As the thunderclouds parted and the sun set across the resplendent Renaissance skyline of the Tuscan city, a host of magical model muses – from era-defining supers to fabulous drag queens, knockout national treasures to Vogue cover stars – took their turn on an open-air catwalk, for British Vogue and LuisaViaRoma Runway Icons extravaganza, which was curated by Edward Enninful.

In a city long associated with exquisite craftsmanship – from goldsmithing to leather making – over 1500 guests luxuriated in the notion of la dolce vita, making their way at magic hour to Florence’s most famous panoramic hilltop. The A-listers flanking the front row as the sun set over the Duomo? Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Fox, Tina Kunakey, Toby Maguire and Charithra Chandran were just some of the guests.

From their stadium seats, attendees were treated to an impressive, 100-look-plus style extravaganza that celebrated the iconography of global fashion, revelling in the past, present and future-focused creations of over 50 household designer names and trailblazing young talents. For a real heavenly hit, the show opened with an incredible performance by iconic Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, including “Time To Say Goodbye”, which led Emily in Paris’s Lucien Laviscount to leave his front row seat and invite another guest to slow dance on the runway.

From plaid-punk corsetry courtesy of Vivienne Westwood to Off-White’s take on the haute couture bride, the looks in Runway Icons served as a visual dictionary of fashion history, soundtracked on the runway with an original composition by Hale Zero, that had guests grooving and whooping in their stadium-style seats. Think custom looks, current season pieces and vintage reinterpretations, transcending ’60s Space Age, Y2K glam, Britpop-era sportswear and ’70s boho, plus oodles of exuberant eveningwear. Some, like a sequinned and densely feathered tiger-stripe gown by Roberto Cavalli, served as a vintage autumn/winter 2004 reissue, worn by Natasha Poly with Amina Muaddi heels, and others, like a sheer pink Nensi Dojaka dress and a slinky sequinned 16 Arlington gown, reflected the contemporary DNA of burgeoning designers today.

Opening the show, Natalia Vodianova radiated ethereal energy in a Giambattista Valli gown with voluminous layers of white tulle layers. Ashley Graham sizzled in wildcat Dolce & Gabbana. British Vogue April 2023 cover stars Paloma Elsesser, Precious Lee and Jill Kortleve set pulses racing in slinky red and silver looks by Blumarine, Michael Kors Collection and Chloé. Eva Herzigova oozed Old Hollywood glamour in a midnight sequinned Giorgio Armani gown. Drag performer Gottmik strutted in rockstar Rick Owens platforms. British Vogue contributing editor Munroe Bergdorf spellbound in the scintillating curves of a custom Mugler gown. Other unforgettable looks on the line-up came courtesy of Alexander McQueen, Christian Louboutin, Fendi, Ferragamo, Jimmy Choo, Maison Margiela, Ralph Lauren, Versace and Victoria Beckham. Closing the spectacular show? Irina Shayk took a final turn on the catwalk in transparent Tom Ford, followed by a finale in which the models, from Karen Elson and Alton Mason to Erin O’Connor and Penelope Tree, held hands in an uplifting display of unity.

The British Vogue X LuisaViaRoma Runway Icons See Every Look On The Runway

Against a Tuscan-tone skyline, Runway Icons revelled in a joyful exploration of print and pattern, from Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli’s signature hot pink to Moncler’s space-worthy silver, Matthieu Blazy’s paintbox hues at Bottega Veneta to Max Mara’s complementary cappuccinos. For those far from the Florentine hills, a number of pieces from the show, including Natasha Poly’s Amina Muaddi heels, and pieces by Ray-Ban, Victoria Beckham, Dolce & Gabbana and Mugler, will be available to shop through LuisaViaRoma.