Tilda Swinton, Haider Ackermann, and Kate Moss Came Together in Venice to Celebrate a New Tom Ford Fragrance
Last night, a steady stream of water taxis could be seen criss-crossing the Grand Canal in Venice, ferrying Hollywood A-listers from party to party during the city’s annual film festival. But a more discreet rush of boats could also be spotted pulling up at the Palazzo Contarini Polignac, a grand 16th-century palace near the Accademia bridge. As guests stepped out onto the jetty and made their way into the candlelit room beyond, the reason for the gathering was revealed: the unveiling of a campaign for the new Tom Ford Black Orchid Reserve fragrance, starring Tilda Swinton.
Playing across a floor-to-ceiling screen at the back of the room, the Inez and Vinoodh-directed visual features a bare-faced Swinton turns elegantly towards the camera as Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” plays, intercut with the unfolding petals of the rare, phantom-like black ghost orchid flower. “The shoot was with four very old friends—Haider, Inez, and Vinoodh—and we’ve known each other for decades, so the idea was just to be very relaxed,” Swinton told Vogue after she stepped in off a water taxi arm in arm with Ackermann. “And as you can see, what we did was extremely simple, and kind of pure. There was no narrative, no car chases, it’s a very, very simple existential thing. A woman in place by herself listening to a piece of music.”
That spirit of understated elegance extended to the event itself: guests including Kate Moss, Paris Jackson, Indya Moore, Saskia de Brauw, and Noomi Rapace all stepped into the cavernous space to sip Champagne and frozen vodka shots—an Ackermann favorite—as well as caviar passed around with spoons. Oh, and all wearing outfits (and often sunglasses, too—this was a fashion party after all) from Ackermann’s first collection from Tom Ford, which debuted to a rapturous reception at Paris Fashion Week in March of this year.
Soon, it was time to head upstairs to the piano nobile, where a table decked out in Murano glassware glittered under flickering candlelight and enormous vases of black and purple blooms set against the walls. There was an impromptu photo shoot by Greg Williams on the antique Venetian furniture—art directed by none other than Moss herself, who slipped on a pair of Tom Ford sunglasses to join the group and pose. And then, dinner was served—grilled seabass and tiramisu prepared by the chefs behind the Michelin-starred Alajmo family of restaurants that have become culinary institutions across the Veneto region—and Ackermann stood up to recite a heartfelt speech.
“I don’t like to talk, but I have with me my family and my friends, and this means the world to me,” he said. “It’s my first campaign for Tom Ford Beauty, and I feel blessed. Tilda has been a friend for more than 30 years, and to be able to do this together—to achieve something more than friendship—is an incredible blessing.” There was a brief pause to note he was holding back tears, before he continued: “Tilda has been faithful to me all my life, and I can’t express how much she inspires me, provokes me, disturbs me, and how much I love her.” (Unsurprisingly, given his reputation as one of the nicest guys in fashion, Ackermann also took a moment to go around the table and thank every guest for coming individually, lending it the feel of a family gathering more than your typical fashion event.)
Speaking to Swinton, it’s clear the feeling is mutual. “Honestly, this really is quite an emotional moment for us,” she said. “Because Haider and I are very old friends, and for me to be a part of his launch for Black Orchid, I feel it’s like him running his colors up the flagpole and saying, ‘These are my values and this is what I stand for.’ And he’s all about loyalty and friendship—it’s all about an authentic connection, it’s not very wash and go, which is relatively rare in this day and age. And I think just to be a part of that is really beautiful.”
Finally, another round of vodka shots was brought out by the white-suited waiters, and guests began to get up and dance to disco music—it was approaching midnight, but for Ackermann’s gang, the night was still young. “We do like to celebrate,” Swinton added, with a laugh. “There are moments for celebration, and I think tonight is one of them. As Lionel Richie might have said, who we were listening to as we came here in the boat, we’ll be dancing all night long.”
Photo: Greg Williams1/8Tilda Swinton, Haider Ackermann
Photo: Greg Williams2/8Tilda Swinton, Saskia de Brauw, Haider Ackermann
