BEHIND THE MASK
CREATIVE DIRECTION: DANÉ STOJANOVIC
PHOTOGRAPHY: VLADIMIR MARTI
FASHION DIRECTION: ANNA CASTAN
HAIR & MAKEUP: RICKY MORANDIN
FASHION ASSISTANT: CHRISTIAN MARCHESICH
CASTING DIRECTOR: GIAMPAOLO RIVANI
MODELS: VLADISLAVA SMAHINA / PWR & ALBERTO PERAZZOLO / IMG
WORDS: JESSICA BAILEY
In 13th century Venezia, both aristocrats and peasants would wear elaborate masks to conceal their identities during a two-week period known as Carnevale di Venezia (The Carnival Of Venice). As they danced together in the canal-hemmed streets, engaged in illicit gambling and partook in clandestine affairs, social class became null and void. A poor man could play out his fantasies as a nobleman for the day. A lower-class woman could be a member of an upper echelon she didn’t belong to.
This issue, GRAZIA travelled to Venice to honour this bygone carnival of anonymity. Here, we pay homage to its licentious history with regal lace, cut-outs, capes and corsets. Embellishments, ruffles, leathers and feathers collide in a play on textures for the senses – a renaissance of the festival fare of the past, alongside different types of masks that still feature in modern day revelry; the Columbina (half mask), the Volto (white mask) Medico della Peste (bird-like mask).
Today, the Carnevale di Venezia attracts throngs of people from different countries. For when in disguise, and as social standing is removed, you can be whoever you want to be. All that is left to identify a being is their style.
THIS FEATURE IS PUBLISHED IN THE 4TH EDITION OF GRAZIA MIDDLE EAST. DISCOVER MORE HERE.
OPAQUE SHEER HIGH NECK TOP WITH CENTRAL LINE, SHOP SIMILAR, CIGARETTE TROUSERS IN BLACK LAMBSKIN STRIPES, SHOP THE COLLECTION, HERMÈS
SLEEVELESS LONG WOOL COAT, SHOP THE COLLECTION, CRYSTAL EMBELLISHED BRALETTE & HIGH WAIST MINI SKIRT, SHOP THE COLLECTION, PLATFORM LEATHER STRAP THIGH HIGH BOOTS, SHOP THE COLLECTION, DEL CORE
MAXI FITTED DRESS WITH FRONT CUT-OUT DETAIL & FLORAL BROACH, ROBERTO CAVALLI, SHOP SIMILAR. HEADPIECE, STYLIST’S OWN
DRESS IN SHEER SILK FABRIC EMBROIDERED WITH OSTRICH FEATHER DETAIL, ALBERTA FERRETTI, SHOP SIMILAR
DOUBLE BREASTED WOOL COAT WITH MOHAIR SLEEVE DETAILS, PRADA, SHOP SIMILAR
LACE SEQUINNED RUFFLED MAXI DRESS, ELIE SAAB, SHOP SIMILAR
LAYERED LACE OVER FLARED DRESS WITH FRILLED SHORT SLEEVE & CORSETED WAIST, SHOP NOW, TRIANGLE BRA, SHOP SIMILAR, PIED-DE-POULE DÉCOLLETÉ DIOR 62-22 PUMPS WITH STRAP IN TECHNICAL FABRIC, SHOP NOW, CHRISTIAN DIOR
LAYERED LACE OVER FLARED DRESS WITH FRILLED SHORT SLEEVE & CORSETED WAIST, SHOP NOW, TRIANGLE BRA, SHOP SIMILAR, CHRISTIAN DIOR
SILK EVENING DRESS WITH TULLE CORSET EMBELLISHED WITH CRYSTALS, SHOP SIMILAR, SATIN BRA, SHOP SIMILAR, LA MEDUSA SLING-BACK PUMPS, SHOP NOW, HALF LENGTH SHEER HAND GLOVES, SHOP SIMILAR, GOLD EARRINGS WITH OVERSIZED PEARLS, SHOP SIMILAR, CHOKER EMBELLISHED WITH CRYSTALS, SHOP NOW, PINK CRYSTAL RING, SHOP SIMILAR, VERSACE
SILK EVENING DRESS WITH TULLE CORSET EMBELLISHED WITH CRYSTALS, SHOP SIMILAR, SATIN BRA, SHOP SIMILAR, HALF LENGTH SHEER HAND GLOVES, SHOP SIMILAR, GOLD EARRINGS WITH OVERSIZED PEARLS, SHOP SIMILAR, CHOKER EMBELLISHED WITH CRYSTALS, SHOP NOW, PINK CRYSTAL RING, SHOP SIMILAR, VERSACE