Ermanno Scervino pays tribute to the Sala Bianca with ‘white Renaissance’ show.

(Left to right) Designer Ermanno Scervino, Franca Sozzani- Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Italia, and performer Kanye West.

I stood looking up at the dizzying number of crystal chandeliers hanging from the carved ceiling in the Sala Bianca, inside Florence’s Palazzo Pitti.

The memories came flooding back: about the shows I had seen here before fashion went industrial and global and lost a little of its magic.

The first big shows of Italy were held in the  ‘Sala Bianca’  in 1950′s Florence. This famous white grand hall set the inspiration for Scervino’s ‘white Renaissance event. 

I never actually saw the iconic all-white Valentino show in 1968 that catapulted the young Italian designer to fame and fortune.

But how smart of Ermanno Scervino to take the Sala Bianca as his template and call his Florentine show ‘The White Renaissance’. It was part of a series of events held in the city during Pitti Uomo, to celebrate. 60 years of Italian fashion.

The grand scale of Ermanno Scervino’s event    

The sporty men’s clothes on display were in subtly changing shades of white, to meld with the ancient stone walls and faded frescoes of the Forte Belvedere – where Kanye West and Kim Kardashian were married last month.

Franca Sozzani and Kanye West – at the dinner overlooking the city of Florence

Kanye was there for this Ermanno Scervino presentation – although without Kim, who would surely have loved the sensual and glamorous gowns shown in a dramatic mirrored setting like a couture disco.

Ermanno Scervino poses with looks from his collection

These dresses, from a designer with a couture spirit, were also subtly tinged with iridescent effects or a dawn pink colour.

The sunset over Florence

Nature put up competition with the sun dipping fire red over the hill tops and with Florence’s famous Duomo illuminated as guests dined in a long transparent tent.

Forte Belvedere transformed into a party for the night

Ermanno fought back with male and female models in a balletic white line along the hillside. And as night fell, a projection of rushing water and snow flake dots created the effect of video artist Bill Viola on the surface of the building.

Suzy and Ermanno

The ultimate party moment was when Boy George in a brightly coloured hat, set the diners dancing. While all the while, a life size photograph of the Sala Bianca was a backdrop to a magical evening.

Boy George DJ’s at the party

The Sala Bianca projected  as a backdrop