This year’s Bal de la Rose (now it was its 63rd year that took place yesterday, on 18 March) was designed by the illustrious Karl Lagerfeld, a close friend of Princess Caroline of Hanover. Lagerfeld had chosen the Vienna Secession art movement as inspiration for the ball. The refined Secession style flourished in Austria and throughout Europe from 1892 to 1906 and has been selected as the representation of Monaco’s modern-day glamour. Think bright golds, Gustave Klimt and Otto Wagner!
Upon entering the ‘Entrée des Princes’, guests of this black-tie evening were transported into an authentic reproduction of the iconic entrance to the Wiener Werkstätte entrance. The Wiener Werkstätte had been a furnishing workshop and served as a meeting places for all the iconic artists and architects of the time.
The Salle des Étoiles was adorned with chandeliers that mark the ‘graphic universe’ that the artist saw at the time. This represents the culmination of the Vienna Secession and guest were privy to a dazzling room filled with lights and colour. The table settings had been inspired by a sketch – ‘Fleurs en Clochette’ – from the Palais Stoclet and from the works of Klimt.
At the table of Prince Albert II, was Dmitry Rybolovlev and the Russian top model Daria Strokous. However the Prince of Monaco and his wife Charlene did not attend this event. This year the Princely Family was represented at the Rose Ball by Princess Caroline, Pierre Casiraghi with his wife Beatrice Borromeo and Charlotte Casiraghi.
The ball raises money to support the Princess Grace Foundation and tickets were 800€ per person.
