Why Gaia Repossi loves Luc Besson, David Lynch and Baz Luhrmann: the jewellery designer heir’s top fashion tips and lifestyle hacks – from Parisian matcha tea to Bottega Veneta ‘lady-boss wear’

Jan 23 , 2024

Jewellery queen Gaia Repossi’s 9 top tips for a more stylish life, starring top designers like Phoebe Philo, Balenciaga’s Demna, Alaia’s Pieter Mulier, Bottega Veneta’s Matthieu Blazy and Ferragamo’s Maximilian Davis. Photos: Handout

As the only heir of master jeweller Alberto Repossi, Gaia Repossi was thrown in the deep end when she took over the eponymous jewellery maison in 2007 – exactly 50 years after it was founded by her grandfather Costantino – at the tender age of 21.

Since then, she has shaken up the Monaco-based house with runaway hits such as the Berbere, inspired by the line tattoos of the Tuareg, the Berber people native to the Sahara; and the Serti sur Vide range, known for its “floating diamond” design.

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What I’m watching

Season six of the The Crown depicted Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed’s romance

I watched The Crown recently because of the episode in which we are mentioned – my father’s engagement ring for Princess Diana. It’s very touching to see the actresses they picked to depict her [Emma Corrin and Elizabeth Debicki]. They did a brilliant job, as to me it brings back many memories of when I was teenager exposed to this tragedy.

I often watch The Fifth Element for inspiration, or Léon – I’m a big Luc Besson fan – I’ve recently watched his new movie Dogman; it’s brilliant. I’m also a big fan of Baz Luhrmann, who is a dear friend. I find his movies like Romeo + Juliet so on point – like Luc Besson’s movies.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes starred in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet

On a darker note, I love Gaspar Noé’s movies as well. They are probably very relatable to me with my French upbringing. My favourite TV show of all time is Twin Peaks though, and I love all the Werner Herzog documentaries.

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The IG accounts I can’t stop following …

I love the spontaneous accounts of some of my dear friends like Stella Maxwell and Devon Carlson. Or my model friends Mona Tougaard and Nora Attal. They embrace femininity and confidence without taking themselves too seriously. I’m an unconditional fan of my best friend Tina Kunakey’s account. She’s more than a muse to me, I cannot help but stare at the posts I make of her. I think they are contemporary portraits.

My big beauty hacks

I’m secretly a 35-plus girl now, so I definitely swear by a whole new routine lately. I’m very lucky to have my skin taken care of by incredible facialists like Jasmina Vico in London and Alessandra Ricchizzi in Milan. They don’t have a predefined routine for you, they customise it and they are pros at giving you a baby-soft skin, which is priceless. I’ve also been a big ashtanga yogi for more than 15 years, which led me to a plant-based diet and an addictive flexibility that has undeniable beauty or anti-ageing effects. I also love the Teresa Tarmey cleanser and have been using it for years.

Go-to gifts from home

I like to give matcha tea from Paris tea houses like Ogata, Jugetsudo or Toraya. From Monte Carlo, just pictures of the incredible landscape and chocolates from this delicious chocolate shop by the royal palace, Chocolaterie de Monaco. It’s cute for gifts and they carry the royal symbol of Monaco.

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The Repossi pieces I’m most proud of …

I want to say my Repossi and Mapplethorpe collaboration was the most memorable experience. I was incredibly honoured [to be asked] and took it very seriously. The pieces were perfectly made to what I would hope would have pleased the artist [late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe]. Also the floating diamond line, they are the coolest reinvention of a solitary or high-end jewellery made in the past decades, which makes me very proud to be behind it.

My favourite fashion designers

Gaia Repossi wearing Bottega Veneta and her brand’s jewellery in Paris

I’m lucky to be close to many designers and share the same passion for creating. I’m obsessed with what my dear friend Pieter Mulier is doing at Alaïa, but that’s not a secret, and also what Matthieu Blazy is doing at Bottega Veneta – what an interesting take on crafting and lady-boss wear … am I not one? The new Phoebe Philo launch will question the entire definition of the way people will present themselves on social media with a new desire of authenticity and realness. It’s very interesting besides being the exact definition of quiet luxury but in the current future.

I’m very proud of what my friend Maximilian Davis is doing at Ferragamo. It’s very elegant and correct. I simply love it. And of course I’m always intrigued by what Balenciaga’s Demna comes up with on his takes on social media, luxury almost on a research level – he always has such an interesting proposition to make it twisted and with a sense of humour.

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My favourite hotels in the world

Arva restaurant at the Aman Tokyo, Japan

I love the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles because the apartments are stuck in this mid-century life that I get to experience. It’s like being part of your own movie, and the incredible people you bump into who just seem to love it as much.

The Mercer in New York – because it’s the street I lived on when I was younger and it will always be the happiest years of my life. I just feel home there, I can’t explain why.

The Goldeneye in Jamaica – I mean those huts in the jungle and the beach. I’m a beach person as you can tell, as I grew up by the sea, and I guess I’m a Pisces.

The Hotel Esencia in Mexico is a dream because it has its own cenote, without mentioning the beach.

The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai – India is by far my favourite country in the world, I couldn’t list the number of gorgeous palaces I stayed throughout the county without saying how much India is an inspiration for my jewellery.

And lastly Japan: Aman Tokyo is just comfortable for work as Japan is my first market at the moment, I always have a lot of work in Tokyo. And the Tawaraya Ryokan in Kyoto, the Gora Kadan onsen in Gora, and The Oval designed by Tadao Ando in Naoshima.

My bucket list travel destinations

I visit Brazil as much as I can as well as the Amazon, but it’s a shame I’ve never been to Australia. I want to see the cave paintings there. And the Mexican pyramids and ruins that I have never seen but only studied.

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My style icons

I’m a bit of an art nerd fan, so people such as Cindy Sherman, Helen Frankenthaler, David Lynch, my father – he’s James Bond to me.

Also my mother’s style, and of course Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, Kate Moss, Christy Turlington …

Tastemakers

Phoebe Philo, Balenciaga’s Demna, Alaïa’s Pieter Mulier, Bottega Veneta’s Matthieu Blazy and Ferragamo’s Maximilian Davis are all designers who born fashionista Gaia Repossi keeps tabs on
Friends Stella Maxwell, Devon Carlson, Mona Tougaard, Nora Attal and Tina Kunakey top her IG feed; the Repossi creative director is also an unlikely film buff who binges Gaspar Noé, Werner Herzog and Netflix’s The Crown