The needle like a magic wand
Bibbidi… Bobbidi… Boo! A sparkle of stars. And the silk begins to dance. Flowers bloom on the organza as in a meadow. The ribbon unrolls… The scissors sing, cutting with absolute precision… The soft tulle crumples gracefully as if to form clouds… The French laces curtsey to it as if they were at Versailles. She is Annalisa Cipriani, the Fairy Godmother of Lucca. Let us say it at once: she does not have a pumpkin patch at hand as in the Disney film; in exchange, she uses the needle as if it were a magic wand and, for her, making a wedding dress is equivalent to creating a work of art. For a good thirty-seven years now.
We find ourselves in Via Mordini, at the Casa della Sposa De Cesari: a small, tucked-away yet very central boutique, which has existed since 1926 and resounds with the rustle of billowing skirts and the whispers of colourful, curious stoles. This business was actually born as a haberdashery, but then, over the years, it chose to dedicate itself to brides, transforming into a tailoring house devoted to them (about thirty years ago, finally, grooms also came into the picture, to complete the frame).
A future bride, at De Cesari, can have around a hundred dresses at her disposal to look at, caress, wear: they will help her understand what her style is, which fabrics she likes, whether she loves embroidery or prefers simplicity. From here the Dress will begin to take shape, which, Annalisa points out seriously, must be perfect, like a glove, so as to be worn with the same ease with which one wears a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. We are talking about an entirely bespoke dress, handmade from top to bottom, created with the highest quality Italian natural fabrics, the finest silk, original French laces. In an age in which mass-produced garments hold sway, at the Casa della Sposa in Via Mordini we can open the door onto a universe of wonderful craftsmanship, with an old-world fragrance.
A sparkling curiosity: on the occasion of Lucca Comics, Annalisa enjoys creating themed window displays… with needle and thread of course, and a pinch of magic. And here is Belle’s golden gown (Beauty and the Beast), which made all of us dream as little girls, and, inevitably, the dress in which Cinderella goes to the ball. Is there anything else to say? It is truly the dream that can come true… Just one clarification: to benefit from the magic of this Fairy Godmother you must make an appointment!
