Monica Bellucci As Queen Of The Night For Tim Burton's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Vogue Italia.

Monica Bellucci as Queen of the Night for Tim Burton's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Vogue Italia.

Stylist: Colleen Atwood

Jewerly: Cartier

Make-up: Letizia Carnevale using Charlotte Tilbury

A lovely tribute by Het National Ballet

It is with great sadness and dismay that we received the news that Michaela DePrince has passed away at the age of 29. To honour her memory, we will make it possible to donate to War Child, the organisation for which Michaela passionately worked as an ambassador.

Michaela grew up in war-ravaged Sierra Leone. At a young age, she lost both her parents and was admitted to an orphanage. Her skin condition vitiligo meant that people there treated her as inferior. Her nickname in the orphanage was devil’s child. A story she chronicled in her autobiography: Taking flight: From war orphan to star ballerina .

Michaela was adopted by the American DePrince family. Once in America, she followed her dream of becoming a ballet dancer, inspired by a photograph she once saw, still in Sierra Leone, of an American ballerina. This was not an easy path for Michaela; she was told several times that she did not have the right body type ánd skin colour to become a ballet dancer.

Determined, she persevered and in 2012 came to Europe at the invitation of the Hague dance company De Dutch Don't Dance Division, to dance in one of their productions. This also introduced her to the Dutch National Ballet, and in August 2013 she joined the first batch of the Junior Company. In 2014, she made the switch to the ‘main company’ of Dutch National Ballet, where she rose to the rank of soloist in the following years.  

From a young age, her extraordinary life story combined with her dance career did not go unnoticed. Among other things, she featured in the film documentary First Position, danced in a video by Beyoncé and Madonna bought the film rights to her autobiography. She also starred in the film version of Coppelia, choreographed by Ted Brandsen. 

Motivated to help children from war zones, Michaela became an ambassador for War Child in 2016 and committed to helping children in many ways. 

In 2022, she left Amsterdam to continue her dance career with the US Boston Ballet. 

Michaela is taken from us far too soon. Our thoughts are with her loved ones and family.

Link to donate: https://actie.voorwarchild.nl/teams/michaela?locale=en?utm_source=facebook-hnb&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2425-michaela%20deprince-donatie-236

Pablo Sebastian's new collection

A Lover's Kiss

2024-25 AUTUMN / WINTER COUTURE COLLECTION

“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is wing’d Cupid painted blind.” — William Shakespeare

A Lover’s Kiss draws inspiration from the great love stories of old. The fearless passion of Romeo and Juliet; star-crossed lovers doomed to meet their fate. The divine worship of Dante and Beatrice; her infinite grace guiding him to ascension. The eternal devotion of Cupid and Psyche; relentless in their pursuit to reunite. With these tales and countless more we are reminded that whether through strength or sacrifice, romance or revelation, true love is a power unto itself.

Michaela DePrince, promotion for her memoir Taking Flight: From War Orphan to Star Ballerina, published October 14, 2014 (book) (video)

Annie’s X Clio Peppiatt Second Collection

Annie’s idea of a mosaic collection for her second collaboration with Clio has been an idea of hers for the last few years and she’s so excited to finally share it with you! Annie wanted to incorporate a new technique of metalwork into Clio’s signature silhouettes. Incorporating intricate hand stitched metal work and playful colourful beadwork. Drawing inspiration from the enchanting world of mythical mermaids, captivating flora and fauna and Grecian motifs. The designs pay homage to the works of British illustrator Walter Crane, renowned for his exquisite depictions of nature and mythology. This collection is a seamless blend of Annie's and Clio's creative visions of mosaics, Greek mythology, and the hot Mediterranean summer, together they wanted to recreate this feeling throughout this collaboration.