FILM NEWS

In the world of luxury, "add to cart" is a phrase that simply doesn't exist in my vocabulary.

True luxury isn't about the transaction; it’s about the provenance. It’s about the hands that crafted the object and the story embedded in its materials. That is why, when my clients receive a piece from The Victoria Napolitano Group, they aren't just receiving a product—they are receiving a memory I have lived.

The Unseen Production

On May 17, 2019, I found myself in Basel, Switzerland.

To the outside observer, it might have looked like a leisure trip. I was staying at the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois—one of the oldest and most prestigious hotels in Europe. With its heavy chandeliers, velvet drapes, and a guest list that has included everyone from Napoleon Bonaparte to Queen Elizabeth II, it is the epitome of "Old Money" elegance.

However, I wasn't there just to admire the Rhine from my balcony. I had just wrapped a massive production in Lucerne at the Château Gütsch, working with a stunning Slovakian model I had flown in from Paris. The shoot was grueling, demanding perfection at every angle.

Yet, while the cameras were down, my real work began.

The Lengths We Go To

I had traveled to Basel specifically to source limited-edition inks and pens for my calligraphy. These aren't items you can find on Amazon. You have to walk the cobblestone streets, speak to the shop owners, and feel the weight of the pen in your hand.

During a moment of quiet reflection, I came across the statue of "Helvetia auf der Reise" (Helvetia on her Travels) sitting on the Mittlere Brücke. Unlike the stoic woman on the Swiss coin, this Helvetia is tired. She has taken off her coat, set down her shield and suitcase, and is gazing out at the water.

I stopped and took her photograph because I felt a kinship with her. She represents the traveler who has seen the world, the woman who carries her history in her suitcase.

The Victoria Napolitano Promise

This is the irrelevance—and the relevance—of my being in Switzerland.

I stay in these locations—whether it's the Italian Riviera, Monaco, or Basel—for a minimum of three weeks. I don't just visit; I live there. I eat at the obscure restaurants, I meet the artisans in their workshops, and I test every single product myself.

If I am going to recommend a silk for a gown, a specific paper for an invitation, or a venue for a gala, I need to know how it feels, how it smells, and how it performs in the real world.

I do this so that when I present something to you, my clientele, I am not guessing. I am vouching.

The world is vast, and the best treasures are never found on the first page of a search engine. They are found by walking the bridge, carrying the suitcase, and doing the work.