Lupita Nyong’o left us speechless Wednesday evening as she walked the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever. The event celebrated the much-anticipated sequel to the second-highest-grossing Marvel solo film of all time, not to mention one of Hollywood’s largest premiere’s since pre-COVID days. Needless to say, everything had to be perfect.
Lupita’s red carpet style has always been a playful mix of color, texture, and movement - every element in its purposeful place. To achieve the right look, Celebrity Stylist Micaela Erlanger tapped the Bella Rosa Collection’s Maria Caruso Martin - who recently designed several pieces for Sophia Bush’s bridal ensemble - to request a custom-crafted “Made for Me” clutch to suit the mood. The luxury sustainable handbag designer immediately set to work on a gorgeous heirloom item curated to enhance the singular beauty and personality of the beloved Black Panther Academy Award-winning actress.
Over a series of phone calls, meetings, and sketches between Caruso Martin and Erlanger’s home base of New York, the two formulated a vision of sleek, modern couture with a touch of old-Hollywood glamour - clean lines, eye-catching metallics, with plenty of room for Lupita’s phone. After much deliberation about the color, Erlanger identified an exact shade of white from the Pantone metallic swatch deck, meticulous about every detail. The Bella Rosa craftsman in Italy recommended a galvanized metal finish custom coated in high-gloss lacquer. Everything came together flawlessly.
“To work alongside Micaela again on such an exciting project was true kismet,” shares Caruso Martin. “Earlier this year, we collaborated on several custom ‘Made for Me’ bags for her Miami wedding, and we immediately felt a synergy. Our taste and style are very similar. It has been a true pleasure to create so many amazing handbags with her this year.”
Known for creating sustainable bespoke pieces that complement a lifelong heirloom collection, Caruso Martin also included a very special touch for such a momentous occasion. Tucked inside the clutch is a personalized sentiment plaque reading “WAKANDA FOREVER,” ensuring that each time Lupita holds the clutch, she will carry with her the powerful memories of an unforgettable milestone.
The completed Milan clutch is handcrafted according to proud Italian heritage by the Bella Rosa makers in Florence, Italy. The solid brass geometric pieces are welded together, sanded, and buffed. The bag is then sprayed with a lacquer finish to create a fresh take on a classic geometric design with plenty of room for a phone and other personal essentials.
Closing out a year marked with dozens of exciting “Made for Me” celebrity collaborations, Caruso Martin and Erlanger look forward to teaming up once again to release an exclusive capsule collection in early 2023. The personalizable Milan clutch is available now for pre-order with a January 2023 delivery.
The Bella Rosa Collection is a premium line of bespoke, custom bridal and evening clutches and handbags that preserves Italian luxury in a small-batch, sustainable fashion.
