Sophia Loren, looking her statuesque self in green sequins, Marylin Monroe reminding us that curves are always in fashion, Quentin Tarantino sipping champagne in the corner imagining Leoanrdo Da Vinci wielding a sledge hammer and all this happening in a  room filled to the brim with past and present notable personages. The room in question is the fantasy Christmas Party that we here at Swide have imagined in 2011. Open the doors into the collective Swide imagination and join us at our office Christmas party.

Christmas is a time of year to come together, to celebrate, share food and drink, discuss hopes for the coming year and for us, at Swide, it is also a time to recognize the efforts and the worth of everyone involved in our projects.  Up to today, dear readers, you have had the chance to get to know, some of our editors through their words, ideas and at times even ramblings (a bit as I am doing now). Through this creative exercise, we’ve wanted to give a “voice”, an identity, to all the Swide team, from the Editor in chief to our graphic designers. We’ve also wanted to open the door into our wild imagination, giving you, our faithful followers a chance to see how we interact in the Swide family.

Starting from the idea of the fantasy dinner party, each member of the Swide team has chosen a “celebrity” date to take to our imaginary office Christmas party. And what a party it is.

Imagine a sumptuously decorated room, a large table covered with the typical Italian Christmas fare; oranges, panettone, Sicilian cannoli, torrone and other delicacies. Of course, litres of bubbly are flowing and a giant fireplace crackles nicely, setting a scene for a truly special Christmas party.

Bjork and Julianne Moore wear Dolce&Gabbana 2011.

The Digital Marketing Manager walks in with Icelandic songstress Björk. The diminutive singer with a larger than life personality fills the room. Bjork has been recently sporting an alternative look (which she chose not to wear this evening) a giant mane of red hair. She  instantly moves towards silver screen siren Julianne Moore, who is the date of choice for our junior fashion editor, and asks her what its like to be a real red head.

 Leonardo DiCaprio and Leonardo Da Vinci both wear Dolce&Gabbana FW2011.

Over in the other corner of the room, our editor in chief finds himself in a rather awkward position: he is refereeing a virtual match between his date for the evening, Leonardo DiCaprio, and our food and classical art editor’s inspirational guest, Leonardo Da Vinci. The two Leonardos are arguing over who carries the name better. 
“I invented the helicopter before humanity even knew about kinetic energy.” Says Da Vinci in a low and husky voice. 
DiCaprio answers with a knowing glare in his blue eyes “Yes, but I’m the face of a generation! I got young people interested in Shakespeare… I’ve won countless accolades and …” 
“Fine, you’re a great actor and have been in many films, but I know the secret of Mary Magdalen…” 
Marylin Monroe wears Dolce&Gabbana FW2011.

The animosity subsides, as Marylin Monroe, accompanied by our art director, floats by, looking sumptuous in a figure enhancing white dress. Da Vinci is probably imagining what it would be like to paint a Gioconda featuring her magnetic smile… and well, we all know what DiCaprio is thinking!

 Gustavo Dudamel and Lou Reed both wear Dolce&Gabbana FW20.

11On the other side of the room, prodigious orchestra director, Gustavo Dudamel, chosen as an eccentric date by our Venezuelan graphic designer, is being cornered by musical giant Lou Reed. As predicted by his host, our sports editor, Lou Reed has revealed himself to be the life of the party and, in a heated debate with Dudamel, you can over hear him saying:
“You got to take a walk on the wild side- you look like a rock star, but you have to act like a rock star too”.

 Sophia Loren and Joseph Gordon Levitt wear Dolce&Gabbana FW2011.

DiCaprio’s Inception co star, Joseph Gordon Levitt, has ditched his date for the evening, our A la Mode columnist and, as Joseph is used to being a hit with the ladies, he’s spending rather a lot of attention on the iconic Sophia Loren, our Fashion editor’s style muse for the evening. La Loren on the other hand is not that interested… she’s distracted looking at another sight:

 David Attenborough and Salman Rushdie both wear Dolce&Gabbana FW2011.

Over by the table covered in food, David Attenborough and Salman Rushdie are entertaining a rather intellectual debate. Famously agnostic and creationist Attenborough and infamous anti totalitarian advocate of the Muslim Reformation Salman Rushdie are discussing religion. Their hosts, the celebrities editor and fashion and beauty features editor are slightly out of their depths…

 Quentin Tarantino wears Dolce&Gabbana FW2011.

Not as much as the editorial coordinator and producer, who unwittingly decided to invite Quentin Tarantino, who uncharacteristically, has settled in the corner, on his own, and is sipping champagne and observing the rather strange mix of characters and unusual situations. You can almost see a number of scenes popping up in his mind: on the one side Marilyn Monroe transforming herself in a vampire and Sophia Loren clad in a yellow cat suit wielding a katana, with Rushdie, Attenborough and Leonardo Da Vinci on the other side pointing 45s at eachother and referring to themselves as Mr White, Mr Orange and Mr Pink.

And then the bloodbath stops. Everyone joins towards the centre of the room, celebrities and Swiders together and raising their glasses in a toast, they wish you a Merry Christmas.

Written by: Valentina Zannoni

With special to the Scuola del Fumetto for having created this beautiful images.

Image credits:

Colours- Federico Santagati

Indian ink and pencils- Alessandro Ambrosoni

Indian ink and pencils- Antonio Manxo