La Dolce Vita According to Chanel: Timeless Enchantment on Lake Como
Seven years after the unforgettable Dolce & Gabbana event at Villa Olmo in 2018, Lake Como once again takes center stage in the world of high fashion.
This time, it was Chanel that chose the evocative setting of Villa d’Este, a 16th-century architectural gem overlooking the lake’s shimmering waters, to unveil its latest collection in an exclusive show that celebrated La Dolce Vita according to Chanel: a refined, effortless elegance, suspended between cinematic reverie and timeless glamour.
La Dolce Vita According to Chanel: Villa d’Este
Built in 1568 by Cardinal Tolomeo Gallio, Villa d’Este is today considered one of the most prestigious hotels in the world. With 151 rooms and suites, the historic residence is surrounded by charming smaller villas and nestled within one of the lake’s most enchanting private parks. Over the centuries, it has welcomed illustrious guests and cinematic legends such as Frank Sinatra, Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Clark Gable, Gregory Peck, and director Alfred Hitchcock.
The atmosphere, inspired by vintage postcards and the magic of old-world Italian holidays, captivated a select group of guests—international clients of the Maison and prominent figures from the fashion and film industries. The hand-written invitation, sealed with Villa d’Este’s official stamp, arrived accompanied by a silk carré, nostalgic postcards from Lake Como, and a refined booklet authored by Johan Chiaramonte and Roman Coppola, chronicling the romantic intrigues that have animated the villa’s storied history—a beloved retreat of the European cultural elite.
The short film accompanying the collection was directed by longtime friend of the Maison, Sofia Coppola, who masterfully transformed the villa’s scenic views into suspended frames of time. The protagonist is model Ida Heiner, portrayed in a dreamlike escape that blends the chic flair of the French Riviera with the sophisticated lightheartedness of an Italian summer holiday. Through Coppola’s intimate and delicate lens, the story evokes the wistful elegance and graceful ease that define Chanel’s aesthetic.
Cinema: A Tribute to Coco Chanel and Luchino Visconti
Cinema serves as the narrative thread, paying homage to the historic friendship between Coco Chanel and Luchino Visconti—symbols of a refined world where aesthetics, culture, and cultivated society intertwine. That legacy lives on in the collection itself, a reflection of a style that is effortlessly timeless.
But Chanel’s interest in Lake Como goes beyond its dreamlike scenery. The Maison recently acquired a stake in Mantero, a historic, family-run silk manufacturer based in Como that has upheld the Italian tradition of silk printing for generations. It is a partnership that merges creative vision with artisanal savoir-faire—in the name of beauty.
La Dolce Vita According to Chanel
“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”
— Coco Chanel