Inside Dior's Tiepolo Ball as the Fashion House Joins Forces with the Venetian Heritage Foundation

On May 11th 2019, the House of Dior took to the legendary Palazzo Labia to host the Tiepolo Ball in partnership with the Venetian Heritage Foundation.

The Tiepolo Ball – named after Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, the Italian painter and printmaker – was not only an invitation to spend an evening with old and new friends of the iconic fashion house, it also honoured Dior’s heritage, marked new partnerships, showcased incredible talents and explored the artistic inspiration from the Italian city itself.

The ball invited attendees to arrive wearing traditional Venetian masks, dressed in the most glamorous outfits – it certainly was a night to remember.

Maria Grazia Chiuri at the Tiepolo Ball

As we look back on a sensational evening, here’s what else you need to know about the opulent Tiepolo Ball, from the glamorous attendees to how it plays into the House of Dior’s heritage.

DIOR_TIEPOLO BALL_Maria Grazia Chiuri & Pietro Ruffo

Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pietro Ruffo

Karlie Kloss

Tilda Swinton

DIOR_TIEPOLO BALL_Peter Marino & Cornelia Guest

Peter Marino and Cornelia Guest

Amira Casar

DIOR_TIEPOLO BALL_Sienna Miller & Lucas Zwirner

Sienna Miller and Lucas Zwirner

Ellen Von Unwerth

History & Heritage

As well as being a stunning evening to remember on its own, the event was also a nod to the ways the history of Dior and Venice intertwine. The masquerade ball was reminiscent of the ‘Ball Of The Century’ hosted in the very same architectural marvel by Charles de Beistegui – a flamboyant art collector and interior decorator – in 1951. Christian Dior, who founded his iconic fashion label in 1946, was one of the attendees of the original event.

The Palazzo Labia in Venice

As the House of Dior and Venetian Heritage came together for the event, they dedicated the gala to the Palazzo Labia’s emblematic frescoes by Giambattista Tiepolo. Such a gesture was one of the ways the fashion house evoked its ties with the golden era of Baroque and the spirit of its avant-garde high society.

Dior’s Tiepolo Ball

Being timed alongside the opening of the Venice Biennale – an art organisation located in the Italian city – Dior’s Tiepolo Ball was also a charity gala with the incentive to fundraise for the restoration and promotion of Venice’s cultural heritage.

Ball Gowns

For the special occasion, many of Dior’s friends and admirers made their way over to the Italian city to celebrate. The likes of Karlie Kloss, Sienna Miller, Dasha Zhukova and of course Dior’s Creative Director, Maria Grazia Chiuri were in attendance.

Teaming up with prestigious collaborators Bevilacqua and Rubell – both Venetian heritage textile manufacturers – Dior creates a series of special gowns and capes using unique fabrics to dress its guests.

To take inspiration when designers the stunning outfits, Maria Grazia Chiuri looked upon the iconic paintings by the Venetian artist Pietro Longhi as well as Dior’s rich legacy of symbolic photos and sketches.

These include Monsieur Dior in his grand cape, René Gruau’s illustrations for the perfumes Miss Dior, Diorissimo, and Diorama, and the Labia dress designed by Yves Saint Laurent for Dior.

Using this pool of inspiration, ball gowns were created for guests such as Karlie Kloss and Sienna Miller using in part the original velvets used by Maria Grazia Chiuri herself for her haute couture creations.

Karlie Kloss was one of the attendees of the event

Making History

Through this stunning event, Venetian Heritage and Dior honoured the steadfast ties between France and Italy. Maria Grazia Chiuri demarcates this new connection through her creativity and fascination for art in all its forms, creating an intense multicultural dialogue rooted in a variety of sources.