Recently, fashion house Max Mara presented its new cruise collection Vesuvian Venus, inspired by the image of the modern, free woman and the beauty of southern Italy.

The show took place at a unique location — the Royal Palace of Caserta, an 18th-century architectural masterpiece near Naples and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The historical atmosphere provided the perfect backdrop for one of this summer’s most dazzling social events. Friends of the brand and celebrities were the first to preview the collection.

Among those in the front row were Sharon Stone, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laetitia Casta, Anna Dello Russo, Alexa Chung, Kathy and Nicky Hilton, Cindy Bruna, Leonie Hanne, Joey King, Hayley Atwell, and many other stars. Such a stellar turnout is rare even for the main shows of Fashion Weeks.

The collection was presented by creative director Ian Griffiths, who this year celebrates 38 years of collaboration with Max Mara. Vesuvian Venus masterfully blended classic and contemporary elements: Max Mara’s iconic coats appeared in soft pastel shades, and elegant silhouettes were paired with leather thigh-high boots and cropped tops.

One of the show’s highlights was the appearance of Deva Cassel — the young but already famous model graced the runway in a pink coat of the brand’s signature silhouette.

Photo: Instagram @maxmara, @germanlarkin