Jose Vargas
The Visionary of Italian Haute Couture Blending Tradition, Innovation, and Responsible Luxury
Eleonora Lastrucci has become one of the defining figures of international haute couture, a designer who seamlessly merges tradition with modernity, and artistry with responsibility. Her work reflects an Italy that refuses to surrender — an Italy that carries forward its sartorial heritage while embracing the circularity of sustainable enterprise.
Inheriting Greatness, Creating Her Own Legacy
Known as the designer of the divas and red carpets across the world’s most prestigious festivals, as well as a celebrated costume designer for theater and cinema, Eleonora is recognized as one of the most treasured heirs of Enrico Coveri, from whom she learned the mastery of color and its iridescent vibrancy, often described as “Caravaggesque.” From Roberto Cavalli, she absorbed the daring sensuality and the hedonistic flair that made Italian fashion synonymous with global glamour.
But Eleonora added something uniquely her own: refined couture, impeccable tailoring, and a meticulous attention to detail. From the careful selection of fabrics to the threads that hold her creations together, she delivers an elegance that transcends trends. As she herself states, “Good taste and elegance are not fleeting fashions. We must reclaim beauty and the joy it gives us, without reducing it to the ephemeral.”
Dresses That Reveal the Soul
For Eleonora, designing is not simply about dressing women — it is about understanding them. Her process begins with trust, empathy, and a deep human connection. Her creations are not just garments, but reflections of inner beauty, revelations of hidden facets of femininity. Through her play of fabrics, transparencies, and colors, she creates dresses that allow women to rediscover themselves, to become new versions of who they are.
Each design embodies the genius of Italian craftsmanship and carries the pride of local production, reinterpreted through the principles of circular fashion. These qualities have earned her numerous awards and the admiration of an international clientele.
The Golden Bond Between Fashion and Cinema
The year 2024 marked a turning point for Eleonora, as her creations became central to cinema and major cultural events. She was called by acclaimed director Ferzan Ozpetek to dress actress Elena Sofia Ricci in Diamanti, designing a luminous pink lurex gown adorned with a Swarovski-embroidered cape — a creation that symbolized the perfect balance of innovation and timeless elegance.
Her couture has since graced global stages: the Golden Foot Awards in Monte Carlo, the Teatro del Silenzio for Andrea Bocelli’s 30-year career celebration, the Cannes Film Festival, and the Venice Film Festival. Alongside her work, Eleonora has engaged with some of the world’s most celebrated names: Kevin Costner, Ornella Muti, Andie MacDowell, Sofia Coppola, Carol Alt, Adriana Lima, and many others — a testament to her growing influence in international haute couture.
A Dream Showroom in Florence
Recently, Eleonora inaugurated her own showroom at Il Tornabuoni Hotel in the heart of Florence — a symbolic location that unites the city’s centuries-old textile heritage with her forward-looking vision. The evening gathered luminaries from fashion, cinema, and culture, offering a glimpse into her sartorial universe.
This showroom stands as a manifesto: haute couture can be synonymous with responsible luxury, where artisanal mastery meets sustainable innovation.
Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond
The future for Eleonora is not limited to fashion. With her inexhaustible creativity and drive to experiment, she is ready to leave her mark in new and unexpected fields. Her work continues to embody the rebirth of Prato’s textile tradition, now enriched with beauty, innovation, and a sustainable conscience.
As Virginia Woolf once wrote, “Clothes have more important offices than merely to keep us warm. They change our view of the world and the world’s view of us.” In Eleonora Lastrucci’s creations, fashion transcends form — it becomes soul, vision, and legacy.
