Swide Magazine by Dolce&Gabbana

While in the backstage the atmosphere is buzzing with excitement and creative force, upstairs in the Metropol theatre there’s a haven of relaxation: the VIP room. Or is it?

On show day Sunday, I was yet again charged with the exacting yet onerous task of bagging as many celebrity interviews as possible. The problem with working in a company so popular with the A list celebrities is that you need to interview them all!

At 12:30 sharp: T minus 2 hours I was ready to charge the celeb pack in the VIP room. Appropriately attired in a black dress (last time I was a bit too garish with a star print shift), and armed with microphone, producer, video operator, photographer and my colleague’s equally numerous team: we charged upstairs. The VIP room is a cornucopia of  black lacca, gilded mirrors and velvet upholstery. In the centre of the room was a lavishly laid out table, full of delicious snacks- it was almost lunch time so the table did attract rather a lot of attention.

There wasn’t much time to comment on the spread with Swide food editor turned celebrity interviewer, Elisa Della Barba, as the celebrities started pouring in. Andrea Dellal, looked stunning in a yellow peony print pencil skirt and matching cardigan. Her Brazilian warmth exuded from every pore and she was lovely, friendly and high-spirited in the way which characterises her heritage. We organised for Maria Thereza Laudares, from Finissimo, a Brazilian blogazine to interview her in Portuguese.

Bollywood royalty, Sonam Kapoor waltzed in looking spectacular. Her slight frame was highlighted by a crepè organza onion print body con dress form the SS12 collection. Matched to nude shoes and a red Dolce Bag- she looked every bit an Indian Goddess. But there was nothing precious or unwelcoming in her countenance- as I approached to interview her, her beaming smile and sheer enthusiasm for fashion emerged in her bubbly character and butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth sweetness.

Chinese beauty Gao Yaun Yuan was also present- with her entourage of Chinese agents, press officers and fan base.  As in the Swide team we’re lacking a Chinese speaker, Chinese blogger  Huang Xiao Hui from Catwalk 23 was charged with interviewing her. He was obliging, lovely and thoroughly excited to interview this Chinese star, what a way to top off his first visit to Milan Fashion Week!

 Then, the atmosphere changed, superstar Monica Bellucci appeared, followed by a string of photographers, and her adoring entourage. Her magnetism and beauty enchanted everyone present. Thankfully, we had already bagged our Swide interview the day before, so she could be left to relax before the show.

Iconic model and muse of Dolce&Gabbana Marpessa Hennink quietly entered. Dressed in a fishnet shift dress, her beauty was undeniable. Elisa, who was lucky enough to interview her was enchanted by her elegance and eloquence.

Italy’s answer to Tamara Beckwith, Bianca Brandolini d’Adda was next to arrive. She wore an ensemble from the SS12 catwalk show and looked worthy of the runway herself. I rushed to interview her. She was sweet and funny. Our interview is a testimony to how hard the Italian language is: we were asked to do it in Italian, but both her and me grew up abroad- so we were as embarrassed as each other with our sometimes sketchy grammar!

And then there was Dame Helen Mirren- She looked characteristically elegant and British in a flower dress and blush pink macramé summer coat. Elisa was honoured to interview such a star: but Dame Helen was as generous as Mother Nature. All smiles and politeness, she made Elisa feel not only in the presence of acting genius, but also of a truly special person.

With only a few minutes to spare, we wrapped up all the interviews and rushed to watch the fashion show, only to be balled over by more excitement, emotion and sheer beauty.

Written by: Valentina Zannoni

Credits: Dolce&Gabbana

 

TAGS: dolce&gabbana d&g dolce & gabbana d & g luxury online magazine stefano gabbana domenico dolce behind the scenes fashion show vip room interviews metropol milan fashion week FW13 fall winter 2013 andrea dellal sonam kapoor monica bellucci bianca brandolini d'adda marpessa hennink helen mirren Gao Yaun Yuan dgfw13