L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 2023 www.italoamericano.org 30 L'Italo-Americano LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY A fter working as a Celebrity Fash- ion and Lifestyle Matchmaker for Armani, Versace, a n d D o l c e & G a b b a n a between London and Milan, Lucio Di Rosa felt the need to create something out of his uniqueness. Sharon Stone, his client and also a great f r i e n d , t o l d h i m o n e d a y , "Why don't you do in Los A n g e l e s t h e s a m e t h i n g y o u ' v e a l w a y s d o n e i n Milan?" When in Milan, Di Rosa would open the doors of his home, inviting clients to his place for dinner after the fashion shows were over. "I love to cook and they wanted to relax," Di Rosa tells me. "I realized that even in the Unit- ed States I had to focus on the concept of Italian hospi- tality, within an environment that didn't feel like an office, but a real home." F r o m t h i s i d e a c a m e the LDR2022 showroom, which opened in West Holly- w o o d a n d w a s f u r n i s h e d e x c l u s i v e l y w i t h I t a l i a n brands, from Fornasetti to Flos and Dr. Vranjes. A place Di Rosa does not like to call a showroom, precisely because of the way it was conceived: "The feeling is that of being welcomed into a home where you sit in the living room and are offered coffee." Here Di Rosa chooses the dresses Hollywood actresses wear for red carpets, events, and galas, as he has done in the past for Jessica Alba, Salma Hayek, Uma Thur- m a n , H i l l a r y S w a n k , a n d many others. Almost all celebrities rely on professionals like y o u f o r t h e i r i m a g e . W h a t i s y o u r c r e a t i v e process when you choose a dress and accessories for a public event? It's not simple. When we talk about the Oscars' red c a r p e t , a c t r e s s e s u s u a l l y request that their dress refer- ence the character they por- trayed in the nominated film. If I then know they have a p a r t i c u l a r p r e f e r e n c e , I specifically cater to that. What do you take into consideration, besides a celebrity's physique to find the right dress? The main factor I consider is their personality. Then, I t a k e i n t o a c c o u n t e a c h celebrity's comfort zone, as everyone has areas they're at ease with showing and others they prefer to keep concealed. For instance, Helen Mirren is quite receptive to any of my ideas, while some actresses tend to be more reserved. A limitation that has been imposed on you? There are moments when I find myself having to decline requests from fashion houses, especially when they're eager to have Angelina Jolie on the runway. I'm aware that it's not an option, given her per- sonal choices. Understanding and respecting these bound- aries has been crucial in pre- serving my relationships with many of them over the years. Sharon Stone is a good friend of yours. How did your friendship begin? My close relationship with Sharon Stone began during the 10th-anniversary com- memoration of Gianni Ver- sace's passing in Los Angeles in 2007. A particular incident from that day remains etched i n m y m e m o r y . D u r i n g a dress fitting, a seamstress was painstakingly trying to adjust a gold chain meant to accentuate Sharon's neckline but was struggling. Without hesitation, Sharon took the needle from her and swiftly fixed the dress herself. Our eyes met, and there was an unspoken understanding. That moment marked the beginning of our friendship, characterized by heartfelt conversations and calls at all hours. Will she come to see the showroom? Absolutely. She's passion- ate about painting and is e a g e r t o s e e t h e s p a c e , intending to craft a piece specifically for me. She's pre- viously gifted me a painting for my home in Milan. Choosing the perfect d r e s s f o r a w o m a n , assisting her during fit- t i n g s , o b s e r v i n g h e r physique, and grasping h e r p e r s o n a l i t y . . . Celebrities reveal them- selves to you in so many ways. One of the most m e m o r a b l e i n t i m a t e m o m e n t s I ' v e s h a r e d with an actress? I t w a s w h e n A n g e l i n a Jolie confided in me that Brad Pitt had proposed to her. The news hadn't broken yet! I recall her closing the door, signaling she had some- thing important to share. I initially feared something might have been amiss, but instead, she whispered to me, "Brad proposed!" What outfit made you the proudest? There have been several standout moments. One that particularly resonates is the ensemble for Lady Gaga at t h e 2 0 1 6 G o l d e n G l o b e s , crafted in a mere 24 hours. The inspiration stemmed from a black and white pho- tograph of Grace Kelly, which Gaga herself had shared with me. We designed a black vel- vet gown, incorporating ele- ments from past collections, such as the corset and the snug, padded hips. What was the most dif- ficult one to make? A b e i g e d r e s s w o r n b y D r e w B a r r y m o r e f o r t h e Golden Globes in 2010 posed a unique challenge. The dress featured two elements I fond- ly referred to as "porcupines" - they were made of glass straws, mimicking the effect of a porcupine's quills, one on the shoulder and the other on t h e h i p . A m e r e t w o d a y s before departure, one of Ver- sace's tailors accidentally knocked over a "porcupine", shattering it into countless pieces. We were pressed for time to recreate it, and the replacement turned out even larger. So much so, that Drew found it challenging to rest her elbow. Is it difficult to find a dress that combines the personality of the actress w i t h t h e s t y l e o f t h e brand? It depends, for example, Angelina likes vintage. In these cases, to please the tal- ent I go to the fashion show archives to find something that can be a modern reinter- p r e t a t i o n o f t h e f a s h i o n house's identity combined with the celebrity's personali- ty. Is it challenging to find a d r e s s t h a t m e l d s a n actress's personality with a brand's style? It varies. For instance, Angelina has a penchant for vintage. In such cases, to cater to the talent's prefer- ences, I delve into fashion archives to unearth some- thing that offers a contempo- rary interpretation of the fashion house's identity while resonating with the celebri- ty's persona. So, it's not always nec- essary to opt for pieces from the latest collec- tions? Not at all. For example, the white dress with a striking red fold at the collar that Angelina Jolie wore to the Golden Globes in 2012 was originally a Gianni Versace creation, initially designed in black with a white fold. It was reimagined in various mod- ern iterations, and she chose the version with the red fold. It was a time when she was fond of sporting bold red lip- stick. Your passion for fash- ion was ignited by your l o v e f o r t h e V e r s a c e brand. Why Versace in particular? My affinity for Versace began around the age of 12. I lived in Forte dei Marmi, right above a Versace bou- t i q u e , s o t h e b r a n d w a s always in my line of sight. I was enamored by the vibrant colors, the unique prints, and t h e M i a m i - i n s p i r e d ambiance. This piqued my interest in the brand, espe- cially during the early '90s when it was experiencing its golden era under Gianni's leadership. What's the most signif- icant milestone you've achieved for the Versace brand? Beyond dressing Angelina Jolie for her wedding, I'd highlight the honor of dress- ing Michelle Obama for her final State dinner. She wore a metal mesh dress in a spe- cially developed color for her: rose gold. This was a depar- ture from Versace's tradition- al metal mesh colors of black, silver, and gold. Crafting these metal mesh dresses is an intricate process, as each tiny ring must be linked indi- vidually. Michelle Obama's final choice came down to our dress and another con- tender. When she opted for ours, Donatella was in sheer disbelief! Having a Versace dress grace the White House w a s t r u l y a r e m a r k a b l e moment. Lucio Di Rosa, Italian stylist loved by Hollywood (Photo: Raul Gori Photography) Lucio Di Rosa, Hollywood Celebrities' most loved Italian stylist SILVIA NITTOLI

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