For the production design of this project, starting with the novel, I tried to envision the atmospheres I wanted to convey through colors, materials, and visual composition. After defining the characters' traits with Anna and Atena (the directors), I began a research process, creating mood boards for each character to make them more concrete. The goal was to bring them to life, giving them three-dimensionality.
During the costume research phase, I collaborated with two styling students from IED Moda (@cielo_solari, @serrycontessi), to whom I explained my vision for the final look in detail. They provided invaluable assistance in finding the clothes that became the skin of the characters that had previously existed only in my mind.
Regarding the set design, we were able to utilize the villa's existing furnishings, which were already filled with interesting objects. We also added some modern elements to establish the timeframe of the story.
SYNOPSIS
Leonardo, Paoletto, and Stefano are three young friends studying in Turin. One night, while wandering the city’s hills, they meet Nico, a thirty-year-old from a world far removed from theirs—the corrupt and toxic reality of a bored aristocracy. The boys feel a mix of attraction and repulsion towards Nico’s character and his way of viewing life. A month later, they decide to spend their vacation in the countryside at Stefano’s farmhouse. During their summer stay, they discover that Nico is spending his summer at his family’s villa, which is located very close by, so one day, they decide to visit him. Nico convinces them to stay for a while, and they agree.
The days at the villa will mark the end of their innocence and the corruption of their morality. In close contact with Nico’s cynical outlook on life, the three friends will begin to lose sight of who they are. Paoletto tries cocaine, Stefano betrays his girlfriend by assaulting Nico’s wife, and Leonardo, witnessing the scene, reacts aggressively towards his friend. These events will irreparably damage their friendship, creating an unspoken fracture that each of them, particularly Leonardo, will internalize. Leonardo becomes more of an observer as his world and its certainties begin to crumble. Everything will come to an end after a party filled with egocentric and selfish characters from Milan’s high society, when Nico falls ill and is taken away from the villa. The three boys will return to their daily lives, but their relationship will be changed forever.
STYLING
The arrival of the boys at the villa symbolizes their entry into Nico's world, and thus into his status, his values, and his habits. Nico belongs to a bourgeois reality, and this is evident also in his way of dressing—"Old money", literally “old money,” that wealth which has been inherited rather than earned. Polo shirts, vests, tailored trousers, and loafers are the representative pieces of Nico’s style.
Leo, Paoletto, and Stefano find themselves staying at Villa Alciati without any planning. The only clothes they have with them are the ones they are wearing, and for the entire duration of their stay at the villa, Nico provides them with his wardrobe. By borrowing clothes, it’s implied that the boys unintentionally make a selection that reflects their personal style. Leo has a classic look with 90s influences, he dresses baggy but always gives off the vibe of a "good boy." Paoletto’s style, on the other hand, is street with a nerdy touch. A cap, backpack, and Adidas Gazelles are his distinctive accessories. Stefano, who among the three is the most connected to the countryside, leans towards a radical style with country influences. As they leave the villa, the protagonists wear the same clothes they arrived in, which symbolically indicates a return to their daily lives.
Isabella exudes a "Lolita" aura, blending playfulness with a touch of innocence. Her character is both sensual and elusive, qualities reflected in her delicate lace, semi-transparent dresses. The soft, romantic cottagecore aesthetic of her style expresses her desire to embrace a bucolic life, aligning her image with the natural landscapes and rural lifestyle. Despite the summer season, boots remain her distinctive style choice.
Alba, in contrast, embodies someone who refuses to accept aging. Despite the physical changes that come with time, she continues to wear low-cut dresses and outfits more suited to a younger woman. This desire to appear youthful makes her seem almost pitiable, revealing her deep vulnerability. She resembles a child seeking attention she will never truly receive.