Claire Danes and Patricia Arquette joined the hyper-glam guests at Villa Aurelia in Rome to celebrate 70 years of the very Italian, very glam Gucci store in Via Condotti.  A private showing of the new resortwear collection was followed by a private dinner and after party.

The collection was perfectly suited to the cruising, lounging, cocktail drinking scenarios faced in a mediterranean coastal resort. Hemlines ranged from high above the knees in baroque floral shifts to wafting along the ground in a full range of maxi-dresses. Prints included coral, shells and undersea creatures, to butterflies, flowers and foliage. The delicate, wafting dresses were complimented by casual yet structured suiting in creams, navys and stripes.

Gucci's creative director Frida Giannini created five of the evening gowns as a special tribute to Rome, and these will now go on sale in the Via Condotti boutique.

Gucci was created by Guccio Gucci in Florence in 1921 and came to Rome in 1938 at the height of the autocratic fascist regime. Like many labels, the resort or "cruise" collection is becoming increasingly important for Gucci, as it strives to make the most of changeable weather conditions and uncertain international economic markets.