Bulgari brought a gigantic golden serpent to New York City's High Line, but somehow, it still had competition.
Anne Hathaway, Dua Lipa, and BLACKPINK's Lisa converged on the Manhattan landmark for the unveiling of Serpenti Infinito New York, each arriving with a radically different answer to the evening's dress code.
Hathaway and her baby-on-the-way went full modern goddess in fluid lavender. Lipa seemingly raided the glamorous side of the Y2K archives, layering a glittering camisole over trousers. Lisa, meanwhile, made the lingerie-as-outerwear argument in an intricate black corset gown.
Three Bulgari ambassadors rocking three different aesthetics. Enough high jewellery between them to make the High Line sparkle brighter than usual.
Anne Hathaway Channels a Lavender Goddess
Hathaway took the ethereal route in a strapless lavender Alexander McQueen gown that fell from the bust in long, fluid folds. The press tour for The Odyssey may have closed the chapter, but one of its stars is still method dressing in true Aphrodite style.
The almost Grecian silhouette did not need elaborate construction or a parade of embellishments to command attention. Instead, its softly draped fabric and floor-skimming length created an effortless column around the actress, while silver heels peeked out beneath the hem.
Then the jewellery came out to play. Hathaway wore Bulgari's one-of-a-kind Serpenti Falling Drops necklace, crafted from white gold and diamonds with a coloured gemstone emerging from the serpent's head. According to Vogue, the piece draws inspiration from the gestural energy of Jackson Pollock's drip paintings.
Obviously, dressing like a goddess is even easier when there is a diamond serpent involved.
Dua Lipa Takes the Serpent Back to Y2K
With Callum Turner by her side, Dua Lipa's outfit of the night went in almost the opposite direction. Rather than choosing a traditional gown, the 'Training Season' singer paired a charismatic gold-embellished camisole by Clio Peppiatt with wide-leg black trousers.
The tiny, sparkling top against sharply tailored trousers appeared as a more expensive descendant of the going-out-top-and-jeans formula that ruled the early 2000s. Consider the Y2K party top officially promoted by a high-jewellery company.
Her Bulgari Serpenti Helix necklace kept the shine going above the neckline, winding a diamond-set white-gold serpent around an 18-karat gold Tubogas choker studded with yet more diamonds.
Minimal outfit, maximal wattage.
Lisa Makes a Case for Lingerie Dressing
Rarely shying away from high-risk fashion, the BLACKPINK star arrived in the epitome of lingerie-dressing. Clad in a dramatic black Belik gown, the aesthetic was built around an elaborate lace corset, complete with an off-the-shoulder neckline, sheer panels, and a sculpted bodice before falling into a sleek floor-length skirt.
If Hathaway brought goddess dressing and Lipa revived the party top, Lisa brought boudoir drama directly onto the High Line.
The corsetry provided plenty of visual theatre on its own, but her jewellery refused to play supporting character. Lisa wore Bulgari pieces featuring coral, tanzanites, and diamonds set in rose gold, a colour combination Vogue reports nods to Jasper Johns' interpretations of the American flag and colourful pieces from Bulgari's own archive.
Coupled with all that black lace, the gemstones had nowhere to hide.
Welcoming the Serpenti Infinito With Infinite Style
The trio's wildly different outfits also happened to suit the philosophy behind the evening. Serpenti Infinito centres on transformation, with the New York installation anchored by auroBOROS, the monumental gilded serpent sculpture created by Plastique Fantastique's Marco Canevacci and Yena Young.
Its looping form transformed a stretch of the High Line into something fabulously surreal, while Hathaway, Lipa, and Lisa provided three very wearable interpretations of reinvention nearby. Picking a winner feels unnecessary when the real flex is getting all three aesthetics into one photograph without any of them cancelling the others out.
Call it three courses of high fashion, served with diamonds on the side.
