Gala season is officially underway, which means celebrities, local personalities and the cream of Singapore society will be donning their best gowns for evenings filled with champagne and celebration. But it isn’t just the black-tie affairs filling up the social calendar. On a Tuesday night in the heart of Singapore, the worlds of fashion, gastronomy and music melded to celebrate the art of living with style and refinement. This intimate event, attended by a select few, was a tribute to the charm of Italian living—or la dolce vita—which celebrates beauty in everyday life.
Under the theme of ‘La Grande Bellezza’, the chic affair was hosted by the Italian Ambassador to Singapore Dante Brandi, and Chiara Brandi, in collaboration with luxury event curator Trend, at the residence of the Italian Ambassador in Singapore. The event also served as a reunion of sorts, given the tight-knit nature of Singapore’s upper echelons. Guests mixed and mingled, as iconic Italian liqueur Campari served its signature cocktails and setting to warm up the crowd for the evening ahead.
The room was buzzing with electric energy and enthusiasm, as guests flocked to the exhibits presented by the finest Italian brands across fashion, jewellery and lifestyle—from Armani to Lamborghini. Meanwhile, a fine jewellery curation by Oro d’Italia comprised collections from brands like Gaspari, Novecentonovantanove and New Italian Art.
After aperitivo hour, guests savoured a multi-course Italian dinner prepared by acclaimed chef Alessio Pirozzi from the restaurant Torno Subito, led by the internationally renowned and multi-Michelin-starred Italian chef, Massimo Bottura. Guests noshed on dishes like Tortellini al Tartufo Bianco, which featured stuffed pasta, aged Parmigiano Reggiano sauce, and premium Alba white truffle, as well as Merluzzo alla Ligure. The perfect sweet-ender arrived in the form of the Tiramisubito, a luscious dessert made with coffee, mascarpone and cacao.
The evening’s soundtrack was courtesy of Nick Zavior, an up and coming local musician who serenaded the crowd with his soulful urban sound. Zavior has performed alongside 16-time Grammy Award winner David Foster at his concerts in Southeast Asia, and has also featured on jazz icon Jeremy Monteiro’s albums With A Little Help From My Friends and Overjoyed.
Excitement reached a fever pitch when guests were presented with gifts at the end of the evening’s programming. Each guest took home a hand-painted artwork that depicted iconic sights of Italy, as well as gifts by Acqua di Parma which included their best-selling Buongiorno candle and an invitation to their private lounge. An evening celebrating la dolce vita, this certainly was.
