Next Stop, Wonderland

Milan, a wonderland? Well, with the twin forces of business power (P&G Prestige) and editorial might (Vogue Italia), anything's possible. And last night's Beauty in Wonderland, a multisensory exhibition designed to mimic a tumble down a very glamorous rabbit hole, made a strong case. Guests wandered through the halls and garden of the fifteenth-century Casa degli Atellani, filled with imaginative sculptures, flora-inspired pop-up books, projections of photography by Sølve Sundsbø viewed through moss-covered keyholes, and mannequins dressed in immaculately folded and draped paper dresses (a standout being the butterfly-printed gown that cascaded down a staircase). Each room was a universe unto itself—representing, naturally, a "P&G fragrance universe" and scented to match.



In attendance was Cate Blanchett , who knows something about alternate universes: Coming up, she'll star as the wicked stepmother in a new adaptation of Cinderella. How to make the switch from gorgeous reality to on-screen villainy? Well, acting, of course—and beauty. "The whole concept with beauty is that we can imagine ourselves into other realities," she said. (She also quipped that she brings "mystery and allure" to her Cinderella role, "but no ugly.") No ugly was a fitting tag for the party, too, with P&G Prestige fragrance faces like Blake Lively , James Franco, Bianca Balti , and David Gandy swanning around.



But a quick stop in Wonderland was only one of the points on Milan's crowded fashion week itinerary. There was action to be seen across town at Stuart Weitzman 's new Milanese flagship, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, where Weitzman and the brand's new face, Kate Moss , were on hand to celebrate. And hometown boys Dean and Dan Caten were toasting new real estate, too: They'd invited a few friends, like Ireland Baldwin , Suki Waterhouse , Anna Dello Russo, and the Misshapes, to check out their newly transformed headquarters, which comes complete with a restaurant, a couple of bars, and a pair of rooftop pools—one for each brother, perhaps. The entertainment complex with its 360-degree view of Milan will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily, and though the menu is predominantly Italian, Canadian-born Dan said he was considering putting a grilled cheese on there.

—Amber Kallor and Staff