THE HILLS ARE ALIVE: What’s nicer than springtime in Florence? Springtime in the hills above Florence, in the tiny town of Fiesole.

That’s why Net-a-porter’s chief executive officer Heather Kaminetsky and Khaite‘s founder Catherine Holstein picked the historic and freshly refurbished Villa San Michele in Fiesole for a weekend marking the launch of an exclusive capsule collection of sculpted dresses, fluid separates and canvas accessories.

Guests at the Memorial Day weekend event included Olivia Wilde, Gemma Chan, Meghann Fahy, Alexa Chung, Tom Sturridge, Dree Hemingway, Chloe Fineman, Rebecca Dayan, Tish Weinstock, Joséphine de La Baume, Conie Vallese and a clutch of EIP, or extremely important Net clients.  

The weekend started with a private after-hours tour of “Rothko a Firenze,” a retrospective at Palazzo Strozzi in Florence. Cocurated by the artist’s son Christopher Rothko, the retrospective features more than 70 works from major international museums and private collections, from the 1930s to the 1970s.

Following the exhibition, guests dined at Trattoria Cammillo, a family-run restaurant serving traditional Tuscan cuisine with courses of homemade pasta and classic regional dishes.

Guests spent the second day in and around Villa San Michele, a Belmond hotel. There were able to cool down from a hike in Fiesole hills, where Leonardo da Vinci first tested his flying devices, with gelato from Vivoli, the famous Florentine gelateria, founded in 1930.

That evening, dinner took place within the hotel’s sunken Roman Garden overlooking Florence. Guests dined at a raw stainless-steel table covered with soft, flowing latex. An accompanying sculptural installation included a “light transformation” to go with each course.

There was “warm white” for the first course, “sunset orange” for the main course and “statement red” for dessert, echoing the evolving sunset over the city.

Kaminetsky said Net-a-porter “has long admired Khaite’s ability to define modern luxury in a way that feels both timeless and deeply relevant, truly representing what makes today’s woman look and feel amazing. Celebrating this launch in Florence — a city synonymous with craftsmanship, beauty and culture — felt like a natural fit.”

The event was the latest in a series of “money-can’t-buy” moments aimed at EIP customers, who increasingly want a dose of highbrow culture with their fashion, as well as memorable experiences that go beyond commerce. Net-a-porter, Mytheresa and other high-end retailers have become masters at hosting these ultra-exclusive, life-enhancing events.