Swide Magazine by Dolce&Gabbana

Bruno Mars gave Milan a night to remember when he performed for his screaming fans last night! How did Dolce&Gabbana show their appreciation? By throwing a party in his honour, that’s how. And here’s what happened…

  

‘I’m here’, shouted Alessia, my producer, as I arrived at the party for Bruno Mars. She was waiting for me outside the Gelateria near Gold. What is Gold? Gold is the bar/restaurant that Dolce&Gabbana frequent when hungry and it is also used to host some of the best parties in town. Milan welcomed Bruno Mars last night and I was running late.

We walked, Alessia and me, across the street and I paid her a compliment seeing as she looked damn good but was feeling slightly self-conscious seeing as I was one of the few who was NOT wearing black. I was in a light sky blue t-shirt, jeans, converse and burgundy leather jacket, but Alessia reassures me. We arrived but there was a spot of confusion, I don’t know if it was my English attempts at Italian or maybe the bouncer genuinely didn’t understand what was going on, but our names weren't easy find on list.. Either way, we got in and I spotted Natasha Slater dressed to the nines in Music Notes by Dolce&Gabbana, and she asked me, ‘have you got your glasses?’…  umm, I don’t wear glasses and didn’t know how to respond. Then all became clear when she directed me to the door and there was someone handing out Dolce&aGabbana eye wear. I approached and found myself selecting the perfect pair for the evening, only to be told that they are for the guests by Aurelie… ah, but of course, I put them back.  Aurelie was looking perfect buttoned up in a Dolce&Gabbana denim shirt complete with a smackering of red lipstick and was there at the door to ensure those on the list were getting in. 

I entered Gold and, wow, the bar looked amazing. There were people pottering around with glasses of prosecco, dressed to impress, the DJ dropping some R’n’B cuts and all were in waiting for the star. When does he arrive? 12:30ish. Plenty of time to mingle.

Grazia.it's Tamu McPherson 

I saw Grazia.it’s Tamu McPherson engaged with some fashionistas, The New Dolce Vita’s Andrea Ravieli and Enrico Costantini were deep in conversation trying to figure out what angle they should shoot from and I saw Yigit Turhan (Swide’s Social Media PR) networking with bloggers.  The beats played on and Alessia headed for the bar, me to! I made my way to the bar and was shocked to see a young woman lighting up… inside?? I looked around to see if anyone else had noticed only to see the burning tips of many more. What was this rebellion? But I was put at ease by a friendly face, who informed me that it was permitted here (I guess it was British side flaring up) and turned my attention back to the bar. We joined the hot young things at the bar and had a ‘cin cin’ with glasses of prosecco and turned our attention to another of Swide’s faces, Tea (A.K.A Mondo Trasho), who was already feeling the bass of the music and shimmying her shoulders. It is safe to say that at that moment the party was warming up.

Mondo Trasho feeling the vibe.

Gold started to fill up, female models towered above us with their Dolce&Gabbana glasses in place, fashion bloggers shared tips and the hosts, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana, were getting the guests all flustered with excitement.

I bumped into X Factor Italia’s new presenter, Alessandro Cattellan, and was about to share a moment when cameras start flashing and mobile phones were raised high, someone had arrived! But who?

Alessandro Cattellan with his partner

Primo Reggiani had arrived and I felt the guests at Gold all swoon together. The Italian actor, looking handsome in black t-shirt, blue jeans and scarf (it is getting colder here in Milan) met with Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana for a photograph.  He was closely followed by Chiara Francini, who was looking gorgeous in leather and lace (and to whom I expressed my admiration during a dance-off to M.I.A.’s ‘Paper Planes’) and that was when the dancing got serious. The sound for the evening was flavoured with R’n’B’ and so everyone was feeling sexy and giving the bootys a little shake.

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana with Primo Reggiani

Chiara Francini as she arrived to the party

Primo Reggiani and Chiara Francini

Whispers started to circulate, ‘Bruno Mars is arriving’, but people had been saying since the beginning of the party, so I didn’t pay much attention. Then, I was making my to have a chat with Tea, a fashion blogger squealed with excitement and literally climbed over me to get to the doors. Bruno Mars had arrived. Suited up in Dolce&Gabbana with trilby in place, he entered the building followed by band member after band member after band member. I have never seen a couch look so good. There was Bruno Mars, the band and a littering of models and it wasn’t long before a queue of admirers wanting a photo had formed near the star.  And, I’ve got to hand it to him, with all the attention that was focused on the young celebrity he seemed pretty damn cool about it all.

House lights go on and the music is cut.

Natasha Slater suddenly passed me a sparkler and I saw bursts of light springing up all over the bar. A cake. The opening bars to Happy Birthday trill through Gold and before I knew it I was waving my sparkler in the air with the masses wishing Bruno Mars a very happy birthday.

The cake to end all cakes... 

The cake… Wow! I thought my mum made a damn decent cake but this is something else. The crowds gathered even tighter (for a photo of Bruno or a slice of cake? Who knows) and Dolce&Gabbana offered Mr. Mars a knife and, much like the moment at a wedding, he dug the knife in, cutting out a hefty chunk to enjoy.

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana with Bruno Mars just before he sunk the knife into it. 

I was next to Giuliano, my editor in chief, when plates of cake start appearing out of nowhere and we are not talking about small slices. If America was a dinner lady, she would be serving slices like that.  And it seemed that people were needing assistance in eating it all and a couple of the guests took it upon themselves to share the effort, as seen below...

And with that the party gets under full swing. I spotted Domenico rapping with a couple of Bruno Mars' band members, Stefano sharing a drink with photographer Giampaolo Sgura, Bruno Mars air punching and, on looking around, it seemed that everyone had put on their best disco pouts. And with that, everyone danced the night away.

Written by Ben Taylor 

TAGS: dolce&gabbana d&g dolce & gabbana d & g luxury online magazine event birthday bruno mars gold restaurant milan giampaolo sgura primo reggiani chiara francini alessandro cattellan mondo trasho Tea Hacic-Vlahovic grazia tamu McPherson glasses eye wear