Matters of the art

Inspired by her mother's personal style and an enduring love for India, Bvlgari's jewellery creative director Lucia Silvestri imbues the brand's new collection, Eclettica, with transformative powers.

- By LAMIYA CHITALWALLA

Wednesday Addams may be a role model today, but in the early 2000s, she was the kind of child your mom asked you to stay away from. A rule breaker. An outlier who didn't care if she was shunned. I, on the other hand, participated enthusiastically in everything, from ballet and gymnastics to basketball and even calligraphy.

But when it came to fashion, I struggled. It felt like swimming against the tide—if something fit, I hated how it looked on me and if I loved something, it rarely fit. Picking up a medium while the saleswoman gave me the side eye and handed me a large or holding my breath while trying to squeeze into a dress like an overstuffed suitcase you have to sit on to shut. One wrong move and the zip is broken, along with your confidence.

Instead, I found solace in jewellery, inspired by my mom. She would boldly pair her chunky silver earrings with a big bindi and kohl-rimmed eyes, standing out in rooms filled with women in their dainty diamonds. It was a smart technique, divert attention to something you want people to notice.