A warm summer day on the outskirts of Rome brought together five women whose careers span fashion, film, literature, and design. The meeting was arranged by Bulgari and Mary Katrantzou, the brand’s creative director of leather goods and accessories, for a campaign centered on the limited-edition Bulgari Icons minaudière collection. What unfolded inside the studio was not just a photo shoot, but a quiet exchange of ideas about creativity, time, and personal history.

Supermodel Linda Evangelista joined actors Kim Ji-won and Isabella Rossellini, author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and architect Sumayya Vally. Each participant was linked to a specific minaudière design inspired by Bulgari’s visual codes.

The images, photographed by Ethan James Green under the creative direction of Ferdinando Verderi, were released six months after the shoot. Each bag referenced a signature Bulgari family, including Monete, Tubogas, Divas’ Dream, Bulgari Bulgari, and Serpenti.

A Natural Match With Serpenti

Instagram | lindaevangelista | The snake-themed Serpenti minaudière perfectly captures Evangelista’s spirit of renewal and resilience.

Among the five designs, the Serpenti minaudière stood out as a clear match for Evangelista. Known for its snake motif and themes of renewal, the design reflected both her professional range and personal resilience.

Evangelista shared that all five styles appealed to her, adding with humor, “You get what you get, and you don’t get upset.” When Katrantzou revealed that Serpenti was the intended pairing, the choice felt instinctive rather than assigned.

The connection ran deeper than design. Evangelista noted that the snake holds personal meaning.

“In the Chinese Zodiac, I’m a snake, and I love snakes so much,” she said, acknowledging the irony given her long list of fears. “You name it: I’m afraid of the things that move, I’m afraid of flying, I’m afraid of everything. But I’m not afraid of snakes.”

That symbolism extended into life experience. After decades in front of the camera and personal challenges away from it, the idea of shedding skin resonated.

“I’ve been through a lot. A lot of hardships, and I had to pick myself up and pull myself together,” Evangelista said. “But each time is actually easier and not harder, because you really understand through your hardships what is valuable, what is really important to you, and what matters most.”

A Set Built on Ease and History

The atmosphere on set was described as calm and welcoming. Evangelista appeared in a sharp white suit, holding the snake-head-shaped minaudière against a minimalist backdrop. The pace allowed space for conversation between shots, which she appreciated.

“This set is so chill. I have a beautiful team, and we’re coming off of a beautiful dinner we had last night. Everything is so easy,” she said.

Her connection to Bulgari long predates this campaign. Evangelista recalled buying her first piece from the house in Milan during the late 1980s, a Tubogas bracelet that remains part of her personal collection. Though safely stored away during the shoot, it was temporarily replaced with a Serpenti watch, a subtle nod to continuity rather than nostalgia.

How Modeling Has Changed

When asked about the contrast between early modeling days and today’s industry, Evangelista did not frame it as a loss, but as a shift. “Everything is different,” she said. “It’s not better, just different. But you have to evolve with the times.”

She described a slower, more deliberate process in the past. A single frame often defined a look. Photographers relied on Polaroids to test lighting and pose before committing to filming. Retouching was minimal, and precision mattered because fixes were not guaranteed later.

“When they set it up, you made sure it was perfect,” she explained.

The current workflow, shaped by digital tools and post-production, sometimes feels distant from that hands-on collaboration. Evangelista admitted to missing the moment-by-moment creative input.

“If the sleeve is wrong, they’re like: ‘Oh, we’ll fix it later’… I love to be on the creative part, and I sort of miss that.”

She also noted the expanded expectations around behind-the-scenes footage and social media content. While newer generations adapt easily, she described it as “another world,” one with benefits but also constant noise.

Why the ’90s Still Resonate

Interest in the supermodel era of the 1990s continues, especially among younger audiences discovering archival footage online. Evangelista traced that appeal to scarcity. Fashion images once arrived through magazines or limited television coverage, which gave them weight and staying power.

“You waited for that magazine to flip the pages to see that one picture,” she recalled. Today’s constant access, while exciting, can make moments pass quickly.

Still, the industry offers plenty to look forward to. Evangelista expressed enthusiasm for working with emerging photographers, makeup artists, and stylists. Fashion, in her view, has always been tied to change, and that remains part of its draw.

Cooking as a Creative Ritual

Instagram | lindaevangelista | Evangelista remembered purchasing her first Bulgari piece directly from the Milan boutique in the late 1980s.

Away from the camera and fittings, cooking offers Evangelista a sense of equilibrium. She spoke about her enjoyment of preparation, especially the precision of cutting ingredients evenly. Laughing about her appreciation for well-made knives, she admitted to a quiet, half-serious ambition.

“I would dream to be a chef — actually a sous-chef.”

That relationship with food carried over into the Bulgari project itself. Katrantzou asked each participant to create a small book sized to fit inside their minaudière.

Evangelista rooted her contribution in her Italian heritage and her upbringing in Ontario, choosing tradition over spectacle. The text centered on “Sunday sugo,” a tomato sauce recipe passed through her family. She described it as her most meaningful inheritance, not for its value, but for what it sustains. It stands for care, rhythm, and continuity.

She described the ritual with care: Parmigiano Reggiano grated fresh, pepper cracked by hand, basil added at the end, dried chili flakes for balance. Prepared weekly and shared with family and friends, the dish becomes a reminder that tradition endures through repetition.

In this context, the Bulgari Icons campaign took on added weight. Beyond its polished aesthetic, it explored the tension between heritage and progress, intimacy and image. The project ultimately underscored how personal history continues to shape creative work.