With the season’s first soirées underway, Southwest Florida’s social calendar returns in full swing—and with it, a new mood in eveningwear. Photographed on location at Selma Nettles’ historic Old Naples estate, these looks capture the drama of gala dressing in 2025: feathered gowns that ripple in the garden breeze, tailored reds that command the room and couture that turns cocktail hours into theater.
Together, they set the tone for a season where fashion rises to meet the grandeur of the occasion and the generosity behind it.
The black column is all sleek lines from the front, while the low-cut back and billowed overskirt leave a lasting impression from behind. Bold stacked bangles balance the volume. Isabel Sanchis gown; bracelets from Alexis Bittar; shoes from Flor de Maria. Top spread: Monsoori gown; earrings from Alexis Bittar.
Couture engineering meets natural chaos as baroque appliqué on French tulle dissolves into feathers that dance in the garden breeze. Wade Allyn gown; earrings by Alexis Bittar.
Lebanese couturier Jean-Louis Sabaji pushes corsetry and skirting to operatic extremes, reshaping classic femininity into spectacle. Skirt and corset top by Jean-Louis Sabaji; Vera Wang gloves; Alaïa shoes.
Siren red—the perennial power hue for evening—finds fresh force in a tailored pant and flowing silk charmeuse cape. Pants and cape by Wade Allyn; earrings from Alexis Bittar.
Texture creates two narratives—gauzy tiers that float in daylight and dense feathers that darken the mood after dusk. Gown and cape by Anamika Khanna; bangles from Alexis Bittar; shoes by Flor de Maria.
Gustavo Arango gown; bracelet and earrings from Alexis Bittar.
Photography: Omar Cruz
Styling: Veronica Porras
Model: Eliza Finskaya
Hair and makeup: Duality Artistry
Shot in Selma Nettles’ private gardens, Old Naples
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