Creating a dress for a special occasion may not seem like anything new, especially for experienced designers. But what if that dress was inspired by beauty products, and with the added bonus of being worn on one of the most attention-grabbing nights in Portugal?
Fittings, make-up and hair. Spotlights, flashes, red carpets and award ceremonies. Fame comes with an busy schedule, but it's also filled with rewarding moments. From theater to cinema, humor to fiction, fashion to music, receiving a national distinction is one of the biggest "checks" on any artist's bucket list. Nativa Spa, a sub-brand of Boticário, set a challenge to designer duo Marques'Almeida: to create an exclusive dress for Sara Matos, who has just added another "check" to her bucket list. The twist in this proposal? The inspiration for the look is none other than the brand's new line, Nativa Spa Orquídea Noire. Nativa Spa Orquídea Noire evokes intensity, sensuality and glamor with a rich and intense fragrance - an olfactory dance that is in tune with the spirit that an awards gala demands. Materializing the essence of one of the world's rarest and most exotic flowers is not a trivial task, but it was in the line's "intensity, fluidity of movement, sensuality and color" that Marta and Paulo found the inspiration to create a piece that highlights the figure of the actress and brand ambassador.
The creation process began instinctively by "wanting to get to know the product better, understanding what kind of image and concept to mirror," says the duo. But it was thanks to the bonds established during this period that the creative potential unfolded: "We wanted to talk to Sara and her team as soon as possible because M'A is more than just about creating clothes, it's a brand that has very strong roots associated with 'its' people and its community. So nothing could be done without a very close connection with Sara," they recall. With all the patterns and meters of fabric, stitches and details, the duo's intention has always been to "empower Sara in an environment that tells a lot about who she is", while reflecting all of Boticário's imagery in this piece. Their hopes for the outcome of this process are that the outfit will have added something "new and courageous" to the Portuguese red carpet, while also showing the protagonist's "comfortable, powerful and innovative woman" side, enhanced by Nativa Spa Orquídea Noire.
Now, the result is finally in sight: the designer duo created a deconstructed black top and oversized satin pants with a voluminous train, along with jewelry and shoes made by the duo. However, to summarize such a special process in just a few characters would not do justice to the intensity of these months. Although Marques'Almeida are industry veterans, this challenge represented a very special "learning curve" for the duo. And to find out the details, we'll have to go back to the beginning of this journey. On vogue.pt, discover the whole process, detail by detail, in a video documentary - from the atelier to the stage.
*Originally translated from The Fame Issue, published October 2023. Full credits and stories in the print issue.
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