We caught up with her at Brunello Cucinelli’s show …
Why Brunello Cucinelli is the Italian poster child of quiet luxury
How do you like Milan’s fashion scene?
It’s another experience from my previous visits. I attended some fashion shows in the past, and the whole flow of the first-row seating is quite different. Here at Cucinelli, I feel like I’m part of a big family party, and I know how important heritage is for the brand. Brunello, his daughter Carolina and the whole team are so warm; it’s an entirely different story, and I like being here. Plus, the quality of the fabrics and the refinement of each garment are pleasing to one of my obsessions.
Which is?
I pay lots of attention to details. As an actor, I observe everything and cannot overlook when something’s not impeccable.
Cucinelli is renowned for its superior cashmere. What’s your first memory of wearing such a unique fibre?
I was in middle or high school, and my mum gave me my first piece of cashmere. It was one of her cashmere jumpers, and I remember that feeling of softness that, unlike regular wool, was so soft I could wear it without any undershirt. Once you [wear] cashmere, you cannot go back.
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What defines your personal style?
Simplicity is the key for me, together with elegance. The latter is hard to define, but it has something to do with what I feel when I wear an item and its timelessness. When selecting things to wear, I always tell my stylists and team that I don’t want to look back in two years and say: “Wow, what was that? What was I wearing?” I’m checking on myself and thinking of the future. Of course, fashion is fast-paced, but I still have my sensibility, know what suits me, and I’m pretty consistent with my private and public image.
Have you got an everyday look?
I would say a simple blazer and a medium-length pencil or full skirt. Skirts are much more comfortable than pants to me. Of course, when you wear something for a special occasion, you feel empowered, walk and sit differently. You cannot just be in sweats every day.
What’s the best and the worst part of attending fashion weeks?
I’m a foodie, so I always make sure dinners are booked in my favourite restaurants in Milan, like Langosteria.
In the back of my mind though, I have sustainability issues. Currently, fashion is still quite a wasteful industry; that’s another reason I like Brunello Cucinelli, because they are very conscious about their pieces’ durability and impact on the environment. I wear a lot of second-hand stuff [and especially buy it] for my daughter, because it’s good luck for babies to use something from other children in China.
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Now you live in New York. Is Hong Kong still in your heart?
These two cities have many similarities: the skyscrapers, the bustle and the same kind of energy. In New York, I walk a lot, I take the subway, and it’s easier because fewer people recognise me. Things improved in Hong Kong too, since the paparazzi stopped hanging around excessively like they used to. So when I get back, I love meeting [up with] people again.
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